Book Review: Watercolor Unleashed

Watercolor Unleashed; 

New directions for traditional painting techniques

by Julie Gilbert Pollard.

This book by Julie Gilbert Pollard is alive with ideas and suggestions for painting in
watercolour. She is not a purist where watercolour is concerned but belongs to
“whatever works” school. She often uses fluid acrylics to establish her darks and,
if need be, and will use gouache to retrieve her lights.

Julie Gilbert Pollard offers watercolour artists not familiar with acrylics
suggestions for purchasing basic fluid acrylics to accompany the watercolours
used in her paintings. Julie doesn’t limit herself to working on watercolour paper
as she experiments with multimedia canvas, illustration board, or watercolour
canvas. This provides, you, the watercolour artist with an opportunity to
experiment/explore the differing results when works are produced on 

different grounds.

Pollard discusses the value of using thumb nail sketches, the pleasing balance of the 

right values and the importance of composition. She also suggests
using abstract studies to improve a design, and as a way to loosen up. One way
is to do an abstract study from an upside-down photograph. This gives you a
different perspective in drawing shapes rather than objects. If you are new to
negative painting Julie offers a variety of exercises or lessons in negative painting,
a topic not often discussed.

There are many demonstrations included in Watercolor Unleashed which could
be beneficial for many artists. This might prove to be a reference book which will
be returned to time and time again.

Reviewed by Palma Ledger

Book Review - Mountains and Moorlands in Watercolour

David Bellamy’s Mountain and Moorlands in Watercolour

David Bellamy, an artist and an author, is passionate about painting the great outdoors, especially if it is “away from the noise and bustle of cities”.  He is the author of several books and DVDs on painting in watercolour.   

Bellamy has painted in many remote areas of the world and this book illustrates the wild mountain scenes and peaceful coastal scenes which hold such a fascination for him. His paintings create a feeling of serenity, or exciting energy using a fairly limited palette, a minimum of brush strokes, and a good balance of lights and darks.

There are four full-step demonstrations which illustrate the various steps to each painting.  There are, also, numerous photographs of his paintings each accompanied with a commentary describing the methods used in rendering the scene in watercolour, or the attraction the scene held for him.

It is often said that passion is the key to a successful painting and this is fully illustrated in David Bellamy’s latest book.

Reviewed by Palma Ledger

Book Review - Stunning Crystal & Glass

Stunning Crystal & Glass: 
the Watercolourist's Guide to Capturing the Splendor of Light 
by Joyce Roletto Faulknor

This is a visually stunning book. The effects Joyce Faulknor achieves are incredible! Only after a journey of many months did she learn how to create the effects she shares with you in this book.

The artist recommends you start with a simple, well lit setup, to create lovely shadows and reflections. She offers advice on how to photograph the setup, how to crop for the best composition, and how to transfer a drawing to watercolour paper. She works from photographs which she claims is an advantage.

A value scale, a colour wheel for painting glass, refraction, and distortion are all discussed. There is a simple demonstration on painting the shadow created by a rose coloured glass vase. Each example  she discusses is accompanied by a reference photo.

There are several exercises on painting wet-into-wet, wet-on-dry, glazing, hard and soft edges and value contrast. Her colours are clean, and vivid. At times, flowers and/or fruit are combined with the crystal and glass to create a shimmering still life.

Each of the nine, step-by-step demonstrations starts with an intricate drawing. If the glass is clear then the background is painted first. There is one demo with a clear glass filled with ice, water and lemons that is amazing.

This is a subject that would be challenging for any artist who is just starting out, or even for those with some experience, However, if you are up for the challenge, follow the artist's demonstration's and go for it.

In her conclusion, the artist says if painting glass and crystal is your passion, or whatever subject you prefer to paint, believe in what you do, the rest will fall into place.

Book reviewed by Palma Ledger

Book Review - A Kiss Before You Go

I have loved Danny Gregory's work ever since I came across his book, The Creative License. Since then I have read several of his other publications including, Everyday Matters, and An Illustrated Life. In his books Gregory encourages us to draw, no matter what our skill level. He also encourages us to give even the most mundane items a place in our lives, because everyday matters.

So it was with great anticipation that I read, A Kiss Before You Go. I was not disappointed. Gregory's new book, which was written after his wife Patti died in an accident, is so compelling that I could not put it down. It is a powerful and courageous story of love, loss and grief.

As usual, Gregory illustrates A Kiss Before You Go with his unique style of drawing and painting. His drawings are as strong as his words. The self portraits in this book are haunting, especially the one on page 83. This drawing is so captivating that it could stand alone on a page without any words to tell us how he was feeling.   

I am thankful to Gregory for having this story published because even though I am addicted to journalling, I have not been able to write down my feelings during the difficult times in my life. However, after reading A Kiss Before You Go, I was able to start a new journal that will fill in the blanks of my story, because as Gregory remind us, everyday really does matter.