If you've ever tried to work with watercolors, you know how tricky it can be. The medium seems to have a mind of its own ... as it travels paths on paper that you don't intend it to travel ... making marks that are not so easy to control. This very nature of watercolor is one that causes many of us to hesitate pursuing projects using it.
Water Paper Paint by Heather Smith Jones is a groundbreaking book that shows people like me that watercolors can be used to achieve success in projects big and small. There are 30 projects in all, where with each one, we learn how to work in unique ways, as we gain insight about how the elements of water, paper, and paint relate to one another. We learn to leverage these insights to create magnificent effects.
The very first project teaches how to work "wet into wet" as we first wet the paper and then apply layers of wet paint colors onto the wet paper to create circles. Heather doesn't just stop there. She shows how once dry, these circles can be cut to use as lovely little gift tags.
There are other intriguing projects where we learn to use leaves, straws, bubble wrap, dishtowels, and more, to create textures and effects that are simply breathtaking.
Along with these innovative projects, Heather imparts valuable information in her Basics Chapter One, about the fundamentals of paper, paint, palettes, and brushes. Throughout all of the pages in this book, what shines through is Heather's authenticity. She speaks with an authority and sincerity that have been developed through her years of experience and her genuine love for her art. Bravo to Heather for a true work of art in this, her very first book, Water Paper Paint.