Taking the Fear Out of Watercolour: Learn to Paint with Calm and Confidence

In Taking the Fear Out of Watercolour, Hazel Soan teaches you to paint with confidence, releasing you from the fear and trepidation that so often accompanies this challenging medium.

At first glance watercolour painting appears to be quite easy, meaning thatbeginners start off with very high hopes that are quickly dashed as they realisethat it is much trickier than it looks. With wet pigment moving on paper, watercolour is often unpredictable, and it is easy to feel like you are out of control.

In this in-depth guide, Hazel Soan takes an alternative approach to watercolor painting, teaching you how to work with the watercolor medium and not against it. Special emphasis is placed on the medium's needs as she demonstrates an importance of understanding the properties of the pigments, the fabric of the paper, and the purpose and versatility of each and every brushstroke. Full of thoughtful troubleshooting tips and advice, Hazel explains how and when to have control, when to cajole and coax, and, more importantly, when to let go.

Packed with finished paintings, step-by-step demonstrations, and works in progress, this handy book takes you through all the common problems that arise in watercolor painting, allowing beginners and improvers alike to increase their skill levels and produce beautiful results.

Author: Hazel Soan
Publisher: Batsford
Published: 05/19/2026
Pages: 192
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.74lbs
Size: 9.97h x 7.78w x 0.73d
ISBN: 9781849949712

About the Author
Hazel Soan is a popular and successful artist whodivides her time between London and Cape Town, exhibiting her work widely. She has her own gallery inFulham, London. She is author of several bestsellingbooks and a range of successful DVDs. She was one ofthe art experts in the popular Channel 4 TV seriesWatercolour Challenge. The very successful LearnWatercolour Quickly, Essence of Watercolour andWatercolour Rainbow are also by Hazel Soan.