Artist Geoff Kersey has spent years painting the unique landscapes of the Peak District. From the greenery of the Dovedale Valley through to picturesque villages, magnificent views and the grandeur of Chatsworth House, his paintings showcase the area through the seasons.
The Watercolour Enigma is based on a practical course by artist Stephen Coates, and is designed to take the student through a process of learning rarely seen in other practical art books. By examining the basic science of watercolour including the properties of water and colour pigment, and through a series of practical, straightforward, step-by-step painting exercises, budding painters will leave Stephen's book not only with a mine of watercolour knowledge but with a selection of stunning paintings they can proudly say are their own.
THE PEAK DISTRICT was an area viewed with fear and foreboding for a thousand years. Largely impenetrable to the traveller, it was called a aehowling wilderness' by Defoe. Its few inhabitants were uncouth and the last troglodytes in England. Their guttural dialect was barely intelligible and their fondness for drink was renowned and repellent. Since Saxon times the Peak was associated with evil and the abode of the devil was located in the huge cave known as Peak's Arse. By the Norman period this supernatural cavern was proclaimed one of the seven wonders of Europe. Elizabethan topographers declared it the first of the Seven Wonders of the Peak ... all of which were natural phenomena except for Chatsworth, built amid what Charles Cotton called "the warts and pudenda of Nature." A magical transformation occurred, almost overnight, when the romantic period viewed the Peak in quite a different light. Its wonder was now its landscape ... portrayed by artists and writers as picturesque, beautiful and sublime. Rousseau, the "prophet of Nature" came to live there. Dovedale became Elysium and Monsal Dale Arcadia. Turnpike roads slowly opened up the Peak. Chatsworth was its showplace while Buxton strove to emulate Bath. Scientists such as Erasmus Darwin came to study its geology and industrialists such as Wedgwood and Boulton its minerals. Arkwright's cotton mills made it one of the "cradles of the Industrial Revolution" and antiquaries and archaeologists explored its ancient remains. Ruskin foresaw the ruin of an idyllic world and raved against the coming of the railways and the curse of trippers. Yet, despite the inevitable scars, the area retained much of its natural beauty and, surrounded by burgeoning urban industrial growth, it became a focal point for the outdoor movement of the 19th and 20th centuries. Not surprisingly, by 1953 much of the Peak District was designated Britain's first National Park. What is surprising is that this important new book is the first full and fascinating account of the past of the Peak.
Every year, more and more people are choosing to snub the long-haul flights and rigorous security checks and holiday in Britain. 22 million people visit the Peak District every year, making it one of the most popular national parks in the world. No wonder, given the range of stunning scenery and traditional life. There are many walking guides to the Peaks, but this is the first guidebook to focus on having a superb holiday in the area, covering all the attractions and modern facilities for the visitor, all written by locals who know the area like the back of their hand. The Best of Britain series uniquely brings together local knowledge of the area and expert advice, to make sure you get the most out of your visit. The guide includes: - The best attractions for young couples, families and groups of friends - Recommendations from local characters and celebrities - Where to find fresh organic and local produce and tucked-away farm shops and delis - Recommended places to eat out - from quirky cafes to Michelin-starred restaurants - Wet-weather options - for when the unpredictable British weather lets you down - Great things to do with children (and where to go to get away from them!) - The best places to stay - from cosy cottages to boutique hotels - Local legends, festivals and pubs
Geoff Kersey shows people who have never picked up a paintbrush how to paint convincing watercolour landscapes using just 3 colours, 3 brushes, a plastic palette and a watercolour pad. Only 3 affordable Students range watercolour paints are used: light red, cadmium yellow pale and ultramarine blue; yet from these, Geoff shows how 9 realistic watercolour scenes can be painted. There is no colour theory or long-winded mixing information to put off the first-time painter, but a practical absolute beginner's course that shows the three colours in action. Only 3 affordable brushes are needed: no. 10, no. 4 and no. 2 rounds in a synthetic range, to achieve all of the paintings shown. Starting from the simplest of scenes, Geoff Kersey builds skills through 9 easy exercises, resulting in landscapes to be proud of. Start with a simple sky and progress through a basic scene with a reflected sunset, to landscapes that include simple buildings and even a figure. Clear advice and step-by-step photographs show how to add a simple figure to a scene and how to trace and transfer the basic drawings from the finished paintings, which are shown full size in the book for this purpose. Readers have everything they need to get painting.
The master watercolourist shares essential techniques for adding depth and realism to your watercolour paintings in this accessible guide. In Perspective Depth and Distance, watercolourist and teacher Geoff Kersey demonstrates how to use line, tone, colour, and detail to create captivating landscapes. With this practical guide, you will learn to capture the beauty of mist-draped mountains and dense woodlands. You will also learn to paint boats, buildings, and natural features that seem to recede into the distance. This volume includes seven step-by-step projects with inspiration and ideas for your own original landscapes. It also features techniques for linear and aerial perspective.
The Whitworth Gallery, founded in 1889, holds one of the finest collections of British watercolours and drawings. This is the first book to publish this outstanding group of works in its entirety, and provides a fascinating insight into the collection. The collection is especially important because of the broad range of artists it encompasses. Holdings of Turner and Girtin are particularly significant, as are the works by Alexander and John Robert Cozens. While the main strength comes from the eighteenth century, there are also important nineteenth-century entries, including famous watercolours by Ford Madox Brown, Millais, Burne-Jones, Rossetti and Holman Hunt. Combining broad popular appeal with scholarly interest, this watercolour collection provides a source of enjoyment to the many collectors of English watercolours. The book begins with a brief introduction to the background of the collection, followed by each work presented alphabetically by artist. Each entry includes a short biography and description, followed by listings of other works. All 2,500 works are included, 2,000 of which are illustrated in black and white, and 32 in colour.
Geoff Kersey shares his expertise in this book packed full of tips for watercolour painters. Learn all you need to know, from what to buy, composing a painting and mastering techniques such as wet into wet and dry brush work, to how to paint skies, water, trees, buildings and more. The tips are clearly explained and illustrated through artwork and step-by-step photographs.This title was previously published as Geoff's Top Tips for Watercolour Artists. In this new, easy-to-use flexibinding format with an updated design, the books in the Watercolour Artists' Pocket Books series bring you the best tips from some of Search Press's leading authors.