A guide to the materials, techniques and methods that every budding artist should need as well as advice on innovations and approaches for more advanced practitioners. Divided into four parts, the book covers the most popular mediums: drawing; watercolour; oil and acrylic; and pastel. Each section explains the range of materials and equipment available, and reveals how to get the best out of them. It shows how to do the basic setting up and preparation, and takes the reader through all the first techniques, with step-by-step practical projects. It then explains more specialized methods for achieving more advanced and sophisticated effects.