This complete guide to the crisp, precise finish of botanical painting marries traditional technique with contemporary style and includes sections on colour, drawing, continuous tone, composition and dissection. Michael Lakin makes botanical art approachable with simple exercises and a variety of step-by-step instructional approaches, making this a fantastic guide for aspirational beginners.

Oil paint is such a responsive and versatile medium that no two painters need use it in exactly the same way, and since its invention in Renaissance times it has never lost its popularity with artists. Amateurs also find it appealing, both because it is enjoyable to use and because mistakes can be so easily rectified. This compact book explains all the materials, techniques and different approaches to painting with oils. Step-by-step sequences show how to paint a range of themes, from still life to portraits and landscapes, with advice on more difficult subjects. There are also suggestions for presenting your finished paintings and how to go about getting your work seen and exhibited.

Watercolour is a wonderful medium, but it does sometimes seem to have a "mind of its own," refusing to do quite what is required. The keys to success are good planning, constant practice and a thorough understanding of your materials, so if you are new to painting, start by trying out some of the techniques and projects in this book as well as experimenting with different colour mixes and types of paper. Marylin Scott shares over 100 step-by-step sequences demonstrating how to paint a wide range of subjects, from landscapes to buildings, people, and still life. She also includes tips on presenting your finished work in a professional way, building a portfolio, and getting it seen.

Artist Ann Blockley is renowned for her innovative approach to traditional subjects. Following the huge success of her previous book, Experimental Flowers in Watercolour, she now explores ways to interpret landscape. Packed with stunning examples of her colourful, expressive work, this book encourages you to experiment with the same techniques in your own watercolour painting to develop a personal style. Techniques covered include combining water-based paint and ink with other media such as gesso and collage to create dramatic effects; manipulating paint with materials such as plastic wrap (clingfilm); tearing, layering and reassembling paintings into watercolour collages; and developing textures and marks made using fabrics and other found objects. Throughout the book Ann offers her personal commentary on how her paintings were created, giving us a unique insight into the mind of the artist. Both practical and inspirational, this glorious book is the ideal companion for watercolour painters who want to take their work a step further.

If you love dragons, magic is in the air! Learn to create your own dragons in a uniquely fun style. Author Piper Thibodeau walks you through drawing basics and how to design a dragon character, then gives you everything you need to know to detail and color your dragon. Includes instruction for both traditional and digital artists. A final start-to-finish demonstration takes you through all the steps for one dragon design.

A how-to handbook that makes drawing easy. Offers simplified techniques and scores of brand-new hints and helps. Step by step procedures. Hundreds of illustrations.

Cities provide endless exciting scenes for the artist, from sun-baked cafes, rain-soaked streets, illuminated nightscapes and busy squares to quiet, atmospheric corners. This practical book explains how to paint these scenes using water-based painting materials and new techniques. With invaluable tips and advice throughout, it encourages a looser, more colourful approach to painting and shares a range of ideas for style and interpretation.

This book covers producing concepts and character sketches to laying out the final page of art. From comics icon Stan Lee, creator of the Mighty Marvel Universe and characters such as Spider-Man, Incredible Hulk and the X-Men, comes this ultimate how-to book for aspiring comic book artists. In Stan Lee's "How to Draw Comics", the author sets out to teach everything he knows about writing, drawing and creating comic book characters. The book focuses primarily on action-adventure comics, but will touch upon other genres and styles, such as romance, humour, horror and the widely influential manga style. From producing concepts and character sketches to laying out the final page of art, the man with no peer, Stan Lee, is the ultimate guide to the world of creating comics.

Painting a portrait of a child is one of the most complex challenges an artist will face. In this detailed and practical book, Simon Davis opens up his studio and explains his approach. As one of the country's leading portrait painters, he gives a unique insight into how to render a sympathetic portrait in oils, which avoids sentimentality and captures the essence of a child, in oils. Topics covered include the importance of composition and balance, tonality and palette, and atmosphere and advice on the complete process, from first ideas to putting down the paintbrush. There are step-by-step examples of a range of children, including different ages, backgrounds and groups and an interview with fellow Royal Society of Portrait Painters artist Andrew James.

Finely rendered line drawings, based on photographs of authentic Victorian and Edwardian era designs, depict lovely floral and foliate motifs, a remarkable array of geometrics, transitional designs showing Art Nouveau influence and much more-all in a wide range of sizes and shapes.

Discover how easy, satisfying, and fun it is to create with acrylic paints and mediums in Creative Acrylics. Acrylics are one of the most versatile, affordable, and accessible art mediums, and you'll learn all the tips, tricks, and techniques for blending colors and building texture, plus excellent instruction on how to paint a range of different subjects. Confused about which types of paints to use, and how to use them? Creative Acrylics cuts through the clutter and offers clear fundamentals for working with a variety of paints and mediums to produce beautiful results. Acrylic paint is water-soluble, dries quickly, and is forgiving, making it perfect for those starting out. Begin your acrylic painting journey with an expert who will guide you through enjoyable techniques and projects as you build confidence and ramp up your skills. Step-by-step techniques, lessons, and projects cover a wide range of styles and genres, including color mixing, brushwork, glazing, and how to paint easy florals, still lifes, landscapes, and animals. Take your new skills even further and paint on different surfaces to create an apron, painted shells, a paintbrush rest, clay pot, and more. In Creative Acrylics you'll find: How to set up your workspace to make painting more enjoyable A guide to the different types of acrylic paint Basic techniques such as understanding color and value, and how to add texture and other effects using paint and mediums Lessons and projects that build skills: creating still lifes, florals, landscapes and skies, and painting on fabric, wood, shells, clay, and more With all these ideas and inspiration, your acrylic painting journey can begin today! Perfect for all skill levels, the books in the Art for Modern Makers series take a fun, practical approach to learning about and working with paints and other art mediums to create beautiful DIY projects and crafts.

Created by the Society for All Artists (SAA), the world's largest and most influential art society, this practical and inspirational book features 101 essential techniques handpicked by the SAA from their most high-profile artists, bringing their knowledge and expertise in all mediums and subjects to artists of any age and ability. How do you paint realistic clouds? What is the best way to capture a crashing wave on a beach? How do you draw animal fur? Which colours do you use for realistic skin tones? You will find the answer to these questions and many more in this colourful compendium, packed full of tips and techniques by 101 of today's most popular leading artists. Each technique is presented in clear, simple step-by-step instructions that describe how to complete the project yourself, including a full list of materials and detailed images to guide you along the way. Divided into seven chapters that cover watercolours, acrylics, oils, pastels, drawing and mixed media, this handy book is bursting with some of the most popular styles and subjects, designed to showcase the very best of artistic abilities available to help develop your own creative streak. All contributors featured in this book are professional artists belonging to the SAA, who together with a global community of over 46,000 other members, make up the world's largest and friendliest art society. Whether you're a beginner, an improver or a professional, there's something new to learn for everyone in this comprehensive collection.

Ideal for beginning and intermediate artists seeking to develop or polish their acrylic painting skills, "The Art of Painting in Acrylic" features a range of techniques and valuable instruction for working with this classic medium. This comprehensive guide offers a fresh, modern approach to painting in acrylic. Beginning with detailed information for using acrylic tools and materials, "The Art of Painting in Acrylic" introduces artists to the basics, including paints and brushes, supports, mediums, and other essential information for working with this fast-drying paint. In addition to learning about basic color theory, painting techniques, and how to work with acrylic paint and textures, aspiring artists will enjoy putting their painting skills to use by practicing the step-by-step demonstrations designed to instruct and entertain. Professional acrylic painters provide easy-to-follow, comprehensive instruction and inspiration, enabling readers to learn techniques for mastering this lightweight, versatile, and easy-to-use medium. In-depth lessons cover a variety of subject matter ranging from still lifes and portraits to landscapes and animals. Along the way, aspiring artists will discover helpful tips and tricks for rendering a variety of textures, setting up compelling compositions, achieving accurate proportions, and more. With its breadth of content and detail, "The Art of Painting in Acrylic" is a must-have resource for any artist's reference library. Includes: Color Theory, Basic Drawing, Painting Techniques, Still Lifes & Flowers, Landscapes, Seascapes, Portraits, and Animals/Pet Portraits.

Draw amazingly accurate portraits starting today! Even if you're an absolute beginner, you can render strikingly realistic faces and self-portraits! Instructor and FBI-trained artist Carrie Stuart Parks makes it simple with foolproof step-by-step instructions that are fun and easy to follow. You'll quickly begin to: Master proportions and map facial features accurately Study shapes within a composition and draw them realistically Use value, light and shading to add life and depth to any portrait Render tricky details, including eyes, noses, mouths and hair Proven, hands-on exercises and before-and-after examples from Parks' students ensure instant success! It's all the guidance and inspiration you need to draw realistic faces with precision, confidence and style!

Etching can seem mysterious and inaccessible, but this practical book guides you through the process to reveal the potential of this distinctive means of creating artists' prints. With clear instructions and visual guides, it explains the many ways that marks are first made on a metal plate before ink is applied and the image transferred onto a sheet of paper. The book goes on to introduce a broad menu of techniques, allowing the visual artist to develop a uniquely personal approach. Topics include the materials and equipment needed to get started, from the simple etching needle and scraper-burnisher to the etching press. Explanations are given for photo-etching, aquatint, as well as related intaglio processes such as drypoint and photopolymer. This new book encourages artists to experiment and try combining techniques to explore their potential, and includes interviews with leading artists explaining their approaches.

'If you thought oil pastels were just something for children, prepare to think again.' The Artist '...look on in wonder as Tim shows you how you can use this neglected but simple medium to create real works of art...Just open this book at random and you'll be hooked.' Paint Magazine Learn to paint with oil pastels in this colourful, accessible book for newcomers to the medium. Tim Fisher demonstrates how to use the oil pastels on their own, or in conjunction with acrylic inks and paints, and watercolours, on a variety of surfaces, to create beautiful paintings that will maintain their vibrancy for years to come. The Beginner's Guide to Painting with Oil Pastels features six full step-by-step projects covering a variety of subjects including animal portraits, street scenes, boats and harbours, buildings and glorious landscapes. Tim introduces the reader to mark-making with oil pastels, explains the history of the medium, and how to protect and keep an oil pastel painting once it is complete.

A unique behind-the-scenes guide to the painting process of one of the most popular artists working in the growing, underground art scene of Pop Surrealism. Painting superstar Camilla d'Errico opens up her studio and offers readers an insider scoop on the tools, techniques and inspirations she draws from to create stunningly beautiful, otherworldly works of art. Artists working in Pop Surrealism use elements of manga, cartoons, movies and more to produce paintings that have been displayed in galleries and purchased by collectors around the globe. With Pop Painting, fans and aspiring painters get an up-close look at the step-by-step processes she employs to transform oil and acrylic paints into unforgettable images of her ethereal and beautiful characters. This one-of-a-kind look at a painter at the top of her field reveals all the materials and methods readers need to join the ranks of the POD Surrealism movement.

Fill your home with original, professional art - and learn to paint at the same time. This innovative new series is a poster book, an art pad and a step-by-step painting book all rolled into one! Each of the five posters is ready to pull out, frame and display. In addition, you can enjoy the calming pursuit of painting each of the pictures yourself using the pre-printed outlines - so no drawing required. The large, landscape format of the book allows each stage of painting to be clearly and comprehensively explained with innovative annotations. Simply pull out the stage-by-stage tutorial pages and pin them to your easel, then paint directly onto the watercolour outline for fantastic results. In this title, City Scenes, learn to paint iconic scenes of London, Paris and New York, and enjoy five masterclasses in painting from renowned artist Geoff Kersey.

This revised 15th anniversary edition of the bestselling beginning drawing book updates art and text examples to include new student pieces, up-to-date materials, and additional sections on drawing in 3D and travel sketching, along with refreshed and contemporary design.

Based on author and art instructor Claire Watson Garcia's successful courses and workshops for beginning and aspiring artists, Drawing for the Absolute and Utter Beginner applies a positive, accepting tone to a progressive series of lessons in sketching and rendering. The book's step-by-step methodology and examples of student works from earliest efforts to completed drawings give novices the tools and techniques needed to make competent and eloquent renderings of still lifes, portraits, and more. In this revised edition, Garcia covers such in-demand subject matter as drawing-on-the-go, drawing in three dimensions, and drawing the portrait at a three-quarter view. The reinvigorated art and text ensure that this drawing instruction classic will continue to appeal to new generations of aspiring artists.

Author of Everyday Watercolor and Instagram darling Jenna Rainey presents a beautiful step-by-step guide to painting botanicals from lilies to daffodils in a wide variety of styles.

Artist Jenna Rainey shares easy-to-follow ways to paint a wide range of botanicals, all in her fresh, modern style that appeals to the next generation of watercolor artists and creatives, from beginners to hobbyists. With gorgeously illustrated instructions for both loose and realistic watercolor depictions of more than 25 flowers, leaves, and plants, organized by form and shape, Everyday Watercolor Flowers is every nature-lover's answer to capturing that beauty on paper.