Rachel Shirley: 22 books

Does drawing ability seem restricted to the ‘gifted’ where others would appear afflicted with picture dyslexia or a crippling lack of confidence in drawing? This book (now with large images for tablets) might help those wishing to learn to draw. Designed to help build confidence in drawing,...

Portraiture would seem an art form reserved for the most intrepid and experienced of artists. But this oil painting guidebook aims to break down this seemingly exacting subject matter into manageable pieces. Within you will find step-by-step instructions on completing 10 old master portraits...

The colour of skin has a reputation of being a difficult colour to capture. But this oil painting guidebook aims to break down this seemingly difficult subject matter into manageable pieces. Now with large images for larger ereaders, find 10 step-by-step instructions on completing figure...

A step by step art book that explores the garden as a source of inspiration. A typical haven yields more than one may first expect, from allotments, deckchairs and swings to pets, hanging baskets and fishponds. The only other essential ingredient is sunlight. Taken from my art instruction...

How do I complete my first oil painting step by step? This book outlines 20 achievable oil painting demonstrations for the beginner featuring landscape art from the simple to the more challenging (taken from my hardback Oil Paintings from the Landscape published by GMC Publications 2003) Find...

This in depth painting demonstration explores a tailored approach in achieving sfumato effects when painting Leonardo da Vinci’s the Mona Lisa in oils. To be included within my forthcoming book, Skin Tones in Oil: 10 Step by Step Guides from Old Masters, available soon, this painting project...

This fun educational picture book for young children aged 5 - 8 tells the story of a young girl Katie who discovers her gran’s teapot can fly. Before she knows it, she is sitting inside the teapot and is bound for the cosmos with her friends, the cosmic pandas, whom she meets along the way. Look...

Learning to paint in oils is an enjoyable and creative process, but from time to time the fledgling artist may hit a creative brick wall, often with a particular issue. This might be with the plague of muddy colours, garish flower heads, trees that resemble lollypops, skies that look bland, darkening...

Producing still life art is a popular pastime, for not only is the artist in control of the environment but also the subject matter. But a creative block may occur when it comes to rendering convincing orange peel, getting smooth effects for highlights, working under shifting lighting conditions or...

This invaluable book for oil painting teachers opens up with the line: ‘The art teacher seldom knows the nature of the art group that is going to materialise on the first session of an oil painting course.’ With this inevitability, this book prepares the inexperienced art teacher for delivering...

A troubleshooting guide for portraiture. Portraiture is often seen as the last frontier of representational art as every detail has huge consequences upon whether a portrait looks like the person depicted. The beginner need not venture far before encountering a possible minefield of problems....

What does the artist paint after receiving a set of oil painting materials?A challenging project may not be sought after, merely simple exercises to get the wheels turning. Such projects may require a few hours to complete and entail basic art materials.This is where this book comes...

YOU HAVE JUST purchased your first set of oil colours. Now what? A blank art surface may reflect an uncertainty of what to paint. Where does the beginner begin? Is an easel needed? What about a mahl stick, stretched canvases and a kidney-shaped palette? The aim of this book is to show that...

This art instruction tome forms the perfect companion to a new set of oil paints. It will be a long time before the prospecting artist need ever find inspiration on what to paint again.An amalgamation of 3 art instruction books: 10 Bite-Sized Oil Painting Projects Book: 1, 2 and 3 means a wealth of...