The Acrylics Book: Materials and Techniques for Today's Artist

by Barclay Sheaks

Unrivaled in scope, this encyclopedic reference on the most versatile of all painting mediums is an excellent tool to help both beginning and seasoned artists produce their best work in acrylics. With its great flexibility, acrylic paint can mimic the appearance of oils, tempera, and watercolors in unique ways, each method pictured in a separate step-by-step demonstration. The author also examines the use of acrylics with airbrush, sculptural, and printing techniques—even three-dimensional relief painting and collagraphy printing methods are included—and how several of these different creative processes can be integrated successfully in one composition with ink, pencil, charcoal, and pastel. Inspiring examples of representational and abstract subjects are depicted throughout, and a complete survey of all the latest acrylic materials covers the best paint brands, painting mediums, supports, varnishes, brushes, knives, and palettes.

Genres: Art, Reference

176 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1995

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The artist, who died a few years ago, is local,having taught at Virginia Wesleyan College, and many of his painting examples as well as those of fellow artists, are from the eastern Virginia area. This book was helpful especially in that it explored the use of other mediums in conjunction with acrylics for different effects.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well-presented range of ideas to spark some creativity in the medium.