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Keen to learn how to paint
in watercolors from scratch, but don’t want to spend
too much in case it is not for you? Search Press’ Take
Three Colours series is ideal as you only have to buy a few
materials and each primer takes you through several skill
building projects ideal for the complete beginner.
I LOVE this idea and think you could do a series like this
for most hobbies. Trying to work out the minimum amount you
need to actually make something but worried you won’t
take to it concerns everybody taking the plunge with a new
interest. With this series, you just buy three colors, three
brushes, some paper and a cheap palette. The author takes
you step by step with nine projects, each one teaching you
several essential skills. The final painting is shown life
size (A4) so you can trace it off and transfer it to your
paper (instructions included). As well as Search Press’
trademark staged photographs, there is a useful list of the
skills covered, “jargon buster” boxes and even
a closeup of a palette with the mixed colors on it. Also included
is help on how to mix them and various tips. My only complaint
is that the shot of the pencil tracing could be a bit easier
to see; knowing how much detail has been included in a tracing
is very helpful for a beginner. But this is a very minor gripe
and the rest of the book gets an unreserved five stars for
being a truly accessible primer a total beginner can actually
learn from with no prior knowledge. Soon you can have a portfolio
of lovely floral paintings including tulip, rose, passion
flower, sunflower, poppies and more. At the front of the book
is a helpful page showing thumbnails of all nine paintings
and all for under a tenner (or under $15 US). More please,
covering other types of paint and topics. Very highly recommended.
If you cannot find a good range of watercolor painting
materials locally, try \www.searchpress.com for a list of
suppliers.
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