Customer Reviews:
A fantastic reference..........2007-08-23
A great book about creating "accidental" watercolor effects. Even if I only manage to utilize a small percentage of what Nita Engle teaches here, it will be a big help to me in my attempts to paint.
How to Make Watercolor Paint Itself.......2007-08-22
I like this book. I mislaid my first copy and had to reorder!
Nita most graciously has shared a lot of information.
Beginners may find the techniques difficult.
I personally seldom use Paynes gray pigment for the reason of the darkness it creates in my paintings. Note: I do mix my own darks.
I found Nita's textures and experiments most rewarding.
I highly recommend her book. BJ Cook Spokane Valley, WA
how to make a Watercolor paint itself.......2007-08-15
This book is in itself a great overall benefit to amatuers like myself who are basically self taught,I have found it very useful in the mixing and flowing of various colours,but experiment is the key word.Thank you Nita.
Great but, what a headache.......2007-03-20
I'm kinda novice in watercolor,and like a lot of people I'm impressed by
Mrs. Nita Engle's work. But this book discouraged me to even try.
I'll come back to it eventually in a few more year.
This is not the book for serious artists. .......2007-01-12
I was disappointed in this book. The art and techniques illustrated are of the type one might expect to see on a TV Craft Show. I would instead recomment Robert Wade's watercolor book.
Book Description
Everyone has photographs of their favorite pets, and with Drawing Realistic Pets from Photographs, artists can now use them to create vibrant and lifelike paintings of their beloved furry and feathered friends. With best-selling author Lee Hammond's simple-to-understand instructions, readers will learn all the basics. This book:
-Offers illustrated, step-by-step directions for drawing popular pets, including cats, dogs, bunnies, birds, gerbils, and more
-Breaks down every feature of each pet, focusing in on eyes, mouths, ears, fur, and paws
-Provides composition ideas for backgrounds that bring the drawing to life
In addition, readers receive a special You Can Do It section, giving them the encouragement they need to start immediately.
Customer Reviews:
Amazing.......2007-08-28
I like to draw but always have trouble getting my sketches exactly looking life like. After doing the lessons in this book there's no stopping me. It is so easy to understand and the final results are amazing. Well done Lee Hammond I also bought the painting copy with excellent results as well.
Great book for beginners.......2007-02-21
I haven't drawn for about 10 years. I took a few art classes in high school but didn't practice much. This book helped me so much. I had never used grids before and they really helped me get the right proportions for my drawings. My first drawing was a huge improvement over my previous attempts. I wish there was a little more detail on taking your drawing to the final step with lifting out color. But overall I think this is a excellent book for beginners. i wish I had it when I was younger. I'm inspired to start drawing again.
Quick start, great results Good mix of word instruction to practical practice.......2007-01-12
I bought this for my daughter and my self secretly figuring if she didn't like it I would. My daughter is 10 and her dad is a very talented artist. She shows signs of his gift, so I wanted to spark her interest in drawing and her confidence. She had a bad experience with her first Art teacher in school this year who really made Art NOT FUN and caused her to doubt her inate abilites.
I looked at lots of different books and setteled on Lee Hamond Series to try. The other books in series that were similar to this had a heavier, boring feel too them. Lee's approach and drawings were more up beat and lively looking and feeling. There is a good amount of text, verbal instruction and discussion available to read if that is how you learn. There is also a lot of practice things and then a good amount of getting right to the good stuff drawing animals.
The other day my daughter picked this up without me knowing, so I don't really know how much she actually read about the drawing, but I do Know she went right to the good stuff choosing to by pass all the "drawing exercises" and started drawing a dog with Lee's methods. I found the incomplete drawing in the garbage by accident and was impressed. It was really good. better than some of the things I had seen her draw before. It was not complete by any means but it was starting to look really life like. Now the book worked for my daughter that way at this point in time. maybe someday she will want to go back and read some of the explinations or try some of the practice exercises and really WORK at improving her fundementals of Drawing. But for now she is enjoying useing the book like this. Great. it is fun and producing results that are motivating and interesting her in drawing more.
I could not be happier. I am excited as to where she may be able to go with these books and her talent. I feel without reservation I bought the right book and will buy more in this series for her in the future.
Looking forward to being snowed in........2006-11-10
The instructions in this book are so clearly and sequentially written that I am eager to begin. All I need is a snowy day to close out the demands of the world. At this point, I'm collecting photographs of my daughter's dog. She will be my first subject.
Customer Reviews:
A good beginning.......2005-09-15
I'm not crazy about the artist's work, but his approach to his craft is very sound and his explanations on technique are very straightforward, well-illustrated and well-articulated. A very good book for the beginning artist.
A good book for beginners........2001-06-22
With over 133+ pages, the author covered quite a few topics in eight chapters: building a foundation for learning art, drawing in charcoal, basics of oil painting, painting the human form, still life, to name a few.
The book is good for beginners who either just started an art program at an atelier or simply learn by themselves. Demonstrations are included in almost every chapter to present how to render still life and plaster cast (in charcoal), landscape, head, still life, floral (in oil).
The authors presented his points in an easy-to-read style. To fully benefit the book, self-taught starters are expected to practice on some projects, using advices provided from the book. Although demonstrations are provided for each topic, beginners at different levels of skills may appreciate more or less details presented in the author's discussions.
The book, however, may be too basics for intermediate painters; that is, who have done some charcoal drawing and have had some experience using oil. In my opinion, beginners who have achieved likeness in rendering their drawings/paintings may have no difficulties enjoying the books. Those have not may find it difficult to achieve what presented in the book without consulting other drawing books.
Product Description
Covers military figures and horses from medieval times to Desert Storm. This revised edition includes more tips for resin models and oil paints, new techniques for painting in enamels and oils, plus new chapters on camouflage and black-and-white uniforms.
Customer Reviews:
great resource for the military figure modeler.......2006-02-01
The current edition is a major revision of the original book, and includes detailed information on painting with oils as well as acrylic paints. Most techniques are well illustrated with good quality closeup photographs, which really helps to walk you through the steps.
How to Paint Realistic Military Figures.......2005-07-07
This book was exactly what I was looking for. I'm fairly fussy when it comes to my hobbies, and will only invest in something that I know is good.
It has lots of step-by-step photos and techniques explained in detail.
The authors are very experienced and do excellent jobs of conveying their many years of experience.
I highly recommend this book if you're interested in painting figures. Novice to experienced painters will not be disappointed, it's definitely a keeper that will be used many times as reference in the future.
A Very Good Primer for Painting with Acrylics!.......2005-04-19
Actually, I haven't seen the new edition of this book; only the original. The techniques of using acrylics for figure painting are explained very clearly and the photos are very good. Each stage of achieving the final result is shown. BEST OF ALL: The authors of this book do good work, so you know THEY know what they're talking about! Beware of another book on painting figures with acrylics...this was the first I've seen and is still light years ahead of the 'other'.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent for the paralysed beginner.......2005-04-24
I have been circling around watercolour painting for some time now and had gone so far as to buy some paints, brushes and paper, but was at a complete loss as to how to actually start.
I bought this book sight unseen on the basis of reviews, and I think it is the best possible book I could have bought. (I have several other 'beginners' watercolour books which have left me more, rather than less, inhibited about starting.)
This book concentrates on teaching specific watercolour techniques in a step-by-step manner, with very precise and detailed instructions on how to load your brush, how to use it, how to mix each colour, and how to do specific techniques such as laying a wash (best description I've read, by a country mile, and it worked - a perfect wash second time), softening edges, lifting out colour, adjusting your work if it isn't right first time, and so on. She takes the guesswork out by providing a series of interesting drawings to copy and step by step instructions on how to paint each, and by specifying exact paints and (cheap but good) brushes, which I bought. The exercises are graded - before I started each one I was sure I would make a total mess, but each time the results were very good (would have been excellent if I'd had the patience to do a quick trial of each technique on a scrap piece of paper before going for it).
This is not a fast-and-free approach, but an interesting and fun book which teaches you the basic techniques you will need even if the fast approach suits your personality better. I wholeheartedly recommend it.
Disappointing.......2003-06-19
Not for the beginner. Choices of projects weak.
..........2002-02-11
--------------
As a young chap, I visited my local Art Gallery here in Bolton (UK) and although I had virtually no interest in art, I found myself mesmerised by the watercolour paintings of Thomas and Paul Sandby (c1700's). Twenty five years later and I still haven't taken a brush to paper - well, not until recently.
Browsing through a bookshop a short while ago, I thumbed through scores of watercolour books and made mental note of how simple the paintings seemed to be. Can't be that difficult can it?
And then....I picked up Dawn's book and was simply amazed by the fine paintings contained therein. Wow! The "Strawberries & Lace" knocked me sideways! I figured that even if I couldn't follow the lessons, my money wouldn't be wasted, because I'd cut out these fine pictures and frame them! :-)
Seriously though, I'd agree with one of the other reviewers and say that this book is perhaps not the ideal beginner's choice. Having said that, this book does serve to inspire you and that's worth more than any amount of "basics".
Don't hesitate....buy it now!
...
Takes a Mid-Level Beginner to High-Intermediate Stage.......2001-11-23
This was one of the first watercolor books I ever bought when I first wanted to learn how to paint. First of all I'd like to list some of it's stronger points.
1. The projects are beautiful with the subjects being mostly still-life (although there is one animal project of baby ducklings
2. The author lists exactly the colors and brands she used in each project, the specific mixes of each colors and step-by-step directions for you to follow at each stage. Each project has stage-by-stage photos so you can see what your painting-in-progress should look like at the end of each stage.
3. The "Critique Your Work" tip section. She lists some questions to ask yourself as you examine the finished painting to see what you did well and what can be improved.
4. The "how moist is moist?" examination of loading a brush with color. This is one technique most other watercolor books either don't mention at all or if they do they don't explain it. The author gives photos and a detailed description of exactly what she means by a phrase such as "loaded brush", "moistened brush" etc.
5. The section on values and painting a controlled wash. There is a page devoted to common problems that beginners can run into when trying to paint washes - complete with examples of some of these problems (streaky wash, backruns, etc.) and how to correct them or avoid them.
It helps to buy the paints she recommends because it will eliminate one variarable that might make it harder to lead to a satisfying result. It is possible to use other brands (I did) but I recommend at least try to use the same pigment, if possible, as she lists in the book. For some people who are on a limited budget or don't want to invest in a lot of paint to be used only for this book's projects they might consider this a drawback. Also, this book doesn't cover painting portraits, wildlife, landscapes, seascapes, etc. It will be of most interest to fans of still-life subjects. Overall, I'm glad I own it as it is a big help to further development of techniques with watercolor.
Beautiful book but not for a beginner.......2001-11-15
The first time I picked up this book, I am very much inspired by the projects. Very clearly written step by step, even with the drawing provided and color chart clearly explained. They are as easy as coloring book, or so I thought.
There are few things that are big turn-offs. First of all, the equipment. The paint has to be of specific color (and/or maker) and for each project it requires more than 5 different color of paints. Other equipments are also specific such as brush sizes. They can be very costly, especially for a beginner like me who doesn't want to spend a lot of money for something that I will most probably failed on first try.
Second, the techniques, such as mixing colors to achieve a shade or a value, controlled wash, although very clearly written, does not give any indication that it is very hard to achieve in real situation, especially for beginner. It takes me a long while to mix a paint and achieve the described value and by the time I finish mixing all of them, I have no appetite to paint anymore. I also practiced to do controlled wash as described many many times and still I cannot achieve the same quality as desired in the book, not even near. A smear here, a balooning effect there, if you can't master it, the finished project are not too forgiving either. In short, it is very easy for a beginner like me to be frustrated and discouraged, especially after that much money spend for buying the equipments.
Maybe it's me. Maybe I will pick up this book again in the future. But for now, I'd like to see a book that teaches me how to paint intuitively, allowing me plenty of room for error, and use less equipments.
Average customer rating:
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Realistic Painting (Artist's Library series #26)
Daniel K. Tennant
Manufacturer: Walter Foster Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Instructional & How-To
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Painting
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1560101466 |
Book Description
Almost everyone has a deep appreciation of artwork that is so finely rendered and true to life that it looks photographic. Using gouaches (opaque watercolor) and the tips and techniques demonstrated in this book, you too will be able to create paintings of incredible realism.
o Learn about the tools an materials you'll need and how to use them
o Practice the techniques of spattering, masking, stippling, crosshatching, drybrushing, and applying thin washes and gradations
o Find everything you'll need to know about airbrushes, including practical exercises to build skill sand using stencils for precision
o Follow the step-by-step demonstrations to master the specific techniques for painting dramatic cast shadows, reflections in silver, plush fabric and folds, grainy wood, the transparency of glass, and more
Book Description
Beginning and intermediate artists in all mediums will value Realism in Watermedia's combination of fantastic, realistic art and specific teaching in mixed media. Packaging a popular style with unique, easy-to-follow instruction, author Christopher Leeper:
* Demonstrates how to execute in watercolor, acrylic and gouache, and how to add accents and texture with pastel and colored pencil--sometimes all in the same painting
* Uses a broad range of subjects, such as landscapes, suburbscapes, flowers, animals and people, to appeal to many types of artists
* Offers problem/solution examples and before/after comparisons to simplify painting challenges
Ten mini-demos and 3 full step-by-step demos throughout the book will gradually build readers' skills.
Average customer rating:
- soft focus
- Tantilize your eyes with this beautiful book.
|
Art from the Parks
Manufacturer: North Light Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Landscape Painting
| Instructional & How-To
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Similar Items:
-
Stunning Crystal & Glass: The Watercolorist's Guide to Capturing the Splendor of Light
-
Landscape Painting Inside and Out: Capture the Vitality of Outdoor Painting in Your Studio With Oils
ASIN: 1581800770 |
Customer Reviews:
soft focus.......2001-05-27
The original focus of this book was said to be art selected from the annual Arts for the Parks contest in Jackson, Wyoming, but that idea got lost somewhere since some paintings are not from national parks and paintings from parks have no notation to tell you which park is depicted. I have been following the Arts for the Parks for a couple of years and I find some of the omissions pretty glaring. Why do we get six paintings by Jim McVicker and not one by Ronnie Barnes? Three David Tutwilers and no Shirley Cleary. Three Dempwolfs and no Lanford Munroe. There are many beautiful paintings in the book and the artists comments are interesting and informative. The picture cropping at times is brutish and the desciption of one painting is obviously of another.A good book in spite of the editing.31/2 stars for the art and 1/2 a star for the publisher.
Tantilize your eyes with this beautiful book........2001-01-11
What a beautiful collection of art work form the years of the Art of the Parks contests. No matter what style the paintings are, the compositions are outstanding. Nice picture reproduction with a short relevant text with each entry.
Product Description
Get great paint jobs and add lifelike details to your models! Perfect for the beginning plastic modeler who wants to learn more advanced techniques, this photo-driven guide includes an introduction to airbrushing and sections on brush painting, dry-brushing, applying washes, and pastel chalk weathering. From FineScale Modeler magazine.
Customer Reviews:
Some Great Stuff!.......2006-09-27
My modeling interest these days is pretty much limited to model railroads but is sure wish I had had this book in my younger days when everything was fair game. It is a great resource.
It is not a continuous book. Instead, it is a collection of short articles. It starts out with some very basic articles on the tools of the trade and on various methods of painting. The tools article was very basic but I found it very helpful. Now I know what some of those gizmos I see in the hobby shops are for as opposed to what I thought they were for. The articles on painting with spray cans and airbrushes also were very basic but those are the reason I bought the book. I am considering getting an airbrush. Where the book really shines, however, is in the later articles detailing specific methods. Some of these apply to military figurines, some to cars and some to airplanes. Some are applicable across lines. I will probably use few of these but I was fascinated by what can be done.
I was especially fascinated by the article on using aluminum foil to give aircraft a real metallic finish. It makes me want to build a plane just to try it!
This is a great resource for those who want to make their models, of whatever type, look great.
Customer Reviews:
Acrylic Landscape Painting.......2004-03-07
A very informative and easy to follow book. Each step is pictured in full colour. Contains clear instructions about mixing and blending and different mediums used in painting. Well worth the price.
Books:
- Image Transfer on Clay: Screen, Relief, Decal & Monoprint Techniques (A Lark Ceramics Book)
- Introducing Character Animation with Blender
- Introduction to the Finite Element Method
- J.W. Waterhouse
- Journey of an Art Quilter: Creative Strategies and Techniques
- Language of the Body
- Louis Comfort Tiffany and Laurelton Hall: An Artist's Country Estate (Metropolitan Museum of Art Publications)
- Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga and Graphic Novels
- Nineteen Minutes: A Novel
- Oil Pastel: Materials and Techniques for Today's Artist
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