Art Techniques – serie

Designed for beginner watercolour painters, Watercolour lays the groundwork for mastering the craft, with a complete guide to the necessary tools and materials, an introduction to the basic techniques, and 10 step-by-step paintings.Included as a bonus are three feature spreads that focus on areas of particular interest for beginners, including painting special effects, trees, and skies. Clear instructions and helpful tips provided throughout are perfect for beginners, but even intermediate painters will find the techniques and projects worthwhile.Watercolour painting is an absorbing, meditative art-from but many people simply don’t know where to begin. An encouraging voice and a clear, easy-to-follow approach are often all that’s needed to give people the confidence to get started and keep going. That’s exactly what this book provides. Paul Clark, an enthusiastic and accomplished painter who runs his own art school, explains the fundamentals in a friendly and accessible way. He shows readers what they really need in terms of tools and materials – starting with a limited colour palette that can be mixed to create colours as required.This Book IncludesBasic TechniquesPutting the techniques to practiceStep-by-step guided instructionsHelpful photographs to follow progressHelpful tipsFeature spreads on special effects, trees, and sky painting

This book is a perfect introduction for beginners, offering a range of illustrated step-by-step tutorials which will show the reader how to paint a variety of different coastal scenes without overloading them with excessive detail.Watercolour is especially suited for coastal scenes because its translucent washes help to capture the soft, shifting qualities of the oceans and hazy horizons, and this comprehensive beginner’s guide offers the right tools, instructions and inspiration needed to get started. It features ten different subjects, each of which are broken down into four easy-to-follow, illustrated stages. Each of these are accompanied by tips and advice for the different elements of the scene, and there are templates for each scene to help set up the initial composition. The experience and skills you will build up by working through the book will give you the confidence to paint your very own coastal scenes.This book is designed to act not only as a guide to painting coastal scenes, but an introduction to watercolour painting in general, offering information on basic equipment, useful techniques, and sketchbook practice.

Ten different landscape paintings, from a midwinter farm and a sunny woodland to a coastal waterfront and boats in an estuary are featured. Each watercolour is broken down into four or five steps, showing the reader how simple it can be to achieve stunning results as they build up their painting from the background colour and add the finishing details. The reader will learn how to simplify the scene in front of them, allowing them to recreate the essence of the landscape for the viewer without slaving over an easel for hours. Interspersed with the tutorials are special masterclasses covering trees, skies and reflections. There is also a section on choosing tools and materials, and introductory topics on colour theory, composition and perspective, and the essential basic drawing and painting techniques.

Offering essential advice, techniques and inspiration presented through step-by-step instruction and a variety of templates, this comprehensive guide teaches aspiring artists how to paint flowers with confidence.The book includes 10 subjects to paint, including wildflowers, garden favourites and exotic blooms. It also contains ‘focus on’ spreads that provide greater detail and more advanced techniques to try. It is designed to act not only as a guide to flower painting, but an introduction to the medium of watercolour. Tutorials include daisies, peonies, lilies, ferns, ivy, wildflowers, and poppies.

Drawing is a relaxing and enjoyable pastime and one of the original mindfulness techniques, a great way to be in the moment and observe your surroundings.Despite the common assumption that the ability to draw is a skill you possess or don't, it can be readily learnt with the right teacher guiding you. Christine Allison fulfils that role with her expertise and friendly, encouraging approach. With 10 step-by-step tutorials, Christine helps beginners navigate various subject matters and drawing media, providing them with a thorough grounding in the basics of this satisfying art. In addition to the tutorials, Christine includes advice on tools, materials and techniques, gives plenty of tips throughout and presents ideas on how to take each tutorial a step further.

Learn how to use oil paints with this clear and simple guide. An accomplished artist and teacher Norman Long explains all the basics and shows you how to master this versatile, vibrant medium so you can produce beautiful paintings full of life and colour.A handy front section covers all the practical stuff, from choosing suitable materials to essential techniques. Ten step-by-step tutorials then guide you through a range of subject matter, from still life to landscapes and figures, providing a thorough grounding in painting with oils. Each tutorial is broken down into key stages, with clear step-by-step photography and easy-to-follow instructions. There are also special features on composition, painting outdoors and painting people. Throughout, Norman gives plenty of tips and practical advice to help you make the most of your paints.Learn techniques, including:Materials and equipmentDrawingLight, shade and toneColour theoryProjects include:Still lifeCityscapeSkySelf-portraitMoving figuresAnd so much more.It's no real surprise that oil paint has been used for hundreds of years and is still the most popular painting medium. Oils create luminous, hard-wearing colours and can be used in infinite ways. Because they dry slowly, you have long working hours or even days after you start, and their slow-drying nature means they are fantastic for creating subtle colour blends. Best of all, if you make a mistake, you can scrape off and repaint as many times as you like.Painting with oils is easier than you might think, and oil painting rules are straightforward. Once you know them, you can do almost anything while producing works lasting for generations.

Adrian Burrows is an enthusiastic and accomplished artist and teacher who explains the fundamentals of painting with acrylics in a helpful and accessible manner.Adrian shows you what you need regarding tools and materials and describes and illustrates all the basic techniques to give you all the necessary information to get started!Contents include:Still LifePortraitSeascapeHoliday ScenesAnd so much more...Ten step-by-step tutorials covering a variety of subjects then put these techniques into action. Each tutorial is broken down into stages, with clear instructions and photographs for readers.

Learn how to draw with coloured pencils by following this easy and accessible guide, in which award-winning artist Kendra Ferreira demonstrates the creative potential of an exciting and highly versatile artistic medium.Learn techniques, including:Materials and equipmentColour theory and tonal valueSketching and compositionPerspectiveProjects include:Still lifeDramatic skiesLandscapesFlowers and plantsPortraitsFiguresAnd much more.Coloured pencils combine the expressiveness of painting with the control of drawing. They allow for vibrant and luminous colour, with finished drawings so detailed and pigmented that they resemble paintings. With 10 step-by-step tutorials, Kendra helps beginners learn the fundamentals of drawing and coloured pencil techniques. She covers a range of subject matter, including still life, portraits, clouds and landscapes. In addition to the tutorials, Kendra provides advice on tools, materials and techniques, gives plenty of tips throughout and presents ideas on how to take each tutorial a step further.There are also special features for drawing skies, adding figures to a scene and how to create colourful greys and shadows. Skills developed include: making marks, sketching and composition, creating tone, light and shade, mixing colours, layering, optical mixing, burnishing, underpainting, creating texture and using solvents for painterly effects.

Charcoal drawing is timeless, stylish, atmospheric and arresting. In this easy-to-follow beginner's guide, readers are taken on a journey to explore the rich potential of monochrome using the medium of charcoal.Inexpensive and easy to source, charcoal is perfect for the beginner artist. To increase the variety of mark-making or to make life easier, readers can buy different types and sizes of charcoal and tools such as blenders and brushes for other effects. This is all explained clearly so the reader can make informed choices.Learn techniques, including:Lines and shadingTonal valuesBlendingPerspectiveCompositionContents include the following:Still lifeLandscape sketchPortraitsNight sceneAnd so much moreThe basic techniques are presented following the section on tools and materials, showing how to exploit the medium to the best effect. The fundamentals of drawing are also covered, including perspective, composition and observational drawing.