Abstract Painting (20 Projects & Creative Techniques In Acrylic & Mixed Media)

Create 20 beautiful abstract works of art in acrylic and mixed media using exciting new techniques and materials.

Petra Thölken’s practical and inspiring book examines what it means to make an abstract work of art. She encourages the reader to consider the subjects of composition, planes, and subject and expression, while also examining the more practical topics of colour theory and colour mixing, how to work with pigment, canvas and priming, spatula techniques and working with unconventional backgrounds. All these elements build up into a vocabulary of visual pointers from which the reader can begin to explore their own adventurousness and creativity.

Through the 20 beautiful projects that Petra demonstrates, step by step, readers will learn how to create texture, work with unusual tools and create soft transitions or high contrast. Her clarity of thought and inspirational advice will open your eyes to a whole new way of seeing your paintings and achieving the self-expression that leads to visually exciting and technically innovative work. For some of the projects, there are links to Petra''s popular YouTube videos, demonstrating how she created the individual paintings.

6 FOREWORD
8 THE BASICS 
10 Pigment
12 Acrylic
13 Binding agent
14 Traditional colour theory
16 Mixing in practice
17 Making pigment paste
18 Composition
19 Planes
20 Subject and expression
22 Brushes
24 Unconventional tools
26 Canvas
27 Priming
28 What is glazing?
29 Spatula techniques
30 Spatula: Exercise 1
32 Spatula: Exercise 2
34 Texture in the picture
36 Emphasizing texture: Exercise 1
38 Emphasizing texture: Exercise 2
40 Sponge
42 Drawing implements
43 Gold plating
44 Unconventional backgrounds
45 Your colours

46 PROJECTS
48 My Japanese Water Lilies
52 Golden Skyline
56 Patina Allure
60 The Golden Rectangle
64 Creative Board
68 What Good Can I Do Myself Today?
72 Give Colour Some Room
76 Inspiring Colour Field Painting
80 Days Like This
84 Wandering into the Distance
88 Flower Interplay
92 Summer Courtyard Whispers
96 Garden Art From Long Ago
100 True Colours
104 Silence is Golden
108 Sailing in a Storm
112 Dreamy Green
116 Overland Cornfield
120 Expressive Abstract
124 Abstract Colour Play
128 NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
128 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This is a visually beautiful book with plenty of helpful advice, information and tips. I have done a couple of the exercises and although I am not happy enough to show you the results, I feel encouraged to continue with abstract. I don''t think this book is for a complete beginner to art but is perfect for an artist who is a beginner to abstract art. I am very glad I added to my library of art library.

I have long been a fan of abstract art but find it so difficult to achieve myself without ending up with a muddy mess.

This enchanting book covers the basics in great detail from which paints to use, creating your own paints with pigments and binders, using commercially available paints, colour theory and composition and includes a section of what exact colours to mix to get a specific colour which I found useful.

The author gives simple analogies throughout to explain concepts such as subject and planes, making for easy reading and understanding.

There are exercises to complete to help you explore the techniques mentioned. They are detailed and precise, perfect for a beginner.<