Review by hamsterdance for How to Make a Watercolor Paint Itself: Experimental Techniques for Achieving Realistic Effects
Rating:
This book is definitely not for a beginning watercolorist and I don’t think the author and publishers intended it to be. If you are just beginning to paint in watercolor in a realistic style I recommend starting with books aimed for beginners first. That said, for high-intermediate to advanced watercolorists who want to learn new ways to add life to their paintings this is one of the best books out there using the pouring process as the primary means vs. painting with a brush. That doesn’t mean Ms. Engle doesn’t use brushes, it’s just that they are only one of several techniques at her disposal. I got this book after having read Creative Discoveries in Watermedia. So I understand why the title says ‘Experimental Techniques for Achieving Realistic Effects’. Many of the same techniques from the Creative Discoveries book are used here as well. Everything from squirt bottles to pouring the paints and tipping the board to let the paint run where it will to textural techniqes for added interest. All the chapters introduce fun methods for paiting but I’m glad design (aka composition) has a chapter of its own. All the techniques in the world won’t save a painting with a poor design (that’s when you just crop it and make it a mixed media experimental painting!) :)My favorite chapter is the last one. It discusses experimental techiques, mediums, methods, etc. This is the only watercolor book I’ve ever seen that mentions W&N’s Aquapasto medium, a product I love for adding texture elements to some of my more experimental paintings. If you’re an intermediate to advanced watercolorist looking for new ideas you’ll find plenty of them here.

Review by jim vowell for How to Make a Watercolor Paint Itself: Experimental Techniques for Achieving Realistic Effects
Rating:
No matter what anybody says, watercolor painting is difficult. There are many instructional books out on the market that says they can help you become an excellant painter in ??? easy lessons. It just doesn’t work that way. You can become a profecient painter by learning the basic techniques and,most important,paint, paint, and paint some more. Nita Engle has written a book that allows you to add some fun and spice to the time you paint,paint,and paint some more. Nita is a very respected teacher and painter and if you can’t arrange to go to one of her workshops, buy this book! The effects Nita has evolved is amazing and she clearly explains how to get these effects. This book won’t turn you into a wonderful painter in ?? easy lessons, but if you are a watercolor painter this is one book you’ll use for years. Don’t miss it!

Review by LISAMGK@MSN.COM for How to Make a Watercolor Paint Itself: Experimental Techniques for Achieving Realistic Effects
Rating:
At long last one of the world’s greatest watercolor artists has published a book that reveals all of her secrets. I highly recommend this book to anyone (beginner to advanced)who works in this media. Her illustrations and instructions are like nothing I have seen before. Her style allows watercolors to paint themselves and they do with natural results. She has been copied by many artists without the recognition she so rightly deserves. This book should be in every artist’s library. She has changed my method of painting which has led to great results. I can’t wait for her next book.