Acrylic Revolution: New Tricks and Techniques for Working with the World's Most Versatile Medium

by Nancy Reyner

* Manufacturers see acrylic paint as the most versatile paint with the most growth potential and are putting marketing and product development dollars behind their products to help educate readers on the benefits of this paint—there are currently over 225 different types of acrylic paints

* The first book to address the most popular applications of acrylics and the accompanying mediums

* With 101 tricks and techniques there is literally something for everyone-from artists, to crafters, to weekend enthusiasts, to students of all levels

* Features a contemporary design that reflects the applications and current trends surrounding the medium

Acrylic Revolution will show readers everything they need to know to be successful in their acrylic painting projects. With over 101 of the most popular, interesting, and indispensable tricks for working with acrylic-each with its own step-by-step demonstration-there is literally page after page of acrylic instruction and inspiration for readers to discover. A gallery of finished art at the back of the book will show readers how to combine different tricks to use in their artwork offering them real-life applications for acrylic techniques.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Reference, Crafts

128 pages, Spiral-bound

First published March 16, 2007

Reviews

[Ed Smiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK you are an acrylic painter. You want some ideas. You want to try something new. This is the book.
Good reference material. This is not a paint by number book. It gives about 100 techniques.

It may be of more interest to an abstract or more experimental painter, although many of the techniques can be adopted to traditional work.

In the interest of fairness, since I gave it five stars, I did find some minor flaws. I found two spelling errors, although admittedly one of those is "sgraffito". I found one edge case of a technical explanation that I though was slightly off. But everything of substance appears to be completely reliable and technically sound. (I have used a fair number of experimental techniques myself, so I have used many of them.)

[Marianne Mullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great basics for trying new ideas out with acrylic. Didn't find too many new ideas but good foundations for a beginner artist.

1/3/22 Just re-read this book to revisit techniques I might have forgotten about. Great reminders of ways to continue to explore creativity

[Yaaresse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this in the library. I wish there was a e-book version, but I found it interesting/useful enough that I will probably go for the hard copy.

[Carol - Reading Writing and Riesling]

This book is so inspiring I have bought two more by this author and artist.

[LemontreeLime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic recipe book for ideas of tweaking acrylic paint in ways you never thought of trying, mostly because you had no idea it could be done, but now that you do - you know you are going to have fun...

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book for anyone who wants to take their acrylic painting skills to the next level. This is the book for you if you want ideas and instruction on how to use the various acrylic gels, mediums and additives to enhance your acrylic painting skills.

[Linda Negro · Rating 5 out of 5]

In waterever medium you use to create— excellence requires an understanding of how the parts work. What happens if you knead water and flour and roll the dough thin. Add eggs and yeast and you have bread instead of pasta. How best to get a seed to sprout and what conditions will it grow best?
How does an opaque watercolor looks next to a transparent color?
Nancy Reyner is creating The Bible of acrylic painting. Not only by example in her transporting paintings but in the way she teaches not only the minute processes that make a difference in her work but also how those can create the ultimate in your painting — to reach and communicate with others what you are expressing.
This artist was extensively classically trained in oil painting but along the way accepted a challenge from Golden paints to experiment with acrylics.
It was an easy decision since she received the paints free as a Golden expert she told Tim Gagnon’s class at Gukf Coast State College Encore. But ahhh what she did with that experimentation is a marvel.
And she shares it all. She notes that first artists were trying to get acrylics to act like oils or watercolors( and she can tell you how to do that) but she learned that acrylic can do so much more than watercolor, oils, pastels and tempera can do and she shows you how.
This is what happens if you mix this paint with gel and how that differs from a matte gel or paste.
It is a stunning reference that helps many artists move more quickly through the learning curve— just as a cookbook guides you through a technique.
While I’ve spent more time with watercolors, I feel more comfortable now in acrylics.
And I’m working my way through Reyner’s books with the hope it will lead to a class at her Sante Fe studio.
Thanks Nancy.

[Mark Merris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cool ideas and techniques for painting with not only acrylic but collage, stencils and various layering. She introduces fun and interesting ways of using different mattes and gels that can create unique looks or patterns. It opens up many other possibilities beyond straight forward application of paint to canvas, including using and prep of several types of paint surfaces. Not just instructional but a look at creative options.

[Patti Triplett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a self-taught artist. When I first started playing with acrylics, I used the hell out of the is book for ideas and practice techniques. I found I was already doing some of the techniques naturally, not knowing they were actually called something. Great pictures and directions on how to do some things, a decent resources list, and all kinds of inspiration.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

great techniques

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful.

[Anastasia MacKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of fun ideas and techniques.

[Shadowz Greymoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a great book for my art class, and taught me a lot of new ways to use acrylic paints

[mai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great for vocab and acknowledging accessibility limitations but could have included more advanced techniques for different styles.

[Darby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book I liked but I didn't love. It did teach me some things I never knew how to do or even thought about doing. On some of the techniques it would show what a piece of artwork looked like -- that used the technique, but on many it just showed the end result of just the technique not really incorporating it into a piece of work. It was just a little 2 inch square of crackle, masking or whatever. But not a full piece of artwork using it. So that bothered me. But I did learn things and so I am glad picked it up and read it.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up when my local rubber stamp store was closing and because I was getting it for a steal, didn't really look through it thoroughly. In recent months though, I have looked through it and as I want to start dabbling more with paint in my art projects this book really will help me not only dabble, play but be very inspired to try new techniques, new textures, new looks and really get messy and have lots of fun.

[Matthew Gatheringwater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just what I needed...a simple, practical, no-nonsense guide to a variety of techniques to add texture and effects to acrylic painting. It is like a recipe book, with page-long directions of individual techniques and, like a good recipe book, it is spiral-bound within a hard cover, so it can lie flat. The book also contains a "gallery" of paintings that use techniques featured in the book.

[Shanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't wait to use some of the techniques demonstrated in this book. Everything is explained well enough to appeal to a beginner. There are plenty of inspiring paintings shown representing each technique.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent resource for the acrylic artisan. Practical and extensive, hitting multiple mediums and their uses. I particularly liked the format and layout, which was clear, beautifully photographed and accessible.

[Palma · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very good book with lots of samples and instructions. It's a good introduction to acylics.
One thing that I find irritating is when only certain brands are recommended or used in a book as this limits the audience IMO There are other countries and brands outside of america!

[Erginartesia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nancy is masterful with acrylic and she is a great communicator. I like the scope of this book and the binder style .. as it is a workbook at its core.
She challenges you to try things and puts them into context. Many techniqu books just spew content like a laundry list.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book!!! Would give it ten stars if I could. So much great info and demos of all the facinating Acrylic mediums out there, which I loved. Such a great reference book to have.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great ideas of different mediums to mix with paint to get interesting effects!

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good book on how to use acrylics today. They are much more versatile, and there many methods of application. I liked that you lay this book flat too.

[Sj · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot. I'm not a professional artist so i did learn a lot of techniques from this book.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good reference book. Helpful for an art newbie like myself what with the glossary of art terminology and step-by-step instructions and photographs.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

lots of neat ideas, good photos for reference

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book makes me CRAZY! So many good good ideas. Usable. Doable. In fact, I'm buying my own copy so I can use and reuse.

[Emily F.]

Love this book! It's choc full of new painting techniques. It makes a fabulous reference tool.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm new to acrylic and already I've used a few suggestions from this book. I like the layout and extremely appreciative of the pictures.