Painting for the Absolute and Utter Beginner

The chapters follow a progressive sequence that teaches basic skills through practical, accessible exercises–how to handle a brush, achieve the right paint consistency, mix color, and create dimension–building a solid foundation that readers can rely on as painting projects grow more challenging.

A special feature is the artwork and commentary of real students, which helps beginners set realistic goals and shows them how other artists at the same level of experience have worked through inevitable setbacks to achieve success.

Based on the author’s successful courses and workshops, Painting for the Absolute and Utter Beginner really does start at the beginning, helping new painters find "what works" while providing information on all the necessary tools, tips, and techniques they’ll need to create a representational painting.

The chapters follow a progressive sequence that teaches basic skills through practical, accessible exercises–how to handle a brush, achieve the right paint consistency, mix color, and create dimension–building a solid foundation that readers can rely on as painting projects grow more challenging.

A special feature is the artwork and commentary of real students, which helps beginners set realistic goals and shows them how other artists at the same level of experience have worked through inevitable setbacks to achieve success.

Library Journal

This gets an unequivocal thumbs-up as a book for any novice who wants to dive into acrylics without being intimidated by overly sophisticated exercises. Garcia, an accomplished artist and an instructor at the Silvermine School of Art in Connecticut, wisely uses her students' efforts to illustrate her fine text.

CLAIRE WATSON GARCIA is an instructor at the prestigious Silvermine School of Art in New Canaan, CT, where her courses and workshops for the "Absolute and Utter Beginner" have been popular for more than 20 years. She is also the author of Drawing for the Absolute and Utter Beginner.