Quick and Clever Watercolour Pencils

I have used watercolor pencils for years and have not used even a fraction of the techniques that the author demonstrates in this book. I'm very excited to get started. One of the things I wish was easier to see in the ebooks are the beginning photos. It might be my screen, but I have some trouble seeing how he starts. The page just looks white to me, even though the instructions say to draw this or that. I'm learning to skip ahead... 😉 Just for educational purposes. I use other brands of w/c pencils such as Faber-Castell and Derwent, as well as a lone Steadler Karat.( No clue how that last one snuck into my kit. I must have liked the color or it was on sale. It is a lovely turquoise. 😄 ) The instructions work just fine no matter what brand pencils you enjoy. Do be aware that some pencils won't have the color printed on the outside, so you may want to go through your personal stash and label them for your own reference. It can save you some time and mental frustration. It gets irritating if you lack a common vocabulary with an author. Anyhow, I've been playing with the projects in this book all week, and it's been great fun. I also whipped out my new Winsor & Newton Field Pocket Set and used it for some of the washes. I think you will enjoy this book and the projects, too. I definitely recommend this book for beginner, intermediate, and experienced painters. Even though I've been painting for decades, I picked up some cool tips. I think you might, too. Have fun! 9/10 ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ PS: I made a very helpful fold-up kit for my pencils and tools. I made it to be machine washable because plein air = outdoors. You can find it in "Sew What! Bags" by Lexie Barnes. The book on Kindle Unlimited and the kit does NOT require a sewing machine. But it goes faster with one...

There are few art books about watercolor pencils so this was a welcomed addition to my hope/how-to art book collection especially since it contains many hints for using such pencils, hints that are helpful to beginners. The author, Charles Evans, is British and has a TV how-to show in the UK. This doubtless explains why the book is helpful for both this medium and for beginners. He is also on You-Tube which is interesting especially his British lilt!! The beside-the-point of the shadow color magenta, I recommend the book for beginners. Let us hope someone soon will write more books on this medium.

This is a revision of a very long review done in 2009. It's 9/6/2013. I have been drawing for 20 years. I have dabbled in watercolor...My work was highly detailed,... and Boring.....I had no idea how to let loose..let my creative juices shake me out of a rut....Until I picked up a copy of this book with it's "Magenta" shadows, Prussian Blue, Lime and Viridian Green, gasped and then smiled....Here was a book that could breathe life into anything. It was definitely not dull and it wasn't full of skills that leave a beginner standing in the dust...This is a no frills, have a good time and accomplish something special book...All anyone starting out wants to do is create a picture that's appealing and enjoy doing it....In this case, many pictures... Mr. Evans carefully approaches the development of creativity as the book progresses. He gently encourages, supports and helps the student find their individuality, their "eye," teaching composition, arial perspective, color mixing and blending, while making it great fun. The student is given the tools and skills which build to where they no longer need such close direction. There are several pages scattered through the book with such opportunities. Hate "Magenta," fine, but you'll have to admit you know where the shadows belong,...whatever color you choose to paint them.....and in the end there will be lots of special paintings. Charles Evans is a dedicated fine artist who takes the time to show anyone how to have fun and create something special from the start. Find him on YouTube or his web sight and see for yourself. I did. I have. And I'm more impressed than ever....My only codicil: Use good, Artist Quality watercolor pencils such as Derwent, Faber Castell Albrecht Durer, or Caran d'ache, from the start. It will make a great difference in your results.

Excellent basic instruction with detailed steps shown in the demo projects, with paintings I like and want to do, mainly landscapes. Kindle edition lays out the steps well, but gives locations rather than page numbers to correlate with the index, though the contents page will get you to the main sections and projects. Also, resolution is low for zooming in. So I'd take 1/2 star off for the Kindle edition.

I rate this higher than the previous reviewers because it fills a niche. It isn't a 12 page basic, how to use watercolor pencils booklet that comes with a starter kit. It also isn't a book that expects you to want to spend hours on a painting and only has examples for folks that can already draw and paint like pros. So, I suggest it as a mid-step on a beginner's route to the art. I do agree that the magenta is not a good color choice for the shadows, but each artist to their own taste. Suggestion: get a decent (or almost any) watercolor instruction book that includes shadows. There are much better and easy ways to mix VERY good and realistic shadows that will make your artwork look professional. The magenta detracts from the art in this book. Again, a good step between how to get pencil on paper and wet it in 12 basic steps - and how to do experienced art. Also, keep in mind that this book is not to show how to spend hours drawing, layering, blending, and reworking to end up with a realistic picture of nature. It is a way to make a sketchbook study in the field that you can then use back in the studio. PS. I'm a watercolorist, so my interest in watercolor pencils is not to sell the medium as artwork, but to get journal sketches down quickly and on the run in order to capture ideas. So, I think the book works JUST FINE for that.

Great book, has really given me enthusiasm to use water color pencils. So easy and great results.

Helpful step-by-step projects with clear prose. If you're new to watercolor pencils, this title is worth reading. Dinged one star for odd Kindle formatting; a chronic hiccup with art instruction books in Kindle format. If you're fussy about that sort of thing, it's easy to "read around."

This is not a book for someone looking for a step-by-step guide. I am not an art student, nor have I had any formal training. I cannot draw very well. The only instruction I've had, has been through books. This book does show enough technique so you can either recreate his drawings or apply the technique to something entirely new. The author is British, so I believe some of the complaints about the book, are due to this (like the tone of the writing). Personally, I think he's trying to make it entertaining and something that anyone can do, rather than something mystifying. Regarding complaints about using magenta for shadows, this may be attributed to differences in the products sold in the US, even if they are from the same company. Some of the specific tools he uses are difficult to find in the US. And anyway, if you don't like magenta, use indigo, or purple or a darker gray color for shadows. I've changed out colors on many of the drawings I've tried to recreate, with no ill effect. The author presents his watercolor pencil sketches as something he does rather than taking pictures, of something he may want to paint later. I use them for art journaling, as a way to capture what I see/feel. I was happier with the drawings I did using his techniques, than anyone else. I do not have a lot of drawing skills, so get frustrated by most other well-known artists' books and usually just look at their books since I cannot recreate anything in them. I recommend this book, but suggest you look at the book online, or try to get a copy of the book at your local library so you can determine if you will like it. It is one of my favorites.

For those who aren't acquainted with watercolour pencils, this is the perfect way to learn how to use them. The book is easily read and facilitates the use of this particular medium by the well illustrated step by step presentation of the subject matter.

I ordered several watercolour pencil books awhile back I reviewed one called watercolour pencil guide,I complained that it looked self published that the only colour picture in it was on the front,that I could not find a name o it of who wrote it or a publishing house.The pictures were as big as my thumbnail Today my last watercolour book I ordered came in the mail.It’s calledQuick and clever watercolour pencils by Charles Evans essentially it’s the same as the book I described above except it’s bigger and in colour has a name and a publishing house

Ce livre est bien expliqué mais les sujets sont trop vieux, cependant il permet de progresser sur la technique des crayons aquarellables.

Great mix of illustrations and written instructions. The author has made the concepts easy to understand. Enjoy!!!

I like this book- it has many interesting pictures to try to recreate. I personally do not find it as useful for reading and following the steps as for just having a book with MANY ideas- there are some pages that have 5 ideas on each. I recommend. I also borrowed some techniques such as adding lines with a black pen useful.