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Watercolor Painting: A Comprehensive Approach to Mastering the Medium
The beauty of a watercolor painting lies in its diaphanous layers, delicate strokes, and luminous washes. However, the very features that define the beauty of the medium can make it difficult to master. This complete guide to understanding the relationships between color, value, wetness, and composition unravels the mysteries of watercolor to help your practice evolve. Experienced teacher and acclaimed artist Tom Hoffmann offers a unique, inquiry-based approach that shows you how to translate any subject into the language of watercolor. With Hoffmann as your guide, you’ll learn the key questions to ask yourself at every turn and time-tested methods to help you reach solutions. Hoffmann’s thorough explanations and step-by-step demonstrations delineate the process of composing a painting in watercolor, while art from more than thirty-five past and present masters, including John Singer Sargent, Ogden Pleissner, George Post, Emil Kosa, Jr., Mary Whyte, Trevor Chamberlain, Lars Lerin, Torgeir Schjølberg, Piet Lap, Leslie Frontz, and Alvaro Castagnet serve to illustrate and inspire. Whether you’re a serious beginner or a seasoned practitioner, this book will guide you toward the all-important balance between restraint and risk-taking that every watercolorist seeks.
346 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 1979
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214 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 22, 2021
The best watercolor book I’ve read to date. So many puzzle pieces fell into pace for me after reading this book; and it’s improved my confidence when approaching my own compositions.
Even though this book doesn’t cover much of the technical mechanics of painting watercolor, my technical skill has also improved since reading the book. I wouldn’t have expected that from a book that doesn’t take you step-by-step through how to paint specific subjects. But I found the processes the author lays out and the series of questions to ask oneself while approaching a painting really helpful. And ultimately, those processes helped me determine where my technical skill was lacking and gave me a decent toolkit for improving.
I do also have to add that the reviews saying this book is only helpful if you like the author's style are a little silly. For one, while the author states their stylistic preference, the book is clearly aimed at helping people paint well in whatever style they choose. Second, there are countless examples in the book that show a myriad of styles. Third, while yes, most the examples are urban scenes or landscapes; the processes and series of questions the author shares are useful for any style, and usually any medium, of painting. I often paint abstracts and I find the book useful in that context as well.
I read this as a kindle book, but I am buying a hard copy for my permanent collection too. It’s a great reference and I know I’ll get more from it each time I read it.
Even though this book doesn’t cover much of the technical mechanics of painting watercolor, my technical skill has also improved since reading the book. I wouldn’t have expected that from a book that doesn’t take you step-by-step through how to paint specific subjects. But I found the processes the author lays out and the series of questions to ask oneself while approaching a painting really helpful. And ultimately, those processes helped me determine where my technical skill was lacking and gave me a decent toolkit for improving.
I do also have to add that the reviews saying this book is only helpful if you like the author's style are a little silly. For one, while the author states their stylistic preference, the book is clearly aimed at helping people paint well in whatever style they choose. Second, there are countless examples in the book that show a myriad of styles. Third, while yes, most the examples are urban scenes or landscapes; the processes and series of questions the author shares are useful for any style, and usually any medium, of painting. I often paint abstracts and I find the book useful in that context as well.
I read this as a kindle book, but I am buying a hard copy for my permanent collection too. It’s a great reference and I know I’ll get more from it each time I read it.
June 21, 2014
I wished I would have been able to see Tom Hoffmann's artwork before I purchased this book, I was fooled by other reviewers. I guess no matter what your style someone will like it.
Mr. Hoffmann seems to prize "Knowing when to depart from Accuracy" because he visits this idea four or five different times in his book. I wished he prized being concise rather than his sloppy departures from accuracy. I enjoy art that is simply stated, but remains rich in visual meaning. I often times had no idea what his shapes even represented--which could be beautiful in an abstract painting, but is just confusing in a landscape (which is what he paints.) There were some other beautiful paintings in the book, but they were always by some other artist. Mr. Hoffmann had a lot of "don'ts" in his book, luckily though I had just read, "Breaking the Rules of Watercolor" by Burt Silverman (a truly wonderful and encouraging book) so I didn't take Mr. Hofffmann's "no's" to heart.
I really looked carefully for something I could use, something that would be helpful, but just didn't find much.
Mr. Hoffmann seems to prize "Knowing when to depart from Accuracy" because he visits this idea four or five different times in his book. I wished he prized being concise rather than his sloppy departures from accuracy. I enjoy art that is simply stated, but remains rich in visual meaning. I often times had no idea what his shapes even represented--which could be beautiful in an abstract painting, but is just confusing in a landscape (which is what he paints.) There were some other beautiful paintings in the book, but they were always by some other artist. Mr. Hoffmann had a lot of "don'ts" in his book, luckily though I had just read, "Breaking the Rules of Watercolor" by Burt Silverman (a truly wonderful and encouraging book) so I didn't take Mr. Hofffmann's "no's" to heart.
I really looked carefully for something I could use, something that would be helpful, but just didn't find much.
January 13, 2019
Cool pictures. Hoffmann has better watercoloring advice than he is at watercolors. Some of the work of others that he put in the book was better than his so I thought that was ironic.
March 14, 2024
Tom Hoffman’s Watercolor Painting is one of the most useful watercolor books I’ve come across. The large, colorful watercolor paintings printed on almost every page serve as useful examples of the ideas expressed in writing. Hoffman explains in deliberate detail the concept of “loose” watercolor painting—a common style of watercolor that most books for beginners fail to clearly explain. At nearly 200 pages, this book is more than just a step-by-step guide. Information rich, this book is effectively a textbook—in a good way.
Hoffman touches on the basics of watercolor in a way other guides can’t. For example, when explaining value studies, Hoffman not only offers a how-to, but he insists that a value study is essential to a successful understanding of the subject. Hoffman’s doing so suggests that these basic concepts of watercolor are not just busy work but truly necessary to revealing the shapes worthy of rendering.
I could go on and on about how helpful this book has been in furthering my understanding of loose watercolor painting.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone: beginners, students, and maybe even experts. The printed watercolor paintings alone make this book worth the read, but Hoffman’s guidance is worth your time as well.
Hoffman touches on the basics of watercolor in a way other guides can’t. For example, when explaining value studies, Hoffman not only offers a how-to, but he insists that a value study is essential to a successful understanding of the subject. Hoffman’s doing so suggests that these basic concepts of watercolor are not just busy work but truly necessary to revealing the shapes worthy of rendering.
I could go on and on about how helpful this book has been in furthering my understanding of loose watercolor painting.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone: beginners, students, and maybe even experts. The printed watercolor paintings alone make this book worth the read, but Hoffman’s guidance is worth your time as well.
March 14, 2019
The single best book on the craft of watercolor
A few months ago I started drawing and painting. This book is NOT of the “how to paint a tree” genre, but has greater utility to me, a rank beginner, because it clearly addresses basic issues such as wetness of brush, wetness of paper, types of edges, layers of a painting, how to convey the illusion of depth, and compositional balance.
A few months ago I started drawing and painting. This book is NOT of the “how to paint a tree” genre, but has greater utility to me, a rank beginner, because it clearly addresses basic issues such as wetness of brush, wetness of paper, types of edges, layers of a painting, how to convey the illusion of depth, and compositional balance.
April 27, 2024
4.5 stars. It is not necessarily a step by step book on how to paint but the artist's own ideas and concepts that he has learned from his long career as an artist. It is refreshing to read because he admits his own frustrations and mistakes. The book is very open ended for the reader in the sense where you are posed with questions to ask but ultimately you as an artist have to listen to your instincts and skills you have acquired. I enjoyed the book and the examples of work chosen from the artist and others are beautiful to look at. I learned a lot reading this.
January 9, 2022
Amazing!
I think if I had to choose a single reference for watercolor, this would be the one.
Not only do I love Hoffman’s art, but his approach just makes sense. His teaching style is light-hearted and, at times, a bit tongue-in-cheek — which makes the technical aspects bearable.
I originally bought the Kindle version, but I loved it so much I also bought a print copy to have on my bookshelf.
I think if I had to choose a single reference for watercolor, this would be the one.
Not only do I love Hoffman’s art, but his approach just makes sense. His teaching style is light-hearted and, at times, a bit tongue-in-cheek — which makes the technical aspects bearable.
I originally bought the Kindle version, but I loved it so much I also bought a print copy to have on my bookshelf.
January 11, 2018
Best book for learning to identify good vs mediocre
Great book for beginning watercolorist . The comparison of good vs not so good versions of a scene are very helpful. I will refer to the book often as I progress, especially the questions pertinent to ask as you develop a painting. It gives me encouragement to dive completely in without fear of failure.
Great book for beginning watercolorist . The comparison of good vs not so good versions of a scene are very helpful. I will refer to the book often as I progress, especially the questions pertinent to ask as you develop a painting. It gives me encouragement to dive completely in without fear of failure.
August 13, 2019
Learning Waterclour
Tom writes with ease about the difficulties encountered when embarking on the watercolour journey. His style is informative (lots of useful questions to ask yourself, examples of techniques to practice) and easy to read. A very worthwhile book to have in your library if you are seriously into Watercolour.
Tom writes with ease about the difficulties encountered when embarking on the watercolour journey. His style is informative (lots of useful questions to ask yourself, examples of techniques to practice) and easy to read. A very worthwhile book to have in your library if you are seriously into Watercolour.
September 3, 2024
Who edited this?
As engaging and helpful as many parts of this book may be, the repeated jumbling of captions, pictures, and corresponding explanatory text makes his narrative increasingly unintelligible. Hoffman provides valuable advice. He deserved better than this.
As engaging and helpful as many parts of this book may be, the repeated jumbling of captions, pictures, and corresponding explanatory text makes his narrative increasingly unintelligible. Hoffman provides valuable advice. He deserved better than this.
September 21, 2025
Excellent
As a relative newbie to watercolor, I’ve collected many books already in an attempt to crack the code to understanding it better. This is one of the best I’ve read so far.
It won’t teach you formulas on how to mix colors or step-by-step painting techniques. It won’t give you the fish. More importantly, Hoffman arms you with the right questions to ask yourself during the painting process which will lead to a better long term understanding. He teaches you how to fish.
As a relative newbie to watercolor, I’ve collected many books already in an attempt to crack the code to understanding it better. This is one of the best I’ve read so far.
It won’t teach you formulas on how to mix colors or step-by-step painting techniques. It won’t give you the fish. More importantly, Hoffman arms you with the right questions to ask yourself during the painting process which will lead to a better long term understanding. He teaches you how to fish.
July 11, 2020
Useless.
April 6, 2014
Excellent! Love Tom Hoffmann's approach to the medium and his ability to communicate the challenges posed by watercolor painting. He has obviously taught many students and he generously offers up his own paintings' successes and (what he deems as) failures as lessons for readers to learn from.
This book is for beginners, intermediate and advanced painters....I usually don't like to buy books like this (get them out of the library)...but this was worth the investment (albeit the kindle version for IPAD).
This book is for beginners, intermediate and advanced painters....I usually don't like to buy books like this (get them out of the library)...but this was worth the investment (albeit the kindle version for IPAD).
June 23, 2014
3.5 stars. This instructional book is less about watercolor technique than framing important considerations that impact watercolors. It discusses composition, value, color, and vision without overwhelming with technical minutiae.
I don't love Hoffmann's style; in fact, I dislike most of his paintings. But his examples all clearly illustrate his points.
Overall, great book for those new to watercolor (and 2d art, more generally). However, look elsewhere for technical instruction.
I don't love Hoffmann's style; in fact, I dislike most of his paintings. But his examples all clearly illustrate his points.
Overall, great book for those new to watercolor (and 2d art, more generally). However, look elsewhere for technical instruction.
November 20, 2016
Overall, I really liked this book. It's easy to read and understand. It has a lot of large pictures, and not just by the author, that really help you to get a better feel for each watercolor, which you could not do with smaller versions. The only thing I wish there would have been more of is practice examples with several stages like those on pages 117-119.
May 26, 2014
Excellent approach to watercolor. Got me to think of things that never would have occurred to me before when painting and getting ready to paint. Taught me a lot about light and watercolor. Overall great read, and I'm sure I will continue to refer to it often.
April 18, 2013
good, lots of nice pics
Currently reading
September 19, 2014Still not finished
February 10, 2016
i like it'' i want it''
September 10, 2016
This is probable the best book on the medium.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews