Watercolour for the Absolute Beginner

by Matthew Palmer

This book is a comprehensive course in watercolour landscape painting by expert Society of All Artists tutor, Matthew Palmer. Matthew is renowned for his beautiful, detailed paintings and his ability to teach effective painting using simple techniques. He teaches over 150 pupils per week and also appears regularly on TV. The book begins with excellent advice for the beginner, including, easy drawing for painting, composition, easy perspective, light and shade, colour, and how to paint skies, tree, water and figures in watercolour. There are then six simple step by step painting exercises, and each exercise leads into a more developed step by step painting project, including a windmill, seascape, snow scene, mountains and lakes, bluebell stream and an all-rounder featuring a landscape with buildings and figures. The exercises are ideal for beginners and the main projects will also build skills for improving artists. A pull-out outline drawing is provided for every exercise and main project, and Matthew shows step by step how to transfer these onto watercolour paper. Like best-selling artist, Terry Harrison, Matthew has an accessible style, plenty of tips and tricks for beginners and his own range of brushes and colours to make things easier (though readers can use alternatives).

Genres: Art, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2014

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a complete beginner when it comes to watercolour painting (I actually bought the paints during the first lockdown for something new to try) so of course I immediately purchased a book for tips and hints on where to get started.

This book does have a lot of useful information about what equipment to buy, how to mix colours and even things like laying out paintings etc but I’ve actually found it far easier to watch free YouTube tutorials that I can follow along with real time. I’ve fallen down a rabbit hole of different things to paint from flowers & animals to mandala doodling with watercolour backgrounds & even painted my own Christmas cards this year but what I haven’t really done is paint landscapes so this book hasn’t been particularly useful to me yet.

I think when I’m a bit more advanced when it comes to skills this will be a book I come back to and hopefully I’ll find it much easier to follow and more helpful.

[Kristen Lesperance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matthew Palmer is a talented artist and he really provided some insightful information that will help when painting, but I am not that much of a fan of his style of painting so I did not get much from the latter half of the book. I do recommend reading it if you are interested in Watercolour and want to learn some information.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this cover to cover. It’s excellent. Just what I have been looking for, as an absolute beginner. Everything is set out so clearly in a way that will build up confidence.
Now all I have to do is paint!

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent resource for beginner watercolor landscape artists.