This is a practical guide to achieving one of the key painting and drawing skills. Each chapter begins by describing the general principles involved in each subject area, and then includes detailed coverage of how to achieve the required effects. Readers learn how to exploit a particular medium to best advantage, as well as how and when to use a mixture of media or a special technique to make the textures in your work more realistic. Throughout the book uses step-by-step demonstrations and inspirational paintings to reveal how to draw and paint many different textures such as the bloom on a peach, the richness of a satin garment, animal's fur and the roughness of bark. Several special features highlight the work of the great masters.