Book excerpt: Start drawing and painting today! If you're interested in drawing and painting with colored and watercolor pencils but don't know where to start, this is the perfect book for you! Inside is all the information you need to quickly master these two versatile and inexpensive mediums for beautiful results. In no time, you'll discover the basic pencil techniques you need to get started, as well as the secrets to re-creating a variety of textures including flower petals, weathered wood, glass, metal and more! Nine skill-building exercises and 23 step-by-step demonstrations show you how to use each medium separately or combine them for amazingly realistic artwork. A complete list of materials eliminates any guesswork, and the book's Quick Tips, Words to Know, and glossary put you on the fast track to artistic success. The possibilities are endless with this pair of increasingly popular mediums, and painting confidence is just a few pages away. Grab your pencils and let's get started!