Watercolour Lessons: How to Paint and Unwind in 20 Tutorials

by Emma Lefebvre

A Watercolour How-To Book for the Whimsical Creative"I am brand new to watercolor and this book is exactly what I needed. Highly recommended." —Amazon review

#1 Bestseller in Watercolor Painting, Plants & Animals, Mixed Media & Decorating


Take a walk down the path of translucent pastels and delicate wet washes with Watercolour Lessons. Filled with engaging exercises, this vibrant guide contains step-by-step instructions on how to paint with watercolours. For beginners and those looking to improve their technique, Watercolour Lessons brings artistic inspiration to any home.

A watercolour guide book that is uniquely you. Follow author and artist Emma Lefebvre as she teaches the fundamentals of this simple-to-use painting medium. With an emphasis on developing skills and style, Watercolour Lessons offers the necessary tools to produce paintings anyone would be proud to display, gift, or to keep for themselves.

Learn how to paint with watercolours. For beginners and mavens alike, Watercolour Lessons offers straight-forward lessons to help anyone develop their craft and unique artistic style. From color theory to tool sets, it explores watercolour basics while helping painters—old and new—gain confidence in themselves and their work.

Inside, you’ll

A list of essential watercolour tools and how to use themAn easy-to-understand explanation of watercolour techniques and theoriesCharmingly simple watercolor painting projects with step-by-step instructionsNotes on common mistakes and how to fix them

If you’re looking for creative art therapy exercises, want to learn how to paint with watercolors for beginners or intermediate artists, or enjoy books such as Watercolor the Easy Way Flowers, Watercolor Workbook, Watercolor With Me in the Forest, or Everyday Watercolor, you’ll love Watercolour Lessons.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Crafts

174 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 20, 2022

Reviews

[Grace Convertino · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Watercolour Lessons” by Emma Le Febvre is a beginning’s guide to watercolor broken down into twenty lessons (“How to Paint and Unwind in 20 Tutorials”). Emma’s honest and straightforward tutoring instills a sense of confidence in those who have never painted with watercolor, giving lists of the shapes, sizes, and purpose of necessary brushes, types of paper, and paint brands with color suggestions. She emphasizes minimizing costs for beginners, and saving the costlier, professional grade paints for those who are at higher stages of learning/mastery. When presenting a lesson, Emma not only suggests the size and shape of appropriate brushes and suggested colors, but step-by-step instruction lists (with pictorial results for each step!). In addition, she provides the template needed for sketching the item before the painting begins.

This is the first time I’ve had the honor of reviewing a watercolor lesson book, and I am quite impressed with “Watercolour Lessons.” The author never forgets that she was once a beginner, and is an exceptionally patient and encouraging instructor. I have always painted with acrylics, but had a desire to learn watercolor, which, when I tried on my own, always failed. I often found beginner’s guides that were too advanced, or took for granted you would know brush shapes/sizes, color blending, and how to sketch. From my earliest attempts, I was never a sketch artist; but when putting a brush to paper or a canvas I didn’t need an underlying outline, and acrylic paint is infinitely more forgiving than watercolor. It wasn’t until this book that I felt comfortable retrying this medium, which is taught in uncomplicated, easy-to-follow language, with simple instruction and step-by-step illustrations. It’s a painless process that develops the painting from beginning to end, knowing exactly what you need, how to proceed, when to let it dry, and how to follow it through to fruition. For anyone who has ever wanted to try watercoloring but was intimidated or put off by its difficulty, this is the guide for you! It makes the process fun and rewarding, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

I’d like to thank Edelweiss, Emma LeFebvre, and Yellow Pear Press for the ability to read and review this ARC.

[Emily Vander Ark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I spent some time in 2023 working through a few different watercolor books, and I wish I'd had this one first. Emma treats the reader as a true beginner, explaining what it means to "pick up paint" and other terms that most books take for granted. This one is heavy on instruction and also includes some exercises which use different techniques than other books I've used. She uses white ink rather than gauche, "flicks" paint, "drops" water, etc. This book would be a great place to start with watercolors!

[TPS · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic detailed watercolour book, with easy to follow instructions and explanations as to why something works or doesn’t work.

Emma, has done an amazing job on this book and I wish her well in all her endeavours.

Thank you Emma

[Louise Pelletier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

Excellent, I highly recommend it. I had been doing watercolor with very little knowledge for a while but I felt that needed more knowledge and methods and lots of practice, which is exactly what this book brought to me!

[Marie-France Stefani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! The instructions are easy to follow and the images are beautiful and give great inspiration of paintings to do. I love her art too. Definitely would recommend this book for someone who wants to start watercolor painting, or who already has some experience but wants to learn more.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great basic lessons and helpful QR codes for video tutorials. This really appealed to all the ways different people can learn. Easy and beautiful projects to work to improve your skills and confidence as a beginner watercolor artist.

[RG · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, clear introduction to watercolor - would definitely recommend to a beginner.

[Gypsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book,very easy to follow!

Loved the artwork. I would definitely recommend to anyone wanting to learn. A joy to have and share with others.

[Natalie Bates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma is a great teacher, explains everything. Helped me get better with mixing colors. Highly recommend this book!

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! I will be returning this it to the library but plan to order a copy for myself. This is the perfect book for beginners.

[Ash Thorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these simple lessons that could be done quickly. Lefebvre has helpful tips and the instructions are understandable.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma Lefebvre gives the aspiring water colorist the knowledge and basic skills to begin creating their own lovely works in 20 tutorials.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for beginner in watercolor. Good lessons with tangible proof of your growth as a watercolorist.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great for beginner watercolor!

[Zehra Kundak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very clear

As always Emma makes everything very clear and simple so that you are not afraid to try it. Love this book. Love her YouTube videos.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciated the foundation established at the start of the book and the easy to follow instructions. This book took me out of my beginners comfort zone (landscapes, mountains) and helped me practice drawing (and painting, of course) food, animals and florals, in addition to a few landscapes. This was my first attempt at working from a book, and I believe it will prove beneficial as I continue investing time in watercolor.