How to Paint Fast, Loose and Bold: Simple Techniques for Expressive Painting

Excellent book. I paint with pastels, not the oils or acrylic paints that are the focus of this book. But I found this very informative and applicable regardless of the medium one works in. The information provided in understanding values and color schemes is so clearly explained with fantastic visual examples. This will be a go to reference book for me as I continue to developed my skills with pastel painting. Well worth the purchase.

This is not one of the plethora of step-by-step how to books, most of which are mediocre. Instead, it is a truly useful collection of advice on how to improve one's painting. I have read at least two dozen books on painting and find this to be one of the very best in terms of the topics covered, clarity, examples, and quality of advice. I read it repeatedly as I assimilated and used the knowledge. The advice is practical, insightful, and immediately useful. My work has improved significantly since I started applying the ideas in this book. Buy a copy, read it and see your painting improve.

I am a watercolor artist trying to learn how to paint in acrylic. This has been difficult and frustrating. Then I saw a video by Patti Mollica and got her AMAZING book. This is not a how to paint this flower or that tree book. This book explains foundations and how to make your paintings consistently successful. I thought I understood value and color theory, ha! NOW I understand it much much better than I did and just painted my first successful acrylic painting by applying her simple explanations. I love her style but mine is a little different. No matter, her book is not about painting clones of her work but applying simple but very important ideas to your work.

Great new book from Patti Mollica. I would have given five stars, but I own her three earlier books, and find so much in this book repetitive. I also own her three DVDs. Patti is a Golden instructor, and is very knowledgeable about how acrylics work. I find her studies in the book[s] and DVDs great to learn from ... I do not interpret them as good or bad paintings ... Each one has a pretty precise lesson in it. So, to the viewers who dont see her work as very "good," I think they miss the point. As an acrylics instructor, I find her teaching methods clear and concise, and not talking down to new students. I like the new methods and processes Mollica presents in this book, and wish there were more. A great book for those who don't know Mollica's work, and an "add-on" to the earlier books, if you have them. If you are really into learning more about acrylic fast and loose techniques, she is one of the best!

I’m an artist, but have only been painting for a couple of years. I can’t really afford art lessons, and the only ones near me are very expensive and only use oils. I’m 71 years old. I don’t have time to let oils dry! And I love acrylics! I downloaded a sample of this book to my Kindle Paperwhite. Wow. Good information, but the pictures were in black and white! So I ordered a real copy of the book. The first thing I did was to take it to my Fedex store and they put a lattice spiral binding it! I can open it and it is flat! The information on colors was better than anything I have found, or learned before!! But it isn’t just about color! It covers values, composition, etc!! If you are learning to paint, with any medium, or want to improve your painting, I cannot recommend a better book!!

This book is pretty good i would recommend to anyone that what to understand color theory and value stuff, it has many easy and clear examples

Great book, I learned a good deal and able to paint much better than before

This is a really good technique book. You can be taught step-by-step how to do a painting, but without the 'why's', you'll really only ever to be able to paint 'that' painting. Patti writes about the why's and how's of her process, giving tools that can help you become a better artist. In addition to so many practical tips for painting, she talks about artistic license which I think is something a lot of painters, especially those new to painting, don't let themselves use enough when painting. I know it's something I still find challenging. To put it simply, ff you read this book and pay attention to what the author says, your painting will improve. I've painted and taught intro painting classes for years, and very early on in the book, I learned tips about value and color that will change the way I paint from here on out.

I love this book! It's full of practical and useful information, illustrated with the fantastic art of Patti Mollica. After reading this book, I feel I have an arts degree! Patti is extremely generous with the readers sharing valuable information explained easily with many illustrated examples. I now feel more confident approaching my compositions and using my "artistic license" (you'll know what I mean once you've read the book); I feel honored to have Patti Mollica as my teacher through the pages of this book!

Great reference

Un livre tres utile, les differents chapitres abordent les notions essentielles. Son analyse de la couleur est pertinente. Les etapes clairement detaillees. J'en suis ravie.

Beautiful book. I'm looking forward to painting along through all the chapters.

I simply LOVE this book. It gives me so much Inspiration. For the first time I have the impression to see clear and understand the underlying theory of a good paint. Thank you so much!