Watercolour offers great potential for expression. Its fluidity, full colour range, generous spread and variety of marks can portray a likeness, a response, a feeling - even the notions of time and speed. This book is a practical guide to watercolour painting and more. It explains the importance of colour, tone, shape, texture and scale through exercises and shared techniques, but it also encourages the artist to express sensations and ideas in watercolour - and by exploring the joy of the medium, to develop handling skills, confidence and a unique painting 'voice'. Includes: getting started; materials, fundamentals and mark-making; ideas to trigger the imagination for developing personal style; a variety of images to inspire and encourage; and help and advice throughout to practice new skills and gain confidence with a medium that has the potential magnificence of a 'full orchestra', yet can be slipped into the pocket. Lavishly illustrated with 259 colour photographs.

Mike Chaplin is one of the most popular art experts on the very successful Channel 4 series Watercolour Challenge. In this book he reveals how he works and puts forward his ideas and teaching methods, offering plenty of tips and practical advice for the amateur artist. This book is intended for artists with some painting experience who wish to develop their technique, style and outlook. It is a book to make them think and to push the technical and personal boundaries of what they believe they can achieve in paint. Mike's teaching focuses not only on techniques but also on expanding the readers' approach to their painting as a whole. Starting with a fascinating look at the development of watercolour as an expressive art, the book then covers selective techniques, both traditional and the more unusual, and topics such as observation, drawing, colour and composition. All kinds of painting subjects are included, from the natural landscape to urban scenes, and throughout the book Mike provides plenty of practical advice and useful tips about techniques. There are also a number of special features, focusing on particular aspects of painting, as well as several full step-by-step demonstra

Mike Chaplin is one of the most popular art experts on the very successful Channel 4 series Watercolour Challenge. In this book he reveals how he works and puts forward his ideas and teaching methods, offering plenty of tips and practical advice for the amateur artist.

This guide is intended for artists with some painting experience who wish to develop their technique, style and outlook. It aims to make the reader think and to push the technical and personal boundaries of what they believe they can achieve in paint. Mike's teaching focuses not only on techniques but also on expanding the readers' approach to their painting as a whole.

A guide to capturing the beauty of birds using modern, expressive watercolour painting techniques. Painting watercolours in a loose style is a technique admired by many artists, yet there are a range of skills to master in order to achieve a sense of freedom and lightness of touch. Birds present us with a vibrant array of colours and textures – from the iridescent plumage of the hummingbird to the zingy turquoise blue of the kingfisher – and with such varied and lively characters they are a wonderful subject to paint. Supported by instructional photos throughout, experienced artist Sarah encourages you to let go of the detail whilst providing you with all the techniques required to paint beautiful and characterful portraits of birds with colour and verve. - 10 step-by-step projects accessible to complete beginners and more experienced artists alike. Learn the importance of shape and tone in depicting form. - Discover how watercolour works through experimentation and play with different tools and techniques. - Explore various colour palettes, composition techniques and background basics. - Develop your approach to key features such as feathers, feet, wingspans and faces and other tricky areas such as creating texture, adding shadows and achieving translucency.

The ultimate beginner’s guide to conveying mood and emotion on canvas with vibrant watercolors: “Filled with page after page of very useful knowledge.” —Arts & Activities Expressive Painting follows the same clean, contemporary, easy-to-read, and easy-to-follow layout and design of the other books in Walter Foster Publishing’s popular Portfolio series. It covers essential painting topics, including color theory, color mixing, selecting color schemes, and working with tools and materials, as well as watercolor painting techniques, such as painting wet-into-wet and wet-on-dry. Helpful tips are called out throughout the book for easy comprehension and reference, while step-by-step projects build on the featured techniques, allowing artists to practice making their own dynamic, colorful watercolor paintings. With Expressive Painting, beginning and aspiring artists will learn all they need to know to start creating watercolor art that’s full of color and emotion. The Portfolio series covers essential art techniques, core concepts, and media with an approach and format that’s perfect for aspiring, beginning, and intermediate artists. Also available from the series: Beginning Acrylic, Beginning Drawing, Beginning Watercolor, Beginning Pastel, Beginning Colored Pencil, Beginning Color Mixing, Beginning Pen & Ink, and Beginning Composition.

This superbly illustrated book by Mike Chaplin, a well-known British art expert, is intended for artists with some painting experience who wish to develop their technique, style and outlook. Featuring a wide range of subjects, from the natural landscape to urban scenes, as well as practical advice, useful tips, special features and step-by-step demonstrations, it offers a unique combination of instruction, inspiration and insight into the work of this popular painter.