Acrylic Workbook: A Complete Course in Ten Lessons

In the past, painters used acrylics only to imitate oils or watercolors -- but no more! Versatile and durable, acrylics have become the medium of choice for many artists. With just these ten easy lessons, you too can have all the technique and activity necessary to produce fabulous acrylic paintings. Sort through materials to find what's essential and hone your drawing skills on every project -- each one has outline drawings to use as a guide. Gain hands-on knowledge of mixing color, and lay out a palette at the start. Decide on your subject, use viewfinders to settle on proportions and composition, and paint mini-sketches. Experiment with textures by adding sand or other materials to your paint, or through brush takes and knife marks. Lay down washes; create the illusion of space and form on a fiat surface; vary paint applications for different effects; and paint still lifes, landscapes, figures, and collages. Informative sidebars contain each chapter's aims, and copious full-color illustrations will get you motivated!

Acrylic is an extremely versatile, very popular medium. Rodwell points out that it can be used instead of watercolor, oil, or gouache, sharing many of their advantages but few of the drawbacks. She emphasizes, however, that acrylic is exciting in its own right. Here, Rodwell provides ten lessons, from basic colors, textures, still lifes, and landscapes to collage. Designed for the hesitant beginner, these lessons begin with an outline drawing to be used as a guide. Finished paintings are fairly rudimentary and approachable. This is a solid first book for work in acrylics and can be followed by Rachel Wolf's The Acrylic Painter Book of Styles & Techniques (LJ 7/98), which references the work of seven master artists.
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