Step-By-Step Guide to Painting Realistic Watercolors

I just got this book, March, 2019. It has some beautiful pictures that the author shows step by step how to do what she is doing. She starts out showing and explaining what she means by watercolor terms. The directions are clearly written and illustrated with numerous pictures. I have literally hundreds of art books, but Dawn Heim gets the award for being the most clearly explained. The 10 projects are pretty, colorful, and diversified to allow for a broad learning experience. An excellent book!

This was one of the first watercolor books I ever bought when I first wanted to learn how to paint. First of all I'd like to list some of it's stronger points.1. The projects are beautiful with the subjects being mostly still-life (although there is one animal project of baby ducklings2. The author lists exactly the colors and brands she used in each project, the specific mixes of each colors and step-by-step directions for you to follow at each stage. Each project has stage-by-stage photos so you can see what your painting-in-progress should look like at the end of each stage.3. The "Critique Your Work" tip section. She lists some questions to ask yourself as you examine the finished painting to see what you did well and what can be improved.4. The "how moist is moist?" examination of loading a brush with color. This is one technique most other watercolor books either don't mention at all or if they do they don't explain it. The author gives photos and a detailed description of exactly what she means by a phrase such as "loaded brush", "moistened brush" etc.5. The section on values and painting a controlled wash. There is a page devoted to common problems that beginners can run into when trying to paint washes - complete with examples of some of these problems (streaky wash, backruns, etc.) and how to correct them or avoid them.It helps to buy the paints she recommends because it will eliminate one variarable that might make it harder to lead to a satisfying result. It is possible to use other brands (I did) but I recommend at least try to use the same pigment, if possible, as she lists in the book. For some people who are on a limited budget or don't want to invest in a lot of paint to be used only for this book's projects they might consider this a drawback. Also, this book doesn't cover painting portraits, wildlife, landscapes, seascapes, etc. It will be of most interest to fans of still-life subjects. Overall, I'm glad I own it as it is a big help to further development of techniques with watercolor.

This book was obviously written with a lot of thought behind it. I could not believe the detail that I found in this book. I am not a professional watercolorist, but I have been painting for a number of years. This book is a great reference for the experienced painter, but also a concise easy-to follow book for the beginning watercolorist. Ms. Heim's variety of subject matter is also very exciting. Unlike some books that focus on one subject matter, she has given us a number of different techniques and textures to try. I was most impressed by the colors in this book. In the step by step directions, I could mix a color as directed and then take a strip of scrap paper and dab it with paint and then compare with the sample color swatch of the book. To my surprise, it matched perfectly. It is obvious that Ms. Heim also took great care with the publisher to make sure the book was published with "true color". I recommend this book to anyone interested in producing beautiful watercolors, especially you beginners! Just as many of you, I have bought a lot of art books, but I only have a few that I actually use for reference when I am painting. This book is one of them! I am looking forward to buying her next book!

As an experienced watercolorist, this book not only inspires me to paint, but reminds me of the little things I may forget and take for granted in my painting. I remember when I first started doing watercolor, my teacher could not explain to me how much water I should have in my brush. I didn't know how to use my "expensive" paint to it's fullest potential and a lot of it went down the drain. This book will help beginners to use their tools right from the beginning. It's a book for anyone who does watercolor. She shows projects of all kinds. She covers many different textures. This is not just a book about painting flowers or landscapes, she paints flowers, animals, silver, doilies, gold, baskets, etc. Watercolorists.........this is a "must have" book. I understand that the author is working on a book about color. I can't wait until it comes out!!! The colors she uses in this book are so crisp and clean and she gives exact formulas techniques for mistake proof mixing. Buy it, you'll be amazed. The author is obviously a stickler for detail!!!

Dawn McLeod Heim not only knows how to paint, but executes in laymen's terms, the step- by-step approach to painting. When her steps are followed, one can't help but get great results. Many self-instructed books are hard to follow, and some leave the student with disappointing results....not this one! Ms. McLeod Heim does not leave out small details; she covers everything, leaving the student with pleasing results! This book is one you won't try and throw in the corner! A must for anyone interested in exploring the world of watercolor painting! Her instructions are easy to follow, and the pictures she shows along the way encourage the new painter to continue! I'd recommend this book as one to buy, and keep. A very inexpensive way to get GREAT art lessons!! She doesn't have you buy a lot of unnecessary supplies. I rate this A plus!