First published in 1816, this lively and informative narrative of a walking tour of North Wales was written by Edward Pugh (1763-1813) and richly illustrated with engravings of his own watercolour drawings of people and landscapes. (In this reissue, the drawings are reproduced in black and white, but the colour originals can be viewed at http://www.cambridge.org/9781108061483.) Pugh, a native Welsh speaker, travelled some 800 miles, criss-crossing Wales in every direction, collecting information about the industrial and agricultural condition of the country. He conversed with almost everyone he met, on the road and in the inns where he stayed. The book began as a guide to artists unwilling to risk departing from the main tourist routes where English was spoken. By the time it was published, however, its main aim was to vindicate the character of the Welsh people from the ill-informed accounts of English tourists.

A modern twist on watercolour flower painting - learn to paint your houseplants in the comfort of your own home. London-based designer Nikki Strange takes you through 20 highly visual step-by-step projects. New and budding artists can learn to paint beautiful leafy balms, exotic flowers, succulents and more, so you can create a modern artwork that you'll love to display in your home, use as stationery or proudly give to your friends and family. The process of studying and recreating each plant is described in clear step-by-step instructions, accompanied by stunning photography and a clean, contemporary design. In addition, a 25-sheet sketchpad with outlines of all the projects faintly printed on the pages is attached to the book for you to draw and paint on, so you can get started right away.

This title offers practical techniques and projects for beginners. It is a practical guide to watercolour painting for beginners, with expert advice, step-by-step techniques and hands-on demonstrations to build skills and confidence. It is illustrated with over 250 photographs, including easy-to-follow sequences and original artworks to guide and inspire. It explains the fundamentals of art, such as the basics of colour theory, scale and perspective, in a manner that makes learning easy. It introduces the equipment needed to get started in watercolour painting, including all the paints, brushes, palettes and pencils you will need. It features simple demonstrations of basic watercolour painting techniques, from laying a wash and working wet into wet through to textural styles, such as spattering, drybrush and sgraffito. This is the complete practical introduction to watercolour painting techniques for beginners. Each technique is introduced as a step-by-step sequence that enables the reader to learn the brush stroke, and is accompanied by a short exercise to allow even complete novices to produce simple studies from the outset. Written by two highly accomplished artists, the book explains the fundamental theories of art, such as understanding tone, scale and perspective, and is packed full of valuable hints and tips. With step-by-step techniques and easy-to-follow projects that allow new skills to be put into practice as they are learned, this is an essential manual for all beginners.

I am not one for pretty pictures.' Perhaps when I am long gone this will be a quote that I am remembered for alongside my paintings. For you will mostly find me in the gallery on a sunny day and out on the moors when it is at its most inhospitable, for these are the days that captivate me. All your senses are alive, so that what you visibly see is not the whole painting , the rest comes from you. Ashley Jackson's Watercolour sketches is a collection of these raw drawings combined with my intimate thoughts and feelings, together they may become a finished painting. I suppose you could say that I use my sketchbook in the same way that others create a diary of words, they are a reflection of my relationship with the Yorkshire landscape. In all honesty, they were never intended for anything other than my personal recollections. I can go back to the drawing months later and mentally open that moment as if I was stood in that same location, I could tell you the weather, the sounds and smells , whilst the colours are as vivid as if I had gone back in time and revisited the day itself. This book allows you to step back from my dramatic and atmospheric watercolour paintings and see the landscape in its nakedness, through my private, personal sketches you can join me in my artistic journey and conversation with nature.

On trend watercolour painting for beginners! Influenced by the japanese art of watercolour painting called 'Etegami', author Lena Yokota-Barth starts with what you will need by way of materials, moving on to applying and mixing colour. There are then fifty motifs to choose from, all divided into levels of difficulty. For those new to watercolour painting, this book offers an easy introduction. All fifty motifs can be painted in five steps, which are all detailed clearly for a striking end result. Among the motifs are animals such as flamingos and llamas, popular plants, and fun-to-paint fruits, such as strawberries and watermelons. The basics of watercolour painting are presented in an easily understandable fashion, and the fifty motifs will give rise to limitless possibilities for designing posters, greetings cards, journal covers or even thoughtful, framed gifts.

This practical introduction to botanical illustration is formed of ten graded lessons, where each teaches you new skills to build upon the last. From mushrooms to orchids to hawthorn berries and leaves; once you've completed these lessons in drawing and painting botanical subjects, you will have all the techniques you need in order to tackle far more complex arrangements. An experienced teacher of botanical illustration, Valerie Price shows even the uninitiated illustrator how to produce accurate and beautiful results, with her step-by-step instructions on how to tackle each individual project. With advice on topics including accurate drawing, measuring and recording your subject, right the way through to preparing a well-composed botanical plate, this book covers everything you need to know to get ahead in botanical illustration.

The man behind the paintings: the extraordinary life of J. M. W Turner, one of Britain's most admired, misunderstood and celebrated artists J. M. W. Turner is Britain's most famous landscape painter. Yet beyond his artistic achievements, little is known of the man himself and the events of his life: the tragic committal of his mother to a lunatic asylum, the personal sacrifices he made to effect his stratospheric rise, and the bizarre double life he chose to lead in the last years of his life. A near mythical figure in his own lifetime, Franny Moyle tells the story of the man who was considered visionary at best and ludicrous at worst. A resolute adventurer, he found new ways of revealing Britain to the British, astounding his audience with his invention and intelligence. Set against the backdrop of the finest homes in Britain, the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution, this is an astonishing portrait of one of the most important figures in Western art and a vivid evocation of Britain and Europe in flux.

Creating beautiful botanical paintings has never been easier with these template outlines and art-quality watercolour paper. Perfect for absolute beginners in botanical art, the ready-to-use outlines allow you to focus on the painting and avoid the accuracy of composition drawings. Each outline includes a finished painting by artist Rachel Padder-Smith and a recommended colour palette, so all you have to worry about is enjoying the process! Included are step-by-step tutorials on all the essential tips and techniques you need to know, from painting different parts of the flower and shiny surfaces to perfecting the fine veins on leaves, as well as advice on how to correctly capture light. Rachel's stunning illustrations also include fruit and vegetables, so whether you're a lover of autumn leaves, spring daffodils, or even an onion or two, she has you covered. This detailed and visual art book is the perfect start for anyone looking to take up botanical art, refresh their skills, or simply appreciate the beauty of nature.

This is the first book in over a century to examine the important work of the watercolour artist and illustrator Frederick Walker (1840-1875) and his closest artistic allies. He was greatly admired (and collected) by Vincent van Gogh and was described by Millais as 'the greatest artist of the century' and yet his premature death at the age of 35 cut short his promising career. Walker, together with his close friends George John Pinwell (1842-1875) and John William North (1842-1924), forged new artistic identities that sought the perfection of the world around them and the distillation of beauty from seemingly mundane subjects. Donato Esposito focuses successive chapters on the lives and works of each of the core members of Walker's group, charting their unconventional journey from a loosely bound collective rooted in the London-based black-and-white world of commercial illustration to a renowned grouping known as the Idyllists, respected and eagerly collected by galleries and private individuals in Europe, America and Australia. The book, which reproduces many of the Idyllists' works in colour for the first time, represents a vital contribution to the literature on Victorian art and restores the Idyllists to their rightful place in the history of British 19th-century art.

A new, fully revised edition of the bestselling publication exploring J.M.W. Turner's spectacular array of watercolours.  The lifetime of J.M.W. Turner (1775-1851) was also the classic age of English watercolour, and the artist's mastery and perfection of the medium coincided with its establishment as an independent art form. This volume examines the unique body of watercolours Turner produced.  Few can doubt that J.M.W. Turner was the greatest exponent of English watercolour in its golden age. An inveterate traveller in search of the ideal vista, he rarely left home without a rolled up, loosebound sketchbook, pencils and a small travelling case of watercolours in his pocket. He exploited, as no one before him, the medium's luminosity and transparency, conjuring light effects on English meadows and Venetian lagoons and gauzy mists over mountains and lakes. Extraordinary in his own time, he has continued to thrill his countless admirers since.  David Blayney Brown, one of the world's leading experts on Turner, reveals the role watercolours played in Turner's life and work, from those he sent for exhibition to the Royal Academy to the private outpourings in which he compulsively experimented with light and colour, which for a modern audience are among his most radical and accomplished works.

This invaluable handbook for all watercolourists takes a practical problem-and-solution approach to painting a range of popular subjects, showing common mistakes and how to rectify them. Mastering fundamental drawing and watercolour techniques forms the basis of successful watercolour painting - the author starts by leading readers through a series of examples and exercises that will introduce them to tonal drawing, colour mixing, applying washes, and much more. Readers will then be ready to move on to the eight themed sections designed to help them in their specific areas of interest. Each theme starts by demonstrating the basic brushstrokes required for that subject. Trudy then sets out a series of problem-and-solution pages that are packed with useful tips on how to paint those subjects and avoid common pitfalls. The information throughout is presented clearly with plenty of useful annotations in a handy portable size so readers can take it wherever their painting takes them.

In over 150 watercolour paintings and pencil sketches, Graham Byfield takes us on a tour of Oxford's historic landmarks, celebrated colleges and beautiful landscapes. But he also takes time to reveal some of the architectural treasures in little-known back streets and hidden cloisters. This is a book that captures the character of Oxford which charms millions each year, but is often lost in their snapshots and postcards. Illustrated throughout with superb watercolours printed on textured paper, Roger White's captions reveal the author's passion for Oxford, resulting in a sketchbook that offers an idiosyncratic and vibrant account of the city and its fascinating history. This book is the latest in the popular Sketchbook series, also distributed by Thames & Hudson, that includes Paris Sketchbook, London Sketchbook, Singapore Sketchbook, Thailand Sketchbook, The Loire Valley Sketchbook and Venice Sketchbook.

An inspirational and practical art manual, packed with step-by-step projects. Artist Ann Blockley is renowned for her innovative approach to watercolour painting. Her highly anticipated new book provides a series of workshops demonstrating how to push the boundaries of watercolour, using key techniques to develop your own work and take your paintings to the next level. Ann's easy-to-follow, step-by-step projects demonstrate how some of her most dramatic paintings are created. She describes in detail some of the key techniques used and how you can experiment with alternative methods to create your own interpretations. Finally, her beautiful and inspirational artworks demonstrate how different interpretations of a subject might take an unexpected or unusual direction, and how to make the most of these opportunities. The book moves, with progressively challenging projects, from loose wildflower meadows, textured woodland and rustic rambling walls to atmospheric or semi-abstract landscape corners, all rendered in Ann's adventurous signature style. Loose, expressive mark-making and unusual techniques include combining water-based paint and ink with granulation medium for dramatic texture, drawing with twigs, using gesso and collage to create unique effects; manipulating paint with materials such as plastic wrap (clingfilm); developing printed marks made using found materials. Following the huge demand for more practical guidance in experimental painting, the book provides plenty of techniques and instruction. Ann's personal commentary also gives a unique insight into the mind of the artist - ways of looking at your subject, how to explore and experiment - to unlock the potential of your watercolour painting.

This comprehensive guide to painting landscapes in watercolour features the expert tuition of six renowned watercolour artists. It covers all aspects of painting, from materials and techniques through to planning a painting, sketching and perspective. Learn the techniques of wet into wet, spattering, dry brushing, lifting out and using salt to create texture and interest, and follow the step-by-step demonstrations to create realistic water, skies, reflections and buildings, as well as mood and atmosphere. With nine beautiful projects to try, and numerous examples of the authors' work to inspire you, this is the ideal introduction to landscape painting for artists of all abilities. This book includes material previously published in the highly successful Step-by-Step Leisure Arts series and the Watercolour Tips and Techniques series.

Dive into figure painting with this fresh take on capturing the human form in watercolour.Painter Leo Crane and art model Roy Joseph Butler explore how to interpret the gestures and movements of the figure through the language of paint. Through a range of exercises, they show how to work with the fluidity and immediacy of watercolour to create lively paintings that are bursting with character and narrative possibility.With experience in both fine art and animation, they share tips on bringing life to the figure, and encourage you to discover a liberating and enjoyable approach to paint. Packed with techniques, exercises and step-by-step demonstrations, the book covers: *The Figure: Observing the human figure and working with life models. *Watercolour: Materials, tools, techniques and colour theory. *Speed: Capturing movement and painting at speed, with two-minute studies. *Gesture: Poses, sequences and conveying expression. *Story: Creating mood, context, composition and narrative. *Beyond the Figure: Bringing human energy and movement to still life, animals and landscapes. *From the models: Life model case studies.Paintings by Leo feature throughout to demonstrate the working process through to finished product. With a focus on the dynamic exchange between artist and subject, speed, gesture and story, this book will appeal to artists looking anew at life painting and who are eager to capture the essence of character in movement.

Painting on canvas poses many exciting opportunities for the artist. Along with the immediacy, vibrancy and unpredictability of watercolours, it is a liberating and creative process. This practical book explains how to start painting with watercolours on canvas and goes on to encourage new style and experimentation. It gives step-by-step demonstrations on different techniques to achieve loose, dynamic images. It is a beautiful and passionate account of how to work on a non-traditional surface to achieve striking and innovative paintings.

It is a thoughtful and fresh approach to one of the most popular paint mediums. It emphasis on taking chances and making informed risks makes this book invaluable to serious watercolourists. It features artwork with a wide range of subjects and styles. For serious watercolourists seeking a vibrant expressive quality in their work. "Watercolor Painting" is designed to promote a more thoughtful, fresh and original approach to watercolour. A medium known for its beguiling ironies, watercolour takes great skill to control, yet must appear to be free of control. Throughout the book, notable artist and teacher Tom Hoffmann stressed that students of watercolour must understand that realising the potential of watercolour involves taking chances and informed risks. The key to success lies in knowing what will happen when brush touches paper.

Antarctica, that icy wasteland and extreme environment at the ends of the earth, was - at the beginning of the 20th century - the last frontier of Victorian imperialism, a territory subjected to heroic and sometimes desperate exploration. Now, at the start of the 21st century, Antarctica is the vulnerable landscape behind iconic images of climate change. In this genre-crossing narrative Gould takes us on a journey to the South Pole, through art and archive. Through the life and tragic death of Edward Wilson, polar explorer, doctor, scientist and artist, and his watercolours, and through the work of a pioneer of modern anthropology and opponent of scientific racism, Franz Boas, Gould exposes the legacies of colonialism and racial and gendered identities of the time. Antarctica, the White Continent, far from being a blank - and white - canvas, is revealed to be full of colour. Gould argues that the medium matters and that the practices of observation in art, anthropology and science determine how we see and what we know. Stories of exploration and open-air watercolour painting, of weather experiments and ethnographic collecting, of evolution and extinction, are interwoven to raise important questions for our times. Revisiting Antarctica through the archive becomes the urgent endeavour to imagine an inhabitable planetary future.

Using the Japanese hake brush, obtainable from most art and craft shops, Ron Ranson demonstrates how, because of its nature and size, it forces the watercolourist to simplify the subject matter and thus distil the essence of a scene. He also discusses the dissecting and dramatizing of the subject.

Among the women artists who came to prominence in the postwar era in New York, painter Nell Blaine had a uniquely hard-won career. In her mid-thirties, her horizons seemed limitless. Her shows received glowing reviews, ARTnews honored her with a lengthy feature article, and one of her paintings hung in the Whitney Museum. Then, on a trip to Greece, Blaine developed polio, rendering her a paraplegic. Angry at being told she would never paint again, she taught herself to hold a brush with her left hand and regained her skill. In Alive Still, author Cathy Curtis tells the story of Blaine's life and career for the first time by investigating the ways her experience of illness colored her personality and the evolving nature of her work, the importance of her Southern roots, and the influence of her bisexuality (and, in the latter part of her life, long term lesbian relationships) on her understanding of the world. Alive Still draws upon Blaine's unpublished diaries; her published writing; career-spanning interviews and reviews; and correspondence to and from family members, lovers, and the artists, poets, publishers, rescuers in Greece, and neighbors she knew. In addition, Curtis has conducted interviews with surviving artists and other individuals in Blaine's circle, including two of her longtime lovers. Featuring illustrations of Blaine's work and snapshots of family and friends, Alive Still is a compelling narrative of a leading, productive, and passionate woman artist who overcame the setbacks of disability.

Discover the great pleasure and fun of watercoloring with this great tutorial that reveals the techniques to master this medium and bring your creativity to the top, whether you have some expertise or are an amateur watercolorist. Day by day through a whole year, A Watercolour a Day provides fun tips and useful methods that will show you how to play with shadows and lights and layer glazes to produce your own beautiful hues, create textures, and enhance particular features. This book opens the door to a new way of observing your surroundings and enjoying art and life, making the most of every moment. By the end of this book, you will have incorporated watercoloring into your daily life, and you will be well-equipped to start using these techniques in your portraits, landscapes, interiors, still lives, or abstract patterns and will feel completely at ease designing compositions and painting in situ. Oscar Asensio is an experienced editor specializing in architecture and interior, industrial, and furniture design as well as healthy living, beauty, and fine art books. He has worked for a wide number of international publishers and his books have been translated into many languages.

The sea reflects light and it is affected by weather. Skies change constantly from one minute to the next. Arnold Lowrey explores both subjects with enthusiasm and energy, showing how wonderful effects can be achieved with a range of watercolor techniques. Practical step-by-step demonstrations illustrate how to build up a painting, and inspirational paintings shows how the techniques can be adapted to create new pictures.