Archives: Walter Foster Books
Essential color-mixing recipes for oil and acrylic painting in a convenient lay-flat format.
No more guessing at colors only to end up with a muddy mess and wasted paint! Color Mixing Recipes for Oil & Acrylic takes the mystery and stress out of color mixing with just the right formula for more than 450 color combinations, along with instruction on a variety of painting techniques. Use the handy conversion chart for finding acrylic equivalents of oil paints and vice versa.
Designed for use in the studio, this durable book features:
- A lay-flat spiral binding
- Easily wipeable glossy cardstock pages
- A removable plastic color-mixing grid
Follow these four simple steps to mix more than 1,500 color combinations:
- Look in the Color Guidance Index for the subject you want to paint—for example, “Broccoli.”
- Find the Color Recipe with the subject’s recipe number (“81”) and a photo of the actual paint mixture.
- Use the Color Mixing Grid to measure each paint color.
- Mix the color.
It’s that easy! This comprehensive reference also includes foundational instruction on color theory and mixing, covering:
- Color theory
- Color value mixing
- Graying color naturally
- Mixing flesh and portrait colors
Whether you are a beginning or experienced artist, Color Mixing Recipes for Oil & Acrylic is an invaluable tool for your workspace.
Walter Foster’s best-selling Color Mixing Recipes series also includes Color Mixing Recipes for Watercolor, Color Mixing Recipes for Landscapes, and Color Mixing Recipes for Portraits. These books contain hundreds of precise color mixing combinations for realistic results, as well as acetate grids for measuring paint units.
Learn to paint in the beautiful and versatile medium of acrylic as you learn foundational painting techniques.
In Acrylic Painting Step by Step, you will find all the instruction and inspiration you need to master the medium or improve your painting skills. Accomplished artist Tom Swimm guides you step by step through 12 stunning acrylic projects, offering easy-to-follow instructions along with his personal artistic insights. This comprehensive introduction covers dozens of beginning and advanced acrylic techniques, from underpainting and glazing to impasto and texturizing. You will learn to paint a variety of subjects, including a lively floral, a striking still life, an eye-catching street scene, and a gorgeous seascape.
Explore the art of colored pencil drawing in this comprehensive introduction.
*Named One of the 54 Best Colored Pencil Drawing Books of All Time by BookAuthority*
Colored Pencil Step by Step explores drawing and layering colors, plus a range of styles and techniques for creating your own works of art in colored pencil. Three renowned colored pencil artists guide you step by step through 11 vibrant lessons, demonstrating a variety of special techniques and tricks along the way.
Whether you’re a novice or an accomplished artist who has never experimented with a colored pencil, this book will provide the instruction and inspiration you need to master this versatile medium.
Aspiring oil painters can take a journey with four accomplished oil artists as they follow along with step-by-step demonstrations that feature a variety of techniques and a range of subject matter. Artists of all skill levels will appreciate the appeal of each approach as they learn to paint tropical seascapes, pastoral landscapes, dynamic still lifes, captivating animal portraits, and more. Oil Painting Step by Step walks you through concepts and techniques, including underpainting, composition, plein air, and special effects, assuring you a solid foundation in this wonderful art form.
Experienced artists and beginners alike will appreciate this concise, easy-to-follow guide with illustrated step-by-step demonstrations featuring four noted watercolor professionals.
Watercolor Painting Step by Step guides the reader through 12 beautiful watercolor projects, covering a variety of subjects, including still lifes, landscapes, and animal portraiture. With this comprehensive guide, you will learn about fundamental techniques such as mixing color, developing dimension, creating special effects, and more. With the help of this stylish, technique-filled book, you’ll be well on your way to creating your own watercolor masterpieces!
Whether you specialize in drawing—even cartooning and animation—or prefer media such as acrylic, oil, pastel, or watercolor, a good knowledge of perspective is invaluable. It is the foundation of all great paintings and drawings, no matter what medium. In the pages of Perspective, practice the methods of measuring and dividing areas proportionately; then learn how we perceive depth and distance, and how to render it correctly on paper or canvas.
You will learn the basics and beyond, covering concepts like foreshortening; cast shadows; reflections; and even one-, two-, and three-point perspective. And once you have a good grasp of the basics, it’s easy to graduate to more complex and irregular forms. This comprehensive guide will show you how!
If you’ve ever been charmed and baffled by a cat’s quirks, A Cat Lover’s Activity Book is for you! Whether it’s their knack for napping in places they shouldn’t or their determination to investigate anything new (especially if it’s breakable), each page brings to life the charming absurdity that only a cat can provide.
Created by self-proclaimed cat enthusiast and humorist Rachel Hastings, A Cat Lover’s Activity Book perfectly captures those heartwarming, laugh-out-loud moments that every cat parent knows too well.
More than just a coloring book, this is a tongue-in-cheek celebration of everything we love—and endure—about cats. With relatable themes, witty illustrations, and plenty of feline shenanigans, it’s the ultimate way for cat lovers to unwind.
Inside, you will find:
- Hysterical coloring pages featuring iconic cat antics
- Spot the difference, memory games, and mazes
- Word searches and word scrambles
- Quizzes and funny fill-in-the-blanks
- Tips on coping with, er, enjoying everyday life with cats
Purrrfect for anyone who loves their cat more than they love sleeping in a bed without cat hair, A Cat Lover’s Activity Book turns downtime into a celebration of feline friendship.
A bark-out-loud tribute to dog lovers, A Dog Lover’s Activity Book brings the delightful chaos of canine companionship to life with coloring pages and puzzles that capture the humor, loyalty, and boundless energy dogs bring to their humans. This activity book is packed with scenes that reflect the rollercoaster of dog ownership—from muddy pawprints and joyful zoomies to suspiciously quiet moments and wagging tails that double as weapons.
Perfect for relaxing after a long day of explaining to your dog why the vacuum isn’t a threat, or for laughing with friends and family, A Dog Lover’s Activity Book offers a lighthearted look at the hilarious world of dog-loving life. With witty, relatable illustrations and fun activities, it’s the ultimate celebration of the special bond between humans and their furry best friends.
Inside, you will find:
- Hysterical coloring pages featuring iconic dog antics
- Spot the difference, memory games, and mazes
- Word searches and word scrambles
- Quizzes and funny fill-in-the-blanks
- Tips on coping with, er, enjoying everyday life with dogs
This book is the perfect gift for anyone who’s ever laughed, cried, or tried to reason with a dog. It’s a tail-waggingly good way to honor the joy, comfort, and occasional chewed-up slipper that dogs bring into our lives.
Step into the playful world of Fuzzballs Super Cuteness Overload Coloring Book, where adorable characters and whimsical adventures await.
Created by Marc Sach, the illustrator behind the popular Fuzzballs webcomic, this coloring book brings you a delightful collection of scenes featuring fan-favorite characters like Timmy the Tiger, Whisky the Cat, and Ollie the Bunny. Known for their big personalities and loveable antics, these characters invite fans of all ages to add their own colors and creativity to every page.
From cozy moments to comical scenarios, each page offers a fresh canvas for coloring enthusiasts. Whether you’re an experienced colorist or new to the craft, you’ll enjoy the playful designs and the chance to explore Marc Sach’s imaginative, funny world.
Features include:
- Beloved Characters: Color Timmy, Whisky, Ollie, and more in delightful scenes.
- Perfect for All Ages: Suitable for kids, teens, and adults who love cute, engaging coloring activities.
- High-Quality Pages: Designed to handle colored pencils, markers, and crayons, so you can experiment with vibrant colors.
- Great Gift Idea: A perfect treat for Fuzzballs fans and anyone seeking a fun, relaxing coloring experience.
Bring these comical, fuzzy friends to life and experience the joy of Fuzzballs Super Cuteness Overload Coloring Book!
In Pencil Drawing, a renowned master in the field, Gene Franks, explains how to develop your drawings from start to finish, teaching specific techniques for shading, contrast, texture, detail, and more. You will learn all aspects of pencil drawing as you follow the easy-to-follow instructions for drawing everything from animals and people to household items in no time at all. All you need is this book, a pencil, and a little perseverance!