Uses works displayed in the National Gallery of Art to introduce common subjects and genres in painting.

Introduces the tools, equipment, and techniques of watercolors, discusses light, color, and the preparation of camera-ready art, and explains how to prepare a portfolio. A commercial watercolorist shows techniques for those who want to become professionals.

"Christmas is the perfect time to break out the watercolors with lots of handmade cards to paint -- but greetings are on a tiny fraction of the ideas you will get from this book. Here you'll find a wealth of inspiration and techniques for all sorts of watercolor projects this Christmas!" -- Back cover.

"Revealing centuries of symbiosis between the visual and literary arts, The Art of Reading brings together works by the many great artists who took inspiration from the printed word"--Provided by publisher.