Paint the Sea and Shoreline in Watercolors Using Special Effects [Hardcover]

I really remembered what to do on my canvas/watercolor . . . with this instruction book. It's been a long time and he showed the basics, the motions of the sea, the feeling you are trying to capture.
There are plenty of different colors and moods brought to you.
There is rage and calm, morning and night, the distance of water and the shoreline.

This book is wonderful and beautiful. E. John Robinson has spent many hours videotaping the ocean and then going home to study it in slow motion. He has taken this information to create both his beautiful paintings as well as to share this information with his readers in a book with wonderful lessons on how to capture the true spirit of the water, it's many moods and motions, the rocks, the light that plays on the water and shoreline, etc.. Even if you don't paint, you can still thoroughly enjoy this beautiful book and all the spirit of the ocean that Robinson has the power to capture.

Mr. Robinson begins the book with the usual materials and techniques chapter. He gives good demonstrations of various techniques with brush strokes, wet on wet, chops, reflections stroke, masking out, lifting, and sandpaper edges to name a few.

Chapter 2 is Painting on Location. Mr. Robinson explains how he studied the sea using a movie camera so he could understand exactly what happens when a wave reaches a certain point. Then, planning the painting is demonstrated. Each page is filled with well-designed photos and sketches, and are explained in a well-designed manner that make it enjoyable to read. Values of the water and pencil sketches of rocks are explained along with color sketching. Ten-minute sketches are compared to 20-minute sketches, and a step-by step demonstration is given with full explaination s under each picture.

Chapter 3 is about the Colors of the Sea, and how Mr. Robinson selects his pallet, comparing, for example manganese blue vs. cerulean blue vs. ultramarine blue for water and qualities that factor into using them. Then greens and combined colors for water are discussed....Charging and selection of colors for charging and overlaid lines are demonstrated in a well-organized manner. Then Mr. Robinson explains how he charges the water and rocks along with illustrations to accompany each section.

Chapter 4 is The Importance of Atmosphere. I don't consider this information something a beginner would be concentrating on--I think this book is definitely for all levels of watercolorists. Perspective is explained, and how Mr. Robinson chooses different colors to achieve different atmosphere--warm grays vs. cool, clear day vs rain, fog, incoming fog---each with a beautiful illustration and explanation. Casting shadows, and fog with a sun glow are demonstrated.

Chapter 5--The Importance of Sunlight--"the influence of sunlight on color, sunlight and shadow colors, warm sunlight, high noon light, low horizon sunlight are explained, again, with a beautiful painting to illustrate, but with the purpose of teaching and not just to "show off" the authors beautiful works.....Then, practice steps are given with step one, step two, etc. each illustrated and fully explained....Next, bright light--side light, down lighting, front lighting, back lighting, spot lighting, casting shadows, sun rays are all shown and explained.

Chapter 6 is Composition for Balance and Harmony where he explains spirit lines, lines of motion, tranquil lines, opposing lines, moving lines, rising lines, downward lines---not something a beginner would pay that much attention to....Values and focal points are demonstrated--each with a small painting

Chapter 7---Water As a Reflecting Surface-- light paths, reflecting bluffs, mirror images, extended reflection, broken reflections, light bounce, etc--each separately illustrated. Reflected wave foam, shallow water reflections, sparkles, glare, etc..

Chapter 8 is Skies--sundown, cloud glow, motion drama, etc... Next a Demonstration step-by-step is given beginning with a line sketch, value sketch, choice of pallet colors and then step-by-step explanations are given. Easy to follow--excellent instruction.

Chapter 9 --Waves and Breakers--anatomy of swells, transfer of energy, swells with ripples, whitecaps, etc.--all covered and illustrated along with sketches to explain more if needed. Next, cloud and cloud reflections, breaker anatomy, light through the wave, different views of the wave, collapsed wave, dark-to-light wave....Then, another step-by-step demonstration, again well organized, illustrated, and explained.

Chapter 10--The Forms and Shapes of Foam--foam bursts--how to achieve the effect--

The rest of the chapters include Forms and Shapes of Rocks, Beaches, Harbors and Coastlines---each with more demonstrations.

Photo references are included in the back of the book, along with a gallery of Mr. Robinson's stunning work.

This book is exceptional and well above your average watercolor instruction book. The author holds you spellbound and has some interesting little stories to tell along the way. It is a truly wonderful and beautiful book, as well as being well organized and explained.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars OK for beginners - mediocre, at best, for artists!, October 12, 2005
By Lorelei Shark (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
I would recommend this book for beginners only! The special effects, referred to in the title, are basic watercolor techniques. The book itself is not very creative in format, content nor presentation .
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Book on Painting Water in Watercolor, June 8, 2005
By Linda L. Lewellen (Carmichael, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
As with his other books, Mr. Robinson clearly and plainly explains steps in the process of achieving a wonderful watercolor painting. The step-by-step photographs and full explanations of techniques are outstanding in terms of instruction and giving pointers to achieving a better painting. I would recommend this book for painters at all levels. Many of the techniques apply to other mediums as well. For anyone interested in painting water this is a must have.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars If you really want to learn , April 22, 2005
By A. Tiilikka - See all my reviews
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Mr Robinson obviously has two outstanding gifts: painting and teaching! A rare combination. And he knows all about the subject. Wether you are a beginner or an experienced painter I am sure you can benefit from this book. I absolutely love it! Unlike many other painting instructors he is not exhibiting his own paintings but teaching you how to get into the world of painting sea.

E. John Robinson obviously has the experience and chachet of a great marine watercolorist. I just wish the deomo's were a little more subtle. And trying to get the companion dvd for the book is an adventure in mismanaged opportunities. Not Amazon's fault.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 3 reviews  4.3 out of 5 stars