Watercolor Basics - Let's Get Started
by Jack Reid
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Book Reviews of Watercolor Basics - Let's Get Started
Book Review: Great Book for Beginner
Summary: 5 Stars
I have just started with watercolor and have minimal artistic background. I had one or two other beginner books that I was using while waiting for this to come in the mail. Although these were rated pretty highly I have found "Let's Get Started" to be the best at, well..., getting started. It uses exercises to teach basic techniques. The author gives some concise but thorough instruction and then you learn by painting. I have found that the practice exercises are a satisfying way to learn using a specific technique at a time. The finished product of each exercise while simple, most often using 1 or 2 colors, is a nice little painting. The other books- while really pretty good- did not have as clear explanations and tended to try to include too much in their exercises. I feel like I am getting a good foundation using this book.Book Review: Good, but video instruction is perhaps better
Summary: 3 Stars
I've purchased quite a few instructional books on both watercolors and oils. While I found this one easy to follow for the absolute beginner, in practice, I found the exercises to be a bit stilted. What I mean by that is in attempting to reproduce his paintings, step by step, I found that it took away the wonder and spontenaity one might experience while sketching and painting a simple still life set up. I understand the theory behind the book, and the value studies are interesting, but I think that simply practicing washes, and also practicing with simple still lifes might be more rewarding. I've watched a few videos on watercolor painting which have been more helpful than any book.
Book Review: Excellent introduction of techniques for the beginner
Summary: 5 Stars
Jack Reid does an excellent job of introducing the basic watercolor techniques to the novice. These include wash, graded wash, dry-brush, and wet into wet. He also provides insight on materials that will be valuable to those entering those intimidating art supply stores. The techniques are presented in the form of several exercises with limited palettes. This helps the beginner not only in learning the techniques, but having a direction in which to go for practicing them. The book also introduces painters to value, color, and composition. In the last portion of the book, there are more in depth projects that will challenge the reader who has begun to master the techniques presented earlier.Book Review: So far, so good, but.....
Summary: 4 Stars
After reading all the wonderful reviews of this book, I decided to buy it for my mom as a birthday gift. I also am rounding up all the supplies she will need to get started. The book seems good (I have read most of it trying to assess all the supplies I will need). There is a supply list in the beginning of the book, but after reading all the lessons, I found an item or two that that was not included, and, I have found that some of the items on the supply list will not be used. I understand that the assumption is that eventually one will move on and will most likely need those items. I only wish that there was a "shopping list" of items needed to complete these lessons.Book Review: Great introductory lessons
Summary: 5 Stars
I took a community based (8 week) watercolor painting course first and it helped to have an actual instructor teach some basics and explain exactly what products to buy, but this book is a great introduction to get one started even without a separate course. It covers the materials you need and then begins with simple exercises leading into more complex ones. It provides the skills needed to begin creating on your own, rather than having to learn "trial and error". Upon completion of the book, I was ready to produce my own paintings without becoming frustrated or discouraged because I had the guidance and foundational knowledge I needed. Thank you Jack Reid!