Book excerpt: A complete watercolor instruction guide, this long-time bestseller is full of vibrant illustrations, examples of what to do and what to avoid, and tips that make the medium accessible. Written by a true master, it presents practical information on the basics of setting up a good painting — composition, color, and light — before discussing the medium's advantages and concluding with informative demonstrations. Tony Couch emphasizes practice as the key to developing watercolor skills. Starting with equipment choices and methods for controlling paint on wet paper, he proceeds to discussions and illustrations of the elements and principles of design. Other topics include working with color and value, pulling together a composition, and acquiring techniques for handling watercolor. Easy-to-follow examples chart the progress from a rough sketch into a finished painting. Watercolor: You Can Do It! is an ideal companion for beginning to advanced artists, suitable for individual study as well as a text for art students and teachers.