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Brush with art

From the archive, first published Wednesday 21st Feb 2001.

The Duffer's Guide To Painting Watercolour Landscapes by Don Harrison (HarperCollins, £14.99)

AS a self-confessed bumbling amateur painter I have often been frustrated by books ostensibly marketed at novices, but actually pitched at those in the improvers category.

This book starts at the most basic level, with an introduction to primary colours and the sort of brushes to use when dabbling with paint.

I appreciated the lack of pretension in Harrison's book as well as its simple step-by-step approach, which also can be found in his textbook Watercolour Troubleshooter.

Examples of the techniques illustrated by at least two pictures per page to be mastered even by duffers include how to develop Sky with Fluffy White Clouds and Distant Trees.

Later on, the subjects became more complex, such as painting boats at anchor and mountain scenery.

Despite the simple directions, I didn't quite get to grips with the section at which I had a stab Painting Winter Trees, but I felt inspired to pick up the brushes again at some stage.

My one quibble was that this hardback is by no means cheap for fewer than 100 pages.

Paul Stammers

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