Best Overall
Techniques and Tutorials for the Complete Beginner
Comprehensive guide for beginners with step-by-step watercolor techniques.
Best for Landscape
The Society for All Artists
Best for landscape watercolor, ideal for absolute beginners.
Best for Landscapes and Urban Areas
Painting Light and Color in Landscapes and Cityscapes
Focuses on watercolor techniques for landscapes and urban areas, with an emphasis on light and color.
Let’s step into the shoes of a young artist, one who has grown tired of sketching in notebooks with colored pencils, seeking a fresh medium to convey their art in a way that is both expressive and beautiful. In our quest for new artistic avenues, we stumble upon something unique: watercolor paints.
And, it’s love at first sight.
Watercolor painting is an art form that plays with water and pigments, it’s well-loved for its versatility and is usually the first medium of many, many artists.
However, not everything is roses and sunshine, once you reach a certain level, you’ll find yourself stuck. No matter how good your observational skills are or how much you’ve learned of other mediums, you can only get so far without needing to master more advanced watercolor techniques, and that can be challenging if you don’t have any classes, study material, or a good book to learn from.
But how can we start exploring this vast world? This technique indeed has a lot to offer, but it can be daunting for beginners. Therefore, in this article, we’ll provide a general overview of what is like working with watercolors and we’ll list and recommend the best watercolor books you can find and use to improve your technique or learn something new.
Let’s get started!
How to Find a Good Watercolor Book
Author’s Experience
The author’s experience and knowledge are essential to determine the quality of the content of a watercolor book (and any instructive book for that matter) without having to read it. While anyone can write a book that includes technical data or some trivial facts about watercolors, only a few can write a truly enriching book that offers practical advice and shares authentic work and experiences.
The authors of these books are usually well-known figures in the field of watercolors, such as teachers or independent artists with a big following. Therefore, investigating the author’s background is always a must.
Technique and Style
Although it is essential to start with books that teach the basics, such as the fundamentals of light and shadows, it is also important to consider books focused on specific techniques or styles. These can be very useful for reinforcing skills in particular areas or learning new techniques. Evaluate whether you need a book for beginners before opting for one specialized in a topic such as jungle fauna painting or a book that teaches about advanced glazing techniques.
Reading the Reviews
Reading the reviews about the book we are choosing is another way to see if the book is a good fit. This might seem obvious, but sometimes, we don’t pay attention to the reviews other users share and end up disappointed when our book is not what we expected. The cover and a few pages are the only things we can see when making an online purchase, so reading through the reviews is always a good idea. There’s nothing like learning from someone who read, put into practice, and shared the results of the guidance that the book provided.
Price
Lastly, price is an important factor to consider as well. Since watercolors are generally not as expensive as other painting techniques, for beginners, investing in quality books or guides can be a wise decision. If you’re looking to really get into the medium, invest in a couple of great books that teach the basics back and forth, and then learn a few specialized techniques or styles that complement your own.
Best Watercolor Books for Artists in 2024
- Best Watercolor Book Overall — Watercolor: Techniques and Tutorials for the Complete Beginner
- Best Landscape Watercolor Book — Watercolour for the Absolute Beginner: The Society for All Artists
- Best Watercolor Book of Landscapes and Urban Areas — Watercolor Techniques: Painting Light and Color in Landscapes and Cityscapes
- Best Watercolor Book for Natural Environments — Wilderness Watercolor Landscapes: 30 Eye-Catching Scenes Anyone Can Master
- Best Watercolor Book for Jungle Environments — Watercolor with Me in the Jungle
- Best Watercolor Book for Skies and Atmospheres — David Bellamy’s Skies, Light & Atmosphere in Watercolour
- Best Watercolor Book for Textures — Texture Techniques for Winning Watercolors
#1. Best Watercolor Book Overall — Watercolor: Techniques and Tutorials for the Complete Beginner
Selection Criteria
- Recommended For: Beginners.
- Our Score: 9/10
- Difficulty in Exercises: Progressive
- Our Score: 9/10
- Main Theme: Watercolor in General.
- Our Score: 8/10
- Author: Paul Clark
- Our Score: 9/10
- Price: Kindle: $9.99 / Paperback: $20.97.
- Our Score: 7/10
About Watercolor: Techniques and Tutorials for the Complete Beginner.
Aimed at beginners determined to learn watercolors, this book lays the foundation for mastering the art of watercolor with a complete guide to the tools and materials needed, an introduction to basic techniques, and very illustrative step-by-step paintings.
As a plus, three special sections are included that focus on areas of particular interest to beginners, including special effects, colors, trees, and skies. The clear instructions and tips are great for beginners, and even intermediate painters will find these techniques useful.
2. Best Landscape Watercolor Book — Watercolour for the Absolute Beginner
Selection Criteria
- Recommended For: Beginners.
- Our Score: 9/10
- Difficulty in Exercises: Progressive
- Our Score: 9/10
- Main Theme: Landscapes.
- Our Score: 8/10
- Author: Matthew Palmer.
- Our Score: 9/10
- Price: Kindle: $15.48 / Paperback: $16.30.
- Our Score: 7/10
About Watercolour for the Absolute Beginner
Watercolor for the Absolute Beginner is a book that focuses on the beauty of landscaping and nature. It teaches excellent tips for beginners, starting with drawings, compositions, lights, shadows, perspectives, etc., all in a very simple way, perfect to introduce beginners to painting landscapes with watercolor. The increasing difficulty of each exercise makes sure that progress is continuous and we do not stagnate at any time, and the exercises are good even for intermediate and experienced artists. Light and Color in Landscapes
3. Best Watercolor Book of Landscapes and Urban Areas — Light and Color in Landscapes
Selection Criteria
- Recommended For: Beginners, Students.
- Our Score: 9/10
- Difficulty in Exercises: Steeper
- Our Score: 9/10
- Main Theme: Landscapes and Cityscapes.
- Our Score: 8/10
- Author: Michael Reardon.
- Our Score: 9/10
- Price: Kindle: $12.99 / Hardcover: $22.94.
- Our Score: 7/10
About Watercolor Techniques
“There is no other technique more enjoyable and magical than watercolors” That’s what artist and author Michael Reardon tells us. In his book “Watercolor Techniques: Painting Light and Color in Landscapes and Cityscapes,” Reardon covers everything from answers to the most perplexing questions for beginners. What is the correct ratio of paint to water? How to apply an even coat? Why does my painting look so faded? This book helps beginners and students to understand the triple role of perspective, value, and color. It shows us how to paint sparkling whites and shimmering shadows, giving the atmosphere of a specific place and time. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, you will feel a notable change in your work if you read and put into practice the teachings of this book.
4. Best Watercolor Book for Natural Environments — Wilderness Watercolor Landscapes
Selection Criteria
- Recommended For: Experienced Artists.
- Our Score: 9/10
- Difficulty in Exercises: Steeper.
- Our Score: 9/10
- Main Theme: Natural, Wild Landscapes.
- Our Score: 8/10
- Author: Kolbie Blume.
- Our Score: 9/10
- Price: $9.99 / Paperback: $17.59.
- Our Score: 7/10
About Wilderness Watercolor Landscapes
From stunning desert sunset silhouettes to majestic Icelandic waterfalls and surprisingly magical snowy forests, watercolorist Colby Bloom’s wild scenes are the perfect introduction to watercolor painting.
Colby’s step-by-step instructions make painting stunning landscapes easy by introducing all the key elements of nature painting and teaching beginner techniques for painting skies, mountains, trees, wildflowers, oceans, lakes, and more.
This book has a more contemporary approach to watercolors than the classics, which makes it a great choice for beginners and advanced artists alike.
5. Best Watercolor Book for Jungle Environments — Watercolor with Me in the Jungle
Selection Criteria
- Recommended For: Experienced Artists.
- Our Score: 9/10
- Difficulty in Exercises: Progressive
- Our Score: 9/10
- Main Theme: Jungle Setting.
- Our Score: 8/10
- Author: Dana Fox.
- Our Score: 9/10
- Price: $11.99 / Hardcover: $15.89.
- Our Score: 7/10
About Watercolor with Me in the Jungle
A perfect balance between knowledge and practice, in this book you can learn to draw all types of wildlife flora and fauna thanks to Dan’s simple method and easy-to-follow instructions that will guide you through every step of the watercolor painting process, so That no matter your skill level, you’ll always get frame-worthy results when it comes to painting fur details on adorable animals like sloths and monkeys or layering colors to create eye-catching patterns like Bengal tigers and poisonous frogs. Because each project is printed on high-quality specialty art paper, you can draw directly on the page. A very practical and entertaining book when learning to use watercolors.
6. Best Watercolor Book for Skies and Atmospheres — Skies, Light & Atmosphere in Watercolour
Selection Criteria
- Recommended For: Beginners.
- Our Score: 9/10
- Difficulty in Exercises: Simple.
- Our Score: 9/10
- Main Theme: Skies and Atmospheres.
- Our Score: 8/10
- Author: David Bellamy.
- Our Score: 9/10
- Price: $12.17 / Hardcover: $31.98.
- Our Score: 7/10
About David Bellamy’s Skies, Light & Atmosphere in Watercolour
It is undeniable that some of the best subjects when painting with watercolors are the skies or atmospheres, and David Bellamy’s mastery of these is captured in this book is both inspiring and practical when it comes to understanding and improving these. themes.
Bellamy’s experience shines as he guides readers through the complexities of painting different sky and light conditions. This book is a valuable resource for artists looking to infuse realism and atmosphere into their watercolor works.
7. Best Watercolor Book for Textures — Texture Techniques for Winning Watercolors
Selection Criteria
- Recommended For: Experienced Artists and Professionals.
- Our Score: 9/10
- Difficulty in Exercises: Advanced.
- Our Score: 9/10
- Main Theme: Textures.
- Our Score: 8/10
- Author: Ray Hendershot.
- Our Score: 9/10
- Price: $32.67 / Paperback: $29.50.
- Our Score: 7/10
About Texture Techniques for Winning Watercolors
Discover powerful ways to bring your watercolors to life with Ray Hendershot texturing. “Conquering Texture Techniques in Watercolor” fills the gap left by other books by delving into the details that separate a good technique from a great one. With Hendershot’s guidance, he can increase the emotional impact of his paintings by capturing a wider range of moods through strategic texturing techniques such as spraying, misting, streaking, and blotting.
Hendershot delves into various techniques such as spraying, misting, streaking, and blotting, demonstrating how these methods can be employed to create striking effects. He emphasizes the importance of texture in conveying atmosphere and emotion, showing how the right textural touch can add a layer of richness and complexity to a watercolor piece.
So, What’s So Special About Watercolors?
Watercolor is characterized by its unique ability to achieve delicate and luminous effects thanks to the use of water. The pigments in watercolor allow light to penetrate the layers of color, thus creating hues that appear soft and bright, a result that is more difficult to achieve with other painting techniques.
The art of watercolor balances freedom and control, the constant fluctuations of these two factors often result in effects that look messy but attractive. Interestingly, many of these effects are the result of happy accidents rather than detailed planning, that’s why knowing when to take a more spontaneous approach is essential when working with watercolors.
Getting started in the watercolor world can be easier with a good guide or starting point. In the section below you will find our curated book recommendation list that will pave the way into into this medium for you, teach you new techniques if you already have experience with watercolors, and give you all the insights, tips, and tricks only artists can give.
The question of whether it is better to work with watercolors or oil paintings can be somewhat tricky since both are very different techniques in artistic practice. Although there are aspects in which they can be compared, the truth is that each technique is better suited to certain types of artists. Let’s analyze some strengths of watercolors and the situations where they excel:
Watercolors, being water-based, dry much faster than oil or acrylic paints, which can take days. This is useful for layering watercolor, although it also complicates modification once applied. But, this also makes working with watercolors more dynamic and faster!
With watercolors, it is possible to make works of art using a single color, simply varying the amount of water to obtain different shades. More water gives a lighter, more subtle tone, while less water intensifies the color.
Oil Paints Can Be Quite Expensive, Watercolors On the Other Side…
Watercolors are usually more affordable than oil paints, which makes starting with watercolors a cheaper and more enjoyable option for beginners. Although it is easy to make mistakes with watercolors, their low cost and fewer materials needed make them more attractive than oil paints. Plus, they are easier to carry from one place to another, making them an excellent option for traveling artists who want to put together a compact travel kit.
