The Joy of Watercolor: 40 Happy Lessons for Painting the World Around You

Practical info and fun paintings to try. Good instructions for each painting. Good for beginners and intermediate artists.

The most learning I’ve done out of this book has been reading the introduction. The introduction is written very well, and it explains techniques that other watercolor books do not. This book really change my opinion about watercolor, I feel more informed and I’m more patient and understanding with watercolors now than from before. From this book, I have learned you’re not really painting with paint, instead you’re actually painting with water that is dyed a certain color. The lessons are fun to do with friends! And the book itself is freaking adorable! You’ll never want to put it down!

I signed up to take a watercolor class through community ed and bought this book after the first session so I could keep practicing at home. I like the lessons, tips, and step-by-steps in book more than I like the class! As many others have commented, the lessons are broken up by skill level, which is really helpful. The beginner lessons are small enough that they can be repeated in a single sitting, helping me reinforce and improve the skills I am learning in each exercise. I don’t have any drawing training, and I find the illustrative style much more forgiving than the classic style, so I don’t get frustrated in the same way as I do otherwise. And as I am enjoying the practice sessions so much, I keep coming back for more; I attend class and keep thinking silently to myself that what the teacher is telling us to do is something I practiced in my fun book at home. I am so happy I found Emma Block’s book!!!

I loved the author's introduction to watercolor, giving a broader context to the artform. The tutorials are straightforward and fun. One complaint I have is that some of the tutorials require special materials beyond paints and paper. I'm trying out this hobby with minimal investment so I'm probably just not going to be able to do those lessons.

My granddaughter seems to prefer watercolors so this was a great book for her. She’s moved on from cheap watercolor paint to a more professional grade now. Treats brushes with care (finally) and is doing a fine job of layering pigment. I’m impressed!

I love the easy-going approach to painting with watercolor, but also the step-by-step suggestions & tips to get practicing in a successful way with minimal supplies (pencil, paper, paint, water, brush). I looked through the book multiple times after purchasing it, and finally dived in with a pineapple lesson (since I just happened to have one sitting on my countertop - which I found very helpful in "seeing" it in a new way besides slicing it up and eating it). I followed the instruction and to my amazement....I actually painted something that looked like a pineapple vs. my general swirly mixed color renderings, AND, I was having fun...my inner kid thinking, "Hey, look what I painted!" The suggested practice lessons (such as flowers, fruit, buildings, cactus, animals & people) are rated from beginner (the single pineapple) to intermediate (a group of cactus/cacti), to advanced (full scenes) - so you know what you're getting into. Although hardcover, the book stays open with pages laying flat with true to life color and lots of examples and things to try.

Excited to start this book

Wow! All of positive praise for this stout book. Before even opening my flawless copy, I got one of my Demco library style book covers and covered it. I do that for most every book I get. I respect the author and the physical book. My picture is Cosmo my Pug, secure and relaxed with me and Joy of Watercolor on my beddy. The binding is tight, no shelf bends. I will buy from this vendor again. The book arrived almost overnight without any “Overnight” shipping charges. I have been doing watercolors, etc my entire life, 68 years, and just now my darling hubby no 2 , who believes in me, said to order what I needed to grow my art. I had painted a picture a few years ago, and thank God I had a great graphics store reproduce it for me. Never did that. My pic on the wall has started to fade, change color. I joined WetCanvas.com and researched watercolors. I sent away for some small sets, and I like the Holbeins very much, for me. These new paints all account for their lightfastness, meaning will they fade on their own or time and light? The permanence was also rated. I am starting to paint color swashes on watercolor paper, learning about the characteristics. In Joy of Watercolor, Emma Block, with grace, guides me into a workspace, materials, workbooks and undertonesthen into mixology. Great watercolor pictures done simply illustrate throughout the 240 page compact 8 x 8” x 1” thick book. Yes, great things come in small packages. I still consider myself a beginner, and some guide books are too complex for me. I discovered that I will need to buy some archival paper if I want to paint a picture for my grandchildren, and a few much better brushes that don’t leave a hairy trail behind on a stroke of color. Ack! Shedding Brushes! I appreciate Emma’s sensibility for how to choose a brush amongst the thousands that are for sale. How to save on paper costs, and allow yourself to feel free to experiment and not be constrained by the price of watercolor papers. I agree with her recommendation to buy a few highest rated colors artist, proffesional quality instead of our old school paints. I have all of mine still, and now I am seeing what the differences are. Emma also provides the way to learn your own style of painting, not copying other pictures, but by really looking for real. Pages and pages with additional tips to guide your hand of how to make a watercolor with a background and foreground of colors. I believe this book is a treasure, and will help me gain confidence and knowledge that I can bank on. And, my wonderful husband who told me I should get a few brushes, and paper.