Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #414661 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-09
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 144 pages

Synopsis
A passionate believer in maintaining the pure English watercolour tradition, James Fletcher-Watson has done more than follow in the footsteps of the great masters he most admired, such as Cotman, Bonington and de Wint, he has earned a place alongside them. His fresh approach to every landscape, which comes from careful observation and a perfect balance of light, tone and colour, shines through every one of his paintings.His ability to create the perfect composition, whether he was painting a rain storm in the Scottish Highlands or a bustling Italian market place, is the enduring hallmark of his work. He found inspiration wherever he travelled, and enjoyed painting in many parts of the U.K. His favourite spots included the dramatic mountain landscapes of Cumbria and Scotland. But he was just as comfortable painting the vast skies of North Norfolk or gentler river scenes in his beloved Cotswolds. He was frequently invited to lecture and teach painting overseas, as far afield as America and Australia, as well as in Europe (most notably to Italy and Majorca). The result of so much travel is a wonderful legacy of masterpieces from all over the world.

Customer Reviews

James Fletcher-Watson:A Celebration of the Artist's Life and Work
Being an admirer of James Fletcher-Watson's work and having copies of two of his other books, I was looking forward to receiving this latest book. However, I am very disappointed in the reproduction of the colours of his paintings, particularly the lack of greens. From the dullness of the colours, the majority of the paintings appear to have been done in the Autumn/Winter, when in fact that is not the case.

EXCELLENT INSIGHT
I wouldn't let the previous reviewer's comments about the greens put you off. This is a lovely book. I have five of Fletcher-Watson's books and this sixth one gave me additional insights into his excellent work. There's not a lot to read - but then he gave us all so much to read in his previous books, which he packed with generous advice and help! There's just a foreword by Gill Fletcher-Watson and an informative introduction, which gave me some new information about him. I was fascinated to see his first watercolour to be exhibited at the Royal Academy - Queen Anne's Gate - at the age of 21. It surprised me because it did not have the customary Fletcher-Watson hallmarks; as one of his earlier works, he had not yet established his distinctive style. I also liked his watercolour of Bawdeswell Church in Norfolk, a building he designed after the war and which was given a Grade One listing during his lifetime, something he must have been immensely proud of. The book includes watercolours of his architect's office at Pulls Ferry, Norwich, an interior of Windrush House, plus two studies of flowers. There are around 130 of his watercolours, printed on quality paper, plus many of his sketches, some alongside the watercolours he produced from them. If you are a Fletcher-Watson fan, you'll want this one in your collection.