Watercolour and Beyond

David Bellamy has always been fascinated by the world's wild places. Highly regarded as a teacher of art, he has a tremendous following among artist and leisure painters, many of whom have attended his extremely popular courses and workshops both in the UK and overseas. He gives demonstrations and talks, produces successful videos, has written many books on watercolour painting and is a regular contributor to art magazines. He has now sold over 70k copies of his books worldwide. David lives near Builth Wells, Wales.

David Bellamy has been a prolific author of deservedly successful books from The Wild Places of Britain through the now somewhat dated Watercolour Landscape Course to others which have concentrated on more specific aspects of the genre.I think the first thing to say is that, if you’re worried by the “and beyond” of the title and wondering whether David has gone a bit weird, avant garde or experimental, calm yourself – he hasn’t. Nor is this the landscape course rehashed. What we have is, quite simply, his best book and something of a personal manifesto informed by a lifetime of experience. In the introduction, he says that he intends to “illustrate ways in which to make your watercolours glow with excitement; to offer you new methods of working and new ways of using familiar materials”.Hang onto that familiarity, because we’re still within the realms of the man we know and love. If there are surprises here, they’re all of delight in exploring the possibilities of a medium David says galleries tend to overlook. That’s perhaps more the view of the professional artist, but as well as filtering down, things can also percolate upwards, so let’s champion the grassroots. Yes, the use of plastic food wrap to produce texture or dipping a toe into mixed media are not something we’ve associated with David in the past, but the results are entirely what you would expect.A small part of me wishes this had come out as a hardback, which would have given it the heft it deserves, but that would have made it more expensive, perhaps unnecessarily. If you’re a fan of David, you’ll buy it on the spot. If you’re in any way serious about watercolour you should, too. Think of it as a new course, one for the dedicated, perhaps advanced, watercolourist from a teacher at the height of his powers. It’s a heck of an achievement.

• Introduction 6Foundations: Exploring watercolour 10SimplicityWhat to paint 12Technique: Washes 14The power of monochromes 16Texture 18Working with harmonious colours 20Moving into full colour 22Technique: Wet-in-wet watercolour 24Technique: Dropping in 26Colour mixing 28Technique: Glazing 30Sketching and reference 32Sketching in colour 34Working outside 36Composition 38Technique: Using masking fluid 40The artist explorer: Developing your painting style 42Finding new approachesWorking on different papers 44Technique: Pouring watercolour 46Mixing media: Ink with watercolour 48Technique: Sponging 52Technique: Stamping 54Improving your compositionSimple devices to enhance your compositions 56Drama and energy in composition 60Injecting atmosphere and drama 62Light and spaceTechnique: Pulling out colour 64Abstract shadow 65Colour, tone and space 66Technique: Negative painting 68Creating highlights in the sky 70Technique: Softening edges and strong lines 72WaterRivers 74GouacheMixing media: Using gouache 80Using gouache with watercolour 82FiguresCharacter 84Figures in context 86MaskingKnifework 89Depicting scree 90Technique: Scumbling 92Visual textureContrast in texture 95Mixing media: Texture with Inktense watercolour pencil 96Mixing media: Plastic food wrap 98Technique: Super-granulations with granulation medium 102Creative granulating 106Physical textureMixing media: Aquapasto 108Mixing media: Gesso 110Mixing media: Watercolour ground 112Watercolour ground with added objects 118Collage 120Tissue paper as a base 122Fresh Directions: Interpretation and alteration 124Creative interpretationPushing gouache to the fore 126Ghosting background features 128Creating a slightly looser approach 129Creating patterns with found materials 130Realistic features with watercolour ground 132Altering the lighting 134Shafts of sunlight and texture 136Bringing techniques together 138Alteration and rescueHow to: Create a completely new foreground 142How to: Change the perspective 143How to: Fix problems caused by wax resist 144How to: Get rid of a prominent eyesore 146How to: Make good from a disaster 148New Routes: Beyond wall art 150Illustrating family eventsBoer Battles 152Journal sketchingBavarian Sunshine 154Enhanced sketchbooks 156Re-creating historySteam at Aberedw 158Index 160