50 ways to break the rules in oils

Author: Haidee-Jo Summers
Format: Paperback
Publication date: 16 June 2026
160 pages

Stop following the rules and start writing your own. Packed with 50 rule-breaking practical techniques, tricks and approaches to unlock your creativity, this is the ultimate guide to creating truly innovative art.

'Don't use black.' 'You mustn't lead the eye out of the painting.' 'Never put your subject slap-bang in the middle!' Maybe you've heard one, two or all of these 'golden rules' But why? As Picasso put it, you should: 'learn the rules like a pro so that you can break them like an artist.'

Paint outside the box: 50 fun, rule-breaking exercises, each with an inspiring finished painting, practical techniques and handy tips. Lose the fear of getting it wrong: Learn to reconnect with your creativity, develop an eye for innovation, and never feel afraid of a blank canvas again. Perfect for artists of all abilities: Discover inspiration for your next project dip in and out if you find a rule you want to challenge, or work through them in order. Reinvigorate your painting practice: the practical exercises are worked in oils, but the principles apply across different artistic mediums.

This book, from best-selling and award-winning author Haidee-Jo Summers, is the perfect gift for artists of all abilities. It contains 50 fresh, lively ideas for challenging conventional artistic wisdom showing that you can create something really, really right, even when you do everything wrong!