If there is a single watercolor painter I admire more than any other, it's Jeanne Carbonetti. Her paintings are both detailed and playful and she uses the watercolor form to the fullest.
The Tao of Watercolor is a unique approach to the watercolor medium. There are a dozen books out there demonstrating heavily inked lines and a tightly controlled painting style. Jeanne Carbonetti takes the opposite end of the spectrum using splattering, washes, and technique to the fullest while maintaining an impressionist and detailed feel that proves her mastery in the medium.
The book as titled, combines painting with spiritual lessons. Carbonetti says, "The meaning of the Tao, to me, is the essence of life. It is the meaning behind all meanings, and the One Truth that is the ground of our being." Chapters in the book are Introduction: Beginner's Mind, Centering, Balance, Deliberateness, Playfulness, Flow, The Tao of Tools, Effortless Effort, and Conclusion: The Practice of Painting.
Although the cover art drew me to the book, in flipping through pages, I discovered a wealth of knowledge packaged in an interesting format. The reading is in a conversational style that I find easy to read. Many technique books are somewhat wooden and boring, but Carbonetti is able to instill curiosity and interest in a subject difficult to cover while presenting a unique style of painting that is a lot of fun.
For those of you who are watercolorists, this is a must-read.
(Links will take you off-site.)
Student Grade
(Professional grade watercolors typically have more pigment.)
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