Oil Painting For The Absolute Beginner: A Clear & Easy Guide to Successful Oil Painting (Art for the Absolute Beginner)

The quick-start guide to great results! Oil painting doesn't have to be rocket science, although some books on the subject make it seem that way. Filled with encouraging, easy-to-follow instruction, Oil Painting for the Absolute Beginner is a no-fear, no-experience-required guide to enjoyable painting and happy results. Focusing on the needs of the first-time painter, this book covers everything from selecting brushes and setting up your palette to key principles of color and composition, presented in a way that moves you confidently from first strokes to finished paintings. Mini demonstrations break down fundamental painting techniques in a clear, common sense way 12 step-by-step painting projects progress from simple landscapes, still life and flower paintings to more challenging subjects, such as animals, seascapes and portraits The bonus DVD-workshop features the author creating two paintings from start to finish You'll learn tricks for keeping the greens in your landscapes looking fresh, advantages to working with water-soluble oil paints, simple tips for dynamic compositions and other expert advice to make your introduction to oil painting the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Even if you've never picked up a brush, you will be amazed at how easy it is to complete your first project. This book walks you through such essential topics as materials, value, color and composition. There are also helpful demonstrations on proper brush technique and planning a painting. This new edition includes a bonus DVD to review basic techniques in action!

Library Journal

Watercolors are notoriously uncontrollable, moving and blending in unexpected ways. These two books offer expert training, one for the novice and the other for the serious artist. Unlike other beginners books that promise more than they can deliver (e.g., Frank Halliday's Watercolors in a Weekend: Landscapes), the Willenbrinks' book hits its mark beautifully. French artist Morelle's work can be used by beginners but is better suited to those with experience. He explores glazes and flat washes, methods for creating mists, sophisticated color blending, and the reasons Renoir and Monet chose their palette colors. The volume is rounded out by a useful gallery of examples from accomplished watercolorists. Both books are recommended. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Become a confident and creative watercolor artist, even if this is the very first time you have picked up a paintbrush! This book provides: fully illustrated introduction to the basic materials and equipment, easy-to-follow instruction, comprehensive lessons, step-by-step demonstrations, and indispensable hints, tips, and guidance from Mark and Mary Willenbrink. - Publisher "Working from life in warm light, Chris Saper shows you how to divide the canvas, placing the face on the page, while measuring intervals between features. She gives specific tips for achieving a likeness. Finally switching brushes for different effects, she demonstrates how exactly to mix colors for skin tones, shadows, and highlights"--Container Oil painting doesn't have to be difficult! This is a no-fear, no-experience-required guide to enjoyable painting and happy results, from first strokes to finished paintings. The DVD workshop features the author creating two paintings from start to finish