Chroma Atelier Interactive Acrylic Paint is a professional, high quality acrylic paint available in 75 colors.  These paints have a wonderful buttery consistency and dry to a rich satin finish with little to no color shift.

As you know, acrylic paints do have their drawbacks.  They dry quickly, colors change value when dry and you can’t rework an area after it has already dried.   Well, thanks to Chroma Atelier Interactive Acrylic Paint, this has all changed.  The properties of this acrylic paint are somewhat magical.  The folks over at Chroma, have created a paint that stays workable for longer periods of time and maintains its color after drying.

These paints do dry , but they dry differently than traditional acrylics.  Normal acrylics dry quickly and form a skin. Atelier Interactive Acrylic Paint goes through what is known as a “Curing” cycle. It will go from a wet workable phase, to a tacky stage, then to a stage known as “touch dry”.  The “tacky” stage is the interactive stage where these paints really begin to shine. You will recognize this “tacky” stage when your brush begins to drag and is no longer sliding smoothly on the canvas. At this point, you can either wet your brush, or use a fine mist sprayer to wet the paint to bring it back to a workable state.

Now lets say that you leave your painting to dry over night, or even days later and you want to rework a certain area.  For this you will need to use a special medium called “Unlocking Formula”…

Learn more about this acrylic paint by watching the video below. If you would like to purchase Atelier Interactive Acrylics or the Unlocking Formula online at a discount, see below…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_OhsAAMrAk

Chroma Atelier Interactive Artists’ Acrylics Chroma Atelier Interactive Artists’ Acrylics are the world’s only acrylic paints that can be used for conventional acrylic painting techniques, but when needed, artists can easily take advantage of their unique ability to rehydrate for blending techniques. Chroma Atelier Interactive can be used for ordinary acrylic painting effects such as overpainting, scumbling, or glazing when used on its own — or for extraordinary wet-in-wet blending effects by simply using a water sprayer during a normal painting session. The next day — or days later — use Unlocking Formula to blend, reveal, or scratch back. The techniques and methods employed are readily accessible to beginners and professionals alike. Atelier Interactive can be mixed with any other professional artist acrylic, but the paint will not rehydrate as when mixed with other Interactive colors. Atelier Interactive is a world-class acrylic — archival and lightfast — with exceptional consistency, brushability, color load, and a satin finish. When purchased in 80 ml tubes, Interactive offers one-third more paint than standard 60 ml tubes — and it often costs less. Whether creating a landscape, doing portrait/figurative work, creating a still life, or exploring abstract techniques, artists who use Atelier Interactive Professional Artists’ Acrylics control the paint, instead of having the paint control them! Visit the Resources tab of this page for additional information and technique instruction sheets.

Unlocking Formula* Use Unlocking Formula as a paint layer to permit blending paint back in or wiping away sections of applied paint. It can also extend wet blending time. It’s easy to apply using the Water Sprayer.

Sennelier Extra Fine Watercolors have been around for over 100 years and are still a favorite amongst artists of today.  If you were to go back in time , you would have seen Artists like Cezanne, Gauguin, Monet and Picasso using these wonderful paints.

Sennelier Extra Fine Watercolors come in a wide variety of colors, 80 to be exact and are extremely vibrant.  These include colors that have long since been discontinued by other manufacturers.  Sennelier uses the finest pigments to make their watercolors.  Their pigments are first soaked in water for 24 hours which allows the pigment to fuse with the binder and to increase their brilliance.  They use Gum Arabic from Africa and Honey from the French Alps as a binder. Honey is used because of its natural tendency to draw moisture from the air.  This in turn keeps the paint moist for much longer on your palette.

These watercolors are available in tubes or in half pan sets.

Sennelier also makes a masking fluid to use along with your watercolors.  It is unlike any other masking fluid on the market. It will work whether it is brand new or if it has been sitting around unused for years.  It is tinted with a light green color so that it is easy to see when applied.  The tint will not stain your paper.  When your painting is completely dry, the masking fluid can be easily removed by using just your finger.

Sennelier also makes  a wonderful watercolor varnish.  This varnish brightens colors and protects the surface from dust.  It is water soluble and made with synthetic resin that can be diluted with alcohol.   This varnish is clear, non yellowing and can be applied with a light spray or with a brush.

Sennelier Extra Fine Watercolors Review

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsKReMEbAaM

Sennelier Watercolors Dick Blick is proud to present the complete palette of French watercolors from Sennelier of Paris. Sennelier was founded in 1887 in a shop across from the Louvre, just steps from the School of Beaux Arts. Gustave Sennelier mixed oil colors and watercolors for some of the most notable painters of the time including Cézanne, Picasso, Bonnard, Gauguin, Dali, Modigliani, Soutine, Degas, Monet, and Kandinsky, as well as for nearby students. Although Sennelier still grinds each pigment and its medium on a surface of granite, to obtain the proper consistency, the entire Sennelier line has been updated to reflect 21st century advances in pigment composition, resulting in the lightfastness desired by today’s painters. These rich and intense colors are extremely fine and luminous, well worth their cost. Colors are available in two tube sizes — 10 ml (0.33 oz) and 21 ml (0.71 oz). Gift Idea — For painting on the go, try Sennelier Watercolor Travel Sets

Sennelier Masking Fluid An aqua-tinted masking fluid that flows easily without being sticky, Sennelier Masking Fluid removes easily, won’t discolor paper, and cleans up with soap and water. This product contains latex.

Sennelier Soft Pastels were first created way back in 1887 by Gustave Sennelier for Edgar Degas.  In France, it is the only pastels that has the Kings Crown of approval on its label.  They are made from 100% pure pigment that is bound with gum arabic.

They do not contain any, which means these colors are more vibrant than other pastel brands on the market today.  These beautiful pastels are lightfast and their colors will remain true for centuries to come.

They come in both full stick and half stick size. The full sticks are air dried and individually hand wrapped.  The half sticks are a little shorter and thicker than the full sticks and are not wrapped.  The full stick soft pastels are available in a wide range of colors, 525 to be exact, which includes 24 iridescent colors. They are sold individually or in sets.

The half sticks are available in sets that range in size from 20 to 120 different colors.

Sennelier’s have a unique velvety texture and are wonderfully brilliant and intense.

These pastels can be used as a paint!  After applying the pastels to your paper, simply wet a brush with water and paint over the pastels.  It will create a look similar to watercolors with a slight grittiness.

Sennelier also makes their own paper  called “La Carte” that is especially made for working with these beautiful pastels. This paper is slightly abrasive yet has a smooth and uniform texture.  This unique texture enhances pigment adhesion so that less fixative is needed. So if you decide to give these pastels a try, you should consider buying the paper as well.  You can conveniently purchase these items online from Blick Art Materials.  See the product descriptions below for more information.  I purchase my supplies online through Blick Art Materials all the time.  They have amazing prices and fast shipping!  Enjoy!

Blick Presents – Sennelier Soft Pastels

A big thanks to Blick Art Materials for sharing this video.  Check out more of their videos on YouTube here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdcjlZY9CX0

Sennelier Soft Pastel Sets Sennelier Soft Pastels are available in a variety of specialized sets. In addition to light, medium, and dark toned sets, Sennelier also offers starter, landscape, portrait, and floral sets. Sets are packaged in sturdy cardboard boxes, with a snug fitting foam to protect each stick. Full-sticks measure 2½” long × ½” in diameter (64 mm × 13 mm). Half-Stick Sets — Sennelier Pastels are available in half-sticks, giving you twice as many pastels for the money, and allowing you to sample twice as many rich, wonderful colors. Each half stick pastel measures 1¼” long × ½” in diameter (32 mm × 13 mm). Wooden Box Sets — Superb packaging makes these sets ideal for gift giving as well as studio storage. Snug fitting foam protects each stick in smoothly finished hardwood cases with brass hardware. Available in a variety of colors and sizes. The deluxe box of 525 features leather handles and accents. It measures 17″ × 18½” × 3″ (732 mm × 470 mm × 76 mm). A smaller deluxe set of 250 pastels still contains a wide range of colors in deluxe packaging.

Sennelier Soft Pastels Sennelier uses only the purest pigments, mixed with minimal amounts of natural binders, in an exclusive formula that yields lightfast, water-soluble pastels. There is just enough binder to hold the pigment together as the pastels are formed by hand, placed in special molds, and allowed to air dry. No fillers or clays are used. Sennelier soft pastels are highly concentrated and so soft that a gentle stroke will deliver a solid, powerful line of brilliant color. Sticks are 2½” long × ½” in diameter (64 mm × 13 mm). Gift Idea —Delight the artist in your life with a set of Sennelier Pastels. Sennelier Pastels are available in a variety of gift boxes, from the economical half stick sets to more complete and specialized sets. See Sennelier Soft Pastel Sets for pictures and more detailed specifications of these sets.

Sennelier Half-Stick Soft Pastel Sets Recognizing the fact that purchasing a set of pastels is a major investment, Sennelier makes its pastels available in half-sticks , giving you twice as many pastels for the money, and allowing you to sample twice as many rich, wonderful colors. Sennelier Soft Pastels have been made by hand since 1900, when Edgar Degas asked Sennelier to create pastels in true-to-life dark colors. Still made today with 100% pure pigment, using no binders or fillers, the result is an exceptionally soft, lightfast, watersoluble pastel in colors that are unparalleled for their intensity and depth. Each half stick pastel measures 1¼” in length and ½” in diameter (32 mm × 13 mm).

Sennelier La Carte Pastel Card Sennelier applies finely ground, pH neutral vegetable flakes by hand to a 200 lb, pH neutral board stock, creating a paper that is slightly abrasive, yet has a perfectly smooth and uniform tooth. This greatly enhances pigment adhesion, so that less fixative is required. It offers an excellent surface for any dry media. Individual sheets measure 19″ × 25″ (48 cm × 63 cm). Use of wet media not recommended.

In the following video, Elaine Salazar, president of Ampersand Art Supply discusses a product by Ampersand known as “Aquaboard”.  Aquaboard is an acid free surface that is perfect for use with Water based media like watercolors and gouache.  It is similar to cold pressed watercolor paper but there are some differences.  The colors on the Aquaboard will appear much more vibrant than on paper because the paint will not absorb into the surface like it does on the paper. Aquaboard will not tear, warp or buckle like paper can.  It is also much easier to lay colors one on top of the other.  It is also much easier to lift color off the aquaboard surface exposing the surface underneath.  The surface of the board can also be scrubbed without risk of damage to the surface.  Lastly, the final painting can be framed without using glass…  Learn more about this amazing product by watching the video presentation below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Emt8rfs76TE

A big thanks to both BLICK ART MATERIALS and Ampersand for providing this free presentation.  If you would like to learn more about Ampersand Aquaboard and purchase it online from Blick Art Materials, see immediately below.

Ampersand Aquabord Show off your colors like never before! An archival, acid-free textured clay surface that absorbs watercolors like a fine paper, Aquabord allows colors to retain their purity and vibrancy in a way that even the finest watercolor papers can’t match. Its unique surface is perfect for watercolors and gouache, needs no stretching, and will not tear, shrink, or buckle. Endlessly glaze and lift to underlying layers of color — or completely lift back to white without damaging the surface! Aquabord is also ideal for casein, acrylics, and more. Unlike paper, Aquabord can be sealed and displayed glass-free , keeping colors and textures true to life. Aquabord is made in the USA.

Realistic Pencil Portrait Mastery Review

Pencil Portrait Mastery Example by Christopher Sia

Not too long ago, Christopher Sia contacted me to ask me if I might be interested in recommending his Home Study Course Realistic Pencil Portrait Mastery to my visitors. He indicated that this course is designed specifically to teach you how to draw faces realistically, as pictured in the image to your left. I agreed to take a look at his course to see if it would be something you might find useful and worth investing in.

I will only recommend products or services that I either personally review myself, or come recommended by other artists in this industry.  I personally own a copy of the Realistic Pencil Portrait Mastery Course and have carefully read through the entire thing cover to cover, so rest assured, you are reading an honest review here.

Speaking of honesty, I am obligated to tell you that I will receive a small commission if you purchase this course through any of the links on this page. This is Christopher’s way of thanking me for recommending his course. This is not the main reason I am writing this review however. I honestly believe this course will help you  and  I wholeheartedly recommend this course to anyone who has a sincere interest in learning how to draw portraits realistically.

I have been involved in the visual arts niche for some time now and  I have seen many products come and go.  Many of them are terrible quite honestly. Some of these products are sold by people who could care less about you or your interest in becoming a better artist. So it is very difficult to trust anyone these days. This is definitely not the case with Christopher Sia.  After speaking with him personally, I can tell you that he has a sincere interest in helping you succeed. He has created an amazing product here at an amazing price and once you see what comes with this Pencil Portrait Mastery course, you will agree.

It has been said, that if you can draw the human form, then you can draw anything. Drawing realistic pencil portraits is one of the most difficult hurdles for beginners to overcome.  It can be extremely frustrating when trying to capture the likeness of a human face realistically if you do not have the right step by step resource.  Well now you do!

What Exactly is the Realistic Pencil Portrait Mastery Course?

Christopher Sia has invested a great deal of time and effort into creating this fantastic home study course.

This course consists of  5 drawing ebooks in PDF format totaling 208 pages  of detailed content and 605 high quality illustrations and images.  Together, these amazing resources will guide you step by step through the process of pencil portrait drawing mastery.

This course is a digital download meaning you can retrieve the course immediately after your purchase and download it directly to your computer.  This way you don’t have to wait for it to be shipped!  You can use and enjoy it immediately.

Let us now break down the course and tell you exactly what you will be getting for your small investment.

Lesson #1 - How To Draw A Realistic Eye Like A Master

This first book contains 55 pages and 127 illustrations and images that will show you exactly how to draw a realistic eye just like this:

Lesson #2 – How To Draw A Realistic Nose Like A Master

This second book has a total of 49 pages and 163 illustrations that will teach you how to draw a realistic nose step by step just like this:

Lesson #3 -How To Draw A Realistic Mouth And Teeth Like A Master

This third book has a total of  24 pages and 61 illustrations to demonstrate exactly how to draw a realistic mouth and teeth step by step just like this:

Lesson #4 - How To Draw A Realistic Ear Like A Master

This fourth book has a total of 35 pages and 126 illustrations that will  show you exactly how to draw a realistic ear step by step just like this:

Lesson #5 - How To Draw Realistic Hair Like A Master

This fifth book has a total of 45 pages and 128 illustrations that will  show you exactly how to draw realistic hair step by step just like this:

Details, Details, Details

What I find most appealing about this course is the amount of detail Christopher goes into explaining everything.  I know of no other portrait drawing course this elaborate.  Christopher goes above and beyond many other courses on portrait drawing with detailed instructions,  high quality images and fantastic bonuses.

Drawing Supplies

You may be wondering what kind of drawing supplies you will need in order to start drawing along with this course. Unlike other drawing books and courses that you may have purchased in the past, that recommend you buy tons of expensive drawing supplies to get started,  Realistic Pencil Portrait Mastery is different. To get started drawing portraits in pencil like a master, you only need 2H, 2B, and 5B wood cased pencils and an eraser. Other supplies you will need you probably have laying around the house like q-tips and tissues. You can get them easily in any local or online art supply store.

Christopher Sia’s First Portrait Drawing

Its important to note that Christopher was a beginner just like you at one point.  It took him years of trial and error to become as good as he is today. I say this because you may be looking at your current work and skill level and feel that you may never be able to draw realistic portraits.  Get that out of your head right now!  With patience and hard work, anyone can draw portraits like a master.

Just take a look at the first portrait that Christopher ever created below:

After years of trial and error, Christopher can take the same portrait and do this:

Christopher did not achieve this success over night. He practiced and practiced and perfected his craft. And now you can reap the benefits by purchasing his course today.

Pencil Portrait Drawing by Christpher Sia

Free Pencil Portrait Drawing Tutorial

Follow this link for the free step by step pencil portrait drawing tutorial by Christopher Sia.  I want you to see first hand how talented Christopher is.  This way you know you are buying a quality product from someone who actually knows what they are doing.

The image to your left is taken directly from this free tutorial. Christopher was nice enough to share this lesson and I really appreciate his generosity.  Go and take a look at this free pencil portrait lesson and then come back here and read the rest of this review.  You will see first hand why this course is called “Realistic”.

I know creating a portrait of this quality may seem like it is a lifetime away. Its not..  Once you go through this course, you will begin to see how quickly you will be able to draw quality portraits yourself.

The lesson will open up in a new window for your convenience.

Bonuses

Christopher wants to make certain you have everything you need to start drawing amazing portraits so he is giving away a number of awesome bonuses with this course:

Lesson Mind Maps

Each lesson comes with what are called “Process” or “Mind” maps . These are essentially outline summaries of what was covered in each of the lessons.

100 High Resolution Reference Pictures

If you are going to practice your portrait drawing, then you are going to need reference pictures. This bonus includes 100 high quality black and white photos made up of 70 faces and 30 facial features. Very handy!

12-Weeks Pencil Portrait Mastery Exercises

This is by far my favorite bonus. This could easily sell as a  course all on its own. This is a wonderful supplement to the main course that includes additional instructions not found in the main course.  For instance, in the 8th week, christopher teaches how to draw realistic wrinkles around the eyes.  This is not covered in the main lesson on drawing realistic eyes.

Life-time Updates For Realistic Pencil Portrait Mastery

This means, whenever Christopher updates the course, you will receive an email with instructions on how to download the update free of charge.

100% Money Back Guarantee

Christopher Sia wants you to be completely satisfied with this course.  Christopher would like you to take 2 full months to use his course. If after this time you are not completely satisfied, simply send him an email and he will refund your payment completely. No questions asked. No hassles.  You won’t need to do this however.  I know you are going to be completely satisfied!

Is this Course Worth the Investment?

With so many drawing books and courses available today, how do you know Realistic Pencil Portrait Mastery is the right one for you? Is it really worth the money?

I spend a great deal of time online searching for resources both free and paid to recommend to my visitors and subscribers.  I carefully searched for resources on pencil portrait drawing and could find nothing this elaborate and comprehensive.

You could spend hours online searching for free low quality tutorials or spend 1 minute and get your hands on this course today.

In my opinion, purchasing this course therefore should be an easy decision and most definitely worth the small investment.  Ultimately however, your success is dependent upon how much time you invest into becoming a better portrait artist. So when you do download Realistic Pencil Portrait Mastery today, be sure to go through the course diligently and practice every day.

Ready to Get Started?

Ready to become a portrait drawing master?  Excellent!  All you need to do is head on over to Christopher’s Website now and purchase the course and download it immediately to your computer.  Its that simple!  I do hope you enjoy the Realistic Pencil Portrait Mastery course!