This book is a decorative painter's dream: a complete course in the basic techniques of realistic painting! They'll learn about form, values and color - the building blocks of realism - while painting six fun, attractive projects. Patti DeRenzo, CDA, makes it easy by sharing her special "acrylic blending" technique that makes an acrylic painting look like it was done in oil, with the same softly rounded edges and refined gradation of values so common to oil paintings. They'll learn how to: Blend acrylic paints with special worksheets, and exercises; Mix values and use a value placement map (a pattern showing the exact placement of the light, medium and dark values); Glaze in highlights, shines and accent colors; Paint shadows and reflected light; DeRenzo also shows how to paint such textures as metal, porcelain, glass and fabric in projects that range from beginning through advanced.