The technical secrets of a professional painter for the best results and more room for creativity.

"Painting in Acrylics: The Indispensable Guide" provides comprehensive guidance for painters of all experience. Realist painter Lorena Kloosterboer, known for her exceptional technical skill, starts with the basics and progresses to advanced techniques and professional practice.

The topics include:

About Acrylic Paint -- Types of acrylics, comparative advantages, how to read a paint label, using mediums and additives, gesso and varnish

Materials and Equipment -- Art supply shopping, palettes, masking, special effects tools, brushes, knives and shapers, airbrush, supports, surface preparation, the studio

The Foundation -- Color theory, mixing colors, size and dimensions, order of work, using references, transferring images, painting whites, grays and blacks

Techniques -- Underpainting, washes, wet in wet, adding salt and alcohol, blending, dry brush and scumbling, pouring, masking and stenciling, grisaille, glazing, impasto, sgraffito, spattering, sponging, stamping, decalcomania, airbrushing

Surface and Form -- Still life, wood, glass, metals, fabric, paper, flowers and leaves, portrait, skin, hair, animals, feathers, landscape, water, clouds, shrubs and trees, stone and brick

Be a Pro -- Ethical behavior, competitions/exhibits, art community, consistency, painting titles, keeping records, recording your work, framing, shipping, reproductions, social media, tuition.

A navigator sidebar refers readers to related sections for more information or problem solving. Appendices include a list of recommended brands and where to buy them, a glossary of art terms, how to fix common problems, and health and safety.

Beyond its outstanding content, this book's size makes it an exceptional value. Other titles on this topic rarely exceed 200 pages, even the so-called "big" books. An affordable volume by a world-renowned, widely exhibited artist, "Painting in Acrylics: The Indispensable Guide" is a superb value that will provide years of expert guidance and inspiration. It is an essential choice for retailers and libraries.

This comprehensive and accessible reference guide provides an in-depth exploration into the art of painting with acrylics, and has been created as one book that will accompany the reader on the complete journey from beginner to artist. With expert advice and step-by-step guidance in a wide range of techniques, this is an indispensable resource for beginning artists, students, and experienced painters alike. Drawing on the expertise of master painters from around the world, Complete Guide to Acrylics covers every aspect of working in acrylics in detail, from materials and mediums to tools and techniques. It is also a very practical approach, brimming with demonstrations to explain and reinforce the essential skills, and offering useful insights into all stages of the creative process. Accompanied by a wealth of images, and with a useful reference section with technical data and notes on commissions, selling and exhibiting, this is the ultimate desktop resource for artists, students, and hobbyists alike. Previously published as Complete Guide to Painting in Acrylics.