Reimagine Painting with the Colorways: Watercolor Animals Book

Watercolor artists looking for a creative new way to express themselves need look no further than the soon-to-be-released book Colorways: Watercolor Animals by Shaunna Russell (Walter Foster Publishing, December 3, 2019). The subtitle says it all: Tips, Techniques, and Step-by-Step Lessons for Learning to Paint Whimsical Artwork in Vibrant Watercolor.

* Complimentary book received for review. This post may contain affiliate links.

Using the methods and ideas in this innovative book, you’ll create paintings of animals, going beyond simple representations to bring out their essence. But to break the rules, you first need to know what those rules are, and Colorways: Watercolor Animals provides helpful tutorials on tools and materials, watercolor techniques, and color theory. The “Setting Yourself Up for Success” chapter also gives some great suggestions to get you started.

Then it’s on to the book’s main section, Step-by-Step Painting Projects. Although the use of color in these twelve projects is unusual, it’s most certainly not random. As the author says, “You can create compelling and eye-catching pieces when you’re not afraid to add color in a meaningful way. This book is intended to inspire you to give it a try and provides you with the skills to do so successfully.” And inspiration is what you’ll find! Throughout the book, you’ll be encouraged to express your own individuality.

The projects cover a variety of subjects, from birds and bugs to pets and wild animals, all employing different treatments. For example, you’ll find:

• Galaxy Whale, a whale depicted in colors and designs evoking images of outer space
• Beta Fish in Dark Waters, a colorful male beta contrasted against a dark background
• Iridescent Beetle, combining dark and light paints to create the illusion of shine
• Puffin, a seemingly simple portrait incorporating negative space as part of the image

As you can see, each of these projects is more than a simple how-to, as the lessons can be expanded and built on as you gain experience and confidence.

Watercolor Animals is the latest release in the Colorways series from Walter Foster Publishing, which “teaches artists of all skill levels how to employ color across a variety of media in unique and imaginary ways to create innovative and inspired artwork. Focusing less on realistic artistic representations and more on creating expressive art, this series invites you to break the standard rules of color and let your imagination and artwork soar to new heights in order to create unconventional, whimsical, and fanciful works of art.”

This book would make a wonderful gift for the watercolor artist on your gift list, no matter their skill level. Beginners will find useful information and fun projects, while the more experienced will enjoy new ways to explore watercolor. If you’re lucky, perhaps they’ll return the favor by giving you one of the paintings they’ll be inspired to create!

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Giveaway: One lucky winner is going to win a copy of Colorways: Watercolor Animals, thanks to Walter Foster Publishing, an imprint of the Quarto Group.

Giveaway Details: This giveaway is open to residents of the US ONLY age 18 and over. Please read our Terms of Service & Disclaimer Policy before entering. This giveaway will close on November 27th, 2019 at 11:59 pm EST time. No purchase necessary to enter or win.

Disclaimer: A. Bailey received a complimentary product for review purposes & feature on The Classy Chics blog. No monetary compensation was received. A. Bailey’s thoughts, opinions and words are 100% her own. Your thoughts may differ. Please read the blog’s terms of service policy before entering any giveaways. The Classy Chics are NOT responsible for prize fulfillment or shipping of any items won from this blog. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through an affiliate link, we may or may not make a small commission which helps to support this website. Thank you!!!