Top 10 Watercolor Books for Beginners
Watercolor painting is a beautiful and unique art form that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. If you are just starting out in watercolors, it can be difficult to know where to begin.
That's why we've put together a list of 10 great watercolor books for beginners! These books will teach you the basics of this amazing medium, and help you create stunning works of art.
The Beginner's Guide to Watercolor
Go from Watercolor Beginner to Painting Pro with this Incredible, Comprehensive Guide
Taking up watercolor painting can feel overwhelming or intimidating, but with Jovy Merryl’s expert advice, easy-to-follow tutorials and beginner- friendly projects, it doesn’t have to be!
Jovy walks you through all the foundational knowledge you need to succeed as a water colorist, from choosing the right materials to understanding color harmony and mastering basic brushstrokes. Easy-to-follow projects provide an effortless way to practice your skills and reinforce essential techniques. Hone your brushmarking with projects like Melody of Roses and Bouquet of Sunshine, and gain confidence in wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry techniques with beautiful paintings like Atmospheric Landscape and Sunny Day.
Once you’ve mastered the basics, you’ll continue to polish your newfound skills while learning other techniques that refine and add depth to your paintings. Learn the value of white space with Backlit Forest, add texture and special effects with Sun Glitter and become a pro at layering and glazing with Dreamy Phuket.
Packed to the brim with helpful tips and tricks, this collection of stunning projects is the only resource you’ll need to unleash your creativity, find your artistic style and begin your watercolor painting journey.
15-Minute Watercolor Masterpieces
More than 50,000 copies sold!
Create Breathtaking Watercolor Paintings in No Time
With this collection of easy, step-by-step instructions, unlocking your creativity with watercolor has never been easier. Follow along as Anna Koliadych, founder of DearAnnArt, guides you through painting your own watercolor masterpieces in just 15 minutes.
These 50 projects have something for everyone, from underwater landscapes to galaxies, from fashion sketches to tasty sweets. Learn to paint a meadow of poppies, a cosmic tea cup, a set of high heels or a tabby cat all in one quick evening. Whether you’re new to watercolor or have been practicing for years, these colorful designs are perfect for a relaxing afternoon alone or as an activity for the whole family.
In each lesson, Anna highlights efficient techniques, like sketching your design with simple shapes, or adding small, beautiful details, so you can create the most charming artwork in the shortest amount of time―even if you’ve never painted before!
Watercolor Success in Four Steps
Just four simple steps and no experience needed!
- 4 step technique to painting a variety of subjects with watercolor
- 150 painting projects include fruits, vegetables, fashion accessories, sea animals, flowers, household items, and more
- Beginner-friendly visual instructions, with tried-and-true techniques
- Understand the basics of watercolor painting with this starter's guide, perfect for beginning artists
Grab your practice book and paint brushes and discover the beautiful art of watercolor—no experience required!
The ultimate beginner's guide, Watercolor Success in Four Steps will teach you how to perfectly paint 150 objects, from fruits and flowers to animals, household items, and more!
Understand the basics of watercolor with tried-and-true techniques and learn how to create beautiful watercolor paintings in just four simple steps. First, you'll find a section on tools and materials, followed by helpful instructions on various techniques that you can try. Combine your favorite techniques to create your paintings!
Each project offers a sample selection of palette colors alongside approachable, step-by-step painting instructions to completing each design. You'll create pumpkins, penguins, croissants, candles, dolphins, dragon fruit, toadstools, taxis, and so much more!
Here are just a few of the 150 watercolor paintings you'll learn how to create inside Watercolor Success in Four Steps:
- FRUIT: lemon, orange, watermelon, coconut, kiwi, plum, mango
- VEGETABLES: artichoke, bell pepper, onion, chanterelle mushrooms, broccoli
- FOOD: blueberry muffin, cheesecake, hamburger, hotdog, cupcake
- DRINKS: cup of tea, glass of juice, milkshake, cocktail
- FLOWERS: poppy, dandelion, bluebell, tulip
- PLANTS: succulent, tree, cactus, toadstool
- NATURAL WORLD: night sky, night forest, maple leaf, acorn
- ANIMALS & INSECTS: butterfly, bee, panda, frog, raccoon, sheep
- BIRDS: hummingbird, parrot, flamingo, bullfinch
- SEA LIFE: sea anemone, dolphin, whale, jellyfish, starfish
- OBJECTS: umbrella, sunglasses, Matryoshka doll, Lego block
- TRAVEL: sailboat, bus, bicycle, hot-air balloon
- CELEBRATIONS: Christmas tree, holly, Halloween pumpkin, present, party hat
Once you've accomplished each project inside Watercolor Success in Four Steps, you'll be equipped with all the skills and techniques you need to design and create your own watercolor works of art!
Watercolor for the Soul
Learn how to use watercolor to soothe your soul with this beginner’s guide to painting for relaxation.
This fresh approach looks first at the process of painting as a means to de-stress and unwind. Many people love the idea of painting but hold themselves back from starting because they are worried about not being good enough or not feeling as though as are creative. In this guide for the absolute beginner, artist and teacher Sharone Stevens shows you that watercolor can be accessible to everyone and that just painting very simple lines, patterns and shapes in calming colors, concentrating on each brush stroke, can have a powerful meditative effect, while at the same time allowing you to create beautiful art you can be proud of. She also encourages you to connect more with the world around you, finding inspiration in your every-day life and discovering the beautiful textures found in nature, from tree trunks to fruit and butterflies!
The aim of the techniques and projects in this book is to create art that relaxes both the artist and the viewer of the finished piece. Projects range from simple gift tags, bookmarks, cards and small wall pieces to larger art pieces that you never thought possible – all done with a focus on relaxation – which is so important in today’s fast-paced, increasingly digital world.
Learn how to mix a calming color palette, try simple painting exercises to get into a relaxed flow, and create beautiful artworks that will lift the spirits both during the painting process and beyond, as finished pieces of art.
Author Sharone Stevens is an established art teacher and talented artist who is passionate about using art for relaxation and encouraging others to build a regular creative practice. Her gentle lessons and nurturing reassurance will guide even total beginners through the process of making soothing, soulful modern watercolor art.
Watercolor the Easy Way
Step-by-step instructions for 50 beautiful paintings including plants, flowers, animals, & more!
Love the look of watercolors but think you lack the skill? Think again! With Watercolor the Easy Way, you will paint beautiful masterpieces following the author's simple instructions. You'll learn to mix colors, apply brush strokes, and paint beautiful pictures in only thirty minutes or less.
• 50 beautiful pictures to paint in 30 minutes or less.
• No separate pad needed; you can paint right inside the book!
• Learn-at-a-glance instructions help you get started quickly.
• 50 patterns included!
• Brush recommendations, color mixing instructions, paint palettes, and all the basics included!
Each of the 50 tutorials is broken down into key steps so you can clearly see how to begin your painting, layer color, and add detail. Also included are hand-drawn patterns that can be traced onto your watercolor pad, brush recommendations, helpful hints, and color palettes. Best of all, the projects can be completed in 30 minutes!
Experience the magic of watercolor, spark your creativity, and discover your inner artist with this beautiful book.
Trace and Paint Nature
Never run out of ideas for what to paint using watercolors with this Trace and Paint Nature book! Note: this is not an instructional book
Don't know how to draw? Running out of ideas for what to paint? Trace and Paint Nature invites you to use simple line drawn motifs that you can trace onto watercolor paper and paint! Enjoy creating beautiful paintings easily and not waste time trying to draw or even deciding what to paint next!
Save time and frustration by using these fun and simple; botanicals, bugs, moths, butterflies and bird drawings that will have you practicing your watercolor skills like a pro!
This book is perfect for a watercolor artist who has had some instruction and experience with watercolors and is looking for fun, new ways to practice painting!
26 simple motifs are waiting for you to trace and paint! Explore painting lovely nature inspired motifs all designed to allow room for artistic expression and fun!
Simply use carbon or graphite tracing paper to trace these designs onto your favorite watercolor paper and start painting today! Use these motifs over the next month and watch your personal art collection grow along with your skills!
Sprinkled throughout the book are samples of Nicki's versions of some of the motifs to help inspire you with colors and offer you a visual reference for how to approach the paintings. Let your imagination and your favorite colors guide you.
Designed by Nicki Traikos of life i design. Nicki is passionate about helping artists explore watercolors by removing obstacles that may get in the way of having you actually sit down to paint!
This trace and paint book is one of many to come! Enjoy painting botanicals with Trace and Paint Botanicals by Nicki Traikos
Watercolour: Techniques and Tutorials for the Complete Beginner
Designed for beginner watercolor painters, Watercolour lays the groundwork for mastering the craft, with a complete guide to the necessary tools and materials, an introduction to the basic techniques, and 10 step-by-step paintings.
Included as a bonus are three feature spreads that focus on areas of particular interest for beginners, including painting special effects, trees, and skies. Clear instructions and helpful tips provided throughout are perfect for beginners, but even intermediate painters will find the techniques and projects worthwhile.
Stunning Watercolor Seascapes
Breathtaking Watercolor Seascapes for the Beginner Painter
From ocean sunsets and enchanting woodland lakes to snow-speckled rivers and quiet villages reflected in a serene sea, this outstanding collection of paintings from Kolbie Blume teaches painters of all skill levels to master a range of brilliant waterscapes.
Projects like Mountain of a Wave, Through the Fjord, Village by the Sea, Secret Falls and more build your confidence in painting water in all its wild and varied states. The chapters progress in difficulty, with skills building upon each other, helping you to develop and strengthen your abilities as you paint your way through the book.
Providing you with all the tips and tricks you need to master the art of painting waterscapes, Kolbie’s approachable step-by-step instructions and helpful hints will guide you from burgeoning beginner to pro painter.
Watercolor for Beginners
Absolutely anyone can create dazzling paintings with this truly beginner-friendly introduction to the world of watercolor.
Artist Emma Witte, teacher of popular online watercolor courses, shares tools, techniques, and tutorials everyone can follow, even if you've never picked up a paintbrush before.
Witte's simple approach pares down the ordinarily overwhelming array of watercolor supplies to just a few colors and tools.
Emma then shows you how to paint nearly anything with these basic supplies.
This book spells it all out, from loading your brush with water, to color mixing recipes, to wet and dry painting methods.
More experienced painters will find plenty of new tips to enhance their watercolor works.
Follow 10 step-by-step projects to create watercolor leaves and flowers, clouds, galaxies, landscapes, and even a whale.
Pick up your paintbrush!
Full color throughout.
Hardcover.
160 pages.
7-1/2'' wide x 9-1/2'' high.
The Complete Guide to Watercolor
For painters of every level, this comprehensive volume presents each creative process in clear, full-color photographic sequences. From mixing colors and applying washes to tonal studies and pattern in landscapes, The Complete Guide to Watercolor contains everything one needs to know about working in this very expressive medium. This all-in-one volume presents each process in clear, full-color photographic sequences, reveals secrets of the trade, and contains easy-to-follow projects to help master new techniques.
Whether you are new to watercoloring or just looking for some fresh inspiration, we hope that this list of top 10 watercolor books for beginners has something for you. From learning the basics of color mixing to finding your own creative process, these books will help you develop your skills and unleash your inner artist.
Make sure not to buy cheap paint brushes, they will not help you develop your skills easily and you will probably ended up frustrated or thinking that you don't have that necessary skills to make beautiful art.
We recommend you the amazing D'Artisan Shoppe Professional Brushes 15-piece Set. This brush set can be used for watercolor, oil paints and acrylic paints. These brushes are top quality, so you'll have excellent professional brushes for years to come!
D'Artisan Shoppe 15 pieces set
Professional Brush set for watercolor, oil paints and acrylic paints. Versatile brushes, mix of 4 natural hog hair bristle brushes and 11 synthetic bristle brushes to create the brush strokes you need.
