In this book, readers will discover an array of special, easy-to-follow tips and techniques for wielding colors and values in a variety of mediums with confidence. They'll begin by learning to master the application of tonal values--the foundation of lights and darks upon which colors depend. Next they'll find clear, concise guidelines for imbuing their work with color--everything from hue, intensity and shadow to color temperature and "broken colors." Finally, they'll learn how to use value and color together to create evocative moods and stunning special effects, such as time of day, the seasons, weather, fog, mist and clouds. Step-by-step demonstrations make learning easy and fun, no matter what the artist's skill level!Rachel Rubin Wolf is a freelance writer, editor and artist. She is the author of more than 20 books including the Acrylic Painter's Book of Styles and Techniques, the Best of Flower Painting and Art from the Parks. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Shows how light can can bring drama, emotion, and power to your painting.

In this fully illustrated book, Foster Caddell shares the secrets of his renowned use of color. Using his own landscapes as reference, Caddell gives his 49 keys to overcoming problems with color and bringing oil-painted landscapes to life.

Learn a basic approach to controlling tonal values at the start of your painting.

Go beyond the color wheel and unlock the potential of your oil painting palette with this unique and informative guide by an award-winning painter. More than any other single tool at your artistic disposal, color has the potential to command the eye, quicken the pulse and elicit a response from your viewer. In this engaging and unique color workshop, Vicki McMurry offers insight for artists of every level. McMurry starts with basic principles, from selecting a palette to designing with color. She then explores concepts like mother colors, transition colors, the corner theory and much more. Learn to create a personal color palette as unique as your fingerprint and capture a full range of atmospheres, from light and airy to moody and pensive. McMurry offers guiding principles, such as using temperature and value to make colors sing, as well as practical tips on everything from working with white to troubleshooting paintings for common color shortcomings. By combining your intuitive color knowledge with classic color truths, you’ll build powerful compositions that express your unique vision and embrace your viewers.

LEARNING HOW TO CAPTURE SUCH QUALITY HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER!Inside you'll find guidelines for rendering accurate skin tones in a variety of media, including watercolor, oil and pastel. You'll begin with a review of the five essential painting elements (drawing, value, color, composition and edges), then learn how light and color influence the appearance of skin tones. Best-selling artist Chris Saper provides the advice and examples that make every lesson and technique easy to understandâ€"immediately improving the quality of your work. You'll discover how to: • Paint the four major skin color groups (Caucasian, African American, Asian, and Hispanic) • Refine these colors into dozens of possible variations within each group • Select your palette and mix hues for clean, beautiful colors • Determine the color and temperature of light that falls on your subject • Paint direct and indirect sunlight, artificial light and highlights of light • Master the four elements that determine color in shadow • Use photographic references when you can't paint directly from life You'll also find seven step-by-step demonstrations and an appendix of sample color charts for each major skin type under a range of lighting variations. It's all you need to bring your portraits to life!

Create art that's more attractive, interesting and eye-catching! Even if your perspective is accurate, your subject realistic and colors vibrant, a weak composition - predictable, repetitious or monotonous - means a weak painting. The Simple Secret to Better Painting ensures that your compositions work every time. It's an insightful artistic philosophy that boils down the many technical principles of composition into a single master rule that's easy to remember and apply: Never make any two intervals the same. You can make every painting more interesting, dynamic and technically sound by varying intervals of distance, length and space, as well as intervals of value and color. The rule also applies to balance, shape and the location of your painting's focal point. Greg Albert illustrates these lessons with eye-opening examples from both beginning and professional artists, including Frank Webb, Tony Couch, Kevin Macpherson, Charles Reid, Tony Van Hasselt and more. You'll discover that the ONE RULE is the only rule of composition you need to immediately improve your work - the moment your brush touches the canvas.