Aimed specifically at artists who want results fast, the Paint Pad Artist series uses pre-printed sheets of Artists' quality watercolour paper, with initial outlines for each of the six step-by-step projects, so that you can start to paint straight away. Written by professional artist and tutor, Grahame Booth, The Paint Pad Artist: Watercolour Landscapes, begins with notes on how to use the paper to achieve the best results, as well as how to copy the outlines should you want to try the projects again and improve on your first attempts. A section on the materials you'll need is complemented with guidance on basic techniques, before you get underway with the projects, which get progressively harder as you work your way through.
The Paint Pad Artist: Watercolour Flowers is part of the same series. Written by artist and tutor, Julie King, the book follows the previous format - beginning with how to use the pre-printed watercolour paper, discussion of the materials and equipment needed plus guidance on basic techniques - followed by six step-by-step flower projects to work through.
* Leisure Painter, December 2018 *
This new series from Search Press is simply brilliant and brilliantly simple. Take one look and you'll get it immediately.
The idea itself isn't new - if pre-printed tracings sound familiar, they are. The Ready to Paint series pioneered them and ran to titles that covered just about every subject. Here, they've taken things a step further and put the outlines directly onto watercolour paper. All you have to do is follow the straightforward instructions and you can be sure of a successful result.
It doesn't stop there, though. Yes, there are six projects and, yes, they've been carefully chosen to give you as much variety in your subject as possible. However, you don't have to learn everything all at once. Each project introduces a new set of techniques and challenges, so that you'll be looking at washes, lifting-out, aerial perspective or winter trees at different stages. You'll never feel overwhelmed and, because you're working at your own pace, you can practise as many times as you like - the books suggest making copies of the outlines for this purpose.
When you're done, the whole thing packs up to provide a collection you can refer back to when you branch out on your own.
Grahame Booth's landscapes include hills, rivers, pathways, buildings and even snow. He explains reflections, recession, trees and figures in a series of six projects that build up your skills and confidence with gentle progression. There are instructions and illustrations all the way and it's easy to see what you're doing and how to achieve it. If you want to paint landscapes, there's really no better place than this to start.
Although these books are mainly aimed at the beginner, the way they're laid out makes them ideal for revision as well. Everything is so clearly explained that you could use them to practise a subject or technique you're finding tricky. I just love them.
-- Henry Malt * Paint magazine (September 2018) *
This inspiring watercolour landscapes book is part of the exciting and innovative Paint Pad Artist series. Each book includes six sheets of artist high-quality watercolour paper, pre-printed with outline drawing for each of the step-by-step projects, enabling you to start painting straight away and giving you the best possible chance of achieving a successful painting.
-- Craft Business * The Collection 2018 *
With detailed step-by-step projects and six outlines pre-printed on watercolour paper, this is a straightforward and progressive guide that leads you gently through a wide variety of landscape painting techniques.
Subjects include buildings, trees, hills, water and snow and you'll learn aerial perspective, how to simplify shapes, how to handle reflections and much much more. As well as detailed step-by-step instructions for each project, there are a wealth of ideas for you to try and develop.
-- The SAA * The SAA Catalogue 19/20 *
