'Casting Shadows' by Colleen Wise is a fantastic book for dimensional techniques...drop shadows, puddled shadows, lots of great stuff. Karen Combs is a master at op art works and using shades and values of color to show depth. Check out the free eBooks from Quilting Arts Magazine (on their website) for other techniques that are on the art side rather than the traditional side. The QA magazine is also a rich resource you might like. They often have free issue offers.
Louisa Smith's original 'Strips and Curves' book might better walk you through her techniques. The second book, the one you have, builds on the first.
If you paint, your sense of light and shadow is probably second nature. All you need is the translation into fabric. Look for articles on fusing and raw edge appliqué. Many of the artists that blog have tutes on some of their techniques, too.
Hope that starts you off on this very exciting path! :D
edit: Art quilt instructors are hard to find, but there are several groups online that help each other explore new ideas and methods. PM me if you like.