Coloured Pencils. (Bookmarks).

Coloured Pencils. David Cook. Vibrant Watercolors. Hazel Soan. Watercolour Landscapes. David Bellamy. Skies in Watercolour. Ron Ranson. Chinese Brush. Jane Evans. North Porn fret, VT: Trafalgar Square (800-423-4525), 2000. Illus., 64 pp., $15.95 each.

Over the past several years, the British publishing arm of Harper-Collins has published a number of books in its Learn to Paint series. Each is authored by a professional artist skilled in the particular medium, and begins with Portrait of the Artist, a materials list, a wealth of tips and techniques, simple exercises to develop skills, and clear, step-by-step demonstrations. The pages are replete with paintings and painting exercises that make each book a visual delight. The accompanying text is consistently helpful in complementing the skillfully rendered illustrations. Chinese Brush is the most unique of these guides as it explores the literary tradition of Chinese brush painting with many skillful examples of expressive brushwork. Any or all of these books would be welcome resources for students interested in painting at the high-school level and beyond.