Watercolor Unleashed: New Directions for Traditional Painting Techniques Paperback – April 5, 2013

This is a great instructional book, full of excellent tutorials and "how to" material.I'm a retired Arts professor and I have an extensive library of art books. If there's a book I don't like I have no problem sending it back. I'm very particular about what books I keep and this one is a keeper. From the watercolor essential supplies to drawing, compositing, paint consistency, color simplification, different lessons for negative painting, and how to spice up watercolors with acrylics, and plenty of water, floral, and natural landscape lessons, this book is a real gem! The author artist goes into detail on this and more with every page full of color and step by step instructions.Even the few pages in reference with acrylic adds an interesting way to enhance the watercolors. You wouldn't know there is any acrylic in it because they are thinned out and are mere touches here and there. They are not obvious, and appear to be just like watercolor. If you don't like that approach, you still can apply watercolor instead and it doesn't change anything. All the principles still hold fast. The work is still great! It has 123 pages of material, not counting the bio, acknowledgments, and an index at the back of the book.I've seen this artist work online and it is far more brilliant than the cheap pulp it is printed on in this book. The brilliance of her real colors just can't flash or come out like her paintings online and on bideo. The book isn't printed on quality paper. However the lessons are clear and she does give the colors she uses and all the materials so you really can't go wrong in finding your way to bright vibrant painting results. If the lessons in the content were not good, I would give one less star for the quality of the book paper. For these prices you would expect North light publications to have better print like the books in their past. But because the education you get from this book, as well as the content, I still keep it at five stars!

I recently received "Watercolor Unleashed, New Directions...",but actually this bookshould be titled "Working with Mixed Media", as the author used a lot of pagesfor acrylic painting instructions, buying acrylic materials, and mixing acrylicsinto watercolor painting projects. The reader is left with the thought that a personwithout previous painting experience might think that one must lock in darkshading on a watercolor painting with the use of acrylics, which naturally changesthe painting from a true watercolor to a mixed media project. Surely this isfeasible, but not recommended in most art circles. The use of acrylics in a watercolorpainting is normally thought of as a last resort to save an otherwise nice project,by correcting a mistake with the use of opaque acrylics. Watered down and used sparingly,they can help touch up a mistake.On page 7 of this book, the author talks about sealing the finished painting withseveral coats of varnish. Is she referring to a watercolor painting? I have never heardor imagined doing such a thing to a watercolor painting. In my 10 yearsof art classes with various experienced teachers, no one has suggested this process.For certain, now that I am teaching watercolor classes, I would not introduce the useof varnishing. Why use watercolor paints at all? Just use acrylics and teach it well.I have sealed oil paintings, but never watercolor or acrylic. Normally considering myself astraight thinker who understands data in a book, when the author says it's a must to do severalcoats of varnish, I am obviously confused.I'm trying not to trash this book, knowing a great deal of thought must have gone intoit's preparation and execution. However, I found the content confusing when it startsdiscussing Plein Air materials on page 8 followed by color theory, both subjectsdiscussed before the chapter on page 23 that introduces drawing and composing. Iguess it's in the eyes of the beholder which comes first, the drawing and composingor the color theory?Perhaps if as I find my way through the contents, I will grab onto a nugget or two that I canuse, but after some exploration, I did not find anything I thought of as a new direction,as the title of the book suggests, "Watercolor Unleashed, A new direction for traditionalpainting techniques".Books cost money and we should trust the information given. A couple very goodwatercolor books that stay with the media, which I thoroughly recommend are,"Dance with Light" by Elizabeth Kincaid,and/or "Watercolor Depth and Realism" by Laurie Humble.Both are easy to follow because they are well organized with materials that will supportwatercolor artists, beginners through advanced.

As all the other reviewers have said, Julie Gilbert Pollard is an excellent teacher and her book has well thought out exercises to walk you through her painting process.What I haven’t seen in other’s comments is a review of the book’s printed quality. I was surprised to see “North Light First Edition” when the book I received is obviously a print on demand. The paper is low quality and the color reproductions of Julie’s artwork are terrible. I have seen Julie’s artwork first hand and the photos in this book do not do it justice!

Julie Pollard paints with a looseness and brilliance that many of use beginners would like to learn. Julie has lesson plans in this book to help you practice and thats what its going to take till you find your style. Julie helps by pointing out techniques she uses. She spends time on explaining her composition, she makes a sketch beforehand to show how she plans her painting ahead of time. Most of us just want to pick up the brush and paint but planning your composition will help work out problems before you start to paint. This is a keeper for referring to.

The art work alone would make this book worthwhile for purchase, but the author gives detailed, step by step instruction to help you create your own work.

I just received my copy of her newest book. I have her first book, Brilliant Color, which is my favorite, and this new one is even better. Her 2 new DVD's are amazing, Painting the Autumn Landscape, and Painting Cascading Water. I have bought far too many books and DVD's looking for help with a soft, colorful approach to painting, and hers are the BEST!!

I love the way she uses all different colors to get the values. Her paintings are very loose and impressionistic but yet you still get a feeling of the water and rocks.

I love your painting style. The exercises are very helpful. It's clearly explained, great photos used as examples. I highly recommend using the book to improve upon your watercolor painting!

I was so excited to get this book and decided to download it to my PC.That was my second mistake.I think with a book like this you need the hard copy. I can look at the pictures and read the text OK but it just didn't feel the same as looking at a real book (I am an avid kindle fan and have been for several years now), and I have not found any inspiration to work from the book at all.My first mistake was being seduced by the beautiful images into buying this book full stop. I loved the colours and how JGP has interpreted her versions of the scenes she recreates, but to call it 'Watercolor Unleashed' is misleading when the techniques in the book rely heavily on acrylic painting. I have nothing against combining media, but I think it should be described as a water media or mixed media book.Borrow this book if you can because the paintings are lovely, but only intend to use it as a reference book if you want to learn mixed media techniques and buy the paper book if you are going to buy it at all, is my advice.To sum up, disappointing although pretty, and a complete waste of money on Kindle format

Got lots of art how to books. This artist is my favourite because all the demonstrations are colourful and I find with a lot of books although they teach you a lot because the demonstrations do not produce a nice picture it kind of puts you off doing the demonstrations. However, With this you will learn a lot plus the Bonus of pictures you are proud off. And then you can go on to use what you have learnt in your own ideas. Cannot wait for the next water colours unleashed in June 2016. Have already reserved my copy 😄

Arrived early. Well packaged and book in "Very Good" condition as described.I love all the colour in Julie Gilbert Pollard's work and she has an interesting method of locking in darks with acrylic. There are 8 or so full length paint alongs in addition to exercises to practise the numerous concepts taught in the book. Lots of useful information for a beginner and more intermediate painter alike.

Unlike many art books, where you get a third of the book wasted on materials, the author gets straight into her painting techniques. The book is very informative and the pictures and sketches are crystal clear.One of the best art books I have found.

Was looking for something different as learning to paint in watercolour and wanted to move on to the next stage - really fantastic book with fresh ideas - all so colourful and with really good guidelines on how to achieve the examples in the book