Search Press have reissued their eminently useful Top Tips series in paperback. If you haven't encountered these before, they're a handy way of taking the advice of your favourite artists out in the field with you. Got a problem with skies, water, washes, colour mixing or almost anything else? You'll find quick solutions, often in a short paragraph and a single illustration that'll get you back on track in minutes. Ideal as a source of inspiration, as well as an antidote to frustration, these are easy to pack and use.
-- Henry Malt * Paint magazine (September 2018) *
Search Press's new series of pocket books for watercolourists by popular tutors - Charles Evans, Terry Harrison and Geoff Kersey - is taken from the previously published Top Tips for Watercolour Artists series. The material isn't new, but the format is. Notebook-sized, it fits perfectly into your kit bag so makes the ideal reference tool when you are working out in the field.
Charles Evan's books includes tips on sketching, skies, light and shade, trees, man-made structures, mood and atmosphere. Terry Harrison includes chapters on how to use photographs, wet into wet, masking and lifting out, grasses and flowers, and winter scenes, while Geoff Kersey includes tips on mixing colours, the importance of shadows, hills and mountains and adding signs of life. The popular Top Tips series was well planned providing would-be artists with tips from experienced watercolour painters to help them with specific areas of painting. This new pocket book series gives them a new lease of life.
* Leisure Painter, September 2018 *
Geoff Kersey's Pocket Book for Watercolour Artists is a 96-page paperback filled with tips and techniques on watercolour painting by Geoff Kersey. Note that this book was previously published under the title Geoff's Top Tips for Watercolour Artists.
This book may be small but it packs a lot of useful practical techniques, such as the basics of wet on wet, wet on dry, colour mixing, creating textures and more. The several step by step demonstrations are easy to follow along. The instructions also explains the rationale behind each technique, and the thought process.
The subject matter in this book is mostly landscapes. There are tips on painting certain subjects, such as trees, houses, water, clouds and more. There are also plenty of beautiful watercolour paintings included.
Overall, this is a good guide for watercolour beginners.
-- Teoh Yi Chie * Parka Blogs *
