Watercolour Textures
A very popular 128-page hardcover book by Ann Blockley.
Watercolour Textures is the fourth title in Collins Artist’s Studio series for the intermediate painter. Ann Blockley is known for the innovative way in which she uses texture as a key element in her work, and this book looks specifically at how she achieves her stunning effects and provides essential guidelines for the intermediate painter wishing to develop this aspect of their own painting. The book provides an original and less conventional approach to a key aspect of painting in watercolour. It includes numerous practical exercises, projects, studio tips, and step-by-step demonstrations plus it is superbly illustrated with Ann Blockley’s beautiful watercolours and also features the work of other well-known professional artists.
Creating texture in watercolour can be quite a challenge but this book provides a fresh approach to the subject. It focuses on a wide range of unusual techniques, some of which depart from the more conventional methods, revealing how to portray texture by a variety of means. Ann explains how to manipulate the paint by lifting out colour, scraping and scratching the paint, and by using additional materials such as wax, clingfilm, salt and metallic pigments. She also explains how the surface itself can play an important role in the effects that can be achieved, and experiments with acrylics, inks, gouache and collage as well as watercolour.
In later chapters Ann looks at the creative process and provides insights into how to develop ideas, then concentrates on how to portray texture in specific subjects, such as flowers and foliage, animals, still life, buildings and landscapes. Practical exercises, projects, step-by-step demonstrations and studio tips are included, as well as the work of several guest artists: John Blockley, Moira Huntly and Shirley Trevena.
Reviews
“This is a wonderful, lively book that will inspire readers to take more risks with the medium, moving their work on to something perhaps truly extraordinary.”
-Leisure Painter
“Flowers, leaves and seed heads, also landscapes, animals and still lifes done in a way that will definitely make you look twice. Watercolour Textures offers all kinds of opportunities for development.”
-The Artist Magazine
Ann Blockley DVDs
In addition to her books, Ann Blockley has made some teaching videos as well.
- Flowers in Watercolour
- Experimental Flowers in Watercolour
- Flower Painting Through the Seasons
- Experimental Landscapes In Watercolour
Ann Blockley
Ann Blockley SWA is a renowned watercolour and mixed-media artist with an individual style developed over thirty years of professional painting. Her pictures are evocative, atmospheric and intuitive. Her longstanding passion has been for flowers and nature, inspired by the gardens and countryside close to her Cotswold studio. Ann has a worldwide reputation for flower painting but her landscapes and animals are also collector’s items. She has written seven books on her painting methods covering many subjects.
In all her pictures, Ann uses painterly textures, marks and edge values, using watercolour in a loose and flowing style. She stretches the boundaries of the medium, sometimes working on a gesso surface to create unconventional textured images and sometimes reconstructing her work into intricate collages. She is continually exploring, experimenting and re-evaluating her work.
Ann has established a reputation as an enthusiastic and inspiring teacher at workshops in the UK and abroad. Her work is exhibited in galleries throughout UK. She writes for the Artist magazine and is a member of the Society of Women artists. (SWA). Her father was the inspirational artist, John Blockley RI PPPS RWA.
Ann Blockley exhibits regularly and teaches workshops. Her website has the latest news.
Click on the underlined link to go to the current offers on Ann Blockley books and DVDs on the Jackson’s Art Supplies website.
Postage on orders shipped standard to mainland UK addresses is free for orders of £39.
