I adored this Field Guide to Color so much I pretty much ordered the physical copy right away! It's a must have in my opinion for any painter or artist. Tons of helpful information and guides to color, and really the physical book is a must if you want to partake of the "workbook" style lessons. (The physical book has lovely thick paper to allow you to watercolor along with the author!)

Honestly this is a must, and I highly recommend it. Favorite!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC to review!

This isn't a book about color theory -it's much more. The best way to learn something is doing and practicing, and that's what this book it about: it explains how colors work, but it also asks you to experiment with color with effective exercises. This is a book to read, but also to learn and most important -to enjoy.

This is a wonderful book about color theroy. It is full of many helpful techniques, tips, and ideas for any level of artist. I highly recommend it.

This is a wonderful book on color, full of many techniques, tips, and ideas to help any artist. I highly recommend it!

This would be a great book for anyone interested in painting, whether you're a beginner or a pro. The author takes you through lots of experimental exercises to learn more about how color works using a water-based medium, such as watercolors or gouache, how they blend, how to recreate colors from real life, how to play around and see what happens. Also covered are things like how different types of paper affect the colors, whether the paper is wet or dry, different lighting, etc. Anyone who reads this book and goes through the exercises will come out a better artist afterward, as they will have a much better understanding of color.

#AFieldGuideToColor #NetGalley

*An e-copy was given to me through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I learnt more through about colours through this book than I had in my last two semesters learning art in college (just to clarify, I’m not in a school for art but we do learn a little about it, graphite drawing mostly but a little of painting). A lot of this I wish I knew back when I was doing my assignments since it would’ve helped me to understand water-based colours better. I remember for one activity, we had to paint an avocado from reference and it was difficult to match the colours. I didn’t know which colours to mix together hence I mixed a whole bunch of colours together just to find out it wasn’t what I wanted at all and ended up wasting it.

It begins with Solomon reminding that this is just to experiment around with colour. Hence, there were many pages that were left blank for us to test out our paints. She began explaining the different types of paint, the materials needed for the exercises and gave helpful tips all around.

The book was able to clarify what hues, tints and shades are (which I can now confidently say I know) and had exercises where we learn about colour schemes, one of my weak points. Solomon also encouraged the readers to have fun and experiment through the many different exercises like making your own black, paint chart box and mixing your favourite and least favourite colours together to see what colour it makes.

I really liked the exercises since it encourages to explore the paints ourselves and giving us ideas to do so. I would’ve never thought to make as many shades or tints or variations of colour and it would definitely help me understand colour mixing more.

If you are someone who is interested in painting, do pick this up as it is easy for a beginner to understand and a beginner might even be able to understand and use paint easier after reading this. I know I would’ve been making fewer mistakes if I had a book like this to guide me when I first started.

Color Theory... it isn't something in which I thought I would ever have an interest. Then my daughter found art to be a fulfilling hobby and I began to search out avenues for her to enjoy. She had a wonderful time last year with a dear friend and local college student who taught her much about art theory, especially color. They studied many artists and discussed their use of color. I did not join in on their lessons and found this to be an excellent explanation of color and an inspiration in my own water color adventures.

This has the feeling of a hand-drawn journal making it quite personable. Within the pages are opportunities for you as an artist to create your own color palates and really practice your craft. I love that it begins with the assumption that the reader is a true beginner, which I most certainly am! It would be a great addition to any art library whether you are a teacher or student.

I also appreciate that the Table of Contents is broken down into exercises and use of color for shapes to try. It truly is an inspiring book for any artist, especially those who are just trying the medium of water color.

I'm excited to grab a hard-copy of this as I was reviewing a digital version. It will definitely be more valuable as a hold-in-your-hand paper book. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about color theory with regards to water color!

Very informative book on color theory and mixing colors. A lot of watercolor techniques and supplies are covered and practical tips for general painting. Great book for an artist's library.

Have courage to practice
Lisa Solomon, an artist of mixed-media works and grand-sized installations, who uses often unconventional mediums presents "A Field Guide to Color. A Watercolor Workbook", published by Roost Books. Solomon gives an introduction what color is and explains that the perception of color is also influenced by culture. She includes the terminologies as well as the color systems in this book. Furthermore, the book includes an introduction into paints and their qualities as well as which paints she as an artist uses. She also informs the readers about paper, brushes and palettes. The book contains fifteen exercises (e.g., "Make a traditional color wheel with tints and shades", "Four Ways to Black", and "Paint Chip Matching Exercise") and sixteen color meditations (E.g., "Squares", "Half Circles", and "Washes that Overlap"). Furthermore the various chapters occasional contain "Pro Tips" to deepen the discussed topic.
Solomon has written the book in a very personal and interactive style - from artist to artist - which makes the book alive. She provides space, prompts, and shapes to help paint directly on the page with watercolor or water-based color and is aware that the book will truly turn into a workbook if the reader is using the book in this way. The book also includes some art that inspires and fits with the topic of the corresponding chapter. Solomon also lists resources which is a help if the readers want to do further studies and if they want to find appropriate supplies. I highly recommend this book of artists who are interested in watercolor, may they be beginners or advanced artists.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#AFieldGuideToColor #NetGalley

A Field Guide to Color is an inspirational way to learn more about color, mixing different colors, creating hues and shades through fun exercises. I read a pdf version of the book as an advanced reader so I could not use the book itself. I took out my watercolor paper and did a lot of the prompts and meditations. They challenged me to finally use watercolor and add it to my arsenal of mixed media tools.
Hopefully, the print version will have the right paper quality to use the book itself for the exercises. If not, I advise you to buy a bottle of clear gesso to prepare the pages and actually work in the book to create your own color reference guide!

FTC disclosure: I would like to thank Roost Books for providing me with an advance reader copy via access to the galley for free through the NetGalley program. 

Such a fun, hands-on way to learn about watercolor from a book! I'd recommend this to anyone, whether you're new to watercolor painting or a seasoned artist. It would make a great gift and an excellent time at a paint party, family time, and small group crafting clubs.

I have only recently started to pick up painting about a year ago, something I hadn't done since probably high school. I'd classify myself as more of a novice, especially when it comes to watercolor and understanding color specifically. I learned a lot going through all the color exercises.

This book is well organized with fun activities and clear instruction. The overall content of the book as far as communication of color concept and application was intriguing and easy to follow.

I enjoyed the author's methods, pacing, and personality that she brought into the book. It was wonderful to experience learning from art book from someone who conveys as much enthusiasm as she did. It really felt like I was taking a class in person, built on solid theory with personal experiences and touches on topics such as color meditation exercises which I had never heard of before. It was really good practice for me, especially the color matching and graduated color exercises which also incorporated learning shapes and lines.

There were a lot of amazing resources in the back including additional book recommendations, tools, supplies, and shops. I am excited to check out the classes offered as recommended by the book which can be found at Creativebug.

Because it's set up like a workbook and I received a digital ARC, I was not able to try painting on the pages that are included in the published book, so I used my own watercolor paper and therefore, I cannot comment on that neat feature of the book other than it's a really wonderful idea!

Check out my and my sister's watercolor art from our paint party on my website.

MY FAVORITES LINES:

"My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky:
So was it when my life began;
So is it now I am a man;
So be it when I shall grow old,
Or let me die!
The Child is father of the Man;
And I could wish my days to be
Bound each to each by natural piety."

~My Heart Leaps Up, a poem by William Wordsworth

The title would be much better if it were simply called ”Watercolor Explorations” because that is what this book is all about. ”A Field Guide to Color” suggests something far more scientifically inclined. Aside from that, this was a book that encouraged and and suggested playful exploration to become more acquainted with both color mixing and whatever colors happen to be in the paintbox. The connection between meditation through art was discussed and several exercises/opportunities were presented on blank pages within the book, though the author suggests using watercolor paper for those not wanting buckled pages. Anybody looking for an actual field guide to color will be a little disappointed, but people looking for both art as meditation as well as anyone looking for guidance in learning how to become more comfortable with color mixing and usage through happy accidents and play will love this book.

A free copy of this book was given to me, but that did not affect my review.

This is a fantastic book for artists beginner and experienced alike. It makes understanding color theory both practical and playful. I really enjoyed the practical demonstrations and will be referring to this book for a long while.

Perfect example of what an art book should be: info focused art driven. Captivating and bright, you forget it’s a book teaching you and happily get lost in the pages and then have to reread the words. Luckily words are expertly chosen to be concise and clear as well as to the point and helpful.

A Field Guide to Color is a great introduction to thinking about the colors you see around you and how they blend with each other. It includes playful practice after each section, with instructions on how to alter colors using other colors. The encouraged experimentation is a welcome approach to understanding that color can have a framework and there are reasons behind color theory, but that it's also acceptable to explore and play without following the rules.

Painting is one of my most enjoyable hobbies - and it is just a hobby - and except for my high school years, I have not had any formal training (which probably shows). Because of this, I often enjoy art books that provide some training and lessons. <em>A Field Guide to Color</em> by Lisa Solomon is a beginner's guide to color in painting.

But note that I write it's a "beginner's" guide ... this is not mentioned in the title or the descriptions I've read.

Solomon does a really great job of reminding us of the essentials of color (in paint) and goes on to explain how the combining of colors creates different colors. This is some pretty basic information, though I recognize that some who come to this book may be doing so as relative new-comers to painting. And if you already know your colors, it's a handy refresher.

What I appreciated the most was the topic of tints and shades and the chapter on saturation. These are both topics that I haven't seen covered enough in art help books. Knowing what tints and shades are and knowing how to apply them in the course of mixing paints are two very different things and I definitely learned something here. So, too, with the topic of saturation.

The book features a lot of practice opportunities. A lot. Solomon explains the different exercises and what each one is meant to accomplish, and the book features blank pages for the reader to try the exercises themselves without delay (though book paper is not nearly as conducive for these sorts of practices as good art paper).

But as I got further along in the book I was finding the exercises to be a bit repetitive. While they were meant to bring me to a different understanding of the way in which the blending of paints (and water) worked, I started skipping the exercises because it just felt as though it was keeping me from wanting to experiment by actually painting.

Looking for a good book? The information in A Field Guide to Color by Lisa Solomon is nice quality, but it's tad thin and the bulk of the book is taken up with exercises that feel a little repetitive by the end.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Digitally is NOT the way to read this book! After providing some color theory background and some information about how to choose paints, the book moves on to color meditations. After guidance on how to the author came up with that particular meditation (or exercise), she gives an example and then leaves a page blank for you to do your own. Obviously not possible digitally.

What I will say is that the meditations look interesting and like a lot of fun, and this seems to be a book that will guide the reader/user to a clearer feel for color. I gave it 5 stars because now that I've looked through it, I really, really want to buy it and do the meditations.

What a beautiful and unique approach to help teach color and appreciate color in a new way! Great for the artist, and aspiring artist, of any age or ability.

A lovely, modern, practical book for those wishing to experiment with colour mixing, this explains the basic terminology of colour, then goes on to provide fun exercises in mixing, with space in the book to do so. Sadly I was not able to do so as I had a digital copy, but this is a book well worth buying for those just starting out, or even more experienced painters as it gives a fresh viewpoint on the topic of colour.
Thanks to the publisher for a digital review copy.

Thank you to Roost Books and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really loved this book. I have read other books before on color theory, but what is so different about this one is the author’s sense of playfulness.
She encourages the reader to play with the colors and experiment with how they react to one another. She continuously coaches that there is no wrong, and no matter the results, you are learning.
Each section has information about the properties of color e.g. hue, tint, shade, monochromatic, complementary etc then a set of practice exercises to use the information and practice techniques to create your own color ( example matching the color of starburst candies) , and finally a mediation exercise to just have fun. She even provides worksheets and blank pages within the book to practice what you have learned.

Recommend this book highly to those who are self taught and have just been winging it. Understanding the science of how colors work together will help me to create more interesting art. Some tips I learned- 1) Never use black that comes in a paint kit- always make your own, it will be much more interesting.
2) add your color to white, to make a tint, instead of adding white to a color.