Paint Radiant Realism in Watercolor, Ink & Colored Pencil

As I look over the illustration and step by step instructions, I know I can change it for watercolors.......LOVE!!

I found this book to be expensive and wasn't sure if I should buy it, but it tempted me for so long that I ordered it eventually. I do not regret. There are many magnificent illustrations and very detailed instructions on how to achieve these results. Very unique approach to art and wonderful results. I have to warn however that if you are impratient type of person than this book is not for you. You have to have love for detail and accurate drawing to apreciate this mixed media approach. I recommend this book to all artists, who don't mind to spend great deal of time to achieve brilliant results.

"Paint Radiant Realism..." is one of the best art instruction books I've purchased. If you already enjoy incorporating intricate detail into your work, you will probably love it. But if you are not naturally a "detail freak", Ross's approach will probably drive you crazy. Beginners who still need step by step guidance in even the most fundamental aspects of the various media involved (pen & ink, watercolor and colored pencil) will probably not like this book. Only those who have a strong foundation in drawing, light and shade, and value contrast will be best able to fully comprehend and utilize Ross' mixed media techniques. The two demo pieces, "Sunspot" and "Daisy Faces" clearly outline Ross' step by step approach to building depth and realism with a combination of ink, watercolor and colored pencil.Personally, I found her use of ink to establish the darkest values, as well as her technique of using white colored pencil as a resist to save whites to be the most valuable ideas to incorporate into my own work. This, after all, is the real purpose of art instruction books. One should not buy a book in the hopes of becoming a clone of the author; rather one looks for aspects of the author's knowledge and techniques that can be incorporated into ones' own work.Excellent book and highly recommended for experienced artists.

This book suits realist watercolorists whose style involves creating paintings that show meticulous details to the degree of perfection. If you have achieved a reasonably good drawing skill and enjoy painting with careful brushstrokes to render likeness (as in photographic likeness), this book is right for you.The author starts out with covering materials, the process of developing ideas, and design elements for your paintings. Through well-executed step-by-step projects, the author impresses the readers with her ability to create breathtaking paintings using ink, watercolor, and color pencils; as well as with her rendering of color, light, shadow and painting themes. The projects include painting cozy interiors, pets, flowers, gardens, and wild animals and birds.Buy this book and start making money selling your paintings, or else I shall.STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.P.S. For folks that gave this book a poor review, perhaps this will help: This book is for realist watercolorists whose skills have gone beyond the doodling level of drawing. This book, in my opinion, is a real gem for intermediate artists who can even apply the presented approaches to start making and selling their paintings in mixed medium, not for beginners.