The second in a series of seasonal watercoloring books based on artist Kristy Rice's cutting gardens, this book celebrates summer's languid blossoms such as anemone, hollyhocks, coneflowers, and fuchsia. Her easy-to-learn, joy-driven approach includes simple tutorials on how to use watercolor and where to find affordable materials. A stationery-industry tastemaker, Kristy believes that making art, regardless of skill level, has the power to reconnect us to each other and ourselves. Touching brush to paper with water and color releases an inexplicable calm that so many of us long for, and making art, even in short bursts, brings us back to ourselves by slowing time.With 25 detailed, yet whimsical illustrations, artists are invited to continue the journey begun in her first watercoloring book series, Painterly Days.

This artist's portfolio of 25 watercolour prints of architectural Cape Town is a feast of colour, character and perspective. The late Ronald Cohen, architect and artist, spent a lifetime capturing his surroundings on paper. His first love was the urban scene, where he never tired of recording the lines, volumes and details of beautiful buildings, and the play of light on their facades. Assembled here loose leaf, on A3-sized, high-quality art paper, are 25 of Cape Town's iconic scenes, from soaring classical edifices to rows of flat-roofed semis, and incorporating schools, mosques, churches and homes, from grand to humble. A booklet is included, in which each work is discussed, giving some history about the site, its architect, influences and inhabitants. For lovers of Cape Town and its building and history, or anyone with an interest in painting, this is a wonderful collection to have, to enjoy, to frame - and it makes an inspired gift.

Lively skies, misty woodlands, country lanes, quiet harbours and soft reflections - these and more are presented by well-known artist Ray Campbell Smith as he shows how to capture the freshness and beauty of watercolours in his own distinctive style. He explains all his techniques clearly, from the initial planning and composition of a picture, to choosing colours, applying washes and capturing the glorious subtlety and glow of nature. Dry brush work, splayed brushwork and wet-in-wet are all included, with clear and helpful text accompanied by inspirational paintings and over 50 step-by-step demonstrations. Whatever your skill level, you will be able to develop your own style with this informative, richly-illustrated book.

"The Art of Watercolor Painting" offers a fresh take on a beloved classic art medium. This comprehensive how-to-paint book opens with a thorough introduction to the essential watercolor tools and materials artists need to get started, including paintbrushes, watercolor paints, sketchbooks, papers, and supports. Next, readers will learn about the fundamentals of watercolor, as well as a variety of painting techniques, including creating washes, mixing colors, preserving the white of the paper, painting soft blends, rendering realistic reflections, and working wet into wet, among others. Following this helpful introduction, four expert watercolorists show artists how to put their painting skills to use through simple step-by-step lessons, starting with initial sketches and culminating in final works of art. With subject matter that ranges from the whimsical to the traditional, including flowers, fairies, oceans, birds, and horses, "The Art of Watercolor Painting" features projects to suit artists of all tastes and skill levels. Also included are techniques specific to painting lifelike portraits, as well as tips for painting seascapes, including waves, ripples, foam, rocks, sand, boats, sunsets, and clouds. A section on Chinese brush painting features step-by-step painting lessons of a number of traditional subjects using time-honored painting techniques. With inspiration, instruction, and professional tips and tricks on virtually every page, "The Art of Watercolor Painting" is nothing short of an all-inclusive resource for both beginning and experienced watercolor artists alike. A handy index complements this reference guide, making this gorgeous full-color book the perfect addition to any artist's library.