The Easy Guide to Painting Water in Watercolour - by Stephen Coates (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Unlock the Secrets to Captivating Water Landscapes, from still lakes and crashing waves to water droplets. Enhance Your Skills, and Ignite Your Creativity!

Whether calm and reflective or sparkling with light and movement, water can bring atmosphere, drama and life to your watercolor paintings. In this invaluable, practical guide, popular artist, author and teacher Stephen Coates leads you through a multitude of highly effective techniques that will transform good paintings into great ones.

• Begin with an exploration of reflections and their pivotal role in capturing water on paper.
• Create 8 beautiful, beginner-friendly step-by-step projects, including stormy seas, cascading waterfalls, still lakes and lapping waves.
• Build up a range of versatile skills and techniques as you progress through the book.
• Be inspired by Stephen's handy tips and a vibrant selection of his stunning artworks.

Perfect for beginners, this is this latest addition to the Easy Guide to Painting series, and brings the excitement of Stephen's live teaching into a no-fuss book that will help you create your own captivating watercolour masterpieces.

Review Quotes

Introduction 6
Planning 8
Water and reflections 9
Understanding paint 14
Brushes and brushing techniques 18
Other techniques 23
Watercolour paper 24
Tools and materials 26
Working from photographs 28
WATER 30
Lakes and calm water 32
Project: Reeds in the Shallows 34
Project: Misty Lake 41
Boats on water 50
Project: Serene Moorings 52
Project: Boats at Low Tide 60
Sea and breaking waves 72
Project: Beach at Sunset 77
Sparkling water 84
Project: Stormy Island Beach 88
Waterfalls and cascading water 96
Project: Moorland Falls 101
Water droplets 108
Project: Oak Leaves 109
Index 112

About the Author

Stephen Coates was born in Sheffield in 1960. The son of a draughtsman, he was introduced to drawing at a very young age. He excelled in art at school but chose a career in retail, working first in the music industry for 16 years followed by another 16 years running his own catering business.

Over a period of 20 years, Stephen learned and specialized in watercolours in his spare time, and gradually developed his own style and unique brand of teaching. In 2011 he traded his sandwich business for a career in art and teaching. He became a full-time professional freelance artist, and set up his own studio in Sheffield with the purpose of teaching others watercolour painting. From here he runs courses, workshops and hosts his own amateur art groups. Stephen also demonstrates his skills and shares his expertise at art societies all over England, and exhibits at a variety of national art shows. Visit his website www.coatesart.co.uk