Water Paper Paint
Water Paper Paint, Exploring Creativity with Watercolor and Mixed Media
Author: Heather Smith Jones
Publisher: Quarry Books
Release date: 1/1/11
Photographer: Rachel Saldaña
Available at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Dick Blick, Indie Bound, Quarry Bookshop
Water Paper Paint is now in its 9th printing in English, and translations are also available in German, Dutch, Taiwanese, Korean, and Malaysian.
Water Paper Paint is for any creative person who wants to experience and play with watercolor. This book moves beyond the typical formulaic, how-to-paint textbook. Rather it offers readers experimental and technical projects to explore, all written from an artist's viewpoint. The beautiful photography in the book allows the reader a kind of look over the artist's shoulder. The projects are suitable for the beginner and can provide inspiration for someone with art experience.
Water Paper Paint is composed of three sections. The basics chapter discusses paper, paint, palettes and brushes. The projects chapter contains thirty projects that are fun and creative. Readers are guided by instructions, tips, and photos. For the Gallery Section I invited artists from across the globe to submit work. Artists are from Australia, Canada, Mexico and throughout the U.S. The contributing Artists to the Gallery Section are Andy Farkas, Kyle Field, Gracia Haby, Anna Hepler, Louise Jennison, Christine Kesler, Margie Kuhn, Carrie Walker, David Wilson, and Geninne D. Zlatkis. And Shari Altman contributed a piece of prose which was used as inspiration for Project 23: Painted Verse: Finding Inspiration in a Poem.
Editorial Reviews
"Smith Jones has written the perfect introduction to water colors for the mixed-media enthusiast who wants a step-by-step approach, and she provides beautiful examples...If the beautiful watercolor examples by Smith Jones are not enough visual eye candy, you'll find more in the Gallery, with work from 11 talented artists." - Jenn Mason, "in the mix: now read this", Cloth Paper Scissors, March/April 2011
"Studio artist Smith Jones presents a new kind of art how-to book, in which she tackles many of the intangibles of the creative process but from a practical point of view. She is not constrained by any one medium, and she encourages readers to stretch beyond their boundaries. Various drawing, watercolor, and collage materials, as well as different methods, subject matters, and ways to display completed work, are discussed. This book will appeal to artists who want to rekindle their creative spirit, and it could inspire hobbyists and scrapbookers to take a next step." - Library Journal, February 2011
"Water Paper Paint by Heather Smith Jones is a groundbreaking book that shows people like me that watercolors can be used to achieve success in projects big and small. There are 30 projects in all, where with each one, we learn how to work in unique ways, as we gain insight about how the elements of water, paper, and paint relate to one another. We learn to leverage these insights to create magnificent effects." - excerpt from a review by Jenny Doh
A 32-page full color book and supply kit to get started in watercolor. Kit includes a sampling of projects, 4 blank greeting cards, 6 postcards, 4 tubes of watercolor paint, and two paintbrushes. A great gift idea for someone who wants to get their brushes wet!
Available fine art prints of my work used in Water Paper Paint.
