Acrylics Workshop: Simple Steps to Success by Mrs Phyllis Mcdowell (2006) Hardcover

by Phyllis McDowell

This work provides with everything you need to know to become a better artist in 12 easy steps. "Acrylics Workshop" is for anyone who wants to find out how to paint with acrylics or improve their skills. Starting with materials and basic techniques such as applying a wash, it includes warm up exercises encouraging you to try out a range of paints and brushes designed to build your confidence. Easy-to-follow projects show you what to do, step-by-step, and demonstrate key techniques for creating opaque and transparent colour, relief, and composition. Galleries of contemporary artwork demonstrate how successful artists approach different topics, with techniques helping you to develop your personal style. A fresh approach to practical art helping you achieve the best results.

Genres: Art, Reference

128 pages, Hardcover

First published October 5, 2006

Reviews

[Nancypants]

Helpful, covering basics with depth. As an amateur with canvases sitting around, I learned a lot from it (:

[Freddie]

A good book for those that want to know the advance techniques they'd teach you in any college course. A bad book for those that do not realize that there are rules, but rules are meant to be broken. If you considered everyone of these techniques in one painting alone, you're painting will come out rather cold and analytical. Painting is all about letting your feelings go, and painting whatever the heck you want, however the heck you want. It's good to know these vital techniques, but they are only meant to be held in the back of your mind as you paint. It's good to experiment, and try different techniques, but please, if you are new to painting and/or learning on your own, please be careful about picking up this book.

I only rated it so low because not only is it written boringly, but it is also nothing but a review for me of what I've already learned. The only new techniques I picked up; is how to use a toothbrush in painting, and what sponges actually look like if you use such a tool (both of which, I need to pick up as soon as possible.) oh, and also the dawning realization that all acrylics are see through, unless you add white, which will make them opaque (solid.) This whole time I've been making my paints opaque, and never even realized it (I have a love for the brighter variants of my colors, so white is always a must on my pallette.)