Charles Reid's Watercolour Solutions: Learn to Solve the Most Common Painting Problems

I am a big fan of Charles Reid's style of watercolor - it is, I think, as good as it gets. Most watercolor books are somewhat similar and tend to follow a tried and tested formula, so I'll try to describe what makes this one different. Essentially, once again Charles explains how he achieves his unusual, wonderfully loose yet realistic paintings. In this, his latest book, I feel strongly that Charles is really trying to give us everything that he possibly can, all of the insights, tips and details that he can muster. Of course, he has done similar things in other books in the past but the emphasis is different here. In the past, the images and techniques were new and inspirational, Charles had to learn how to explain what he did. Here, there is more detail & insight - perhaps simply the result of his additional years of experience painting and teaching others to paint, answering their questions. Possibly because, like all of us, he is getting older now and perhaps wants to document and share as fully and completely as he is able, how he achieved his magic. He seems to be holding nothing back, he wants to share all of his knowledge and learning as best he can. It's a wonderful book but so are his others, this one feels special to me though. I was looking for something new, a bit extra - and happily, that's what I got :).

I have bought several of Charles Reid's books over the years and have never been disappointed. I reckon this one surpasses the others. The book offers practical solutions to common problems found in painting. Some solutions can be applied to any media. Even as a fairly experienced painter I find I need to be reminded of the basics to get me back on track as well as considering other more advanced considerations. Reid writes in a conversational style which never comes over as patronising or egotistical. He shares his own mistakes as well as correcting those of his students. Not only is this book useful, it is also full of colourful artwork - worth having for those alone.

Another wonderful watercolour artist informative book.

Lovely book - I'm only a holiday painter but it's perfect for tips to help me 'loosen up'

Very informative and helpful book for the beginner and more experienced artist

This book is very clear and well written with demonstrations of Charles Reid's water colour techniques well presented. I would definitely recommend this book to those who love Charles Reid's style of painting.

good book

Very happy.

A very good book, that covers everything from portrait painting to landscapes, with more emphasis on the portrait section. One very important thing I learned from it is how to avoid some very common mistakes in handling color, in order to keep the colors vibrant. Too bad that his other books are out of print, but I will try to find them.

Charles Reid was one of the best.

viele hilfreiche tips und tricks für die aquarellmalerei. schöne beispiele zur Landschaftsmalerei und Darstellung von Personen. ein echtes Charles Reid buch.

I have been borrowing these books from the library and keep renewing them so knew it was time I bought my own copy. I love the composition ideas and practice paintings. I've made a lot of progress using these books.

très pédagogique,clair , les exemples illustrent bien le propos, un très bon outil de travail pour les aquarellistes.

リード氏の絵画は好きで以前から興味を持っていました。一通り見て絵はよかったです。風景画がもう少したくさんあればいいと思いました。もう歳で英語を忘れているので、文章で何が書いているのかよくわからず、苦労します。残念です。実践に役立ちますかどうか・・・。何回も何回も見直して本が黒くなるまでみたいと思っています。

好きな作家の絵はどれだけ眺めていても飽きないもので、水彩画技法の本ではありますが、画集としても時折見ています。完成作品の作成過程もわかるので、それも愉しみです。

Charles Reid is one of my favorite watercolor artists. I have several other books by Charles Reid, so some of the information in this book has already been covered in those books. If this is your first Charles Reid book, I think you will find it especially helpful. He talks about materials, his palette of colors he uses, contour drawing, brushwork, value, color mixing, etc. He has section on painting figures, landscapes, and also a section on working from photos. He does have books on just painting the figure, and if you like to paint people, as I do (I have Portraits and Figures in Watercolor), those have more exercises geared toward that goal. As for myself, I just enjoy his beautiful paintings and unique style (and watching the progression of his work from his earlier books), and the book is worth buying for that alone. I could never afford to buy one of his paintings, but get to see them whenever I like by looking through his books. Doing the exercises definitely helps, as I learned to paint with watercolor from doing the exercises from some of his earlier books. I think the most helpful solution is just to paint. The more you do, the more you learn from your mistakes or successes.

Charles Reid's latest book, "Watercolor Solutions", does what I always hope for in an artist's 'how-to' book; it provides me with a workshop in print. I have an opportunity to learn about painting from a master watercolorist and observe what he's doing at the same time. Reid's painting style is wonderfully open with a use of color both loose and precise, so that most us want to know more about how he does it. After reading and enjoying several of his previous books, I find this is his best attempt yet at showing us what he does and how he does it.Many artists aren't very articulate when it comes to describing what they do, but Reid is a very clear writer. I appreciate his analysis of his pieces, what works and what doesn't, as well as his tips about how to achieve certain effects. His sections on contour drawing and mixing colors are excellent as is his section on brush strokes. Even if you don't paint like Charles Reid, I think there's a great deal of value in this book for you, because Charles Reid is painting out of that great tradition of impressionism - catch the moment, catch the light - and this book goes a long way towards showing you just how it's done.

I bought this book as a present for my mom because she had read it (on loan from her library) and really enjoyed it. She found it very helpful. I know she will love this book because she asked for it specifically. I looked through the book myself because I also paint, but I did not find it as useful as she did because I didn't find a lot of helpful how-to tips in this book. She is a more experienced painter than me, so maybe this book is just above my level.

This ought to be the best book Charles Reid has written on watercolor. It's absolutely honest and generous at giving his best painting knowledge and advise to anyone who loves watercolor. C.Reid is undoubtely one of the greatest watercolor masters of our time and his style is unique. I was a little hesitant about buying this book (I have most of his) because of the title, but "solutions" turns out to be a series of master classes, with excellent examples and critique of watercolor paintings. I'm eager to start reading it and applying all that knowledge. Just wished it was more comprehensive in each subject, but guess nothing is perfect. The book has beautiful plates and pictorials, it's nicely written, and intermediate-to-advanced watercolor artists will take the most advantage of it. It was worth the wait. Thank you, maestro!

One of the foundation books for watercolorists. Especially note the drawing. He makes it look easy, but it takes quite a bit of practice. If you get the drawing correct, then you have a place for those subtle colors. Beautiful reference book.

This book covers the range of watercolor subjects in Charles Reid’s unique and beautiful style. His instruction is step-by-step and clear, with beautiful illustrations.

I had preordered this book, because I have almost all of his earlier books. Charles Reid's great art teaching contribution has been simplification of watercolor techniques. He does not use glazing, which for many watercolorists is the best use of transparency of watercolor paints. Yet, his style uses power of color and composition to achieve his wonderful results.You will not enjoy the book unless you pickup the brush and paint some examples from the book. At the very moment you put the charged brush on paper, you will see that all that Reid says makes lot of sense. There is no need to copy his "style" but you can always see if simplicity, color and composition can help your style.He seems to be not teaching to indoctrinate you with his ideas. He says in one of his books that he at times himself pretends to not know painting and then enjoys the magic of painting something totally afresh. I like his rare but clear-cut prescriptions about somethings like a painting should have 50-50 per cent balance between lost and found edges.If you are a beginner, or may I say a patient beginner, buy his book about flower painting where he simplifies his art to a maximum level to illustrate simple flower shapes and compositions using flower arrangements. That said, anyone at any level of watercolor expertise will benefit from this book. In short, this and other books by Charles Reid are a treasure. Thank you Charles Reid, the"Sensei" of watercolors.

I have studied with Charles Reid and he is one of the greats. This book is a perfect classroom type book giving instruction that you will keep handy and refer to again and again. A must have in an artist's library.