The Natural Way to Paint: Rendering the Figure in Watercolor Simply and Beautifully

First read this book from library. It's the best. It really teaches everything you need to know for painting portrait. I think this one and Painting what you want to see from Charles Reid are the must haves! I like this new print more matt looks compared to the original glossy print.

This book was recommended by a portrait artist to those of us in a class she taught. A go-to book for her as she grew in her art, I find it very helpful for a beginner like me! The author addresses materials, drawing techniques, paint and color info, and lots of tidbits from his personal experience as a painter. A valuable resource.

This is the best book on how to draw and paint the figure I've come across, and I've looked at many. Charles Reid's style is loose and graceful; moreover, he is an OUTSTANDING instructor. His books and videos go into some detail in the "how to" department, a crucial aspect which is missing in many such books. If you're interested in learning to draw and paint the figure, this is the book to own. I also would highly recommend Charles' book on painting flowers, if you enjoy still life painting. It covers how to paint all sorts of still life set-ups, including fruits, vases, and other such props. He also recommends brands of brushes, paints, paper, and I have found this invaluable. My paintings have improved a great deal since studying and applying his methods.

Charles Reid is a wonderful watercolorist with a style all his own. He has several books in print, and I believe I have all of them as well as his tapes.I recommend them all to whoever is learning to paint watercolor, and also to attend any class he is giving. If you have seen him you can make up your mind as to whether I is worth the price to see him again. Highly recommended.

This book is not at all what I expected...it’s mostly all nudes. I can understand some, but 3/4 of the book. I just don’t understand the great reviews. I gave it 2 stars because there are a few nice portraits, otherwise it’s a huge disappointment.

Haven’t finished

Reid uses pencil to make a simple loose sketch then applies paint in amazing combinations to reveal the figure. His simple seven color palette seems to be able to do the figure quite well. His color choices are wild, but work to show the essence of the person, which is what I want to do in making a painting. This is very much a hands on text. Reid has taught many classes on the figure and he lays out his "mistakes" then shows how he corrects to be more comfortable with what he is trying to achieve. This is the best how to paint the figure book I have seen. A great buy for the money.

One of his best books for exercises... I have painted as an amateur for decades but I learned things from this book and had eureka moments such as, so THATs how you do it!

This isn't actually the one I wanted but I couldn't afford the portraits one by this artist. With that said this is packed with wonderful information regarding his techniques and no doubt would have been on my list for a later date. Now I'm even more excited to get my hands on the his portraits book one day. Charles appears to be a very generous teacher. If you like his style of painting you will find this book helpful

Charles Reid is one of those people who knows how to celebrate life. Most of us can be very self conscious about bodies. The truth is that the human body is one of the most beautiful things God ever created. What comes over in "Then Natural Way to Paint...." is more than technique - and Charles Reid lays out the technique in logical simple steps including - very reassuringly - examples of where his drawings and paintings have gone wrong [which is an integral part of the process of creating anything] but the sheer joy of celebrating the beauty of the human figure.A great artist - a great teacher. Charles Reid is someone I would very much like to meet, the easy steps 'chatty' style of his book makes you feel you have met him and he passes on a lot of technique about something which we think is very difficult in an easy to understand friendly way.Well done Mr Reid - pity his DVD isn't available in the UK on Amazon

I like all Charles Reid watercolour books his demonstrations are fantastic very free.

This artist is very much in the style I like/hope! to paint in. So what he has to say is very relevant and easy to follow. Now I just need to paint more ...and more!

Since being introduced to Charles Reid through my first art teacher, I have admired him more and more. With practise, his standards should be achievable