The Easy Guide to Painting Water in Watercolour by Stephen Coates

The Easy Guide to Painting Water in Watercolour by Stephen Coates is the ultimate, easy to follow guide to painting realistic, captivating water. Perfect for beginners, this book includes simple step-by-step instructions to painting everything from delicate droplets, to crashing waves and still lakes.

Water is a subject that brings a wonderful sense of atmosphere to paintings, whether it’s calm and reflective or sparkling with light and movement. In his book, artist and tutor Stephen Coates offers up invaluable advice and instruction that will help you build effective techniques and transform good paintings into great ones. The book begins with an exploration of reflection and how key it is to capturing water in watercolour. After you’ve learnt some basic painting techniques, Stephen will guide you through eight beginner friendly projects that will build your skills further. You’ll learn to paint everything from stormy seas, cascading waterfalls, still lakes and lapping waves.

Ideal for beginners or enthusiasts looking to brush up on their skills, this latest addition to the ‘Easy Guide to Painting’ series brings Stephen’s exciting and lively teaching style into a no-fuss book that is sure to inspire you to create your own masterpieces.

112 page paperback. 216mm x 280mm.

LOOK INSIDE

Introduction 6

Planning 8

Water and reflections 9

Understanding paint 14

Brushes and brushing techniques 18

Other techniques 23

Watercolour paper 24

Tools and materials 26

Working from photographs 28

WATER 30

Lakes and calm water 32

Project: Reeds in the Shallows 34

Project: Misty Lake 41

Boats on water 50

Project: Serene Moorings 52

Project: Boats at Low Tide 60

Sea and breaking waves 72

Project: Beach at Sunset 77

Sparkling water 84

Project: Stormy Island Beach 88

Waterfalls and cascading water 96

Project: Moorland Falls 101

Water droplets 108

Project: Oak Leaves 109

Index 112

Stephen Coates was born in Sheffield in 1960. The son of a draughtsman, he was introduced to drawing at a very young age. He excelled in art at school but chose a career in retail, working first in the music industry for 16 years followed by another 16 years running his own catering business.

Over a period of 20 years, Stephen learned and specialized in watercolours in his spare time, and gradually developed his own style and unique brand of teaching. In 2011 he became a full-time professional freelance artist, and set up his own studio in Sheffield with the purpose of teaching others watercolour painting. From here he runs courses, workshops and hosts his own amateur art groups. Stephen also demonstrates his skills and shares his expertise at art societies all over England, and exhibits at a variety of national art shows.

Stephen has authored three how-to books on painting with watercolours  The Watercolour Enigma (2018), Take Three Colours: Watercolour Lakes & Rivers (2019) and The Easy Guide to Painting Skies in Watercolour (2022).

Visit his website www.coatesart.co.uk