Creative Acrylics: A Step-by-Step Beginners Guide to Creating with Paint & Mediums - Create Paintings Filled with Color, Texture, Unique Effects & More (Art for Modern Makers, 5)
Discover how easy, satisfying, and fun it is to create with acrylic paints and mediums in Creative Acrylics .
Acrylics are one of the most versatile, affordable, and accessible art mediums, and you’ll learn all the tips, tricks, and techniques for blending colors and building texture, plus excellent instruction on how to paint a range of different subjects.
Confused about which types of paints to use, and how to use them? Creative Acrylics cuts through the clutter and offers clear fundamentals for working with a variety of paints and mediums to produce beautiful results. Acrylic paint is water-soluble, dries quickly, and is forgiving, making it perfect for those starting out. Begin your acrylic painting journey with an expert who will guide you through enjoyable techniques and projects as you build confidence and ramp up your skills .
Step-by-step techniques, lessons, and projects cover a wide range of styles and genres, including color mixing , brushwork , glazing , and how to paint easy florals , still lifes , landscapes , and animals . Take your new skills even further and paint on different surfaces to create an apron, painted shells, a paintbrush rest, clay pot, and more.
In Creative Acrylics you’ll With all these ideas and inspiration, your acrylic painting journey can begin today!
Perfect for all skill levels, the books in the Art for Modern Makers series take a fun, practical approach to learning about and working with paints and other art mediums to create beautiful DIY projects and crafts.
A well planned beginners guide book on acrylics: the basic materials required and the basic steps/techniques to start with. For me, it is quite useful and gives me a basic idea on what I would need.
A useful and practical guide. You can go for this one if you're a beginner like me.
Thank you, Quarto Publishing, for the advance reading copy.
Creative Acrylics is an accessible, beginner friendly acrylic technique and tutorial guide by Carla Co Chua as part of the Art for Modern Makers series. Released 1st Feb 2022 by Quarto on their Quarry imprint, it's 144 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats.
This is a very good basic introduction to acrylics and is a part of the Art For Modern Makers series. The book is written in friendly understandable language and the lessons are easy to follow and do-able. The introduction includes a general overview over tools and supplies. The supplies pictured are carefully figleafed to avoid suggesting particular specific brands. It's a neutral overview and the author is careful to give tips on general preferences without "naming names".
The following chapters are grouped thematically and follow a step-by-step progression: getting started, still life, flowers, landscapes, and animals. The last chapter is a collection of specific projects which utilize the techniques in the previous chapters. Specific tips and tricks are scattered throughout the book in highlighted text boxes and are relevant and interesting to the acrylic medium. Step by step tutorial photos are clear and easy to understand and follow. The whole book is exuberantly colorful and unrestrained and the style is primitive/naive and very pretty (see cover art).
Four stars. This is a very basic book aimed at beginning artists and would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition, makers groups, classroom type instruction, and the home library.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
A fantastic book for anyone wanting to start in acrylic paining or wanting more information on it. There are so many tips and clever techniques on these pages. The author has done a great job of squeezing so much into one book, From brushes, paints, inks, paper,and media. This is a great book to polish existing skills and well ad developing new ones.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I have always admired those artistic souls that can take a blank canvas and create something out of nothing. I myself found my creative side with writing and card making, but have always wanted to dabble in paints. Something about that blank canvas just speaks to me, but there is so much I don’t know about this medium, and I would be lying if I didn’t say I wasn’t intimidated. So my hopes were high when I picked up Creative Acrylics.
All in all this isn’t a bad resource, it’s just not what I was expecting. Being a complete beginner, I was hoping for more information. There is quite a bit that is touched on, but I feel like so much could’ve been expounded on more.
I had hoped to follow along with the projects and create some art of my own, and I don’t know if it’s something wrong with me, but I struggled, and ended up feeling so overwhelmed that I gave up, and haven’t picked up a brush since. I think it’s because I didn’t feel too excited about the projects themselves, and let the fear of doing something wrong overtake me. With a title like Creative Acrylics I was expecting more creativity and would’ve liked to have had more clarity as to which type of acrylic paints I should be using, instead of me standing dumbfounded in the art section at Michael’s.
The overall aesthetics of the book are pleasing, and I did enjoy flipping through the pages, but what I appreciated the most is the author’s focus on using painting to care for one’s mental health, as well as a family activity that can bring families together, and spark creativity in minds young and old. It definitely got me thinking and, if anything, it has sparked my imaginative embers, and makes me want to learn even more about painting.
So, though I didn’t find exactly what I was looking for in Creative Acrylics, I do not regret picking up this book one bit, and could see this being a good starting place for many like myself.
*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from Quarry Books through NetGalley. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.
Found this book to be super informative. I attended art school and have a BFA but never quite learned all of the different aspects that are at play when it comes to painting and I've always wanted to know more.
The way the information in this book is written gives you all of the information and steps on how to paint basic and slightly more complex paintings. The first few pages discuss, paint types, different surfaces that you can paint on. There's a section on care for your brushes, different medium choices and their differences. And a section about tools that you may or may not need. Now this might be a touch more information than someone looking to pick up painting as a casual hobby or even a beginner starting out but it's definitely informative in a way that the information can be absorbed by either.
I really enjoyed the section on color theory, I felt that this gives the right framework for people to work on projects that are outside of the box. Ones where they aren't just copying the project based on the pictures in the book.
I managed to paint a couple of things not only using my own acrylic paints but on my ipad and with procreate using the techniques in the book. Handed the book over to my thirteen year old to see what he opinions on the book were and she was able to replicate a few pieces in the book with ease.
Definitely a book to checkout if you're looking for not just a basic paint by numbers instruction, because this one is a fountain of information for someone genuinely interested in learning a craft.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A book about Acrylic Painting for Beginners Teacher and self-taught artist Carla Co Chua presents her book "Creative Acrylics. A Step-by-Step Beginner's Guide to Creating with Paint & Mediums - Create with Color, Texture, Unique Effects & More!". This book is published by Quarto Publishing Group - Quarry in the "Art for Modern Makers series" and contains seven parts: 1) Materials, 2) Getting Started, 3) Still Life, 4) Flowers, 5) Landscapes and Skies, 6) Adorable Animals, and 7) Projects (e.g., a cupcake apron or floral sneakers). Carla hopes that "the lessons in this book will inspire you to experiment further with acrylics. This is something you’ll cherish for the rest of your life. My wish is that this book will be a stepping-stone for you as you begin your creative journey" (p. 8). Tips and instructions (e.g., "Prepping Paper and Canvas" or "Using a Palette Knife to Paint") are a help for the beginning artists. Templates for some of the projects, resources, and an index are also included in the book, but it would be helpful if the templates could be downloadable, especially if one buys the digital version of the book. Sadly acrylic gouache, acrylic inks, and acrylic markers are mentioned in the list of materials but the paintings presented in the book are all done with acrylic paints for which brushes and palette knives are used. As it says in the sub-title, the book is for beginners and for this group I recommend the book. The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #CreativeAcrylics #NetGalley
I was offered this book as an ARC by NetGalley. I am studying for an Open Creative Arts degree and so probably wouldn't call myself a beginner in acrylics. Regardless of this I do like to pick up and flick through books aimed at all levels as you never know what tips you can find.
The information on the types of acrylic and mediums was very simple and yet provided a thorough summary for beginners as it can be overwhelming when you enter an art or craft store looking at supplies for the first time. Even now I still find myself spotting new products which I have no idea what to do with!
Personally, this book is not for me as the examples were far too simple and generally not my taste. I found the examples of how to paint the 'Hydrangea' and 'Sky and Clouds' to produce the most sophisticated results. I would suggest that if you are undecided (and can't have a flick through the book in person) it is worth looking at the Carla Co Chua's work online via Instagram to see if it is the kind of work that you would like to create. If so, the instructions are written in a very accessible way and by following the clearly illustrated steps you are likely to achieve results to give you confidence. After that, continue to play and experiment to discover your own style!
This book was more of a beginners book than I was expecting or hoping for. I was also expecting more discussion of acrylic mediums, from the title and description, and there was hardly any except one brief mention.
I was already familiar with all the basic lessons presented here, but if I were completely new to painting then I can see how they might be useful.
The projects also didn't spark my interest at all. The style was too rough with not enough detail, and the subject matter was uninspiring. The pictures were not clear enough to follow the steps easily.
I also found the instructions to be lacking with too much glossed over if it were truly aimed at beginners. I think this book would be frustrating for painters at any level, with it being either too basic for those with any familiarity with painting or leaving out too many vital bits of information to introduce complete beginners to painting.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Quarry Books for providing an e-arc for review.
A practical guide for a newbie like me, interesting and informative.
Not only is this a good way to get started in the world of acrylics it's introduction and step by step instructions for beginners only helps further. The book itself is very creative, drawing you in with the cover and following on from this by using bright colours in the illustrations.
The book made me just want to go out and buy a bunch of stuff and get started using different types of surfaces introduced on an entry level basis really opened my eyes to what projects I could undertake, the creative juices are really flowing atm and I plan to refer to this book. The context also flows quite nicely and makes for an easy read, I am pretty impressed, I would like to see a sequel book to this as I feel that the author could cover more for beginners and even intermediate.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for considering me for this FREE ARC in return for my review, and thanks to the author for allowing me to expand my knowledge on an topic I knew nothing about.
Creative acrylics by Carla Co Chua Is a bright, fresh and fun take on acrylics for a beginning artist.
This lovely book walks you through the fundamentals of design elements, using the acrylic medium and additional supplies, the tools that you need to paint, setting up your workstation and how not to be too judgmental of your own work.
Step-by-step techniques are clearly laid laid out to build up your confidence, skills and inspiration.
Carla also teaches how to paint on different surfaces, and mix and other types of media to have a truly unique piece of art.
I would highly recommend this for anyone starting off with painting and the easy to use acrylic medium!
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto publishing for the advanced readers copy in return for my honest opinion.
Unfortunately, I found myself disappointed in this book. It doesn't give beginners enough detailed information in general, and the step-by-step instructions are particularly lacking.
It doesn't work any better for non-beginners. The projects, though varied, are limited in number, not very enticing and don't incorporate what the title hints. Of the many Quarry Books I've reviewed, this is the rare exception to their standard of excellence in How-to books.
I appreciate Quarry Books granting me access to an e-ARC of this book via Net-Galley. The book is scheduled for publication 1/11/22. All opinions in this review are my own, and they are freely given.
I like this book, it maybe a little basic, but I think people sometimes forget the basics. The book starts well with information about equipment, various acrylic paint, surfaces, colour theory and technique. Chapters follow with lessons on painting Still Life, Flowers, Landscape and Skies, Adorable Animals and finishes with some projects such as Cupcake Apron (painting on fabric) and Kio Pond (painted in a wooden bowl) and others are easy and fun. I love they way the layering way of painting is explained and the various ways it can be used. This is a great staring point for anyone wanting to learn acrylic painting
I have used my acrylic paints on shoes, bags, and clothing, and so was very excited to get more inspiration for other creative projects in this book. I was disappointed that there weren’t more projects featured ( I counted only five). However beginners will find all the information they need to start painting on various surfaces. The step by step pictorial painting instructions are well written and the paintings are cute and whimsical.
The materials info was useful as it reminded me that I need some textile mediums and possibly an acrylic leather sealer.
Having received a beautiful set of Acrylics, brushes, etc for Xmas, I was delighted to receive an advanced copy of this book by Carla Co Chua. What a well written and easy to follow book, the illustrations and step by step instructions are clear and concise and have an easy, light narrative flow. I enjoyed every bit of it. I have even begun to do a floral painting and it's not too shabby! (It even looks like flowers). My very grateful thanks to Netgalley, the publishers and especially the author for this opportunity to expand my knowledge.
One of the first things I noticed about this book were the colorful pictures. I was so surprised…I learned things in the first few pages that were probably going to be very important as I began my foray into acrylic painting. She gives useful info on types of brushes, colors to use, how to mix colors, and so many other things. The best thing of all, Carla Co Chua gives several “paint along” exercises to “teach” some techniques and actually leave you with some finished paintings!!! I absolutely loved this book, and it is a wonderful experience that will leave you wanting to paint more.
3 Stars! Good book for absolute acrylic painting beginners. This book takes you through the different kinds of acrylic paints and pictures so you can see the difference between soft and heavy bodied acrylics. I wish it had explained more and had pictures about mediums that can be added to acrylic paint since that’s what I thought the book was about. The book had some instructions on how to paint flowers or grapes step by step but I wasn’t very inspired by them and would’ve liked more step by step painting instructions. *I received this at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*
An excellent book for those about to embark on their creative journey with acrylics. It provides very useful information on the different types of paint and how to prep the workspace. I appreciated that fact that Chua didn't focus just on canvas but also other type of mediums. Highly recommended for beginners. The only reason why this does not get full 5 stars is because I would have appreciated seeing more projects per surface type.
I liked how the book started out, with all the basic explanations, because it felt like it was laying a solid foundation for something. It had just the right amount of information to make it appealing to a beginner. I didn’t, however, like the projects they chose all that much. I came to the conclusion that this book would be best suited for kids who want to learn about using acrylics, maybe at around 9/10 years of age. If you are an absolute beginner this book is for you.
"Creative Acrylics" offers a clear, step-by-step approach to acrylic painting with good progression and helpful visuals. While the technical instruction is solid, I found myself not particularly drawn to many of the designs showcased, which dampened my motivation to recreate them. The book does well in explaining fundamentals and various techniques, making it accessible for beginners. However, the aesthetic direction didn't align with my personal taste.
This is a good beginner's acrylic painting book with many projects, starting with simple paintings and advancing from there. The majority of projects are regular painting but the last chapter has projects on household items such as wooden bowls and canvas shoes. I would recommend this book to an adult beginner who is just trying to figure out how to paint.
Good for beginners to both drawing and painting with acrylics. Simple projects and lots of information and detailed steps with photos to guide through the process. Also it includes projects on various surfaces which is good to know to incorporate on DIY projects later.
A very nice step-by-step guide to painting with acrylics. It has a lot of samples and instructions that make it easy to follow along. This would be an excellent book for beginners. Thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.
Inspirational and simple. When you're in a creative stump, look no further than Creative Acrylics for ideas to copy or expand on. I'm now on my way to paint some donuts.
This book has very clear and concise information that was well visualized and presented. This is a great book on acrylic painting and I really enjoyed it.
"Creative Acrylics" is a great book for beginning artists. Carla Co Chua explains basic painting materials including paints, markers, inks, paper, canvas, brushes, and mediums in clear concise terms with beautiful photos. She covers workspace and easy set-up. The reader can learn in step-by-step instructions how to paint on cloth, shoes, bowls, and purses as well as canvas pictures one will be proud to hang on the wall.
Chua demonstrates how to paint georgous roses, bluebonnets, and sunflowers. The reader can decorate with clouds, mountains, skies, and enchanting sunsets. The pages are filled with adorable animal painting directions for colorful birds, fish, dogs, cats and tigers. There is also a section on still life painting which covers kitchen items such as cute coffee cups and donuts. The artist speaks openly about how painting is therapeutic for one's mental health. This wonderful project book can be used by parents to spend qualiry time with children that enjoy being creative.
Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group-Quarry for allowing me to review this delightful e-book. It was a honor! "Creative Acrylics will be published February 1, 2022.
This book has really lovely pictures in it and is a great starter guide for someone who wants to get into the world of acrylic painting. If you've ever attended one of those wine and paint nights and thought it was something you could do at home, this book would be a great place to begin. I very much appreciated the opening discussion of the different types of acrylic paints and painting tools. There are some general technique lessons, but there are also step by step instructions for very specific paint projects. I would not recommend this book for people who already have favourite painting tools and who know the basic techniques, unless the projects pictured are ones that you have a very specific desire to paint for yourself. For me personally, I would rather search for tutorials or paint classes on YouTube for projects that interest me. The book would probably make a lovely gift if bundled together with some of the mentioned art supplies and given to someone who you know has enjoyed a few wine and paint nights but doesn't have a set up at home already.