The Watercolour Wheel Book (Paperback)

Here is a book that bills itself proudly as "the world s first truly interactive art instruction book." We all know about color wheels, as they appear like talismans in every art book available, but here is a wheel that you can actually move to make color mixing come to life. This book is aimed at the beginner , as it deals with all the basics of watercolor painting in a new and rewarding way. The color wheel is very satisfactorily explained - I wish I had been taught all this years ago - and you can work it all out for yourself with the aid of the interactive wheel on the cover. You also learn what you need to buy, which is not such a daunting list as in many books, and even how to use this book. This is something a lot of Search Press books have, and more power to them for it. The bulk of the book is taken up with the projects, staged pictures to paint that teach a couple of new techniques each time, and there are a number of different types of picture. Landscapes, seascapes, flowers and still life are all covered, but not portraits. All in all a most satisfying primer, and possibly the best introduction to watercolor painting I have yet to see. This would make a great present for anybody who wants to take it up as a hobby. --Rachel Hyde, MyShelf.com<br /><br />A book on watercolour painting has recently appeared, based throughout on the concept of the colour wheel. Indeed, the front cover comprises a colour wheel which may be rotated so that any of the 12 colours can be placed against each of the other 11 to reveal the resultiing colour combinations. The 12 colours are: burnt sienna, cadmium red, orange, yellow ochre, cadmium yellow, cadmium lemon, Hooker's green, Prussian blue, cobalt blue, Payne's grey, violet and permanent rose. After a chapter dealing with materials and equipment, there are eight step-by-step projects, each beginning with the illustration of a colour wheel section showing how the colour mixtures used in the following painting are obtained. It is worth noting that the colour wheel mixtures illustrated result from mixing equal quantities of the two colours used, and these, of course, will often need to be modified to produce the colour required. Each project contains 30 or more steps with information not only on colour and colour mixing, but also on a variety of watercolour techniques, such as wet on dry, wet on wet, washes of various kinds, brushwork and, in addition, the use of such aids as masking fluid, wax resist, salt, sponges and gum arabic. There are also boxes containing 'trick of the trade' of varying value, such as pressing tissue into a wet wash to create an impression of texture. The book offers useful and helpful advice, though its claim to be 'the world's first truly interactive instruction book' is perhaps, a little over the top. --Leisure Painter, June 08

Colour holds a fascination for many of us, but grasping the intricacies of colour mixing and putting colours together can seem beyond our grasp. The front cover has a turnable wheel to show some of the colours, which can be made using watercolour paints. Though these principles can also be applied to food colours. This isn't only another colour mixing book, it's also 8 very detailed step-by-step delightful painting projects, beautifully executed. --Cake Craft & Decoration, July 08

The world's first truly interactive art instruction book, "The Watercolour Wheel Book" will help anyone who wants to paint in watercolour to produce quality art in days. It begins with a look at the equipment you will need to get started and then describes the basic principles of colour mixing and applying colour.The book presents a series of eight step-by-step projects designed to teach you the most rewarding watercolour techniques, such as laying flat and graduated washes, working wet-in-wet and wet-in-dry, masking out, lifting off, and sponging, all applied to subjects from still lifes to landscapes, and from buildings to woodland. By working through the projects, you will increase your knowledge and confidence and will be able to produce satisfying watercolour art. Turn the interactive colour wheel to instantly see the results of mixing different colours. Learn the basics of colour mixing in watercolour, how to get the effect you are looking for, and how to use watercolour in your compositions. Discover the materials and equipment that watercolour artists use most often and with greatest success.

Work through the eight projects to learn the basic techniques of working in watercolours.