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Summary: The Tao of Watercolor
Review: Beautiful to look at, lovely to touch and magical to read, The Tao of Watercolor is all this and more.In a mere 112 pages, Ms Carbonetti manges to entertwine aspects of living with aspects of painting. She gives the reader a birds-eye view of how one goes about bridging the gap between play and work, between spontaneous expression and careful decision making. It is important that the painter have had a class or two under their belt to receive the highest benefit from this book. Jeanne Carbonetti includes exercises that help the painter move through the chapters with ease. She gives demos as well as simple explanations of the techniques. Ms. Carbonetti is straight-forward when she describes The Tao of Watercolor as A Revolutionary Approach to the Practice of Painting. Basically the author gives the painter permission to try new ways of painting AND new ways of living our lives. Ths approach may not be for everyone, however what the reader receives is worth purchasing the book.
Rating: 
Summary: Stunning technique, eye-opening creative methods
Review: Even if you didn't paint, you might find this book worthwhile just to look at the paintings. But if you love watercolor and want to break out of the "box", this is for you. It is wonderful to see how Jeanne Carbonetti takes simple washes and splatters and creates glowing watercolors that make you say "Wow" over and over. Very inspiring to anyone who seeks to change how they paint.
Rating:
Summary: Stunning technique, eye-opening creative methods
Review: Even if you didn't paint, you might find this book worthwhile just to look at the paintings. But if you love watercolor and want to break out of the "box", this is for you. It is wonderful to see how Jeanne Carbonetti takes simple washes and splatters and creates glowing watercolors that make you say "Wow" over and over. Very inspiring to anyone who seeks to change how they paint.
Rating:
Summary: Stunning technique, eye-opening creative methods
Review: Even if you didn't paint, you might find this book worthwhile just to look at the paintings. But if you love watercolor and want to break out of the "box", this is for you. It is wonderful to see how Jeanne Carbonetti takes simple washes and splatters and creates glowing watercolors that make you say "Wow" over and over. Very inspiring to anyone who seeks to change how they paint.
Rating: 
Summary: Not the place to learn watercolor - or much else
Review: I purchased this book hoping that it would help me loosen up my watercolor painting. I was disappointed enough to return it, something I rarely do. Clearly, this author has found an enthusiastic audience to which to sell these books and her paintings, but I suspect they are something of a fringe group. That's fine, but I recommend you look over this book thoroughly before committing to purchasing it. There is basically no instruction that will teach you to do a watercolor painting in anything but vague, fuzzy, garishly colored (she really, really likes bright pink) paintings that call to my mind the tie-died T-shirts of the 60's. I was also put off by the self-portrayal of the author as a kind of artistico-spiritual guru. In her experience, she says, all watercolor students fall into one of two categories: those who never finish a picture because they are too hung up on doing things just so, and those who would like to play but don't know how--left brain types and right brain types. She assures us she has had an epiphany and is now beyond such limitations. If you buy her books, she'll share her higher wisdom. Well, good for her, she's got her audience. There are Taoist quotes at the beginning of the chapters, but if you want to explore that philosophy, you'd be better off with a source that truly addresses it. If you want to learm how to do watercolors, this is not the place to do it.
Rating:
Summary: Not the place to learn watercolor - or much else
Review: I purchased this book hoping that it would help me loosen up my watercolor painting. I was disappointed enough to return it, something I rarely do. Clearly, this author has found an enthusiastic audience to which to sell these books and her paintings, but I suspect they are something of a fringe group. That's fine, but I recommend you look over this book thoroughly before committing to purchasing it. There is basically no instruction that will teach you to do a watercolor painting in anything but vague, fuzzy, garishly colored (she really, really likes bright pink) paintings that call to my mind the tie-died T-shirts of the 60's. I was also put off by the self-portrayal of the author as a kind of artistico-spiritual guru. In her experience, she says, all watercolor students fall into one of two categories: those who never finish a picture because they are too hung up on doing things just so, and those who would like to play but don't know how--left brain types and right brain types. She assures us she has had an epiphany and is now beyond such limitations. If you buy her books, she'll share her higher wisdom. Well, good for her, she's got her audience. There are Taoist quotes at the beginning of the chapters, but if you want to explore that philosophy, you'd be better off with a source that truly addresses it. If you want to learm how to do watercolors, this is not the place to do it.
Rating:
Summary: Pre-publication review
Review: I recently was able to see the galley proofs of Ms. Carbonetti's book and was very impressed with the quality of the artwork. The selection of prints and the presentation was incredible. I have already ordered my copy and can't wait to read the text that goes along with these beautiful pictures.
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Summary: I thought it was wonderful!
Review: I was so inspired by the book I when to a day and half workshop of the authors in Pasadena recently. I loved the book and was quite pleased with the results I was getting with my paintings. I am a visual person and seeing her deomstrate her techniques in person was a very valuable learning experience. I am looking forward to her next book - its on order with Amazon but has not arrived from the publisher as yet.
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Summary: Review of The Tao of Watercolor by Jeanne Carbonetti
Review: If you started painting with watercolor because you love the color and flow of the paint, this is an excellent book. I found this book extremely helpful in learning watercolor techniques that focus on the flow of the watercolor itself and not drawing. Jeanne Carbonetti helps the painter understand how to let the watercolor itself dictate what the painting is to become by allowing colors to do what they will while still maintaining control of the medium. Reality is added only near the end. This book gave me a great start but actually working with the artist solidified my understanding of the techniques and my own style of painting with watercolor. Carbonetti's style really allows watercolors to sing and have depth.
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Summary: The Tao of Watercolor
Review: If you've been painting in watercolor and found yourself somewhat bound up by it all, then invest in this book to help free up and get looser with your painting. This isn't a comprehensive how-to book by any means. It doesn't pretend to be. What Jeanne offers in this book are ways to prepare yourself to paint and to unlock your creative spirit with Taoist thought as an easy-to-accept framework. If you don't have one already, get one of the "complete guide to watercolor" books and get this one too. It's a good read.
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