Mark Daniel Nelson - Learn to Paint in Acrylics with 50 More Small Paintings: Pick Up the Skills, Put on the Paint, Hang Up Your Art

Pick up the skills, put on the paint, hang up your art

MARK DANIEL NELSON

Its been several years since the initial printing of my first book, Learn to Paint in Acrylics with 50 Small Paintings. Since then, Ive receivedalmost dailymessages in my email inbox from readers who have praised the first book, criticized it, asked for clarification, wondered about materials, celebrated a return to painting after a long drought, and asked permission to use the book for various unexpected reasons (one reader used the book to help rehabilitate patients following hand surgeries, which made me very happy).

Ive been invited, unexpectedly, to lecture at college and high school art departments, Ive had friends from long ago reach out to reconnect because either they, their friends, their parents, or their children were working their way through the book, one small painting at a time. I cant sum up in words the thrill I get when I see a reader post their interpretations of my projects on social media.

Which brings me to my purpose for writing this second volume: I felt like there were a lot of things I wanted to expand upon and, frankly, some that needed fixing. In hopes of improving and expanding upon the first volume, Ive suggested in this book using a limited palette of affordable colors. Ive also limited the number of brushes to four, to remove some of the confusion about paint application. Ive simplified the subject matter and have attempted to create a great deal of room for reinterpretation and combination of the projectstheres a bee and a thistle, for instance, and related items such as food and toys. Most projects also offer room for easy colour substitutions.

What hasnt changed is my ongoing love of small-format paintings. Each of these exercises is designed to be executed in under an hour and ready to share (whether in the virtual or physical world) instantly. The subjects are whimsical and intended to appeal to children, parents, grandparents, and anyone else interested in embarking on a fun-filled journey learning the difficult skill of painting in acrylics. My hope is that you will approach these 50 small paintings with an open mind and an eager spiritone small painting at a time.

Mark Daniel Nelson

Great things are done by a series of small things brought together. Vincent van Gogh

The project gallery showcases the 50 paintings in this book. You can work your way through the projects progressively from first to last or look around the gallery, select the one you would like to paint, and then turn to the relevant page of instructions to create your chosen piece.