4.36

5

Jan 29, 2015

Four Nita Engle watercolors are included in Chris Unwin's "The Artistic Touch" (reviewed here). My friend and I hunted for the two we dropped our jaws at, and can't find either one for sale. Rocks & Sea is nowhere to be found. My friend, bereft, ordered this book. Me, too. The cover "Morning on the Yellow Dog River" is another painting we can't find. But we're student watercolorists: we knew what we wanted to paint (nature) and we now know how we want to paint. I am so darn lucky that my Four Nita Engle watercolors are included in Chris Unwin's "The Artistic Touch" (reviewed here). My friend and I hunted for the two we dropped our jaws at, and can't find either one for sale. Rocks & Sea is nowhere to be found. My friend, bereft, ordered this book. Me, too. The cover "Morning on the Yellow Dog River" is another painting we can't find. But we're student watercolorists: we knew what we wanted to paint (nature) and we now know how we want to paint. I am so darn lucky that my teacher, Barb Weisenburg, studied with Engle, and what I have been learning is to let the watercolor be itself. Nita Engle plays in water and instructs us to do the same. Observe, observe. Jump in the surf, wade in the swamp, take photos right into the sun to see how the light works. When an art judge, she writes that she looks for passion. The only way to bring passion to the workspace is to have seen and lived what you're painting. The awe, the breath snatched from your body by the view. Whenever possible, do preliminary painting on site. She reminds us that white paper is the light. Water moves in nature, and water moves on your paper the same way. That's how you make water live. Use tools other than brushes. And play, play, play. Roll the water around, push the paint with a knife or your thumb. Experiment. Have fun! One of the most helpful and generous insights is that she includes paintings she had to repair (rejected by the magazine publisher who assigned the art. Oy!) and she tells us why it was sent back to her, and how she saw what needed to be done, and did it. It's a book of joy. And delicious breathtaking art. ...more

5

Dec 12, 2016

This is a MARVELOUS book defining exactly how to paint misty, watery or cloudy landscapes. Ms Engle purports how to turn the paper this way and that to get the colors to run to on their own -- hence getting the "Watercolor to Paint Itself". However, there are at least 50 excellent drawings of clouds, the sea, reflections in water, snow effects and ice effects. She deals with: stamping rock textures, grass, and with crumpled paper; making repairs; erasing a mistake; handling chalk, masking tape This is a MARVELOUS book defining exactly how to paint misty, watery or cloudy landscapes. Ms Engle purports how to turn the paper this way and that to get the colors to run to on their own -- hence getting the "Watercolor to Paint Itself". However, there are at least 50 excellent drawings of clouds, the sea, reflections in water, snow effects and ice effects. She deals with: stamping rock textures, grass, and with crumpled paper; making repairs; erasing a mistake; handling chalk, masking tape and mask (Mystic) to preserve the white of the paper. She also uses Q-tips, a toothbrush, flinging paint, salt, an electric eraser, and oddly shaped tools, and some experimental techniques in the last couple of chapters, which include outdoor work. The only criticism I have is in her design techniques. She does say to be successful it takes "twenty years and ten minutes." ! Since she lives in Canada (or did) and has done work for Reader's Digest, her qualifications are impeccable. I'm anxious to try her instruction, including carefully spraying water! ...more

5

Jun 12, 2016

This is really a wonderful book full of extremely helpful tips for any aspiring watercolor painter! Since I've fallen in love with the technique, so I found the book inspiring and motivational. The techniques that I've tried so far are great, but there's so much more to experiment with.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone that has basic drawing and painting knowledge but wants to really get a feeling for watercolors (since the book doesn't really go into the basics of proportions, This is really a wonderful book full of extremely helpful tips for any aspiring watercolor painter! Since I've fallen in love with the technique, so I found the book inspiring and motivational. The techniques that I've tried so far are great, but there's so much more to experiment with.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone that has basic drawing and painting knowledge but wants to really get a feeling for watercolors (since the book doesn't really go into the basics of proportions, drawing techniques, etc.). ...more

5

Oct 28, 2012

It doesent get any better than this. Clear and also funny. Just the kind of technique that fits my way of doing things. I have read the book more than once and is going to read it again. I am going to try all the different advices too.

5

Jul 27, 2009

Nita Engle is incredible teacher--clear in her approach and generous. I've studied with her 3 times. This book is a perfect reflection of her workshops and I highly recommend it.

4

Mar 30, 2016

My favourite of the many watercolour books I read over February. It's a bit too intermediate for me, I think, for now, but it's a book I'd definitely like to purchase at some point, rather than borrow it from the library.

This book is chock-full of techniques and helpful tips and beautiful pictures of Nita Engle's breathtaking paintings. What I found extremely valuable was a question she asks early on, to paraphrase: "What kind of art, if you had the all skill to do it well, would you like to My favourite of the many watercolour books I read over February. It's a bit too intermediate for me, I think, for now, but it's a book I'd definitely like to purchase at some point, rather than borrow it from the library.

This book is chock-full of techniques and helpful tips and beautiful pictures of Nita Engle's breathtaking paintings. What I found extremely valuable was a question she asks early on, to paraphrase: "What kind of art, if you had the all skill to do it well, would you like to create?" I had thought of art goals in terms of 'I'd like to make money at it' and some vague impressions of 'I wish I could draw or paint like x' but the actual product is not something I'd actually spent that much time thinking about it. Sort of the question you assume you know the answer to, and are astonished to find out it's less clear than it appeared. ...more

4

Dec 17, 2008

Interesting watercolor techniques. Good chapter on design. Beautiful paintings.

2

Jul 17, 2014

Maybe you need more experience with watercolors, but her techniques didn't appeal to me at this time. Her paintings, on the other hand, were gorgeous and haunting.

3

Oct 15, 2013

I have been taking watercolour lessons for over 2 years and this book seems to be beyond my level of expertise.