Learning art from a book can be a beautiful experience—but it often leaves you wondering, “How exactly did they do that?” That’s why I chose to help you learn watercolor with interactive QR codes. Each major technique, color theory explanation, and visual concept links directly to a short, clear demo. Here’s how it works:
Scan the QR code with your phone or tablet
Watch a bite-sized tutorial
Try the technique for yourself right away!
No more guessing. No more flipping pages looking for the right example! Even though the book is fun to flip through because of the colorful and easy to read chapter edging!
These videos don’t just tell you what to do—they show you. You’ll learn brush control, timing, color mixing, and more by watching in real-time, whenever you need it. It’s like having your own on-call watercolor coach—built right into the book!
The key features of Comprehensive Watercolor – An Interactive Guide for Learning to Paint with Watercolor is what makes this watercolor book different!
There are dozens of watercolor books on the market—but very few that meet you where you are and grow with you. What makes this book an interactive watercolor guide isn’t just the QR codes or the stylish layout—it’s the intentional design for real learning. Inside, you’ll find:
Modular lessons that build skills in bite-sized chunks
Scannable QR codes that lead to over 200 instructional videos
Downloadable templates, product guides, and more
Whether you prefer to read, watch, or paint your way through a topic, Comprehensive Watercolor supports your learning style.
Take a look at what makes this book different
It’s not just a book—it’s a complete course in your hands! Definitely a volume that you’ll want to keep close nearby when you’re learning, practicing, and working in the studio!
You’ll feel like you have an instructor with you, walking you through each brushstroke.
Creating Comprehensive Watercolor wasn’t just about writing a book—it was about creating a bridge. A bridge between overwhelmed beginners and the joyful, intuitive flow of watercolor painting. The origin of Comprehensive Watercolor lies in my own journey. When I first began painting, I struggled with materials, misunderstood techniques, and books that offered static images instead of actionable help. I wanted to change that. That’s why this book:
Integrates over 200 interactive video lessons
Uses QR codes to link every concept to a visual demonstration
Encourages hands-on practice through step-by-step guides
It’s more than a reference—it’s a studio companion.
Comprehensive Watercolor – An Interactive Guide for Learning to Paint with Watercolor
why I wrote the book
I wrote it for the self-taught artist, the visual learner, and anyone who’s felt stuck or intimidated by traditional art instruction. I believe watercolor should be accessible, playful, and deeply personal — and Comprehensive Watercolor – An Interactive Guide for Learning to Paint with Watercolor definitively reflects that belief from cover to cover!
TAKE A PEEK INSIDE!
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the book will be published on may 1, 2025!
Comprehensive Watercolor is not just a book—it’s a fully interactive watercolor learning experience designed for beginners, hobbyists, and self-taught artists.
Created by artist and educator Amanda Clarke-Peterson, this guide goes beyond traditional art instruction by combining clear step-by-step lessons with over 200 embedded video demonstrations accessed via QR codes. Readers can watch brushstrokes, color mixing, and watercolor techniques unfold in real time, then immediately try them with guided practice.
The book introduces readers to essential watercolor techniques, color theory, timing concepts, and creative expression. Whether you’re picking up a brush for the first time or returning to watercolor after years away, this resource is designed to build confidence, encourage experimentation, and support visual learners at every step.
Also included is a free downloadable Ultimate Watercolor Product Guide, covering recommended materials, tools, and supplies for all budgets and experience levels.
I’m thrilled to finally share something I’ve been quietly working on for a long time: my very first book, Comprehensive Watercolor – An Interactive Guide for Learning to Paint with Watercolor, is officially on its way into the world.
This labor of love has been in the works for months (okay, years), and I couldn’t be more excited to invite you to be part of its beginning.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Comprehensive Watercolor is an interactive guide designed for curious beginners and developing artists who want to learn watercolor with both clarity and confidence. It’s packed with techniques, visual examples, and over 200 embedded video tutorials—all thoughtfully structured to help you build foundational skills and deepen your creative practice.
Rather than taking a rigid, academic approach, I wanted this book to feel like a studio companion—someone by your side, showing you how watercolor works and how to enjoy the process along the way. From brush control and color mixing to layering, timing, and troubleshooting, the book is divided into digestible parts with real-world application in mind.
Whether you’re picking up a brush for the first time or revisiting watercolor after a long break, Comprehensive Watercolor invites you to explore with curiosity and patience—and just enough technical insight to help you grow.
📅 RELEASE INFO & PREORDER DETAILS
The book is currently available for pre-order through April 30, 2025. It will officially be published on May 1, 2025.
Pre-ordering not only ensures you get early access—it helps support the launch and spread the word to other artists looking for a guide like this. I’ve poured my heart into every lesson, diagram, and video link, and I can’t wait to get it into your hands.
If you’re local—or just passing through Gaffney, SC—there’s a special opportunity to preview the kind of work featured in the book. Two of my watercolor pieces, Line & Wash and Wash & Line, are currently on display as part of the Spring A’Comin Exhibit hosted by the Cherokee Alliance of Visual Artists (CAVA).
Each piece was created using techniques from the book, and both include framed QR codes that link to exclusive behind-the-scenes videos. These videos demonstrate the process behind each artwork and offer a glimpse into the kind of visual content included throughout Comprehensive Watercolor.
This is a rare opportunity for visitors to experience the book’s educational material in a gallery setting—before the book is officially released.
📍 Location: Gaffney Visitor’s Center & Art Gallery 210 W. Frederick St. Gaffney, SC 29340
📆 Reception Event: Thursday, April 3, 2025 | 5:30–7:00 PM Free and open to the public!Come meet other local artists, see the works in person, and enjoy a creative evening in a beautiful space. I’d love to say hello, answer questions, and hear about what you’re creating too.
WHY I WROTE THIS BOOK
Watercolor has taught me so much—not just about painting, but about presence, patience, and finding flow through art. I created this book to demystify a medium that’s often misunderstood as “unforgiving,” when really, it just requires a little guidance and trust.
I’ve met so many artists who stopped painting because they felt like they were doing it wrong. This book is here to show that you’re not. There’s no perfect technique—only progress, exploration, and learning what your materials are trying to tell you.
Comprehensive Watercolor is my way of handing you the torch, along with all the tools I wish I’d had when I started. If it helps even one person fall in love with painting again, it will have done its job.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THIS JOURNEY
Writing, illustrating, and filming for this book has been one of the most rewarding (and challenging) creative projects I’ve ever taken on. I truly hope it offers support, inspiration, and clarity to anyone who loves watercolor—or wants to fall in love with it for the first time.
Thank you for being part of this moment with me! Your encouragement and interest mean more than you know!
– Amanda Clarke-Peterson Artist, Author & Creator of Mandakyns
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