As one might surmise, the medium of watercolor lends itself well to portraying water, but the rendition of realistic-looking rivers, puddles, and ponds is no easy feat. In this short guide, Dowden generously shares with readers his best tricks and techniques for believably depicting water and wetness. After a short introduction, followed by sections on materials, color, and composition, the book offers the reader the chance to try their hand at painting deep, shallow, or lively water through projects with step-by-step instructions. VERDICT Useful for intermediate and advanced landscape artists, but not those wishing to paint oceans, as this is the one body of water Dowden does not address. (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.