The Joy of Watercolor: 40 Happy Lessons for Painting the World Around You

I found this book via some bloggers I follow, and I thought it’d be a fun quarantine hobby. I’m a total watercolor newbie and I absolutely love how this book is organized - lessons cover a variety of subjects (plants, food, objects, people, etc) and divided into difficulty level within each subject.

Emma does a great job at explaining steps and gives little tips and tricks around painting technique / mixing colors. I’m learning a lot from the book - can’t recommend it enough!

I love the easy-going approach to painting with watercolor, but also the step-by-step suggestions & tips to get practicing in a successful way with minimal supplies (pencil, paper, paint, water, brush). I looked through the book multiple times after purchasing it, and finally dived in with a pineapple lesson (since I just happened to have one sitting on my countertop - which I found very helpful in "seeing" it in a new way besides slicing it up and eating it). I followed the instruction and to my amazement....I actually painted something that looked like a pineapple vs. my general swirly mixed color renderings, AND, I was having fun...my inner kid thinking, "Hey, look what I painted!" The suggested practice lessons (such as flowers, fruit, buildings, cactus, animals & people) are rated from beginner (the single pineapple) to intermediate (a group of cactus/cacti), to advanced (full scenes) - so you know what you're getting into. Although hardcover, the book stays open with pages laying flat with true to life color and lots of examples and things to try.

It's a lovely book. It's not as easy as I wanted. This other book, Water Color with Me, by Dana Fox, has a page of instruction along with reference finished painting and a blank page for reader's artistry. This book has more instructions and a wider topic range, as that was forest animals. This book will require greater concentration and more reading preparation. Turning it into a course, like at home study, is the best way for me to approach it. That would require following the singular prompt, then, branching out to do independent . Finally, after more attempts I'm sure I'd do better were reference photos included. Copying someone's work initiating from barely visible pencil sketch is less than enthralling.paintings based on the subgoal being taught. I still haven't done any paintings from Learn Watercolor with 50 Small Paintings. What's easy to an accomplished artist isn't so to me.

This is a great book for a beginner to watercolor. I found the instructions easy to follow and the projects fun to do.

I've been following Emma's page for a while and I'm so glad I bought her book. It's so beautiful and very easy to get into, it's beautiful and peaceful just like her. I can't wait for her gouache book. I've worked my way through the whole book. It's always in my work tote!

Cute book! Like that it isn’t as formal as other water color instruction books. Good for someone who is still learning. Thanks!

Wonderful book. The author has made this book for the beginner or advanced painter.

I bought this book to add to my collection of watercolor books and I wish I had started with this book. If you are new to watercolor you need to have this. She explains all about the medium and the projects are based on 3 levels. You start off simple and then build on it. Watercolor can be very rewarding but also very frustrating. Some of my books have tutorials but now I realized they are based on a very advanced level and mostly it just leads to failure on my part. Emma Blocks book was easy to follow and understand so you can start to feel some confidence as you explore this medium.

Sweet little book of ideas and whimsical watercolor. Not quite the guide I was looking for but a great intro to watercolor, very easy to read and fun ideas!

Outstanding! I have read most of the introduction, full of pertinent information. I especially like how the author presents the information in sequence, from simple to more complex. Also, materials are covered with more than adequate information. This book is going to help me learn to watercolor and enjoy it. Great book!!!!!!!!