Dramatic Light features 21 light effects that will thrill you to your toes, each epitomized in a start-to-finish painting demonstration. These step-by-step lessons show how to capture the subtle drama of everyday light: sparkling glass, sheer curtains, moonlit skies, shimmering water, cityscapes and landscapes.

Fill your paintings with dramatic light and vibrant contrasts using Patrick’s simple, yet complete instructions. From the soft, diffused glow of wet-on-wet watercolor to the atmospheric depth of dabbed and dry-dragged oil, the techniques he teaches will give you paintings that sparkle with life.

In addition to teaching you the painting “secrets” behind a variety of classic and unusual lighting effects, this book will help you find greater joy in the process itself. It’s akin to the difference between having fireflies in a jar, and gazing across a field transformed into a sparkling sea. Who knows? You may even be tempted to take up your brushes and try to cature the magic!

Book specifications: hardback, 128 pgs., 8 3/4 in. x 11 1/4 in.
Publisher: North Light, 2006.