Watercolor Basics - Let's Get Started
by Jack Reid
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Book Summary Information
Author: Jack ReidEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1998-10-15
ISBN: 0891348670
Number of pages: 128
Publisher: North Light Books
Book Reviews of Watercolor Basics - Let's Get Started
Book Review: Riddled with Flaws and Holes
Summary: 1 Stars
I am shocked this book is rated as it is: I decided to occupy a medical leave from surgery with teaching myself the fundamentals of watercolors, and bought this book. It has proven to be a colossal waste of time, as I do not believe this book to be intended for people without a prior knowledge of painting. My infuriation began with the subject of trees while performing what should have been a simple wash exercise. Several times the author simply instructs me to "Paint in a tree." IF I KNEW HOW TO PAINT A TREE I NEEDN'T HAVE BOUGHT THE BOOK! Am I wrong to assume I am the only person that wasn't born with an inherent know-how in terms of tree painting?!
How to paint.
Step 1: Paint. This is the flawed logic I am repeatedly met with in nearly every exercise!
Another error occurs on Page 38 when the step explains not to paint the barn in the area of the fenceposts, when the prior stop had already instructed to paint the entire barn.
Page 40: I am told to "stroke-in". What does that mean? How long should my strokes be and is there a particular method that I am supposed to follow? The author is using artist's jargon that a beginner obviously wouldn't know.
On page 46, step 4 says "with white area still wet...." despite the fact that step 3 had instructed me to use a hair dryer to completely dry my painting. Page 46 also instructs me to "slip in the fluid". Another use of vague jargon that a lost beginner cannot follow.
I am finally writing this review after becoming infuriated with the exercise of an autumn farm scene on page 104. To start with, the sketch is too small. But this might not even matter, as the sketch in the remainder of the painting ISN'T EVEN THE SAME ONE. The one used in subsequent steps offers a more 3-D rendition of the barn, while the one we are instructed to sketch does not. Here is where I noticed that often, the diagrams do not at all match up to the steps listed beside them. In fact I'd venture as far as saying that the pictures make the instructions even more convoluted rather than offering a clearer view of the assigment.
Page 104 is also extremely vague in terms of paint placement. It will say "drop in color" with very little indication of exactly where, and exactly how much. At one point it tells me to "drop in color" to the left of the water. What it didn't say is that I was only supposed to do one band (infuriatingly- of indeterminate width)along the top and then to increase my value as I progressed to the bottom of the canvas.
I am done. I had wanted to give the entire book a solid attempt despite my bad first impression, but this final exercise has taght me nothing except that I have bought the wrong book and have wasted too much time on it. If you have prior exerience, this book might suit you just fine. if you are like me and are a first-timer, do yourself a favor and buy a book from an author that is much clear in instructing.
Summary of Watercolor Basics - Let's Get Started
"After 25 years of teaching thousands of novice watercolorists the simple methods contained in this book, I firmly believe that anyone willing to follow the directions and do the world cannot fail to achieve a successful picture. If I can do it, so can you." - Jack Reid
In this beginner-friendly guide, Jack Reid will show you the hows of watercolor painting. He covers it all in clear, easy-to-understand terms - beginning with what tools and materials you should buy to get off to a good, affordable start. You'll find simple, step-by-step exercises to help you:
Control your brush with ease
Master the four basic watercolor techniques - the flat wash, the graded wash, the wet-in-wet and the dry-brush
Take the "Five Steps to a Painting" - step-by-step demonstration guide you from one color to five, to make your paintings "sing" with color
Use photography and photocopying to create paintings inspired by life
Then put everything you've learned into action by following along with seven painting projects. Before you know it, you'll be creating your own beautiful watercolor paintings!
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