The Advantage And Characteristic Of Watercolor Expression

For children, the illustrations in children's picture books are not only a necessary part but also a very easy and effective way of learning. In modern society, people start to pay great attention on illustrations in children's picture books. As a historical way of expression, the watercolor has already been applied in children picture book for a very long time. However, in modern children picture book industry, watercolor has not been given enough attention.This article starts with the history of applying watercolor in of children's book illustrations. First of all, it states the development of watercolor expression in children book illustrations in China and other countries; with all kinds of examples in different styles, the article reviews the glories and achievements in the past. Followed, it discusses the characteristic and advantages of watercolor expression and why it suits being used in children book illustrations. Watercolor is an instant, vivid and poetic; its effects have a closed connection with Chinese paintings. Then, it describes the comprehensive of watercolor and the differences between watercolor and other techniques, and also the vantage and disadvantage of them when being used in children book illustrations. The keystone of the article is: study the suitability of watercolor expression through the psychological and physiological characteristics of children; including the children's feeling to color, their spatial perception, their thinking, their attention and their sense. After that, the article studies characteristics of children's aesthetic psychology. It describes the developing process of children's aesthetic psychology and analysis the characteristics of children's aesthetic psychology (playfulness, perceived integrity of the process, direct emotion and visualization). The characteristics of children's aesthetic psychology are a reason why watercolor is suitable for children book illustrations. The article still states nearly 10 years developing history of Chinese children book illustrations, and prospects the vista of watercolor expression in Chinese children book illustrations with some outstanding cases. The success of "little stone lion" shows the possibility and advantage of watercolor applied in Chinese children book illustrations. At last, it makes a conclusion that the watercolor is suitable for children book illustrations.