I certainly wouldn’t have bought all these individually, but the very low priced bargain compilation and excellent print quality was hard to resist and the first book I saw with a fairly detailed style instead of loose wet in wet only “how to”s. It is apparently a compilation of several originals: Atmosphere, Light, Mood Trees, Rocks and Running Water Buildings, Bridges and Walls Skies, mountains and Lakes as well as Windsor and Newton Watercolour Landscapes. Keith Fenwick: the first book on landscapes I bought and only one I own in a German edition. So, nice pictures but instructional value not great imo. Gorgeous pictures and great variety of themes and sujets, but the mostly just four steps with usually only 2 sentences per step to the finished piece will definitely frustrate beginners and those wanting more information on how to achieve certain effects. A “How to” with 50 landscapes to work through.

Joe Francis Dowden: The Landscape Painters Essential Handbook. Very much non-academic books, but from what I’ve seen so far the greatest practical use for the largest, most diverse audience. After each several paintings done with similar techniques with short explanations so you’ll be able to identify the learned material and use it on own projects. 20 to 35 steps shown for one picture are not unusual. The projects are very generously photographed, the individual steps shown and explained in great detail but with clear, simply language even for people not firm in the “lingo” yet. Great practical value imo, very hands on! Starts with basics and then moves very fast to depecting typical textures and structures. – and the same author and series focussing on Landscapes.īoth are helpful for the way in and, while they start very much at the beginning, also hold lots of tips for advanced artists or those who are just new to the medium watercolour. Gordon MacKenzie: – The Watercolourist’s Essential Notebook I’ll mention them in no particular order: I should also say that I tend to like – and paint – representative and fairly realistic landscapes and thus focus on books which focus on such a style. Since I focus on pastel (actually, I haven’t seen a pastel landscape-exclusive book yet!) and watercolours my selection mirrors these techniques.

Interesting topic! Personally I enjoyed – and learned from – several books regarding landscapes.

Mitchell albala art