This book is VERY informative with topics that I haven't seen in print prior to this. As a seasoned artist, I found it a wonderful reference book and one that has given me an even wider vision. Good job, Patti!!!!

This book is an excellent source for ideas on using acrylic mediums in a wide variety of ways. Great step-by-step tutorials with good photos give you all the inspiration you need to push your use of paint further. One thing to note it that the demonstrations exclusively use Golden products (Brady represents them), although this is not really a limitation because (in my opinion) Golden has by far the most complete and best-documented line of acrylic of any manufacturer. I have been painting and experimenting with Golden mediums for at least 10 years, and I found many, many new ideas to play with here. Highly recommended.

"Rethinking Acrylic" is a very good book for its price. Patti Brady, the author, defines acrylic in great detail and shows step-by-step how to use acrylic paints in a many different ways.

Please note, this book is not for the beginner painter, as it goes beyond painting by showing how to create forms with acrylics with many different methods that Patti shows throughout the book.

If you wish to complete a painting in a day, then this book is not for you because the methods of this painting are time consuming.

This book is for the more experience painter who has lots of time, space, and money to buy the supplies needed to create this type of art work.

In addition, the process of creating a painting, as Patti has done, takes lots of time, patience, and like stated before, space.

If you like challenges, then this book is for you.

If you bored with just applying several layers to your canvas and want lots more, then this book is for you.

I suggest this book because like stated before, Patti goes beyond painting and creating works of arts that will last many lifetimes.

Personally, I have created layered works like Patti; however, I have yet gone where Patti has gone. For her works are advance pieces, and it takes a person, similar to a jeweler, to create the masterpieces that she has created in her book, "Rethinking Acrylics".

Sincerely, Pamela Carvajal Drapala

Patti Brady's "Rethinking Acrylics" has proved to be even better than my (previously reviewed) favourite, Nancy Reyner's "Acrylic Revolution, and that's saying a lot. As an artist, I have changed from pastel work to painting abstracts in acrylics, and I could not have developed the unique textural and reflective effects I wanted without the help of Patti Brady's book.

One comment claims that most artists use only acrylic pigments and water. Maybe hobby artists do, but to create finishes that professionally replicate the beautiful effects of traditional mediums like oils and encaustics, it is necessary to go further than pigment and water alone. For example, there are artists like myself who do not have the correct ventilation for using encaustics. Patty Brady demonstrates an exciting "faux encaustic" using acrylic pigments and mediums that solves the problem and looks very like the real thing.

Another challenge is in creating vibrancy and light. It is not possible to use ten to twenty glazes to achieve light refraction and depth without using the unique effects of acrylic mediums. And if you want to "float" objects in successive transparent layers, the use of an acrylic medium is essential. Brady covers all these techniques and more.

Regardless of whether you like Patti Brady's style of art or not, she has the use of acrylic mediums down to a fine art. If you want to learn to exploit acrylics to the full, this is definitely the book. And it does show work in progress from other artists who demonstrate creative uses of acrylic pigments and mediums in very different styles.

While the book does focus exclusively on Golden Artists Colours, it is possible to adapt the techniques to other quality brands. The emphasis is on quality. It is impossible to achieve the same effects (as Brady does) by using cheap substitutes. I have also found Golden Paints much more user friendly than other brands in regard to toxicity. Despite initial price, they are economical because they have a high chroma and so go a long way. No, it does not cost $50 dollars to complete a painting with Golden Paints" as one commenter claims. My most recent work was 39 inches x 45 inches and the Golden Products I used would have cost me less than $15 (and some were specialty products.)

There are no "cheap gimmicks" in this book as one critic has claimed. It is the ability to achieve the visual statement you want that determines choice of paint medium. "Rethinking Acrylics" has helped me achieve results well beyond what I had initially hoped.

I am somewhat new to acrylic and this book gives many, many options for use of the Golden acrylic products: colors, mediums, grounds. The author's artwork is abstract. Not for the realist. The title says it all: Radical Solutions for Exploiting ... Versatile Medium. A wonderful tool for breaking out of traditional acrylic painting.

This is, hands down, THE best book on painting with acrylic that I have ever read. It is especially rewarding for those interested in abstract work, experimenting with collage and acrylic, or developing textured surfaces. I have struggled with many of my own techniques over the years and simply didn't always know the best polymers, gels, or viscosity of paint to use in order to get the effects I wanted -- this book could save artists a great deal of trial-and-error time. It's very accessible too: short 1-2-3 steps with useful photos and listing of exact supplies needed for each demo. Perfect!

I love this book! I have worked in acrylics for a while, but have never tried some of the techniques suggested. The pictures are great, the directions clear, and the encouragement factor is high. I'm always looking for inspiration when I get in a rut, and this is a great book for that.

This is a Good book!! It could use more step by step. Alot of info in a small space. Glade i have for my Library.

This book has answered so many questions and offered so much indepth information. I have many other books I have ordered on this subject that are available here on Amazon and no other has satisfied my questions regarding the use of all these gels, pastes, new and old paints etc. and how to use them in exciting and creative new ways.

It really, really has a lot of INFORMATION and is beautifully illustrated. By the way, the "look inside" page offerings are a total bore compared to what this book is really about.

WELL WORTH THE MONEY!

I'm sorry, but the best part of this book was the front cover. I enjoyed the other artists' paintings, but couldn't connect with the author's.

All I have to say is, "Thank God for reviews." When this book first came out, I viewed the available pages here on Amazon. As most of the artwork shown in the book is not the type of artwork I particularly want to do, I found myself not interested in purchasing the book. Then I saw the book in a store, and flipped through it with the same reaction. Something made me come back and read the reviews again on Amazon, and I'm glad I did.

The information in this book is unbeatable for information about acrylics/mediums and how to use and experiment with them. I agree with so many other reviews: it is a perfect companion piece to "Acrylic Revolution" because it does discuss the mediums but shows uses in other ways; the work has been done for you -- Ms. Brady is a pioneer, explorer, scientist and artist -- this woman has done a LOT of experimentation to come up with some of the methods and uses described in this book. She really knows these mediums and what they will do themselves and in use with other mediums. I could not put this book down once I started to read it and am blown away by the technical and practical information contained therein, described in easy-to-understand terms. It is a wealth of information.

I took this book yesterday to show some painting colleagues of mine; not their kind of artwork either, but I bet a few are going to go out and get this book after taking a few minutes to explore its contents. I told them you MUST get this book if you are going to work or experiment in acrylics -- you just gotta have it. Great find! My thanks to all the folks who read and reviewed this book before I.

This book is wonderful because it prevents the artist from having to re-invent the wheel. Not only are the techniques a barrel of fun and work beautifully, but because there are often many steps to a project, you are saved from having to discover them through frustrating experimentation. For example, one step in the crackle glaze project is to protect it with matte medium. I would not have thought of that on my own even though I've worked with regular mosaic and grout before.

The book is well worth the tips and hints that Patti Brady and the other artists give you. She explains each medium very well and straightened out a lot of my confusion over the many different types. It's good to know which ones dry clear and which don't as well as how they look when they dry. I am off to paint on my new acrylic fiber paste paper.

Thanks, Patti!!

Well written and researched. Lots of ideas that would have taken years to discover... if then.
Highly recommended.

Lots of new techniques are being developed in painting with acrylics and this book is a worthwhile guide to how to experiment with broadening your knowledge of the medium.

This is an excellent resource for acrylic and mixed media/collage painters who want to try something new. The number of techniques is mind boggling and I know I'll be referring to this over and over.

I wanted a book that would show me some unusual ways to use my favorite kind of paints - acrylics! This book is the best blend of information about the various acrylic paints and mediums and "how-tos" that are geared for both the beginner as well as the more advanced acrylic user.

I ordered a few books at the same time - all about the same sort of thing. I kept most - this was one that was immediately in the "must keep" category

This book has so many great ideas. Of course I am going to spend some money on all the fancy Acrylic mediums, but I am excited to try the many projects that are shown in this book. This is one of the few Acrylic painting books I will keep, and not resell after reading. A great resource for some new fun projects.

I just spent most of the day devouring this book. It is excellent! I must be just at the right place to expand in this way because I could probably stay up all night trying these techniques. As a rep for Golden, Patti finally explains how to use all those "white bottles", and the uses are mind-blowing. She shows everything in a way that is a take-off point for your own imagination. The sky really is the limit.

I already own "Acrylic Revolution", but this is a perfect companion piece. Some of the same techniques, but presented in a different way, and some techniques not covered in the other book.
Nice big pictures to illustrate techniques.

This book shows that acrylic is an entirely different medium than oils, can be used to do many techniques that would be impossible with other mediums, and along with "Acrylic Revolution", brings acrylics into their own.

This book deals only with the Golden line of acrylic paints and mediums and gives an overview of artists working in this medium. If you have not a demo program of the Golden products I am not sure how beneficial this book would be. Nearly all of the artists I would classify as abstract expressionists with one exception. This one example would probably be abstract impressionistic.

Acrylics have come a long way since the late 30's! This book, while probably not for complete beginners, will inspire and challenge acrylic painters to explore way beyond using them as a substitute for oils or watercolors! It is very process oriented, and a treasure trove of multimedia and abstract ideas. It also includes the use of the new Golden Open Acrylics. She includes works and working methods of several accomplished Acrylic artists. This book just might blast you right out of any creative rut you're in.

Finally a book that is at least more comprehensive than other modern acrylic painting books...Great photographs and explanations.
I only wish there were more step by step techniques and maybe a more in depth look at the other artists featured in the book. For instance, Ulysses Jackson's work is featured and barely explained....Its a tease!!
Having met and talked to some of Golden's artists gives me a one up on their processes, but im sure others would like more info....That being said, i realize this is a first book and only so much can go into it.
But big thumbs up to Patti Brady for bringing some really underexploited techniques to the public!

FYI, it seems all techniques use exclusively Golden products...not a problem for me, its my favorite paint! Just be aware that some of these gels will set you back some money, can be a tad hard to find(i believe the garnet gel is discontinued)and they are used unsparingly.
I can tell you that judging from what patti uses in several projects that the cost of supply alone can run upwards of 50 dollars for one painting.
I highly reccomend this book as a new standard in acrylic painting, just be prepared to spend some money!!

When I got wind of this book, I thought, I had to have it. I met Patti a few years ago at a local workshop and was impressed with her personality and creativity. I have been using Golden paints for over 10 years and love the flexibility, uniqueness, and character of the product.

The book is beautifully printed and assembled in a ring bound hard cover that is slightly oversized as to not get paint on the pages while using it in the studio. The unique design allows the cover to be opened and lie flat while reading or using it for reference while in the studio.

What a value for so much content crammed into 160 pages. My head was swimming with ideas after reading this book. A "must have" for anyone looking to expand their creative horizons.

Actually sat down Sunday and read the book from cover to cover.(I never do that) Excellent and thorough. This is a great manual for the experienced acrylic painters who want to know more than what's normally out there. It already has me thinking about how to incorporate the techniques into my work.