Learn Watercolour Quickly: Techniques And Painting Secrets For The Absolute Beginner

by Hazel Soan

Overview

Bestselling artist and writer Hazel Soan has distilled her art teaching into the things that matter most and can be digested in a short period of time – in just one afternoon you can start painting. Learning to paint is one of the life-long aspirations of many of us, and these techniques can be picked up faster than you think.

Hazel Soan’s concise book, filled with easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step exercises, is written in an accessible way for those completely new to painting. Chapters include: Getting Started (the materials you will need and those you can ignore in the art shop); Choice of Colours; Mixing Colours; What’s the Subject?; What Surfaces to Paint on; Basic Painting Techniques; Brushstrokes and Composition (with details on how to design paintings with horizon, focus and balance, a hint of perspective and the light and shade of a subject).

Packed with illustrations for guidance, this is the most comprehensive guide to learning watercolour very quickly.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781849941402
Publisher:	Rizzoli
Publication date:	06/05/2014
Series:	Learn Quickly
Pages:	112
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 7.80(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Hazel Soan is a popular and successful artist who divides her time between London and Cape Town, exhibiting her work widely. She has her own gallery in Fulham, London. She is author of several bestselling books and a range of successful DVDs. She was one of the art experts in the popular Channel 4 TV series Watercolour Challenge. The very successfulLearn Watercolour Quickly, Essence of Watercolour and Watercolour Rainbow are also by Hazel Soan.

Editorial Reviews

10/15/2014
True to its title, this guide can be read in under an hour and the reader can implement tips and techniques outlined in it right away. Watercolor artist Soan's short chapters cover materials, provide background about color interaction, discuss handling paint and brushes, and explore selecting subjects. Pithy advice and detailed explanations of a range of techniques are dispensed throughout. The author's speedy approach is particularly appropriate to watercolor, a fresh, lively, and fast-drying artistic medium. Soan repeatedly cautions against overworking paintings, encouraging instead to embrace spontaneity and to know when to stop. The book also emphasizes the value of practice; while readers can start painting immediately, their pictures can only improve the more they work at the techniques. VERDICT Completely green beginners as well as more experienced artists looking to loosen up can benefit from this guide.

Library Journal