Wilson Emma - Drawing Box Set

Drawing Box Set Great Tips And Techniques To Learn How To Draw, Acrylic Painting And ZenDoodle

Acrylic Painting Step by Step guidelines To Learn FAST How to Paint with Acrylics

Table of Contents Introduction BONUS: Your FREE Gift Chapter 1 – Acrylic Painting Basics Chapter 2 – 11 Best Brand of Acrylic Paint Chapter 3 – Evaluating a New Brand of Acrylic Paint Chapter 4 – Acrylic Painting Tips Chapter 5 – How to Paint with Acrylics Getting Started Finishing Up Conclusion

Copyright Notice © Copyright 2015 by Emma Wilson- All rights reserved. This document is geared towards providing exact and reliable information in regards to the topic and issue covered. The publication is sold with the idea that the publisher is not required to render accounting, officially permitted, or otherwise, qualified services. If advice is necessary, legal or professional, a practiced individual in the profession should be ordered. - From a Declaration of Principles which was accepted and approved equally by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations. In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved. The information provided herein is stated to be truthful and consistent, in that any liability, in terms of inattention or otherwise, by any usage or abuse of any policies, processes, or directions contained within is the solitary and utter responsibility of the recipient reader. Under no circumstances will any legal responsibility or blame be held against the publisher for any reparation, damages, or monetary loss due to the information herein, either directly or indirectly. Respective authors own all copyrights not held by the publisher. The information herein is offered for informational purposes solely, and is universal as so.

The presentation of the information is without contract or any type of guarantee assurance. The trademarks that are used are without any consent, and the publication of the trademark is without permission or backing by the trademark owner. All trademarks and brands within this book are for clarifying purposes only and are the owned by the owners themselves, not affiliated with this document.

Disclaimer While all attempts have been made to verify the information provided in this book, the author does not assume any responsibility for errors, omissions, or contrary interpretations of the subject matter contained within. The information provided in this book is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The reader is responsible for his or her own actions and the author does not accept any responsibilities for any liabilities or damages, real or perceived, resulting from the use of this information.

Introduction I want to thank you and congratulate you for downloading the book, “Acrylic Painting”. Acrylics are a water-based paint, which implies they can be blended with water to thin them down and you clean your brushes with water. They’re produced using pigment mixed with acrylic resin and emulsion. Acrylics are quick drying and can also be used in thin, watery glazing s or impasto. Acrylic paints dry rapidly. This is both advantage and a disadvantage. The preference of a quick drying time is that you can apply numerous layers of paint in a short measure of time. Artists can viably utilize glazing and layering systems when utilizing acrylics. The layers of paint tie to each other exceptionally well due to their great adhesive qualities. An alternate advantage is their water-dissolvability, as this takes into consideration simpler clean-up and lessens the need to utilize chemicals that may make harmful fumes. The disadvantage to paints drying rapidly is that there is little time in which an artist can control the paint once it is laid onto the surface. Nonetheless, there are a few acrylic mediums that can abate drying time, increase transparency, or help an artist accomplish thick impasto impacts with acrylics. Acrylic paints dry rapidly in light of the fact that they are water based. The time it takes for water to dissipate is to what extent it takes for these paints to dry. In the next chapters of the book you will lean step by step instruction and guidelines on how to start painting with acrylic paint. Thanks again for downloading this book, I hope you enjoy it!

BONUS: Your FREE Gift

Thank you for purchasing my book: “Drawing Box Set “. I want to show you my appreciation by offering an exclusive eBook “12 Amazing DIY Gift Ideas for Any Occasion” for FREE. Simply Click the Button Below

OR Go to This Page http://diyagain.com/free/

Chapter 1 – Acrylic Painting Basics Acrylics are a water-based paint, which implies they can be blended with water to thin them down and you clean your brushes with water. They’re produced using pigment mixed with acrylic resin and emulsion. Acrylics are quick drying and can also be used in thin, watery glazing s or impasto. Are acrylic paints the right choice? No one but you can choose what a good fit is for you and for your way of life. For me the attractions are the means by which quickly acrylics dry and that I don’t need to utilize any solvents, simply water. Advisable brand of acrylic paint to purchase Any of the significant brands will do. Many People make acrylic paints in a liquid or fluid form and also with a paste or butter-like consistency. Artists will have their own favored brand based on things, for example, the colors accessible and the consistency of the paint. You ought to have the capacity to check the of light fastness of the pigment on the tube by, for instance an ASTM rating (American Society for Testing and Materials). Artist’s or student’s quality acrylic Students’ colors are less expensive for a reason – they have more filler in them. Rather purchase a couple of value colors than an entire range of cheap colors. Yes, you may be less restrained about testing in case you’re utilizing less expensive student colors, yet you can’t beat the energy from quality artist’s paints. Tip: Look for paints named ‘hue’ or ‘imitation’, for instance ‘cadmium yellow pigment’. These are produced using less expensive cutting edge colors as opposed to the more extravagant traditional pigments and are very much alike in color to the genuine thing. Brushes required for painting with acrylics You’ll require stiff-bristled brushes for thick acrylic paint and soft-bristled brushes for

watercolor impacts. You’ll be faced with a show of sizes and shapes (round, level, pointed), and you additionally get diverse length handles. In case you’re on a tight budget, begin with a little and a medium-sized filbert (a level, pointed brush). I cherish filberts in light of the fact that on the off chance that you utilize simply the tip you get a narrow brush mark, and in the event that you push down you get a broad one. Tip: When purchasing wide brushes, spare cash by purchasing a decent quality household decorating ones. Search for brushes that aren’t excessively thick, or trim off a half portion of the hairs. Support to use for acrylics Suitable supports for acrylics incorporate canvas, canvas boards, wood boards, and paper. Basically anything to which acrylic paint will stick (do a test in case you’re not certain). In case you’re purchasing a premade canvas or board, check that it’s been prepared with something suitable for acrylics. Palette to use for acrylic paints Wooden, glass, or plastic palettes can be utilized for acrylics, yet it can be tedious getting all the dried paint off. Disposable palettes - cushions of paper where you detach the top sheet and discard it - solve this issue. On the off chance that you discover the paint dries out excessively quick, attempt a palette intended to keep the paint wet - the paint sits on a sheet of wax paper put on top of a clammy bit of watercolor paper. Can I blend acrylics with anything other than water? Mediums are added to acrylics to change the paint’s consistency (make it thicker so it shows brush marks or thinner for washes) and complete (matt or gloss), to abate drying (retarders), to include surface, and abstain from over-thinning. On the off chance that you over-thin acrylics by including an excessive amount of water, there will be deficient folio to hold the pigment together and you end up with uneven paint. Experimentation will reveal to you precisely how much water is excessively; it’s a lot. Аadvisable wears when painting with acrylics

Since acrylics don’t wash out easily once they’re dry, it’s prudent to wear old garments, a cover, or overall when painting. Regardless of how cautious you are, at some stage you will get paint on your garments! A few artists essentially wipe their brushes on their garments, rather than clothes. Remember to wear old shoes as well! I once in a while paint barefoot, however in the event that I’m painting standing up (which I do unless I’m truly tired) before the day’s over my feet will be telling me that they would’ve favored some cushioning under them. What else do I have to begin painting with acrylics? Clean water - one container for washing your brushes and the other for blending water. A cloth or paper towels to wipe your brushes and your hands.

Chapter 2 – 11 Best Brand of Acrylic Paint All artists will have their own favored brand of acrylic paint, in light of things, for example, the colors available and the consistency of the paint, which goes from to a great buttery to fluid. Rather purchase a couple of value pigments of artist’s quality acrylics than an entire range of cheap colors. (Keep in mind, student acrylic paints is less expensive for a reason: they have typically more filler in them, or produced using less expensive colors.) Here are my undisputed top choices from the brands I’ve utilized as a part of depictions. Winsor & Newton Artist’s Acrylics W&N propelled this range of acrylics in January 2009 to supplant their Finity series. It is in fact an alternate item, having a longer working time and living up to expectations. (Up to 30 minutes), minimal shift from wet to dry ((because of a new cover), and a satin finish complete (instead of gloss). The labels names have a painted color swatch instead of a printed one. The 10 Finity colors was discontinued and 17 new colors presented. The colors are rich, saturated and intense with a soft butter consistency which the holds brush marks. Golden’s Heavy Body acrylics My long term most loved brand of acrylic paint is Golden’s Heavy Body acrylics. Golden is an American company made particularly to deliver top-quality acrylic paints for artists. I cherish the range of lively colors, which incorporates an amazingly valuable set of neutral grays. The paint consistency is similar to smooth, soft butter, and it weakens for glazes easily, and dries quickly. For genuine impasto, you’ll undoubtedly need to include some medium (Golden produces a range of choices, including gels and molding pastes. Liquitex Acrylics I like Liquitex’s Heavy Body Professional Artist Colors for the paint’s stability (truly succulent and ‘sticky’, so good for utilizing with a knife) and in light of the fact that they come in “plastic” tubes which are incredibly robust. (To be in accurate, Liquitex comes in Glaminate, tubes produced using laminated layers of plastic, metal, and paper.) There’s

additionally so Soft Body choice, which are helpful on the off chance that you paint basically with glazes or liquid paint. Sennelier Acrylics Sennelier are quick drying acrylics with a consistency that is on the soft side of buttery. The colors are solid and saturated; blending is simple before of the soft consistency of the paint. The paint spreads easily and effortlessly on a canvas. In the event that you like glazing and mixing more than textures, I recommend Sennelier would be a superb choice. M. Graham & Co. Acrylics M. Graham & Co’s. Paints have a high pigment stacking, so the colors are extreme. The company says the drying time is “‘somewhat slower’ than many different brands”; in 2006 when I attempted the survey tests they sent I discovered I had about thirty minutes working time (painting on canvas). The colors are luxurious, extremely solid and saturated and mix together perfectly. On the off chance that you were accustomed to working with oils and needed to change to acrylics, this future a brand to strive for the rich colors and slightly thicker consistency. Golden’s Open Acrylics Launched in 2008, Golden’s Open Acrylics have an long drying time, making them the most practically identical to oil paints amongst all acrylic paints. Open Acrylics stay workable on a typical palette for a considerable length of time instead of minutes, disposing of the requirement for a moisture-retaining palette. Open Acrylics give the simplicity of utilizing water as a medium (and for cleaning brushes) with a long working and mixing time. The color reach isn’t as broad with respect to Golden’s Heavy Duty acrylics, yet the essentials are incorporated. Atelier Interactive Acrylics The ‘major ordeal’ about these acrylic paints is that, as indicated by the producer, they “dry in an unexpected way”, that they don’t form a skin as they dry so you can rehydrate them to continue working wet-in-wet by showering some water on the paint or utilizing a

wet brush. I discovered I could surely work back into the paint with a wet brush, which makes mixing colors less of an urgency and simpler. On the off chance that you do a considerable measure of mixing of colors instead of glazing, consider this brand of acrylic. Matisse Structure Formula Acrylics Matisse structure paint is a “typical” acrylic paint that does what you’d anticipate from a good artist’s quality acrylic. Presumably the main unexpected thing about it is that it’s made in Australia and has some remarkable color names, (for example, Australia Sky Blue or Southern Ocean Blue,). It has a soft, rich consistency that will hold brushmarks if utilized undiluted, straight from the tube. It can be weakened with water and/or medium for painting without leaving brushmarks, for glazing, or for watercolor-sort techniques. To expand the impasto impact, you’d blend it with impasto or texture medium. Daler-Rowney Acrylics As Daler-Rowney artist’s quality paints Cryla are generally less expensive than Golden, Liquitex, or Winsor and Newton, I utilize them on the off chance that I’ve got a substantial range to cover, particularly in an underpainting. I’ve discovered a few colors (e.g. Prussian blue) are a bit darker than different brands, which can be valuable. The consistency of the paint is solid to buttery. Utrecht Acrylics This is an American brand of paint which is seems to be distributed just in the US. I first purchased different tubes from a Utrecht store in New York on the grounds that the cost was competitive with many familiar brands. The paint is thickly buttery however spreads effectively when diluted. The colors are what you’d anticipate from an artist’s grade paint: soaked, with great tinting or covering quality depending upon what color it is. While I wouldn’t make an exceptional trek to get hold of it, in the event that its one of the choices at your nearby store, it merits considering. Winsor & Newton Galeria Flow Formula While I’m an incredible devotee to utilizing quality artist’s paints here and there it’s

excessively inhibiting in light of the fact that you’re stressing over wasting the paint. At that point its ideal to utilize a decent student’s quality paint that allow you to feel free to experiment, to simply see what happens in the event that you do something, to rub off paint and paint over something. Winsor & Newton’s Galeria brand is a moderate or student’s grade of paint that has great quality in colors and works effectively (however you’ll need to include texture paste in the event that you need thick paint as its soft paint). What’s more it doesn’t put excessively huge a dent in your pocket. Other Brands There are various different brands of acrylic paint available, for instance: TriArt (Canadian), Schmincke, Lascaux, Grumbache, Brera (Maimeri), Daniel Smith. My recommendation would be to scout the tube to see what pigments the paint is produced of, whether it’s been evaluated as lightfast, and purchase a tube in a color you utilize routinely to perceive how it contrasts with what you generally utilize.

Chapter 3 – Evaluating a New Brand of Acrylic Paint How would you choose if new paint brand will be better and likely to be cash well spent? A definitive test is, clearly, to attempt it, however there are different things I use to judge an obscure paint mark and choose whether or not I’ll purchase a tube. At that point I choose a color I utilize a considerable measure so I can stand up in comparison it to what I’m accustomed to utilize. Student’s or Artist’s Quality Is the paint brand you’re considering student’s or artist’s quality? There can be truly a significant distinction in the paint, not simply the cost. In the event that the tube mark doesn’t let you know, check whether you can discover a leaflet on the different brands a paint maker delivers or analyze them in the shop regarding value and reach. Student’s quality paint is less expensive on the grounds that makers utilize the less extravagant pigments as a part of them, so the range of colors is restricted. The nasty ones utilize a considerable measure of filler as well, so the colors are unsaturated (very weak) and don’t make lively colors when blended. Actually, I’d rather utilize a top artist’s quality paint brand and paint littler canvases. The Construction of the Tube What are you initial feeling when you get the tube? Does it feel strong, or flimsy? Is the top on immovably, or does it appear to be detached? Is it true that it is produced using metal or plastic? I accept that if a maker holds backs on their containers, they’re likely to hold back on their paint quality as well. The Tube Label What information is painted on the tube name? Does it say what the actual pigments (not simply the color’s name), and a lightfastness rating? Is the name decently designed and printed, or inexpensive and nasty?

Does it have a printed or painted swatch of the color that is inside? Just a couple of organizations hand-paint swatches, yet its something I discover truly helpful as it allows you to judge the real nature without opening the tube (which has a tendency to upset store assistants store associates) and its haziness. Paint sold in the USA will likewise have information about it adjusting to ASTM standards and other health warnings as needed by specific states. Infrequently you’ll see stickers put onto foreign made paints to meet these necessities. Heavy Body or Fluid Paint There’s less decision with oil paints regarding the matter of consistency (thickness), however with acrylics there is a considerable amount, running from liquid to ultra-thick. Realize what the paint is proposed to be, so you don’t get steamed at having a slim paint when you needed a rich one. The paint mark should let you know, as may the type of holder it’s in. Extremely liquid paint will regularly arrive in a container, but paint in tubes can change from soft to solid. Ultra-thick paint will normally arrive in a container, so you can scoop it out with a palette blade/knife. Compare to Your Usual Brand? On the off chance that you choose a possible looking paint and to try it out, purchase a color you utilize a considerable measure so you can come close it. Paint test swatches of the paint straight from the tube, thinned for glazing , with whatever mediums you utilize, and blended with a couple of colors. At that point contrast it with the swatches you painted for the brands you normally utilize. I attempt to purchase a container of Prussian blue, one of my most loved colors. Utilize thickly, it’s an extremely dim blue however thinned it turns into an exceptionally simple blue that is astounding for glazing. The darkest version I’ve utilized originates from DalerRowney; applied thickly it’s just about dark. On the off chance that Prussian blue is not available, I for the most part purchase cadmium red, and an alternate most loved but unfortunately also an expensive pigment.

The Price Regarding the matter of paint, you do have a tendency to get what you pay for. A container of top-quality oil or acrylic paint, (for example, Michael Harding or Golden) may appear to be ludicrously more costly than an alternate brand, yet when you utilize it, the high saturation of the color means a little goes far so you don’t utilize the tube up as quick. Concerning mid-price paint brands, there are a few to choose from and they’re really comparable. The best variety I’ve found is in the viscosity. The best paint on the planet is no good however in the event that you’re excessively worried over wasting it to utilize it. No one but you can comprehend what this value point is for you. Purchase the best you can bear the cost of that despite everything you feel you can try different things with it, or a different set of inexpensive paints for playing.

Chapter 4 – Acrylic Painting Tips Acrylics are to a great degree flexible, quick drying paints, and can be utilized straight from the tube like oils or thinned with water or a medium and utilized like watercolors And a lot in-between. Here are a couple of tips to help you begin painting with acrylics. Keeping Acrylic Paints Workable Since acrylics dry so quickly, squeeze just a little paint out of a tube at once. In case you’re utilizing a ” normal ” plastic palette put resources into a splash bottle so you can spread a fine mist over the paint frequently to keep it wet, and consequently usable. ‘Staywet’ palettes – where the paint sits on a sheet of wax paper put on top of a damp bit of watercolor paper – dispense the need to do this, however, don’t have an hole for your thumb so are more unbalanced to hold in your hand. Blot your Brushes Keep a bit of paper towel or cloth by your water jar and get into the propensity for wiping your brushes on it each time you climb them. This disallowed water drops running down the ferrule and onto your artistic painting, making blotches. Opaque or Transparent Colors In the event that it applied thickly – either straight from the tube or with little water added– or if blended with a little titanium white, acrylic colors may be opaque. If diluted, they can be utilized like watercolors or for airbrushing. Acrylic versus Watercolor Washes At the point when an acrylic wash dries, it’s lasting and, not like a watercolor wash, is also insoluble and can be also over-painted without fear of disturbing the current wash. The pigments of consequent washes blend optically with the prior ones. A watercolor glazing can be lifted out utilizing water and a cloth.

Consider Thin When Thinking Glazes On the off chance that you need transparent glazes, these ought to be developed in thin layers, so the colors underneath show through. Utilize the brush to spread the paint out meagerly over the surface. Enhance Flow without Losing Color To increase the stream of a color with minimal loss of color quality, utilize flow-improver medium instead of simple water. Mixing Since acrylics dry quickly, you have to work quickly on the off chance that you wish to mix colors. In case you’re taking a shot at paper, dampening the paper will expand your working time. Hard Edges Masking tape can be put onto and removed from dried acrylic paint without harming a current layer. This makes it simple to create a hard or sharp edge. Verify the edges of the tape are stuck down firmly and do not paint too thickly on the edges, else you will not get a clean line when you lift it. Cleaning up Liquid with Masking Fluid Masking fluid or frisket can be utilized with acrylics washes, and with watercolors. Make sure it’s totally dry before you paint on it, and do not paint too thickly on it or you’ll need to scratch away the paint to get to the masking fluid. Masking fluid will chip away at paper and canvas, however do attempt it out first before utilizing it as a part of an artistic painting to get a vibe for it. When masking fluid has dried in a brush, it’s almost difficult to remove. Dunking a brush into some cleaning liquid first makes it easier to wash masking fluid from a brush.

Utilizing Acrylic Paint as a Glue Provided it’s utilized reasonably thickly and the item to be stuck isn’t excessively heavy, acrylic paint will fill in as glue in a collage. Just apply some to the surface, in the same way as you would glue. How Thick Should I Use Acrylic Paint Acrylic paint can be used as thick or thin as you like. You can utilize it thin and ‘watery’, in translucent layers (glazing s) like watercolors. On thick and buttery, loaded with texture and showing brush marks (impasto). I cherish both; it depends what inclination I’m in and the subject of the painting. At the point when thinning acrylics, the general guideline is not to thin it with more than 50% water else you chance it losing its bond properties (capacity to stick to the canvas). Utilize some glazing medium and also water. Like many aspects of painting, there is no “right ” or “wrong” response to the subject of how thickly you ought to apply acrylic paint to a canvas. It’s a matter of individual inclination.

Chapter 5 – How to Paint with Acrylics In case you’re searching for the liveliness and nature of oil paints without spending about as much cash or time, then acrylic painting is for you. Getting acrylic painting is a satisfying side interest and an awesome approach to deliver fine art for your home and friends. Getting the Right Supplies Selecting your acrylic paint; Acrylic paint comes in many brands and is accessible in either tubes or jugs. Buying acrylic paint is one of the uncommon examples in which it is ideal to spend lavishly and get a pricier brand. Inexpensive brands of the acrylic paint are not as thickly pigmented as the more extravagant brands, and will consequently oblige 2-3 more covers of paint to get the same liveliness and color of a single cover of a higher valued paint brand. To begin, purchase the most basic colors: scratches dark, titanium white, ultramarine blue, alizarin ruby, and yellow ochre. The majority of the paint colors you’ll need can be produced using a mix of those few hues. Tubes of paint are commonly favored by fledglings on the grounds that you can buy little quantities to begin, yet there is no distinction in quality between a tube or a container of acrylic paint. Choose a handful of paintbrushes. Paintbrushes are somewhat diverse and are classified by two components: the state of the tip of the brush, including the material of the bristles. There are three diverse brush tip types: adjusted, flat, and filbert (rounded and flat). There are numerous materials used to make paintbrush bristles, however the most widely recognized are synthetic and boar hair. Most amateur painters incline toward synthetic brushes in a grouping of tip points.

Visit a workmanship supply store and feel a couple of diverse brushes for a smart thought of what you incline toward. Synthetic brushes are softer and easier to clean than genuine fur brushes. Unless you’re in it for the long run, do not splurge it on the paintbrushes. Albeit having great paint brushes to work with can be helpful, it is more critical to have quality paint. Discover a palette. You’ll need something to blend paint on, and to store paint on between painting sessions. In case you’re feeling economical, a paper or plastic plate will work fine. Any wide, clean,flat surface can be utilized as a workable palette. However, in light of the fact that acrylic paints dry so unfathomably quick, it might be valuable to put resources into a stay-wet palette. These join a wet sponge and uncommon stay-wet paper that keeps your paint soggy and workable for a few weeks at a time. Keep plastic wrap or an alternate spread or type to that available to protect paint on your palette that you aren’t utilizing at the time. If you’re blending huge amounts of paint without a moment’s delay, it might be beneficial to have little measures/tops to store your paint between sessions. This will preserve the acrylics more than a plastic wrap secured palette. Choose what to paint on. Acrylic paint is thick and substantial, and thusly must be utilized on a couple of surfaces. The most well-known and prominent acrylic surfaces are extended canvas or canvas board, watercolor paper, or treated wood. You ought to have achievement painting on anything that isn’t oily, sleek, or extremely porous. If you’re afraid about painting on something lavish, begin with watercolor paper and work some way or another up to canvas or wood.

Assemble other little items. With the majority of the previously stated first-class things out of the way, you will require a couple of extra things that you likely have in your home. You will require 1-2 containers/glasses for water, a palette cut, an old cloth or material, a clouding spread jug for water, and cleanser to clean your paint brushes. These are all accessible in workmanship supply stores in the event that you don’t have them, yet none of them have to be specialty items. Because acrylic paints dry famously quick, mist your painted/palette always to keep the paints moist. Consider wearing a smock or old shirt while painting to counteract staining your garments with the acrylics. Some painters like to set down daily papers on their tabletops to avert large messes. Getting Started Select a decent location. Similarly as with most things, painting is carried out best in regular light. Set up your painting station close to an open window or a room that has a ton of regular light. You’ll have the capacity to see little nuances in your brush strokes and colors that you wouldn’t generally have the capacity pick out. Lay out all your supplies. Every artist has their own specific manner of setting up their supplies, however it is best to get all of them put how you like them before you begin painting. Fill your containers with water, get out the paintbrushes and paints you need to utilize, and put your palette in the most perfect area. You may need to put on your smock or old shirt right now too. Settle on your subject. As an apprentice painter, you may have a thought of what you need to paint, or you may be searching for some course. Consider conceivable subjects or models you could use for your first painting. It is most simple to work from a 3-D

photograph or object, instead of putting paint to something a mental picture. In case you’re not certain what to paint, simple paint subjects for novices include: A dish of fruits A vase of flowers Objects in your home A sunrise/sunset Make a rough sketch. In the event that you feel positive about your capacity to paint precisely what you see, then you can feel free to hop directly into the canvas. Many people, however, oblige an outline to take after their paint brush. Utilize a standard pencil to generally portray the layout of significant shapes directly onto your canvas; don’t stress over details or color excessively. You can do different outlines on paper before turning to do one on canvas, just to verify you are certain with your drawing of your subject. Blend your paints. It is a typical misstep to blend paints as you work, as opposed to blending all of them before you begin. Utilize your time and paint effectively by blending all your paints - in all the colors you require - preceding beginning your artistic painting. In this situation, it is ideal to be safe than sorry by mixing a more paints than you are liable to utilize. You can store additional paint for future painting; however it will be almost difficult to blend the definite pigment of paint twice. Use a color wheel as a supportive reference for blending your paints. All the basic colors can be made by blending the essential tones (blue, red and yellow), and more particular colors can be made by blending the essential and optional hues. Remember, on the off chance that you can’t get the careful pigment of paint that you’re searching for with a restricted paint palette, you can buy any color premixed in tube or container form from a art supply store.

Painting Discover your light source. Color changes relying upon the way light hits it, so before you start painting your subject, spot the essential light source. Pay consideration on this all through the painting process; you ought to have lighter colors closer the light source and darker colors further away. It may appear elementary; yet choosing the light source before you start will help keep your colors on track. Analyze the composition of your subject. Regardless of the fact that you’re just painting a single article, it must be layered with different surfaces or backgrounds. Look over your subject and figure out what is closest to you and what is farthest from you. Pay consideration on covering, color changes, and composition. You will be reproducing each of these things in your depiction, so verify you have a smart thought of how to do it prior to starting. Start painting the background. When you paint, you will be layering upwards; accordingly, painting from the back to the front is the most effortless strategy. Begin with your medium quality colors, emulated by your darkest colors, and after that brightest, for the simplest application. Add in background details. Get done with developing of the essential colors, and after that add details to the background. On the off chance that it is a solid color, you ought to include shadows and light point. On the off chance that your background is patterned or busy, include texture and movement with brush strokes to finish the layer. Paint in objects. As you start to paint your subject, split it up into identifiable shapes and paint those in solid hues. As you develop shapes and colors, your subject will start to show up. Work in little areas at once, to make the canvas handle a bit less daunting. Some beginner painters think that it simple to utilize a matrix system when painting their subject. Part up your canvas into parts utilizing a imaginary grid, and

paint a whole grid space to conclusiveness before moving onto the following one. Remember to include medium worth colors initially, took after by darker and afterward lighter colors. It is tricky to go over a dim color with a light one, so living up to expectations along these lines will make layering of hues much easier. Add details using different painting system. When you have gotten the basic colors and shapes included, you can include the subtle elements with a couple of distinctive painting techniques. These concentrate on including texture and movement through diverse paintbrush strokes and color applications. Stipple on paint by holding your paint brush vertically and tapping it onto the paper. This always works excellently well with a dry paintbrush and a little measure of paint, and will give the presence of numerous little dots. Use a palette blade to sweep on wide strokes of color. For an unpleasant, unedited paint look, paint with a palette blade. Cover the blade in a thick layer of paint, and move it over your canvas to load up thick layers of textured paint. Create a wash of color through thinning your paint with water. This gives an impact like watercolors, where the paint bit by bit lightens on your canvas. This is incredible for making a gradation effect. Complete your painting. Giving careful consideration to your subject matter, include any finishing details of interest you think are important to perfect your painting. Frequently this incorporates last touches of light and dark, any layouts you may need to incorporate, and completing washes of color. Finishing Up Include a varnish to your painting. Despite the fact that it isn’t needed, numerous

painters include a completing layer of varnish to seal the acrylic paints. This helps the paint to artificially cling to the canvas, and shields it better from harm. Clean your paint brushes and work station. It is essential that you clean your paint brushes directly in the wake of finishing up with them. Acrylic paint can seriously harm and ruin paint brushes if left to dry in the bristles. Wash the brushes with frosty water and cleanser until the water runs clear (hot water will set the paint in the brushes). Clean up any paint on the surface your painting, and wash the jugs with water. Keep any unused paint. Acrylic paint will last for a while in a air-tight container, so in the event that you have any additional put it aside for a future painting. Scoop the paint into little holders with covers, or seal it into your stay-wet palette. Leave your painting to dry. Place your work of art in an area to dry for 1-2 days. Acrylic paints have a short dry time, yet they ought to be left in a range where they won’t be disturbed in order to cure. Display your artwork. Art is intended to be shared, so showcase your recently completed acrylic painting so others can see your handiwork. Make it matted and framed in the event that it is on paper or canvas board, or just hang it in your home.

Conclusion Thank you again for downloading this book! I hope this book was able to help you to know some Acrylic Painting Basics, 11 best brand of acrylic paint, evaluating a New Brand of Acrylic Paint, Acrylic Painting Tips and details guideline; How to Paint with Acrylics. Regardless of the fact that you discover the expert paints to be significant more extravagant than student paints, it is constantly advisable to put resources into a few more costly paints instead of some of the cheap ones. For novices, purchasing the essential colors (red, yellow and blue) in addition black and white ought to be sufficient to begin a basic palette. Try propelled techniques as you get more practice. Include depth by texturing, shadowing, lighting, and include more detail. Your works of art will get to be better with time. Practice and always practice! You may need to begin simply making lines, begin little! At that point take a stab at painting a tree, or a flower. Don’t be hesitant to take a stab at painting in diverse ways or styles, for example, One Stroke Painting. Pay regard to details. Choose Quality over quantity. Finally, if you enjoyed this book, then I’d like to ask you for a favor, would you be kind enough to leave a review for this book? It’d be greatly appreciated! Thank you and good luck!

ZenDoodle 15 Easy and Inspirational Steps to Make Art Using ZenDoodle Methods

Table of Contents Introduction Chapter 1 – What is ZenDoodle? Chapter 2 – Meditation and ZenDoodle Chapter 3 – The ZenDoodle processes Chapter 4 – Benefits of ZenDoodle Chapter 5 – What users say about ZenDoodle Conclusion

Copyright Notice © Copyright 2015 by Jayden Thomas - All rights reserved. This document is geared towards providing exact and reliable information in regards to the topic and issue covered. The publication is sold with the idea that the publisher is not required to render accounting, officially permitted, or otherwise, qualified services. If advice is necessary, legal or professional, a practiced individual in the profession should be ordered. - From a Declaration of Principles which was accepted and approved equally by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations. In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved. The information provided herein is stated to be truthful and consistent, in that any liability, in terms of inattention or otherwise, by any usage or abuse of any policies, processes, or directions contained within is the solitary and utter responsibility of the recipient reader. Under no circumstances will any legal responsibility or blame be held against the publisher for any reparation, damages, or monetary loss due to the information herein, either directly or indirectly. Respective authors own all copyrights not held by the publisher. The information herein is offered for informational purposes solely, and is universal as so.

The presentation of the information is without contract or any type of guarantee assurance. The trademarks that are used are without any consent, and the publication of the trademark is without permission or backing by the trademark owner. All trademarks and brands within this book are for clarifying purposes only and are the owned by the owners themselves, not affiliated with this document.

Disclaimer While all attempts have been made to verify the information provided in this book, the author does not assume any responsibility for errors, omissions, or contrary interpretations of the subject matter contained within. The information provided in this book is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The reader is responsible for his or her own actions and the author does not accept any responsibilities for any liabilities or damages, real or perceived, resulting from the use of this information.

Introduction Meditation has been used in many cultures for thousands of years as a way of freeing and focusing the mind. By using this ZenDoodle method people feel more creative and in control of things around them. Stress has been shown to be a killer by way of triggering a variety of diseases and those who suffer from stress lead shorter and less enjoyable lives. Meditation requires entering what is known as a state of Zen, something that often cannot be placed into words. Ideally zen is a state of being where we feel more at one and connected with the universe around us, this is a conscious state that often takes years of practice to master. You probably don’t know anyone who has mastered zen yet, our busy lives leave little time for us to meditate or even relax for an hour. Missing out on that time spent simply existing is part of what causes our stressful lives. This is where the art of ZenDoodle can help. ZenDoodle is a process of meditation whereby you unconsciously put yourself into a more zen like state. The most difficult thing for most meditators is that they have difficulty quieting their inner voice. This voice tells us what to do, narrates our lives, and for some can be overwhelming. Often it causes us stress by filling up the quiet moments in our lives. If you are one of the people who has trouble quieting that voice then ZenDoodle may be your answer. It has also been shown to work effectively for those who struggle to switch off before sleeping. ZenDoodle is a conscious decision to spend 15 minutes or so focusing on a piece of paper and letting your mind wander by way of the pen. With ZenDoodle you are forcing that inner voice to focus specifically on the piece of paper which in turn quietens it and allows you to reach closer to a state of zen than you might have managed through traditional meditation.

Here we will find out what benefits creative meditation can bring to the body and just how to do it as well as some background on zen and the ZenDoodle process.



Chapter 1 – What is ZenDoodle? The ZenDoodle process was created by Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts and you an find a plethora of information about it online. It is part of a process known as expandism. It has this name as the construction is done a little at a time but gradually expands and can continue until the process is considered complete. ZenDoodle offers tutorials and classes with CZT’s or Certified ZenDoodle Teachers who can show you how this process is applied to ZenDoodle designs. These are essentially meditation coaches who can guide you in the process so that you are getting the most out of your time spent. Their intent was to make drawing both pleasant and meditative without needing any form of previous artistic skills. There are no skills needed to being an artist using the ZenDoodle method as long as you can hold a pen and use it on paper. They discovered that using only a few rules they could make the act of drawing transcend the creative process and allow practitioners to enter a more meditative state. To put it simply ZenDoodle is doodling with focus. In a ZenDoodle drawing you allow your brain to focus on nothing but the piece of paper in front of you. This quietens the mind and allows us to transcend to a better level, or nearer to a zen state than we would otherwise find ourselves in. Since most of us struggle to quieten our inner voice simply by focusing ZenDoodle allows you to focus your voice on the drawing in front of you. Unlike doodling you are focused when working on a tangle. Each set of lines you produce is known as a tangle. These lines do not have to have any particular meaning, in fact it is advised that you don’t set out intending on drawing something specific like a flower or face. The ZenDoodle takes form by allowing your mind to simply form shapes randomly as you express them onto the paper. There is no erasing, and the intention is not to try and make something abstract either just to draw until you fill the space up with patterns.

One of the interesting things about this process is that not only will you be unlikely to draw the same as anyone else but your mind will alter constantly and you will likely draw things that are completely different at different times of the day and while experiencing different stressors in your life. Each ZenDoodle is black and white though they are great for taking later on and using as home made coloring books as well. The ZenDoodle motto is “one stroke at a time” and this is intended on telling practitioners that they should not be focusing on the end results but the action of each mark they make instead. The thing about this method is that is is so difficult to explain since there isn’t a set method or outcome and every individual will have different results. In fact the very definition seems to be that the end result is “something” rather than a specific outcome. The ZenDoodle process starts with a pen or pencil, 3.5” pieces of paper and about 15 minutes of spare time. These are not intended on being big artistic piece though if you had the time or inclination there is no reason they couldn’t be. Another benefit of this process being so small is that it is very portable, though you may feel that simple sitting and meditating requires no materials at all often you may be interrupts by others while if you are focused on drawing instead you may find others leave you to your process and can meditate in peace. It is also intended that with it being so portable you can practice it anywhere the urge strikes you. When drawing the ZenDoodle the intent with having a square piece or paper is that there is no up or down orientation. The design is intended on being abstract but with form, in this way many ZenDoodles have repetitive patterns rather than recognizable shapes. Some of the more beautiful ZenDoodle have similarities to Indian mandala designs or magic eye drawings though the process to create them is ultimately different. It is imperative that for the method to work you do not plan your design, often it;s tempting that when you look at a blank piece of paper you think about where to begin but the ZenDoodle method means you need to simply put pen to paper immediately and make a mark. Ironically though the process is meant to be unplanned and from the soul there are over a hundred different official ZenDoodle patterns available to follow or recreate. These might be a good place to start if you find yourself struggling to make your own patterns until you

get the hang of it. The main reason you need to make your ZenDoodles unplanned is that the process is meant to be freeing by allowing you to have no necessity to stick to a pattern or intended destination but to allow the creative process to flow. This can also be very beneficial if you are finding yourself creatively blocked at work or needing to give your mind a rest in between your thought processes. As you can see the thought process behind ZenDoodles is not always logical, however when you are creating your ZenDoodles you must follow a strict set of logical rules if you maintain that it is a ZenDoodle and not simply ZenDoodle inspired. The creator of ZenDoodle, Maria considers it as “abstract, structured, pattern-making”. Within the concept there are rules such as only 2 or 3 strings must be used, the design is simple, there are no mechanical aids such as rulers used, non directional, and that the pattern can grow organically rather than being limited to a motif. You can also submit your ZenDoodles to various websites and they will decode if they are considered true tangles or not. Strings themselves are more important than you may realize when constructing ZenDoodles. A string is a simple line that creates the flow of your drawing within the paper, it is the first thing you will draw within the design. These should be considered the foundations rather than part of the actual design which is why they are usually done in paper and absorbed into the final pen design as you go over it. There are many examples of sample strings that you can use to begin with or simply start your own. Since there is no right way up or down of looking at ZenDoodles strings can be any shape or form as long as they are a single line that creates directional flow within the piece. Expandism is different from conventional art as with the conventional art process you usually start with a specific idea in mind when creating designs while expandism is the opposite. While usually the artist would focus on the image as a whole expandism forces he mind to focus solely on small detail as you work rather than forming a picture with preconceived notions. In effect rather than knowing the form you will create ZenDoodle forces you to search for the form within the subconscious.

ZenDoodle is a form of automatic drawing since you are focused more on the experience than the drawing itself. Continuously drawing and attempting not to judge the piece as you go can be quite hard at first, and often instructors say you should toss out your first few drawings anyway since your mind is still not properly focused and remains engaged in your daily alpha state. It is also different from the meditative technique of drawing mandalas in that rather than focusing on the problem at the center of the page you are trying to empty your mind and focus solely on the paper in front of you.

Chapter 2 – Meditation and ZenDoodle Meditation has often been referred to as hippy or new age and many find it skeptical that the process really has any benefits. However, even many high strung executives and CEOs are now turning to meditation techniques to help de-stress and lower blood pressure. The key to what makes meditation techniques so successful is that they do reduce the pressure of the stressors you experience. Stress contributes to almost all the modern lifestyle killer causes but there has also been evidence linking it to other diseases as or things like tiredness, irritability and low self esteem. Studies show that not only does meditation lower blood pressure but also improves your entire immune system. Science hasn’t been able to determine why this is but it makes sense that they are connected to stress. Dr Charles L. Raison of Emory University in Atlanta maintains that “any narrowing of focus or stilling of the body” is what constitutes meditation. As such ZenDoodle fits perfectly in with this as one of the more unusual meditation tools. There are many different schools and types of meditation and usually ZenDoodle is not what comes to mind when people think about it. This is because most people consider passive meditating the better method as you are attempting to make your entire body still. By using creative meditation some feel that the higher level of zen cannot be achieved therefore it should be discarded. It may be true that this is the case but for those that struggle to gain any stillness when attempting traditional meditation styles ZenDoodle can be the answer and potentially a training tool to help you more successful with passive meditation techniques. When meditating the intention is to push your mind into a direction that is not within your usual routine. By disengaging the mind you allow your creative process to flow better and free up intuition. A lot of time the tao of zen is confusing because the results are not rational. When using zen you often find understanding of nothing and everything, feel empty and full, and at both beginning and end. It is confusing, and the process applies well

to ZenDoodle as its definition is equally broad. Understanding zen principles often depends entirely on how well you understand your own intuition and whether or not you are a stickler for logic. It would be easy to dismiss the zen philosophy as lacking meaning but those who practice it have shown to have a better spiritual development. The intent of zen is to create a oneness with the universe around through transcendent spiritualism, ZenDoodle is a way of moving up from your busy alpha mode and taking a step towards this level. Depending on how well you focus this may only be the first step but it is still an improvement on the alpha mindset you may have been constantly engaged in otherwise. You may also find that after practicing ZenDoodle you return to your alpha state better equipped to deal with your daily stressors. At this point you should have a basic understanding of the background that zen teaching gives, though it may be a rather abstract concept. Applying the knowledge to ZenDoodle allows your drawings to be more than doodles. Since you are intentionally focused and attempting to reach a better spiritual level the practice has greater merit than an action created entirely of boredom.

Chapter 3 – The ZenDoodle processes As you have already made it this far you’ve already completed several steps towards making your own ZenDoodles. Reading and researching the process is obviously the first preliminary step you should take and by now you should be familiar with What is a ZenDoodle Why it is different from a doodle An idea of what materials you will need When it would be good to practice The first step in actually creating your ZenDoodles is to prepare your materials. This can easily be done in advance and if you’re not creative it is possible to purchase the materials online or from art stores already made. You will need to find some good quality paper or card stock, normally this would be white if you are following the original ZenDoodle method. The intention is that if the paper is white you can focus better as bright colors could be distracting to the mind and ruin the process. Officially ZenDoodle encourages the use of good quality paper rather than cutting u copy paper since the quality can cause the pen to bleed or tear and this could be distracting. The tile needs to be small enough that you will not feel pressured to try and fill it within the 15minutes of time, though there is not a requirement to only spend 15minutes. If you choose to go outside this parameter these are usually referred to as “ZenDoodle inspired” rather than true ZenDoodles. Your materials can be prepared in advance so you can take them with you or have them anywhere when the need hits you to tangle. The second step is either to cut the paper to size or to draw a border of 3.5”x3.5”. Though the official ZenDoodle method says you can simply sketch this in rather than using a ruler most people will still use one. If you decide to draw the border it is suggested not to press

down to hard when drawing it since you want the border to become incorporated into the pattern. If you are drawing the border use pencil as this will be easier to incorporate. The third step in creating ZenDoodles is to breathe and relax. Ideally you should take at least 4 or 5 calming breaths before starting, you may close your eyes. This needs to happen before you touch your pen or pencil to the paper and you should do your best not to try and plan out what you are going to draw during this time but focus on your breaths in and out. The fourth step requires you to put pen to paper and draw. The first thing you will draw is called a string which is a curved line that gives your design structure. Again do not press too hard or use a pencil as this is only intended on giving the design flow rather than being an actual line within it. This should not require thought as it is intended on simply being an expression of whatever your mind wants rather than intentionally aiming to form something with this string. Don’t overthink it. Similarly to the fact that there are ZenDoodle templates there are also string patterns available online for you to look at. Step 5 is to begin creating your tangles. Each tangle is a pattern that follows your string line. These should be simple and can be dots, circles, or just squiggly lines. There is no set number or direction and the idea is to use a combination that creates a pattern that is pleasing. Step 6 is to repeat the process by drawing additional strings and patterns off of them and begin to fill up the paper. Step 7 is actually not a step but a reminder that you should embrace anything that you may consider a mistake. You may not erase anything. The motto of stroke by stroke insures that each stroke even if it is no intentional is part of the final pattern. Step 8 is to focus on what you are doing, by now you should already feel yourself becoming more focused on the piece you are working on and that you should feel your

breathing becoming more even. If you are having trouble focusing close your eyes and breathe for a couple of seconds before returning to your drawing. The process should feel reverent and calming. Step 9 is to add minimal shading to add dimension and enhance the piece. If you are sticking the the original process you can add minimum shading but try not to add too much. Some people will also deviate here from the original conditions and add color. Step 10 is to continue until you are done! This does not mean you filled in the entire piece of paper, it can simply mean that you feel finished in whatever design you have created. There is no set time limit or necessity to fill in the page. Step 11 is to take what you have learned and experienced and continue with your life. You may or may not feel an immediate difference but you may start to notice you feel more connected and relaxed as time and practice continues. Step 12 is to use ZenDoodle during your daily life to break up the monotony or jerk you out of slumps – for example the after lunch zone out many people are afflicted with. At this point you can consider your ZenDoodle finished if you like, however many choose to display them as they can be very soothing to see in your surroundings. Step 13 would be to decide where you would like to display your artwork. Many people pin them up at work to give their office a boost in creativity, some schools will put the student’s designs on notice boards. If you work in a professional environment it may be a good idea to go get them framed first. Step 14 is to display the design properly – if you are in a professional setting consider having your favorite ZenDoodles frames or scanned in to use as backgrounds for your computer or devices. By having the designs visible around you it can really help your creative process and get you back into that zen mindset if you need it.

Step 15 is also not necessarily a step but get other people involved! By getting those around you to use ZenDoodle methods you can increase your productivity as a whole group and improve the mental state of everyone. You may also find that this works well as a team building exercise in group settings or as an ice breaker. Perhaps everyone would like to go to a ZenDoodle class? Remember that their process is copyrighted so you can’t teach an official class yourself unless you decide to get CZT trained. These 15 simple steps should have you and those around you tangling in no time at all, yo can share designs or look on forums to connect with other tanglers get their input on your work as well as ideas for new pieces of your own (though remember this is not meant to be a pre-planned piece of artwork). If you are still unsure of the process or feel that having to source your own materials may take away from the experience you can also buy kits that will give you instruction and examples. ZenDoodle also offers a classroom pack for schools and apprentice kits for those new to tangling. You can also download materials from their site if you register there. They also have a list of worldwide CZT’s available to look at. The method of ZenDoodle creation is copyrighted and as such you have to attend certified seminars to become a CZT if you want to teach others other than simply showing your friends and family. ZenDoodle suggests that you get started with one of their kits for best results but admit that you can learn most of the information online. The company also has a blog and youtube channel where you can learn more about the ZenDoodle process.

Chapter 4 – Benefits of ZenDoodle ZenDoodle has been used both privately and by corporations for a variety of reasons. Though most people will use it privately to boost creativity and relax the mind there are many other benefits to it. Probably the most notable that seems a side effect of the process is that it is a quick way to bring you to a mindful state. This makes it ideal for breaking up boring meetings. ZenDoodle is also used as a form of non-verbal journalling since your ZenDoodle art will change with your mood and what is going on in your mind creating a visual journey of your daily experience. There are other reasons that ZenDoodle can be used in business besides breaking up meetings, it makes a great brainstorming and problem solving tool by both clearing and opening up the mind to the creative process. In a creative situation it can also be design inspiration or a way to nurture support among coworkers when they perform the task together. The process has also been used as a therapeutic tool for a variety of problems. These include anger management, panic attacks, insomnia, and as a tool for rehabilitating fine motor skills. By using this drawing method many find improvement in their hand-eye coordination. ZenDoodle has also been used as a tool for repetitive behavior or treatment of stress triggers. For example where some people may bite their nails, or in phobia situation where they may use ZenDoodle to focus away from the phobia. It has also been used as an anger management tool where the patient has to focus their anger onto the paper to diffuse it rather than releasing it into their surroundings. In addition to therapy and office applications ZenDoodle has been used for home schooling and to increase children’s attention span. Many art classes use this process as a warm up and to increase creative abilities. The ZenDoodle company offers school apprentice programs and CZT visits to teach the process. Artistically there isn’t much demand for people to buy ZenDoodle are but there are a few artists who have made it famous with other expandism pieces.

Many benefits of ZenDoodle tie in with those relating to forms of meditation. Among the meditative benefits practitioners of ZenDoodle similarly feel less stressed, have lower blood pressure, and react better to emotional stressors. Studies have shown that those who practice zen methods also have increased electrical activity in the area of the brain that is more active among those with an optimistic outlook. Those who have a more optimistic outlook tend to be more empowered and more likely to help life up others around them.

Chapter 5 – What users say about ZenDoodle It would be easy to simply accept or dismiss this method of meditation depending on how easily you believe without logic. However of those thousands who practice ZenDoodle find that within it there is a huge list of things to discover. For example those who discover it at parties, among friends often find themselves wanting to share their creativity and find the process infectious and addicting. This can be especially true if they have neglected the creativity in their lives previously. Others note that the process itself is inspirational and gives renewed energy to practitioners. Even children have noted that though they love drawing and art ZenDoodle is easy and fun because they have to put more thought into the process than just drawing would usually take. Children have also mentioned that they find the patterns have more than one use as they can be used as a coloring sheet later on. ZenDoodle has also been used in prison populations and the results have shown that many inmates are calmer and quieter when producing ZenDoodles. The results have been welcoming and as mentioned before the results have shown corresponding evidence to positive reactions within those needing addiction therapy. Schools that have used ZenDoodle classes have shown that their students expressed an improvement in focus and a greater ability to concentrate after using ZenDoodle art. Many felt more confident after having practiced ZenDoodle. Some of the other adjectives that people have used when writing about ZenDoodle are peaceful, relaxing, brilliant, enlightening, soothing, entertaining, meditative, and fun. Perhaps by now you are ready to try this as there are no negative reviews out there or anyone who feels the process is a waste of time. It seems every practitioner both young and old has taken away something positive from the process of creating ZenDoodles.

Conclusion ZenDoodle seems like a tool for all the ages and is a great way to get meditative practices into your lifestyle when you may feel you are too busy. The process is intended on being able to do anywhere at any time and it certainly lives up to that. Though many may mistakenly consider this doodling it is actually a deeply spiritual process that really helped the mental state of those who practice. If you find you are unable to concentrate, lack focus, or just need to reconnect with things around you then ZenDoodle may be your answer. By opening your eyes when meditating you area helping to inspire yourself with your own creativity. The practice of zen meditation techniques have been shown to help people relieve stress and be healthier in their lives. ZenDoodle is based on the art form known as Expandism where art work is created in such a way that it can be expanded upon until considered finished without a set design in mind. The process often creates beautiful abstract patterns that are a window into the psyche of the artist. Many find that they struggle to put pen to paper and simply draw which is why ZenDoodle methods are so successful since it gives you the basic steps to follow every time. There are even templates and over 100 official string examples to follow if you feel you cannot simple create from your own mind. Those who practice ZenDoodle find they are more creative, have better problem solving skills and can react better to stressors in their lives. The process is enjoyed by people of all ages and since it is so portable you have no excuses and can try it just about anywhere. Follow the 15 simple steps outlined in this book and you can easily begin creating your own ZenDoodles right now.

ZenDoodle Basics Start ZenDoodling and Improve Your Focus, Creativity, and Dexterity by Drawing Beautiful images Using Repetitive Patterns

Table of Contents Introduction Chapter 1 – Anything is Possible: The ZenDoodle Theory Chapter 2 – How Should Be Your ZenDoodle Art Chapter 3 – Learning More about ZenDoodle Method Chapter 4 – How to Create a ZenDoodle Chapter 5 – Application and Uses of ZenDoodle Chapter 6 – Benefits of ZenDoodle Chapter 7: ZenDoodle for Kids Conclusion

Copyright Notice © Copyright 2015 by Jayden Thomas- All rights reserved. This document is geared towards providing exact and reliable information in regards to the topic and issue covered. The publication is sold with the idea that the publisher is not required to render accounting, officially permitted, or otherwise, qualified services. If advice is necessary, legal or professional, a practiced individual in the profession should be ordered. - From a Declaration of Principles which was accepted and approved equally by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations. In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved. The information provided herein is stated to be truthful and consistent, in that any liability, in terms of inattention or otherwise, by any usage or abuse of any policies, processes, or directions contained within is the solitary and utter responsibility of the recipient reader. Under no circumstances will any legal responsibility or blame be held against the publisher for any reparation, damages, or monetary loss due to the information herein, either directly or indirectly. Respective authors own all copyrights not held by the publisher. The information herein is offered for informational purposes solely, and is universal as so.

The presentation of the information is without contract or any type of guarantee assurance. The trademarks that are used are without any consent, and the publication of the trademark is without permission or backing by the trademark owner. All trademarks and brands within this book are for clarifying purposes only and are the owned by the owners themselves, not affiliated with this document.

Disclaimer While all attempts have been made to verify the information provided in this book, the author does not assume any responsibility for errors, omissions, or contrary interpretations of the subject matter contained within. The information provided in this book is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The reader is responsible for his or her own actions and the author does not accept any responsibilities for any liabilities or damages, real or perceived, resulting from the use of this information.



Introduction The ZenDoodle Method is a simple to-learn, unwinding, and fun approach to make excellent pictures by drawing organized patterns that will clam your mind. Practically anybody can utilize it to make wonderful pictures. It builds center and imagination, gives masterful fulfillment along an expanded feeling of individual prosperity. The ZenDoodle Method is delighted in everywhere on this world over an extensive variety of abilities, intrigues and ages. With the ZenDoodle Method, anybody can make excellent pictures from dreary examples. It is anything but difficult to learn and simple to do. What’s more, despite the fact that it is a predetermined arrangement of steps, it brings about an innovative expression that rises above its own standards. Making ZenDoodle workmanship gives a fun and cheerful approach to unwind and deliberately encourage a shift in center and viewpoint. The ZenDoodle Method of making workmanship is unhampered by doctrine and expense which can weigh on different methodologies. In any case, it is adequately organized and sorted out so you can appreciate and advantage from an action that generally may be viewed as unusual. With ZenDoodle Method do not just art that you have already designed on your mind. Taking after this to some degree strange methodology, your creation is not limited by your desires. Dreary, basic steps are a piece of the ZenDoodle Method. These strides bolster unwinding, center and motivation. It can be a sublime every day custom. Making outlines, controlling images and putting pen to paper is a piece of our human legacy. In a period of consoles, PC mice, and PDAs, the basic strokes that are a piece of the ZenDoodle Method naturally draw in you in a solace and recognition of immortal, fundamental innovativeness.



Chapter 1 – Anything is Possible: The ZenDoodle Theory ZenDoodle Method is easy to comprehend and simple to appreciate — regardless of the possibility that you are persuaded you are not a craftsman. Here are a few thoughts that are assembled to clarify why this ZenDoodle methodology is simple and charming, as well as significant and inspiring.

Theory 1: Do Whatever You Want At first look, a ZenDoodle creation can appear to be many-sided and entangled. However, when you figure out how it is done, you understand how straightforward it is … kind of like taking in the mystery behind an enchantment trap. At that point, when you make a bit of ZenDoodle workmanship, you understand how fun and engaging the procedure itself is. We cherish introducing to a class or workshop brimming with individuals who are persuaded they can’t draw the ZenDoodle workmanship we demonstrate to them. At that point, inside of 15 minutes, they have effectively fulfilled what they believed was unthinkable. This is one of our most loved ZenDoodle minutes, on the grounds that then we ask, and “What else do you realize that you can’t do?” You can exchange that knowledge and experience of achievement and achievement to any background. Something may look confused, however you now realize that you can do it, one straightforward stroke at once.

Theory 2: Concentrate on Your Stroke In the ZenDoodle way, you draw every stroke intentionally and purposely. You are continually making “strokes” throughout your life. By honing the ZenDoodle Method’s recommendation to make every stroke purposeful, you see how those clearly little and irrelevant “strokes” of your minute to minute lives add to a general life design. This is another reason that we say that life is a fine art and everybody is a craftsman. Surely, everybody draws.



Theory 3: Forget about Eraser There is no eraser in life and there is no eraser in a ZenDoodle Kit. On the other hand, in making ZenDoodle workmanship (and in living), you will find that clear mix ups can be establishments for new examples and take you in startling and energizing new headings.

Theory 4: Focus on Your Art As you make a planned pen stroke on your ZenDoodle tile without concerning yourself of what it will look like when you are done, that very demonstration of putting your pen to paper centers your consideration in an uncommon manner. As your eye takes after your pen strokes your consideration movements to an express that permits new considerations, new viewpoints, and imaginative experiences to stream unhindered by nervousness or exertion.

Theory 5: Do Not Plan Anything on Your Mind Dissimilar to much workmanship, or most exercises, you begin deliberately not realizing what your ZenDoodle creation will resemble. The ZenDoodle Method permits you to find new potential outcomes that you may not have foreseen when you started. We can most dependably tell when we’ve preplanned a particular result when utilizing our ZenDoodle Method. It quite often looks constrained and firm.

Theory 6: No Predetermined Solution With no foreordained right reply, the ZenDoodle system offers both an opportunity and a test. Not at all like crossword, jigsaw, or Sudoku perplexes, there is nobody foreordained arrangement. You can’t neglect to make ZenDoodle craftsmanship. At first this flexibility may be a touch alarming, the same number of us have been prepared to search for the one impeccable arrangement. Before long in any case, this turns into a liberating and elevating background as you understand you can make ceaseless, steadily evolving “arrangements” in your ZenDoodle.

Chapter 2 – How Should Be Your ZenDoodle Art You generally succeed when you make ZenDoodle in light of the fact that you generally make an example. A ZenDoodle creation is intended to be nonrepresentative with no up or down. Since it is not a photo of something, you have no stresses over whether you can draw a hand, or a duck. You generally succeed in making an example in a ZenDoodle manner.

Try to be Versatile A ZenDoodle tile is about three inches square. A ZenDoodle tile is intended to be finished in one sitting. Keep some ZenDoodle tiles in your take or satchel. You can complete one in as meager as 15 minutes. You get a quick feeling of achievement by finishing your masterpiece. Obviously, you can invest as much energy as you like on a tile. Time dissolves as you concentrate on and make the most of your pen strokes.

Create Inspirational ZenDoodle Art The ZenDoodle Method’s non-verbal dialect of examples and extents can open ways to experiences which appeared to be bolted some time recently. Making in a ZenDoodle manner opens those entryways, not on the grounds that they were bolted, but rather in light of the fact that those entryways swing on non-verbal pivots. When you make in a ZenDoodle manner you can enter a condition of loose concentrate in which natural bits of knowledge stream uninhibitedly. Get motivations, thoughts and answers unhindered by desires or stresses.

Concentrate to Create High Quality ZenDoodle Keeping in mind yourself and your art, we generally urge individuals to utilize the best apparatuses and materials conceivable. We composed our ZenDoodle Kit in view of that.

Appreciate Yourself Whatever You Have Done Appreciation is your establishment. It additionally illuminates our item outline and our educating system. Whether it is admiring the composition of these eminent paper tiles, getting to be mindful of the designed excellence around us or grateful for the chance to put pen to paper, we generally come back to appreciation. Like a Korean Tea Ceremony, when you make ZenDoodle you likewise make a unique pattern of your own. You can utilize our ZenDoodle approach as an instrument to intentionally focus on your contemplations.

Chapter 3 – Learning More about ZenDoodle Method A ZenDoodle is a conceptual drawing made utilizing redundant examples as per the trademarked ZenDoodle Method. Genuine ZenDoodles are constantly made on 3.5 inch square tiles, and they are constantly done in dark ink on white paper. The development of the ZenDoodle was planned to make the demonstration of drawing pleasurable, reflective and available to all.

Know the Basics of ZenDoodle A ZenDoodle is a dynamic, designed attracting made by principles of the ZenDoodle Method. Utilizing the standard arrangement of a 3.5-inch square title, the craftsman makes an organized example as indicated by his or her impulse taking after a fundamental arrangement of rules. No innovation, uncommon materials, or instructive foundation are important to turn into a ZenDoodle craftsman. Here are a couple of qualities of a ZenDoodle: The tile ought not to have an UP or a DOWN - it is without introduction. It ought not to be illustrative of any certain conspicuous item; rather, it ought to be unique. The drawing ought to be finished in dark ink on white paper. A ZenDoodle is intended to be convenient, so it can be made whenever the temperament strikes.

Difference between ZenDoodle and Other Arts Perceive how ZenDoodle is not quite the same as other craftsmanship. The ZenDoodle Method is altogether different from normal drawing, painting and other fine arts. It is intended to be a type of masterful reflection that anybody can do. The demonstration of making the ZenDoodle is pretty much as critical as the last result, which is refreshing for

its remarkable magnificence. ZenDoodle manifestations hold fast to the accompanying philosophical precepts: Its creation is totally unplanned: When you start making a ZenDoodle, you’re urged not to have a finished objective as a main priority. Maybe, permit the example to uncover itself as you draw. Production of a ZenDoodle is purposeful, yet startling: Every stroke ought to be made purposely, as opposed to reluctantly. As opposed to eradicating stray denote, the craftsman ought to utilize them as the establishment for a surprising example. Its creation is celebratory: Like contemplation, the ZenDoodle Method is intended to feel liberating and recuperating. It’s an approach to commend the magnificence of life. A ZenDoodle is immortal: No innovation or extraordinary apparatuses are utilized. ZenDoodles ought to interface the individuals who make them to the immortal human attempt of putting pen to paper.

ZenDoodle Vs. Doodle Numerous individuals make doodles - infrequently delightful ones - in the edges of journals and on scrap paper. Doodles are generally made amid times when the individual raising them is having hell paying consideration on something else that is going ahead, similar to an address or a telephone call. In spite of the fact that the best doodles can appear to be like ZenDoodles, they’re entirely distinctive. Here’s the way: The ZenDoodle Method obliges most extreme core interest. Not at all like doodling, the individual making a ZenDoodle is issuing it his or her full, unified consideration. A ZenDoodle can’t be made while on the telephone or listening to an address, in light of the fact that center is an intrinsic piece of this artistic expression.

The ZenDoodle Method is a function. Since a ZenDoodle merits the craftsman’s most extreme consideration. It ought to be make in a calm spot where center and adoration can be accomplished. The paper and pens utilized ought to be of most elevated quality, since a ZenDoodle is a show-stopper that can be delighted in for quite a while to come.

Learn about the Establishing Artists The ZenDoodle Method was developed by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas, when they found that the demonstration of drawing unique examples with the imperative of a couple of fundamental standards was greatly reflective. So as to educate the ZenDoodle Method, one must be affirmed as a ZenDoodle Teacher. There are more than one hundred authority ZenDoodles. In the event that you need to reproduce one of the firsts, there are exercises online and books and packs accessible for procurement. Meets expectations that are reminiscent of ZenDoodles however don’t hold fast to the official rules are alluded to as ZenDoodle-motivated manifestations.

Chapter 4 – How to Create a ZenDoodle It is up to you, how you want to create your ZenDoodle. However, if you do not know anything about ZenDoodle, the follow the following steps to create your own ZenDoodle. Begin with the right supplies. The ZenDoodle Method supports utilizing fine printmaking paper to use as an establishment for ZenDoodles. It ought to be plain white, unlined paper. Cut your paper into a 3.5” square piece. Handcrafted or textured paper is fine, the length of it doesn’t have designs. You can utilize hued paper in the event that you need, however wouldn’t be viewed as a genuine ZenDoodle as indicated by the ZenDoodle Method.

Step 1: Start with a Border Utilize a pencil to draw a light square fringe around the edges of your paper. The example you make will be drawn inside the edges of the fringe. Try not to utilize a ruler or any kind of straight edge to draw your fringe. Simply draw it daintily close to the edges of the paper.

It’s totally fine if your hand falters while you draw the fringe. The fringe will be a one of a kind, unique imperative inside which your example will develop. On the off chance that it has wavy lines or looks uneven, your completed ZenDoodle will be considerably more unique. Try not to squeeze down too hard with the pencil as you freehand the fringe. It is not intended to be noticeable once you wrap up your ZenDoodle in pen.

Step 2: Draw a String According to Your Choice Take your pencil and draw a “string” inside the fringe. As per the ZenDoodle Method, a string is a bended line or squiggle that will give structure to your outline. The example you make will develop as indicated by the forms of your string. It ought to a gently outlined, basic, dynamic frame that exquisitely isolates the outskirt into segments. Once more, don’t squeeze down too hard with your pencil as you draw the string. It won’t be noticeable once your ZenDoodle is done. It is intended to serve as an aide for your example.

A few individuals think that it difficult to decide how to draw the string. Keep in mind that the rationality behind a ZenDoodle is that it ought to feel pleasurable, celebratory and common. Draw whatever turns out when you touch your pencil to the paper - there’s no wrong approach to do it. In the event that you need thoughts for making diverse strings, there are string examples accessible on the web.

Step 3: It’s Time to Create Tangle A “tangle” is an example attracted pen along the shapes of a string. One ZenDoodle may have only one tangle, or a blend of distinctive tangles. Utilize your pen to start attracting whatever example comes to you - once more, there’s no correct move inside a ZenDoodle. As you work, remember the accompanying: Tangles ought to be made out of exceptionally basic shapes. A line, a spot, a circle, a squiggle, or an oval are all adequate.

Penciled shading can be added to the tangles to make more profundity and visual hobby. This is not required, but rather you’re allowed to do as such on the off chance that you’d like.

Step 4: Never Erase Your Mistakes You can’t delete botches you make in pen. That is a piece of the reason tangles are made in pen, not pencil, besides any shading you may need to include. There’s no retreating. Each tangle is manufactured stroke by stroke. Pay consideration on every stroke you make, and manufacture your example in an intentional manner.

Concentrate eagerly on your work. Generally as you would while reflecting, free your psyche of stresses and issues. Keep in mind that the demonstration of making a ZenDoodle ought to feel formal. Continue going until you’re done. You’ll know when now the ideal time to put down your pen is. Keep your ZenDoodle in a sheltered place, or edge it and presentation it for long haul happiness.

Chapter 5 – Application and Uses of ZenDoodle Applications as well as uses of the ZenDoodle Method is broad here are a couple of ways others are utilizing the ZenDoodle Method.

Source of Entertainment ZenDoodle craftsmanship is anything but difficult to make and heavenly to share and appreciate. The ZenDoodle procedure is entrancing. You can make alone or with a gathering. You can make an amusement by arbitrarily selecting tangles, or by making collective ZenDoodle manifestations. Not at all like diversions with foreordained results like crossword riddles or Sudoku, have you found your own particular results.

Best for Relaxation We all need to unwind from anxiety sometimes. The ZenDoodle Method offers a brisk approach to purposefully divert your center and enter a casual state very quickly. It doesn’t require any specific physical expertise. It doesn’t oblige a uniform, area or gear to unwind and appreciate.

Educational Value At all age levels, whether out in the open, private or self-teach situations, making ZenDoodle workmanship has been connected with improved eye coordination, handwriting, Inventiveness and individual expression and focus.

Improve Your Confidence Also, the ZenDoodle Method can be delighted in by numerous ages all the while in a gathering setting. This can be especially helpful in instructive settings where distinctive age aggregates frequently collaborate, for example, Montessori and self-teach situations.



Motivational Training With its analogy rich philosophical base, the ZenDoodle Method can enhance self-regard and bolster singular certainty, innovativeness and participation in collaborations. ZenDoodle activities can concentrate on zones, for example, Singular self-esteem, Critical thinking, Singular’s part inside of a group, deliberately coordinating concentrate under anxiety, Getting to internal information and direction.

Improve Your Creativity Numerous individuals who have creative ability set aside their desires because of time and cash imperatives. The ZenDoodle methodology answers both of these concerns by being open and reasonable. For individuals who are persuaded they can’t draw, the ZenDoodle Method uproots that obstruction also. It likewise uproots any intimidation of confronting a clear sheet of paper and a fledgling’s work can be put beside a “pro’s” work and fit right in. Numerous craftsmen utilize the ZenDoodle Method to create and find examples and plans to apply to their normal medium, for example, knitting or gems. Making a ZenDoodle tile can likewise give broadly educating thought motivation notwithstanding when connected to very distinctive fields, for example, written work or science. The ZenDoodle design vocabulary draws from a rich well of our human experience. It gives a straightforward, available system to permit individual innovativeness to stream.

Collectible ZenDoodle tile is a fantasy that does not fade. You may make something on your ZenDoodle tile that is not quickly self-evident. Later, upon reflection, its significance may show up with awesome clarity. Make a collection of your tiles. It is extremely inspiring to audit a gathering of ZenDoodle tiles you have made. This can frequently yield important individual experiences. Outline your most loved tiles in our custom edges, either independently or in gatherings. Awesome for your own pleasure or as a blessing.



Use as Handmade Art Gift Give a ZenDoodle tile as opposed to welcome cards. What better approach to express sentiments that are amazing, than by doling out one of your ZenDoodle manifestations? The ZenDoodle procedure has a rich imagery and profound logic. Making ZenDoodle workmanship in a gathering gives a brilliant examination base to study gatherings and gathering facilitators.

Treatment Whether self-coordinated or in a clinical setting, ZenDoodle workmanship gives a nonverbal methodology for input, journaling, reflection and examination, self-improvement and expanded certainty.

Chapter 6 – Benefits of ZenDoodle ZenDoodle itself may be generally new, however the fundamental standards included are as old as the historical backdrop of workmanship. It incorporates custom and mirrors the images, plans and examples of various societies (Mayan, Maori, Celtic, and American Indian, for example) from antiquated through present times. What’s more, such as “doodling” it is in light of a human conduct in which one shuns arranging and permits lines and shapes to accidentally develop. There are various books on the formal system for ZenDoodle that will help you begin; these books give various outlines and demonstrate to you best practices to make different examples, orderly. Alternately basically look the Internet to discover directions and motivation for outlines then make up your own once you hone a couple designs. While the procedure may look unpredictable, it is a misleadingly basic pathway to unwinding and inward core interest. Actually, advocates of the practice take note of that it has various advantages including cooling an on edge brain, expanding fearlessness, and developing minute to-minute mindfulness in a comparable manner as care contemplation. Here are some different advantages:

Its Self-Soothing Monotonous imaginative work, all by itself, can be cooling and self-relieving. Actually, a portion of the preparatory research on the ZenDoodle procedure demonstrates that engagement in the process has quantifiable unwinding advantages. This is especially genuine in the event that you acknowledge this procedure as one with no normal result other than the pleasure in putting the pen to paper and staying open to whatever rises.

It is Very Simple ZenDoodle workmanship just obliges a dark pen and paper; you can do it pretty much

anyplace. I can validate the way that any plane flight passes by all the more pleasurably when I am tangling. Search for things you can tangle on like business card, liners and even daily papers [tangle directly over the printed pages].

It Teaches How to Own Mistakes Utilizing a pen on paper obliges that you hazard committing errors; actually, most tangle workmanship has in any event some lost lines which can’t be deleted. Tangling shows you how to consolidate what appear like “errors” into the general example of the configuration. It’s an extraordinary illustration for regular life nothing is ever impeccable, yet how you acclimate to defects [mistakes or the unexpected] in life is the thing that truly matters.

It Reinforces Aimlessness Many ZenDoodle devotees highlight the tangle doodle handle as a type of care. Zen expert Thich Nhat Hanh watches that we have to develop aimlessness in life instead of constantly endeavoring to be “number one.” for instance, when we work on strolling contemplation, we are not attempting to arrive anyplace specifically; indeed, in the event that we stay concentrated on the future, we lose the delight of our progressions in the without a moment’s hesitation. The same is valid for the procedure of tangling. On the off chance that we become involved with judgment and consultation, we are not in the without a moment’s hesitation. Anyway, in the event that we basically appreciate the inventive procedure, we can appreciate each and every snippet of it and that is at last what any imaginative expression offers us. ZenDoodle shows us not to surge and to take great consideration of ourselves right now as it would turn out, the present minute is all there is.

More Benefits of ZenDoodles Develop Creative Abilities: An objective of ZenDoodle is to free your contemplations in, for example, way that it at last reinforces and engages your imagination. When you participate in ZenDoodle drawing, the innovative piece of your psyche may skip and develop in courses at no other time thought conceivable. Journaling & Journal Prompting: The liberating part of ZenDoodle is intended

to open your psyche up to new contemplations, sensations and the sky is the limit from there. This gives members new thoughts that ought to be resolved to paper. Then again you might basically depict how you feel when drawing your fragile tangles and strings. Alleviate Stress: By concentrating on creating excellent tangles, the weights of ordinary life are apparently lifted. ZenDoodle’s edifying, freeing reason for existing is intended to facilitate strain, so make certain to make utilization of its quieting nature at whatever point you feel the heaviness of the day weighing down on you. Enhanced Sleep Patterns: The example making magnificence of ZenDoodle achieves profound into different parts of your life. Through unwinding center and imaginative development, your brain sorts and procedures every day occasions that help you appreciate a night of profound, recharging rest. Enhance Hand-Eye Coordination: ZenDoodle is an added substance drawing system that obliges concentrate yet unwinds the general personality. While anybody can do it, noticing the subtle element and unobtrusive subtleties of every stroke help enhance deftness. Enhanced Self-Esteem: It feels great to make and watch something lovely develop. From start to finish, seeing your ZenDoodle tile blossom forward imparts a feeling of pride and achievement. Create & Rehabilitate Fine Skills: Pretty much as ZenDoodle helps fabricate dexterity in all individuals, its advantages are especially powerful for those during the time spent revamping engine aptitudes. Associating, shading and framing a ZenDoodle picture into a wonderful entire is a serene yet makes new ties in the brain that can be seen in ordinary life.

Makes Beautiful Art: A ZenDoodle tile is constantly wonderful paying little respect to its effortlessness or multifaceted nature. You can’t fizzle at ZenDoodle. Each tile you make will be perfect and help yield that imaginative part of the self. Group Building & Group Focus: While mind blowing pieces can be made solo, ZenDoodle truly sparkles as a gathering movement. Associating numerous personalities and they join strokes into wondrous workmanship is a holding knowledge. Treatment: ZenDoodle can be utilized to sort and procedure life challenges. The expanded center and inventiveness angle give a relieving channel to those with inquiries, concerns or medicinal conditions. Expands Attention Span & Ability to Concentrate: A standout amongst the most essential parts of ZenDoodle is its capacity to sharpen a man’s fixation aptitudes by keeping them occupied with a streaming, blooming creation. While it eventually unwinds members, ZenDoodle gets to be less demanding and simpler over the long run. Outrage Management: The principal advantage of ZenDoodle a man goes over is normally unwinding. This is no mischance. People experiencing resentment issues will discover ZenDoodle to be an outlet through which they may discover help and smoothness. Self-teaching: ZenDoodle helps self-taught youngsters build center and coordination so their studies may be considerably more grounded. Dependence Therapy Tool: The objective of dependence treatment is opportunity from some piece of a man’s life that holds them hostage. ZenDoodle assists with this by discharging the mind’s consideration on that dependence and centering it on a profoundly valuable imaginative movement.

Inspiration Design: At its center, ZenDoodle is a craftsmanship. Pretty much as some other work of art, it envelops topics from inside and outside sources. These meet up into an apt outline structure that has the ability to rouse the inventor and others.

Chapter 7: ZenDoodle for Kids ZenDoodle is a method for taking a gander at things and performing undertakings in such a route, to the point that they improve our regular lives. It is an approach to assemble things and make them work in a satisfying manner.

ZenDoodle is a Powerful Process It is a simple to learn technique for making wonderful pictures from redundant examples. It is an entrancing new artistic expression that is fun and unwinding. It expands center and imagination. ZenDoodle gives imaginative fulfillment and an expanded feeling of individual prosperity. ZenDoodle is appreciated by offspring of all ages.

ZenDoodle is Timeless Making outlines, controlling images and putting pen to paper is a piece of our human legacy. In a period of consoles, PC mice, and PDAs our youngsters are feeling the loss of this experience. ZenDoodle permits our children to come back to a solace and nature of immortal, essential imagination putting pen to paper.

ZenDoodle is Non-Technical ZenDoodle is not constrained by innovation. Children’s imagination is not coordinated by how an organization fabricated a specific model, nor does it require batteries or power. ZenDoodle gives a balance to our expanding utilization of PCs, mice, screens and consoles. It returns youngsters to that on a very basic level human conduct of controlling images and putting checks on paper. ZenDoodle is not prearranged. The youngsters’ innovativeness is their just cutoff and ZenDoodle has a method for expanding and motivating expression in their inventiveness.

ZenDoodle Empowers

The man made diversions have made a commotion in our lives, making it troublesome for our kids to pick up and recover control of their internal identity when they need or need it. Making a ZenDoodle is an instrument for kids to locate their internal identity and restraint in simple quieting steps. For youngsters to learn they can purposely unwind and purposefully coordinate their consideration while making lovely masterpieces is an enabling and inspiring background.

ZenDoodle is Relaxing ZenDoodle is another apparatus for children, giving a cheerful approach to unwind and purposefully encourage a shift in center and viewpoint. Rather than a period out, it ought to be the ideal time for a ZenDoodle. At that point talk and examine the current issue.

Conclusion ZenDoodle is a type of contemplation, which lives up to expectations strikingly to accomplish agreement and helps the psyche work in a state of harmony with the body. How frequently do we observe that we are not able to perform our exercises legitimately and in a fantastic way in light of the disarrays and clashes in our psyche weigh down intensely upon us? Also, push which as a general rule is the executioner influencing all parts of our physical, endocrinal and passionate frameworks can be amended through the eminent ZenDoodle hone. Indeed ZenDoodle equal to meditation, in light of the fact that both cooperate in accomplishing the normal objective of solidarity of psyche, body and soul – a condition of everlasting ecstasy. The thoughtful practices through ZenDoodle help to achieve the emotional balance. What it means is that ZenDoodle makes conditions, where you are not influenced by the happenings around you. This thus makes a wonderful smoothness and an uplifting viewpoint, which additionally has gigantic advantages on the physical strength of the body without putting in days and weeks to achieve it. Making that thoughtful state can be achieved in just a short minute by taking out the paper and pen and making the examples again and again. The simple practice of ZenDoodle helps you achieve this spot in the brain, where you are not influenced by the happenings around you, passionate and physical well-being in the Health Care System. As per the National Institutes of Health, individuals use reflection for enthusiastic wellbeing, for example, to address tension and anxiety, and in addition for physical issues, including controlling torment and side effects of endless illnesses. Exploration has found that reflection may assuage despondency and altogether enhanced mental pain and prosperity.



Drawing Step by Step Drawings Guide to Learn How to Draw Everything Plus Sketching, How to Draw Cool Stuff, Easy Drawing, Pencil Drawing Book

Table of Contents Introduction Chapter 1 – General Advice Chapter 2 – The Fundamentals of Drawing Chapter 3 – Drawing Faces Conclusion

Copyright Notice

© Copyright 2015 by Samantha Williams - All rights reserved. This document is geared towards providing exact and reliable information in regards to the topic and issue covered. The publication is sold with the idea that the publisher is not required to render accounting, officially permitted, or otherwise, qualified services. If advice is necessary, legal or professional, a practiced individual in the profession should be ordered. - From a Declaration of Principles which was accepted and approved equally by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations. In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved. The information provided herein is stated to be truthful and consistent, in that any liability, in terms of inattention or otherwise, by any usage or abuse of any policies, processes, or directions contained within is the solitary and utter responsibility of the recipient reader. Under no circumstances will any legal responsibility or blame be held against the publisher for any reparation, damages, or monetary loss due to the information herein, either directly or indirectly. Respective authors own all copyrights not held by the publisher. The information herein is offered for informational purposes solely, and is universal as so.

The presentation of the information is without contract or any type of guarantee assurance. The trademarks that are used are without any consent, and the publication of the trademark is without permission or backing by the trademark owner. All trademarks and brands within this book are for clarifying purposes only and are the owned by the owners themselves, not affiliated with this document.

Disclaimer While all attempts have been made to verify the information provided in this book, the author does not assume any responsibility for errors, omissions, or contrary interpretations of the subject matter contained within. The information provided in this book is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The reader is responsible for his or her own actions and the author does not accept any responsibilities for any liabilities or damages, real or perceived, resulting from the use of this information.

Introduction Most of us, at least at some point in our life, will experience a yearning to be able to draw proficiently. Occasionally, you might see a the finished work of a talented artist and wish, part in jealousy and part in awe, that you could have such talent. Or perhaps, sometimes you see something especially moving – the face of your parents, spouse and children or a scene in nature that you wish you could capture in detail just as it is, at that moment. However, even if this grand urge to draw manages to drive an individual to try their hand at sketching and drawing, few people manage to work on their craft and develop their eagerness into true skill. This may be due to a lack of guidance, or simply frustration with the poor and under detailed guides which novices must filter through to find expert help. If you have felt like this, or know someone who does, fortunately this guide exists to provide a helping hand towards developing your own drawing mastery. In the first chapter of this eBook, pragmatic advice is offered to aid you start your drawing practice – an exposition of the various mediums you can draw with, an explanation of the types of pencils and what they do, as well as guidance on what equipment is best to buy and few hints of wisdom to keep you motivated. The next chapter deals with the fundamentals of drawing – the different types of lines that you can draw, the different types of shading techniques and the range of tones you can produce. Additionally, the second chapter combines this knowledge to guide you, step by step, in how to produce realistic cubes and spheres. The third chapter in this eBook goes a step further. Instead of the limited and abstract applications of cubes and spheres, you are supplied with a detailed guide on how to draw the profile of the face from a head-on perspective. Furthermore, the basics of drawing backgrounds and landscapes are provided, to help you add even more detail to your drawings.

By the end of this eBook, if you follow the steps provided, you should be proficient at the basics of drawing – ready to produce skilful drawings of your own and move on to more intermediate guides.



Chapter 1 – General Advice In this chapter, practical, handy tips are provided to help you start your drawing practice as well as more persistent advice which are useful to keep in mind even as you progress. Firstly, let us cover the various types of equipment you can use to draw. The most obvious and most common are pencils, which can be either mechanical or wooden in nature, but will always contain a graphite lead. Drawing pencils will be conventionally labelled from 9H to 9B. H, in this labelling system, refers to the hardness of the lead inside the pencil. Harder leads leave lighter marks and can be useful for adding lighter shading and initial outlines to work before more detail is provided. In contrast B, which stands for bold, is the label for softer leads, which leave darker marks, and are often used for shadow and darker shading. In the transition from hard leads to soft leads there are also two more labels, HB and F. HB refers to the complete middle ground between hard and soft – most likely you will have used HB pencils frequently in work environment or schools, as they are the ‘standard’ pencil outside of artistic environments. F refers to fine point, which is a hard lead pencil with a very fine tip. As a novice, it is generally best not to worry about the hardness of lead you use to draw with. Until you have developed a degree of skill and proficiency in sketching, the subtleties of the different types of leads will be beyond your skill to genuinely appreciate. Furthermore the constant switching between different pencils and the readjustment of your hands is likely to distract you from you work. Therefore, often, instead of learning to draw

with an entire set of pencils – 9H to 9B – it is best to stick with one general purpose pencil – 2B leads are often popular for this purpose. Alternatively, there are also different drawing mediums you can use. Charcoal is relatively popular and is a good choice for quick, sporadic drawings and sketches. Charcoal is also relatively easy to blur, and create strong lighting and depth effects. However, it is very hard to provide any level of detail in drawings when using charcoal, and when blurring, it can be easy to go overboard and compromise the shape, form and outline of your drawing. Nonetheless, charcoal drawings are easy to begin with and a popular choice for beginners. A final point to make here, in regards to charcoal, is that you must remember to remove charcoal fragments that you will ineveitably acculate on your paper, by blowing them off your drawing, or tilting your page vertically and lett any fragments fall via gravity. If you brush any charcoal residue away, you can easily mark your drawing and ruin it. A final medium to consider is using ink to draw with. Drawing with ink can be a little tricky for the beginner – it often requires a strong sketched outline in pencil to be used as a guide anyway, it is harder to correct mistakes and you will need to be more proficient at certain technical aspects of drawing – such as the angle of your pen against the page and the amount of pressure you provide (which influences the ink flow onto the page). This eBook will mostly consider drawing and sketching using pencils, but some of the guidance and advice provided is transferable to other mediums, so you may bear in mind your favourite drawing medium whilst reading. Other equipment that can be useful includes a good, straight 30cm ruler for drawing straight lines as well as a high quality eraser. In general, rubber patty erasers tend to be preferred by professional hand artists, but as a beginner any normal eraser will do. Bear in mind, that it is best to avoid using an eraser unless you really must – many marks you leave upon a page can never be fully erased and using an eraser will often ruin the

integrity of the paper your drawing upon. Owing to this, you should the develop the habit – as professional artists do – of drawing light guiding outlines, which are easy to erase and draw over (as well as do not waste your time if you make large errors) before moving on to make more permanent and detailed marks. Furthermore, as a novice it is best to practice shorter, easier drawings frequently and work your way upon to harder pieces. A large desk to work from is also preferable. Often you will be using either a computer or books for reference, so it is best if you have a desk that can fit these guides and your equipment whilst still leaving you enough space to comfortably draw upon a piece of paper. If no such space exists in your home than it may be prudent to buy a lap desk – which is essentially a large clipboard – a wooden board wh which you can fasten your paper onto and rest a few pens and pencils. Beyond and above the technical details there are a few tips you should hear which are less on the practical side and more to do with your psychological approach. Firstly, be aware that there is no right or wrong way to draw or approach drawing. You can learn from the experience that other artists have accumulated throughout the eons, and their approach, in order to improve your technical skill, but at the end of the day, everyone develops their own style and technique. On the same vein, although technical skill is perhaps, to a certain standard, objectively gradable, drawing by it’s very nature is an artistic pursuit and subject to all the philosophic quandaries about the nature of art. Any style you chose to grow and develop is going to be your own – favourable to some and unfavourable to others. Do not despair if your work is not liked by everyone around you. Finally, be aware that drawing and sketching ability is a skill that is learned, painstakingly practised until it is finally cultivated into that rare class of abilities that are

considered talents. It is certainly true that some individuals show more natural aptitude than others, but there are no fantastic artists who have not gone through all the trials and tribulations of constant practice. Ultimately if you want to see results, you will have to stick with your hobby, and practice it consistently over a long period of time. With that in mind, you are ready to start learning.

Chapter 2 – The Fundamentals of Drawing Although it is tempting to jump straight into the practice of drawing the most complex, artistic and creative things you care to imagine it is often best to calm yourself and start with the very basic skills that an artist needs in his repertoire. In this chapter, the basic vocabulary artists use will be explored as well as the basic techniques that a sketcher needs to have mastered before they move on to the more advanced topics – drawing lines, shading, drawing 2D & 3D shapes. The first important distinction to make is between a light outline and a heavy outline. A light outline is created when the pencil is not pressed very hard against the paper and a faint, barely visible line is produced. This is often done with the aid of drawing tools like a compass and a ruler, and you should learn to produce and use light outlines in the very first phases of whatever you chose to draw. When producing light outlines, hold your pencil loosely and let it glide gently, but firmly, across the paper. In contrast, a heavy outline is simply a darker line, created with either a softer lead or produced when a greater amount of pressure is applied against the paper. Heavy outlines are produced freely, without formal guidance tools, but they build upon the light outlines formerly produced. When producing a heavy outlines, hold your pencil just a centimetre or two from the tip, so you can exert a greater amount of influence over how the pencil moves. In addition to this, you should practice and become familiar with the range of pencil shading techniques that you can employ. Blending is when you rub or applying pressure to a particular set of pencil marks to produce an even, smooth overall shade. When producing a drawing with multiple connected shades, blending is often used to make the shades seamlessly flow into each

other, so although the shade in one section may be dramatically different from the next, there are no spots where a large perceivable difference is notable. Hatching is when you used small, highly condensed lines to produce the impression of shade or tone. Cross Hatching is when you use two sets of small, highly condensed lines, going in diagonally opposite directions. As with hatching it produces an effect of shade and tone, but the greater amount of lines results in a darker effect, which is richer in tone. Stipping is a shading technique created when you apply a multitude of dots in a small area. Stipping is generally used for the shading of miniscule areas where the use of lines would be inappropriate. Stipping is also a good precursor to blending – it tends to work better than either hatching or cross hatching. Back and forth stroke is shading technique created a letting a pencil flow in one direction, than another, in a zig zag fashion, gradually reducing the length of the lines to produce a cone-like zig zag shade. This technique can be useful for shading larger sections of space. Scumbling is a shading technique where frequent, rough, tiny circular patterns are drawn over each other multiple times in a tiny area, to produce a foamy, coiled shaded pattern. The density of this pattern also makes it well suited to blending. Now that you are acquainted with the definitions of each of these shading techniques, the next process to undertake is to produce a shading scale. This scale is simply a series of blocks, each of which shaded darker than the previous, showing each of the shades that you can produce. This is useful as a visual reference when conceptualising the various darkness of the shade you want for later drawings. To produce a shading scale, draw ten squares of around an inch in length, directly adjacent to each other (a ruler will help greatly here).

Leave the first square entirely unmarked and starting from the second square shade each square slightly darker than the previous, until the last square is a deep, dark shade that is nigh black. It may take several attempts to produce a usable colour shade but do not see this as a waste of time – your attempts to produce a scale are good practice in itself. The first non-shaded block is your highlight tone, that you will use to represent space that is covered in direct light, your blocks 2-9 are your mid tones that represent areas exposed to lower levels of light, whilst your tenth block will represent your shadow tone – where an area is exposed to no light at all. Also attempt to produce a shading scale for each of the shading techniques formerly mentioned, in order to get to grips with how each technique looks upon a piece of paper. The next stage is to attempt blending various shades. Although you can blend with your finger, this is undesirable as the oils on your skin will taint the shade (and overall you risk marking your drawing with inadvertent fingerprints). It is best to use a blending tool – there are two common types. A tortillon is the product of a piece of paper being folded together to produce a pencil like shape with a stub at one end, and is often used for blending. Alternatively, a blending stump is a pencil like piece of plastic used for blending. Both can be bought commercially, although tortillon’s can be made at home. To make your own tortillon, cut a piece of horizontally facing A4 paper diagonally in half, starting your incision about an inch below one corner, and ending about an inch above the diagonally opposing quarter. Using one diagonal half, take the narrower end and roll it, tightly and firmly towards the longer end, until the paper is folded densely in a pencil like structure. Use cellotape to bind the folded paper together to keep it in shape. If you struggle to roll the paper together nicely, it can be best to roll the paper around a solid object, which is around pencil length or thinner (such as a metal wire).

Using a tortillon or a blending stub, produce a shading scale using the before mentioned guide and one of the before mentioned techniques and attempt to blend each shade to produce a clear blocks, whose tone flows into one another, but can still be recognised as a distinct shade. Now that you have started to master tone, you can now progress onto drawing 3D shapes. Obviously, anything you draw is by its very nature two dimensional in reality, but you must learn to give it the illusion of depth and three dimensions – here shading is essential. Shading allows draw objects to project from the paper, giving the impression of an extra dimension – essentially fooling your eyes. The first stage in learning how to draw three dimensional shapes is learning to methodically draw a cube. Start by drawing a square, of whatever dimensions you please. Then, draw another square, of the same proportions, marginally higher than the first square and a small amount off-centre left of the first square, so that the majority of the two squares overlap, but there is still a considerable amount of non-overlapping space in each square. Now, using a ruler, connect each corner of one square to the same corresponding corner on the other square. To clarify, the top-right corner on one square should be connected by a straight line to the top right corner on the other square, the top-left corner to the other topleft (and so on). Finally, you will need to erase the series of lines that would have corresponded to the bottom line and the right line of the second square drawn – this will finalise the cube and give the impression of a full, solid 3D object rather than the outline of one. Now that you have created a cube (it might take several tries to get the formation precisely correct, but do not be discouraged) you can start to apply the highlight, the mid-tones and the shadow tones from the shadow scale made earlier.

On the largest surface of your cube, apply one of the lighter midtones, such as block two or three. On the uppermost surface, apply a medium midtone, such as block five or six. Finally, on the leftmost side of the cube, apply a darker midtone, such as shade seven, eight or nine. Now you have shaded a cube! As an exercise, you can attempt to create more shaded cubes using each one of the shading techniques talked about earlier. The next step is to learn how to create a sphere and shade it. Many objects, such as the human face, can be reduced to a series of spherical or oval components (which follows similar rules to spheres). Owing to this, by mastering the drawing of spherical shapes, you can take another major step towards drawing real life, relevant drawings. A 3D sphere is a little trickier to create than a 3D cube. A cube has rather noticeable angles and axis which gives an impression of depth and you can use shading to emphasise it further. A sphere however, at least when initially drawn, is basically just a circle. It relies entirely upon shading for the impression that it is a 3D object. To create a 3D sphere, start by drawing a perfect circle. This can be accomplished by using an object which when traced produces a circle (such as the top of a mug or a glass). After having drawn your circle, decide which direction light is coming from. For the sake of clarity, in this example I will presume light will come from the top right of your picture. Draw a small oval or circle where the focal point of light touches the sphere. After this, using the object with which you produced the circle with originally, rest the cup or mug (or the other circle-producing object) in alignment horizontally with the original circle, but placed slightly vertoca;;y upwards towards the perceived light source. You should only be able to see a small crescent of the original circle.

Then, using your mug, glass or other object, trace around the bottom half of your object, to draw a curve connecting one edge of the original circle to another, to produce another crescent like shape. Repeat this process several times until you have nine crescents that constitute around 70-80% of the original circle is segmented into a series of crescents. For the last 2-3 crescents, it is often better to produce them by hand, as you will need to adjust the angle of each crescent diagonally towards the light foci, otherwise the shading will not look correct. Fill the crescent furthest away with shadow, and then progressively fill each subsequent crescent with a lighter midtone until you reach the highlight. After this, using your tortillon or your blending snub to blend the shades to create a smoother transition from the shadow to the highlight. Next you need to prepare to draw the cast shadow of the sphere - the shadow created by the physical presence of your sphere blocking the light source from the opposite direction. Sketch an oval shape at the base of your sphere. Begin to gently fill the oval, starting at a highlight shade at the point where the shadow is furthest from the sphere, towards a complete shadow where the oval connects to the base of the sphere. With the shadow added, the three dimensional effect of the sphere is complete. However, for artistic sake, because the shadow effect on the sphere is blended, the overall picture looks more complete when the sphere’s shadow is blended to, to give a creamy and smooth effect to the picture. After doing this you have finally managed to shade a sphere! Although shading cubes and spheres seems like a humble achievement it is actually a very large step in the practice of drawing. As before mentioned, basic objects like cubes and spheres underlie more complex objects, so learning to draw them simplifies your attempts to draw more complex material in the future. Furthmore, understanding light focus and being able to apply shading realistically is the basis for most drawing. If you master shading and light tones, than all you really need to do is perfect drawing the form of the object you desire.

As such. We will now move on to more sophisticated objects such as faces, the process of making which you are guided through in the next chapter.



Chapter 3 – Drawing Faces When drawing faces, in almost every circumstance it is best to have a real, direct model as reference or a good photograph. As a novice to drawing it is essential – even experienced artists would struggle to replicate the complexity of the human face without a strong reference to help them. As you will probably need several attempts to practice, it is best to work from photographs as a beginner. As with the before mentioned examples provided in the previous chapter, completing a picture of a face is best done by constructing a plan and working step by step towards the complete project. Fortunately, you have this guide to do most of the work for you. There are also some other pratical considerations that are useful to be aware of here. When taking or selecting a photograph as reference, try to get a photo with simple, even lighting and the subject facing directly towards you. This will make trying to replicate the image simpler for beginners. If you have the software and the printer quality to print your photograph in the approximate scale and size of the picture you want to draw, this will be very helpful, but any picture printed to scale, or digitally available via camera or computer is better than none. To start your sketch of the human face it is useful to draw a grid, so you can plot the features of the face well. For the following guide, we will deal with faces whose profile is viewed head-on – as if their faces were directly facing yours. Start by lightly sketching a 3 by 3 grid of squares upon your piece of paper. On the upmost row, add another row which is half the length of an ordinary square – this will represent the hairline.

The grid you draw can be of any size, as long as each square is of the same area, so you can upscale or downscale this technique to produce bigger or smaller faces. As a beginner attempt to draw bigger faces first – it is easier to plot the correct proportions and add detail. Once you are proficient in the art of drawing faces, you can then downsize where the technique is harder. In regards to the actual features, let us start with the shape of the head. Overall you want to produce an oval shape, which is elongated in terms of width at the top. Make sure the bottom half of your oval rest in the middle square of the first row. (For the sake of these instructions, the first row will refer to the row at the bottom, the first column the column to the leftmost side). Then moving upwards your oval should smoothly curve to occupy a space halfway across in the width of the square in the squares that occupy the first column, second row and the third column, second row, leaving enough space in these squares to draw in the ears. Curve the lines of the oval upwards and slightly outwards and then towards each other. The two opposing sides of the ‘oval’ should connect in the square in third row of the second column at the very top of the square, after being relatively flat – representing the top of the head viewed from the front. In regards to other features, the centre of the eyes should sit just a small margin below the top of the second row. The iris of the eye should be bisected between the first and second column and the second and third column, with the rest of the eye drawn around it. The base of the nose should sit at the bottom of square which is located in the second row and second column – the length of the nose should not extend further than half the length of the square. The mouth should sit around ¾ up of the square in the first row second column and it should be wider than the nose.

If you follow these guidelines you should produce a face which is proportionally accurate, but it not yet shaded. Try to advance the drawing even further by applying the knowledge of shading you have learned earlier to the face which you have drawn. Let the photo you have guide you. The face is a complex 3D object, and will contain many more contours and area of shadow than the cube or the sphere that you worked with before – the amount of darkness you apply to an area won’t be just proportional to the distance it is away from the light source. Rather you will have to allow for how the nose protusion of the nose will create shadow, as well as the roundess of the cheeks and the sunkeness of the eyes and area between the mouth and the chin. Envision your different blocks on your shading scale – the highlight, the midtones and shadow. Look at the photo in detail and start to try and correspond your shading scale to the light and shadow you see in the photograph, thinking about the areas just mentioned. If it helps, section out particular areas of space to be filled in a particular shade, similar to how each crescent in the sphere in chapter two corresponded to a different shade. Gradually and carefully fill in your designated areas with your chosen shades. After you have completed this task, use your blurring tool to gently blur the shades together, so that they flow smoothly into each other and produce a rounded, slick picture. Congratulations you now have produced an accurate, well shaded, 3D face!

Conclusion Mastering the art of drawing takes a lifetime of practice and effort. Achieving perfection is a goal that is, if not outright impossible to reach, shrouded in subjectivity and personal taste. However, what is possible, for everybody who makes a sincere effort to practice, is reaching a strong level of proficiency and competence. Everyone can reach a stage where you have learned the fundamentals and can produce a good sketch of almost whatever you please. This eBook has a provided a start on that journey. In the first chapter, you have learned down-to-earth advice on the type of equipment you need allowing you to choose the supplies right for you. Additionally, you learned about the mediums you can draw with and the different types of pencils and what purpose they serve – essential knowledge for any individual who takes drawing seriously. The second chapter started your journey officially started your drawing expertise. Firstly, you learned about the two types of outlines you can produce, then the various shading technique you can employ. On top of this, you learned how to produce shading scales, how to create blur and the tools that you need to do so. The second chapter combined this knowledge and well as guided you, step by step, to produce realistically shaded three dimensional cubes and spheres, providing the basis for the representation and shading of other objects. The third chapter took the knowledge you have gained so far and put it the test in guiding you to draw the complex and challenging faces that humans posses. You learned how to create a simple grid that will guide you to drawing a straight-on face, with all our various features in correct proportion. Ultimately, with all this knowledge you have gained you should now be more than a

novice in the art of drawing able to confidently start drawing and practising of your own accord. All that is left for you to do is start practising – good luck!

Acrylic Painting Learn How to Easily Paint Beginners Techniques with Acrylic Paint & Discover the Art of Acrylic Painting

Table of Contents Introduction Chapter 1 – Tools Chapter 2 – Paints Chapter 3 – Acrylic Painting Basics Chapter 4 – Basic Brush Painting Techniques Chapter 5 – Other Painting Techniques Chapter 6 – Color Basics and Mixing Chapter 7 – Ideas To Get Your Imagination Flowing Conclusion

Copyright Notice © Copyright 2015 by Moira Jill- All rights reserved. This document is geared towards providing exact and reliable information in regards to the topic and issue covered. The publication is sold with the idea that the publisher is not required to render accounting, officially permitted, or otherwise, qualified services. If advice is necessary, legal or professional, a practiced individual in the profession should be ordered. - From a Declaration of Principles which was accepted and approved equally by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations. In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved. The information provided herein is stated to be truthful and consistent, in that any liability, in terms of inattention or otherwise, by any usage or abuse of any policies, processes, or directions contained within is the solitary and utter responsibility of the recipient reader. Under no circumstances will any legal responsibility or blame be held against the publisher for any reparation, damages, or monetary loss due to the information herein, either directly or indirectly. Respective authors own all copyrights not held by the publisher. The information herein is offered for informational purposes solely, and is universal as so.

The presentation of the information is without contract or any type of guarantee assurance. The trademarks that are used are without any consent, and the publication of the trademark is without permission or backing by the trademark owner. All trademarks and brands within this book are for clarifying purposes only and are the owned by the owners themselves, not affiliated with this document.

Disclaimer While all attempts have been made to verify the information provided in this book, the author does not assume any responsibility for errors, omissions, or contrary interpretations of the subject matter contained within. The information provided in this book is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The reader is responsible for his or her own actions and the author does not accept any responsibilities for any liabilities or damages, real or perceived, resulting from the use of this information.

Introduction Painting is a wonderful way to express yourself. Making something beautiful and adding to the art and creativity in this world is a desire that many people have, but think they may not be able to because they do not have the skill or the knowledge to do so. But, with a little information, a few tools, and some practice, you too can make beautiful paintings and bring your visual desires to life. In this book, you will learn all the basics you need to start painting with acrylics. First, you will learn about the necessary and the optional supplied you will need. You will also learn a great deal about the different types of acrylic paints, brushes, and painting surfaces (there are so many more than you may have considered), and how to care for your tools. Having a basic amount of information about handling your supplies will make painting so much easier and allow your tools to last for a long time. Knowing as much as you can about different types of paints, surfaces, and palettes can make your decisions the first time you walk into the art supply store so much easier. Without this information, it could be very easy for someone to become overwhelmed with the choices available to them, and how much money they could spend on unnecessary supplies. An entire chapter on paints and paint additives will make you a much more informed shopper when confronted with these choices. After you have your tools and supplies together, it’s time to start painting! The next chapter will describe basic painting strokes that you can use. There are several basic strokes to try, allowing you a variety of stroke effects coving everything from adding small detail to painting large portions of your canvas. By learning and practicing these strokes, you will be able to utilize them for making many different things in your art. The following chapter will describe how to achieve many different effects in your paintings, including how to blend colors, how to create thin and thick lines to your painting, how to add depth and layers to your painting, and even how to varnish your

finished product to protect it from the elements for years to come. After creating such a magnificent work of art, you want to make sure that it will last. A basic introduction to the color wheel and color therapy comes next, along with a description on how to properly mix acrylic paints to come up with new and exciting color combinations. Some ideas for how to mix colors to add shadows, highlights, and blending are also included. When you are able to effectively mix colors and understand some of the very basics of color theory, you can create many different color combinations, allowing you unlimited options in colors in your painting. The final chapters of this book will give you some different ideas for how to use acrylic paints in creating artwork, adding to them, and expanding your artistic mindset. Acrylic paints are often used in mixed-media arts, and it could be fun to try a few of these techniques. With the information in this book, you can start to create works of art in your own home for just a little bit of money and some time. You’ll be amazed at what you can create and how easily you can learn the basics of acrylic painting. If you’ve ever had the desire to paint, to work with materials that are easy to handle, easy to clean up, and versatile, then acrylic painting basics is for you! With a little practice, you will become the envy of your family and friends who will be clamoring for the art you will be creating! Now, let’s get started.



Chapter 1 – Tools The tools you choose for painting will make a big difference in your enjoyment and satisfaction of painting. If you choose the wrong tools, you could have a difficult time getting started, or spend way more money than you need to in order to start painting. This chapter will describe the tools you will need to get started in painting. It is important to note that you do not need everything listen in this chapter to start, but it gives you an idea of how far your painting can go. To begin, brushes, a palette (even a paper plate) a surface to paint on, and paint itself are necessary. After that, other tools can only enhance your creativity and allow you to do new and greater things with your painting. Brushes Everyone has an opinion on brushes, and when you go in the art supply store, you could feel completely overwhelmed by the amount of choices. Truth be told, you don’t need to be overwhelmed. First, there are many types of brushes. The come in all shapes, sizes, and handle lengths. Some brushes are made from synthetic hairs, and some are made from natural hairs. Natural hair brushes are made with the hair from animals. The hair from three different animals are most typical in acrylic paint brushes. Sable hair brushes, made from mink, are soft and hold a great deal of moisture. They are very expensive and not necessary for a beginning painter. The next type of brush, made from squirrel hair, is very soft, holds a great deal of liquid, and has some spring in the bristles. They are less expensive than sable brushes and work great with thinner paints. The third animal hair often used to make brushes is hogs hair. The bristles are stiffer, as the hair is stiffer, and it is much stronger

than squirrel hair or sable hair brushes, making them last longer. If you don’t; want to use brushes made from animal hair, or are concerned about budget, you can buy synthetic hair brushes. They come in both long handle and short handle, and, when using acrylic paints, have no real perceptible difference when using them than animal hair. They also make blended synthetic/animal brushes, which are available for a good price and give you the best of both worlds. These are often suggested for beginning painters. Second, there are many different shapes of brushes, as shown in the figure here:

Most people start with just a flat brush and a round brush. Later, as you become more experienced, you will see the need for brushes that do certain styles, need more detail, or buy bigger or smaller sizes, based on your needs. But a round and flat brush are a good place to start. Buy brushes with a medium size head. Some heads can be very large, which is good for covering a great deal of ground, and some come with very small heads, which works great for detail work. Until you need them, neither brush may be useful to you. Also, pay attention to the handle size. There are shorter handles and larger handles. The larger handle brushes can be difficult for many beginners to handle, so it is best to start with a shorter handled brush. As you master techniques, and if you start to use an easel to paint, you may want to change to larger handled brushes. But, to start, most people are more

comfortable with a shorter handled brush. They handle much like a typical pencil. Round brushes are good for detail work, outlining, controlled washes, filling small areas, and creating line. It is better to use these with thinned paints. A pointed round brush is used for delicate work, fine details, lines, and for retouching specific areas of your work. A flat brush is good for applying washes, willing in larger spaces, and for making blood strokes. Flat brushes are good for almost all uses in acrylic painting, and are necessary to begin. A bright brush is frequently used for short strokes and applying thick color. A filbert brush is a combination of a flat brush and a round brush. It is typically used for blending and creating rounded edges. Most people see these as more useful for oil painting rather than acrylic painting, but you can determine for yourself whether they are useful. It is not necessary to have this brush when you first begin. Fan brushes are used for blending, smoothing areas of the painting, and for feathering colors. An angular flat brush is perfect for filling in corners and for creating curves strokes. Detail round brushes are used for detail work (obviously) and for making very short brush strokes. Besides choosing the right paint brush for the project, you also need to properly care for your brushes so that they last. Without proper care, you will have bent bristles, dirty

brushes with paint residue that could mix with the current color you are using, and they will quickly become ineffective. There’s nothing worse than being unable to get the effect you wanted because you haven’t properly cared for your brushes. Plus, you won’t have to buy brushes nearly as often if you care for them properly. First, make sure to clean the brushes after each use and between different colors. The colors can get trapped between the bristles if just given a quick rinse. Acrylic paints are water-based, so just using soap and water will clean them well. So, first, you need to rinse the brushes with cold water. Make sure to work the bristles of the brushes to get the paint that lies deep within the bristles toward the handle. Make sure the water runs clear, with no paint colors mixing in, before moving to the next step. When no more paint comes out of the brushes, you can move on. In between colors, you can stop at this stage, if you will be using the brush again shortly. Just make sure the colors are washed out before using it with another color. If you are done painting for the day, you should wash all your brushes thoroughly at this point. Using a soap with conditioner in it, wash the brush, again, making sure to get in between the bristles all the way down to where they join the handle, with soap and water. Rinse of the brush thoroughly and wipe the brush dry from bristles to handle tip, making sure to form the bristles into the shape they are supposed to be in. When they are wet, they may get bent, so it is important to shape them correctly. Many art supply stores will sell a brush shaper, a material that you dip the brush into after washing to make sure that the bristles are shaped correctly. This can help extend the life of your brushes. Then, lay flat to dry. To store the brushes, you can keep them in a container such as a glass or mug, much like a pencil holder. Make sure to store them bristle side up so as to not bend them and destroy the brush. Surface What do acrylic painters pain on? There are many options for paper and canvas to choose

from, at a variety of price points. Just make sure that your surface does not contain oil or wax, as acrylic paints will not adhere to those substances. When you are just beginning, you may not want to paint on canvas for fear of wasting your money on mistakes. This is an understandable concern. If you prefer, to start, buy acrylic paper. This is a very affordable option and comes in a variety of sizes, depending on your needs. The paper is bought, ready to be painted on. No preparation of the surface is required, although you can prepare the paper if you so desire. How to prepare a surface for painting will be discussed in a future chapter. Some people choose to use a heavy watercolor paper, over 140lb in weight. This surface will also hold acrylics very well. Also available is paper labeled as made for acrylic paints, and this surface will work nicely. They come in a variety of sizes, are thick enough to prevent absorption of the paint, and have a textures surface so the paint will easily bind to it. This option is useful for beginning painters and for practicing technique. The finished product painted on this surface will last years, but not necessarily for generations. Therefore, if you want something that will stand the test of time, you are better off using a canvas. However, this is a great surface to start with, and much less expensive than canvas. If you want to use a real canvas to paint, cotton canvas surfaces can be found at fairly affordable prices (although paper is cheaper). Many artists love the authentic feel of painting on canvas. They, too, come in a variety of sizes and can be used with acrylic paints without any preparation. Some people, however, do choose top prime them before painting on them. It is a personal preference. Some people do like to use linen canvas over cotton, but linen is a much more expensive surface and requires preparation before using. It may be better to wait to try linen until you have mastered some basic acrylic techniques.

Of course, if you want to get crazy, you can use acrylic paints on almost any surface you desire, as long as it’s not oil-based or waxy, as the paints will not adhere to these surfaces. Anything else is fair game. Some people like to paint on wood, fabric, plastic, on walls, or even on terra cotta flower pots to spruce up the decorations on their porch. People have even used metal and glass as acrylic surfaces, once they have been properly prepared. Metals may accept the paint, but if they do not, you can coat the surface you want to paint with a layer of water-soluble varnish or a clear gesso, and the paint should adhere. Or, you can use a light sand paper on the metal, which should provide enough texture to paint on it. To paint on glass, there are a couple things you could do. Since glass is a non-porous substance, it will not accept paint without treating it. You could paint it with a water-based varnish, which will allow the paint to stick on it. Or, you could apply a glass-etching cream to the glass, which will give it a frosted and textured appearance, allowing acrylic paint to stick to it. When choosing what to paint on, only your imagination can stop you. Whatever you envision as a great surface for acrylic paint, it can be so. The beauty of this paint is its ability to adhere to any surface. Experiment to find the surface you like the best. In this book, I will generally use the word surface or canvas to refer to the surface you are painting on. This could be any surface you choose. Palettes There are many different types of palettes to choose from. A palette is used to put the paint on when painting and is necessary when mixing colors. Several different types of palettes include: Safety palette: made from safety glass, they are smooth and easy to clean. It is also shatter

resistant, meaning it most likely will not break if dropped. Glass: Much like the safety glass option, but with a more likely chance of breaking! Disposable Palette: These come in a pad, much like paper. You tear one off and use it once, then throw it away. Easy clean-up, but not a very ecologically responsible option. Stay-Wet Palette: Because acrylic paints dry out very quickly, this is an option for many people, especially if you want to leave paint on it for an extended period of time. It has an acrylic sheet with sponges underneath. The moisture soaks through from the sponge to the sheet, keeping the paint moist. It will seal to keep paint from drying out overnight. Acrylic palette: These are clear like Plexiglas and are designed to look like the old fashioned palettes, which is useful if you like to hold the palette rather than sitting on the table. If paint dries on this, it may be hard to clean. Plastic: Made from white plastic, they are good for mixing small amounts of paint, but can be hard to clean if the paint dries on it. Wooden Palette: This is what most people think of when they talk about palettes. Paints may soak into the wood and be hard to clean. If you don’t feel like spending money on a palette, you can use whatever is handy. A paper plate works well for a makeshift palette, and saves some cleanup (though it’s not ecologically responsible). To clean your palette, soap and water, much like cleaning your brushes, should be all that you need.

Other Supplies This section lists other supplies you need to invest in or supplies that you may want to check out as you explore acrylic painting. Some are required, such as materials to hold water and clean up. Others, such as new things to texture your painting and items that can change your painting, are optional, but may be fun to try at some point. Primer: If you choose to prime your cotton canvas or use a linen canvas, you will need acrylic gesso primer. This can be found in white or black, and can help bring out the colors you paint over them. A future chapter will describe how to prepare a canvas with primer. Rags or Paper Towels: For cleaning up and keeping paints off surfaces you don’t want to damage. These are a necessity. Apron: In case you want to cover or protect your clothes, you can always wear an apron or a painter’s smock. Or just wear old clothing you don’t mind getting paint on. Cup of Water: to clean your brushes between colors and to keep your paints moist. Some people also dilute acrylic paints to get a watercolor-like feel. Tools to Style Paints: scraping tools, sponges, rollers, toothpicks, or anything else that can be used to change the texture of the paint on the surface could be used. These are not necessary to start out, but could add interest to your painting if you choose to try them. Pencil, Charcoal, and Erasers: For drawing on your surface before painting. Many painters like to sketch in the outlines of their painting before applying any paint to the canvas. Palette Knife: Can be used to mix paints on your palette and for adding specific lines when painting. Some people will even apply paint to areas of their artwork with the palette knife. One way to use this is discussed later in the book.

Spray Bottle: Filled with water to spray on your paints while working to keep them from drying out too quickly. Acrylic Mediums: Not necessary for the beginning painter, but as you gain some experience, you may want to consider this. Mediums mix with your paints to give them a different texture, such as glossy, thin, matte, textured, and more. If you are looking to shake up the paints you use, this is a good way to do so. A further description of mediums is included in the next chapter on paint. Easel: Some people like to work on an easel, with their painting placed almost vertically. This is not a necessity, however, you can put your painting on any desk or flat surface you choose. If you choose an easel, there are desktop versions and stand-alone versions. Which one you choose will depend if you always plan on painting at home, or if you wish to paint outdoors. Air Brush: Some people enjoy thinning out the paint enough to use them in an air brush. This could be useful if you are making large paintings and have a great amount of area to cover. It is not a necessary tool, but can be an interesting tool if you want to try something different. Now that you have your supplies gathered, it is time to pick your paints and get started! The next chapter will tell you all the basics you need to know to get the right paints for your needs.

Chapter 2 – Paints Knowing what paints to invest in can be an overwhelming prospect. When you go to a general craft store, you may be accosted with different types of acrylic paints. And in the art store, they usually stock more artist-grade paints, but the prices can seem overwhelming. In this chapter, you will learn about the different types of acrylic paints out there and which ones you should invest your money in to balance quality and price. Especially when starting a new hobby, this can be a major consideration, and should be taken into account. Artist Quality and Student Quality If you look for paints in an art store, you will find two basic types of paints, those labeled artist quality and those labeled student quality. There are differences between the two, and it is important to know what they are so that you can make an informed choice of what to buy. Artist quality paints have a higher price tag than student quality paints, but the prices can vary widely based on the pigments that they use to make the paint. In other words, different colors will have different prices. Some pigment material are more expensive than others, making the paint itself more expensive. Because of this, manufacturers group colors into different price series. Some are split into letters (series A, B) and numbers (Series 1, 2). The higher the number or the letter, the more expensive the paint is. For the numbered series, 9 is the highest and, therefore, the most expensive. Student quality paints are generally less expensive because you can only buy series 1 and 2 paints in student quality. Therefore, less pigments are available. The other thing to be aware of is the difference between pigment and hue. A pigment is

made of a very specific type of material that gives it a specific color. A hue, on the other hand, is an imitation of a pigment, meaning the color may not be precisely the same as the more expensive pigment. As an example, Cadmium Red is a series 9 pigment, but it can be bought as a student quality paint because it is a hue, or imitation, of the pigment, for a lower price. The second difference between artist and student quality is the amount of coverage you get from the paint. Simply speaking, the artist grade will cover another paint color more easily than a student quality paint will. Also, it may take more paint to cover an area of the canvas if you use student quality paints. This can make them less cost-effective in the long run because you may have to buy more paint to cover the same surface area. Another important difference between artist and student paints is called color shift. Because of the ingredients used to make acrylic paints, the paints tend to dry slightly darker than they look when wet. However, artist quality paints have less of a color shift than do student quality paints, meaning the color you are painting with will look more like the color that will dry on the canvas if you use artist quality paints. If you choose to use student quality paints, it is important to note that it will dry darker than it appears when wet. The choice whether to use artist quality or student quality is your own. It depends on the price point you can afford for your paints, the colors you are looking for (more are available with artist quality paints), and what you will be doing with the paints. Many people prefer student quality paints for very large projects and for under painting because the exact color is less important if it is being painted over, such as when layering paints. Going to an artist supply store will help you see the range available to you. If you still have doubts, you can always ask the clerk at the store. They are generally artists themselves who have a great deal of knowledge about the paints they sell. Craft Acrylic Paints If you go into a craft store, you will see bottles (not tubes) of acrylic paints, and they are

labeled craft acrylics. There are some major differences between craft grade paints and student and artist grade paints. First, they do not use true pigments. Second, craft paints are much thinner than artist or student paints. That makes them easier to spread, but does not allow you to texture the paints on the canvas like you can with acrylic paints. These paints are also much less expensive than artist paints. In general, these are great for crafty projects, but may not be appropriate to make canvas paintings with. Unless you are specifically going with a look that you can only achieve with craft paints, it’s best to leave them alone. Consistency One of the beauties of acrylic paint is that, depending what they are made from, can be thicker or thinner. Additives are also added to paints to change their consistency. Heavy body acrylics have a thicker consistency, while fluid acrylics are, as the name suggests, thinner. Most people start by using heavy body acrylics and then change the consistency if they so desire. Heavy body acrylics can be bought either in tubes or jars. The jars hold more paint so can be bought more economically, rather like buying in bulk from the grocery store. Fluid acrylics are only found in tubes. Many people choose to buy heavy body acrylics and change the consistency themselves. This will be described in the section on different mediums, later in this chapter. Opacity The other thing you may want to be aware of when choosing paints is whether they are transparent or opaque. Depending on the substance they use to make the pigment, the paint can have a different opacity naturally. Usually it will say on the tube whether the color is transparent, semi-transparent, semi-opaque, or opaque. This is useful information to have if you plan on layering paint colors for different effects. You can also change the quality of paints by mixing them with different mediums, as described next. Mediums

A medium is a substance added to an acrylic paint to change its consistency, speed of drying (whether faster or slower), opaqueness, and even texture. This section will describe some different types of mediums that you can add to your paints to change its properties. A fast medium/fixer, is used to keep the paint from being reactivated, meaning that, when moisture is applied, causing the paint to become softened again. A fast medium is added when you want to layer colors on top of each other (described in the techniques chapter) to prevent the lower layers from mixing with the upper layers. The fast medium will keep the paint dry, even after exposed to moisture from another layer of paint added on top of it. A slow medium extends the drying time of the paints. As said before, acrylics are known to be fast drying, but this will slow down the process. It can also be used to make a glaze (described in the techniques chapter). An unlocking formula allows for your paint to be reactivated after it has dried. This enables you to mix paints on your canvas after they have dried. You can “reactivate” the paint. A binder medium is mixed with paint to seal particular colors of your paints, to prevent it from fading, discoloration, or staining. A glazing medium will slightly change the hue of your paint. Many people use this to add fine details to images on their paintings. Glazing is discussed in the chapter on techniques, later in this book. A clear painting medium can also be used for adding depth and for use in glazes. It is thicker than the glazing medium, so it does not change the consistency of your paints as much. A gloss medium can either be added to a paint color or used on its own. Its purpose is to leave a glossy, almost glass-like finish to whatever it is painted on.

A gel medium can be used to thin an acrylic paint, to extend the coverage of the paint, making tubes of paint cover more area and last longer, and change the texture of paints. Also, they can increase the adhesion of the paint to different surfaces, so if you choose to use a surface besides canvas, it could be useful to add to your paints. They also tend to make the paints dry more slowly, making them easier to work with for some people. All mediums will change the viscosity of the paints, making them looser and possibly easier to paint with (depending on what you are trying to achieve). A retarder can be added to slow the drying time of the paint. People who have more detail work or want to work with paint longer love to use this medium. A flow enhancer can be added to paints, making blending easier. Blending is discussed at length in the chapter on painting techniques, later in this book. Acrylic paste can be added to paint to make the paint much more able to be textured on the canvas. It can make the paint thicker than normal. Many people who work in mixed media use this additive frequently. Experimenting with mediums can add an interesting layer to your paintings, allowing you to do different things with acrylic paints that you cannot do without them. If you get bored with your painting, try adding different mediums to your paints and see what they do. This could be a way to spice up your techniques. Investing in mediums is not essential to start painting, but can be fun to experiment with when you begin to master the brush strokes and techniques described later in this book. Drying Time One other, newer development in acrylic paints, comes from the idea that people have

wanted paints that will take longer to dry. Because of this, people have researched and created what they call open or slow-drying acrylic paints. Open acrylics take longer to dry than traditional acrylic paints, and many people describe their use as similar to oil paintings. And you can have more time to work with the paint on the palette and canvas without having to add a medium to the paint. Colors to Start With Here are the basic colors most artists start with: Cadmium Yellow (Medium) Cadmium Red (Medium) Phthalo Blue Phthalo Green Burnt Sienna Burnt Umber Mars Black Titanium White With these colors, you can begin painting and start experimenting with blending colors. There are so many opportunities to experiment with, and mixing will be covered in a later chapter. But these paints are a good start, and with these colors, you can mix to get a vast array of colors you may be looking for. Plus, if you find that you need more color in your life, you can always go to the paint store and buy more.

In all art stores and even some craft stores, you should be able to buy a set of acrylic paints, which generally include the paint colors listed above. It is a good way to get started

without having to spend much money. It may be a good idea to use inexpensive acrylics when first learning, but, as your technique improves, you should switch to artist quality paints. Also, make sure that the surface you are painting on is worthy of your paints. If you are painting on paper to begin, student quality paints may be fine. But if you move to a higher costing canvas, higher quality paints are called for. The next chapter will get you started using acrylic paints. Following that comes the most exciting part: how to paint and techniques you can use to make your paintings more interesting.

Chapter 3 – Acrylic Painting Basics Before starting to paint with acrylics, it is important to know a few things about the paints and the medium, including how to prepare a surface for painting, if you so choose. This chapter will cover all the basic information you need to understand the paints you are using and to begin painting. Acrylic Properties Acrylic paints are made with a pigment, depending on the color the manufacturer is looking to achieve, a binder, allowing the paint to stick to surfaces, and some additives. Acrylic paints are water-based paints, which makes them easy to clean up. Also, because of this, they have no smell and are non-toxic. This makes them more desirable than oil paints, which require harsh chemicals such as turpentine to work with. This makes them the ideal paint for the novice or hobby painter. They can be thinned with water, which allows them to have some of the properties of watercolor paints, if you dilute them enough. It is important to note, however, that thinning paints too much with water will cause them to lose some of their ability to bind to surfaces, which is why using mediums to thin the paint is often recommended over using plain water. Some people use a combination of water and a thinning medium. Although acrylic paints are water-based, some of the pigments uses to make the paints could be toxic, so they should not be in the reach of young children. As has already been mentioned, acrylic paints dry very quickly, which means that you must be careful about how much you prepare and how quickly you can manipulate them on the canvas. Although they can be diluted with water or mixed with mediums to change their texture or shine on your painting surface, right out of the tube, they will be thick and

dry fairly quickly. You can, as described earlier, buy open paints or add a gel medium to your paints to work with them longer. Some people like the fast drying time of acrylics because it enables you to paint over them very quickly, either if you make a mistake or if you are going for a layered effect. Oil paints take much longer to dry, causing more wait time to gain the same effect. Some artists complain that acrylics lack some of the brilliance of oil paints, but this is due to the ingredients used in their manufacturing. Their final brilliance can also be changed by adding different mediums to the paint color. However, it is also important to note that, as the temperature rises, the paint can become softer, which can cause things to stick to the paint, such as dirt and debris. That is why some people choose to finish their paintings by varnishing them, as described later in this book. You can choose a matte, satin, or gloss finish. Also, if a painting is varnished, it can be hung on the wall without glass. This is especially useful if the painting has texture to it. Glass covers up the texture, so framing it without glass makes the finished work more appealing. When mixing acrylic paints, you must be very careful. Too much pigment, especially adding more than two pigments together, could cause the paint to become a muddy brown and not the color you intend. It will take a little experimentation to get mixing right. This concept will be described later in the chapter on colors. Preparing a Canvas to Paint Although you can use a canvas straight out of the wrapper and paint with acrylic paints immediately since most canvases these days come labeled pre-primed, many people still recommend preparing the surface with gesso before beginning to pain. If you do not, the paints will soak into the fibers of the canvas, causing you to require more paint and changing the brilliance of the color of the finished project. Therefore, most professional painters suggest preparing your canvas.

When you buy a canvas, the first thing you should do is take any material, such as plastic, off it. Do this as soon as you come home from the art supply store. When you are ready, you will need gesso, which will be applied to the canvas to prime the surface of the canvas to accept the paint and to prevent it from soaking into the fibers of the canvas. It will make the surface of the canvas stiffer and easier to work with. Gesso is very similar to white acrylic paint, but it is of a thinner consistency. It also comes in other colors, such as clear, black, or a variety of colors, if you want to start your painting with a particular background color. Besides being used on canvases, you can also use gesso to prepare any other surface you choose to paint on, as described in the chapter on materials. Gesso is the perfect priming substance for plastic, wood, vinyl (ever think of painting on records), and terra cotta. Remember, once you get your imagination going, you could paint on almost anything! One thing to keep in mind with gesso is, just like paints, it comes in artist grade and student grade. Student grade has more filler than pigment, and artist grade has more pigment than filler. This makes the artist grade quality thicker and more opaque than the student grade. Obviously, this will mean that, like paints, the artist grade is more expensive than the student grade. Student grade is generally available only in white, but you can add paints to your gesso to prime the canvas (or other surface) in any color that you desire. Just make sure you are buying acrylic gesso. It will work best for acrylic canvases. To prime a canvas or other surface, start with your gesso and a wide brush or sponge roller. The first coat of gesso should be diluted with just a little bit of water. Apply the gesso in a thin layer to the canvas. If you are using a brush, make sure all the brush strokes are in made in the same direction for the first coat. If you are using a roller, do the same thing. Allow the first coat to dry thoroughly. It will take about an hour to do so. Then apply the second coat of gesso, but this time, do not dilute it. Some people prime the canvas with as

many as three coats. You can experiment with your canvas and find the level of gesso priming you desire best. Each time you add a layer of gesso, paint it in a different direction on the canvas. If the first layer was painted horizontally, paint the second vertically. This will help you hit all the surfaces of the canvas. Some people also choose to sand the surface of the gesso canvas with 240 grit sand paper between layers. This is done to help the gesso, then the paint, adhere better to the surface or to give it a little bit more texture. This is not necessary, but can add a slightly different dimension to your painting. Now you are ready to paint! The next two chapters will explain some basic brush and canvas techniques.

Chapter 4 – Basic Brush Painting Techniques In this chapter, several different brush techniques will be described, giving you a basic toolbox of brush stroke techniques to start your painting career. With these paint strokes, you will have the tools you need to start painting right away. Experiment with them and get used to how using them feels. Crisscrossing The crisscrossing technique, which is often called hatching or cross-hatching, is just as it sounds: making X’s. Start by putting your brush at the top left of where you want to start your color, then make the first line of the X, pulling down toward you. Then do the same thing from the top right down to the lower left. Continue to make X’s to fill the area where you want to paint. If you want to make the colors more blended, you can then paint over the X’s you created with a dry brush to blend them into each other. Or you can leave the surface as it is after making the X’s. It all depends on how you would like the final work to look. When using this technique, a brush with very soft bristles works best. Oftentimes, depending on the effect you are going for, you may need to be very gentle on the canvas. This technique will apply paint very easily, especially if you are looking to get more of an airbrushed look. The crisscross technique is often used for filling in a large area very quickly, for example, when making the sky in a landscape painting. The example below is cross-hatching with different colors:

Scumbling This is a rather random technique, but can be used to vary the look of the area you are painting. To use this technique, just push the brush on the surface of your painting in different directions. It is a random movement, not meant to mimic any one direction. Make sure that you hold your brush at a variety of angles if you are trying to get random directions in your scumbling. This technique is perfect when you want a variety of texture with loose detail, such as on roads, making the foliage in trees, and grassy areas. If you use different colors while scumbling, you will get greater texture and a little bit of movement within the painting without too much difficulty. For example, blue and gray combined with this technique could make a very interesting sky.

Stippling To make a stippling pattern, you use your brush to make dots on the canvas. You can choose to make it uniform or more free-form. There are many applications to the stippling.

It can be seen on painting with wildflowers in the distance, for example. It can be used to fill in entire areas to give it a different effect, or in a small area to draw the viewer’s eye to that particular part of the painting. It can be used for emphasis or design. The type of brush will make a difference in the stippling you get. A small round brush will make a small round dot, yet a fan brush will make more of a line. To make small, perfect, round dots, a small round tipped brush works best, but that isn’t the only wat to approach stippling. Experiment with different brushes to see which one makes the effect you are looking for. Part of the joy in painting is discovering how to utilize the perfect technique for your painting in a way that is new and exciting to you.

U-Shaped Stroke Just as the name suggests, this technique is done by making small, U-shaped marks on your canvas. This stroke is perfect for texturing landscapes. The closer the strokes are, the rougher the texture will appear on your painting. The farther away they are, the smoother the texture will be. By turning this stroke upside-down and painting an inverted U in the same manner, you can get a different texture all together.

Dry Brushing Dry brushing doesn’t mean painting with a completely dry brush. Instead, it means using a very thick paint (one that has not been diluted) in minute quantities on the brush. Take a very small amount of paint on your brush, preferably a small round brush, and use it to paint details. For example, in a wildlife painting, it could be used to emphasize the hair on the animal you are painting. You may want to dry the brush with a paper towel before putting the paint on your surface. It’s meant to add emphasis to a specific area and to produce lines that are not very pronounced. The effect has an unfilled, scratchy look, which is very unlike the filled-in, blended looks most people associate with painting.

Sgraffito Sgraffito is the practice of scratching into wet paint on your canvas or surface with something, such as the back end of your brush. Doing this will bring out the color beneath

the top layer of paint. If you want to see a base color or the color of your surface underneath, this is the perfect technique. With acrylics, you must do it before the top layer of paint dries. Anything hard can be used to make lines in the paint. You can use a palette knife, the edge of a hard piece of plastic, or anything else you have handy.

Using the Palette Knife The palette knife is one of the most versatile tools. Besides scratching into your canvas to reveal the color underneath (see Sgrafitto above), it can also be used to apply paint to the canvas itself. One way to use the knife is to apply some paint to the underside of the tip of the knife and drag that onto the painting. You can also make a line on the painting with your palette knife by rolling a little bit of paint on the edge of the knife and pulling the knife on the surface in the direction you want a line. It makes a thin, more pure line than a brush can make, although you can also make lines with a brush. When using a palette knife to apply paint to a canvas, it can feel much like spreading

butter on a piece of bread, and can help you incorporate many different textures on your painting. This is the movement you are looking for when using a palette knife to apply paint. If you just use the tip of your knife, you will get small dots on your canvas. By using the edge of the knife, as described above, you will get a line. You can produce ridges by pressing the blade flat on the surface. Then, if you scrape the canvas, you will reveal the colors under for a unique effect.

Fine Lines To make fine lines with a brush, use a Liner Brush. This will create a thin line on your canvas. To do so, you need to thin out the acrylic paint so it is the consistence of ink. Your paint should be a little runny for this. Work plenty of paint into your brush before going for your canvas. The brush should be saturated with your ink-like paint. Then, as you draw the line on the surface, let the brush roll off your finders. The harder you press the brush to the canvas, the thicker the line will be. This technique will require a little practice, but, once mastered, you can use it to draw outlines with your brush, create grass, tree branches, edging such as the edge of a building or fences, and even adding detail to your paintings. With these beginning brush strokes, you should be able to get started painting immediately. Continue practicing these techniques, as you will find yourself going to them again and again in your paintings.

The next chapter will describe some different painting techniques.

Chapter 5 – Other Painting Techniques Building on the brush techniques of the last chapter, this chapter will go more in depth into other techniques to use when creating acrylic paintings. By adding these techniques to your repertoire, you can add spice and variety to your paintings. Practice each one. You never know when it will come in handy. Gradient Blending Rarely do you see two distinct colors on every part of every painting. Being able to blend colors seamlessly is a great technique to use. This technique allows the paint to transition from one color to another with a subtle shift in colors. It can be done with any brush, although the fan brush was made to do this kind of work. You can use a basic horizontal stroke, a vertical stroke, or a crisscross stroke to blend the paints together, or all three if you so desire. Lay out both your colors on the surface where you want them, but leave a little white space in the middle. Using your brush, move some of the darker color into the white space, mixing it with the lighter color. Then, do the same thing with the light color, blending it into the dark color the same way. This way, the two colors will mix in a way that they will gradually go from one to the other, such as in the example below. You can create a light blend, leaving more contrast between the colors, or blend it more seamlessly, such as in the example below. The more you blend the colors together, the more subtle the shift between the colors.

Under Painting Under painting refers to starting your canvas off in one specific color. For example, if your painting will mostly be done in brown, you may want to paint your entire canvas brown, then let that dry before painting. You do not need to start with a plain white canvas, and many people find it easier to paint on a colored canvas. Some people will paint a couple colors on their canvas, such as when one color will predominate on top and another on the bottom, or will use the gradient blending technique above over the entire canvas to create their under painting. You can do this either by priming your canvas and then painting the under color, or you can add paint to your gesso when priming your canvas and cover the canvas in color as you prime it. Colored gesso is also available, though mixing your own color may be more satisfying. Very few people actually start with a blank, white canvas when they paint. Base Coating A base coat is similar to under coating, but it is used to define a specific shape on your painting. You paint a rough shape on your canvas in one color, then you allow it to dry. After that, you can paint details on top of the base coat. This can make it easier to paint specific objects that have a certain color base, but have details added on top of it.

For example, in the image below, the person started with a pink base for the flower, then added details in red and white over it. It gives a layered effect and allows for more detail in the painting. It is an easier way to achieve this coloring without having to add the details yourself. The difference between under basing and base coating is that, in undercoating, you paint the entire canvas. In base coating, you paint on the basic color of the object that you are creating. There could be several different base coated objects on a single painting, all with different colors.

Layering Layering is similar to using a base coat, but you can do it several times. Basically, the technique has you using one color, allowing it to dry, painting over it with another color, allowing it to dry, and so on, until you add as many layers as you desire. The purpose of this is to add a more three dimensional effect to your painting, giving the surface an illusion of depth that it would not have with a straight color.

Some people also use this technique to fix a mistake. If you do not like what is on your surface, once it is dry, you can paint over. If you use thick acrylics that have not been watered down, the paints will not show through from one layer to the next. Many people will combine this technique with sgraffito, as described in the last chapter. When they layer, they scrape through to previous layer colors, allowing multiple colors to show through on a single piece.

Glazing In the process of glazing, you use a transparent paint over the top of something you have already painted to add subtlety of color, shadow, and depth. It is meant to provide a more natural effect to your paintings. To achieve a glaze, you thin out a color of paint of your choosing, usually different from the color you will be painting over, and paint over it. The paint needs to be thin enough to become translucent. That way, both colors can be seen and the color shifting of layering one color with another will give you great effects. It will give the painting a look of drama and brighten up the colors on the canvas in a way that regular acrylic paints do not have. You can mix the paint color of your choice with water to lighten it, but you run the risk of diluting the paint too much, which will cause problems with it adhering to the painting. The other option is to mix the paint with a glazing medium. A glazing medium is specifically designed to mix with acrylic paints to make the color more translucent, yet not

dilute the paint too much. The other advantage of using the glazing medium is that it gives the paint a brightness or shimmer that you don’t get by just diluting with water. When you just use water to make your glaze, the paints lose some of their color. A glazing medium will prevent this.

Using Other Objects to Apply Paint Besides brushes and palette knives, anything can be used to apply paint on the canvas. Try sponges, rollers, rags, or other textured items. They can bring an extra layer of dimension, texture, and interest to your paintings.

Varnishing There is some debate about varnishing a finished acrylic painting. Some people say that you do not need to varnished a completed acrylic paint and that the paint will stay vibrant for years without it. However, others say that, because acrylic paints, at room temperature, are slightly malleable and can absorb dust and dirt particles floating in the air, the paint color will definitely dull over time. Therefore, applying a varnish to your finished painting can add years of life to your work of art and keep it bright and to prevent the colors from

fading over time. You can buy varnish for acrylic paintings at any art supply stores. It comes in gloss, satin, and matte finishes, depending on the type of finished effect you desire. You can even mix the varnishes to create your own finish in between these, so you can achieve the finished effect that you are looking for. To varnish your painting, make sure that it is completely dry first. If it is still wet, you will mix the varnish with the paint and it will smear and streak, ruining your painting. Also, make sure the surface is clean of dust, dirt, and debris. Use a separate jar and brush just for varnishing, so to not mix paint in with your varnish that can be transferred from your tool. Also, make sure your jar and brush are cleaned right before using them, as any dust or dirt on your tools could transfer them to your painting. Follow the directions on the varnish bottle. Some of them require mixing, and some don’t. There are different types of varnish. One type is permanent, and another can be removed from the painting, if, for some reason, you ever wanted to do so. When varnishing, lay the painting flat, with the surface underneath protected in case of drips. Paint with the brush at a forty-five degree angle for the best application. The brush should be dipped into the varnish about ¼ down the length of the brush, allowing the excess to drip off before applying it to the surface of the painting. Always move your strokes in the same direction, starting at one side of the painting and moving to the other. If doing two coats of varnish, allow three to four hours between coats, so that the first layer of varnish as time to dry completely. With the tips from the last two chapters, you are ready to paint! Some of the techniques require practice, but the more you do so, the better you will become. Like any art form, practice makes perfect. Don’t give up if you have a hard time at first. It will get easier, and you’ll be thrilled with the new discoveries you will have and the new pieces of art you will love for years to come.

The next chapter will discuss color theory and talk about how to mix paint colors to create colors all your own. By mixing paints, you only need a limited number of colors to get a great many effects on your painting.

Chapter 6 – Color Basics and Mixing Color is obviously the most important thing in acrylic painting. To be able to make the colors you desire is an important technique, but you need to know a little bit about colors first. Then, mixing acrylic paints can be a difficult task, because, if it isn’t done right, you will end up with a muddy mess instead of a beautiful new color. This chapter will give you some mixing tips to allow you to make the colors you desire. Obviously, you can use any colors you want in a painting that you think looks good, and experimentation is the best way to find your color palette. However, knowing a few things about color theory will help you choose the colors you desire. Color Theory The color wheel is basically a circle showing the relationship between different colors. It was first developed by Isaac Newton in 1666. A basic example of the color wheel is shown below.

The three primary colors are red, blue, and yellow. All colors are derived from these three colors.

The secondary colors, green, orange, and purple, are formed by mixing two primary colors. Yellow and blue make green, red and blue make purple, and red and yellow make orange. Tertiary colors come from mixing a primary color with a secondary color, such as bluegreen yellow-orange, or red-violet. Knowing this information will help you when you start to mix colors. It also helps to pick colors for a particular painting. Some people choose to create paintings based on analogous colors on the wheel. These are colors that are right next to each other on the wheel, and they seem to go together without issue. Another good combination is to base a painting on complimentary colors, which are opposite each other on the wheel. These colors have great contrast, meaning they will help each other shine. Of course, you can choose to use any colors you desire. Natural scenes, for example, have a combination of analogous and complimentary colors and vary all over the color wheel, yet, those scenes look beautiful and work well. Don’t let color theory keep you from using the colors you desire. Also keep in mind that the look of colors change based on what they are next to. A purple looks very different next to a white than it does when next to a red. When working with color, make sure to note how placing two colors next to each other change each color. Note in the figure below how different colors look when placed next to each other.

Mixing Colors

The above picture is a good example of using a palette to mix colors. As you can see, the colors are mixed with colors that are analogous on the color wheel. Also, you can use black or white to lighten or darken a color. By doing so you can end up with an unlimited color palette. Only squeeze 0ut the amount of paint that you can use at one time. It’s important to remember that acrylic paints will dry very quickly, so, if you use too much, you will waste paint. And, given the cost of paints, you don’t want to waste it in this way. You can keep the paints moist by spraying them with water from your spray brush, but doing this too much will loosen the paint and change the consistency.

So, once you squeeze out the amount of paint you want to mix, add a little water and some glazing liquid. A tiny dab of glazing liquid will go a long way. It will help keep the paint from becoming muddy. Mix the paints on the palette by swirling them together on the brush or your palette knife. By doing this, you can take basic colors and create any color you like. As said before, mixing paints close together on the color wheel will form tertiary colors, which are less likely to go muddy. Here are a few more tips for mixing paints to achieve different effects. When you desire to paint a shadow, you shouldn’t use a straight black color, as this isn’t very realistic (unless that is the effect you are doing for). To tone down the black color a little, mix it with either raw umber or burnt umber to make it look a little more natural. When looking at the world, shadows aren’t really black, so toning down the color will help make your paintings more realistic. You can also use other colors mixed with black to create subtle shades of shadow. Try mixing a little bit of yellow with black to create a wood shade, or a little bit of red to create a different shade of shadow. Observe the world around you and see what colors shadows really are. When you pay attention, you’ll be really surprised by the variety of colors shadows really are. To create highlights, you can lighten a color that you are using for most of the area with a little bit of titanium white or titanium buff. Then you can highlight certain portions of that subject with this lighter shade. Which color you use will depend on the effect you are going for. Titanium buff isn’t pure white and may add a little bit of a yellowish tint to the color. Titanium white will not have this problem, but it may not look as natural. To tone down a color, mix it with raw umber or burnt umber. This will give the color a more natural appearance when used with a very bright, unnatural color, such as a cadmium red, which is generally much brighter than most natural objects. Also, they make good paints for darker shades on an object or to transition to a shadow.

When mixing colors, it is important to note that acrylic paints, in general, dry a little darker than they appear when wet. So, you may want to make the colors slightly lighter than you really want, knowing that they will dry just a little bit darker than they appear. This will be less of an issue if you use artist quality paints, and more of one if you use student quality paints. Now you have all the information you need to make a beautiful acrylic painting. The previous chapters have given you the basic steps and techniques to create a multitude of paintings. You also have enough knowledge to experiment for years to come. But, if you are looking for other ways to create art, the next chapter will give you a few ideas to expand you art with acrylics.

Chapter 7 – Ideas To Get Your Imagination Flowing There are so many things that you can do with acrylic paints. This chapter will cover some different ways to use paints and even a few ideas for how to expand your artist repertoire with the use of these paints. The limits to what you can do is your imagination. With paints that will adhere to almost any surface, you could turn anything into a work of art. Stencils and Tape Using stencils and tape on your canvas can block out certain parts of your canvas, creating different effects. This can be used to create exact shapes. If you use tape, cover the area you want to protect, then paint. When the paint is dry, you can remove the tape for a perfect straight edge. Adding Texture Some people have added items to their acrylic paint, giving it new and exciting textures and adding interest and appeal to their paintings. This can be done either with a regular acrylic painting or with mixed-media techniques, meaning that a finished work of art has more than one medium on a single piece. I will describe both these techniques as follows. You can add different items to the paint itself to give it a little bit of texture, changing its look on the canvas. For example, adding sand to the paint will give it a gritty, bumpy feeling. Mix it with the paint on the palette, then paint with it. You may want to reserve special brushes for this work, as the grit can get into the bristles and be difficult to get out. Other items that people have added to include: pencil shavings, small beads, yarn, seeds, the leftover paper from a three-hole punch, and grass. Any small object that can be mixed with paint is fair game to try out.

Using newspaper to create texture on a painting is a different way to change up the look of your paint. Press a piece of newspaper over an area layered in paint, then pull up. It will add texture to the area that you did not have before. Some people have even used alcohol or bleach to create texture on their paintings. Splash a little bit over the paint and you’ll end up with a variety of patterns that are out of your control, but can create some awesome effects. Splattering paints or dripping them off the brush is another way to create interesting effects with paint. Jackson Pollock was famous for making splatter paintings, often whipping the paint from the brush or other object onto his very large canvas. Other painters have experimented with squeezing paints out of a bottle onto the canvas. Mixed Media Mixed media is combining two different types of medium into one piece of part. Many people enjoy combining different types of art to make a single piece. Acrylic paints are perfect for this because the paint can act as a glue, helping other materials adhere to the canvas you are working on. People have used acrylic paints with fabric, paper strips, and wax to create many different looks. Some people have even used objects from nature, such as leaves, with acrylic paints. Mixed media art is an entirely different form of art, but acrylic painting is a good way to start. Like anything else, feel free to experiment. Think out of the box when combining objects. Doing so can bring your art to new and exciting levels.



Spruce Up Everyday Objects Because you can paint with acrylics on almost any surface, you can move your paintings from the canvas to the real world. Ever want to create a beautiful paint job on a tabletop? You can do this with acrylics. Some people have spruced up bland terra cotta potting plants, adding color and beauty to their orange surface. Paint a teapot, vase, or lamp to add color to a boring room. Prepare the surface of old wine bottles and add beautiful designs to them, making them objects of art, rather than just throwing them in the recycle bin. Look around your home and see what you can make better by turning it into a work of art.

Create an Art Journal

Some people use painting to keep a journal. Much like a writing journal, you can use thick watercolor or acrylic paper bound together to do a small painting a day or to practice technique to improve your skills. When you work is in a journal, there is an understanding that it is not meant to be a masterpiece, which can give you more freedom to explore different techniques. It’s a good way to practice a new style without fear of ruining your current work. If you mess up, just turn to the next page and try again (after it dries, of course). Next Steps If you are looking for where to go from here, there are many options for you. Although this book gives many ideas, there is always more to learn, so if you have become hooked on acrylic painting, go ahead and explore. Here are some suggestions for where to go from here: Find other artists and work with them. Many communities have galleries, classes, or places where artists congregate. Look for these places and frequent them. Check out more books. There are plenty of books with more advanced techniques. Once you have mastered the techniques in this book, go and learn more. Take a class. Many community colleges and recreation centers offer art classes for beginning and intermediate artists. Look at beautiful works of art. Go to a gallery or museum to see how the masters work and try to copy some of their techniques. Beautiful objects always inspire. Take your painting outside. Painting in a new venue may inspire you with different ideas. Move out of your house and paint nature straight from the source.

There is no limit to what you can do. Explore, experiment, and try new and exciting things. Acrylic painting can help you explore the world and create beautiful works of art!

Conclusion Hopefully by now you have created your first paintings. With the techniques laid out in this book, you have all the tools you need to begin painting. Although working with acrylics is a life-long learning process, the simple techniques and ideas described in this book will go a long way to get you started. And once you do, you find yourself quickly addicted to the joys of acrylic painting. It could take you months or years to master the techniques listed in this book, and they are applicable to so many different types of paintings, from creating natural scenes and landscapes to creating portraits. With experimentation, you will find that you can expand on the simple principles in this book to create works of art and beauty you can be proud of for years to come. Of course, once you have mastered the techniques in this book, there are plenty more options available to you. You can check out other books with advanced techniques, take a painting class, or just continue exploring on your own. There is no end to what you can create with painting, and your life will be much better when you have a hobby that allows you to express your creative side and tap into that which most people ignore most of their life. With painting, you will create beauty. You will examine your interior life and express it in a form that others can understand. You can create works of art for your friends and family. And maybe, just maybe, you could become a famous artist. There is no end to what you can do when you pick up a paint brush and put your thoughts on canvas. Good luck, and keep painting!



Drawing for Beginners 8 Super Useful Tips to Improve Your Drawing Skills and Become Better in Art!

Table of Contents Introduction Chapter 1- The Right Medium Choosing the right medium is incredibly important. Start out by using a pencil! Draw using light sketches. Chapter 2 – The Right Mindset Have the right mindset Do not get frustrated with your work. Think of yourself as an artist! Chapter 3 – In the Moment Drawing Draw in the moment! Chapter 4 – Repeat! Repeat and trace! Conclusion FREE Bonus Reminder BONUS #2: More Free Books

Copyright Notice © Copyright 2015 by Robert Jones- All rights reserved. This document is geared towards providing exact and reliable information in regards to the topic and issue covered. The publication is sold with the idea that the publisher is not required to render accounting, officially permitted, or otherwise, qualified services. If advice is necessary, legal or professional, a practiced individual in the profession should be ordered. - From a Declaration of Principles which was accepted and approved equally by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations. In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved. The information provided herein is stated to be truthful and consistent, in that any liability, in terms of inattention or otherwise, by any usage or abuse of any policies, processes, or directions contained within is the solitary and utter responsibility of the recipient reader. Under no circumstances will any legal responsibility or blame be held against the publisher for any reparation, damages, or monetary loss due to the information herein, either directly or indirectly. Respective authors own all copyrights not held by the publisher. The information herein is offered for informational purposes solely, and is universal as so.

The presentation of the information is without contract or any type of guarantee assurance. The trademarks that are used are without any consent, and the publication of the trademark is without permission or backing by the trademark owner. All trademarks and brands within this book are for clarifying purposes only and are the owned by the owners themselves, not affiliated with this document.

Disclaimer While all attempts have been made to verify the information provided in this book, the author does not assume any responsibility for errors, omissions, or contrary interpretations of the subject matter contained within. The information provided in this book is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The reader is responsible for his or her own actions and the author does not accept any responsibilities for any liabilities or damages, real or perceived, resulting from the use of this information.

Introduction

Drawing is one of the most popular hobbies out there. Many people absolutely love to draw while others may stay away from drawing because they feel as though they’re not the best artist out there. The good news is that you do not have to be skilled in art if you want to learn how to draw. There are a great deal of tips and tricks that you can use if you are interested in learning how to draw. Whether you want to draw professionally or for fun, there are an immense amount of tips that you can follow in order to learn how to do so. Drawing does not have to be something complicated. In fact, many people actually find drawing very relaxing and peaceful. If you are not someone who finds drawing very relaxing, it may be because you are not sure how to start drawing or what you want to draw. Some people will never try and draw because they do not feel as though they are creative enough to do so. It’s the people who think they are not creative enough to draw who really need to be pushed and we need to get them out of their comfort zone in order to see what they really are capable of! Before you start looking into tips regarding how to draw, or drawing techniques, you must first identify what it is you’re wanting to draw and what skill level you’re at. There are different tips out there for all skill levels. Whether you’re a beginner, at an intermediate level or whether you are someone who has never drawn before, there are a great deal of resources available that will get you on your way to becoming an excellent artist. One thing that you must remember is that everyone is an artist. We may not always have the skill set to be an expert in drawing but we are all able to express ourselves through drawing and through other art forms. Whatever your passion is and whatever you are interested in drawing, you can follow these 8 simple steps to get you on your feet and

having fun!

Chapter 1- The Right Medium

Choosing the right medium is incredibly important.

There are many different mediums that can be used when looking into drawing. Mediums can range from charcoal to paint, to oil pastels to even a simple pencil. The pencil is one of the most popular mediums because they are not only easy to find but they are inexpensive and very easy to use. We use pencils each and every day which makes them very easy to find. If you are just getting into drawing, and it’s something that you are not very familiar with, you want to use a medium that you can erase or fix if something does not come out the way you planned. Specifically, drawing cartoons is one of the most popular areas that most people want to learn about. Not only is it fun to draw cartoons, but it can often lead to a great career in the world of animation. Whatever your reasons are for wanting to learn how to draw cartoons, it’s important to follow these tips in order to get you started! One thing you want to look at when drawing cartoons and anything else for that matter is the type of medium you are using.

Start out by using a pencil!

While you can draw with just about anything, using a pencil when first starting out is usually the artist’s first choice. There are many reasons why using a pencil is one of the best mediums that you can use. A pencil for example is incredibly inexpensive. Pencils can be found just about anywhere and they can be purchased at a very low price which makes them easy to find and easy to purchase. There are many other different types of mediums on the market that can often become very expensive. Specifically, if you are just starting out, you absolutely want to start by using a pencil if

you are new to drawing. If you are new to drawing you want to be able to fix any mistakes that you make and you also want to be able to purchase drawing materials at a low price. If you go out and spend a great deal of money on drawing supplies only to become frustrated with your art work, you may regret the money that you spent on all of your new items. Using a pencil is a safe bet because they do not cost a lot of money and you can buy them in bulk instead of just buying a few at a time. When you’re using a pencil, you also want to decide whether or not a wooden pencil or a mechanical pencil is going to work best for you. If you are just starting out, try both types of pencils to identify the one that works best for you. You may find that one type of pencil over the other might work better for you or you may find that both types of pencils are best and you may decide to incorporate both pencils into your drawing routine. Pencils work great because you can erase any mistakes that you make and remember that you will make mistakes. Making mistakes is actually what makes the process fun and exciting. Pencils are helpful because you can go through and fix anything that you may have messed up on and you can choose the shade of which you are drawing something. Along with the new drawing pencils that you might choose to purchase, you also want to purchase a good amount of erasers. While most pencils actually come with an eraser attached to it, you may find that as a beginner, you use all of the eraser on the pencil and you will need a new eraser. Having a few erasers on hand will help you when you are looking to erase any mistakes that you made and it may help you if you decide to change something on your drawing. Extra erasers are also helpful if you choose to trace over your initial drawing with another medium such as a marker or pen. If you choose to trace over your initial drawing, you will then be able to erase any extra pencil lines that you have left over. The eraser will help your drawing look clean once you can get rid of the pencil lines that were used initially.

Draw using light sketches.

Starting out by drawing in very light sketches is something that many artists tend to do. If you draw very lightly, it will be much easier to erase any mistakes that you may have made. Especially when you’re looking into drawing cartoons, you want to make sure that the animation of the drawing is easy to see. Getting the look of emotions and animated faces on your drawing takes a great deal of effort. When you’re first starting out, you want to make sure that you’re not wasting paper and materials as drawing materials often add up in price. If you draw using very light sketches, you will be able to erase any mistakes and redo something that you may not like or something that does not look right to you. Drawing light sketches will help if you are going to trace over your drawing later as well. The lighter the sketch is, the easier it will be to erase later on if you choose to do so. Now, keep in mind that not everyone chooses to go over their initial drawing with a different medium but if you choose to do so and you know that you’re going to do this ahead of time, you can plan ahead by sketching very lightly. When you’re sketching lightly, just make sure that whatever you are sketching is dark enough to see if you choose to trace over this marks. You definitely do not want to miss any details because the marks that you initially made were too light to see and you end up skipping over details in your drawing because the pencil shade was much too light. Keep your sketches consistent in order to ensure that all of the details show up later on when you are looking into tracing over your initial images. Many people choose to trace over their drawing with black marker to ensure that there drawing does not get smudged and to create a professional look. Remember that you may not choose to do something like this until you actually feel more comfortable with your drawing skills and you are ready to make something permanent.



Chapter 2 – The Right Mindset

Have the right mindset

Before you get started, you want to make sure that you are in the right mindset. Now, keep in mind that having the right mindset is incredibly important no matter what you’re trying to do. If your mind isn’t in the right place, you will not be able to complete the task at hand in the right manner. Before you do anything in life, whether it’s drawing or completing another task, you must first train your mind to be in the right place for whatever is in front of you, especially if it’s a drawing pad. While some people use drawing as an outlet to release emotions, you most likely will not be at this level if you are just getting into the drawing world. That being said, you want to make sure that your mind is right and that you are focused before you sit down to practice your drawing skills. You first want to set the tone in your mind. You want to make sure that you have a positive mindset no matter what skill level you’re at. Many people tend to feel very negative when they are at the beginning stages of drawing. Drawing can intimidate many people and if something does not come out right on paper, it can be very frustrating for some.

Do not get frustrated with your work. Drawing, like everything else takes time and practice. When we focus on something that we want to do or improve on overall, we tend to be very hard on ourselves. The harder you are on yourself, the least likely you will be to improve on your skills. Do not get frustrated! While this is easier said than done, it’s important to remember that it will take time.

You must be patient and not give up because your drawing isn’t coming out right or because you are unable to draw something that you really want to draw. If you tell yourself that you want to draw something, you will be able to. Now, keep in mind that it may not be perfect the first time around but in time, it will not only get better but you will also be able to add more details into the picture and maybe even add in new objects to the picture as well. Just like everything else in life, if you do not practice, you will not get better. The more you are able to practice different skills, the better at drawing you will get. You cannot expect to sit down and become a master artist in one session. Yes, there are some people who are naturally talented in this way and they are great artists without any practice but for most of us, this is simply not the case at all and we must work very hard in order to improve our drawing skills. In order to get into the right mindset, you literally have to use the right side of your brain when you are getting ready to become one with your artistic side! Our creativity skills are embedded in the right side of our brain and we must use these skills when practicing any art form, including drawing. Remember that whatever we draw actually represents and shows exactly what we are thinking. Every thought that we have during the drawing process is represented in the lines that we draw on the piece of paper in front of us. Once you get your mind right, you must remember to stay there. We often become frustrated and our mind starts to drift and stop focusing on the project ahead of us. Once you have the right mindset, you have to continue to stay positive and know that you can complete the task at hand. You literally have to remind yourself to let your hand flow and let your creative mind take over instead of trying to plan out what you are going to draw and whatever is ahead of you when you are drawing.

Think of yourself as an artist! If you want to become a great artist and great at drawing, you must think of yourself as an artist. Now, this can often be very difficult for some of us to do because we don’t always

tend to look at ourselves in an artistic light but once we are able to do so, we will not only open up new opportunities in our lives but we will also find things that we’re good at that we never knew about before. When you open yourself up to new things, you open yourself up to yourself and you are able to find out more about who you really are as a person and you will often find things that you are good at that you never knew about. If you don’t open yourself up and try new things, you will miss out on many different things in life and it’s important to not let this happen by staying in tune with your creative side as much as possible, no matter how hard it may seem at times. You literally need to think of yourself as being an artist and you must believe these thoughts. If you sit there and think to yourself that you’re not an artist but you are drawing because you have to, it will be very difficult to complete the project ahead of you. Whether you are drawing for a class or for fun, you must stay positive and think to yourself that you are an artist and you can draw beautiful pictures, you just need the right tools, the right medium and the right mindset in order to complete the drawing. If you sit there and start to think that it’s simply too difficult and that you can’t do it because you’re not artistic enough, then you will not be able to draw or improve on your drawing skills at all. You must always keep in mind that a negative mindset will almost always bring a negative outcome. The first thing you want to do is stay calm. Do not let drawing stress you out. It will take time to improve on your drawing skills but the more frustrated you become with the process, the longer it will take for you to improve. Loosen up any tension that you’re holding onto in order to produce a carefree result. If you find yourself struggling in this area, look at the actual lines that you’re drawing on the page in front of you. If you notice that the lines you are drawing are stiff, sharp and rigid, try transitioning to softer lines that are more free-flowing rather than planned out. Start to become one with your thoughts and the paper in front of you. It may sound odd but the less you are able to actually focus on drawing, the better the drawing will turn out. If you are actively thinking about every single thing that you’re drawing, it will not only create a great deal of frustration but your drawing will be thought out instead of creative.

Remember that when you’re drawing, you want the outcome to be creative, not necessarily well thought out. Compare a drawing to say an excel data sheet. An excel data sheet is most likely something that you must think about, you want all of the data correct and you must input accurate information. Now, compare this to a drawing project. When you’re drawing, you want the outcome to be creative, not necessarily planned out and you want it to look like you were just able to draw something out in the moment rather than planning out exactly what you were going to draw and then putting it on paper. Get creative and stop thinking about what you’re going to draw. Instead of thinking about it, let it happen naturally and the outcome will be much better than you expected!

Chapter 3 – In the Moment Drawing

Draw in the moment!

This is one of the most rewarding and exciting things that you can do as an artist. When you draw in the moment, you are not only using your creative skills but you are honing in on skills that you may not even realize that you have! The good thing about art projects is that they often pull things out of someone that that person didn’t even know that were capable of. That being said, many people make the mistake of actually trying to plan out what they are going to draw. An individual may sit down and write down exactly what they want to draw and what they might want it to look like. Well, there’s a tip for this. Do not do that! Being creative does not necessarily mean that you must plan out what you’re going to do before you do it. Now, that doesn’t mean that you can’t look at something and think to yourself that you would like to draw that certain building or maybe a certain person one day that is actually very common and should be done. It’s great to get ideas from travelling to different places or seeing new things but you do not want to sit down and just think of want you want to draw, this is something that should come naturally. In fact, if you are practicing your drawing, you should start carrying your drawing pad around with you everywhere you go! If you have your drawing pad with you, you will be more inclined to stop whatever you are doing to draw something that inspires you rather than going home later to think about what you saw and then trying to draw it. If you draw in the moment, it will not only be a more accurate picture of whatever it was that you saw but the drawing will be much more accurate as well. Drawing in the moment is a great way to become inspired! There are so many beautiful and inspiring places in the world, it’s very easy to find something that you enjoy drawing. Start out by looking around at items that you think would be fun to draw. Some people will most likely try and start out

with smaller items and then work their way up to bigger pictures such as scenarios and buildings. If we think before we draw, we often find ourselves thinking that something must be done a certain way. When this happens, and you set our minds on the fact that the drawing must look a certain way before we even begin drawing, we are setting ourselves up for failure. Setting the bar high when you are drawing is not always a good thing as once you actually sit down to draw and create something on paper, it will most likely look very different than what you planned. The moment you sit down to draw something new should be embraced as a moment of opportunity. There will be many different areas of your life that you should plan out and prepare for and drawing is not one of them. Drawing is the time where you must be creative and appreciate the moment for what it is. Artists are usually inspired by what they see and that is what makes them want to draw that certain object or place. Artists do not usually sit down and make a checklist of whatever it is they are thinking about drawing in the future. Inspiration is not usually something that can be thought of and planned out ahead of time. When you’re inspired by something, you want to take this time and embrace it in order to make the most of the artistic and creative moment that you are experiencing. Keep in mind that not every drawing you create will come out the way you want it to. In fact, you may sit down to draw something and realize that you actually want to draw something else instead. It’s important to remember that, that is OK! It’s ok to change your mind and draw something else other than what you initially thought you were going to draw. This is why it is so important to try and not plan out what you’re going to draw. If you try and plan it out ahead of time, you will be disappointed when the drawing does not come out as planned. It’s ok to have goals regarding what you want to learn with drawing and possibly what you want to learn how to draw but you want to think more of the creative aspect behind drawing rather than any planning that may be involved in the process of becoming an excellent drawing artist. Learning is a process. The more you learn in the drawing world,

the more you will improve. Remember that everything takes time and it cannot be rushed. Yes, you can practice more in order to become more advanced but even then, you must keep in mind that everything takes time and if you want to improve correctly, you must put in the time and effort in order to do so. Drawing in the moment is one of the best ways to improve your own artistic skills and one of the best ways to become a better artist overall.



Chapter 4 – Repeat!

Repeat and trace!

The more you draw something, the better the outcome will be. As with anything else, if you’re trying to improve on something, the best thing you can do is practice. The old saying that practice makes perfect is absolutely correct! If you’re working on drawing something, hold onto the first drawing that you completed in order to compare it to a few others that you completed after that. Once you are able to compare the drawings, you will be able to see firsthand the improvements that you have made overtime. The more you practice, the better your drawing skills will be. You make even choose to alter the version of something that you are drawing. For example, if you are drawing an apple, start out by drawing one apple and then eventually switch to apples of different sizes and shapes. Once you are able to draw something from different sides and perspectives, you will feel more confident to draw anything. If you draw something one time and love the outcome of it, great! That being said, it would be in your best interest to draw the item a few more times to see how much you are actually able to improve on the drawing that you have in front of you. It’s great to find positive things about your initial drawings but you then want to try and continue to improve as well. The more you practice, the better you will become. Now is the time to take any opportunity to practice your drawing skills. Remember that drawing is something that you must do frequently in order to continue to maintain your skills. Drawing frequently will also improve your skills overall. Oftentimes, we find something that sparks our interest such as drawing. We then start drawing as a hobby but quickly get bored, move on and never end up improving on our skills because we are too focused on moving on to something else.

Think of drawing like learning a new language or learning how to drive for example. The more you practice the new language or the more you drive, the better you will become overall. Practice doesn’t always make perfect but it will absolutely provide you with exactly what you need in order to improve your skills in the appropriate areas. Repetition is the key to success. The more you repeat something that you want to improve on, the better you will become. When you repeat a certain drawing, you will be able to build upon whatever you started at. You can start out with a basic drawing and slowly add more items into the drawing or possibly even more details. The good thing about a drawing is that you can start on something one day and then continue on a few days after that. You can work on a certain drawing for as long as you would like by slowly adding more details and more objects into a picture that you are working on. Details are great to add in but you want to make sure that you do not add too many details that will overwhelm the picture and cause a great deal of clutter. When you come back to a drawing after starting it, you can also fix any mistakes that you see the second time you look at the drawing. When we first sit down to draw something, we may miss little mistakes or we may not see different things the first time around that we want to change. When we walk away from the drawing and come back later or another day, we are then able to have a different view and perspective of the drawing and we will clearly be able to see what needs to be fixed after that. Taking a second look at a drawing will also make it clear what you want to add into the drawing and what you might want to eliminate from the drawing as well. Either way, you can make more of a drawing page if you add in different items. Tracing over your initial drawing is something that can be done as well. It is often said that you should not trace over your own drawing but in reality, this is helpful to repeat the drawing and get your hand familiar with the process. Once you start to practice the drawing over and over, your hand will become trained and you will have a better outcome the second time around when you choose to draw the same item again.

The more you practice and try drawing the same thing repeatedly, you will soon find that you may choose to draw something different all together or sometimes you may even choose to draw the same thing you drew before but in a different way. The good thing about choosing one thing to draw is that you can challenge yourself by trying to repeat the process in order to see what the next outcome will then look like. Remember that not all drawings will look the same and they shouldn’t. No matter what you draw, whether it’s the same thing or something new, it should look different than whatever it is that you drew before.

Conclusion

The most important thing you can do when you’re looking into drawing is to have fun! Take these 8 tips and build on them from there. Drawing is fun and should be treated as though it is fun and not something that has to be done. Regardless of the reason for starting to draw, whether it’s because you are looking for a new hobby or if you have to take an art class, you want to make sure that you are actually having fun with the process. In order to become the best artist that you can, you must first embrace the artistic aspect of drawing and you must embrace your artistic side. Regardless of the drawing level that you’re at, every single one of us has an artistic side. We are all able to express ourselves artistically whether it’s through drawing or possibly even another art form. No matter what you choose to do, if you choose to practice drawing, the more you are able to practice, the better your drawing skills will become. While you want to make sure that you are having fun with the process, you also want to make sure that you are trying to improve by not getting discouraged. Remember that everything takes time and regardless of what you are trying to improve on, it will take time. Be patient with the process and no matter what, do not give up! Always remember that art and drawing is fun and you will be just fine! Have fun, grab your notepad and start drawing!

FREE Bonus Reminder

If you have not grabbed it yet, please go ahead and download your special bonus report “12 Amazing DIY Gift Ideas for Any Occasion”. Simply Click the Button Below

OR Go to This Page http://diyagain.com/free/

BONUS #2: More Free Books Do you want to receive more Free Books? We have a mailing list where we send out our new Books when they go free on Kindle. Click on the link below to sign up for Free Book Promotions.

=> Sign Up for Free Book Promotions <= OR Go to this URLhttp://bit.ly/1COlFPe