The Joy Of Acrylic Painting

Now is the time to pursue creative fulfillment! Annie O'Brien Gonzales felt a passion for art from an early age. But not until 30 years later--after raising a family and working "a real job"--did she get serious about painting. Along the way, she experienced the pleasures and the pitfalls of learning to paint. In these pages, she channels it all to help others discover (or re-discover) The Joy of Acrylic Painting. This guide offers an engaging, streamlined approach for any beginner, but especially those who--due to life detours or lack of time--had previously postponed their artistic aspirations. In a fun, instantly gratifying style, Gonzales combines the forgiveness of acrylics with the approachability of expressive painting. With special emphasis on the elements of color, pattern and texture, these lessons give you a jump-start on painting with feeling. If now is your time to pursue creative fulfillment, then this is the book to ease your way. • Strategies for gathering resonant ideas and inspiration • Practical advice, such as when to splurge and where to save on painting supplies • Mixed-media techniques for creating character in your paintings • Inspiration from Expressionist masters, including ways to use their work as a jumping-off point for your own original paintings • PLUS 8 fabulous start-to-finish painting projects--landscapes, still life, figures and abstracts

Here's all the information you need to begin painting with acrylics--the most exciting, versatile medium available. The basic techniques are easy--stippling, blending, glazing, masking, and wet-in-wet. Over a dozen mini-demos illustrate how to paint flowers, clouds, shadows, water and more! You'll soon be creating some extraordinary paintings. Author Jacqueline Penney will show you how, with a relaxed, informative style that transports you from the shores of a dune-swept beach to a tropical lagoon. Try all five of her complete, step-by-step demonstrations, including a flower-covered mountainside, sand dunes and sailboats, a forest of spruce trees and ferns, a tranquil island hideaway and a mist-shrouded ocean. You'll find that painting with acrylics is easy--and extraordinary!

Discover abstract painting with acrylics! "If you approach your art with a playful attitude you will be more apt to keep making art, and the more art you make, the better your art will be." --pg. 10 Like a diving board for creativity, Abstract Explorations in Acrylic Painting will help you plunge joyfully into artmaking. With the belief that an attitude of playfulness is key to artistic growth, award-winning acrylic artist Jo Toye leads you on an engaging workshop-style adventure filled with innovative techniques, inventive approaches and breakthrough results. • Work Small. Start by discovering how working on a small canvas yields big payoffs. When you don't have anything to lose but a few minutes and a little piece of paper, you'll find that you paint more fearlessly, absorb new concepts faster and enjoy yourself more. • Step-by-Step Instruction. Learn what tools Toye finds most useful in making art, along with 17 step-by-step demonstrations showing how to use them to best effect. • Start-to-Finish Painting Projects. At the heart of the book, 8 start-to-finish painting projects put it all together. Discover fresh takes on stenciling, sponging, making and working with gesso. Use razor blades and applicator bottles to create distinctive linework. Achieve wonderfully original patterns using resist pens, mouth atomizers and India ink. Experiment with Clear Tar Gel, pour paint with pipettes, work over top a "failed" painting...all yielding brilliantly original results. Heavily illustrated and filled with exciting ideas you won't find anywhere else, Abstract Explorations in Acrylic Painting will inspire you to paint, experiment, play...and come away with some of your best work yet!

Fresh new ways to create fabulous paintings with mixed media techniques! Acrylic Solutions provides the "hows" behind a multitude of effects you've admired in other artists' works--and then some! Based on the popular online teaching collaboration of Chris Cozen and Julie Prichard, this book illustrates a wealth of layering methods and techniques. Mix and match to achieve countless variations, building layer upon layer to create unique and wonderfully complex abstract art. • Learn more than 30 step-by-step techniques for developing texture and visual interest, including collage, monoprinting, carving, color blocking, paint skins, raised stencils, glazing and so much more. • Chapters explore the phases of a multi-layered painting, from surface preparation through adding structure, developing complexity and adding finishing touches. • Follow the development of two paintings as each layer adds to the finished result, with tons of additional artwork throughout. • Gain insight on how to make paints, mediums and grounds work for you. Embracing a spirit of freedom and spontaneity, Acrylic Solutions is a stimulating guide for contemporary artists of any skill level. Beginners will learn how to make visually compelling paintings from start to finish, while more experienced artists will find the tools and inspiration to take their work to the next level.

Break the rules and explore acrylic paint in a free and fun way. This book encourages you to get over the fear of the blank canvas and the anxiety over the outcome so you can focus on the process of painting and the pure joy of creating. Whether you're a novice who doesn't know how to get started or a classical painter looking to try something new, you will benefit from the activities in this book, which range from quick, messy and expressive exercises to relaxing and meditative paintings. Courtney Pilgrim shares 100 prompts, projects and playful activities that will build your confidence, inspiring you to roll up your sleeves and play with acrylic paint in a pressure-free way. There is no right or wrong way to create a painting, so enjoy the journey, relax, unwind and have fun!

Packed with beautiful illustrations and expert instruction, The Art of Painting Still Life in Acrylic is a comprehensive and indispensable resource for all aspiring painters. Designed for beginners and intermediate artists, The Art of Painting Still Life in Acrylic offers valuable drawing and painting techniques, as well as inspirational artwork that's sure to motivate artists of all skill levels. The Art of Painting Still Life in Acrylic opens with a guide to essential information on the necessary tools and materials for both sketching and painting, including pencils, paints and brushes, palettes, supports, and mediums. In addition to learning about basic drawing and painting techniques and color theory, readers will learn how to create compelling compositions, achieve depth, and render realistic textures. This new title in the Collector's Series features a large variety of stunning still lifes, from lovely florals to tasty treats. Packed with beautiful illustrations and expert instruction, The Art of Painting Still Life in Acrylic is a comprehensive and indispensable resource for all aspiring painters.

Paint 16 scenes that conjure the romance of the sea Seagulls cawing, the meeting of sky and sea, the hypnotic ebb and flow of waves breaking on the shore—it's no wonder artists are drawn to the magic of the sea. Jacqueline Penney has lived near the water and been inspired by its many moods for over 30 years. In this book, she shares her favorite techniques and expert tricks for capturing the atmosphere and romance of the ocean in acrylics. • 16 gorgeous painting projects—from beautiful sunrises and a romantic walk along the beach, to scenes featuring lobster boats and lighthouses • Step-by-step instruction for painting a wide range of seascape elements including waves, skies, sand dunes, reflections, driftwood, grasses, rocks, sailboats, fishing shacks and more • Techniques for painting pebbly beaches, ocean spray, weather-worn rocks and other realistic textures • Creative variations to explore, including two-piece artworks, painting with a palette knife and moonlit scenes Complete with a gallery of finished paintings that deliver waves of inspiration to water-loving artists of every skill level.