En Plein Air: Acrylic

Thank you Quatro and Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

En Plein Air acrylic gives the reader the tools and techniqiues to paint your outdoor landscapes. As a beginner / absolute novice this book was useful in explaining how and what to use and the steps in beginning to create your chosen scene. This book would also be very useful for the more practiced artists by explaining and showing differences in techniques and their corresponding advantages.

A great book for encouraging creations made with acrylics.

I'm not a painter or artist of any kind notwithstanding my The Little Rattuses children's book series which is far more cartoonish than ever I'd label it art, but like they say: I may not know much about art but I know what I like, and it is a truism! Art, as a form of beauty, is very much in the eye of the beholder.

That doesn't mean we can't learn to better appreciate more of it, and to me that's why it's always useful to read a book like this one, which is not so much about art appreciation, but very much about art creation, particularly in the outdoors (the En Plein Air of the title) - and importantly how to travel light when you're on an expedition to find a locale and capture something there on canvas.

It occurs to me that there's no better way to appreciate art than to understand from an artist's perspective, what it takes to put together an eye-catching painting. This is the first of two En Plein Air book I shall be reviewing. The other is about watercolor - a medium that is often taught to kids in primary school, which is probably a bad idea, but while on the one hand it is an unfortunately cheap and favored solution, on the other, it is an introduction to art, and any such intro is better than none, I guess!

I have to say that the book is aimed at a print book audience, so the ebook version I had to review sliced up some of the paintings, and failed to show pages in juxtaposition, thereby diluting if not derailing the author's message and making it harder to compare one with another when you had to keep sliding the screen back and forth instead of sliding your eyes back and forth.

I've seen some ebooks that did present as a two-page view and I typically found that annoying since there seemed to be no reason for it, but in this case, there really was a valid reason to show the book in this format and it was viewable only as single pages, which downright spoiled parts of it. But as an amateur reviewer, ebooks are the new print copies, I'm sorry to say!

But anyway! The author starts out by briefly introducing the medium and the tools by which it is applied, talking about acrylic paints, and about canvases, brushes, and techniques for bringing all three together into a harmonious result. It's a bit like magic, isn't it?! The brushes are the wands, the medium is the spell and the painted canvas is the result.

Referring often to his own long experience, the author discusses lighting, paint hues, tints, tones and shades, paint temperature (and no it's not about freezing your butt off while sitting outdoors painting!) and about differences between acrylic and oil - and it's not just the price! There are even differences within acrylics which are well-worth knowing. There are many photographs - of paintings! - which admirably illustrate the points he makes in the brief, but highly illuminating text sections.

I have to say that some of the pictures did not look great to me, but many of them have an impressionistic element to them and I am not a big fan of the impressionists. I can't say how this author (who was a public school art instructor for some three decades) would describe his own work; I can only speak to how it appears to my amateur eyes, but to them, other paintings looked wonderful.

Talking of impressionism, two of these really made an impression on me. My favorite was the Morning Glow which he included on page 98 in a discussion of temperature blending. That painting was great and truly captured its subject. The two paintings on the next page, Corner in Winter and Deep Woods Violets were worthy of a special mention, too.

The other painting was revealed in stages starting on page 84, as the artist walks us through putting together an entire painting from scratch: how he does it and what his thinking is at each stage. This was very educational. The interesting thing for me though, was that I considered the painting to be perfect and highly atmospheric on only step three, and liked it less well as other elements were added to complete it in step 6.

It just goes to ask that old question: if a work of art ever really complete, and how do you know if it is? Eye of the beholder again! Another example was when I thought the pencil sketch made to assess values for a painting on page 82 was more impressive than the painting which is led to, but maybe that's just me! I'm sure you'll find your own likes, dislikes, and loves here as anyone would.

So I thought this book was well-worth the reading and if you don't find fresh inspiration and a renewed drive to go out there and do it after reading this, then it's all on you - right next to those paint splashes! I commend it as a worthy read. You can find the author's website at markmehaffeyfineart.com.

I know Mark Mehaffey from artistsnetwork.tv, I like very much his style and also I think he is an excellent teacher. His style is very contemporary, he uses bold colours, but under all this there is solid know-how. In this book he introduces the reader to the basics of acrylic painting (his favourite medium) in plein air. I highly recommend this book to beginners but also to those artists who want to have a more modern and loose style.

En Plein Air: Acrylic
Expert techniques and simple step-by-step projects for creating dynamic landscapes in the open air with acrylic
by Mark Mehaffey

Acrylic paint is something that I have not worked with in years but have always wanted to try using as an adult so this book came along at the perfect time. I have dabbled with watercolor and learned a great deal but perhaps now is the time to buy a few acrylic paints and give them a try.

The topics in this book included:
*Materials & Supplies
*Substrates: surfaces and toned substrates (what one paints on)
*Working with Acrylics
*Palettes (to put your paints on)
*Basic Color Use
*Planning & Painting
*Different Approaches

What I found interesting:
*Using acrylics as watercolors
*How to create soft, hard and lost edges
*Mother color – new concept to me
*Color: Dominance and Temperature
*Painting the light – more than just where the light is coming from and the shadows it creates

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Walter Foster for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4 Stars

*~.Book Analysis.~*
Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as a reader :)

Rating: 4 stars
Reading period: Dec. 22nd, 2018
Format: ebook
Source: NetGalley - I have received this book in exchange for an honest review.
Release date: Dec. 18th, 2018

PROS
While this book doesn’t exactly teaches one how to paint with acrylic, it does a wonderful job of explaining all the tricks and cracks the experience of painting with acrylic outdoors, which is the main function of this book. I admit I didn’t expected such a loosen up art style, but the lessons were just gold, regarding both materials and techniques.

CONS
The artist had a too loosen-up style for my artistic tastes, but still a terrific book!

COVER ANALYSIS
I’m a goner for landscapes, people. I see them, I want to look further. That’s how I found this volume and how I fell in love with this cover. I loved the color palette.

RECOMMENDED FOR
People seeking to improve their painting / drawing skills!

This book is packed with practical information for those new to painting using acrylic paint. It provides tips and techniques on choosing the right materials, colors, and setting up to paint on location. It also includes the concept of color mixing, and offers different approaches to painting.
Recommended to fine-art lovers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Walter Foster Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is about acrylic painting En Plein Air, or outside. The artist has many informative chapters that cover things like paint choice, light, blending colors, choose a pallet and much more. There are many great suggestions and ideas and this will make a great addition to any artists collection.

En Plein Air: Acrylic is one of those rare art books that you never really realized you wanted/needed, until you see it. This guide is all about learning to paint with acrylics on site – as in, out in the open air.
I know that sounds like something you wouldn’t need a guide for, but it’s actually quite useful, I promise. Knowing what supplies are worth bringing, versus those to leave home. Not to mention learning how to paint what is right in front of you, as opposed to painting from memory or imagination. It’s all very different.
This book covers a lot more than just learning to paint outside – it also includes basic painting tips, tricks, and skills that are endlessly useful to know. En Plein Air starts off talking about the outdoors, then basic materials, and before you know it we’re elbow deep in color theory. There’s even a chapter about how to plan out your painting! It all has this elegant flow to it that makes learning easier.

En Plain Air: Acrylic Expert techniques and simple step-by-step projects fro creating dynamic landscapes in the open air with acrylic by Mark Mehaffey

will guide you to the universe of paintings in the so-called condition "en plain air," open air. This book will support you in every possible phase of paintings, with punctual suggestions, tips, advices, locations, natural and artificial light, but also examining the biggest differences existing with oil. Oil keeps more time before to dry, so if you need a painting in a rush, acrylic is the best technique.

Wonderful book.


I thank NetGalley and Quarto for this ebook.

This is a good introduction to en plein air painting. Mark shares his setup and choices of tools and materials. I think the most important information I gleaned from the book is the idea that en plein air doesn't necessarily mean that you should paint what you see. he describes and shows examples of the items that he left out of the paintings to draw the attention of the viewer and eliminate distractions. He also dramatically changed the colors in the painting from what they actually were in real life.
These were interesting lessons to learn despite the fact that I didn't really care for his style of painting.

If you're a studio artist, wondering how to get started working out of doors, this guide is a good starting place. The author covers the same basics as many art books, but it is geared specifically for En Plein Air work, explaining what to pack and how to plan your painting.

I don't think this is really a beginner's book, but it does cover some beginner's concepts such as color theory and the color wheel. The author also goes into suppliers, the types of brushes, pencils and palettes, types of acrylics, acrylics vs. oils and a few techniques.

I think parts of this could be used for beginning artists and some for the more advanced artist trying to plan an En Plein Air experience. #EnPleinAirAcrylic #NetGalley

I'm a complete newbie when it comes to acrylic painting.

In the past 2 months I have made a total of 3 small paintings to start practicing and get antiquated with the brushes and paint.
So my review comes to you as a beginner and not as an expert.

I found this book to be perfect for a beginner like me that doesn't even know all the names of the different brushes, or the difference between student quality paints and artist quality paints.

What I loved most about this book was how simple it is to read. It wasn't intimidating at all for a newbie, so I read it with confidence and without feeling threaten by a book too complicated that would be made for experts and will make me feel lost in the woods.

Description by the book's publicist says: En Plein Air: Acrylic introduces beginning artists and fine-art lovers alike to the core concepts of painting on location. This hardworking guide features everything you'll need to get started, including expert tips on what to pack and how to maximize your time outdoors. You'll also learn how to choose a subject once you're on-site and then interpret it for a complex and pleasing composition.

Indeed is a great introduction. This book has ton of information, but all of them short and simple. A great starting point for any beginner, and a taste of painting lingo, techniques and special nomenclature that any newbie won't be aware of just yet.

From an introduction to materials, surfaces and color, to the difference between oil paints and acrylic paints.

A great section for beginners is where the author shows with images the brush strokes that each brush makes. I find this section so useful and interesting. I would definitely use it as a reference when buying new brushes to expand my tools.

What starts as a basic book for painting acrylic outdoors, soon transforms into a great reference book for beginners, with info that can be used for more than just painting outside, and actually will help in all kinds of acrylic painting.
In summary, this book includes the following topics:

*Materials & Supplies

*Substrates: surfaces and toned substrates (canvases, paper, and other surfaces)

*Working with Acrylics

*Palettes

*Basic Color Use

*Planning & Painting

*Different Approaches

* Step by Step painting with photos and written instructions


The only slight down to this book is that I wasn't impressed with the step by step project included. But is not a bad one either, and is very basic, so any beginner could do it.
That being said, not all artist will share the same style, so is understandable, and I still found that all the information included is a great help and very useful.

EN PLEIN AIR: ACRYLIC: EXPERT TECHNIQUES AND SIMPLE STEP-BY-STEP PROJECTS FOR CREATING DYNAMIC LANDSCAPES IN THE OPEN AIR WITH ACRYLIC
Written by Mark Mehaffey
2018; Quarto Publishing Group – Walter Foster (128 pages)
Genre: art, crafts, nonfiction, refernce, guide

(Review Not on Blog)

RATING: 4 STARS

I am hoping this year I "actually" start painting. I keep psyching myself out that I will be terrible and so I should not start. I have the supplies and guides/books and am getting the confidence that it's okay if it is terrible, and that is what practice is for! I read both Acrylic and Watercolor but have not decided which to start first as I have both paints.

***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***

Whilst this book starts with the equipment required to paint outdoors is not just about painting en plein. It has a plethora of information on acrylic paints, very useful information, especially if you are new to acrylics. There is a great section on colour usage and planning a painting, explaining step by step instructions ways of getting the focal point and surround pleasing to the eye, using imagination and different approaches.
I was very pleasantly surprise with the information, and the informative way this book writes about en plein air with acrylics. It is not a follow the leader type of book but a source of skills and development for the artist

A guide to learn the art of painting with acrylics outdoor. Many ideas and suggestions are presented.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the eARC

I have read many painting books and this is one of my favorites. This is the first I have found to be specific to plain air painting. I have struggled in the past determining what is most important to bring to plain air paint and keep my load light. I appreciated the explanation of what paint colors to use and how to mix with them and bring fewer colors.

Many books explain painting definitions. This book provided examples to make it easier to learn and remember. I found the example of temperature dominance to be very helpful.

I received this galley from NetGalley.

Good book to set you up for outdoor painting. I would consider this book a good starting place for newbie painters wanting to know the materials and equipment needed for en plein air painting. The descriptions of materials and equipment are great and comprehensive enough. However I do think this book would have really benefited from further step by step tutorials to make it a more useful reference and springboard for a beginner painter to gain confidence.

Gorgeous paintings and well photographed examples abound. This is a fantastic book for beginners and more experienced artists alike to explore a loose painterly style. Ordered a copy for the arts and crafts section at my library.

While I'm already a keen painter in acrylics, I had not really used them 'en plein air', preferring watercolours for that. However this book was really helpful, and although I'm moderately experienced in colour theory, composition, etc, I did learn some great new tips and put them into practice while out in my garden. It's amazing how different it is to paint like this rather than in a studio! I would recommend this book to anyone wishing to paint landscapes in acrylic.
Thanks to the publisher for a digital review copy.