The subtitle of this book is 115 essential tips to improve your painting and this is pretty much what you get.  Whether you are a beginner (which this book is also suitable for) or have been painting for some time, knowing some of these tricks of the trade can make all the difference.

These tips cover a vast range of topics, from what to buy and how to look after it to capturing your chosen subject on canvas.  Short, snappy captions to photographs tell the reader quickly and simply what to do (or not to do) to enhance their work.  A typical chapter has some essential facts beneath the heading, and several photographs, each with some useful information.  Subjects covered include working from photographs, using additives to achieve texture, painting various things realistically and what you actually need to own (and what you don’t).  It doesn’t take long to read the book but what it says tends to stay in the mind, mainly due, I think, to its clever layout and lack of pages filled with just words; it is a book on art, after all.  Acrylics are not like other paints, and lack the long pedigree of oils or watercolors, so a whole book on how to use them is a useful purchase.  Obviously, there is more to it all than can be covered in one small book, but you can learn a lot of useful things in here.  The spiral spine that enables the book to lie open flat while you work is a plus as well.