Learn the Basics of Painting with Claire Watson Garcia's Guide for Absolute and Utter Beginners

Nina Willoughby: This book is mistitled and misrepresented. Nowhere on the cover or the back or anywhere obvious does it make clear that the ‘painting’ in question is purely acrylic. There’s nothing wrong with acrylics, but if you’re interested in oils or watercolours, the technical information in this book is relevant only for the general instruction about value, colour theory and composition—and it’s not one of the better books on those subjects. For example, there’s nothing about something as basic as the need for a split primary palette if you want to mix vibrant secondary colours.

The book is good on the value of copying master paintings (Garcia calls this ‘mentor painting’, which is helpful) and it’s nice that most of the illustrations are of successful student paintings—this book has an encouraging effect that makes you want to go and paint. But if you already have paints that are not acrylics, you won’t find a lot of help here unless you go out and invest in an extended acrylic palette. That acrylic-only focus should be made clear in either the title or the book’s description and preferably both.

Much better on colour theory and the vital importance...

United Kingdom on Jan 05, 2020

Celeste: I retired this year and picked up a new hobby--painting. Unfortunately, I live in a very rural area and can find no classes close by so I ordered this book. Oh my!!! Claire Watson Garcia's book is totally amazing. She is not only a very gifted artist, but she is a gifted teacher, too, and that's extremely important when writing a "how to" book. It covers EVERYTHING a beginner needs to know, especially how to mix the paints to get the correct consistencies and colors, and it just gets better from there. There is a chapter clearly explaining every aspect of what an artist (not just a beginner) needs to know, common mistakes beginners often make, and how to fix all those mistakes. All the chapters feature numerous paintings by beginners showing initial paintings and then explanations of how to fix problems. I have checked out many books from the library and bought many others, but this book covers everything so much better and infinitely more clearly. I have started reading so many books and become frustrated halfway through the exercises because I didn't know what to do to fix the problems, but this book is working for me. In my opinion, this book is the closest thing I can get to...

United States on Sep 17, 2017

Diane M.: Being an absolute beginner, I still found this book a little hard to follow, I would say it was a bit more advanced for me bearing in mind my drawings consist of matchstick men. However, I found an alternative which meets my requirements. Matthew Palmers "Watercolour for the Absolute Beginner" this was so easy to understand and came with pre-drawn sheets so you could trace and drop on to your paper as a guide.

United Kingdom on Aug 22, 2017

Dawn Bollman: not quite what I had hoped for

Canada on Jan 07, 2017

a customer: I want to attempt a comparative review of six instructional books for the beginning painter, which I will eventually rank. Before I go into this, here are a few words about where I'm coming from. Needless to say, if your background and expectations are different from mine, you may well arrive at a completely different evaluation of these books.

I am relatively new to painting, but had some drawing skills already. I was looking for a book that starts at the very beginning (what supplies to buy etc.) and then introduces me to a range of techniques for painting in realistic style. More specifically, I would like to see the following in my ideal book:

(a) Reasonably specific step-by-step instructions that don't leave me guessing how the author got from A to B; at the same time, I would like to be treated as an adult and have clear explanations of why I'm doing what I'm doing throughout;
(b) exposure to a variety of techniques such as painting in layers, alla prima;
(c) demonstration artwork in realistic style that inspires me to learn what is needed to get there.

One more general remark: four of the books I'm reviewing here work with oils and two with...

United States on Dec 04, 2016

jere r. thomson: This is the companion "painting" book to Claire's similarly-named book about "drawing". (I previously reviewed that on Amazon.). This painting book was even more helpful to me than it's wonderful companion. Let me explain why from my perspective.

For a beginner (me, at least), painting is much harder to learn than drawing. The same challenges of drawing remain, such as shape accuracy, volume, texture and perspective. But painting requires the additional need for color visualization, paint-mixing skills and brushwork in order to creat, among other things, a proper "value structure". That should meld appropriate colors and spatial illusion to make a painting, not only cohesive, but also able to "pop" off the canvas to suit the artist's intention.

Claire's 160-page painting book is extremely well-organized. It proceeds from materials selection to paint-mixing (for both hue and consistency) to brush-handling. Then she combines these and other elements in very-lucid step-by-step lessons for still-lifes, nudes and portraits. (No landscapes.) Throughout, the volume is filled with charts, photos and pictures that make her "plain-English" text readily understandable -...

United States on Aug 31, 2016

becomingconscious: Am currently reading this book, but not doing the exercises yet, and absolutely love it. I'm learning so much. Can't wait to begin the exercises but wanted to read through it first. Best book I've read on acrylics yet (and I've purchased a lot). I am an absolute and utter beginner so the title is what drew me to purchase it. So glad I did. There are student examples throughout and the author does take you through really elementary exercises, so if you can paint well, I would probably not buy it. But then again, just go by the title. We are all beginners at something so I want to learn from someone who doesn't skip steps by assuming that I know the most basic of rules, because I don't. That is why this book is working for me. Thank you Claire Garcia! Wish I could take a class with you.

United States on Mar 09, 2016

TangoDiver: This is the book that has kicked me up the backside to get me painting again. It is a complete step-by-step guide on how to paint. This is the book that I was waiting for! I have learned more about painting from this book than from anyone or anything else I have seen. It definitely has tied up a few loose ends for me. Having been to a few classes and reading many books and watching videos, this book will teach you the foundations to becoming a good painter. Anyone can learn to draw and paint. It takes practice and an understanding of the fundamentals of creating a piece of work. This books will take you on that journey. Thank you Claire Watson Garcia for writing this book!

United Kingdom on May 05, 2013

antiqueprawn: I think this book will be useful as a revision of basic techniques even if you have been painting for a while. I like it and found it very informative.

United Kingdom on Nov 30, 2012