Painting realistic wildlife in acrylic : 30 step-by-step demonstrations

241 Pages·2009·12.05 MB·English

by  Silvers

PAINTING
REALISTIC
WILDLIFE
in ACRYLIC
30 Step-by-Step Demonstrations
William Silvers

NORTH LIGHT BOOKS
CINCINNATI, OHIO
www.artistsnetwork.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

William Silvers (www.williamsilvers.com) is an experienced artist with twenty
years of success both commercially and as a fine artist. He has worked for
Disney feature animation as a background artist on films such as Mulan, Tarzan,
Lilo & Stitch and Brother Bear; for Industrial Light & Magic where he worked
on The Day After Tomorrow and Star Wars:Episode III as a matte painter; and
for EA Sports as Associate Art Director where he worked on titles such as the
award-winning game, NCAA Football.
METRIC CONVERSION CHART
To convert to multiply by
Inches Centimeters 2.54
Centimeters Inches 0.4
Feet Centimeters 30.5
Centimeters Feet 0.03
Yards Meters 0.9
Meters Yards 1.1
Painting Realistic Wildlife in Acrylic. Copyright © 2009 by William Silvers. Manufactured in China. All
rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical
means including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the
publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. Published by North Light Books,
an imprint of F+W Media, Inc., 4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45236. [phone]. First
Edition.

Other fine North Light Books are available from your local bookstore, art supply store or online
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Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Silvers, William, 1962—
Painting realistic wildlife in acrylic : 30 step-by-step demonstrations / William Silvers. -- 1st ed.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-60061-135-3 (pbk. : alk. paper)
eISBN: 978-1-44031-740-8
1. Wildlife painting--Technique. 2. Acrylic painting--Technique. I. Title.
ND1380.S49 2009
751.4’26--dc22 2009005934
Edited by Mona Michael
Designed by Doug Mayfield
Production coordinated by Matt Wagner
DEDICATION
I would like to take this opportunity to make a dedication to my father, who was
also a painter. Although he was a great artist, he never painted full time. He
rarely picked up the brush for years at a time. He worked in factories to support
the family of eight instead. A World War II veteran, he died in 1985 at the age of
59, long before his time. Along with his passing went the only one in my family
who truly understood who I was. Everything I have done and accomplished over
the years has also been for him and the life he sacrificed.
I would also like to take this opportunity to dedicate this book to all the people
and organizations that play a part in protecting our natural resources from
industry and greed.
Finally, I would like to make a dedication to artists and their pursuit, passion
and determination against all odds and hopelessness to achieving their goals of
creating art for the world to enjoy.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Although I painted wildlife at an early age, I drifted away from it after college to
pursue a career in illustration. It wasn’t until 1996 when my love for wildlife
was rekindled. My life-altering experience happened when I had the privilege to
meet John Seerey-Lester during his visit to Walt Disney Feature Animation to
teach a master class. I was a Senior Background Artist working on the movie
Mulan at the time. I was so taken in by John’s paintings and his graciousness, we
became great friends and I’ve been painting wildlife ever since.
There were always those moments in my life when I met people who truly
altered the course taken. My seventh grade art teacher, Terry Davis, was one of
these people. He gave me a great sense of mixing paint by allowing only three
colors in my palette: yellow, red and blue with a white base.
I’ve been fortunate enough to have true friends from my hometown of New
Bremen, Ohio, who have followed my career from the very beginning and who
have always supported me. I really cherish their friendship and thank them for
believing in me.
I would also like to take this moment to acknowledge my high school teacher,
Mr. Don McDermitt and his wife for being like second parents to me.
I wish I could have spent more time with a dear friend of mine, Tom O’Brien,
whose life recently was taken away. After graduating from Bowling Green State
University, I was fortunate to start my art career with Tom on my side as my
first boss. Tom made a huge impression on the development and direction of my
career.
I want to thank my children, Thomas and Stephanie, for being there through
hard times. I couldn’t have made the journey without the two of you being by
my side.
I want to thank Ewa, who came into our lives at a critical time, making us a
family again.
I would finally like to thank all the people who worked on my book at North
Light Books, especially Jamie Markle for pitching my idea and Mona Michael
for her many hours of hard work editing.