Learn Watercolour Landscapes Quickly

by Hazel Soan

One of the world’s best art instructors teaches you how to create beautiful watercolor landscapes . . . in a single afternoon.

Even beginners can start painting landscapes instantly with the help of Hazel Soan’s basic exercises and simple step-by-step demonstrations. Soan covers everything, including creating space, depth, and distance; the “game of tones”; perspective; warm and cool colors; composition and focus; and figures in the landscape. Learn techniques for capturing various sources of light, shadows, and seasons, as well as for choosing and mixing watercolors, both transparent and opaque. Move on to advice on painting en plein air, brushwork, wet on dry, wet into wet, laying a wash, and developing texture. The specific themes addressed range from skies, foliage, forests, fields, grasses, gardens, rivers and lakes to mountains, seascapes, wilderness, desert, urban vistas, panoramas, and sunsets.

Genres: Art

112 pages, Hardcover

Published June 2, 2020

Reviews

[Alan Roundtree · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I can appreciate every aspect of this book, especially for beginners, I only gave 4 stars. I would have given 4-1/2 if it allowed that. I believe there are no perfect books written or perfect paintings painted for that matter. It was a wonderful book for beginners and I feel will help many. Personally I would have liked a little more local landscapes but I understand the Artist also has much experience in African Landscapes. It was a very well presented introduction to landscapes and in understanding the basics.

[Sudha Neelakantan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that video demos on youtube do the teaching job pretty well and are the best resource for painters. Here there are only a couple of examples with any steps at all. Definitely not for beginners, But it has many examples of work, and each lists her primary triad that she used to begin/set the mood in color. So I can see myself flipping through as a reference if say, I don't know where to begin painting a desert southwest scene or a snow scene or a mountain with snow so that I can use that triad to begin.
There is not even any clear advice on a beginner palette for landscape. So overall feels like many landscape paintings from this artist thrown together in the book, with a one line note on triad of colors that is the base for the painting. That said, her paintings are simple yet have punch, and you can learn a lot from studying each and trying to copy the effect if you admire her work. If you follow her guideline, you get the interest from not using premixed colors

[SuziePotter · Rating 5 out of 5]

simple yet so helpful

Landscapes simplified. Yet, so much practical HOW TO wisdom given here! 5 stars! Thanks for laying it out like this. East to read, will take a lifetime of practice!

[Carolm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not for beginner artists, but for artists switching to watercolour landscapes. Beautiful paintings throughout.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good beginners book for landscapes. I appreciated the very create way that Hazel provides instruction so that I am able to practice techniques. Definitely a book for starting out.

[Jeremy M Haslam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Examples and Clear Explanations

The sketches and pictures are all inspiring! And possible to emulate.

Rare to see such lovely paintings i Kindle format (on an iPad).