Painting with Acrylics (Acrylic Tips & Techniques) [Paperback]

Arnold Lowrey (Author)

Book Description

Series: Acrylic Tips & Techniques | Publication Date: March 1, 2006

Arnold Lowrey presents a lively, inspirational introduction to acrylics which illustrates the versatility and beauty of this wonderful medium. Acrylic paint is easy to use, it dries quickly and many different effects can be created from washes and glazes to exciting textural finishes. It is an ideal medium for anyone starting to paint, but it also offers challenges to the more experienced artist because of its quick drying properties and versatility. Watercolour and oil painting techniques can be used, either on their own, or combined to create paintings full of depth, mood and atmosphere, and there is the added benefit that the paints are watersoluble. Using over 100 step-by-step photographs in a sequence of simple demonstrations, Arnold shows how to paint landscapes, seascapes and buildings, and he also illustrates how to change daylight into night and sunlight into mist using transparent glazing effects. With his help you can create sparkling pictures full of life, atmosphere and depth.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Arnold Lowrey has been painting in a variety of media for over 25 years. He paints seascapes. still life, landscapes, portraits and abstracts, and exhibits his paintings in Wales and London. Arnold holds regular weekend workshops and weekly painting courses, residential watercolour courses and demonstrations for Art Societies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Search Press (March 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844480100
• ISBN-13: 978-1844480104
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #927,486 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

72 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An extremely helpful introduction to acrylics, June 16, 2006

By 

Smiling Tom (Oklahoma City, OK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Painting with Acrylics (Acrylic Tips & Techniques) (Paperback)

I was unsure of buying this book because it was unreviewed and I had not heard of the author. I'm very glad I took the chance. I've been dabbling with acrylic painting for the last year or so (with no other painting or art experience), and I'm still a pretty rank beginner. I have several other books on acrylic painting. Some of them I like very well, but this is the one I was able to follow the most easily and wind up with something approximating "art."

The strenght of the book is the detailed instruction for completing each project. Lowrey approaches things in a step by step manner. Some of my other books are step by step, but they seem like huge steps because I am left wondering, okay, how did you get from this step to that step? Not here. I think any beginner would be very pleased with this book.

As for what the book covers - It has brief sections on materials, color theory, and composition. Most of the book, though, is split up into six projects:
1. Watercolor technique
2. Oil (impasto) technique
3. mixed watercolor/oil technique
4. glazing with white
5. glasing with color
6. using pastes & gels.

Following each project is a number of paintings created with the same technique. And Mr. Lowrey's paintings are very attractive, I think. I very much like his use of color.

At any rate, Mr. Lowrey's book was very helpful to this beginner. He maintains a website, so check out some of his art if you're curious. (an internet search on Arnold Lowrey and acrylic should be sure to turn it up.)

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative, June 1, 2007

By 

Rae (Cincinnati, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Painting with Acrylics (Acrylic Tips & Techniques) (Paperback)

"Painting With Acrylics" starts with an informative introduction which discusses the wide variety in styles and uses of acrylic paint. The sections on acrylic mediums, brush strokes, composition and using color were particularly interesting. The author then shows how to paint six scenes using a well-rounded variety of techniques. He shows how to use palette knives, sponges, sand paper, paper towels, razor blades, fingers and of course paint brushes to achieve the look of water color, scumbling, oil paint, and glazes. In addition, he teaches the reader how to use acrylic pastes and gels. I highly recommend this book.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Step by Step Instructions, September 12, 2007

By 

Anna M. Eisenberg (Tallahassee, FL United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Painting with Acrylics (Acrylic Tips & Techniques) (Paperback)

After a short introduction about the materials, color, and tips on composition, Arnold Lowrey spends the bulk of this book giving instructions on how he created 6 paintings that use different techniques. These instructions really are step by step and never jump way ahead in the painting in one "step" leaving you thinking, "what, how did he do that?" He always lets you know exactly what colors and instruments he used to create each object in the painting. All in all, incredibly helpful.