Wendy Jelbert's Line and Wash (Re-issue): Watercolour and pen techniques

Jun 06

Another in a series of larger-format reprints of earlier books from Search Press, this is very much classic Wendy Jelbert. Best-known and justly popular for her mixed-media work, Wendy shows here how the medium can be applied to just about any subject.

Once again, there are only 48 pages, so there's no time for messing about. Basically, pen and wash is a very good way of giving bite to a sketch and Wendy will show you how to portray landscapes, flowers, trees and buildings by using watercolour washes combined with subtle pen strokes that harden up the outlines.

A surprisingly thorough introduction to inks, pens and a variety of other drawing media including felt-tips and ball-points leads to a look at methods of using them and a series of simple sketches which demonstrate in a very practical way the various marks and mark-making techniques you need to be familiar with. From here, some simple studies then progress to more ambitious compositions as your skills develop.

Once again, this is very much a book for the beginner who is looking for an introduction to a specific technique, but one which should also answers most of the questions that beginner will have.

Jun 06

I was introduced to pen and wash at school, and found it a great way to produce pictures. It is, however rather a neglected area as the author says and thus. a book on it is a welcome addition to any artist's library.

You don't need much to do this, another point in its favor. You can use a ball point pen, or a felt pen, or a plastic pipette or even a home-made bamboo pen (one of the world's fastest growing plants). Have a practice and see what each can do. Go around the house and round up as many ink pens as you can find, as I did and get scribbling. This ought to free up your artistic side, and there are some nature sketches to try as well. How I do love a hands-on book that gets you started without a lot of discussion. Then have a play with your watercolor paints and try some different techniques, then put it all together and have a go at Wendy's projects.

The theme here is the great outdoors (no portraits or animals) but this is a wide topic, and differs from flowers through landscapes to buildings from more than one country. This is a very user-friendly book, and should get the creative juices flowing. It certainly got me remembering how much I enjoy using this method.

August 2006

The methods of merging soft luminous washes with the crisp, definite markings of penwork, are made easy with this book. Each stage of the painting process is illustrated using step-by-step photographs and beautiful finished paintings.

You can choose a bold effect or a delicate pastel approach, a drawing or painting, in monumental or miniature scale. The wonderful flexibility of line and wash can accommodate many tastes; it is an inexpensive technique which can be worked during any spare moment, on your lap or at a table, and is an excellent way of capturing texture and detail in the landscape, the delicate linework in flowers and leaves, or the linear beauty of buildings.

Review by art lover Sarah Cooper:

This is the second book I have read by Wendy Jelbert and all that I can say is her passion for art comes through in her paintings and in the way in which she explains each painting. This attribute in itself makes this book a complete success for me as it really inspires me to get started with my own paintings. The book is very easy to follow as Wendy Jelbert guides you through each and every aspect of watercolour and pen techniques. After reading the first chapter in this book I was already experimenting with different techniques using a pen and I was amazed that a simple pen could produce such brilliant results. Any book that gives me such enjoyment is a winner with me! Landscapes, flowers and buildings are all part of the projects which are covered in this book and each project is simply stunning. Since reading this book I have had a go at my first line and wash picture and I was astounded that I could produce such a wonder and I owe all my thanks to this wonderfully written book!

Iss 26, 2005

Wendy Jelbert is well known for her ability to communicate her ideas in painting to even the most basic of beginners. This book describes how to achieve lovely paintings using pen drawing and watercolour paint. Wendy describes a variety of materials that can be used to show how different drawing techniques can produce different results. Line and wash can take away the fears some artists have of getting good results. Even a mediocre painting can be rescued through the application of line drawing and this technique does provide another string to the painter's bow. A good buy.