Customer Reviews:
Painting Nature in Watercolor.......2007-08-23
This book provided step by step progessions and explanations that were easy to follow. Great for beginner or intermediate painter.
Watercolor painting.......2007-06-28
Great book for learing to paint. Good examples and explanations for techniques. I recommend it.
Watercolor Painting for the Beginning Artist.......2005-04-25
By profession I am a scientist, but I have always had an interest in the visual arts. Only in the last few years have I had much time to devote to such endeavors and even then it has been rather catch as catch can. My main interest in art is in the capture of natural images (I took scientific illustration in college), but I appreciate the fact that art and stark realism may express somewhat different truths about the subject. As a rank amateur in watercolor art I also appreciate deeply such roadmap-like guide books as Ferdinand Petrie's "The Big Book of Painting Nature in Watercolor." At first the title turned me off, but in perusing a copy (and later acquiring it) I found it to be an excellent guide to capturing the essence of a natural scene in one of the most difficult of all media- watercolor (only pen and ink may be more demanding from my experience!)
The coupling of Petrie's step by step paintings and the exquisite photographs of John Shaw has produced a book that is both visually beautiful and informative. Using the techniques described and with one's own reference photos in hand (or under an open sky direct from nature) a novice painter can slowly gain the knowledge and skill necessary to succeed in producing credible paintings.
A while back a scientist colleague of mine asked me why make a painting or drawing when you can photograph any subject with clarity. As a person who takes my own reference photos and enjoys doing so I can say he has a point, but reality does not necessarily come only from an exact replication of a scene. In the process of painting from nature (or from a reference photograph) you often notice more complex details, even in apparently simple subjects, then you would ordinarily notice in a photograph by itself. Petrie has emphasized the observation of these complex details and their interpretation in watercolor. If nothing else the instructions that point the artist toward this close observation of complexity in nature are worth the price of the book.
Good variety and information for various angles.......2005-01-23
This book is one to read through to learn -- not just do the practice paintings. Being a newbie to watercolor, this book has really helped me to view nature through a different set of eyes. He helps you see the "what do I want this picture to focus on" instead of microdetailing every possible detail in view. I am now finding myself looking at nature figuring out the details and what would I want to paint as the focus. I think this book goes very well with Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Watercolor by Marian Appellof -- good pair with minimal redundancy.
Numerous step-by-step watercolor techniques.......2004-03-04
As a beginning artist, I tend to accumulate technique books. "The Big Book of Painting Nature in Watercolor" has been one of my most useful watercolor books. It is, in fact, the book that my watercolor instructor uses for reference material for her students.
The book covers a wide variety of techniques, each in the context of a short, complete, step-by-step project which results in a good-looking painting (I occasionally frame one). Techniques covered include seeing colors, mixing, washes, underpaintings, tilting paper, dry brush, use of wet vs. damp vs. dry paper, various uses and methods for lifting, reflections, lighting, contrast, and many, many more techniques, settings, and approaches to challenging scenes. I learn something different from each project.
One implicitly learns the art of simplification and watercolor expression by comparing each projects' nature scene photograph with its respective final painting. That mindset, plus the book's setting-specific techniques, carries over to painting similar scenes outside of the book. It is important to supplement the cookbook nature of the book by applying the same techniques to one's own photo references, and to painting live in nature.
Average customer rating:
- Gorgeous Work in a Gorgeous Book
- A Happy Purchase
- What the text says, or what you see?
- Beautiful watercolors!
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Unknown Terrain: The Landscapes of Andrew Wyeth (A Whitney Museum of American Art Book)
Beth Venn ,
Adam D. Weinberg ,
Andrew Wyeth , and
Michael G. Kammen
Manufacturer: Whitney Museum of Art
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0810968274 |
Amazon.com
Unknown Terrain: The Landscapes of Andrew Wyeth makes an irresistible case for ignoring both Wyeth's sentimental champions and his cynical detractors. It's easy to understand either pole of opinion about this very American painter, but harder to get to the essence of what makes him excite such vehemence. In the end, it may simply be that he is very, very good, and like all good painters, a little too complicated for most critics.
For one thing, while Wyeth does have a special sensitivity for suggestive narrative elements, he is also an abstract painter, with a powerful sense of gesture, stroke, and pattern. Some of his watercolors are as thrusting and liquid as Jackson Pollock's drips, and almost as nonobjective. Other compositions can be as fixed as Christina's World, the huge 1948 painting for which he is perhaps best known, but within the strictly ordered confines of tempera, a painstaking medium, he still handles the brush with bravura. The authors of Unknown Terrain make an attempt to elucidate Wyeth's relationship to this century, and they succeed admirably--with the help of nearly 200 reproductions.
Customer Reviews:
Gorgeous Work in a Gorgeous Book.......2006-10-21
If this were a hardbound edition (it may exist?) it would sell for an expensive price. The color plates, index and footnotes are exquisitely designed and printed in this softbound catalog edition. Anecdotes are plentiful, critical examination controversial, but this catalog of Wyeth's work is beautifully presented and great fun to examine. The words of critics are always oddly out of place and hard to swallow and fortunately there aren't many critic's editorials contained here. It's the dozens and dozens of paintings that are in this book-exquisite! As many of A.W.'s pieces were of a comparatively large dimension-as far as water-based works go, the plates do not capture the spatial and color phenomena of these paintings, but this is as good as it gets-next to a visit to a museum to view them "live!" One would be hard-pressed to find this many unpublished, heretofore unexhibited Wyeth pieces under one roof! A very enjoyable publication!
A Happy Purchase.......2001-11-18
The staff of the Whitney Museum for a 1998 Wyeth exhibition compiled this beautifully printed and bound book. The stock is heavy and glossy and the colors sharp and clear. Many watercolors included have not been publicly seen for years, as many private collectors contributed their paintings for this exhibition. The dates of the compositions range from the early 30's through the late 90's.
The two most recognized American artists of the 20th Century are Andys-Wyeth and Warhol, and they have more in common than their initials. Both are controversial and neither is as "realistic" as accused and/or categorized.
My enjoyment of Andrew Wyeth was never diminished by the fact that I had a lot of company. Popularity does not necessarily mean inferiority in spite of what the self-consuming art world tells us. True, you have to have a certain fondness for bleak settings to properly take pleasure in most of the paintings. I often idly wondered if Wyeth ever painted landscapes in spring or summer and why he was so enamored of bare earth and beige and brown compositions. I have never seen as many abstracts as are contained in this book.
The essays in the book are interesting, but not so prevalent as to overshadow the marvelous prints. My only complaint is the book is an unhandy shape, longer than it is tall, making it difficult to shelve. However, this is minor. Many hours of viewing pleasure are in store.
What the text says, or what you see?.......2000-08-04
When you view the work of an artist, who is to be the arbiter of what, in this case the painting is about, what it means? Do you turn to the Professional Art Critic, Art History Majors, you the viewer, or the man or woman who created the work? In this case the Artist is well and painting, and his thoughts about his work are many and well documented.
This book on the paintings of Andrew Wyeth focuses primarily on the media of watercolor and drybrush as opposed to the egg tempera paintings that are the medium for so many of his most famous works. Mr. Wyeth takes up to 6 months for a tempera work, and completes as few as 2-4 a year. The images in this book are produced by the hundreds, and over his career amount to literally thousands of images. This book discusses and publishes many images that have never been publicly shown, and uses this body of work to advance various ideas.
The book is a valuable addition to those who are admirers of his work, the opinions that are expressed by people other than the artist, are either critical to the book on one extreme, or mostly ridiculous from where I sit.
Andrew Wyeth has been a target for the self-proclaimed tastemakers of Art for one reason; his art is widely admired, collected, and highly valued. These elements automatically qualify him for criticism that is so absurd; it adds a comedic aspect to the text. Then there are those who do love his work but feel they must demonstrate that, yes, he is what the critics say he is not, and even more!
The text did help me understand more about the method by which Mr. Wyeth creates these works, and the role they sometimes play in a major tempera piece. I loved his work before this book, and will continue to regardless of what "they" have to say. The only individual whose comments matter are Mr. Wyeth's. His thoughts are documented; I don't see the need for others to presume they know better than he what he paints, and what his intent was when he created the work.
The book is great for the new images it brings to the public. Everything about the construction of the book is as good as you will find in a commercial publication, and the color plates are excellent. As to the text, that is left for you to decide, I am placing the stars above for the Artist and his work, not for what others have to say about it.
Beautiful watercolors!.......2000-07-25
A collection containing a number of stunning watercolors loosely executed, rarely included in a book of Wyeth's works. Also includes many of his more labored tempera paintings.
Book Description
This giant treasury of watercolor florals brings together a popular medium with a popular subject matter. With North Light's Big Book of Painting Watercolor Flowers, readers can:
* Paint all their favorite flowers in watercolor--everything from wild daffodils and gladiola to hollyhock and mums
* Brush up on the basics, including composition, wet-into-wet washes, mixing color and stretching watercolor paper
* Create finished pieces in no time with easy step-by-step demonstrations
Page after page of gorgeous artwork and clear instruction make this the perfect choice for artists of all levels. Painting flowers has never been easier!
Customer Reviews:
North Light's Big Book of Painting watercolor flowers.......2005-08-23
Very nice book,looked like a new book
nice book.......2005-04-15
Very instructive. Many different styles of painting demonstrated in a way easy to follow. Very well worth the money.
Customer Reviews:
Quite a good book.......2007-01-04
This is a quite good book to paint different types of landscapes, even I find it is difficult for a person without experience drawing landscapes. I usually draw other kind of things and I'm not bad at all, but with this book it isn't very easier, even it has a lot of drawings and projects, I think it should have more step by step explanations in some of them.
Alright for beginners.......2006-10-05
This book was adequate for a beginner learning to paint with pastels.
Realistic Artists Beware.......2004-10-26
This book was obviously meant for Impressionists. Being a realistic artist, I realized this mistake too late. The pictures and demonstrations had little to no detail, and colors seemed to be often used incorrectly. It was not quite abstract, but it definentaly did not look real. On the other hand, I must admit this is a great book for Impressionists. There are a ton of demonstrations and examples, and it really is, like the title says, a "big book." It covered materials and other basics relatively well. Overall, I am not saying that this is a bad book, this review is simply a warning to realistic artists.
Pretty But I Didn't "Get" The Organization.......2000-08-09
If you are willing to just float along, Zen-like, with the way the material is presented, you'll be just fine. However, there appear to be no thematic groupings or progression of information in this book. There's working with white, then using a limited value range, then emphasising texture, then monochrome, then a focal point.
It would have been better if it started with how to handle to materials, then how to compose the work, then how to edit the image (simplifying the composition), then form, then color.
If you already know what you are doing, it's a nice book to flip through. If you feel discouraged because you think "it can't be done" when you are looking at some complex pattern in nature or a photo, just look at the illustrations. The artist can handle some pretty dicey things like complex foliage.
The desert scenes, I'd like to say, are yummy. Wonderful. I think that desert scenes are the illustrator's forte. If he or she did a book just on desert painting, I'd get it.
Great reference book, 72 lessons, excellent instruction.......2000-05-02
This is a great reference book for anyone interested in pastel painting. It has really helped me improve my pastel skills. It covers materials, color and techniques for every kind of nature subject.
Included are 72 different lessons. Each lesson covers a different topic. Some include handling a detail close up, painting all kinds of water, choosing a focal point, describing diverse textures, & underpainting.
Each lesson contains a color photograph & the artwork in various stages along with written step by step instructions. Some of the artwork subjects include clouds, sunsets, frozen landscapes, desert vistas, & autumn scenes.
Many animals covered include an elk, a swan, a monarch butterfly, & a robin's nest. Moreover, some plants studied include sunflowers, junipers, many trees, & cactus. Mountains, fields, rocks, & a cabin are covered as well.
Book Description
Exquisite collection by the most celebrated artist in the history of botanical art includes 184 meticulous reproductions of original watercolors. A spectacular treasury of lilies, tulips, roses, cherries, crocus, and other plants will prove to be an invaluable resource for artists, designers, and craftworkers. The lovely, royalty-free images will delight nature lovers as well.
Customer Reviews:
Exactly what I was looking for.......2007-01-09
This is a great resource. I'm a graphic designer and have been looking for full color illustrations of flowers and fruit like this for a while. Lots of online stock photo/illustration sites sell similar artwork for anywhere from $75-250 each. Here you get a large variety for under $20.
Flowers & Fruits.......2005-09-12
This is an excellent printing of just what I needed. I use these images for decoupage and they are great!
Book Description
With the Quick Reference Series, painters who need fast instruction and inspiration finally have the perfect resource. And with Trees & Foliage, they now have the broadest collection of sample trees, shrubs, leaves, and grasses available on the market. Regardless of experience, readers will benefit from:
* Easy-to-follow directions with over 350 color photos providing step-by-step guidance
* A wide variety of plant life, shown in all four seasons, from multiple painters in a broad range of styles
* The accessible format, organized by subject matter
Trees & Foliage offers an invaluable combination of painting demonstration and idea swipe file guaranteed to bring success.
Customer Reviews:
A must have book if you are painting trees.......2007-09-20
This book is an excellent reference book for painting trees. It is very helpful.
Trees & Foliage (Painter's Quick Reference).......2007-03-19
Excellent -- was shipped in mint condition and promptly. This books throughly illustrates the methods and means of painting foliage and trees. Great book!
Book Description
"Elemental" is the perfect word to describe George Olson's watercolor drawings of the plants of the tallgrass prairie. Delicately precise yet filled with vigor and color, they present the prairie in its individual elements and--taken as a group that celebrates the hues and textures of tallgrass wildflowers and grasses--in its seasonal abundance. In The Elemental Prairie, the combination of George Olson's luminous drawings and John Madson's eloquent essay "The Running Country" encourages us to look at the prairie world with newly appreciative eyes. For some years Olson has focused almost exclusively on the grasses and wildflowers of the North American prairie, meticulously reproducing their elemental structures and colors while--proving once again that art can both imitate and enhance nature--emphasizing their magical loveliness. By painting certain species in their winter and summer "plumages," he reveals the plants' stark wintry framework as well as their more glorious warm-weather beauty. The Elemental Prairie presents sixty glowing images of tallgrass plants, from the familiar purple coneflower and black-eyed susan to the less-often-seen rattlesnake master and compass plant. Together Olson and Madson, two dedicated prairie restorationists, one using images and the other using words, create a living prairie in all its brilliance.
Customer Reviews:
A beauty all its own.......2007-01-19
When we moved for my spouse's career from upstate New York to the edge of the prairie on the western side of Illinois, I cried all the way from the airport upon seeing what looked to be flat desolation. Over the five years we lived in Galesburg, Illinois, I came to learn and understand the prairie and to appreciate its exquisite beauty. George Olson's stunning watercolors and John Madson's essay transfer that beauty to the print medium. It a treasured book in our home, especially since our departure from the prairie, and one we have given as gifts to those friends who have also had to leave the prairie.
Book Description
This third installment in the Painter's Quick Reference series combines the ideas and inspiration found in "swipe file" books with the simple instruction of step-by-step demonstrations. Painters of all skill levels can dive into 52 flower-painting demos displaying a variety of techniques. The guide has:
-Quick ideas for any painting project
-An intuitive, see-it do-it layout: short captions, labels, tips and sidebars
-Streamlined demos averaging four to eight steps
Contributions from more than two dozen top artists will appeal to painters in a range of styles and cover watercolor, acrylics and oils. A great value!
Book Description
This latest addition to the popular Painter's Quick Reference series tackles a perennially favorite subject matter--landscapes. With instruction for acrylic, watercolor and oil painters, this guide:
-Gives readers countless ideas for gorgeous landscape elements, from the perfect trees and shrubs to clouds, skies, hills, mountains, flowers, water and more
-Offers quick success through more than 40 easy demonstrations--only four-to-twelve steps each!
-Features inspiring samples and variations from such top artists as Claudia Nice, Lian Zhen, Kerry Trout and Hugh Greer
With ideas for different seasons, times of day and weather conditions, this fun, flippable book is the perfect creative boost for any landscape artist!
Average customer rating:
- Overcoming the fear of the "blank canvas"
|
Painting Landscapes from Your Imagination (A Fold Out and Follow Me Project Book)
Tony Smibert
Manufacturer: International Artist Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1929834020 |
Customer Reviews:
Overcoming the fear of the "blank canvas".......2001-04-29
This book is a brilliant instruction book for both beginners and more experienced watercolourists. Highly recommended for beginners to watercolour who don't know where or how to start.
Tony Smibert takes you step-by-step through a series of painting exercises designed to free your creative juices while teaching the art of watercolour from basic washes through to more advanced techniques. He begins with simple wash and brushstoke instruction and takes the artist through to completed landscapes. I particularly liked his ideas on framing the earlier exercises as complete works of art in their own right.
He has apparently spent a great deal of time in Japan, and it shows in the powerful, yet simple techniques he employs and paintings he produces. His landscapes have a wonderfully atmospheric quality that he manages to teach to the reader. His instruction is detailed in a clear and easy to follow manner while leaving ample scope for the more adventurous students to apply their own interpretations to the paintings.
This book has given me the confidence to try anything - no longer do I stare at a blank sheet of paper fearful of the first stroke, or wondering where to begin. I find myself going back to his basic exercises to "limber-up" before starting on a larger project, or simply to have a bit of fun when I'm too busy to complete a "proper" work. He also has two videos available to accompiany the book which I have found invaluable, but not essential.
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Books Index
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