THE BIG BOOK OF

WATERCOJ0R
By Jose M. Par ramon
 $ 24.95

THE BIG BOOK OF

WATERCOLOR
By Jose M. Parramon
A watercolor painting must be a la prima —
in the moment, fast, spontaneous. The

secret is to understand the medium itself:

its watery, translucent texture, its fluid
rhythms, its vivid, gem-like colors which
render such irresistible results.
In this extraordinary exploration of the
technique of watercolor painting, a world
renowned artist, teacher, and author of 27
books shares a wealth of practical and
creative knowledge with the beginning or
more professional painter. From his survey
of the masters —
old and new to the ac- —
tual application of the craft, Jose M.
Parramon shows the reader not simply how
to mix color, choose brushes, understand
paper surfaces, select a palette, furnish
the studio, but also how to compose,
evaluate tone, execute perspective, trans-
and interpret a theme.
late lighting effects,
Parramon's "active pictures" are carefully
selected to complement the text and ex-
pand the reader's understanding. He dem-
onstrates the techniques of wet-on-wet
painting, drybrush, sponge texturing, su-
perimposition of translucent shapes and
colors, use of the paper as white, and an
examination of style. He experiments with
—
ranges of color warm, cold, and broken
— as he enjoins you, the reader, to
"do it," to really follow his procedures and
practice the demonstrations so perfectly
worked out in this book.
The author includes step-by-step prac-
ticedemonstrations that trace the painting
process in watercolor for seven classical
themes: rustic landscape, landscape with
a house, cityscape, seascape, harbor
scene, still life, animals, the human figure.
Teaching, communicating with the
reader/student is clearly a labor of love for
Jose M. Parramon. His presence, patience,
knowledge, and enthusiasm are felt
throughout The Big Book of Watercolor
Painting as he strives to "create in the
reader the idea that the artist is beside
him, painting with him, explaining in per-
son how to do it." Wonderfully detailed,
The Big Book of Water-
lavishly illustrated,
color Painting a joy to look at, an
is

unending source of information, and an

inspiration to paint.

192 pages. 9 x 12 (23 x 30.5 cm). 382 color

plates. Glossary.

WATSON-GUPTILL PUBLICATIONS