Can you FEEL it'
Give your paintings life with realistic textures!
Some artists have specialties like people or animals or still lifes. Jennifer Sheffer's 'specialty' is texture...the sheen of pearls, the warmth of porcelain, the sparkle of light on silver, the glow of deep, rich shadows. From the smooth sweep of an apple to the softness of fur and the shine of soulful eyes...capturing rich, wonderful textures like these is both a challenge and, with the step-by-step instruction in this book, an absolute joy!

Inside you'll find all the makings of 'touchy-feely' watercolors: a versatile range of techniques...how to mix and match those techniques to create realistic textures...and how to combine various textures into dramatic, evocative compositions.

Versatile Techniques!
Washes, wet-on-dry, glazing, masking...this is the stuff that textures are made of! You'll learn how to execute various technique, and find recommendations on when to use which. Drybrushing, for example, is often the best way to emphasize the textural quality of hair, stone, wood, grass or any weathered, rough surface. Wet-in-wet is a great bet for accomplishing the glassy smoothness of vine-ripened tomatoes. Underpainting is a valuable first step in modeling the muscle mass of a horse...stippling creates rough textures like a wool rug or short fur...and scrubbing and lifting are wonderful for creating soft flower textures. Step-by-steps and finished paintings show each technique in action.

Scrumptious Step By Steps!
At the heart of this book, follow along with OVER 25 demonstrations to create a wide world of textures step by step! Jennifer is a leader at creating dramatic backgrounds, polished wood, patterned fabric, velvety flower petals, soft fur, and so much more. You name the texture and she'll teach you a technique to make it look real!

The final chapter guides you step by step through three texture-filled paintings, comprising many of the techniques learned earlier in the book.

Texture-rific!
Along the way, Jennifer drops a wealth of expert tips for capturing natural animal poses, setting-up and composing your still lifes, secrets to capturing dramatic light effects, simple guidelines to powerful compositions, and much more. Jennifer's pure enthusiasm for her subjects is contagious. ('The local color [of the roses] matched Holbein's Opera so closely that I couldn't wait to get home to paint!') Before you know it, you'll catch yourself roaming through antique stores, rummaging through draws, searching everyday life for appealing touches of texture to paint. With the insights and approaches in this book, you'll be set to take on and conquer any texture challenge!

See inside this Book