The decision to learn to draw and paint invariably brings up a lot of questions for the beginner. "What medium should I try? What materials will I need? How do I make the first marks on a blank sheet of paper?" The most important question of all, of course, is: "Do I have any artistic talent?"

In this book Mike Chaplin answers all those questions and more, ranging from basic markmaking with drawing tools, watercolors, pastels, and oils to tackling complicated subjects such as perspective in an easily comprehensible way. Which media you eventually decide you want to use the most will depend on your own temperament and your preferred style of working, but all have something special to bring to a subject and your art will greatly benefit from trying them all. Meanwhile, Mike's accessible style of teaching will demonstrate to you that you can indeed draw and paint through learning the necessary techniques in a simple and structured way.

A member of the prestigious Royal Watercolour Society of Great Britain, Mike Chaplin combines a notable career in art with communicating his knowledge and enthusiasm to artists in workshops in the UK and internationally.