Seasons and Reflections: Notes on Painting in Watercolour

Have you ever tried watercolour but been disappointed with the results? Have you read watercolour books and tried the exercises in them, but rather than being inspired to paint more become bored and remembered that you need to take the bins out? Seasons and Reflections is a love story to watercolour. Written by artist and tutor Andrew Pitt, and summarising a lifetime of over 60 years of watercolour experience, covering failures, mistakes and even the occasional success, Andrew distils the essence of watercolour, shares his experiences of teaching yourself to paint and shows how you can produce clean, fresh watercolours and fall in love with the medium. Andrew is a watercolour practitioner and craftsman first. Without resorting to gadgets and one-off tricks he clearly explains the importance of understanding drawing, tone, edges, colour and texture, stripping away the needless complications and focusing only on what is necessary and sufficient. This is not a conventional how-to painting book; there are already plenty of books which describe how to lay in a large wash. Andrew thinks the best method of learning to paint is to get on with painting pictures rather than boring practice exercises. Painting in watercolour is simple. But that is not the same as easy. This book concentrates on how to look and render your vision in a direct simple way: how to communicate visually with watercolour, with a major emphasis on simplicity. Using simple painting equipment, a simple range of colours and brushes, and a simple, direct painting approach the book and illustrations demonstrate the power and sincerity of simplicity. With over 150 full-colour illustrations, covering a wide range of conventional and surprising subjects from Santa to pickup trucks, Andrew’s aim is to paint clean, fresh watercolours which celebrate the subject and retain the unique characteristics of watercolour. Seasons and Reflections will inspire you to pick up your brush and paint whatever is in front of you. About the author Andrew started painting when he was eleven, inspired by watching visiting artists painting the Thames sailing barges in his home town of Maldon. He was educated at the Gilberd School, Colchester and at St. Andrew’s University. He has had many one-man exhibitions and been teaching and giving demonstrations to art groups for over 40 years. He is particularly well known for his simple, direct watercolour technique. He has contributed many instructional articles to The Leisure Painter magazine and in 2008 Town House Films produced a DVD, Watercolour: Pure and Simple with Andrew Pitt. In 2018 they filmed a workshop session in his studio on Mastering Greens in Watercolour with Andrew Pitt, which is available on Vimeo. Andrew is known for his YouTube watercolour demonstrations that have been watched over two million times. www.andrewpitt.co.uk What people have said about the book: "The book is wonderful [...] a visual feast. It is well written and presented, and exciting to read as it is beautifully illustrated. [...] More helpful than any book or article I’ve read." - Dirk Schmid "A great summary of simple and basic truths in a great, time honoured tradition [...] This volume would save many of us a lot of valuable time and set beginners onto the right path early on. For those with a bit more experience, it is a fountain to which they can always turn to when lost in self-doubt." - Edvard Skerjanc "One of those rare treasures that must be held, and owned in hardback. Each page is packed with wisdom. A beautiful glimpse into the journey of a modern-day master. - LK "An excellent book beautifully illustrated and packed with practical advice." - RB "I can say it is without a doubt one of, if not the, best instructional watercolor book that I’ve ever read." - R