Watercolor: A Self-Study Guide

Print edition: EKSMO (in Russian), in print. Digital edition: in preparation.

About the book

This self-study guide was published by EKSMO in 2005 and has been reprinted ever since.

After the author's gouache guide came out in 2004, the series "Learn to Paint with Olga Shmatova" was launched, and the watercolor guide was published in it. The book brings together classic watercolor techniques and the author's own, along with student work that clearly shows how well the method works.

The watercolor guide became the most successful book in the series. Although there have always been plenty of watercolor books on the market, both when it first came out and today, it remains exceptionally popular with readers. It meets readers' needs so precisely that EKSMO is cautious about the idea of a new edition: a new version, even an improved one, might not repeat the unique success of a book that has proven its effectiveness in teaching watercolor over the years.

The book is widely recognized both in Russia, where it is recommended for art schools and supplementary art education programs, and abroad. In 2019, a Chinese publisher acquired the rights to the book, which shows how universal and in-demand the author's teaching approach is.

What sets this guide apart is its focus on the state of the painting surface, that is, how wet the paper is. It pays special attention to how much paint and water you have on your brush and palette, which is critical to success in watercolor.

What makes watercolor great

Versatile and portable: compact materials, easy to carry, you can paint almost anywhere, quick to set up.
Practical: dries quickly, has no smell, mixes easily, ideal for painting at home, brushes and tools are easy to clean.
Affordable and economical: a wide choice of paints from different brands, a range of price points, paints that last a long time, a minimal set of tools, materials that go a long way.
Technical strengths: transparent, rich colors; the ability to paint in layers; rich color transitions; pure, bright color; paint that blends and flows.
Creative possibilities: many painting techniques, combines well with other media, room to experiment, unpredictable effects, every painting is one of a kind.
In demand: popular in illustration, used in sketching and in design, demand for watercolor art, relevant in contemporary art.
Educational value: develops your sense of color, trains precise movements, teaches you to plan your work, sharpens observation, builds an understanding of tone.
Lasting work: lightfast modern pigments, easy framing, archival materials that are easy to find, easy storage, paintings can be restored.
Community: a large community of watercolor painters, plenty of learning resources, accessible workshops, plein-air painting events, an active exhibition scene.

Who this book is for

Beginners who want to learn to paint with watercolor
Anyone who wants to use all 20 watercolor painting techniques
Artists who want to raise their technical skills
Anyone who wants to learn the methods of an experienced professional

What's inside

Materials and equipment

Materials
Getting started

Painting techniques

Transparent and semi-transparent paints
Thick and fluid paint
Wet-on-dry, or even color
Using pencils
Washes
Fine lines
Wet-in-wet, or on damp paper
Layering, or dry-on-dry
Softening edges on dry paper, or blending
Softening edges on wet paper
Brushstrokes
Dry brush
Hatching
Masking fluid, tape and stencils
Scratching out and erasing
Lifting back to the paper
Palette knife
Salt
Spattering
Paper relief

Let's paint together

Painting roses with different techniques
Practice, again and again
Using photographs as a reference

Features

20 watercolor painting techniques
Clear explanations with examples
Detailed step-by-step illustrations
Technique diagrams with practical tips
Common mistakes and how to fix them
A set of exercises for every technique
Advice from an experienced artist

What you will learn

Watercolor painting skills and techniques
Smooth transitions of color and tone
Painting fine lines
Applying semi-transparent layers
Original watercolor techniques
Choosing materials and tools

Student work

The book features work by the author and her students, credited in the book. Their results show how well the method works.

Edition details

Publisher: EKSMO, series "Learn to Paint with Olga Shmatova" (in Russian)
ISBN 978-5-699-18797-3
80 illustrated pages
Format: 84×108 1/16
First published in 2005, in print ever since

Please note: the year printed in your copy may differ from the year of first publication, because the publisher updates it with every reprint. To see which edition you have, check the publication details on the last page of the book. The ISBN may also change with reprints.