Product Description
Discover simple techniques and practical tips for transforming simples rocks into beautiful works of art

The Art of Rock Painting makes it possible for anyone to create extraordinary art projects with ordinary rocks! Accomplished artist Diana Fisher takes you step by step through 12 diverse projects as she introduces you to the sensational world of rock painting, one technique at a time. You'll learn to transform plaine rocks into useful and decorative objects--from a lifelike feline doorstop to rock-solid bookends. No matter what your painting experience, this book will awaken your imagination to wealth of creative possibilities! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Pretty Good!
This is a pretty good book on painting rocks and rock designs.If you like the rocks on the cover, you should like the other rocks in this book.You get more of what you see.

The only problem I had, is the instructions were okay for adults, but not children.I would think children might be drawn to this type of book, but the instructions need to be a little more detailed for children.Also, some pictures are shown without any patterns for them in the book.The adults and children might want those.

Disappointed with quality and projects
This book was bought by mistake but I thought I'd give it a try but I was very dissapointed in it. It did not offer very many creative projects or very detailed instructions. I enjoy the original books by Lin Wellford and will continue to use hers.

Loved this book!
I really enjoyed this book.It was very well organized and I could understand all of the instructions easily.It was also very attractively done.I loved this book! ... Read more

Product Description
Clear Instruction from an Award-Winning Artist

*No other book provides such clear instruction for putting people into paintings*Watercolor and people is a can’t-miss combo--the most popular medium with the most popular subject matter!

A lot of books teach artists how to draw portraits or figures, but this book takes that concept one step further, showing readers how to put those people into realistic scenes. It’s never been easier to capture the essence of people, with:

*11 step-by-step watercolor demonstrations, featuring interiors, landscapes, cityscapes and more*Inspirational quotes to keep artists motivated and encourage them to put people they care about into their paintings*A look at all the basics: shapes, values, composition, color and watercolor techniques ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Glad I got this book
I am enjoying this book. It has good, well written descriptions of everything from sketching, basic figure proportions, value studies, color mixing, on location painting, people in landscapes, basic design, light and shadow and more.
I am very glad I bought this book.I like that she shows capturing the essence of people and not photo realism.Fun book to read and study.Lots of visual and not overrun with text.

Excellent
A thorough book on painting people and their surrounding environment with watercolor.Lots of examples in all stages, and thorough descriptions of materials and methods.An excellent book for watercolorists of all experience levels.

Water color techniques
This book gave me answers to questions like:

1.how to design strong watercolor paintings
2.how to really identify values correctly
3.how to create paintings that work and are interesting

I like the approach to color by painting with primary triads and her watercolor laundry method. As a self taught artist, I learned mostly by trial and error. If I had this book sooner I would have made far fewer errors.

putting people in your paintings
I found Putting People in your paintings to be very helpful. Laurel Hart explains everything in simple terms and tells everything you need to know about an impressionistic way of depicting figures.This book will be of value to you.

Very Helpful
This was exactly what I was looking for in a tutorial for painting people. The reader does need to know some fundamentals in watercolor though. Its well planed and explained. My work has improved 10 fold because of it. ... Read more

Product Description
Paint Watercolors that Shine!

Make the most of watercolor's fresh, vibrant nature through light, color and contrast. In the first few chapters, artist Soon Y. Warren helps you lay the groundwork--everything from choosing and lighting subjects to color theory and perspective. Then, follow along with a thrilling series of step-by-step demonstrations to put your ideas into action for paintings that shine!

• Learn how color, value, contrast and composition affect the impact of your paintings
• Discover the plans and techniques you'll need for successful, realistic watercolors
• Follow 16 demonstrations to create brilliant paintings
• Paint a variety of subjects, including still life, landscapes, water scenes, flowers, architecture and animals

Customer Reviews (6)

Gorgeous Watercoloring
This book is absolutely beautiful...and very instructive to the beginning as well as advanced watercolorist.

A Continuation of Soon's Beautiful Work...
If possible, Soon's second book is even more beautiful than the first; gorgeous photography and clear, step-by-step instructions ~ a "must have" to add to her first book...

Warren's Painting Vibrant Watercolors
I haven't bought an art instruction book in a long while, but this book is great.Soon Warren is a gifted watercolorist and she shares all and gives the student step by step instruction.A great little home study course.

A great guide for the thinking person
Soon Y Warren provides excellent details about her techniques. I feel compelled to add to the debate about lightfastness, and encourage aspiring painters to go to the source for information. In this case, the supplier (Windsor & Newton), has this to say about their Artist's Watercolor, PR-83 Alizarin Crimson (1,2-dihydroxyantraquinone):

"Permanence
Alizarin Crimson is considered fugitive or marginally lightfast, and the appropriateness of its use in the modern artist palette is a subject of debate. There are many concerns regarding its permanence, particularly when mixed with ochre, sienna, and umber, or when used thinly. It is the least permanent red commonly used by today's artists. Modern synthetic preparations of Alizarin Crimson have better permanence and lightfastness that the original natural pigment, which was extracted from the madder plant. Quinacridone pigments have been used to create a modern hue that closely matches the original hue, but many artists object that the transparency and handling characteristics are not the same as for the original."

Oxidation, by the way, involves reaction between two materials, and often does not involve atmospheric oxygen, hence the caveat above about using alizarin crimson with ochre. Although use of uv-absorbing glass is a sound practice, permanence is a relative property, and there are no absolutes. Use of a glazing medium, such as the Golden product which Ms. Warren often uses for adhesion of the metal particles, provides a coating of acrylic polymer on the particles, but does not provide a particularly effective barrier to atmospheric oxygen. Once again, science can not satisfy the absolute which the artist craves. After all, in a few billion years, even the best watercolors will be toast, along with the pyramids and our bones.

Please Ignore Ignorant Comments
The first reviewer of this book obviously has only a scientific/academic perspective on the topics for which he/she criticizes this book.Anyone with any genuine expertise in Soon Warren's techniques would know that: 1) The metal powder she uses is always applied within a clear acrylic medium.This prevents oxygen from reaching virtually all of the metal, the source, by definition, of oxidization; and 2) the studies that "prove" fading of the Winsor & Newton colors Aureolin and PermanentAlizarin Crimson do not shield the paint from the deleterious effects of UVA and UVB radiation.Since all well framed watercolor paintings use special glass, which shields the painting from the damaging portions of light spectra, the colors do not fade.It's unfortunate that Amazon.com allows such irresponsible reviews written by those without the experience, expertise, and knowledge necessary to create a thoughtful and accurate description!

This book truly is an amalgam of easy to understand theory and descriptions of painting techniques honed to perfection by years of creating top-award winning works.Any watercolor painter from beginner to expert would benefit from this book. ... Read more