The Watercolor Book: Materials and Techniques for Today's Artists

After reading several books about watercolor, I found this book to be the best watercolor book on the market. It is the clarity and thoroughness of the explanations that make this such a valuable resource. I particularly found the section on color theory helpful. This is not a book with a few scattered tips against a background of gorgeous pictures of the artist's work. Rather, it is a master teacher reaching out to all levels of learners as he takes the mystery and confusion out of doing watercolors. If you were only going to buy one book about watercolor--this is the book!! The Watercolor Book: Materials and Techniques for Today's Artists

I find this book great for beginners as it emphasizes the fundamentals of art elements and techniques for any painting or drawing medium. I found myself understanding more of the concepts I was already familiar with and I also learned much about watercolor's relation to elements of art. I really love the way he explains color and how watercolor is especially perfect for expressing color more than other types of painting. I also love seeing the step-by-step process of how he achieves the end result of each painting and concept he's discussing. It gives detailed instructions but allows you to imagine and create unique paintings, as well. He also hints about the standards of watercolor techniques and basics, such as saying how wet on wet is good for the organic look or adding too much color removes light since watercolor is a subtractive process. Great book, and I read it cover to cover, taking notes along the way. Very basic.

David Dewey's text on watercolor is not just another vanity book showcasing one artist's personal work, but a thorough in-depth introduction to both visualizing & handling a most difficult medium. Nor does it pretend to be an easy does it 1-2-3 & your painting watercolors type of book. Rather it is layered & dense with information that could easily keep you preoccupied for a year or more worth of instruction. Start with the monochromatic exercises in the beginning of the book & follow them religiously till you know them blindfolded. Do the same with the invaluable content on color theory & the related exercises. The lessons provided will reward you with a mastery of the medium & help you to find your own voice in watercolor. This book is not another feeble attempt at learning to carbon copy of someone else's technique. The many examples of various watercolor artist's work & their analysis is excellent as well.

An outstanding book for the watercolor enthusiast. Dewey's chapters cover materials, subject matter and technique that even the advanced watercolorist can learn from. The book is a handy item to help both the practicing artist and teacher. Not so much a step by step study, but rather information that can be applied to the artists individual style and subject matter.

This book may take years to get through-there are so many useful exercises and projects,but it's impossible to come out of it without knowing a great deal about watercolor and all it's myriad possibilities. Through this book I found Dewey,teaching at the National Academy in NYC and I have been studing with him ever since...for four plus years,so of course I am biased, but I feel this book is a classic of technique and an essential to anyone serious about learning this quite difficult medium.