need a big help to choose one of this books..

[Nilanka Sampath]

I really need to choose a book from these ..or a book to improve my paintings. i have inspired by "Julie Gilbert Pollard" type arts.

1) HOW TO MAKE A WATERCOLOR PAINT ITSELF - NITA ENGLE (PAPERBACK) NEW
-($ 25.73)

2) Fill Your Watercolors with Light and Color, Roland Roycraft- ($ 30.07)

3 ) Alwyn Crawshaw's Watercolour Painting Course, Alwyn Crawshaw ($ 10.29)

which or what book will be a big help to me.. i really need your expertise opinions..

this is my painting..followed one of the Julie Gilbert Pollard's art.. i like to work on this type of arts more...

[Yorky]

Lovely painting.

I have the Roland Roycraft book and his work is fantastic but involves much cutting of masks etc and I haven't the patience. I like Julie Gilbert Pollard's work too and have copied a couple of her paintings.

I have Alwyn Crawshaw's book and I think you will find it easy to follow.

Doug

[Scene Chaser]

Alwyn Crawshaw is a good instructor and great for beginners. Nite Engle's book is good but involves a lot of splashing and spattering. I'd wait till you were more experienced for that one. I have Roland Roycraft's book, too, but I'm not into his style, and like Doug says, it's a lot of prep work involved. Lovey work, though.
Bill

[Irishman]

I'd agree with the above regarding Nita Engle's book.I have it and whilst all that she does is absolutely amazing,it was way above my head and beyond my capabilities-for now.I don't have the Roland Roycraft,so I can't comment.Alwyn Cranshaw has started many on the road but if the paintings you have posted so far are an indication of where you are at,you might have already moved beyond Alwyn, although there are always things to learn from most books.

[AmyLC]

I have Nita England's book and roycraft's. It's been years since I looked at them. I distinctly remember that I didn't care for Nita's. I'm just not as interested in the techniques she uses, even though she creates beautiful paintings. I didn't remember much about the other so I just pulled it off the shelf.

I like it! He teaches composition as well as techniques and has many step by step examples. He does pour and splatter, too...but I think I just prefer this book. The paintings inside are beautiful. I may pour myself a cup of coffee and go read it again!

[Nilanka Sampath]

Originally Posted by Irishman

I'd agree with the above regarding Nita Engle's book.I have it and whilst all that she does is absolutely amazing,it was way above my head and beyond my capabilities-for now.I don't have the Roland Roycraft,so I can't comment.Alwyn Cranshaw has started many on the road but if the paintings you have posted so far are an indication of where you are at,you might have already moved beyond Alwyn, although there are always things to learn from most books.

i think you are right..i need a start .. i dont have any knowledge except some youtube videos and school art classes.. .. i need to get on the road first.. i never used masking fluid ..looking forward to its arrival and saunders papers from ebay which i buy few days ago for begin experiments.. i never had a quality paper for wet in wet experiments.. i thought if i bought a watercolor book also it will be very helpful..dats y i asked about this books anyway.. thank you sir for your comments..

[Nilanka Sampath]

Originally Posted by AmyLC

I have Nita England's book and roycraft's. It's been years since I looked at them. I distinctly remember that I didn't care for Nita's. I'm just not as interested in the techniques she uses, even though she creates beautiful paintings. I didn't remember much about the other so I just pulled it off the shelf.

I like it! He teaches composition as well as techniques and has many step by step examples. He does pour and splatter, too...but I think I just prefer this book. The paintings inside are beautiful. I may pour myself a cup of coffee and go read it again!

"I think I just prefer this book" Roland Roycraft's or Alwyn Crawshaw's book??u prefer

[watercolourfanatic]

Why these particular books? Unless there is some special reason I would suggest something like `The New Encyclopedia of Watercolour Tecniques' by Hazel Harrison or (slightly more advanced) `The Compedium of Watercolour Tecniques ' by Robin Berry. Both full of information for the aspiring artist and not just beginners. Both published by Search Press and very reasonably priced.

Peter

[molly007]

Nilanka, Unless you want to "pour" your watercolors down the page, I would not recommend Nita E's book. I do really like the other 2 a lot!!
A. Crawshaw would be the best to start from and Roycroft's book is just beautiful. If you are looking for beginner books there is one by Cathy Johnson (A First Step book) that is also good.

It's out of print, but if you can get a copy of Watercolor Workbook by Bud Biggs and Lois Marshall ISBN 0-89134-203-6 it has 31 lessons to do that are very helpful. It is an old book from 1987 by North Light Books. 155 pages. You can probably get it via Amazon's used books sellers.

Good luck!! Nicole

[painterbear]

Amy,
Why not start right here....have you looked at our Monthly Classes list of techniques???? Check out the Learning Demos and KIUAN Exercises as well.

Lots of help there for beginners as well as experienced artists.

Sylvia

The link is in a sticky at the top of The Learning Zone or in my and the other moderators signature lines.

[O Solis]

Alwyn Crawshaw is a fun writer. He makes you want to paint which is very important.

An important suggestion: read the books then please put them away as soon as possible. I had a devil of a time because I became too influenced by the books. It was only when I put them away that I was able to start finding my own way. Truth to tell, the information in the books is great but a lot of it is pretty much the same across the board, just different styles. Don't be a slave to the info. Just because a book says use this kind of paper, those kind of brushes and a particular kind of paint doesn't mean you need to.

Learn the basics but find your own way eventually.

[Nilanka Sampath]

Originally Posted by watercolourfanatic

Why these particular books? Unless there is some special reason I would suggest something like `The New Encyclopedia of Watercolour Tecniques' by Hazel Harrison or (slightly more advanced) `The Compedium of Watercolour Tecniques ' by Robin Berry. Both full of information for the aspiring artist and not just beginners. Both published by Search Press and very reasonably priced.

Peter

wow : there is a video on this book in amazon.. tnx.. big help...

[Nilanka Sampath]

Originally Posted by O Solis

Alwyn Crawshaw is a fun writer. He makes you want to paint which is very important.

An important suggestion: read the books then please put them away as soon as possible. I had a devil of a time because I became too influenced by the books. It was only when I put them away that I was able to start finding my own way. Truth to tell, the information in the books is great but a lot of it is pretty much the same across the board, just different styles. Don't be a slave to the info. Just because a book says use this kind of paper, those kind of brushes and a particular kind of paint doesn't mean you need to.

Learn the basics but find your own way eventually.

[O Solis]

Nilanka,

I've been studying your painting here and I like your color choices. I wonder if a book might hinder you beyond just getting the basics. If I could give you some advice it would be to concentrate on your drawing skills. Many times in our eagerness to just jump in and paint we forget that having a good drawing as a foundation is half the job. I am not saying you have not done this but am only giving advice. Trust me, I earn my money drawing and I sometimes bypass the drawing just so I can throw that first wash on. Of course I usually end up wishing I'd laid out a drawing first.

So I'd recommend that you find a book on drawing the basics while your reading those painting books we've recommended and read it more than the painting books. Trust me you will find the rewards to be greater. Two good book to go with would be "How to Draw What You See" by Rudy De Reyna and "Keys To Drawing" by Bert Dodson.

If you have a chance go to Peter's blog. He posted a painting of his granddaughter. The first thing he did was lay out a drawing, which, while just containing the basics, formed the basis of a very nice painting. That drawing was the starting point that held all the later steps together, in my opinion.

My point is enjoy the books, learn from them, don't get too influenced by a particular style that you don't give yourself a chance to become you. However, I believe you will find that a good drawing foundation will lead to a nice painting. And don't be afraid to experiment. Work with what you can get your hands on supply wise, even if it's not top of the line at first (or ever. After all, you might like what you use and may not feel the need to "move on" so don't let anyone discourage you by saying you should only use certain materials or whatever. Talented people can make anything work). Learn, then break the rules if it suits your work (Lord only knows that we need as many rule breakers as possible for from that truly interesting work can result). Also, never, ever, fear mistakes. For they make it possible to get better with the lessons they each us.

One last bit of advice. Head over to the library and check out the art in many of the picture books. You would be surprised how many beautiful watercolor paintings fill those pages

Sorry for the long note but, hey, it's painting.

[Nilanka Sampath]

Originally Posted by O Solis

Nilanka,

I've been studying your painting here and I like your color choices. I wonder if a book might hinder you beyond just getting the basics. If I could give you some advice it would be to concentrate on your drawing skills. Many times in our eagerness to just jump in and paint we forget that having a good drawing as a foundation is half the job. I am not saying you have not done this but am only giving advice. Trust me, I earn my money drawing and I sometimes bypass the drawing just so I can throw that first wash on. Of course I usually end up wishing I'd laid out a drawing first.

So I'd recommend that you find a book on drawing the basics while your reading those painting books we've recommended and read it more than the painting books. Trust me you will find the rewards to be greater. Two good book to go with would be "How to Draw What You See" by Rudy De Reyna and "Keys To Drawing" by Bert Dodson.

If you have a chance go to Peter's blog. He posted a painting of his granddaughter. The first thing he did was lay out a drawing, which, while just containing the basics, formed the basis of a very nice painting. That drawing was the starting point that held all the later steps together, in my opinion.

My point is enjoy the books, learn from them, don't get too influenced by a particular style that you don't give yourself a chance to become you. However, I believe you will find that a good drawing foundation will lead to a nice painting. And don't be afraid to experiment. Work with what you can get your hands on supply wise, even if it's not top of the line at first (or ever. After all, you might like what you use and may not feel the need to "move on" so don't let anyone discourage you by saying you should only use certain materials or whatever. Talented people can make anything work). Learn, then break the rules if it suits your work (Lord only knows that we need as many rule breakers as possible for from that truly interesting work can result). Also, never, ever, fear mistakes. For they make it possible to get better with the lessons they each us.

One last bit of advice. Head over to the library and check out the art in many of the picture books. You would be surprised how many beautiful watercolor paintings fill those pages

Sorry for the long note but, hey, it's painting.

wow.. i really likes your advises,, absolutely true.. i spend like 5min to draw.i am very eager to paint ..no interest in drawing dats y i choose easy drawings..i believe u..

you right,,many will discourage me. even my home doesnt like my paintings they want me to be a like engineer or somekind like dat.i have no intentions to be a one..but now i know i have wetcanvas with me..i love u all..love ur advises opinions..

i have framed two of my paintings and hanged in my wall and i quite enjoy my self by looking at those..the papers not even a white.. now i can c the diffrence between a quality paper and one's dat is not.. i used to paint in kent papers..whole paper is less than a dollar.. ..but i like painting in those.. i 'l post my framed arts.. thank you .. i 'l get any advises,,blames are also welcome..