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The Watercolor Course You've Always Wanted: Guided Lessons for Beginners and Experienced Artists
A comprehensive and practical guide to watercolor painting from sought-after instructor and acclaimed artist Leslie Frontz that answers the two most common questions students at all levels want to What am I doing wrong? and How do I decide what to do instead? In the tradition of the eminently practical, top-selling guides such as How to Make a Watercolor Paint Itself, The Oil Painting Course You've Always Wanted, and Problem Solving for Oil Painters, this straightforward handbook offers a fresh approach to watercolor mastery that bridges the gap between theory and practice. Through thoughtful discussion, expert instruction, and in-depth step-by-step demonstrations, Leslie Frontz shows readers how to eliminate common barriers to achieve beautiful, captivating watercolor paintings. Beginning with teaching readers how to see with an artist's eye, Frontz then establishes how watercolor painters build on this skill by making timely decisions throughout the creation process.
194 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 2, 2015
147 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 5, 2015
"The Watercolor Course You've Always Wanted" is a watercolor instruction book. The author assumed that you have a basic understanding of how to paint with watercolor. However, this book is unlikely to contain much new for people who have read several books on the topic.
She covered information like: seeing with an artist's eye by finding the major chunks of light, dark, and medium color in a potential painting; using a full range of value in a painting; mixing color to get the desired results; using bright against dull color or light against dark color to draw attention; how to hold the brush for a "loose" look; choosing a horizontal or vertical format; what type of watercolor paper to use; suggesting texture through paper choice, spattering, scraping, stamping, or sprinkling (salt); and creating mood through light and subject matter.
Much of the book is demonstration rather than explanation. The finished demonstration paintings are so "loose" that a beginner has a good chance at attaining a similar result. However, if you like to know exactly what pigments were mixed to get what specific color and how that was brushed on the paper, then you'll be frustrated with the vague instructions. Before she even covered color mixing, she talked about mixing pigments--for example, ultramarine, phthalo blue, and alizarin crimson for a wash across the lower sky area--with little more instruction than that.
Some of the demonstrations were decent at showing the principle she was teaching. Others were less so, like the demonstration where she used spattering, scraping, stamping, and sprinkling. She used all of these techniques at the final stage of the demonstration, but I couldn't find some of them, like marks from sprinkling, and I was uncertain what parts were sponged. Basically, I've read other watercolor books that cover the same topics (and more) in a way that I found easier to understand and apply on my own.
I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.
She covered information like: seeing with an artist's eye by finding the major chunks of light, dark, and medium color in a potential painting; using a full range of value in a painting; mixing color to get the desired results; using bright against dull color or light against dark color to draw attention; how to hold the brush for a "loose" look; choosing a horizontal or vertical format; what type of watercolor paper to use; suggesting texture through paper choice, spattering, scraping, stamping, or sprinkling (salt); and creating mood through light and subject matter.
Much of the book is demonstration rather than explanation. The finished demonstration paintings are so "loose" that a beginner has a good chance at attaining a similar result. However, if you like to know exactly what pigments were mixed to get what specific color and how that was brushed on the paper, then you'll be frustrated with the vague instructions. Before she even covered color mixing, she talked about mixing pigments--for example, ultramarine, phthalo blue, and alizarin crimson for a wash across the lower sky area--with little more instruction than that.
Some of the demonstrations were decent at showing the principle she was teaching. Others were less so, like the demonstration where she used spattering, scraping, stamping, and sprinkling. She used all of these techniques at the final stage of the demonstration, but I couldn't find some of them, like marks from sprinkling, and I was uncertain what parts were sponged. Basically, I've read other watercolor books that cover the same topics (and more) in a way that I found easier to understand and apply on my own.
I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.
July 24, 2021
Good intermediate book
This book gives many step-by-step demonstrations, but knowledge of the basic mechanics of watercolour painting is assumed . This book excels particularly in teaching value, and has an excellent section on colour mixing. Recommended!
This book gives many step-by-step demonstrations, but knowledge of the basic mechanics of watercolour painting is assumed . This book excels particularly in teaching value, and has an excellent section on colour mixing. Recommended!
September 9, 2022
A book I plan to go back to when I'm ready to do more watercolor painting. Not really a book to read front to back. Great practical advice that I'd like to follow along with.
December 6, 2024
Love the time spent on color thery.
Very well organized book. Loved the section on color.
Many artists write books, but are not easy to follow. Great book.
Very well organized book. Loved the section on color.
Many artists write books, but are not easy to follow. Great book.
March 1, 2025
some weaknesses
This book is very through in some instances and vague in others it assumes the step process for painting wet in wet should be understood without demonstration while easier flat washes are throughly represented. The subject choices are not my preference this a City scene subject matter book
This book is very through in some instances and vague in others it assumes the step process for painting wet in wet should be understood without demonstration while easier flat washes are throughly represented. The subject choices are not my preference this a City scene subject matter book
March 22, 2022
Profusely illustrated book with practical hints
I bought this as an e-book,as I liked the style,execution and innumerable hints on easing one into watercolour painting.
A true masterclass.
Also someone who poses for a photo with a Beagle certainly gets my attention.
I bought this as an e-book,as I liked the style,execution and innumerable hints on easing one into watercolour painting.
A true masterclass.
Also someone who poses for a photo with a Beagle certainly gets my attention.
August 6, 2025
The text is, especially for an art book, very well written. I would have liked a little bit more exercises to practise the points she describes including shaped, values, colours, lines, textures, and moods.
September 12, 2019
Good lessons on the theory of watercolor painting, but very little on how to actually get started.
June 11, 2021
Frontz has a strong focus on use of color in her paintings. Lots of good info, but I just didn’t find the demo’s to be of much help as I had hoped.
September 23, 2021
Giving it a 4 star until I actually paint while going thru the book as it suggests. It is a good primer after having not painted in awhile.
October 6, 2024
A very solid guide on how to paint with watercolors. Lots of lessons.
I may come back to this (it was a library book), and try more of the exercises later.
I may come back to this (it was a library book), and try more of the exercises later.
November 10, 2015
I picked this book up because the author’s artistic style lured me in and I wanted to learn how she does it. It’s broken into several sections, each one containing several demonstrations. She goes over what pigments she uses, the brush type, and technique employed to get different effects. She also talks about supplies, seeing like an artist, mood, and color. Unfortunately, the explanations are not as engaging as other painting books I’ve read, and the instructions in the demonstrations are thin. The tutorials are written in the present tense, which comes off awkward and stiff.
However, I’m a firm believer that every teacher has something to offer their students. The sections on values, line, and mood offer useful instruction that isn’t always found in other art books. Her step by step demonstrations are also helpful to study and learn from. I particularly like the way she mentions every pigment and brush she uses, so you can experiment and apply her knowledge to your own artwork.
Verdict: Worth the read, but I’ve read better.
My blog: Batch of Books
However, I’m a firm believer that every teacher has something to offer their students. The sections on values, line, and mood offer useful instruction that isn’t always found in other art books. Her step by step demonstrations are also helpful to study and learn from. I particularly like the way she mentions every pigment and brush she uses, so you can experiment and apply her knowledge to your own artwork.
Verdict: Worth the read, but I’ve read better.
My blog: Batch of Books
April 21, 2016
Leslie Frontz wants to take people from learning the theory of how to paint to actually producing a work of art in her newest book iThe Watercolor Course You've Always Wanted. She has been using watercolor for over forty years. View her creations and learn more about Leslie Frontz on her website.
I believe Leslie Frontz does a good job of explaining about the supplies, shapes, values, color, line, textures, and mood that is used to create a watercolor. I would suggest to thoroughly read this book and then read it again to fully understand the concepts being taught. The first stage of watercolor that Leslie Fronz teaches utilizes drawing out the scene. I feel that a person using The Watercolor Course needs to be naturally artistic or has learned some drawing skills. Overall, this book taught me a lot about using watercolor and I would recommend it to others also interested in this painting technique. I received a free copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.
I believe Leslie Frontz does a good job of explaining about the supplies, shapes, values, color, line, textures, and mood that is used to create a watercolor. I would suggest to thoroughly read this book and then read it again to fully understand the concepts being taught. The first stage of watercolor that Leslie Fronz teaches utilizes drawing out the scene. I feel that a person using The Watercolor Course needs to be naturally artistic or has learned some drawing skills. Overall, this book taught me a lot about using watercolor and I would recommend it to others also interested in this painting technique. I received a free copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.
September 18, 2015
That's a pretty daring title, don't you think? And yes, in theory, this book offers a step by step journey to a watercolorists' wonderland. But the reality is, the elemental charm of aquarelles relies upon nature's variable atmospheric conditions, and so the watercolor course that all of us want involves a live expert who can identify and successfully communicate by the moment. Sorry, the watercolor course that I've always wanted includes a small group situation in a tourist destination. These lessons aim for that, and they are bullseye for Ms. Frontz's chosen weather and locations, so for that reason, this is a helpful workbook for its varied exercises. Admittedly, there's a part of me that's angry at myself for not going off on a painter's holiday...And such is the conundrum for receiving this free copy in exchange for a fair and honest review on netgalley.com.
March 29, 2023
I honestly think the title made me judge this book more harshly than I would have with something less presumptuous. I’m not sure what level of skill this book is directed towards, even having read it twice (once as a beginner and once at an intermediate level). I definitely got more out of it the second time, possibly because this book is totally lacking in technical instruction and I now have enough experience now to fill in the many, many blanks.
It’s a beautiful book with a fun variety of styles as examples, and I enjoyed looking through all the art. But it’s very light on actual instruction, much more of a demonstration than being a “course”. Not bad as a supplement to more through works (I’m a big fan of Claudia Nice, and for video tutorials I highly recommend Liron Yanconsky’s YouTube channel).
It’s a beautiful book with a fun variety of styles as examples, and I enjoyed looking through all the art. But it’s very light on actual instruction, much more of a demonstration than being a “course”. Not bad as a supplement to more through works (I’m a big fan of Claudia Nice, and for video tutorials I highly recommend Liron Yanconsky’s YouTube channel).
January 17, 2016
Well, the title seems to be true. There is something for everyone in Leslie Frontz's book starting from which brushes to have and how to use them. If you need to have the teacher standing at your elbow while you work, then you can accomplish that with this book. My only concern was the very detailed pictures she used as examples. If we are truly beginners we need simple to start with. But overall, this answers your questions in one place. I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my opinion.
September 19, 2015
Title says it all
Not just another watercolor instruction book. Important qualities of good painting are clearly explained and illustrated. In my opinion, probably better for painters with a little experience.
Not just another watercolor instruction book. Important qualities of good painting are clearly explained and illustrated. In my opinion, probably better for painters with a little experience.
February 18, 2016
Great book for color especially! Use 6 colors for most all my work? Explains in this book how that can be possible.
March 18, 2016
It truly is the watercolor book you have always wanted. The author answers questions that not other book addresses.
October 30, 2016
Ok . not great content.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews