Always wanted to paint with acrylics? This easy-to-follow, full color guide gives you expert instruction and simple exercises in acrylic painting techniques and styles. The step-by-step projects let you practice your skill and stir your imagination — and give you the foundation to create similar projects with your own subjects and surfaces!

• Get your feet (and brushes) wet — assemble your materials, prepare your surfaces, and sort out additives and enhancers

• Try out basic acrylic techniques — work with brush strokes, control and thin your paint, experiment with textures, and use stencils

• Practice design and composition principles — mix and use color, balance elements, make changes, and pull your painting together

• Imitate several kinds of styles — use acrylic paint to mimic the effects of watercolor and oil paints

• Build your repertoire — explore texture and dimension, work with glass, rocks, bricks, metalwork, and more

Open the book and find:

• Clear step-by-step instructions with illustrations

• A variety of projects and styles to suit all tastes

• Quick tricks and techniques to get started painting right away

• Lots of colorful paintings to inspire creativity

• Helpful hints for improving your drawing skills

• Full-scale projects at the end of most chapters

• Exercises to jump-start your artistic passion