Artists will learn how to take a "flat" painting and create a sense of depth using 5 different techniques to animate the composition and increase the overall depth and realism. The 5 key concepts featured are: contrast, color saturation, perspective, detail and unifying washes. Readers will learn to manipulate the sense of "pushing forward" and "pulling back" using unifying washes. Readers will also find step-by-step demonstrations using techniques for all concepts, short exercises to practice these techniques, close-up details, before-and-after comparisons and samples of finished work extremely useful in conveying the importance of these key concepts. --From the publisher.

Includes index.

aIntroduction -- Painting materials -- Collecting references that work -- The importance of drawing -- Basic painting techniques -- Layering: th ekey technique for depth -- Focal point: leading the way -- Value contrast - color saturation -- Perspective -- Detail -- Unifying washes -- Successfully combining the five techniques.