Ann Blockley is a very successful artist, known for the innovative way in which she uses texture as a key element in her work. This book, in Collins Artist s Studio series, looks at how she achieves her stunning effects and provides essential guidelines for the intermediate painter wishing to develop this aspect of their own painting.

Creating texture in watercolour can be quite a challenge but this book provides a fresh approach to the subject. It focuses on a wide range of unusual techniques, some of which depart from the more conventional methods, revealing how to portray texture by a variety of means. Ann explains how to manipulate the paint by lifting out colour, scraping and scratching the paint, and by using additional materials such as wax, clingfilm, salt and metallic pigments. She also explains how the surface itself can play an important role in the effects that can be achieved, and experiments with acrylics, inks, gouache and collage as well as watercolour.

In later chapters Ann looks at the creative process and provides insights into how to develop ideas, then concentrates on how to portray texture in specific subjects, such as flowers and foliage, animals, still life, buildings and landscapes. Practical exercises, projects, step-by-step demonstrations and studio tips are included, as well as the work of several guest artists John Blockley, Moira Huntly and Shirley Trevena."

There are some areas of watercolour painting that beginners often have trouble with, and one of these is skies. A sky can make or break a landscape painting. In this invaluable guide, Stephen Coates leads you through some highly effective techniques that will demystify sky painting and turn a good watercolour landscape into a brilliant one. Stephen takes a unique, no-fuss approach to watercolour, emphasizing the importance of planning, preparation and practise and explaining clearly which tools and materials you need, and how to prepare your palette before embarking on a painting. He then guides you through seven awe-inspiring skies, from blue summer skies to dramatic sunsets and storm clouds, introducing new skills and techniques as you progress through the book. With numerous handy tips and many examples of Stephen's stunning landscapes throughout, this book will both instruct and inspire you to create beautiful, realistic skies with confidence.

Explore and create expressive palettes and paintings with Color Harmony for Artists. Watercolor author, artist, and teacher Ana Victoria Calderon guides you through choosing, mixing, and using color with watercolor and mixed media to create the most expressive and appealing combinations and effects for a wide range of moods and subjects. You'll explore a variety of subjects and themes, including flowers, foliage, landscapes, skies, cities, figures, art movements, and historical eras. Begin with a quick overview of the basics of color, color mixing, and mixed media. Explore a variety of color and media combinations, including brilliant brights, muted neutrals, high-contrast complements, and special effects. Find inspiration in evocative photos, abundant palettes, and beautiful paintings. With Color Harmony for Artists, every artist, from beginner to advanced, will be inspired to embrace the creative possibilities of color and paint!

Learn to paint tropical watercolor flowers and foliage in simple steps with this free and easy approach to watercolor painting for beginners. Marie Boudon's beautifully presented creative course will get you started in this expressive and fun medium. Find out about the essential materials you need, learn about color mixing for an on-trend jungle palette, get expert tips on transparency, overlays and negative space, discover ideas for compositions and then work step-by-step through over 20 tutorials for jungle plants and flowers. From palm trees, monstera leaves and other jungle foliage to tropical flowers such as hibiscus, bird of paradise and anthurium, you'll find easy exercises and inspiring ideas for jungle-themed art, which is a huge trend in interiors and surface pattern design. Along the way, be inspired by Marie's gorgeous ideas for presenting the finished work as art pieces, journal pages, handmade stationery and greetings cards, inspirational quote frames, personalized gifts and more.

'If you want to learn about gouache, this should keep you satisfied for a very long time.' Artbookreview.net If you love painting with watercolour and are ready to experiment with something different, then the versatile medium of gouache could be just the thing for you. Gouache is water-based, quick-drying and, can be painted light over dark as well as dark over light. Ideal for the beginner, it can be used thinly in a watercolour style, or more thickly as with oils or acrylics. This guide covers all the materials and tools required and has a comprehensive techniques section that includes overlaying colours, colour blending and troubleshooting. Experienced author Jeremy Ford takes you through three simple, step-by-step projects, each showcasing a unique style of painting with gouache. Numerous finished paintings are included to demonstrate the range of subjects, styles and techniques that you can achieve, and encourage you to develop your own style of painting using this exciting medium.

This beautifully illustrated book is the first practical step-by-step guide to using coloured pencils in botanical painting and is written by Ann Swan, one of the top exponents of the genre. Water-soluble and oil-based coloured pencils are becoming increasingly popular for botanical painting as they are easier to use than traditional watercolour and are more forgiving, yet they produce the same stunning effects. They are especially suitable for the accuracy needed to paint in the botanical style of illustration. In this book Ann Swan gives helpful advice on all aspects of working with coloured pencils, including the techniques you will have to master - underpainting, layering and burnishing. She also demontrates how to mix and build up colour, and how to add those finishing touches that will complete your painting successfully. Several full step-by-step demonstrations are included to show how these techniques are put into practice. The book concludes with a gallery of coloured pencil works by the author, students of botanical painting and other professional botanical painters, providing a wonderful source of reference and inspiration.

Relax and dive into the ultimate guide to creating watercolor paintings of your favorite flowers! From bright red roses to deep green cacti, this gorgeous, easy-to-follow book will show how anyone can paint luminous watercolor flowers and botanicals. Noted artist and instructor Rachel Eskandari details how anyone can paint a garden of bold, creative watercolor images. Featuring colorful step-by-step images, this book shows how to master the basics of watercolors and then expand your color palette to create boldly unconventional floral artwork. Watercolor Botanical Garden features everything you need to know, including: *Color theory and mixing for unique shades *Utilizing the skills of blending, gradients, and shading *Lesson for creating 25+ different plants and flowers including roses, cacti, peonies, nigella, agave, anemones, queen of the night, leaves, and more *How to incorporate multiple botanical images for a gorgeous landscape painting

Master artist and best-selling author David Bellamy shares with you his techniques, ideas and approach to painting his beloved landscape throughout the year. A revised and expanded edition of David Bellamy's Winter Landscapes in Watercolour, David looks at each season in detail and explores the challenges and surprises they present to the landscape artist. Also covered are learning techniques for seasonal effects such as rendering hoar frost on trees; misty and atmospheric effects; injecting rogue colours to add excitement to your work; how to tackle a variety of tree branches for different species; depicting light branches against dark backgrounds; altering the composition to suit your needs, and so much more.

Our Butterflies QuickNotes collection of full colour notecards are a selection of beautifully reprinted watercolour paintings from the very talented Becca Stadtlander. Our QuickNotes boxed notecards are full colour, collectable greeting / notecards that are blank inside and can be used to convey personal greetings, thank-yous and invitations. 20 5x4 notecards and envelopes 5 cards each of 4 images Packaged in a keepsake box with magnetic lid Measures 140 x 114 x 38mm. We choose the best images from well-known classic and contemporary fine artists, plus talented emerging illustrators and designers from around the globe.

Brighten a special someone's day with notecards from this 12-card set, featuring watercolors of the four seasons, painted by Jenny deFouw Geuder. The best, most thoughtful greeting cards are the ones you write yourself. Say everything you wish to say with this wonderful collection of notecards by acclaimed watercolorist and naturalist Jenny deFouw Geuder. The Seasons Boxed Notecard Assortment showcases four favorite paintings from Jenny's coffee-table book, Drawn to Birds. The 12-card set with envelopes includes three cards each of four different designs. The notecards spotlight the splendor of winter, spring, summer, and fall. At 5.25" x 4.5", the blank notecards are perfect in size for everything from a short "thank you" to a full-length letter. Say happy birthday, send your deepest sympathies, congratulate your loved ones' accomplishments, or celebrate their special occasions. The Seasons Boxed Notecard Assortment will be appreciated by nature lovers, outdoors enthusiasts, and anyone who enjoys watercolor art. So let your loved ones know you're thinking of them with these beautiful cards.

Following on from his successful book Watercolour Trees, Terry presents a new edition of this award-winning title, and includes a great selection of clear, detailed step-by-step demonstrations along with extra tips to show how to paint beautiful trees quickly and easily. He teaches how to paint an impression of trees, rather than showing how reproduce each leaf, and illustrates the importance of understanding shapes, perspective, light and shade, and the way foliage changes with the seasons. This is a book for all landscape artists whatever their skill levels, and anyone who wants to learn more about painting trees whether they are magnificent in their winter habitat, gloriously bedecked in spring foliage, splendid in their summer raiment or stunning when their leaves turn to russet reds and spun golds.

In this beautifully produced book, artist and teacher David Webb shares his expertise to provide comprehensive guidance for anyone painting in watercolour, from beginners up. How-to techniques are at the heart of the book and feature detailed explanations and demonstrations that will get you progressing fast, with a real understanding of the medium. Included in this section are 'Help!' panels that focus on what can go wrong: the typical mistakes made and how you can avoid them. Readers will also discover the widest possible range of watercolour techniques thanks to our team of internationally recognised guest artists, who will be revealing some of their painting secrets in a series of 'life lessons' - how they appear to get the paint to really glow and their paintings to spring into life.

Learn how to paint adorable animals, flavorful fruits, lively plants, and more in this free-and-easy approach to watercolor. Artist Natalia Skatula has a beautiful, whimsical style that will charm you through 12 simple step-by-step projects and over 100 worked examples. Beginning with an overview on materials and equipment, Natalia then covers the general techniques needed to achieve the paintings, along with her top-10 personal tips for success. Projects include: A majestic whale An adorable sloth Elephants Pandas Dogs Llamas Bears Foxes Rabbits And more! This book also includes a range of presentation ideas to inspire you to put your finished work on display or gift it. The gallery of examples that follows includes plants, cats, beetles, birds, sealife, jungle creatures and fruits, giving you a treasure-trove of references for your painting. This book also makes the perfect gift for artists of all ages, especially plant and animal lovers. Find the inspiration and technique to start your watercoloring adventures with this beautiful guide!

Get inspired with gentle and serene watercolour painting as your next calming hobby. The watercolours explained in this book achieve two essential objectives: for you to immediately enjoy painting, and acquire a solid foundation.

Bored with the same old paints? The Organic Painter introduces innovative techniques for using non-traditional "paint" derived from materials like coffee, tea, and alcohol, to encourage freedom and expression! Traditional art supplies will only take you so far! Sometimes you need to try something completely new and different. That's where The Organic Painter comes in. With a little guidance, you'll soon be painting with everyday materials you'd never considered as an artistic medium. This inspiring book gives you all the techniques and ideas you'll need to boost your creativity, learn natural paint-making, and be more resourceful with your art materials. Imagine the unique things you'll make when you create natural paints from coffee, tea, embroidery and flame. Each project in this guide book comes with instructions on how to make the paint, and also includes experiments and explorations for you to try. Plus, a simple painting accompanies every featured material and combines it with other materials or techniques, so you'll never lack inspiration.

Explore the deserts, mountains and souks of the Middle East, with best-selling author and artist David Bellamy. Following on from David's highly acclaimed Arctic Light, this book provides an intriguing and often entertaining insight into South Arabia and the Swahili Coast, Jordan, Lebanon and Oman. It describes the history, culture, customs and geography of the region and the daily life of its inhabitants, as viewed through the eyes of a world-renowned watercolour artist and life-long adventurer. Filled with personal anecdotes and humour, David Bellamy's unique account shines a light on the Middle East and highlights the incredible beauty and fascinating culture of this much-neglected region. David's stunning artwork, that he painted during his various expeditions, features throughout the book and captures perfectly the diverse and majestic nature of the region. Watercolourists will be inspired by the author's awe-inspiring ability to depict sweeping vistas and create a sense of space in his paintings, and to capture the very essence of a place through his art.

A new pocket-book edition of the bestselling watercolour tip book by renowned artist Charles Evans. Discover 100 top tips for painting in watercolour that will take the mystery out painting, covering topics from creating depth, introducing harmony, how to deal with light and shade and how to create mood and atmosphere, this book was previously published as Charlie's Top Tips for Watercolour Artists. Contained inside one slim, notebook-size book that will fit perfectly in your kit bag for easy transportation while painting on the go, it includes quick, clever tips that are easy to follow and effective.

Make this Christmas a watercolor wonderland with this creative guide to painting through the festive season. Christmas is the perfect time to get creative with watercolors with lots of handmade cards to paint - but cards are only a small part of the ideas that you will get from this book. Here you'll find a wealth of inspiration and techniques for all sorts of watercolor projects this Christmas! First, the book covers the materials and equipment you need for watercolor painting - from paints and brushes to paper and other materials such as masking fluid and watercolor ground. You'll then learn how to create both traditional and contemporary color palettes for Christmas, and discover a wide range of watercolor techniques including washes, layering, blending and gradation, plus experimental ideas to try such as using salt, bleach and masking fluid in your work. Twelve creative projects follow, with easy-to-follow step-by-step tutorials so that even beginners to watercolor can jump right in. Learn how to paint your own Christmas cards, gift tags and gift boxes, create seasonal table settings, hand painted Christmas crackers and garlands, and unique hand-painted Christmas gifts including a watercolor wreath. Using innovative but accessible watercolor primer products, you can now prepare a wide variety of surfaces for watercolor painting. This inspirational book will also show you how to use these exciting new products to paint onto glass baubles, 3D cardboard letters, wooden tree ornaments and more. And once you have the skills, who knows where your imagination will take you? Finally, a gallery of additional Christmas motifs and designs that can be used for further inspiration can be found at the end of the book including reindeer, robins, mittens, snowflakes, stars, baubles, snowmen, candy canes, winter foliage, presents, decorations, elves and much much more! Artist Ingrid Sanchez, aka @creativeingrid, is a self-confessed Christmas afficianado who has brought all her Christmas spirit to bear in creating and illustrating this book. In this unique celebration of Christmas in watercolor, she shares her beautiful artwork and expert guidance, which will help you turn Christmas into the most artistic time of the year!

This nostalgic, humorous and richly illustrated volume celebrates the Somerset of years gone by. Syd Durston was seven when the Second World War broke out. As well as causing panic in Britain's cities, the war transformed life in the countryside in all sorts of ways. This is how one boy remembers life in rural Somerset during that time, where from 'the age of ten you were at school between 9 a.m. and noon, and then you could work on the land until 8 p.m.'. It is an elegy to the levels and the moors, and the rich diversity of wildlife that could once be found in the fields - 'thousands of grasshoppers, large and small, hopping everywhere, butterflies of all kinds feeding on the red clovers that were now in flower; the smell of the honeysuckle and the dog roses in the hedges' - and a lament for the landscapes and ways of life that we have now lost. From the outbreak of war to the drama of D-Day, Syd - whose watercolour paintings, many of which illustrate this collection, aim to show the reality of farming life as it was then - captures a moment in history as it really was. Containing more than 120 paintings, sketches and drawings, it will delight residents and visitors alike.

Learn to use watercolours with confidence with this gorgeous and easy-to-use book of exercises and templates. Kick-start your creative spirit and develop a new zest for watercolour in this inspirational book from Katie Putt. When using watercolour, it is important to allow your painting to simply unfold across the pages of your sketchbooks and to learn from your successes as well as your mistakes. This wonderful book will show you how, through 68 challenges ranging from basic to more advanced techniques that you can work through in your own time. To help you on your way, 24 sheets of high-quality watercolour paper with printed outlines are included, corresponding to the projects in the book. So relax, experiment, learn from and build on your mistakes and let your watercolour skills take their own course.

Flowers are a perennial favourite of artists; and what better medium than luminous, delicate watercolour? Fiona Peart's new book is a complete course in learning to paint flowers, packed with handy hints and tips for new artists – or indeed anyone who wants to capture the beauty of flowers with paint. Numerous simple step-by-step exercises are seeded through the book to allow the reader's skills to grow towards more complex and rewarding projects. A range of flowers are included, from hydrangeas to camellias to hellebores. Fiona's clear, down-to-earth and friendly instructions encourage the reader to try different styles, while the 21 full-size, traceable outlines included mean that even those who don't wish to draw can get started quickly and simply, following the instructions provided. In the best-selling Absolute Beginner series, this book is suitable for absolutely anyone who wants to take their painting skills further and become an accomplished flower artist. 

A countrywoman's illustrated ramble through the seasons on the South Downs. Written over a period of twenty years, as she witnessed the stunning natural world around her, Antonia Dundas' diary records the progress of twelve months over her beloved South Downs. Accompanied with her own beautiful and delicately observed watercolours, this book revels in the passing of the seasons. Her celebration of nature's finery has been lovingly created, and will appeal to anyone with a love of the Downs and the natural world.

Using the watercolour pencils and paintbrush included, create unique pieces of Disneyland art