Table of Contents

Introduction  6
Using the colours  8
Using the brushes  10
Projects
- Derwent Water  12
- Swans on The Broads  16
- Highland Lake  21
- Autumn Trees by the Riverside  26
- Eilean Donan Castle  32
- River Tweed in Winter  38
- River Brathay  43
- Bridge over the Stream  49
- Brograve Windmill  56
Transferring a drawing  64

About the Author

Stephen Coates is a full-time professional watercolour painter and teacher, based in Sheffield, north of England. Largely self-taught, Stephen's own experience learning to paint in watercolour has given him a unique insight into how to teach the same medium, and it's his down-to-earth and positive charisma that has won enthusiasm and praise from his students. Stephen regularly runs courses and workshops at his studio in Sheffield, and hosts his own amateur art groups; in addition, he frequently demonstrates and shares his skills at art societies and shows all over England.



This is Stephen's second book, and he has made it his mission to bring the excitement of his live teaching into these pages, so that you can truly experience the exciting process of learning - and understanding - watercolour in a vivid and lifelike way in the comfort of your own home.

Reviews

To build anew, you first have to take apart what was there and this delightful book will help you see the world through fresh eyes.
*Paint Magazine*

From the oopular Take Three Colours series comes Stephen's Coate's Water Lakes & Rivers. Using just three colours- red,blue and yellow- Stephen shows us how to paint lakes and rivers in watercolour. And it's not just the colours that are limited: a plastic palette and watercolour pad and three brushes are all you need to begin. The projects have been carefully chosen so that even the most novice painter will be able to achieve encouraging results straight away. Clear step-by-step photographs cover each stage of the process and the finished paintings are shown full size so that you can trace over them to further ease your journey.
*Leisure Painter*

Take 3 Colours is a brilliantly simple idea that’s been brilliantly presented. All of the authors so far have understood the brief impeccably and Stephen Coates is no exception. The strapline is “3 colours, 3 brushes, 9 easy projects” and it’s not just a superb way to get started with painting, but also an approach that strips your technique back to essentials if you’re feeling it’s got just too complicated and that you may be over-working.
*Art Book Review*