You know the feeling ... You look at your painting and know something's wrong. You just can't quite put your finger on what that 'something' is. Well, get those unfinished and not-quite-right paintings out from your closets and studio corners. Because in this book, you'll find out how to spot the problems and fix them.

A smash hit since it was first published back in 1992, the Watercolor Fix-It Book features two popular workshop instructors and eight sure-fire principles for painting better watercolors.

Over years of critiquing their own work and students' work, Tony Van Hasselt and Judi Wagner came to realize that most painting problems fall into eight major categories--the 'Building Blocks of Picture-Making': value, alternation, shape, balance, dominance, gradation, depth and focal point. By showing how they apply these principles to troubled paintings, Tony and Judi teach you how to:

* make complicated changes without ruining your painting * add punch by weaving 'ribbons' through your work

* light your subject like a stage designer for dramatic effect

* add 'actors' to the stage--even after your painting is finished

* find hidden figures in your work to heighten interest

Exercises help you adapt these easy-to-use techniques to your work. The book also includes a brief discussion of 'fix-it supplies'--including a wet-media acetate you can use to overlay solutions before committing them to your painting.