This book is excellent if you want to learn everything about painitng. It does not really cover drawing technique, be forewarned. This is his best book, do not buy "art class" or the "artist's color manual" if you chose to buy this book. Basically, he's complied both books into one.
This book really does cover all materials:
-paper and it's practical uses in concerns to specific mediums
-brushes and their practical uses in concerns to mediums
-Mediums: oil, gouche, egg tempra, watercolor, acrylic, chroma, pastels, charcol, conte crayon, ink (both traditional and modern), etc...
-Mixing media [not to be confused w/color mediums]: linseed oil, turpentine, acrylic mediums (matte, gel, etc.), watercolor mediums, etc...
It does have the same sections in "Art Class" like "where do I start?" etc. It takes you through starting from still life up to portraiture and beyond in this book. It has an additional area of subject matter which is about imagined subject matter.
Overall, it's an excellent reference book, contains good advice on how to go about starting a new medium, and allows for creativity in using mediums by explaining how they work, advantages & disadvantages, starter pallet colors, and permanance.
I would have given it 5 stars if it hadn't claimed to be a drawing technique book...you need a foundation in drawing before attempting this book.