Books in the Learn Quickly series

Bestselling artist and writer Hazel Soan has distilled her art teaching into the things that matter most and can be digested in a short period of time - in just one afternoon you can start painting. Learning to paint is one of the life-long aspirations of many of us, and these techniques can be picked up faster than you think. Hazel Soan's concise book, filled with easy-to-follow instructions and step-by- step exercises, is written in an accessible way for those completely new to painting. Chapters include: Getting Started (the materials you will need and those you can ignore in the art shop); Choice of Colours; Mixing Colours; What's the Subject?; What Surfaces to Paint on; Basic Painting Techniques; Brushstrokes and Composition (with details on how to design paintings with horizon, focus and balance, a hint of perspective and the light and shade of a subject). Packed with illustrations for guidance, this is the most comprehensive guide to learning watercolour very quickly.

Hazel Soan's concise book explains everything you need to know about oils in an accessible way. She advises on the materials you need (keeping things to a minimum), mixing colours and teaches the basic brush techniques and how to use a palette knife. The subjects covered range from still life, flowers, animals, landscapes, figures and portraits.

In Learn Drawing Quickly, Sharon Finmark shows you how to achieve light and shade in your drawings and how to create solidity of form in your compositions. By the end of this little book you should be able to draw with confidence and have fun with it!