Watercolour

Synopsis

Watercolour painting is an absorbing, meditative art-from that many people would like to enjoy but don't attempt to because they believe they can't paint or simply don't know where to begin. An encouraging voice and a clear, easy-to-follow approach is often all that's needed to give people the confidence to get started and keep going. That's exactly what this book provides. Paul Clark, an enthusiastic and accomplished painter who runs his own art school, explains the fundamentals in a friendly and accessible way. He shows readers what they really need in terms of tools and materials - starting with a limited colour palette that can be mixed to create the vast majority of colours required. He then explains and illustrates the basic techniques, before presenting ten of his paintings that put those techniques into action. Each painting is broken down into stages, with clear instructions and photographs for readers to follow, plus plenty of helpful tips. In addition, there are three feature spreads that focus on particular areas of interest for beginners, including special effects, painting trees and painting skies.

Summary

Chapter 1: Introduction to Watercolour

* Overview of watercolour as a versatile medium for creating beautiful artwork.
* Types of watercolour paints: tube, pan, and liquid.
* Basic watercolour tools and equipment: brushes, paper, palettes, water containers.

Example: A watercolour painting of a vibrant bouquet of flowers, featuring a variety of brush techniques and colours.

Chapter 2: Colour Theory for Watercolour

* Understanding the colour wheel and colour relationships.
* Mixing and creating harmonious colour schemes.
* Importance of translucency and layering in watercolour.

Example: A colour wheel demonstration showing the different primary, secondary, and tertiary colours that can be mixed from the three primary colours.

Chapter 3: Brush Techniques for Watercolour

* Different brush types and their uses: round, flat, and wash brushes.
* Basic brush strokes: washes, glazing, drybrush, and scrubbing.
* Combining brush techniques to create different effects.

Example: A watercolour painting of a misty forest landscape, with soft washes and subtle glazing used to create an atmospheric effect.

Chapter 4: Composition and Perspective in Watercolour

* Principles of good composition: focal point, balance, and proportion.
* Techniques for creating perspective: linear, atmospheric, and perspective grid.

Example: A watercolour painting of a group of buildings, featuring careful use of perspective to create a sense of depth and dimension.

Chapter 5: Wet-on-Wet Techniques

* Creating soft, blended effects by applying paint to wet paper.
* Mixing colours directly on the paper for subtle transitions.
* Using salt or masking fluid to create interesting effects.

Example: A watercolour painting of an ethereal sunset, where wet-on-wet techniques have been used to create a seamless blend of colours.

Chapter 6: Wet-on-Dry Techniques

* Applying paint to dry paper to create sharp lines and details.
* Layering colours and building up intensity.
* Using masking tape or frisket film to protect areas of the paper.

Example: A watercolour painting of a detailed botanical illustration, where wet-on-dry techniques have been used to create precise lines and accurate colours.