If you are determined to become a great watercolourist, then it is absolutely imperative that you start with the basics.
While watching countless videos on youtube can be very effective, simply reading a book on the basics can help teach the entire watercolor process from start to finish in a much more structured way.
You are reading: Watercolor books for beginners
To guide the aspiring artist on their journey, we’ve rounded up some of the best and most highly recommended watercolor books that we personally and many others trust time and time again.
Not only have many of these books stood the test of time, they will adequately convey important aspects of watercolor that you may not have considered, especially if you are a self-taught artist.
but for more experienced artists reading this, you’ll also find great recommendations on this list for intermediate and advanced skill levels.
here is our list of the best watercolor painting books:
1. watercolor every day: learn to paint watercolor in 30 days
Watercolourist Jenna Rainey covers all the essentials any beginner would want to know in this 224-page book.
divided into 5 easy-to-read sections:
- technique
- form, perspective and light
- forms and complex forms
- value, volume and depth
- application
This book is perfect for beginning watercolourists who have their supplies ready but don’t know where to go first.
jenna will walk you through all the essentials you absolutely must know when painting with watercolors.
what we (and many other artists) loved about this book was the structure.
If you stick to this book for 30 short days, you will definitely notice a noticeable improvement in your work. Others who have read this book have said that “[everyday watercolor]…has been very helpful to me” and that “I might be in love with this book.”
everyday watercolor will not only be a staple for your studio, but also a book you will return to again and again.
2. modern watercolor
Accepting that “creativity is an inherent human trait,” watercolorist Kristin Van Leuven takes you through the world of watercolor through a contemporary lens.
What really set this book apart was not only the importance of color theory (the first section within the book after the essential supplies you need to have on hand), but also the exploration of resisting techniques and the focus on popular themes, including botanicals (flowers, greenery, and wreaths) along with animals, landscapes, faces, and more.
The structure of the book will not only foster a great learning environment for you, but will also reinforce proper watercolor techniques.
Modern watercolor skill level tends to lean a bit more towards the intermediate.
so, if you have some experience with a brush in hand (perhaps with other mediums), but are still unsure how to approach watercolors, Modern Watercolor should be an excellent read.
3. texture techniques for winning watercolors
ray hendershot is a highly respected watercolourist who paints primarily rural landscapes.
His work is remarkable and this texturing techniques book is a reflection of it.
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For those watercolourists who feel they are a bit more advanced and are looking for recommendations, this book will open your eyes to some remarkable techniques that will not only make your artwork look amazing, but they will also give you more technical information on how to improve.
This book, which was originally published in 1999, has 130 pages that dissect watercolor work in great detail. Flipping through the pages, you come across full page paintings along with smaller detailed shots of the painting to help explain the techniques employed in more detail.
Just make sure that when you choose this book, you choose the hardcover version.
As is evident from many of the reviews, the paperback version of the book has a low-quality paper quality that can detract from both the artwork and the learning experience.
4. the complete essential notebook for watercolourists
gordon mackenzie will take you on a journey through the concepts of watercolor in this highly revered guide that has served watercolorists for years.
what makes this book so special (and the reason we included it in our list of the best watercolor painting books) is that instead of delving into the details or techniques of watercolor, this book takes an almost hands-off approach. .
Instead of rules to follow when painting with watercolor, this book covers the process.
Giving you concepts for painting, this book is excellent not only for absolute beginners who haven’t dipped their brush yet, but also for those struggling under a more informal structure.
but as ‘loose’ the concept of watercolor may be within this book, it still features stunning paintings and will give you an idea of how to achieve similar, if not the same, effects.
5. If watercolor bores you, read this book
As the name implies, this book seems to be aimed squarely at those watercolourists who are beginning to lose interest in the craft (although I’m not entirely sure how that is possible!).
While if you like to read watercolors, this book may seem aimed at intermediate and perhaps expert artists, this 128-page book by Veronica Lilja also covers the basics.
Within the book, you’ll not only see rudimentary categories like discussing the color wheel, exploring warm vs. cool colors, but you’ll also learn about the various types of watercolor paper, along with essential supplies for paint with watercolor you will need in your studio. .
While this may understandably be a turn off for some of the more experienced watercolourists, it actually goes much further into detail and lives up to the title by covering mixed media (pencil watercolour, India ink, pastel, charcoal and various other media), advanced textures and new techniques.
We thought it best to include this book in our list as it could be useful for watercolorists who don’t want to follow a rigid structure like the everyday watercolor book that offers a 30-day curriculum.
6. watercolor for absolute beginners
The amount of information Matthew Palmer was able to pack into this 128-page book is quite remarkable!
Not only will you find over 500 step-by-step illustrations that will guide a complete beginner through a beautifully executed watercolor painting, but also within the book are 6 complete projects along with 12 drawing outlines.
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if you’re completely intimidated by simply sketching before watercolor painting, this book is for you!
Many of the budding watercolorists who own this book find it to be quite effective in not only learning about how complex the medium of watercolor really is, but also learning a great insight that you would normally get by paying for an expensive art class. . .
another great aspect of this book that we loved is the way matthew talks about the essential materials for watercolor, types of paper, brushes, etc.
Overall, Watercolor for Absolute Beginners is a perfect read for those who want to get started in watercolor but don’t know where to start.
7. watercolor techniques: light and color painting in landscapes and cityscapes
Californian watercolorist michael reardon takes you through landscape and cityscape works in this 142-page book that explores tips, techniques, and most importantly, how to really develop an atmosphere that really appeals to you. brings a painting to life.
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Marketed directly to the most advanced artists, this book explores techniques in great detail.
but don’t feel left out if you’re a bit of a novice, as he’s an experienced watercolourist, michael does a great job of walking you through the process which doesn’t seem intimidating.
however, it’s worth noting especially for beginners, as the title would imply that this book focuses on old world landscapes and cityscapes. therefore, you should not expect to focus on other topics such as plants, dogs, people, etc.
for advanced artists, expect to see a change in your approach to watercolor after reading this book. The approach Michael takes will help add a little more to his painting that he felt was missing before.
8. watercolor 365: daily tips, tricks and techniques
Watercolor 365 is best suited for busy artists who may pursue painting more as a hobby than a profession.
What Watercolor 365 does best is gently push you to become a better artist. Through short tutorials, demos, tips, and more, you’ll learn the basics of watercolor in a very elusive or intimidating way.
redheaded leslie, member of countless art societies and writes in an inspiring way that will leave you wanting to come back again and again to see what each new day brings.
Another great part of this book is that since it’s not broken up into big boring reading chapters, the short sections allow you to easily jump around and find the parts that might be more suitable for you and your skill level.
Overall, this is a beginner’s book for watercolorists looking to really bring an extra level of creativity and skill to their artwork over time.
Finally, what we really love about this book is the habit-forming regimen. just doing a lesson or reading this book a day puts watercolor in the front of your mind.
Not only will this allow you to practice more with your painting, but it will ensure that you improve quickly.
9. paint watercolors (first steps)
This 128-page book by Cathy Johnson is a perfect introduction to watercolors. Inside each page are full-color illustrations and simple yet informative explanations of what’s going on inside the painting.
Beginners love this book because Cathy not only holds the hand for watercolors, but she speaks in such an easy and simple way that anyone can understand her.
From the basics of art supplies to covering some easy ways to learn to paint, you’ll be creating amazing pieces in no time.
The demonstrations in this book are amazing. If you’re thinking of buying some books today, be sure to add this one to your cart too.
10. breaking the rules of watercolor
Renowned watercolorist, author, and instructor Shirley Trevana takes you through 10 different paintings to break the rules of watercolor.
Not only do you get a detailed and fairly candid discussion of the thought process Shirley used in painting the pieces, but you also learn how you can apply it to future paintings.
breaking the rules of watercolor isn’t really aimed at the novice artist, so you won’t see a detailed discussion of color theory, mixing, or a discussion of rudimentary supplies.
however, for watercolorists who are a bit older, this book will help explain what shirley does within her work to really make it stand out.
then if you’re a beginner looking for inspiration, you’ll be better off with some of the other books like watercolor 365 or watercolor for absolute beginners.
Shirley fans should visit her author page and check out some of her other highly revered books as well.
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