Have you ever been amazed by watercolor paintings that seem to spring to life before your eyes? Would you love to be able to paint with watercolors? Now, you can. Watercolor Painting For Dummies shows you the fun and easy way to create breathtaking paintings so beautiful you won’t believe you made them yourself.

This friendly, guide gives you hands-on instruction and easy-to-follow, step-by-step exercises to help you master the basics. Filled with full-color projects and sample paintings, it shows you how to work with color and texture, practice composition, and make smooth changes. You’ll find out how to select the best tools, materials, and supplies, practice basic brush strokes, and use the three best common techniques: flat wash, graded wash, and rough texture. Discover how to:

• Select the right brushes, pigments, and paper
• Mix colors and work with white
• Create backgrounds and foregrounds
• Transfer your drawings to watercolor
• Avoid common watercolor mistakes
• Experiment with texture using salt, sponges, plastic wrap, and more
• Find your way around the color wheel
• Practice the principles of design
• Plan compositions using thumbnails
• Work with one-point, two-point, and three-point perspective
• Paint fabrics, shiny surfaces, and organic textures
• Paint landscapes, seascapes, animals and more

Complete with strategies for improving your painting immediately and marketing and selling your work, Watercolor Painting For Dummies, is the resource you need to make your creative dreams come true.

Introduction.

Part I: Getting Your Feet (And Brushes) Wet.

Chapter 1: Watercolor Is Wonderful!

Chapter 2: Preparing to Paint.

Chapter 3: When the Paint Hits the Paper.

Chapter 4: Techniques and Tricks to Keep Up Your Sleeve.

Part II: Developing a Solid Foundation.

Chapter 5: Working with Color.

Chapter 6: Practicing the Principlesof Design.

Chapter 7: Composition: Putting It All Together.

Chapter 8: Draw, Drawing, Drawn to Watercolor.

Part III: Painting Projects Aplenty.

Chapter 9: Giving Life to Still Life.

Chapter 10: Staying Grounded with Landscapes.

Chapter 11: Dipping into Seascapes.

Chapter 12: Answering the Call of the Animal Kingdom.

Chapter 13: More Fun Projects.

Part IV: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 14: Ten Quick Ways to Improve Your Art.

Chapter 15: Ten (Plus One) Tips for Marketing Your Art.

Index.

Colette Pitcher, an artist and educator, is a regular contributor to Paint Works magazine and a signature member of the Colorado Watercolor Society. Colette owns the Showcase Art Center in Greeley, Colorado.

Filled with FULL COLOR, easy-to-complete projects and sample paintings

The fun and easy way to create beautiful works of art with watercolors

Would you love to paint with watercolors? You can! This friendly guide gives you hands-on instruction and easy-to-follow exercises to help you master the basics. You'll see how to work with color and texture, practice composition, and make smooth changes. And you'll paint a variety of subjects, from animals and still lifes to landscapes and seascapes!

• Select the right painting supplies

• Mix colors and work with white

• Create backgrounds and foregrounds

• Transfer your drawings to watercolor

• Avoid common painting mistakes

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Distributor: John Wiley & Sons
Publication Date: 02-05-2008
Pages: 294
Measurements: 254.5mm X 203.2mm X 18.700mm X 34.88oz