Ray Smith (1) (1949–)

I was required to take an art appreciation class in college to graduate--and I loved it! It brought back my earlier days when I used to love to draw (and even won second prize in an inter-school city-wide art contest.) So next I took a course on painting at the university--only to be bitterly disappointed. We weren't taught technique. No siree. We were told to paint a banana, then our teacher went around and when she got to me told me I should use purple or something! Use my imagination! show more This is why you can go to museums and see paint splatters hung up as art. So then I went out and bought this--and this I was pleased with. Because it covers all sorts of tools, materials and techniques not dreamed of by high school (and it seems college) art teachers: Drawing, Perspective, Watercolor, Oil Painting, Acrylics, Mixed Media. Sure, this lends itself to both traditional and modern styles--but if you're going to make your banana purple, at least you'll better know your options! show less

This has good coverage of many different types of art media but it is very general. For beginners or people who want to experiment with a different type of art media it can be interesting and useful.

A nice introduction to acrylics with some good ideas to try. I got two good tips (at least): acrylic is an adhesive and don't clean brushes with warm water because it accelerates curing.

Almost to much information. The techniques I have picked up from this book have really helped me.