Watercolor Painting Tutorial (Still Life)

Author: He Fenglin Xie Jintian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-09-01
Features: With the increasing number of candidates applying to art academies, new sketching and color books are constantly being published, leaving students overwhelmed and unsure how to choose. Many students spend a significant amount of money on books that are either too basic or not practical, failing to achieve the desired results. In fact, the foundation of art education, in a sense, does have some commonalities, but relying solely on basic education is not enough to advance to university (especially top art academies). Due to professional or historical reasons, different art academies have varying focuses and styles in cultivating students, which leads to specific requirements during the admission process. Based on this situation, we have selected a group of key art academies and invited senior professors or departments primarily responsible for teaching plans and admission schemes to compile selected works of student sketches, colors, and creative pieces. These representative works showcase the level, style, and teaching direction of each academy, providing students with insightful critiques and tips to help them fully understand the academy and prepare targeted exam preparations. Applying to any national key art academy is not daunting—provided you have a solid foundation in painting and understand the academy's teaching characteristics, you will excel in the exams. Success will surely be within your reach!
Color is one of the most essential fundamental skills required by students in art, design, and other art disciplines. It is also one of the most important forms and methods of expression in painting. For beginners in art, the training and study of color is an indispensable process and a crucial step. Among these, still-life color sketching is the first step in learning color. Nearly all painters and designers begin their journey in painting and design by sketching still-life subjects. Therefore, still-life color sketching is one of the mandatory subjects in the entrance exams of all national art and design academies and programs.
This book introduces the steps and techniques of still-life sketching while compiling selected works from early-career artists who are now active in the art world. These works were completed under the guidance of classroom instructors, showcasing diverse techniques and complete compositions. Not only do these pieces serve as exemplary demonstrations, but they also hold independent aesthetic value. We admire these works to help beginners establish a comprehensive "sense of composition" from the very beginning, which is particularly important in still-life sketching.
This book was written by two experienced teachers who have long been engaged in foundational teaching. It offers practical significance for beginners to quickly improve their observation, cognition, and expression skills in color.