Watercolor Fast and Loose by Ron Ranson

We stopped at a really great used book store in Fayetteville on our way home from Devil's Den State Park (Arkansas) where I bought 4 books; the one in the title, Sketching Your Favorite Subjects in Pen & Ink by Claudia Nice, and 2 calligraphy books.  I was disappointed with this one.  The artist/author has some lovely paintings in the book.  He has a rather unconventional method of painting, with just 3 brushes (a 2" Hake, a 1" flat, and a number 3 Rigger) and 7 colors (Raw Sienna, Ultramarine, Lemon Yellow, Payne Grey, Burnt Umber, Alizarin Crimson and Light Red).  The biggest problem is that he doesn't show how he uses the brushes to achieve his "fast and loose" results.  It's a classic example of telling rather than showing, but an art instruction book really needs to show.  Ranson has written several art books, but I won't be buying any of his others.  I rated it 2 out of 5.