The Big Book of Tiny Painting: An Artist's Guide to Tiny Painting Outside in Ink and Watercolour

The Big Book of Tiny Painting: An Artist's Guide to Tiny Painting Outside in Ink and Watercolour

A complete outdoor painting course in ink and watercolour! Learn the art of painting big by going tiny. From building your pocket-sized art kit to conquering creative fears, acclaimed artist Leslie Stroz teaches you how to capture the essence of a place with just a few strokes of pen and brush. Packed with step-by-step guidance and expert tips - Discover the key elements of tiny art: from Line and Value to Form and Texture - Go beyond the basics and learn how to choose dynamic compositions, mix colours, and avoid common mistakes - Practical advice on planning a trip to the great outdoors and how best to enjoy Plein Air Painting - Follow the progress of five art projects from start to finish to fully understand the practice, process and principles of tiny painting - Be inspired to find joy in the small, whether you’re in your garden, a bustling cafe, or a seaswept beach For beginners and seasoned artists alike, Leslie Stroz will show you how to see the world differently and to capture it, one pocket-sized masterpiece at a time. Leslie Stroz is a professional artist, illustrator and art professor. Best known for creating the global Tiny Painting movement that has swept the internet, she shares her painting adventures online to an audience of over 1.6 million. Before moving to England in 2014, Leslie taught art at the State University of New York in Geneseo. She now lives in the English countryside, nestled on a rolling hill between the moors and the sea, where she has an endless array of heather and waves to paint, and where she teaches private lessons and workshops in drawing and painting. She spent most of her life teaching traditional drawing and painting skills, but the scenery that surrounds her has sparked a fascination with painting landscape and nature. Hello, I am Leslie Stroz, an American artist living in the United Kingdom. Painting outside is my favourite thing to do. Before moving to England in 2014, I taught art at the State University of New York in Geneseo. I am now lucky to live in the English countryside, nestled on a rolling hill between the moors and the sea, where I have an endless array of heather and waves to paint. I spent most of my life teaching traditional drawing and painting skills, but in 2016 I happened upon a plein air (outside, in the open air) painting festival in Door County, Wisconsin, USA. I was instantly captivated! I had always included plein air painting in the curriculum of my drawing and painting classes and stressed the importance of drawing from life, but HERE was a group of professional artists gathered together for the express purpose of painting the landscape. They even sold their paintings afterwards. I felt that I had finally found my tribe. For the next few years, I delved into plein air painting in oils, learning as much as I could about painting alla prima (all at once). I enjoyed the challenge of completing a painting in a few hours, chasing light and shadows before they changed. My brushstrokes became quicker and looser, and my ability to mix the colours I saw grew. I’d never enjoyed painting more! The process of being outside, immersed in the environment you are recording is meditative, creatively stimulating, and emotionally uplifting. It wasn’t always easy to cart all my painting gear along, however. The plein air easel, palette, extra paints, water, and wet panels made painting outside an event that required planning and time. Sometimes I wanted to paint on location but didn’t feel up to the physical challenges of carrying and setting up my outdoor gear. All of that changed one day when I purchased a tiny, handmade wooden watercolour palette with a tiny sketchbook from a clever artisan. From the moment I created my first tiny painting, I was hooked! A portable painting studio that I could carry in my pocket and whip out whenever I felt the urge to capture a scene was addictive. I filmed the creation of that first tiny painting, and every one since, and it soon became clear that people all over the world were equally enchanted with the idea of tiny painting. I love sharing my adventures and knowledge about drawing and painting these little gems with others online. The opportunity to record my process in a book that others can use to help achieve their own artistic goals is a dream come true. In these pages, I’ll share with you the secrets of drawing, colour mixing, and painting from life, gleaned not only from my own experiences painting outside, but also from my many years as a university professor. You’ll learn exactly how to create your own tiny paintings: which supplies to use, how to build your own, custom art toolkit, the essential skills for drawing and painting, how to avoid common mistakes, and how to plan your own painting adventures outdoors. I’ll also take you along with me on a few of my painting adventures so that you can paint with me, step by step. Soon, you’ll be able to create your own delightful tiny paintings.