This book teaches artists to explore, and exploit, watercolour's unique properties in creative ways. The ability to create fresh, new paintings stems from a visual awareness of what past masters have achieved with the medium, and from a secure understanding of certain basic artistic principles of composition, design, and paint handling - all parts of a foundation the author terms practicial creativity and lays out for the reader. A series of painting exercises in watercolour sketching, handling washes, and other approaches to the medium helps readers develop the technical fluency essential to creative freedom. Then the author and three other watercolouritss demonstrate in several step-by-step sequences imaginative and surehanded ways of working with watercolour's coloristic and valuistic possibilities; of choosing interesting themes and points of view; and of developing interpretive skills, or formal creativity. Although creativity per se cannot be taught, it can be generated by studying and emulating the works and techniques of great artists; this book aims to stir the reader's spirit and attitude in just such ways.