Paint With the Watercolor Masters: A Step-By-Step Guide to Materials and Techniques for Today's Artists

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Summary: A beautiful, one-of-a-kind guide to watercolor painting
Review: I have purchased or flipped through dozens of books on watercolor painting, but this one is unique in many respects. First, the instruction level is clear, and easy to understand with beautiful step-by-step illustrations. Next, it is unique in that each demonstration is based upon the work of a famous watercolor painter or painting. For example, there is instruction on painting poppies, inspired by the work of Piet Mondrian. Another demonstrates how to paint a cherry tree using the methods of John Singer Sargent. Each demonstration is preceded by a color photograph of a scene resembling the painting that you are going to make. I would recommend this book for beginners as well as for more advanced artists. No matter how many other painting books you have, make room for this one!

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Summary: I absolutely adore this book and found a lot to use in it.
Review: Ok, so chances are, you aren't going to be able to paint like John Singer Sergent just by reading this book. However, it is really interesting to read about Sergent's techniques and see the author do a painting in the style of Sergent.

Turner, Cotman, and other masters of the watercolor medium are demonstrated as well. This is a beautifully printed book with lots in it for anyone who loves watercolors. You can develop your own technique by studying the masters; this is a time-honored tradition (you can still see people today in the Louvre, copying the works of the masters as an art exercise.)

This is one of my favorite watercolor books. It's enjoyable just to read and look at the way the author tries to replicate an artist's method of painting, and the examples give you ideas of subjects you can try yourself (for example, a cherry tree by a barn, your kids at the beach, your garden.)