A professional artist uses his own and others' work to teach painters how to master the all-important aspect of light-how the eye perceives it and how to duplicate its effects. Lavishly illustrated with hundreds of images in six of the most popular media, from oil paint to egg tempera, this essential course demonstrates how to capture the glare of sun on water, the play of shadow on the human form, the soft glow of twilight, and the translucency of flowers. There's a thorough, easy-to-follow explanation of the key concept of "tonal control," and hands-on instruction that comes complete with specialized diagrams (including color wheels, tonal scales, and color temperature charts), technical tips, and inspiring creative ideas.