Hills and Mountains and Skies and Clouds

Arts & Activities, Dec, 2004 by Barbara Herberholz

HILLS AND MOUNTAINS and SKIES AND CLOUDS (2003; $14.95 each), by Richard Taylor. Collins and Brown/Sterling Publishing Co., 387 Park Ave. S., New York, NY 10016.

These are two neatly packaged books designed as guides for watercolor landscape painting. The tools, materials and techniques are described clearly, with excellent illustrations. The author describes how to do a graduated wash along with other watercolor techniques. In Hills and Mountains, he presents approaches to rendering foothills, rocks, snow and ice. In Skies and Clouds, approaches to depicting fine weather, stormy skies, atmospheric skies and colors are presented. These books are appropriate for more advanced high-school students. Watercolor painting is a difficult medium to master. The books' author is an experienced artist and teacher who presents models that both encourage and challenge students' efforts.-J.J.H. For information about this publication, circle No. 389 on the Reader Service Card.