Whether the reader is a novice or an old hand needing a quick refresher course, this step-by-step book provides essential information on each aspect of a painting, from the best way to use "negative shapes" - which are the key way of uniting a composition - to Isaac Newton's theory of colour. Nothing is left to chance, and there's a plethora of practical tips on tackling still lifes, injecting three-dimensionality into an object, adding reflections in metal, and conveying everything involved in a landscape, from accurate perspective to each tree's unique shape. Every artist sometimes needs an expert looking over their shoulder, nudging them in the right direction, making it clear what needs to be done and in what order, and suggesting when it's time to experiment. That's where this book comes in.