Colette Pitcher - Acrylic painting for dummies

by Colette Pitcher

Acrylic Painting For Dummies

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Copyright 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2009925423

ISBN: 978-0-470-44455-9

Manufactured in the United States of America

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About the Author

Growing up in Colorado, Colette Pitcher always made art even if at first folks werent convinced it was art. She majored in television communication at the University of Northern Colorado but had enough art credits to graduate a year early and did so. Her first job out of college was as a graphic designer for an engineering and architectural firm. Her next job was in New York City for a Fortune 500 company, and she later worked for a well-known childrens book author. While in New York, she lived at West Point and attained an MBA from the University of Long Island.

She returned to Colorado in 1986 and started Art Department for companies that didnt have an art department in-house. In the 1990s, she founded the Showcase Art Center in Greeley, Colorado, and filled it with other like-minded businesses and art studios. Activities at the Showcase have included Project Ability, for developmentally disabled artists; a workshop for blind artists to use touch in 3-D artworks; and selling art from Mozambique to fund a kindergarten in that country. The Showcase presents art created by youth to encourage future artists and art by seniors to encourage lifelong creativity. It remains a great place to find art and supplies, framing, art-to-wear, piano lessons, art classes, and art studios.

Colette also sculpts. Her husband Gary, owner of Dragon Casting (a bronze art foundry), is also a creative resource for making the impossible come true daily. Together the couple has installed many monumental bronze public artworks. Colette is the author of Watercolor Painting For Dummies (Wiley) and on occasion writes for PaintWorks magazine. She also writes and conducts demonstrations for art material manufacturer conventions, including Loew-Cornell, Aamoco, Dynasty brushes, Duncan, Fredrix canvas, and Speedball. She is a Rotarian, a member of Greeley Art Association, a signature member of Colorado Watercolor Society, and an associate member of the National Sculpture Society.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my mother, Beth Irvine. I can never repay her for all she has done for me; heck, she made me what I am, literally. She encouraged, supported, taught, role-modeled, and guided me through life. I could ask for no more or any better.

Authors Acknowledgments

I want to bless Wiley Publishing for allowing me to work with them again after working on Watercolor Painting For Dummies. What I thought was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity turned into another positive experience. Mike Baker knew better at this point and still asked me to write Acrylic Painting For Dummies. Thanks, Mike! My right-hand editor in Holland, Corbin Collins sped through from schedule to completion with nothing but nice comments (I am sure he bit his tongue on more than one occasion). Chrissy Guthrie completed the editing efficiently for the second book (she also knew better, and I am glad we got to work together again). Mary Morrison was the technical advisor. Mary also works for Golden Acrylics as a working artist. She was a blast to take workshops from in Denver and hear her enormous technical and chemical knowledge, besides enjoying her beautiful artistic creations. Megan Knoll was the copy editor and was amazing editing, organizing, and making everything its best for the reader. Clint Lahnen and his team were given just under 400 images to scan and prepare a large job that was well done! I do love you all.

I have to thank my better-half husband for letting me type all night and weekend. Gary is always the support that an artist needs to really thrive. Whether it is ordering take-out, or keeping the distractions low, he was always doing what needed to be done. I owe you a vacation now!

Thanks to my co-workers who fielded phones and customers, cleaned, and kept the business moving forward while I typed: Carol, May, Linda, Robin, and Lesli.