100 Best Watercolor Books of All Time

We've ranked the best watercolor books using expert recommendations, sales data, and millions of reader ratings. At Shortform, we know books. Our book guides are the best in the world. Learn why.

Everyday Watercolor: Learn to Paint Watercolor in 30 Days book cover1

Everyday Watercolor: Learn to Paint Watercolor in 30 Days

Jenna Rainey

5.0
A contemporary paint-every-day watercolor guide that explores foundational strokes and patterns and then builds new skills upon the foundations over the course of 30 days to create finished pieces.

This beautifully illustrated and inspiring guided watercolor-a-day book is perfect for beginning watercolor artists, artists who want to improve their watercolor skills, and visual creatives. From strok
Watercolor With Me in the Forest book cover2

Watercolor With Me in the Forest

Dana Fox

4.7
Unleash Your Creativity with 50 No-Sketch Watercolor Projects

From a classic dogwood rose, to a sly fox, to feathers that take on a dreamy quality, you can create polished artwork in just a few easy steps—no sketching required. Dana Fox, creator of Wonder Forest, is known for her unique and whimsical sense of style, and her popular watercolor workshops have introduced thousands to the joys of pain
Creative Watercolor: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners--Create with Paints, Inks, Markers, Glitter, and More! book cover3

Creative Watercolor: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners--Create with Paints, Inks, Markers, Glitter, and More!

Ana Victoria Calderon

4.5
Creative Watercolor offers beginners a fun, modern, and practical approach to a timeless medium with instructions on how to paint simple motifs, create elegant lettering, and embellish projects beautifully.

Popular watercolor artist and workshop instructor Ana Victoria Calderon shares her step-by-step techniques for painting modern designs in this classic medium. All the fundamentals needed to get
Watercolor with Me in the Ocean book cover4

Watercolor with Me in the Ocean

Dana Fox

4.5
5O No-Sketch Projects That Bring the Ocean to Life

Dana Fox, author of Watercolor with Me: In the Forest and founder of Wonder Forest, provides fifty new marine-themed projects in this beginner-friendly watercolor guide. Known for her whimsical art style and straightforward instruction, Dana leads you through three major watercolor techniques: wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, and ink-and-wash. Best of all,
The Complete Watercolorist's Essential Notebook: A Treasury of Watercolor Secrets Discovered Through Decades of Painting and Expe Rimentation book cover5

The Complete Watercolorist's Essential Notebook: A Treasury of Watercolor Secrets Discovered Through Decades of Painting and Expe Rimentation

Gordon MacKenzie

4.5
This special 10th-anniversary collection combines two of the best-loved North Light watercolor guides available: The Watercolorist's Essential Notebook and The Watercolorist's Essential Notebook: Landscapes. Clarifying and simplifying the various aspects of painting with watercolor, Gordon MacKenzie's The Complete Watercolorist's Essential Notebook will encourage and challenge you with new possibi
Billy Showell's Botanical Painting in Watercolour book cover6

Billy Showell's Botanical Painting in Watercolour

Billy Showell

4.4
Billy Showell’s highly accomplished paintings give a contemporary twist to the traditional art of botanical painting, and have received worldwide acclaim. In this her fourth book she reveals in depth the techniques she uses to produce her stunning works of art. Every aspect of botanical painting is covered, including the materials and tools you need, preserving your specimens, drawing, painting, c
15-Minute Watercolor Masterpieces: Create Frame-Worthy Art in Just a Few Simple Steps book cover7

15-Minute Watercolor Masterpieces: Create Frame-Worthy Art in Just a Few Simple Steps

Anna Koliadych

4.4
How to Make a Watercolor Paint Itself: Experimental Techniques for Achieving Realistic Effects book cover8

How to Make a Watercolor Paint Itself: Experimental Techniques for Achieving Realistic Effects

Nita Engle

4.4
Award-winning artist Nita Engle's breakthrough approach to watercolor shows readers how to combine spontaneity and control to produce glowing, realistic paintings. Her method begins with action-filled exercises that demonstrate how to play with paint, following no rules. Subsequent step-by-step projects add planning to the mix, demonstrating how to turn loose washes into light-filled watercolors w
Jean Haines' Paint Yourself Calm: Colourful, Creative Mindfulness Through Watercolour book cover9

Jean Haines' Paint Yourself Calm: Colourful, Creative Mindfulness Through Watercolour

Jean Haines

4.3
Meditative, peaceful and calming, watercolour painting offers a sense of control and self-worth to everyone, with no judgement or goal beyond the joy of painting itself. This book shows you how to calm and enhance your outlook through the movement of brush on paper.

Master artist Jean Haines leads you on a journey through paint, showing you how to wipe away your worries with the soothing, gentle st
Creating Textures in Pen & Ink with Watercolor book cover10

Creating Textures in Pen & Ink with Watercolor

Claudia Nice

4.3
Claudia Nice shows you how to turn ink and watercolors into the coarse-barked trunk of an oak, or the burnished smoothness of brass, or the verdant velvet of moss or any of many other things. She shows you how to use dots, fine lines, brushstrokes, black and white, color--a mixture of mediums and techniques--to suggest: glass, cast iron, adobe and brick, sunrise and sunset, driftwood, leaf texture
Painting in Watercolor: The Indispensable Guide book cover11

Painting in Watercolor: The Indispensable Guide

David Webb

4.3
Watercolor is an exquisite medium but an unforgiving one, and there is nothing that will dampen enthusiasm more quickly than the lack of a good result. The essential techniques and detailed explanations and demonstrations in this beautifully produced book will educate and encourage beginner to experienced artists so that they too can obtain results and have fun in the process.

Readers will also dis
Urban Watercolor Sketching: A Guide to Drawing, Painting, and Storytelling in Color book cover12

Urban Watercolor Sketching: A Guide to Drawing, Painting, and Storytelling in Color

Felix Scheinberger

4.3
A guide that shows painters, drawers, doodlers, and urban sketchers how to bring their drawings to life with colorful, bold, yet accessible painting methods.

COLOR YOUR LIFE

Bring new energy to your sketches of urban scenes with this fresh and simple approach to watercolor painting. Whether you’re an amateur artist, drawer, doodler, or sketcher, watercolor is a versatile sketching medium that’s perf
Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter book cover13

Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter

James Gurney

4.3
From New York Times best-selling author of the Dinotopia series, James Gurney, comes a carefully crafted and researched study on color and light in paintings. This art instruction book will accompany the acclaimed Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn't Exist.

James Gurney, New York Times best-selling author and artist of the Dinotopia series, follows Imaginative Realism with his second art-
The Watercolorist's Essential Notebook book cover14

The Watercolorist's Essential Notebook

Gordon MacKenzie

4.3
Painting with watercolors gives you endless opportunities to create the world you want. You choose whether to let the sun blaze or the rain pour, to move a maple tree here or make the trail wind over there, to subdue a hillside with quiet greens or make a forest glow with dazzling golds and reds. It's not only a matter of what to paint, but how to go about painting it.

This book examines, one at a
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening book cover15

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Robert Frost, Susan Jeffers

4.3
Ever since it was published in 1978, the picture-book presentation of Robert Frost's poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" has been an enduring favorite. For this special edition with a new design, trim size, and three new spreads, Susan Jeffers has added more detail and subtle color to her sweeping backgrounds of frosty New England scenes. There are more animals to find among the trees, and
A Field Guide to Color: Watercolor Explorations in Hues, Tints, Shades, and Everything in Between book cover16

A Field Guide to Color: Watercolor Explorations in Hues, Tints, Shades, and Everything in Between

Lisa Solomon

4.3
Play with paint, get creative with color, and discover your personal palette--a joyful, interactive workbook for creativity, self-expression, and deepening your understanding of how color works.

Color is one of the most profound ways we have to express ourselves. In this lively workbook for artists, graphic designers, hobbyists, and creators of all types, you will journal your way through fresh and
The Watercolor Flower Artist's Bible: An Essential Reference for the Practicing Artist (Artist's Bibles) book cover17

The Watercolor Flower Artist's Bible: An Essential Reference for the Practicing Artist (Artist's Bibles)

Claire Brown

4.3
This hardcover book with internal wire-o binding is 6.5in x 8in, a perfect size for readers to keep handy in the studio, and reference often. The stylish design of this book, along with the interior photographs, illustrations and diagrams, make the learning process simple and fun for beginning painters and provides useful tips for more advanced artists.This book is divided into three sections. In
Creating Textured Landscapes with Pen, Ink & Watercolor book cover18

Creating Textured Landscapes with Pen, Ink & Watercolor

Claudia Nice

4.2
Capture the Rich Textures of Nature, Step by Step

Capture nature's beauty as you never have before. Beloved artist and teacher Claudia Nice leads you on an inspired journey through the great outdoors. With paints in hand, she shares with you her best techniques for creating landscapes that come alive with richness, depth and textured detail.

Read this guide and start painting right away. As you foll
The Joy of Watercolor: 40 Happy Lessons for Painting the World Around You book cover19

The Joy of Watercolor: 40 Happy Lessons for Painting the World Around You

Emma Block

4.2
Enjoy the meditative art of watercolor with simple supplies, forty colorful illustrated lessons, and easy step-by-step instructions!
For a soothing boost of creativity and whimsy, try your hand at watercolor. With a few simple steps, anyone can discover their artistic side and achieve moments of peace and tranquility. Forty straightforward lessons promise fun and colorful results -- no pressure and
A-Z of Flower Portraits: An Illustrated Guide to Painting 40 Beautiful Flowers in Watercolour book cover20

A-Z of Flower Portraits: An Illustrated Guide to Painting 40 Beautiful Flowers in Watercolour

Billy Showell

4.2
Capturing slender stems and fragile flower blossoms, this step-by-step resource updates traditional botanical paintings, adding an elegant, modern flair to flower portraiture. Each of the four project chapters offer insightful case studies, close-up details, and explanations of various styling techniques and finishing methods that give more than 30 flower portraits an organic feel, emphasizing the
The Joy of Botanical Drawing: A Step-By-Step Guide to Drawing and Painting Flowers, Leaves, Fruit, and More book cover21

The Joy of Botanical Drawing: A Step-By-Step Guide to Drawing and Painting Flowers, Leaves, Fruit, and More

Wendy Hollender

4.2
A gorgeous, easy-to-follow, and inspiring guide to stunningly realistic botanical drawing that covers everything you need to draw our natural world.

Achieve amazingly realistic and vibrant botanical illustrations, from flowers so dazzling you feel as if you might be able to smell them, to tomatoes that look as if they've just been picked from the garden. Wendy Hollender is known for her vivid, deta
Painting Portraits and Figures in Watercolor book cover22

Painting Portraits and Figures in Watercolor

Mary Whyte

4.2
Using clear and concise language and in-depth, step-by-step demonstrations, author and renowned artist Mary Whyte guides beginning and intermediate watercolorists through the entire painting process, from selecting materials to fundamental techniques to working with models. Going beyond the practical application of techniques, Whyte helps new artists capture not just the model's physical likeness,
Watercolour Fruit & Vegetable Portraits book cover23

Watercolour Fruit & Vegetable Portraits

Billy Showell

4.2
Billy showell's exquisitely executed watercolour portraits of fruit and vegetables give an unconventional, often amusing, twist to traditional botanical studies, taking them on to a new and exciting contemporary level.
Making Color Sing: Practical Lessons in Color and Design book cover24

Making Color Sing: Practical Lessons in Color and Design

Jeanne Dobie

4.2
Through clear, illuminating exercises, this best-selling book stimulates new ways to think about color, generating responses that unlock personal creativity and allow artists to express themselves with paint as never before. Readers are shown how the interplay of complementary hues can trigger vibrations; how the push and pull of warm and cool colors can create a feeling of space; how to disguise
Daily Painting: Paint Small and Often To Become a More Creative, Productive, and Successful Artist book cover25

Daily Painting: Paint Small and Often To Become a More Creative, Productive, and Successful Artist

Carol Marine

4.2
A unique system for jump-starting artistic creativity, encouraging experimentation and growth, and increasing sales for artists of all levels, from novices to professionals.

Too many artists find themselves in a frustrating rut: unable to sell paintings hanging in galleries, bogged down by projects they can't finish "or "abandon, and using any excuse to avoid working in the studio. Author Carol Mar
Dreamscapes: Creating Magical Angel, Faery & Mermaid Worlds in Watercolor book cover26

Dreamscapes: Creating Magical Angel, Faery & Mermaid Worlds in Watercolor

Stephanie Pui-Mun Law

4.2
Bring a Fantasy World of Enchanting Beings to Life!

Angels, faeries and mermaids have engaged the imaginations and enchanted the brushes of artists for centuries. Now you can evoke the spirit of these mythical creatures and create fantastic works of ethereal art in watercolor. Step by inspired step, Stephanie Pui-Mun Law shows you how to paint the otherworlds' most marvelous creatures and exquisite
Dreamscapes Fantasy Worlds: Create Engaging Scenes and Landscapes in Watercolor book cover27

Dreamscapes Fantasy Worlds: Create Engaging Scenes and Landscapes in Watercolor

Stephanie Pui-Mun Law

4.2
Breathe Life Into Your Fantasy Worlds!

Heroes and heroines seek their fortunes in mysterious forests. Towering castles are built into the sides of mountains. Dragons and fairies soar through the sky and among the stars. And bestselling author Stephanie Pui-Mun Law is here to lead you, step-by-step, through the process of creating the forests, mountains, skies, stars and vistas in which these grand
Creating Textures in Watercolor: A Guide to Painting 83 Textures from Grass to Glass to Tree Bark to Fur book cover28

Creating Textures in Watercolor: A Guide to Painting 83 Textures from Grass to Glass to Tree Bark to Fur

Cathy Johnson

4.2
Silken strands of hair. Water tumbling over rocks. Blinding reflections in glass or metal.

Cathy Johnson shows you how to create realistic textures like these and make your watercolor paintings come alive.

You'll find practical, easy-to-follow guidelines inside for creating 83 wonderful textures for fruits, vegetables, hair, glass, metal, fabric, flowers, fur, skin and much, much more.

Johnson's beau
29

Watercolour for the Absolute Beginner

Matthew Palmer

4.2
This book is a comprehensive course in watercolour landscape painting by expert Society of All Artists tutor, Matthew Palmer. Matthew is renowned for his beautiful, detailed paintings and his ability to teach effective painting using simple techniques. He teaches over 150 pupils per week and also appears regularly on TV. The book begins with excellent advice for the beginner, including, easy drawi
Grandfather's Journey book cover30

Grandfather's Journey

Allen Say

4.2
This tale of one man’s love for two countries and his constant desire to be in both places, as he goes between Japan and the United States over the course of his life.
Jean Haines' World of Watercolour book cover31

Jean Haines' World of Watercolour

Jean Haines

4.1
Step into Jean Haines’ distinctive, exciting world of watercolour with this, the ultimate guide to her influences, style and work. Jean's loose, expressive paintings are filled with colour and personality, and embrace a range of subjects that includes flowers, animals, people and places, all influenced by the countries and cities she's lived in and the people she's met during her life. This beauti
John Singer Sargent: Watercolors book cover32

John Singer Sargent: Watercolors

Erica Hirshler

4.1
John Singer Sargent's approach to watercolor was unconventional. Going beyond turn-of-the-century standards for carefully delineated and composed landscapes filled with transparent washes, his confidently bold, dense strokes and loosely defined forms startled critics and fellow practitioners alike. One reviewer of an exhibition in London proclaimed him "an eagle in a dove-cote"; another called his
Just Add Watercolor: Inspiration and Painting Techniques from Contemporary Artists book cover33

Just Add Watercolor: Inspiration and Painting Techniques from Contemporary Artists

Helen Birch

4.1
A beautifully illustrated, easy-to-navigate guide to creating contemporary watercolors, pairing full-page paintings with insights and tips for artists.
Featuring 200 of the best works of young, modern watercolor painters, paired with bite-sized painting tips and art instruction, Just Add Watercolor gives aspiring artists access to information about--and examples of--top work in the medium. Artist
Modern Watercolor Botanicals: A Creative Workshop in Watercolor, Gouache, & Ink book cover34

Modern Watercolor Botanicals: A Creative Workshop in Watercolor, Gouache, & Ink

Sarah Simon

4.1
Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn't Exist book cover35

Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn't Exist

James Gurney

4.1
From the award-winning artist, learn to see and shape the world in a way you never before imagined.

An award-winning fantasy artist and the creator of Dinotopia, James Gurney instructs and inspires in Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn't Exist. Renowned for his uncanny ability to incorporate amazing detail and imagination into stunningly realistic fantasy settings, James Gurney teaches bu
Watercolor Painting: A Comprehensive Approach to Mastering the Medium book cover36

Watercolor Painting: A Comprehensive Approach to Mastering the Medium

Tom Hoffmann

4.1
The beauty of a watercolor painting lies in its diaphanous layers, delicate strokes, and luminous washes. However, the very features that define the beauty of the medium can make it difficult to master. This complete guide to understanding the relationships between color, value, wetness, and composition unravels the mysteries of watercolor to help your practice evolve.

Experienced teacher and accl
Painting Weathered Buildings in Pen, Ink & Watercolor book cover37

Painting Weathered Buildings in Pen, Ink & Watercolor

Claudia Nice

4.1
Capture the beauty and charm of wonderful weathered buildings!

Paint may fade and iron may rust, but the character of buildings strengthens with age. Join Claudia Nice as she shows you how to portray the mellow hues, weathered wood, cracked windowpanes and other imperfections that make old buildings perfectly wonderful subjects to paint.

Using the exciting combination of pen, ink and watercolor, Cla
Creativegirl: Mixed Media Techniques for an Artful Life book cover38

Creativegirl: Mixed Media Techniques for an Artful Life

Danielle Donaldson

4.1
Find your artistic creativity with delicate doodles, big colors and lavish layers!

CreativeGIRL features art projects that teach you how to draw and paint your story using pencils, watercolor paints and simple mixed-media supplies. Danielle Donaldson shows you how to draw the pretty pictures from your imagination, infuse your art with delightful color combinations and work through creative frustrat
Powerful Watercolor Landscapes: Tools for Painting with Impact book cover39

Powerful Watercolor Landscapes: Tools for Painting with Impact

Catherine Gill, Beth Means

4.1
Banish boring watercolors forever! This guide gives you the "power tools" you need to transform dull, flat landscapes into robust, colorful expressions of your artistic vision. Each chapter focuses on a specific strategy for tackling tough challenges, complete with inspiring examples, hands-on demonstrations and instructional diagrams to make these strategies easy and fun to learn. Following this
How to Draw Inky Wonderlands: Create and Colour Your Own Magical Adventure book cover40

How to Draw Inky Wonderlands: Create and Colour Your Own Magical Adventure

Johanna Basford

4.1
Unleash your inner artist and learn to draw with ‘queen of colouring’ Johanna Basford.

In this beautiful, accessible guide Johanna shares the fun, simple, no-skills-needed secrets to creating your own flora, fauna and fantasies inspired by her bestselling and beloved colouring books.

With step-by-step exercises, inspiring prompts and plenty of pages to colour, let your creativity run wild. How to Dr
Big Preschool Workbook book cover41

Big Preschool Workbook

School Zone, Joan Hoffman, et al.

4.1
Big Workbooks promote comprehensive learning from preschool through sixth grade. Each workbook includes activities organized by major skill areas. Contents are drawn from the I Know It and Get Ready series. 320 Full-Color Pages.
Texture Techniques for Winning Watercolors book cover42

Texture Techniques for Winning Watercolors

Ray Hendershot

4.1
Transform your watercolor paintings from ordinary to extraordinary!

Discover a range of effective methods to liven up your watercolor paintings by using Ray Hendershot's texture techniques. Filling in the gaps where other books fall short, "Texture Techniques for Winning Watercolors" elaborates on the fine details that distinguish a good painting from an excellent painting. With Hendershot's guidan
The Art of Urban Sketching: Drawing On Location Around The World book cover43

The Art of Urban Sketching: Drawing On Location Around The World

Gabriel Campanario

4.1
The Art of Urban Sketching is both a comprehensive guide and a showcase of location drawings by artists around the world who draw the cities where they live and travel. Authored by the founder of the nonprofit organization Urban Sketchers (www.urbansketchers.org), this beautiful, 320-page volume explains urban sketching within the context of a long historical tradition and how it is being practice
An Illustrated Journey: Inspiration From the Private Art Journals of Traveling Artists, Illustrators and Designers book cover44

An Illustrated Journey: Inspiration From the Private Art Journals of Traveling Artists, Illustrators and Designers

Danny Gregory

4.1
Travel + Sketching = Inspiration

When we travel, we don't want to follow the same itinerary as everyone who's come before us. We want to feel like explorers, adventurers in undiscovered territory. And that's exactly what sketching can bring to the travel experience.

An Illustrated Journey captures the world through the eyes of 40 talented artists, illustrators and designers. You'll experience the wo
Watercolor Workshop: Learn to Paint in 100 Experiments book cover45

Watercolor Workshop: Learn to Paint in 100 Experiments

Sasha Prood

4.1
Learn to paint gorgeous contemporary art by practicing watercolor technique directly in this instructional sketchbook. Through 100 different experiments, artist Sasha Prood teaches you traditional techniques like wet-on-dry, wet-on-wet, and flat washes, and also encourages you to play with the paint through colorful ombrés, unique bloom textures, and added elements like salt and sponging. Each exp
The Natural Way to Paint: Rendering the Figure in Watercolor Simply and Beautifully book cover46

The Natural Way to Paint: Rendering the Figure in Watercolor Simply and Beautifully

Charles Reid

4.1
This instructional book approaches the figure organically, showing readers how to observe its basic shapes and subtle nuances through practical exercises and lessons in the art of seeing with a painter’s eye. Step-by-step demonstrations in contour drawing teach how to capture the overall essence of the human form, then lessons in gesture drawing emphasize the body’s linear rhythms in various poses
Creating Nature in Watercolor: An Artist's Guide book cover47

Creating Nature in Watercolor: An Artist's Guide

Cathy Johnson

4.1
Experience Nature with an Artist's Eye

This guide is a rare opportunity to experience the joy of painting nature with Cathy Johnson, a beloved artist, naturalist and teacher. With lively instruction and an approachable style, Cathy takes you on an enjoyable hike through the great outdoors, showing you how to see and paint the wonders of nature in a whole new way.

Open this unique guide and see how a
Zoltan Szabo's Color-By-Color Guide to Watercolor book cover48

Zoltan Szabo's Color-By-Color Guide to Watercolor

Zoltan Szabo

4.1
This easy-to-use reference guide is the key to choosing the right color every time.
On the Ocean Floor (The Magic School Bus, #5) book cover49

On the Ocean Floor (The Magic School Bus, #5)

Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen

4.1
To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Scholastic is re-releasing the ten original Magic School Bus titles in paperback. With updated scientific information, the bestselling science series ever is back!

When Ms. Frizzle drives the Magic School Bus full speed ahead into the ocean, the class takes a submarine expedition that's anything but ordinary. With a well-meaning lifeguard in tow, the class takes a
Painting Vibrant Watercolors: Discover the Magic of Light, Color and Contrast book cover50

Painting Vibrant Watercolors: Discover the Magic of Light, Color and Contrast

Soon Y. Warren

4.1
Paint Watercolors that Shine!

Make the most of watercolor's fresh, vibrant nature through light, color and contrast. In the first few chapters, artist Soon Y. Warren helps you lay the groundwork - everything from choosing and lighting subjects to color theory and perspective. Then, follow along with a thrilling series of step-by-step demonstrations to put your ideas into action for paintings that
The Chinese Brush Painting Bible: Over 200 Motifs with Step-By-Step Illustrated Instructions book cover51

The Chinese Brush Painting Bible: Over 200 Motifs with Step-By-Step Illustrated Instructions

Jane Dwight

4.1
Chinese brush painting uses minimal strokes to describe the essence of a subject and capture its rhythm and grace. This beautiful book contains 200 exquisite motifs to re-create, from flowers and fruits to wildlife and scenery.

Each motif includes an explanation of its symbolic meaning, a palette of colors, and step-by-step instruction in the order, direction, and type of brushstrokes.

An introducto
Color Choices: Making Color Sense Out of Color Theory book cover52

Color Choices: Making Color Sense Out of Color Theory

Stephen Quiller

4.1
Internationally renowned artist and best selling author Stephen Quiller shows readers how to discover their own personal "color sense" in Color Choices, a book that offers readers a fresh perspective on perfecting their own color styles.

With the help of his own "Quiller Wheel," a special foldout wheel featuring 68 precisely placed colors, the author shows artists how they can develop their own uni
Artist's Journal Workshop: Creating Your Life in Words and Pictures book cover53

Artist's Journal Workshop: Creating Your Life in Words and Pictures

Cathy Johnson

4.1
Discover the Joy of Art Journaling

An artist's journal is a powerful creative tool, offering you a safe place to experiment, explore, consider and improve. Artist's Journal Workshop provides all the guidance, structure and inspiration you need to create a meaningful art-journaling practice. Starting with the question, "What do you want from your journal?" you'll build a sound journaling concept tha
54

Just Add Watercolor Happy Thoughts: Easy Techniques and Beautiful Patterns for True Beginners

Robin Pickens

4.1
Fall in love with watercolors, and create beautiful expressive paintings that you can be proud of! Positive, inspiring messages and quotations are the perfect subject for watercolor lettering. This skill-building portfolio book for absolute beginners will teach you everything you need to know to get started with watercolor art. Talented artist Robin Pickens introduces you to all the basics of pain
55

How to Paint Landscapes Quickly and Beautifully in Watercolor and Gouache

Nathan Fowkes

4.1
The Complete Watercolor Course: the ultimate step-by-step guide to painting landscapes, still lifes, and portraits book cover56

The Complete Watercolor Course: the ultimate step-by-step guide to painting landscapes, still lifes, and portraits

Richard Taylor

4.1
Contributing artists: Harold Bartram, Chris Bramley, Ken Cox, Sharon Finmark, Michael Grimsdale, Lavinia Hamer, Xiaoeng Huang, Wnedy Jelbert, John Raynes, Tom Robb, Ian Sidaway, Adrian Smith, Hazel Soan, Tig Sutton, Richard Taylor.

color ill.; 30 cm.

Equipment and techniques
Watercolour landscapes
Watercolour still lifes and portraits
Watercolour interiours
Gouache and mixed media
Glossary.
The Watercolor Artist's Bible book cover57

The Watercolor Artist's Bible

Marilyn Scott

4.1
This hardcover book with internal wire-o binding is 6.5in x 8in, a perfect size for readers to keep handy in the studio, and reference often. The stylish design of this book, along with the interior photographs, illustrations and diagrams, make the learning process simple and fun for beginning painters and provides useful tips for more advanced artists.

This book is divided into three sections. In
Paint Watercolors That Dance with Light book cover58

Paint Watercolors That Dance with Light

Elizabeth Kincaid

4.1
Discover simple and effective techniques that will infuse your watercolor paintings with stunning highlights and vivid depths, all demonstrated in clear step-by-step exercises. Inside you will learn how to:


Create paintings brimming with color using transparent layering techniques
Innovate with masking materials to create crisp edges and eye-catching light effects
Use tone and contrast to bring your
The Watercolorist's Essential Notebook - Landscapes book cover59

The Watercolorist's Essential Notebook - Landscapes

Gordon MacKenzie

4.1
Painting with watercolors gives you endless opportunities to create the world you want. You choose whether to let the sun blaze or the rain pour, to move a maple tree here or make the trail wind over there, to subdue a hillside with quiet greens or make a forest glow with dazzling golds and reds. It's not only a matter of what to paint, but how to go about painting it.

This book examines, one at a
David Bellamy's Skies, Light & Atmosphere in Watercolour book cover60

David Bellamy's Skies, Light & Atmosphere in Watercolour

David Bellamy

4.1
Skies, light and atmosphere are perfect subjects for watercolour, and David Bellamy's mastery of the medium shines out in this inspiring and practical book.
Botanical Illustration Course: With the Eden Project book cover61

Botanical Illustration Course: With the Eden Project

Rosie Martin, Meriel Thurstan

4.1
This is simply the best and most complete course in botanical illustration ever produced, with each chapter a perfectly constructed and self-contained class. Created in conjunction with the internationally renowned Eden Project—home of the only jungle in captivity—it’s put together by two leading figures in the Project’s famed art school, and uses many beautiful works from its students. Artists an
Jean Haines' Atmospheric Watercolours: Painting with Freedom, Expression and Style book cover62

Jean Haines' Atmospheric Watercolours: Painting with Freedom, Expression and Style

Jean Haines

4.1
Jean Haines’ enthusiasm for watercolours burst through every page of this inspirational book that will guide you, step by step, to creating beautiful and unique paintings of your own, whatever your ability.
Watercolour Textures (Collins Artist’s Studio) book cover63

Watercolour Textures (Collins Artist’s Studio)

Ann Blockley

4.1
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 thi
Watercolor Bright and Beautiful book cover64

Watercolor Bright and Beautiful

Richard Karwoski

4.1
Richard Karowski paints watercolors that sparkle, and in this book, he shows painters of all levels how to ring a new freshness and luminosity to their work. In twenty exciting and original exercises, he invites artists to experiment with new techniques and subject matter. He shows how to create color mixtures that are fresh and vibrant and how to use unpainted white area to define forms and make
The Art of Heikala: Works and Thoughts book cover65

The Art of Heikala: Works and Thoughts

Heikala

4.1
The Art of Heikala: Works and Thoughts is the first major publication by popular Finnish illustrator Heikala. Heikala’s artwork combines traditional watercolor painting and inks with a fresh, enchanting approach - fans love her charming characters and scenes that are largely influenced by Finnish and Japanese cultures. This combined with her in-depth sharing of her processes and knowledge, has giv
A Pacific Northwest Nature Sketchbook book cover66

A Pacific Northwest Nature Sketchbook

Jude Siegel

4.1
Keeping an illustrated nature sketchbook can be eye opening, and anyone can do it, at home or while traveling. This step-by-step guide to painting by the ocean, near rivers, and in valleys, forests, desert, and mountains offers dozens of practical tips for combining watercolor and ink to create pages rich in personal meaning. With her gentle humor and low-key approach, popular teacher Jude Siegel
Urban Sketching: The Complete Guide to Techniques book cover67

Urban Sketching: The Complete Guide to Techniques

Thomas Thorspecken

4.0
While most sketching guides leave the artist with static bowls of fruit and flower vases to develop their skill, Urban Sketching takes its inspiration from the living, breathing world around us! Contents include the nuts and bolts of sketching and drawing as well as a range of techniques specific to this artistic genre. Readers will discover:

Rules on perspective that will aid inn capturing landsca
Portrait Painting in Watercolor book cover68

Portrait Painting in Watercolor

Charles Reid

4.0
"Where this handy, horizontal, and beautifully laid-out book treads on new ground is portraiture in aquarelle in a dashingly dramatic style". -- American Artist. In an appealing volume, Reid leads artists through 24 detailed step-by-step demonstrations on painting the portrait.
69

Peggy Dean's Guide to Nature Drawing and Watercolor: Learn to Sketch, Ink, and Paint Flowers, Plants, Trees, and Animals

Peggy Dean

4.0
This fun and easy-to-use nature drawing and watercolor guide is perfect for anyone inspired by nature to draw, doodle, ink, and paint colorful flora and fauna.

Artist, author, and popular art instructor Peggy Dean presents this nature drawing guide that teaches you how to master drawing and watercolor techniques from sketching and shading to washes and blending. With Peggy's easy and energetic l
The Decorated Page: Journals, Scrapbooks Albums Made Simply Beautiful book cover70

The Decorated Page: Journals, Scrapbooks Albums Made Simply Beautiful

Gwen Diehn

4.0
Watercolor Fairy Art: Rules for Making the Best Art Ever book cover71

Watercolor Fairy Art: Rules for Making the Best Art Ever

Sara Burrier

4.0
Watercolor paint has a life of its own. The colors blossom and bloom on the page. They mix and bleed, dance and shimmer, some showing through, some sinking back into the hollows of the paper. What better medium for capturing the magical and enchanting world of fairies? Here, illustrator and art instructor Sara Burrier shows the artist how to harness the magic of watercolor with tried and tested ru
A Ball for Daisy book cover72

A Ball for Daisy

Chris Raschka

4.0
Winner of the 2012 Randolph Caldecott Medal

This New York Times Bestseller and New York Times Best Illustrated Book relates a story about love and loss as only Chris Rashcka can tell it. Any child who has ever had a beloved toy break will relate to Daisy's anguish when her favorite ball is destroyed by a bigger dog. In the tradition of his nearly wordless picture book Yo! Yes?, Caldecott Medalist C
The Watercolors of John Singer Sargent book cover73

The Watercolors of John Singer Sargent

Carl Little

4.0
John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) stands among the greatest of watercolor painters, along with J.M.W. Turner, Winslow Homer, and other masters of this difficult medium. Watercolor was more than a distraction from the portrait and mural commissions Sargent labored over; after 1900, watercolor became central to his artistic vision. His aquarelles are, simply stated, masterworks. Portraits, interiors,
Artist's Color Manual: The Complete Guide to Working with Color book cover74

Artist's Color Manual: The Complete Guide to Working with Color

Simon Jennings

4.0
Developed by the same team that created Artist's Manual and Art Class, both top-selling art reference books, Artist's Color Manual is the ultimate guide to color for visual artists. Whether they work in oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, colored pencils, or inks, artists of all stripes will find information and ideas flowing from every profusely illustrated page. Renowned art instructor Simon J
Zoltan Szabo's 70 Favorite Watercolor Techniques book cover75

Zoltan Szabo's 70 Favorite Watercolor Techniques

Zoltan Szabo

4.0
With a seductive painting style described as "realism with a soul, " Susan Harrison-Tustain casts new light on a favorite subject among watercolorists. She captures the "essence" of flowers in their natural settings, complete with bumblebees, dew drops and other whimsical touches of life.Artists will learn her unique priming method, along with other techniques for creating vibrant colors, realisti
Vibrant Flowers in Watercolor book cover76

Vibrant Flowers in Watercolor

Soon Y. Warren

4.0
Paint Flowers with Feeling

You can paint watercolors that capture the beauty and personality of roses, peonies, zinnias and many more brilliant blooms - and achieve color more vivid than you ever dreamed possible with watercolor. Artist Soon Y. Warren will help you:


Capture the unique shapes, textures, details - and temperaments! - of magnolias, hibiscus, sunflowers, bougainvillea, gladiolus and mor
Interpreting the Figure in Watercolor book cover77

Interpreting the Figure in Watercolor

Don Andrews

4.0
Qualities of colour, value and shape rather than a laborious anatomical approach are highlighted in this course in watercolour painting. In explaining how to capture the essence of the human figure the author provides information on materials and discusses such techniques as gesture drawing and painting, light and shadow definition of the figure and linking darks and lights for unity, painting bac
The Sierra Club Guide to Sketching in Nature book cover78

The Sierra Club Guide to Sketching in Nature

Cathy Johnson

4.0
This lavishly illustrated sketching and watercolor primer reveals how creating art can enhance any wilderness experience. With a skillful blend of inspiration and instruction, artist and naturalist Cathy Johnson offers personal anecdotes, exercises, and helpful tips to guide even first-time artists in using sketching and painting to deepen their understanding of the natural world.
Featuring simple,
Flowers: The Watercolor Art Pad book cover79

Flowers: The Watercolor Art Pad

Rachel Pedder-Smith

4.0
With its simple instructions and stunning inspirational illustrations, Flowers: The Watercolor Artpad is the perfect introduction to the timeless art of painting flowers in watercolors.

Inside the book are 15 pages of simple line drawings of flowers—from wild poppies to sculpted calla lilies—printed on high-quality watercolor paper for you to remove and paint. The outlines allow you to skip the sk
Watercolour Flower Portraits book cover80

Watercolour Flower Portraits

Billy Showell

4.0
Learn how to paint exquisite flower portraits in watercolour, following Billy Showell's highly detailed, step-by-step instructions. Packed with stunning pictures and technical advice, this book is truly inspirational.
The Tao of Watercolor: A Revolutionary Approach to the Practice of Painting book cover81

The Tao of Watercolor: A Revolutionary Approach to the Practice of Painting

Jeanne Carbonetti

4.0
Combining the best of Eastern philosophy with the best of Western technique, this book is the first in a three-part series that offers inspiring and empowering advice for artists and creators of all levels. 100 color illustrations.
Watercolor, You Can Do It! book cover82

Watercolor, You Can Do It!

Tony Couch

4.0
This bible for watercolorists has been helping students learn the essentials of the medium for 9 years. Tony Couch backs up his "You can do it!" promise with clear, friendly instructions.
The Watercolor Painter's Problem Book book cover83

The Watercolor Painter's Problem Book

Tom Hill

4.0
The Art of Botanical Drawing: An Introductory Guide book cover84

The Art of Botanical Drawing: An Introductory Guide

Agathe Ravet-Haevermans

4.0
The Art of Botanical Drawing is an introductory guide to the techniques of botanical painting and drawing. Beginning artists and gardeners looking to capture the beauty of the plants in their garden will learn how to recognize and draw a wide variety of flowers and leaves, including succulents, vegetables, trees, perennials, and grasses. Botanists and naturalists who need to understand the fundame
No Excuses Watercolor: Painting Techniques for Sketching and Journaling book cover85

No Excuses Watercolor: Painting Techniques for Sketching and Journaling

Gina Rossi Armfield

4.0
"I can't control the paint."
"It's not colorful enough."
"It's intimidating!"

With the fun and easy techniques in Gina Rossi Armfield's No Excuses Watercolor, your excuses for not painting with watercolor don't stand a chance! As you try the demonstrations and exercises, you'll learn the techniques and tricks necessary to achieve amazing, colorful results in your artist's sketchbook.

After getting t
Fantasy Fashion Art Studio: Creating Romantic Characters, Clothing and Costumes book cover86

Fantasy Fashion Art Studio: Creating Romantic Characters, Clothing and Costumes

Meredith Dillman

4.0
Live out all your fashion fantasies!

Flower fairies, water spirits, enchanted forests, Victorian ladies and more! Immerse yourself in timeless stories inspired by nature, myths, legends and literature!

With Fantasy Fashion Art Studio, you'll learn the basics for sketching and watercolor painting; you'll also learn to draw and paint beautiful, ethereal characters!

Inside you'll explore:


Lessons and tip
The Art of Creative Watercolor: Inspiration and Techniques for Imaginative Drawing and Painting book cover87

The Art of Creative Watercolor: Inspiration and Techniques for Imaginative Drawing and Painting

Danielle Donaldson

4.0
Welcome to your watercolor happy place!

The world of Danielle Donaldson is as wondrous as a jar full of fireflies. Her whimsical illustrations are known for their offbeat color combinations, artful arrangements and endearing quirkiness. In this book, you'll learn how to partner with the wonderfully spontaneous medium of watercolor to create your own brand of magic.

Start by creating a handmade journ
Mr. Pumpkin's Tea Party book cover88

Mr. Pumpkin's Tea Party

Erin Barker

4.0
“There’s a party at Mr. Pumpkin’s tonight. A banquet with friends in the autumn twilight. And at this soiree we’ll see and we’ll find ghoulish delights of every kind.” You are cordially invited to Mr. Pumpkin’s Tea Party—a delightfully quirky twist on a counting book, incorporating gorgeous, deep-hued watercolor illustrations, as well as spooky elements and unique characters at an unexpectedly cha
Florals by Hand: How to Draw and Design Modern Floral Projects book cover89

Florals by Hand: How to Draw and Design Modern Floral Projects

Alli Koch

4.0
Instagram sensation, muralist, author, and overall floral illustrating aficionado Alli Koch of Allikdesign has already introduced thousands to the basics of modern floral illustrations with her first book, How to Draw Modern Florals: An Introduction to the Art of Flowers, Cacti, and More. Her new book, Florals by Hand, goes deeper, introducing an assortment of new flowers, designs, and digitizing
The Ultimate Watercolor Course: Simple Techniques to Paint Like the Pros book cover90

The Ultimate Watercolor Course: Simple Techniques to Paint Like the Pros

Reader's Digest

4.0
From the editors of Reader's Digest Whether you are a newcomer to the world of watercolor or a more experienced painter, this practical painting course will let you master the essential skills and techniques necessary to capture the fascinating qualities of this medium. Divided into nine sections, this informative book describes such basics as mixing a wash and laying it on both wet and dry surfac
Sara Midda's South of France: A Sketchbook book cover91

Sara Midda's South of France: A Sketchbook

Sara Midda

4.0
A wondrous sketchbook from a year spent in the south of France—an artist's personal journal carried everywhere and crammed with drawings and notions and thoughts surprising and whimsical.

Delicate watercolors shine like jewels set into each page of this exquisite book. In tones of sea and morning sky, stucco and brick, olive leaf and apricot, rose and geranium, sara Midda captures the land, the pe
Watercolor Mixing Directory book cover92

Watercolor Mixing Directory

Moira Clinch, David Webb

4.0
These easy-to-use directories explain color theory by demonstrating a range of color mixing techniques. The 256-page, full-color books feature more than 50 carefully selected colors that, when used with a basic palette, provide artists with more than 2,000 color mixing options! Each combination is shown as a pure mixture straight from the palette, demonstrating endless tint variations.
93

1,500 Color Mixing Recipes for Oil, Acrylic & Watercolor: Achieve precise color when painting landscapes, portraits, still lifes, and more

William F Powell

4.0
Just when you thought there was no hope of ever finding a comprehensive color-mixing resource for oil, acrylic, and watercolor artists, along comes the 1,500 Color Mixing Recipes for Oil, Acrylic & Watercolor!

This collection of Walter Foster's bestselling Color Mixing Recipes books, including Color Mixing Recipes for Oil and Acrylic, Color Mixing Recipes for Portraits, Color Mixing Recipes for W
The Watercolorist's Essential Notebook - Keep Painting!: A Treasury of Tips to Inspire Your Watercolor Painting Adventure book cover94

The Watercolorist's Essential Notebook - Keep Painting!: A Treasury of Tips to Inspire Your Watercolor Painting Adventure

Gordon MacKenzie

4.0
Recharge your creative spirit and rediscover the magic that is watercolor!

Every watercolorist needs a creative kick in the pants now and then--to keep seeking inspiration when feeling uninspired, to keep going when a painting has stalled, to keep trying when a technique isn't easy to master...sometimes just to keep painting, period.

When your artistic well has run dry, you must replenish it. Whethe
Colour & Light in Watercolour book cover95

Colour & Light in Watercolour

Jean Haines

4.0
Jean Haines’ characteristically loose and expressive paintings are filled with color and light, and in this exciting book she passes on her knowledge and expert advice in a way that is both inspiring and instructional. As soon as you open the book you will want to pick up a brush and start painting — and whatever your ability, Jean encourages you to simply ‘have a go’ and enjoy the freedom and hap
Watercolor Painting Outside the Lines: A Positive Approach to Negative Painting book cover96

Watercolor Painting Outside the Lines: A Positive Approach to Negative Painting

Linda Kemp

4.0
In visual art, negative space refers to the areas within a painting not occupied by subject matter. Linda Kemp shows beginners and advanced artists how to harness the power of these often overlooked areas surrounding a painting's focal point. Troubleshooting suggestions and secrets are included.
Painting Close-Focus Flowers in Watercolor book cover97

Painting Close-Focus Flowers in Watercolor

Ann Pember

4.0
Easy-to-learn techniques for mingling colors and manipulating light, insights into the character of petals, designing composition and more help artists portray this dramatic viewpoint.
Watercolor Artist's Guide to Exceptional Color book cover98

Watercolor Artist's Guide to Exceptional Color

Jan Hart

4.0
There are hundreds of watercolor paints on the market, with widely varying characteristics, appearances, and names. This easy-to-use book cuts through the confusion. In this informative, 128-page book, author Jan Hart covers pigment properties while providing helpful information on combining colors on the palette for optimal effect. The full-color book features an array of step-by-step painting de
Paint Watercolor Flowers: A Beginner's Step-By-Step Guide book cover99

Paint Watercolor Flowers: A Beginner's Step-By-Step Guide

Birgit O'Connor

4.0
You can paint beautiful blooms, step by step!

Sunflowers, orchids, daffodils, lilies...your brush can bring these and more to life with Paint Watercolor Flowers. Master watercolorist Birgit O'Connor guides you every step of the way, from selecting essential watercolor supplies, to practicing basic painting techniques, to capturing the unique details of a variety of flowers, to showing them off in s
Water Paper Paint: Exploring Creativity with Watercolor and Mixed Media book cover100

Water Paper Paint: Exploring Creativity with Watercolor and Mixed Media

Heather Jones

4.0
This book is not only for "painters" but for all types of creative individuals who want to experience and play with watercolor, whether their background is mixed-media, textile art, journaling, or paper craft. Unlike the typical watercolor textbooks, this unique, beautiful volume is a field book of inspiration, creative ideas, how to's, and projects, all from an artist's perspective. Each creative