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.
Customer Reviews:
How to Draw and Paint Fairies: From Finding Inspiration to Capturing Diaphanous Detail, a Step-by-Step Guide to Fairy Art.......2007-09-27
I haven't had time to actually sit down and try painting, but the book was beautiful and I enjoyed looking through it. It was fun to let my imagination dream a little.
you can teach an old dog..........2007-03-18
...a new trick or two. i got more out of this book than just fairies...tips for the cobweb filled artist! trying to find the time and get back into my passion for art, i believe this book has done it! peace, angie
How To Draw Faeries.......2007-03-13
I think this book is fabulous. It helped tremendously. I like that the book explains the different mediums to use.
One Of The BEST Books On The Market For Learning Fairy Art!!!.......2007-03-01
The detail in this book is absolutely AMAZING!
This book is NOT for the complete beginner.
I would classify this book as being for the more advanced artist.
Explanations are clearly given in great detail.
I actually purchased this book for myself then GOT a SECOND copy from a friend of my mine who KNOWS just how intricately I draw fairies.
She didn't think I had the book yet so she sent it to me!
Definitely one of the all time BEST books ever made on designing fairies.
You will NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!
How to Draw and Paint Fairies.......2007-02-20
The book was beautifully illustrated and the several mediums explained in detail. The choices in designing a Fairie from the choices given of the faces and clothes were well detailed. I am enjoying trying new ideas and mediums.
Customer Reviews:
Worth every penny.......2007-08-16
Anyone serious about improving the color in their paintings should own this book. The reproductions are clear and lucious. The work is done in palette knife so the color notes are clean. It takes you step by step through several still life settings and excercises and shows how the objects were first divided into shadow and light patterns and then breaks down to the finer nuances of color. It teaches the student how to look closer and see the subtle temperature shifts of color. There are also several reproductions of completed paintings in the back that utilize the approach. Fortunately I bought it while it was still in print and cheap, but, I'd pay $60 for it if I didn't own it already.
Waste no more time with flaky, new age egopainting. This is it........2007-07-18
Arthur Stern, student of the legacy of that almost-lost thread that has passed through Classical art, the Renaissance masters, the Baroque masters, into Chase, Hawthorne, Henri (and his students- Bellows, Hopper, Kent, etc.), the Bay Area artists (etc.), offers up the eye-clearing humility, without BS, that is necessary to see in order to paint what Cezanne called the "ensemble".
Akin to tuning a guitar, the method reveals that the harmony of the few notes ("spots" of value/hue/chroma) must be chorded before you learn how to glue an American flag and a photocopy of the Twin Towers to your 21st Century bombast. THE FUNDAMENTAL basis for painting. A pathway, not to be viewed as a fixed style or dogmatic cul-de-sac, but a route of initiation to Beauty.
Hawthorne/Hensche purists irk me with their holier-than-thou, plein air fascism (and some of their students with how-to books should be, with Thomas Kincaid, whipped), but I DO agree that THIS IS THE DOOR TO THE WAY. Beautiful, simple truth. Reprint Stern's book before the world ends.
Reprint Please.......2001-11-07
How sad that this book is out of print. It is a wonderful book that deals with the process of isolating colors. First it starts you with a simple project and then progresses within each study exercise that you do. My gray view finder from class has now seen better days, however, I will always carry one with me and used it even to capture items for my journaling.
Kat Eldred.......2000-02-28
This book uncovers the mystery of painting. For anyone who wants to grasp the basic concepts of color in a very visual manner. A CLASSIC! If I had found this book sooner, I would not have paid so much for art instruction.
Amazon.com
Thomas S. Buechner is an accomplished artist who has painted some 2,500 pictures in his long career, some of which are in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian's National Museum of American Art. For How I Paint: Secrets of a Sunday Painter, he selected 50 works that he uses to illustrate what, why, and how he paints. The book explores not only how paintings can be better appreciated and enjoyed (Buechner is also the former director of the Brooklyn Museum and the Corning Museum of Glass), it also reveals the working insights that go into making a painting vital. Buechner outlines traditional methods of composition that many art schools no longer teach today. Though capable of composing majestic, calm landscapes and still lives of such exactitude and feeling that even a lowly red onion seems poised to address the viewer, Buechner excels in portraiture. He tends to place his sitters in dark, empty space, explaining, "We are, each of us, quite alone, and that's what I try to paint." This is a book about technique, practice, and the timeless fundamentals of the creative process from the perspective of a mature artist whose works reflect the luminescent lessons of the old masters. --Mary Ribesky
Book Description
What is the process by which a painting comes into being? What goes on in the artist's mind? What different techniques are used in creating a still life, landscape, or portrait? In this look at the complex, often mysterious painting process, painter/museum director Thomas S. Buechner combines clear how-to instruction with striking insights to help us look at pictures in a wholly new way.
An expert on painting techniques, Buechner offers valuable tips for both amateur and professional painters on traditional methods that many schools do not teach today. An impassioned painter himself, whose work hangs in The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American Art, Buechner includes illustrations of many of his most inspired paintings and drawings-some shown in step-by-step series with enlarged details-illuminating for us the intimate relationship between the artist and his materials.
129 illustrations, 98 in full color, 8 1/2 x 10 3/4"
THOMAS S. BUECHNER, former director of the Brooklyn Museum of Art and the Corning Museum of Glass, is the author of several books, most notably Abrams' definitive biography Norman Rockwell: Artist and Illustrator. In addition to his long experience in interpreting works of art for museumgoers, Buechner brings to this book the perspective gained from decades of teaching painting.
Customer Reviews:
It's not what all these reviews suggest it's cracked up to be.......2006-06-24
The editorial review is right in stating this is more of an inspirational book than anything. There are a few sections of the book where Buechner gets into enough detail that it can be put to use by the reader, but they are in the minority.
Look at the table of contents, then realize that nearly all the discussion in the book carries minimal technical depth. It is NOT an instruction book or tip book - it's a few interesting paintings accompanied by the meanderings of a talented painter.
If you like Buechner or his work and want the book for that reason, it's a great book with a handful of insights as a plus. If you want the book because you're an aspiring artist and it's been recommended to you - everything here is covered elsewhere again and again, but in far more depth.
phenomenal paintings-.......2004-06-27
This is a terrific book, and I own many many instructional art books. It is worth buying for the illustrations of his pictures alone. There is much to be learned from this book, I recommend it highly.
Most inspiring art book I own.......2002-07-02
This is the best art book I've bought. I love it. Inspiring and informative, it goes through many techniques such as glazing and scumbling in a helpful and achievable way. For the serious art student, I can't recommend it enough. The author presents his material in a clear and easy to understand manner and his writing is encouraging and helpful.
I always put off portrait painting because it seemed so difficult but this book changed my whole perspective. I would recommend it to any struggling or hesitant portrait painter. It's gotten me a lot more serious about my art.
I also have to say that I found the writing style clear and easy the follow. The author doesn't pontificate or put himself on a pedestle and for such a good artist to want to share his learning after a life time of painting, is one of the things that makes this book so good.
Some books you read and give away and others you keep and continue going back too. This is a keeper. I'd give it 10 stars if I could.
Unique and Enlightening.......2001-08-10
Thomas Buechner has written a fine book. The Sunday Painter in the subtitle might make you think this artist is an amateur who paints only occasionally. Actually, he is very professional and now a full time painter after retiring from his career as director of several museums. He conveys to his readers the secrets of layered painting in oils as opposed to alla prima, all-in-one-session painting. He really opened my eyes to the beauty of glazes and scumbling, letting previous layers show through to mix their effects in the eye of the viewer. His insights into atmospheric perspective are unique in all the books I have read and are themselves worth several times the price of this book. This book has expanded my understanding and helped me paint much more vibrant paintings than before. Thank you Thomas Buechner.
It's More Inspiration and Soul Than Techniques.......2001-06-24
I had been referred to this book by a female artist friend of mine a week before I wrote this review when she left to attend a workshop by the author in New York. I got my hand on this book a few days later and finished it (not in one sitting) in about two days.
This is more of an inspiration than techniques book. A very enjoyable book, indeed!
Although the author does cover the WHAT's and HOW's (along with the WHY he paints) in his book, his techniques are presented in a way that, perhaps, is more appreciated by professional artists than starters. Specifically, the author briefly presents his techniques in just one page/painting in average. Several technique demos are presented, and they are very good. If one needs to be spoonfed on every technique in oil painting, this is NOT the book to look for them. A lot of techniques he mentioned in the book can be found elsewhere. The author does provide a (long) reference citation for further reading.
What is so good about this book, instead, is the inspiration and humbleness that I feel when reading his book. Born in 1926, only began painting full time in 1987 (at 61 years of age) even though having done most "art-related" jobs since 1945, and still painting, his book is simply a natural outcome of this lifelong artist.
Customer Reviews:
This book is not for beginners...........2006-09-14
This book is more of a high intermediate to advanced level book in which Loomis shows you a somewhat elaborate construction process to building the figure primarily from life. He really misses the gesture + building form portions which are the most important, with the exception of passively mentioning in a couple sentences that its important you 'feel' it.
All the Loomis books I feel are purely mechanical in nature with the exception of Fun With a Pencil. If you really need to refine your mechanics AFTER you've acquired the natural element to drawing this text is very valuable. Examples of beginner texts include the Vilppu Drawing Manual, Nicolaides' Natural Way to Draw, and Edwards' Drawing on The Right Side of the Brain. In order to do drawing you need core elements like a scaling element, feeling/ building form element, etc. which all the above mentioned texts are best in giving.
Considered one of the best-ever on figure drawing.......2006-09-11
...and it's an intermediate-level classic! As I understand it, this book went out of print sometime during the 1980's- which was before my time in art school and before the Internet came into popular use. A number of my art instructors had recommended this book, yet at that time I couldn't get my hands on a copy. Now that the Internet is up and running (thanks!), word has spread pretty quickly, and you'd think it wouldn't be hard to keep this thing in print. Many professionals *today* cite this book as being an inspiration in their work. It's 9" x 12" and 204 pages- which is very different looking than his slim & tall Walter Foster collections. Its content is similar to Willy Pogany's The Art of Drawing, and Jack Hamm's excellent Drawing the Head and Figure- very much a classic, mid-20th century style. In any case, this is an *intermediate-level effort* on drawing figures from memory & life, geared towards people aspiring to a career in professional illustration. Included within is his famous *ball/sphere-based* method of head construction, but it's in an abbreviated form here- His Heads collection for Walter Foster really does a *much* better, in-depth job of covering this particular area. Still, Loomis here shows how all figures can be constructed using simplified forms & shapes- He constantly emphasizes how these figures can be placed in perspective, and then rendered to a professional degree. He's very three dimensional in his approach, yet his drawings are mainly realistic looking. This is in great contrast to Burne Hogarth's excellent style, which is also very three dimensional- yet the drawings in Dynamic Figure Drawing are highly stylized in exaggerated 3-D, for exceedingly precise understanding of foreshortening. Loomis' work is *far* more natural & direct; it's especially great for life drawing and commercial illustration- definitely worth considering! P.S. In these pages (p.65)- Loomis himself recommends the excellent books by George Bridgman- certainly a great idea!
An unsung classic .......2004-11-20
Everybody that does or aspires to draw the human figure from imagination, not particularly from live study, should run, not walk, to get this book. A long time secret classic for people working with cartoons, concept art, character design and so forth. If you think you are covered because you got Burne Hogarth's books on the human figure, think again. Not to dis Hogarth, but this one is the real thing.
All you need is Loomis!.......2004-04-14
This book left me speechless. There's not enough stars in the ratings for me to express to you just how great this book is. And the strange thing is, no matter in which branch of art you work, you'll feel as though Andrew Loomis wrote this book just for you.
If you're serious about your art, be you illustrator, comic book artist, animator, fashion designer, or even a games designer, you need to have this book in your library. The text and illustration work together to take you on an odyssey of discovery, a thousand and one techniques that will make your life easier, and your art so much better.
The original was printed in 1943 and has come to be recognised as the bible of figure artists. Although it's out of print now, you can still find a number of great condition reprints. Get one! Keep it by the drawing board and you'll never again be stuck on how to draw a figure, work with horizon lines, and place figures in space so that they relate perfectly to each other and their surroundings.
Ignore the price and get one ASAP. Don't eat for a couple of weeks if needs be, but acquire a copy of this book as soon as you find one.
I'm off to read mine now. You guys don't know what you're missing!
Simply The Best.......2004-02-23
I wish there were 10 stars.
Having stood the test of time, it was first published in the 30's, this book teaches you all that is there to figure drawing.
Andrew Loomis is one of those rare, gifted artists who can articulate as clearly and truthfully using words as he could with lines.
Using very simple tools to define the structure of the human body, essentially the skeleton as the foundation, he teaches how fantastically easy it is to draw the human body from any angle, in any action, and of any type.
This is not one of those 'feel good' books that teaches you to do 'yet another thing'. This is a grand text. absolutely dedicated work, you can see the earnestness in Loomis' anxious words about getting across the details to the reader.
Kimon's 'Natural Way to Draw' is a classic in a different way, where he asks us to discover almost everything. Loomis gives us the crutches. I think a combination of these two approaches can be terrific. thats what I am finding out.
It has been very fullfilling , since I can pick up the artifacts of drawing the figure, and infact drawing anything for that matter, Loomis will lead you to explore and expand, the techniques are amazingly simple, yet absolutely powerful.
He reiterates to see the structure beneath anything, the skeleton, and how it aids us in construction.
Note: the book is out of print, but several online versions are scattered across the Net.
Book Description
If your car needs new paint, or even just a touch-up, the cost involved in getting a professional job can be more than you bargained for. Fortunately, there are less expensive alternatives, you can even paint your own car at home! In How to Paint Your Car On A Budget, author Pat Ganahl unveils dozens of secrets that will help anyone paint their own car. From simple scuff-and-squirt jobs to full-on, door-jambs-and-everything paint jobs, Ganahl covers everything you need to know to get a great looking coat of paint on your car and save lots of money in the process. This book covers painting equipment, the ins and outs of prep, masking, painting and sanding products and techniques, and real-world advice on how to budget wisely when painting your own car. It is the most practical automotive painting book ever written!
Customer Reviews:
How to paint your car on a budget.......2007-09-28
Excellent book for a beginning at home painter. I'm in the process of restoring a car at home and this is the best DIY book I have read on autobody and paint.
Great book.......2007-09-04
Great book. Very informative and easy to read and understand. Will help alot with the painting of my husbands project car. He was scared about painting his car but after reading this book, he says it will look real good.
Good book has the basics.......2007-08-28
This is a good book that has the basics on "How to paint your car". I would recommend it beginning and intermediate home car painter.
Buy this book.......2007-08-27
If you don't have ANY experience with automotive paint (I have none) and you want to start learning, this is a great book to begin with. If you want to learn something about it, just read this book.
good enough.......2007-05-13
this is a good enough ook to let an average person to a decent paint jo and start learning about paint and ody
Customer Reviews:
I like it, but.......2006-06-04
I like this book. It's not the greatest, but it's not bad. If you're starting out painting and need some basic guidance for general skin colors it's probably ok. Where it's lacking is in most anything beyond the basic color of skin. There's no discussion of skin color in shadow, in the halftones where the skin turns away from the light, or where the skin blends into the hairline. Little about the affect of light, surroundings, or location (cheek, chin, forehead, etc.) on skin color either. Those things make or break portraits and some (me) just can't seem to mix the right colors to go with the basic skin tone of the model. I wish that had been addressed in this book... that would make it worth 5 stars (and maybe what people are asking for it these days).
Always By My Side.......2005-10-09
This book is always on my workbench. As stated by another reviwer, the "Suggested Tonal Charts" section has been invaluable, and has inspired me to experiment with colors not on the list. By step-by-step examples, and by showing works of various artists, you really get a sense of color technique. I also recommend this book to model figure painters; after studying this book, the skin tones on my figures have started to look more natural instead of having that "exaggerated theatrical make-up" look!
Brilliant.......2004-03-11
This book is brilliant. Although it won't teach you how to paint, it will give you the greatest insight into how to mix colours for a near perfect image. Whether you are an amature or a professional, a book like this and at such a small cost is worth having on your shelf as an anytime reference.
Indispensable guide to a difficult subject.......2003-12-20
I admit it: I bought this book for myself for a Christmas present, and it was well worth the price paid. Here is information I have never gotten in art school. Though it is probably entirely possible to learn to paint the face and figure by being presented with a model in a crowded and badly lit room, there has to be a better way, and I think this book is it. Through a clever system of charts using a palette of only 12 basic colors, author James Horton shows you how to create an infinite array of skin tones for people of pale, mid-tone and dark coloring. Specific modifications for pastellists are included, and though I'm just a beginner, I was amazed what I could do following his directions when I was only about a fourth of the way through the book. I recommend this very highly for all students, whether you're enrolled in an art course somewhere or just slugging it out on your own at home. I intend to finish every exercise in the book before I go back to art school at the end of January. Highly recommended!!!
especially good for beginners.......2001-07-30
This book, with its charts of sample mixes and color tones in various media, is a great asset if you are just begining to paint portraits or people. It will give you a good basic understanding of color mixing for skin tones. ( no need to buy premixed colors! Be able to paint the nuance of people, not reduce everyone to the same "skin tones.") In addition, it discussed the effects of shadow and reflected color. Nice illustrations, photos and color charts.
Amazon.com
This volume clearly and thoroughly explains the methods of adorning objects with stylized flowers, fruit, scrolls, and other organic designs. After a full explanation of the preliminaries (color mixing, brush control, basic strokes, surface preparation), Jackie Shaw walks you step by step through all manner of decorative painting motifs, from the simplest comma-stroke leaf to the most elaborate floral sprays. Each motif is covered in three skill levels, which can be mixed and matched; a beginner, for example, can utilize the easy techniques on advanced-level patterns. Projects are many and varied and include wood, tinware, and glass objects. The Big Book of Decorative Painting is a marvelous introduction to the techniques, and accomplished painters will also find much information that is of use.
Customer Reviews:
All Levels.......2006-02-09
As an artist learning something new I was looking for a basic book explaining all terms and projects showing the author to be truly talented. This is all you need for a complete first course.
There is some disagreement among the various author/artists about the term " float". Other than that they all seem to agree about basic techniques. Beautiful demos and photos.
Greatest thing: The author takes you through several projects which you can do on any paper or wood for practice, and then divides these into three levels so that you can achieve the degree of finesse you desire. So practical! Take it from there!
A Must Have for any Painter or Wannabe Painter!.......2003-04-19
I have a ceramics business and got tired of plain ol painting and wanted to expand when I found this book. It has taught me so much and my sales are way up! The techniques are explained in precise detail and are easy to follow. It even has practice strokes which I found to be very helpful. There is not a more informative book about painting out there from taking care of your brushes to a beautiful array of advanced technique. This is just a plain wonderful book and I could not say enough good about it!
I've seen plenty and this is the best.......2003-04-16
Jackie Shaw does an excellent job of showcasing all that is possible in decorative painting. Her examples of stroke work apply across the board for any kind of painting. But, what makes this book work is the way she breaks down each stroke into its individual parts to show how to form them properly. Along the way she imparts words of encouragment and motivation to get you going!
She also gives excellent lessons to practice by and keep you stimulated. It is part of the book's progressive learning curve so that as you advance with one part, there is more to learn in the next section as you move from beginner, to intermediate, to advanced.
I rarely write review of books, but as I pulled out this book once again today to reference, I felt compelled to give Ms. Shaw her props! Thanks Jackie!
The Best!.......2002-09-20
This book has it all -- clear introductory information (materials, workspace, etc.), wonderful stroke instructions, projects, patterns, finishes, and much more. Another nice thing is that the projects are "rated" as quick and easy (beginner) to intermediate to advanced for each technique.
There are lots of color illustrations accompanied by clear, well-written text. The author is very encouraging and upbeat in her writing. This book is such an asset that I am ordering a copy to donate to our local library. It's definitely a must-have!
One of the best books on decorative painting, great for beg.......2002-04-29
This is one of the best books I have seen on how to paint for the inexperienced but eager artist. It features an endless variety of terrific projects to suit anyone's taste. The wonderfully explicit, easy to follow and well illustrated directions make creating the projects a breeze with designs for all levels.
The book starts with a list of both basic and "wish list" supplies. It then helps you choose the right brushes and gives some great tips on caring for them. Then there is advice on choosing paint, keeping it fresh and how to tell when it is dry. There is a large section on mixing color and color schemes as well.
The essentials of brush loading, basic brushstrokes and blending are next. The author guides you through each step with detailed illustrations including the best section on creating basic brushstrokes I have ever seen. I found the learning from your mistakes section invaluable in helping me refine my technique. Practical advice and great tips here abound here. Surface preparation is also discussed here giving details on preparing wood, tinware, paper and glass.
A wide variety of projects follow including brushstroke designs, leaves, ribbons, water drops, fruit, vegetables, flowers, lettering, faux finishes and Trompe l'oeil. There are even techniques for working with patterns and information on giving your projects great finishing touches. The instructions are excellent; they are both written and illustrated step-by-step. There is also a large full-color picture of each finished project. In many cases there are also several versions of a project, such as beginner, intermediate and advanced versions of making an apple. I also love that the projects show swatches of each color used and that brand names are not listed for the colors. This makes choosing matching color easier and it saves money because you don't have to buy a certain brand of paint to do the project. Some of my favorite projects include a daisy tray, forget-me-not candle holder, pear saltbox and mushroom sign.
There are helpful template patterns for all the projects as well as a list of suppliers. Whether you're starting out or have experience with decorative painting this is the book for you.
Book Description
You're tired of staring at bare hardwood floors, but the Oriental rug you covet is prohibitively expensive. The solution? A floorcloth that you can make yourself for a fraction of the cost of an area rug or carpet. Floorcloths - hand-painted durable canvas rugs - have become popular again because of a renewed interest in Early American decorating techniques. And since the most appropriate place for a floorcloth is on the hardwood floors used in so much of today's interior decoration, they complement today's lifestyle. The design possibilities, from country to contemporary, are endless.
Filled with essential techniques and sensational color variations, FLOORCLOTH MAGIC: HOW TO PAINT CANVAS RUGS FOR DECORATIVE HOME USE is the most comprehensive, easy-to-follow guide to creating beautiful paint-based rugs for your home. It provides basic how-to instruction on every material, tool, and technique, plus recipes for paint finishes, including sponging, stamping, marbling, stenciling, ragging, and more. An introduction to color palettes and pattern development makes this a useful guide for a beginner as well as a valued resource for any craftsperson.
Customer Reviews:
Great book for any level.......2007-03-13
This is the second of 2 books I ordered because I wanted to paint and design a floor cloth.
Easy instructions and some beautiful designs for anyone who does not want to design their own.
INSPIRING.......2007-02-21
The artist does a good job covering all the needed supplies and methods to create such beautiful floor cloths. There is a lot covered in these pages, although I could have skipped the color theory part given its really trial and error and personal design ultimately. There are lots of beautiful floor cloths to admire by this artist and others. Wish there were some substantial patterns to apply in addition to the very basic stripes included. This book helps motivate one to begin and do it right, and the rest is really up to one's imagination which the author gives a good springboard to leap from.
Floorcloth Magic.......2002-08-12
Clearly and concisely written, no confusion or contradictions like some other books on the same subject. Excellent section on contributing artists showing a wide diversity of styles.
Customer Reviews:
Shepard's Old Masters came from the 1970s .......2007-03-17
Joseph Sheppard's How to Paint Like the Old Masters is a good visual reference book especially for procedural figure painting techniques used by historical painters. The book explains how to start from a tinted or warm background, and the correct layering of highlights and colors, etc. Unfortunately, the author's illustrative examples are mostly of 1970-esque nudes that give little inspiration for painters to aspire toward.
Excellent but might not be the whole story.......2006-12-06
The first thing that struck me as I browsed the book is the woeful quality of many of the images, with some being out of focus. This problem is also apparent in the other two books by Watson Guptill that I think compliment this one well. Kreutz "Problem Solving for Beginners" and Cateura "Oil Painting Secrets from a Master". If you are looking to paint in a realistic style in the vein of Caravaggio, Rembrandt etc. then you will find plenty of information in these three books.
However all three deal with technique and for me the ability to discern the brushstrokes is a critical part of the learning exercise i.e. is the artist using impasto or thinned paint? With these images it's impossible to tell. Hopefully WG will revisit each of these books and bring the images up to scratch.
Joseph Sheppard provides "how to's" allowing the reader to emulate the techniques of: Durer, Titian, Veronese, Caravaggio, Rubens, Hals, Rembrandt and Vermeer. Information on how to create specific paint mediums used by that particular artist, mixing paints, painting surfaces etc. He makes no claims that any of the information offered is absolute. As well as conducting his own studies on how to achieve a certain painterly effect he has also drawn on technical information published by the various "art experts" (listed in the bibliography).
Results of recent studies of old master paintings indicating that the current thinking on techniques might be wrong. The old masters would typically have a team of apprentices working alongside them, mixing paint, painting parts of the painting that the master was probably too bored to bother with (as well as good training for the apprentice) etc. The Master/Apprentice setup allowed for a continuous stream of knowledge being passed along the generations. However as oil paint technology advanced, in particular the ability to buy premixed paints off the shelf, the painter no longer needed a team of apprentices. He could pretty much get by on his own. Hence there was no longer anyone for the painter to pass on his knowledge to. This resulted in a considerable amount of technical knowledge being lost. (A good example is the recent theory promulgated by David Hockney that the old masters were able to paint such realistic paintings as they used rudimentary projection techniques to place a guide image on the canvas, overwhich they painted. No one knows if he is right or wrong).
From the 1800's on, technical experts such as Charles Eastlake ("Methods and Materials of Painting") and Max Doerner ("The Materials of the Artist") began to impart their wisdom on how the old master paintings were created. But the techniques thay had available were very rudimentary, more often than not being a case of the expert trying to reproduce a certain style and looking at the painting surface close up. The experts proferred their theories and techniques, often with much aplomb leaving no room for doubt. Unfortunately they were often quite off the mark - they could emulate a style somewhat but never 100%. There are too many variables involved even for a discerning eye. It has only been with recent advances in scientific analysis, chemical and visual, that a truer understanding of the old master technique is finally being determined. Van Wettering's excellent "Rembrandt - the painter at work" book details the findings of extensive research carried out on a number of paintings considered to have been painted by Rembrandt. The book is 340 pages, and they still haven't got all the answers. But what they have done is to throw in to doubt the theories and techniques of the 19th/20th C experts.
There is a welter of information in this book, but if you are trying to perfectly replicate a certain old master painterly technique, and failing to do so, then be warned the experts might not be such experts afterall.
All said and done, I do recommend this book for the wealth of information it contains. Numerous recipes for mediums, varnishes, mixing paints, painting surface etc., along with a well presented demonstration of each painters technique. This book might not quite get you to a 100% replication of the desired technique but it will certainly get you close. And as science uncovers more knowledge about the "real" techniques they can be applied here accordingly.
It is not a book for beginners - a rudimentary understanding of the oil painting process is reqd at minimum. Beginners might want to check out Brian Gorst's "The Complete Oil Painters" also.
You can do much better.......2006-11-16
That aluminum woman on the front cover is ludicrous. What makes the author think any old master ever began that way?
You will do better if you look for a book by a painter whose own work does not appear amateurish.
Realistic painting for the beginners.......2006-11-06
I beg to defer from the other reviews. Having bought the book on the basis of the reviews, I am quite disappointed. This is book IS for beginners who are interested in the first steps of realistic painting. It takes you through various Old Masters' techniques (or rather what the author THINKS is the Old Master's technique) without much explanation. The author's comments, as he takes you through a handful of development snaps of his painting, are scanty and non-helpful. Don't dream that you could paint like anything vaguely like the Masters; and in fact, the authors own painting is a poor, if any, semblance of a Master's work unless you are looking through the eyes of a beginner.
The most interesting part of the book is the four stages on the cover, which is probably enough information without having to buy the book.
same old stuff.......2006-11-02
All the projects looked the same. it didn't go into a detailed description of the the techniques the different artists used.
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General
| Instructional & How-To
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Watercolor Painting Outside the Lines: A Positive Approach to Negative Painting
Painting Water (Watercolour Tips and Techniques)
Paint Watercolors That Dance With Light
Creating Textures in Watercolor: A Guide to Painting 83 Textures from Grass to Glass to Tree Bark to Fur
Making Color Sing
