Watercolour Innovations

There is no shortage of books on painting, but there are few—if any—which so thoughtfully and systematically teach you how to progressively build your skills as a beginner or a sophisticated artist. If you ready to discover the endless possibilities of painting with watercolor, then explore this elusive medium with accomplished painting instructor Michael Crespo. This highly regarded how-to will assist both the seasoned artist seeking to reinvigorate their technique, and the beginner seeking a variety of watercolor approaches. Structured after Crespo’s a long running and popular painting course, this step-by-step guide to watercolor painting covers elementary, intermediate, and advanced techniques. Topics include brush movement, color plans, washes, gouache, surface unity, chiaroscuro and others. Each lesson is paired with thought-provoking practice exercises plus examples of student work as they progress through the course. Crespo’s celebrated teaching style shines in lessons that are useful, versatile, and engaging. Watercolor Class encourages creative exploration and growth from painters of all skill levels, and above all, a profound appreciation for the enchanting art of watercolor.

Watercolour Innovations features the work of 8 of today's leading professional artists, known for their innovative approach to watercolour painting, and is ideal for painters with some experience who are looking to take the next step in their work. The artists featured are: Michael Morgan * Jackie Devereux * Ray Evans * Richard Plincke * Catherine Brennand * Roger Dellar * Terry McKivragan * Laura Reiter Jackie Simmonds reveals how they use watercolour in unusual and creative ways. She explores their ideas and sources of inspiration, explains their choice of materials, and describes the wide range of techniques that they use so expressively. By sharing their knowledge and providing generous insights into their techniques and working methods, they offer amateur painters looking for new challenges a rare opportunity to learn from them and to develop their own watercolour skills more confidently. The book contains a number of features to encourage artists to progress in their watercolour painting. enjoyable work * Paintings-in-progress -- revealing the professional's approach to a watercolour * Artist's secrets -- offering personal tips and unexpected insights * Highlighted details -- focusing close-up on specific techniques In addition, the wide variety of styles, subject matter and techniques reflected in the artists' paintings provides a rich source of inspiration, as well as pleasure. With practical advice combined with a fine selection of contemporary watercolours, Watercolour Innovations is an invaluable guide for painters who wish to develop their work in a more innovative way.

A beautiful survey of the work of the members of the internationally respected Royal Watercolour Society, representing the finest contemporary watercolour painting in Britain today. This stunning book showcases the work of the members of the prestigious Royal Watercolour Society, including Ken Howard, Sonia Lawson and many other fine and well-known contemporary watercolour painters. Each artist discusses their inspiration and gives their best practical advice for working in this medium, offering a fascinating insight into the methods and techniques of professional artists. Have you ever wondered how an artist starts a piece, what keeps them working at it, how they make marks and mix colour or when they know a painting is finished? This intimate exploration of the daily creative striving of the artist and their patient technical procedures will fascinate professional and aspiring artists, collectors and anyone with a general interest in painting.

This title was first published in 2002: Draw ing on extensive primary research, Greg Smith describes the shifting cultural identities of the English watercolour, and the English watercolourist, at the end of the eighteenth and the beginning of the nineteenth century. His convincing narrative of the conflicts and alliances that marked the history of the medium and its practitioners during this period includes careful detail about the broader artistic context within which watercolours were produced, acquired and discussed. Smith calls into question many of the received assumptions about the history of watercolour painting. His account exposes the unsatisfactory nature of the traditional narrative of watercolour painting’s development into a ’high’ art form, which has tended to offer a celebratory focus on the innovations and genius of individual practitioners such as Turner and Girtin, rather than detailing the anxieties and aspirations that characterized the ambivalent status of the watercolourist. The Emergence of the Professional Watercolourist is published with the assistance of the Paul Mellon Foundation.

Shirley Trevena is a successful and popular watercolourist with a huge international fan base. Throughout her career Shirley has pushed the boundaries of watercolour and is regarded as one of Britain's most innovative artists in that medium. Shirley's watercolours are vibrant in colour, visually inspiring and strong in composition. In this book, Shirley shares her thoughts, ideas, stories and sketches of more than 100 paintings to give a valuable insight into the evolving work of a much-loved artist. Shirley breaks the conventional rules of watercolour in many different ways: through her exciting compositions, strange perspectives and above all, the strength and vibrancy of her colour combinations. In this exciting and inspiring book, Shirley gives her personal view of painting and shares her creative process with us.

Brimming over with exciting and innovative techniques, bestselling author Jane Betteridge's new book pushes watercolour to new heights, introducing vibrancy, texture and dynamism to this subtle medium.Following on from her bestselling book Watercolours Unleashed, Jane has taken her techniques even further. She introduces you to a huge range of new and exciting ways of working using crackle paste, modelling pastes, metallic leaf, gilding flakes, print and much more.This book will excite and inspire watercolour artists of all abilities to experiment and take a more dynamic approach to their painting.More than 35 techniques explained and illustrated.4 step-by-step projects show you how to combine the techniques.75 inspirational finished paintings.

This addition to the Artist's Studio series gives artists of all skill levels a current look at tools and techniques in the world of watercolor. From selecting brushes and paper to experimenting with a variety of mediums, readers can discover all they need to know to build their library of materials and start painting right away. To inspire creativity, the book highlights products that affect the consistency, sheen, and texture of the paint, including iridescent medium and impasto gel. Also, the book features world-renowned art materials brand Winsor & Newton, introducing artists to a broad range of high-quality products that are easy to find in any art & craft store.

First published in 1997, this volume will revolutionise the study of watercolour painting in Britain. The Royal Watercolour Society archive constitutes a major academic resource covering two hundred years of the history of watercolour painting in Britain. The rediscovery in 1980 of ‘the Jenkins Papers’, the early records of the Society, was a major find for the history of British art. The archives are substantial and remarkably comprehensive. Minutes of annual general meetings, Council and committees, are all intact; extraordinarily, the Society’s catalogues for its own exhibitions have also survived, with details of who bought the pictures and for how much. It contains biographical information on several hundred artists who practised throughout the United Kingdom from the end of the eighteenth century to the present day. Prepared by the archivist to the RWS, Simon Fenwick, this is not just a work of reference, but an absorbing book to dip into again and again. The Society of Painters in Water Colours, as it was then titled, was founded in 1804 to promote the interests of painters using watercolour and to provide a platform for members to sell their work. As such, its archives provide an excellent insight into the evolving debate on the status of the artists and their medium, and an authoritative account of the way in which watercolour paintings were sold, distributed and acquired. The substantial introduction by Greg Smith surveys some of the purposes and practices of watercolour from 1750 to the present day and highlights key issues, many yet to be examined, relating to the study of watercolour. His survey is arranged around a number of topics including the notion of watercolour as a British art, collecting and display, book illustration, architectural drawing, map-making and topography, antiquarian studies, decorative arts, printmaking, portrait miniatures and drawings, amateur practices and the changing status of the sketch.

Pastel Painting Techniques That Are Revolutionary, Fun and Easy! Designed for beginners considering using pastel for the first time, for experienced artists who may feel uninspired, and for anyone in between, the skills you will gain with Pastel Innovations, will help you build confidence and open your world so you can paint what CAN BE, not just what you THINK is. Explore the unique joys of pastel painting with: • An exploration of the basics: You'll expand your artist's vocabulary learning to use the elements and fundamentals of design to create beautiful, balanced paintings. • 20 simple exercises build off each other and help you grow as an artist, little by little, building confidence. • 40+ innovative pastel painting techniques: Feel inspired as you learn new approaches to using pastel to build up and reveal layers, incorporate monotypes as underpaintings, create texture that cannot be duplicated by drawing or painting, and more. • Thoughtful self critique: Questions, approaches and checklists that will result in better art, while at the same time making you a better artist. Leave your expectations behind and engage in the process of pastel painting with a newfound freedom to play and explore!