The idea of the half hour painting is that you work quickly, don't fiddle about with details and stop when the image is complete. It's all about trusting your instincts and concentrating on the picture rather than the process. Terry is a superb teacher and he instinctively knows where the pitfalls are. When you're about to stumble, he's there already with a steadying hand. The first half of this well thought-out little guide is taken up by a series of guides ('Quick Techniques', Terry calls them). They each occupy just two pages and show you how to capture effects such as breaking waves, rippled reflections or a fast-flowing stream. Terry is the master of creating an effect in just a few brushstrokes and these sections will show you how to build up your image with as little fuss as possible. The remainder of the book comprises a set of ten projects that show you how to paint a simple scene in no more than twenty steps. These are not cut-down demonstrations that create the illusion of a quick and simple painting, they really are quick and simple and dispel much of the mystery than can surround watercolour. This is a refreshing approach, both to painting and to demonstrating. Book: Search Press . Paperback . 96 pages .