Pouring Light

I was recently introduced to the technique of pouring watercolors to get some fabulous looks. I took a one-day workshop, which is a great way to start. The book is a great way to continue. The author gives her instructions clearly with plenty of pictures of describe what is happening. I've reviewed it a couple of times already and feel better equipped to do my fourth or fifth painting now. I highly recommend this book for use at home.

If you want to grow as an artist and put some new "tools" in your watercolor know-how kit, this is the book for you. If you have never taken a workshop with Jean Grastorf or, even if you have, you owe it to yourself to buy this book and learn or reinforce her exciting and unusual method for achieving beautiful, luminous paintings. If you are expecting the average, ordinary same-old, same-old watercolor how-to book, you will be unexpectedly delighted and surprised with this volume. And when you see her work, so beautifully reproduced in this book, you will understand why Jean uses this technique to create her award-winning paintings. Jean has done an outstanding job of demonstrating and explaining her method of pouring brilliant, glowing watercolors, and Northlight has done an outstanding job of setting up the book, complete with masking maps and other goodies that tell you exactly how to get from Point A to Point B to achieve the beautiful results possible only with this method. It's a book that every watercolorist should have on their shelf.

Jean Grastorf's Pouring Light: Layering Transparent Watercolor advocates pouring watercolor to achieve radiant results. It's a technique which involves balancing the free flow of watercolor on wet paper, which sounds complicated and iffy - but not under artist instructor Jean Grastorf's hand. From the unique requirements involved in pouring colors to understanding the role of light in the watercolor medium, Pouring Light is filled with tips, pages packed with color examples, and wonderful artist insights.

I've been fortunate enough to have taken a watercolor workshop with Jean Grastorf, and her book is almost as good as being in her presence and watching her work. The art itself is worth the purchase price, and Jean's step-by-step instructions are lucid and easy to follow. I especially appreciate Jean's emphasis on compostion and value studies. Her book--as well as her watercolor technique--are about much more than pouring watercolor. This book would be an excellent addition to any artist's library.

Jean Grastorf's technique is both intuitive and cerebral. Instead of pouring freely and deriving a painting from the unpredictable result; Grastorf teaches careful drawing, value sketches, extensive planned masking and controlled pours (usually just three colors). The results of this patient work are gorgeous. Note how many of the paintings shown are in private collections. The book is well written and extensively illustrated with useful examples. The completion of several paintings is demonstrated in detail, including "masking maps". Other watercolor artists (Roland Roycraft for example) have books on pouring techniques, but they are more free-form and intuitive in their approach. I love Grastorf's work, but I would advise the casual painter to think carefully before undertaking the process. It requires good planning, careful value analysis, repeated masking and pouring, and above all, patience. Even if you decide the process is not for you, I'd still recommend purchasing the book to own and study the beautiful images and to understand the potent mixture of emotion and intellect Grastorf uses to produce them.