With brush in one hand and mist bottle in the other, Charles puts into action the concepts and techniques that he teaches in the companion book of the same title.

In his first demonstration—a landscape with a church-he uses acrylics in a transparent mode just like watercolor. Paint along to create foliage, sky, rocks and other elements.

In the second painting demonstration of a sweeping country field, Charles uses the same techniques on canvas, but extends it further by using both transparent and opaque acrylic treatments. He demonstrates how acrylic allows you to make last-minute changes and afterthoughts. Watch as he adds in focal trees, using a basecoat of white gesso to enhance the texture of the bark.

Along the way, Charles shares expert advice on color mixing, controlling edge quality, using masking fluid, splattering, and how to add sparkle with touches of opaque white. You'll learn so much just by watching him prepare his paints (see how he keeps them paints moist and workable) and work his palette as he paints.

Charles' approach utilizes acrylics' permanence...its versatile combination of transparent, translucent and opaque applications in the same painting...and the freedom it gives to make corrections easily.