Watercolor Workbooks are essential tools for both novice and experienced artists, offering structured guidance to enhance painting skills. They provide step-by-step tutorials and creative techniques, helping artists elevate their artistry and achieve professional result. Watercolor painting is an art form that beautifully blends water and pigments, cherished for its versatility and often the first medium many artists explore. The fluidity and vibrant potential of watercolors make it a favorite among both beginners and seasoned artists. However, the journey of mastering watercolors can be complicated. As artists progress, they often hit a plateau. Despite sharp observational skills and knowledge from other mediums, advancing in watercolor requires mastering more advanced techniques. This can be challenging without access to classes, study materials, or a comprehensive workbook.
The world of watercolor painting offers vast opportunities for creativity and expression, but it can also be overwhelming for those just starting. To help navigate this expansive medium, it is essential to have the right resources that provide structured learning and practical guidance. In this article, we will offer a general overview of working with watercolors and recommend some of the best watercolor workbooks available. These workbooks are designed to help artists of all levels improve their techniques and discover new methods.
The Basics of Watercolor Painting
Watercolor painting starts with understanding the basics:
- The interaction between water and pigment
- The types of paper
- The variety of brushes available
Beginners often start with simple exercises to get a feel for the medium, learning how to control water flow, blend colors, and create different types of washes. As they become more comfortable, they can explore more complex techniques.
Challenges and Advanced Techniques
One of the significant challenges in watercolor painting is its unpredictability. The medium’s fluid nature can lead to unexpected results, which can be both frustrating and exciting. Mastering watercolors requires patience and practice. Advanced techniques such as wet-on-wet, dry brushing, and glazing can provide greater control and allow for more detailed and expressive work.
The Importance of a Good Watercolor Workbook
To overcome the challenges and reach a higher level of proficiency in watercolor painting, having a good watercolor workbook is essential. Watercolor Workbooks provide structured exercises, practical tips, and step-by-step instructions that help artists systematically improve their skills. They also offer inspiration and new ideas, making the learning process more enjoyable and effective.
Finding the Perfect Watercolor Workbook: Key Considerations
When searching for a high-quality watercolor workbook, the author’s experience is crucial. Renowned figures in the watercolor field, such as established teachers or independent artists with significant followings, usually produce the most enriching and practical guides. While anyone can compile technical data or basic facts about watercolor, only those with genuine expertise and firsthand experience can offer truly valuable advice and insights. Therefore, investigating the author’s background and credentials is an essential step in identifying a good book.
Another important aspect to consider is the book’s focus on specific techniques and styles. Beginners should start with books that cover the fundamentals, such as light and shadow. However, once basic skills are mastered, exploring books that delve into specialized topics, like jungle fauna painting or advanced glazing techniques, can significantly enhance your artistic repertoire.
Reading reviews from other users is also a smart strategy to ensure the book meets your expectations. Reviews provide insights from individuals who have applied the book’s teachings and can attest to its usefulness. Lastly, while price should be considered, investing in a few high-quality books can be a wise decision, especially if you are serious about mastering watercolor techniques.
Recommended Watercolor Workbooks
Here are some of the best watercolor workbooks that cater to different skill levels and artistic goals. We have evaluated the pros and cons based on user suggestions and feedback, providing a comprehensive overview of the strengths and weaknesses of various watercolor workbooks. This analysis aims to help artists make informed decisions about which workbooks best suit their needs and enhance their artistic journey.
- Watercolor Workbook: 30Minute Beginner Botanical Projects on Premium Watercolor Workbook Paper by Sarah Simon
- The Watercolor Workbook Flower Painter’s A to Z by Adelene Fletcher
- Everyday Watercolor Workbook: Learn to Paint Watercolor in 30 Days by Jenna Rainey
- Watercolor Workbook With Me: In the Forest by Dana Fox
- Mastering Watercolor Workbook: A Practical Guide by Joe Cartwright
Watercolor Workbook: 30Minute Beginner Botanical Projects on Premium Watercolor Paper by Sarah Simon
This workbook is perfect for beginners, offering short, manageable projects that build foundational skills while creating beautiful botanical paintings.
Pros:
1. Great Tips and Strategies: The book offers excellent tips, strategies, and practice pages for watercolor workbook painting.
2. BeginnerFriendly: Perfect for beginners with simple step-by-step instructions that build foundational skills.
3. Quality Paper: The paper quality is hefty and easy to work with, preventing color bleed through.
4. Clear Instructions: Provide easy-to-follow instructions and a simple list of recommended supplies.
5. Encourages Experimentation: The author encourages experimentation and having fun, making the process enjoyable.
6. Aesthetic Designs: The floral and plant artwork is aesthetically pleasing without being too complex or boring.
7. Big OneSided Painting Pieces: Painting pieces are large and one-sided, allowing for easy cutting, cropping, and framing.
8. Inclusive: Suitable for all skill levels, including those with disabilities affecting grip and dexterity.
9. Good Explanations of Techniques: Includes good explanations of wetonwet and other watercolor techniques.
10. Positive Author Interaction: The author’s writing feels friendly and supportive, like painting with a friend.
11. PreOrdered Next Book: Fans are excited for more books from the author, indicating high satisfaction.
12. Supportive Community: Readers share tips for making the book more accessible, showing a supportive and engaged community.
Cons:
1. Small and Light Font: The font is too small and light gray, making it difficult to read.
2. Focus on Aesthetics Over Readability: The emphasis on aesthetics over readability could be much better for some users.
3. NonSpiral Binding: The book is not spiralbound, making it difficult to lay flat while painting.
4. Redundant Sketches: Some users find the sketches redundant and need to be more engaged with the subject matter.
5. Hidden Faces in Sketches: Repeated hidden faces in sketches are only appealing to some users.
6. Heavy Use of White Paint: Overuse of white paint in mixes decreases the transparency of the watercolor, which is contrary to traditional watercolor workbook techniques.
7. Limited Artist Styles: Including sketches from other artists could have expanded the book’s appeal and concept.
8. Lack of Vibrant Transparency: The use of white paint reduces the vibrant transparency that is inherent to watercolor painting.
9. Font and Text Size Issues: The light and small font size makes reading instructions and tips challenging.
10. Mixing Palette Instructions: Some users would prefer more space and clearer instructions for mixing colors.
The Watercolor Workbook Flower Painter's A to Z by Adelene Fletcher
Ideal for artists interested in floral painting, this workbook provides detailed instructions for painting various flowers, helping to develop both technique and creativity.
Pros:
1. Detailed Palette Instructions: The book provides detailed information about the author’s palette, making it easy to follow along with her color choices.
2. Good Reference Book: It’s an excellent reference book for both personal use and as a gift for beginner artists interested in flowers.
3. Realistic Painting Technique: The book focuses on realistic painting, offering a variety of flower shapes and colors, which is beneficial for those who prefer this style.
4. Inspirational: Many users find the book inspiring, with beautiful illustrations and easy-to-follow instructions.
5. Wide Variety of Flowers: The book includes 50 types of flowers, providing a broad range of subjects for painting.
6. Helpful Palette Suggestions: Users appreciate the palette suggestions and discussions on flower structure and painting techniques.
7. Useful for Various Styles: Even those who prefer a looser, more expressionistic style can adapt the techniques to fit their own.
8. Excellent for Beginners: With concise and clear instructions, the book is ideal for beginners, providing step-by-step guidance.
9. Encourages Personal Style: The book encourages artists to adapt and use the techniques to develop their painting style.
10. Inspirational Content: The book is filled with gorgeous photos and is highly recommended for floral watercolor artists.
Cons:
1. Limited Flower Details: Some users find that the book offers a limited amount of detail on the actual flowers.
2. Specific to Fletcher’s Palette: The book is more beneficial for those who want to use the author’s specific palette.
3. Preference for Realism: The book’s focus on realistic painting might appeal to those who prefer something other than impressionistic or looser styles.
4. Redundant Drawings: Some users feel the drawings are almost identical and lack variety.
5. Small Font: The font size is too small and light, making it difficult to read.
6. Limited to Author’s Style: The sketches and style remain that of the author, which might become repetitive for some users.
7. Not for Loose Painting Styles: The book’s realistic technique might not suit those who prefer a looser painting style.
8. Heavy Use of White Paint: The book frequently uses white watercolor paint, which some traditional watercolorists might not prefer.
9. Not SpiralBound: Users need help keeping the book open while painting, and detachable pages or spiral binding would be beneficial.
Everyday Watercolor Workbook: Learn to Paint Watercolor in 30 Days by Jenna Rainey
A structured approach to learning watercolor, with daily exercises that gradually increase in complexity, making it suitable for beginners and those looking to refine their skills.
Pros:
1. Beautiful Watercolors and Didactic Explanations: The book contains stunning watercolor illustrations and clear instructional content that allows readers to follow along easily.
2. High-quality images and Paper: Users appreciate the quality of the photos and the paper, which enhances the learning experience.
3. Perfect Size for Study: The book’s size is considered ideal for studying and practicing watercolor techniques.
4. Great for Beginners: Many users find the book incredibly useful for beginners, offering a structured 30-day program with progressively complex exercises.
5. Detailed Techniques: The book covers various techniques such as “wet on wet,” “wet on dry,” composition, and shading, helping users to learn and apply these methods effectively.
6. Encourages Trying New Subjects: The exercises challenge users to paint subjects they might not have considered on their own, promoting growth and exploration.
7. Flexibility with Colors: While the author tends to use the same colors, readers are encouraged to choose their own, providing flexibility.
8. Step by Step Instructions: The book offers step-by-step instructions, making it easy for readers to follow along and improve their skills.
9. Encouraging and Thoughtful: The author’s approach is thoughtful and encouraging, making it a great motivational tool for watercolor enthusiasts.
10. Good for All Skill Levels: The book is suitable for both beginners and those returning to watercolor painting after a long break.
Cons:
1. Item Arrived Damaged: Some users experienced issues with the book arriving damaged, which affected their ability to use it as a timely gift.
2. Repetitive Color Use: The author tends to use the same colors frequently, which might limit the learning experience for some users.
3. Mixed Feelings on Exercises: While many exercises are interesting and helpful, some users found certain exercises less appealing as they progressed through the book.
4. Disappointment with Some Content: A few users were not fully satisfied with all aspects of the book, finding certain exercises or the overall style not entirely to their liking.
Watercolor Workbook With Me: In the Forest by Dana Fox
This workbook offers stepbystep instructions for painting forest scenes, perfect for nature enthusiasts and those wanting to explore landscape painting.
Pros:
1. Learning Tool for Beginners: The book is a great resource for beginners who want to learn to draw and paint. It features simple pictures that are ideal for learning and provides daily practice that helps improve skills.
2. Paper Quality: The paper used in the book is similar to the Artisto brand and holds up well while being affordable. It is suitable for watercolor workbook practice.
3. Instruction Quality: The book covers basic watercolor techniques such as wet on dry, wet on wet, fur, ink, and wash. It serves as an easier guide compared to many other books on the subject. The instruction helps with learning different brush sizes and techniques.
4. Sketches Provided: Included sketches help focus on painting rather than sketching, gradually increasing in difficulty to build skills over time.
5. Encourages Creativity: The book encourages creativity by giving opportunities to mix colors yourself and try different techniques, which improves water control.
6. Materials Recommendations: It recommends decent watercolor brushes and paints, suggesting good brands like WinsorNewton or Daniel Smith.
7. Accessible and Affordable: The book is affordable for beginners and those on a budget. It is also suitable as a gift for children or beginners.
Cons:
1. Book Design Issues: There are some design issues, such as the pages being upside down, which is unexpected since it is not a chip book.
2. Instruction Consistency: The author’s instructions sometimes need to match her paintings, assuming knowledge that beginners might not have.
3. Supplies List Incompleteness: The supplies list needs to be completed; missing items like masking fluid are required for one image. Additionally, there needs to be more consistency in recommended brush sizes.
4. Color Matching Issues: The colors in the book sometimes match the paint colors mentioned, likely due to printer differences and paint variations, which can be confusing.
5. Paper Quality for Final Results: The paper provided needs to be lighter for high-quality painting. There is a noticeable difference in results when using book paper versus high-quality paper.
6. Perforation and Sketch Transfer: The pages are not perforated, and it’s suggested to transfer images to better paper for improved results.
Mastering Watercolors Workbook: A Practical Guide by Joe Cartwright
Focused on advanced techniques, this workbook is ideal for artists looking to deepen their understanding and mastery of watercolor painting.
Pros:
1. Excellent Instructions: The author is quite good at presenting “how to do it” instructions for watercolor painting. The book includes seven step-by-step demonstrations with lists of materials, including colors.
2. Painting Techniques: The author’s paintings are excellent. He shows how to set up the background with light atmospheric tones and build up dark detail shapes with stronger colors. His method of teaching is very effective for beginners.
3. Practical Guide: The book is filled with useful insights that are only sometimes found in other watercolor books. It provides clear directions on how to paint a composition once you have the drawing, with especially good instructions for backlit subjects and glazing.
4. Useful for Beginners: The book uses Arches 300lb rough torn into one-eighth sheets for teaching beginners, which is a practical approach. The book’s method is praised for being easy to follow and helping beginners understand the process of watercolor painting.
5. Atmosphere and Mood: The book is reminiscent of the technique of the watercolorist Joesph Zbukvic. It guides readers through creating “atmosphere and mood” in their paintings, with visual references on examining and breaking down a photograph to determine depth and color.
6. Worth the Price: Despite some physical quality issues, the information packed into this paperback book is considered worth the purchase price, whether new or used.
Cons:
1. Physical Quality: The physical quality of the book could be better. The book was printed to order with extremely thin paper, and the digital ink does not do justice to the pictures. The book was overpriced for its quality, and many magazines are superior to what was received.
2. Shoddy Binding: The book’s binding could be better, with pages falling apart during reading. The binding issue detracts significantly from the book’s usability and durability.
3. Overpriced: Considering the physical quality, the book is considerably overpriced. The inferior quality of the book’s paper and printing does not justify the price.
4. Seller Issues: The seller, Knox & Luna, needed to describe the book’s condition accurately. It was labeled as Very Good, but the pages were dogeared in almost every chapter. The book was shipped in a very flexible bubble envelope, leading to crumpled covers. The seller’s practices needed to be more satisfactory.
5. Content Redundancy: Toward the end of the book, some content feels like unnecessary fillers, which are totally redundant or not necessary.
6. Weak on Composition Drawing: While the book is excellent in teaching how to paint a composition, it is weak in teaching how to draw a good composition initially.