Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

A comprehensive and useful handbook for all artists.

Artist's Materials is a detailed, accessible and comprehensive reference to all the materials available for drawing and painting. The book provides a brief history of the materials focusing on those that have been used for generations -- such as oil paint and ink -- and art surfaces such as paper, canvas, wood and others. Each material is discussed in terms of cost, suitability, and drying times.

The book covers every medium in detail along with illustrated techniques and tools:

Brushes of every size, shape and bristle type Pencils, graphite sticks and powders, charcoal and felt pens Pens and inks for drawing and calligraphy Pastels: soft, hard, oil, pencil and conté sticks Watercolor effects, papers and media Gouache, tempera and powder paints Acrylics; Liquitex acrylics and modeling media Oils, additives, glazing and more Mixed media combinations that work.

Detailed descriptions explain how to get the best results and avoid problems.

Tips and hints from professional artists are featured along with illustrations showing the materials being used. Examples of masterpieces by Goya, Pollock, and others accompany each section.

Artist's Materials is a must-have technical manual and creative reference for artists at any level of experience.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Basics
• Introduction
• History
• Choosing a Medium
• Analysis of a Picture
• Mixing Media
• How to Use this Book
• Common Terms
• Surfaces
• Introduction
• Choice of Surface
• Supports and Props
• Boards, Blocks and Pads
• Papers
• Watercolor Paper
• Prepared Surfaces for Pastels, Acrylics and Oils
• Canvas and Material Supports
• Stretching a Canvas
• Other Surfaces
• Brushes
• Introduction
• What Brushes are Made Of
• Watercolor Brushes
• Watercolor Brushes and Their Uses
• Oil and Acrylic Brushes
• Oil and Acrylic Brushes and Their Uses
• Using Non-Artist's Brushes, Knives and Other Tools
• Care of Brushes
• Mixing Paint
• Pencils, Charcoal, Graphite and Pens
• Introduction
• Pencils
• Pencil Effects
• Colored Pencils
• Charcoal
• Charcoal Effects and Fixing
• Graphite
• Felt-Tip Pens
• Inks and Scratchboard
• Introduction
• Pens
• Pen Types
• Pen Effects
• Inks
• Using Ink with Brushes
• Calligraphic Styles
• Scratchboard
• Pastels
• Introduction
• Pastel Types
• Soft Pastels
• Soft Pastels: Uses
• Hard Pastels
• Hard Pastels: Uses
• Oil Pastels
• Oil Pastels: Uses
• Pastel Pencils
• Conté Crayons
• Oil Sticks
• Pastel Techniques
• Other Pastel Techniques
• Pastel Supports
• Pastel Papers
• Fixing and Framing Pastels
• Watercolors
• Introduction
• Watercolor Characteristics
• Watercolor Pans and Boxes
• Color Durability and Washes
• Masking and Body Color
• Watercolor Media
• Watercolor Papers
• Color Range
• Marks: Wet-in-Wet
• Experimenting with Marks
• Washes
• Layering Washes
• Brush Drawing
• Watercolor Pencils and Sticks
• Color
• Color Exercises
• Warm and Cool Colors
• Gouache, Tempera and Paints
• Introduction
• Gouache, Powder and Poster Paints
• Tempera
• Tempera Paints and Equipment
• Gouache
• Gouache Techniques
• Gouache Supports
• Powder Paints
• Poster Paints
• Textured Paints
• Creating a Range of Effects
• Acrylics
• Introduction
• Characteristics of Acrylics
• The Range of Acrylics
• Supports
• Applications
• Techniques
• Water Techniques
• Oil Effects
• Oil Techniques
• Mixing Media
• Relief and Texture
• Varnishing
• Oils
• Introduction
• Characteristics of Oils
• Oil Media
• Oil Paint Qualities
• Supports
• Techniques
• Expressive Techniques
• Alkyd Oil Paints
• Alkyd-Based Media
• Water-Soluble Oils
• Using Water-Soluble Oils
• Varnishing
• Working Practices
• Caring for Your Work
• The Studio
• Mounting Work
• Framing
• Making the Frame
• Storing Work
• Presentation
• Index
• Acknowledgements

Excerpt provided by Syndetics

Introduction to "Basics" There has never been a more exciting time for artists to explore the range of materials and media available to them. Until recently, the choice was not very wide, but in the past few years we have seen the introduction of many new materials and innovations that have been made possible by technological advances. Whether we are aspiring artists or experienced professionals, we can all learn something from trying a different way of working. Picking up a new medium and exploring its possibilities can often send an artist's work off in fresh and quite unexpected directions. A new material can sometimes make us see and observe differently, and can help stretch and flex our expressive boundaries. Similarly, a close study of how other artists, both traditional and contemporary, have used a particular medium can greatly enhance our own understanding of its use and possibilities, so research as much as you can. This book aims to show the vast range of media that is available, both for professional and amateur artists. It deals with all the equipment and materials that the artist can deploy to create original and innovative pieces. However, the techniques and processes, such as printmaking, which are used to produce multiple copies of the same image, do not fall within the scope of this book, nor do sculpture, artists' books or other three-dimensional artworks. It is hoped that the following pages, which are packed with images of intriguing materials, beautiful works of art and informative and helpful advice, will excite and inspire the reader to experiment with and enjoy a whole new area of creative mark-making. Excerpted from Artist's Materials: All the Materials You Will Ever Need to Make Art by Lorrainne Harrison All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

Artist and writer Harrison offers a fine beginner's guide to artists' materials, which beautifully illustrates discussions of materials for a variety of artistic media. Classic paintings, newly commissioned work, and a gallery of photographs and sketches accompany each demonstration. More than 20 artists provide expert tips on everything from pastels, pencils, charcoal graphite, pens, and inks to watercolors, gouache, tempera, acrylics, and oils. Though this book may not actually include "all the materials you will ever need to make art," it's highly recommended for general collections. For more recent advances in art technologies, such as digitally printed laminates and laser-cut metal, see Ray Smith's New Artist's Handbook. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Lorraine Harrison is an author and illustrator.