7 Best-Selling Watercolor Painting Books Millions Love

When Rosalie Haizlett set out to share her passion for nature illustration, she focused on making watercolor accessible and engaging for beginners and beyond. This book teaches you how to observe woodland wildlife and botanicals closely, then translate those observations into vibrant watercolor paintings through 20 guided projects. You’ll gain skills in wet-on-dry techniques while exploring subjects like insects, fungi, birds, and mammals, supported by practical tips on taking reference photos and enjoying nature more deeply. It’s ideal if you want to combine artistic growth with a richer outdoor experience, not just mastering brushwork but connecting with the natural world around you.

What started as Sarah Simon's passion for urban gardening blossomed into this approachable watercolor workbook designed for beginners eager to capture botanical beauty. The book guides you through 25 projects featuring flowers like wild roses and sunflowers, each crafted to be completed in about 30 minutes on premium thick watercolor paper that prevents bleed-through. You’ll learn foundational watercolor techniques along with practical advice on materials, enabling you to achieve vibrant, delicate paintings even without prior drawing skills. This workbook suits anyone wanting a straightforward, enjoyable entry into watercolor painting through nature-inspired subjects.

This tailored watercolor painting book explores battle-tested techniques that address your unique artistic challenges and goals. It covers essential methods from foundational brushwork to advanced layering, focusing on your background and interests to create a learning experience that truly resonates. By combining proven popular knowledge with insights that millions of watercolor artists have found valuable, this book reveals how to navigate common obstacles and develop your personal style with confidence. The approach is deeply personalized, matching your specific needs and painting challenges to help you build mastery efficiently and enjoyably.

Dana Fox, renowned for her Wonder Forest workshops, crafted this guide to make watercolor painting approachable and fun. You learn to create 50 distinct projects without the hurdle of sketching, focusing instead on mastering watercolor techniques like wet-on-wet and ink wash. The book’s gentle outlines and premium art paper let you concentrate on brushwork and texture, bringing whimsical forest scenes and delicate feathers to life. This is ideal if you want a fresh style, need a creative outlet, or are new to painting but eager to produce frame-worthy art with confidence.

What started as a desire to simplify watercolor techniques for beginners became Dana Fox's inviting guide to ocean-themed painting projects. This book walks you through three core watercolor methods—wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, and ink-and-wash—without the hurdle of sketching first, allowing you to focus on color and texture. You’ll learn to capture the playful spirit of sea creatures like octopuses and seahorses, and even create charming scenes such as a lighthouse, with clear, approachable instruction. If you want to build confidence in watercolor by exploring marine subjects in a relaxed, stepwise way, this book fits naturally into your creative journey.

Gordon MacKenzie's decades as a dedicated artist and teacher shine through in this collection that blends two of his most popular watercolor guides. Instead of rigid instructions, you get a thoughtful exploration of principles and creative concepts that invite experimentation and growth in your painting process. Chapters on landscapes and essential techniques provide concrete insights, illustrating how to approach watercolor with both structure and freedom. This book suits painters who want to deepen their skills while being encouraged to challenge traditional boundaries, making it less about rules and more about artistic discovery.

This personalized watercolor painting book explores a focused 30-day journey to advance your skills rapidly, tailored specifically to your artistic background, interests, and goals. It covers fundamental techniques, color theory, brushwork, and composition, while integrating your preferred subjects and style to create an engaging and effective practice routine. By combining proven popular knowledge with insights that resonate with millions of artists, the book matches your unique learning pace and creative focus, helping you build confidence and artistic expression efficiently. Designed to provide clear, step-by-step guidance, it reveals how to transform foundational watercolor skills into vibrant, personal artworks through a tailored progression.

When Zoltan Szabo first realized the challenges artists face in capturing natural landscapes with watercolor, he crafted this book to demystify the process. The methods Szabo developed while mastering watercolor techniques break down the materials, brushwork, and layering strategies essential for landscape painting. You'll find detailed explorations of how to handle color blending and atmospheric effects, particularly in chapters focusing on skies and foliage. This book suits watercolor artists aiming to elevate their landscape skills with practical, technique-focused guidance rather than abstract theory.

Cathy Johnson's decades of experience as a watercolor artist shine through in this approachable guide designed to erase the intimidation many feel toward watercolor painting. Instead of bombarding you with technical jargon, she invites you to pick up a brush and learn through doing, covering fundamental techniques like glazing and drybrush with clear, practical examples. Chapters devoted to painting water, skies, and seasonal trees offer concrete projects that build your confidence incrementally. This book suits anyone eager to start watercolor painting without getting bogged down in theory — perfect if you want to develop your skills through hands-on practice rather than abstract instruction.