Watercolor Planning and Painting Author:Alan Oliver Fluid and effervescent, watercolours attract almost any artist. But they pose one big challenge: as soon as the brush touches the paper the paint sinks in, making it nearly impossible to remove or correct. Only with good planning can you avoid this trap - and that's often difficult for eager beginners who rush ahead...and then decide where they'... more »re going. Their impatience leads to mistakes, to pushing and prodding the paint around, and to making hasty alterations. In the process, they destroy the freshness and sparkle of the colours. With these simple logical techniques, you can produce a beautiful finished watercolour, while still allowing your imagination the freedom to play with ideas and possibilities. Don't waste money on unnecessary expensive items - check out the full range of reasonably priced equipment, and see which are essential. Get the basics of combining colour, understanding tonal values, and composing your pictures. Develop a painter's eye by going, one by one, through each required skill - see how to layer and keep colours fresh; build a painting by adding attention-catching details; add atmosphere with lights and darks; and work with a limited palette. Use intensive colour, and exploit contrasts that add energy to your picture. Develop your own distinctive style by examining the differing approaches two artists take to one scene.« less