Book Description

Reviews (7)

YOU NEED THIS BOOK!!!!!
IF YOU TRULY WISHED TO LEARN TO DRAW LIKE THOSE DRAUGHTSMEN OF OLD, WHY NOT STUDY (NOT JUST READ) FROM ONE OF THE BEST OF THEM? HAROLD SPEED'S TECHNIQUES ARE INCREDIBLE AND WILL TAKE INCREDIBLY LONG TO MASTER...BUT WHO WANTS QUICK FIX STUFF ANYWAY? LEONARDO AND THE OTHER MASTERS DIDN'T JUST PICK UP A PENCIL AND DREW BEAUTIFUL PIECES. DRAWING AND PAINTING WELL IS A JOURNEY, NOT A DESTINATION. ENJOY LEARNING!

the best ever done in English
It's easy to pontificate and very, very hard to draw. Suspiciously absent from most books on drawing are drawings by the author. But Speed, a journeyman painter whose career bridged the 19th and 20th centuries, drew wonderfully well, and his drawings vindicate his ideas. Additionally, Speed's career embodies the best of the academic tradition and the then-contemporary discoveries of the Impressionists. His assessment of Monet has stood the test of time, as have his splendid instruction on the nuts and bolts of drawing. If you can only have one book on drawing -- and I have a vested interest in this area -- Speed's is the one to get.

Brilliant book for any artist
This book is an in depth study on the elements that make a piece of art. It covers the style and movement of line, (both the drawn and implied), mass, tone, rythym, balance and proportion. It also discusses variation and unity within the individual elements, how all the elements work with the subject to create a piece of art and the differences between a piece of art and a great piece of art.

I could ramble on, but will not, though there is so much more in this book. It is bursting at the binding with insight on drawing. It is clearly written by someone who obviously knows what he is writing about. It is a fantastic art course by a man who knows how to teach. It is as relevant today as it was when written, probably even more so given my experience of modern art tuition over the years. If you want to be an artist, no, if you want to be a great artist, read this book.

One of the two Bibles for TRUE Art students
Harold Speed is truly the finest author on the subject of painting and drawing. Wish I could have known him. You will read and reread learning new things every time. Indispensible. Your bible.

An Essential Reference for Art Students
This book is good not only for the beginning art student, but also as an excellent reference for the more advanced student interested in solidifying his/her drawing skills. I strongly recommend it. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Lots of hidden jewels in the book
A wealth of information at your finger tips from some of the greatest watercolor artists of our time. There are enough practice exercises to keep you busy for many many months. Everytime I pick it up I discover something new that I had overlooked before.

Wondeful book for beginers
My experience with water colors is not broad. In fact, I just picked up painting with water colors. I found this book to cover most everything I needed to know. The book discusses paints, paint quality, demystifies the selection of paper, and spends a good deal of time on technique. The book also has tons of exercises to help you better your skill. The projects are interesting too. I liked that they used a variety of authors to discuss things, as different people have new perspectives and experiences to share.

If I could have only one watercolor book, I'd want this one!
A collection of how-to-do-it articles by many famous watercolorists. What makes this book special is the wide spectrum of approaches, from the traditional to the experimental. It's got everything from selecting material and preparing paper, theory and practice of color (selecting, mixing, schemes), basic painting techniques, collaging and less traditional techniques, artisitic principles (value, composition),perspective, and painting of textures, landscapes, figues, flowers, and special effects. Great for beginners and more experienced painters. It's simply the best, most comprehensive, watercolor book.

Unveils a Fantastic World of Possibilities in Watercolor!!!
If my experience is typical, then most beginners watercolor havent the slightest idea what an amazing range of visual expression is possible with watercolor...even with a novice's palette of nine colors.

This wonderfully illustrated anthology of techniques provides both inspiration and instruction. Starting from the beginning, with tips on choosing paper, brushes, paint, and which colors to use to set up a novice, intermediate and advanced working palette, the book then moves on to cover hundreds of well-illustrated micro-lessons in watercolor techniques. These lessons are organized in sections:

Color
Basic Painting Techniques
Textures & Special Effects
Collaging & Other Unusual Techniques
Artistic Principles
Perspective
Landscape Painting
Figure Painting
Flowers

Each section has 15 - 30 lessons, each of which is illustrated with color photographs and good text instruction, and often with a series of photographs to show how the artist progresses to achieve the desired effect.

This book shows there is a wide array of special techniques and effects that can be achieved in watercolor that you could never dream of in acrylic or even oil.

A Great Reference Tool for the Intermediate Artist
This book is a wonderful technique book, not a project book. This book shows you the actual mechanics of how to accomplish many varied techniques. It also has a lot of information about good design and color usage. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The best book to date on marker rendering
Required reading for all industrial design students; required reference for any practitioner.

best rendering book i have read
The book shows the basic steps using the new available materials for industrial designers to use. I have known the book from a friend and tried to buy one for myself in the Philippines but it seems fast gone from bookstores. Since I love the classic and manual rendering before I use the computer, I found the book so informative that I learned to improvise and develop my own style of rendering. It helped me focus on the concept better because I have gained confidence in handling rendering materials and the basic understanding of light and shadow play on different textures. ... Read more

Book Description

Mastering color is a tough hurdle for artists in any medium to tackle. In this concise guide, Margaret Kessler cuts through all the confusion with a friendly and encouraging approach to the basic principles of color harmony.

The book is divided into two main sections that focus on theory and practice. Readers will learn how proper color can help them create expressive moods, unity, rhythm and eye-catching design. Then they'll find a wealth of exercises and demonstrations to quickly put to use what they've learned.

With lots of colorful charts and eye-catching examples, Color Harmony in Your Paintings is highly accessible for artists of all levels. There's an engaging question-and-answer format in parts of the book, and simple color sketches throughout to give an immediate understanding of every color concept. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Did Ellen Levine attend PS 177 in Brooklyn from 1946 to 1954
Was Ellen Levine in my elementary school class? If so, we are both authors of many books. We're both 57 or so. If so, you were my friendly classmate at PS 177 or D.A. Boody JHS. Is that you, Ellen? If so, a warm hello from a grandma of five who also writes a lot of books, a history buff, and was also born around 1941. If this is another Ellen, then just ignore this message.

Keep on writing those wonderful books. They are helpful and make the world a smarter place. Mrs. A

essays_@hotmail.com ... Read more

Book Description

First published in 1954 and having gone through several editions, this comprehensive book remains the authoritative source in the field. This paperback edition includes all of the three hundred fifty illustrations from the original edition, as well as the complete and unabridged text.Its text and illustrations reveal the symbolism inherent in representations of religious personages, the Earth and Sky, animals, birds, insects, and flowers.In addition to a discussion of objects treated symbolically in Christian art, George Ferguson explores Old Testament characters and events and their symbolic representation in art. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

one of the best
Ferguson's book is simply one of the best of its kind. The numerous entries (far more than most) are divided into reasonable sections (animals, plants, saints, etc.). Black and white images in the outer margins assist identification. A thorough explanation of each entry's various meanings within a Christian context is provided (with few oversights). The book is a convenient, portable size and weight. Though I have found books which contain Christian symbols & meanings Ferguson overlooked, I have not yet found a text that is better as a whole, and I collect books of art symbolism.

Every art historian--student, amateur, or professional--should own a copy of this book. Art lovers will find it a substantial aid to appreciation. It's a great book to take on museum and cathedral tours, e.g. if you intend to travel around Europe. Christians may also find it a helpful meditation aid.

The only real drawback is that Ferguson is limited to Western Christian art. For help with Eastern Christian art symbolism, I recommend starting with Linette Martin's "Sacred Doorways: A Beginner's Guide to Icons." It's less like a reference guide and contains few images, but it's a great start.

I look forward to finding more gems like these.

Through Artists Eyes
I am an artist. I wanted to include Christian symbols and signs in my pottery. Many of the signs or quite common, but the reasons for the symbols and signs are forgotten by many. This book both gives detailed pictures of each sign and symbol and also explains completely what each symbol means and why the symbol came about. Each symbol was established for a reason, and it all reflects back to the Bible.

A Staple Reference for Any Library
If you've ever wondered about the seemingly strange choices of modern writers or film directors (such as the repeated reference to chocolate "mouse" in the film "Rosemary's Baby"), "Signs and Symbols in Christain Art" will deepen your enjoyment of contemporary artforms as well as antique paintings found in museums.

Built around the symbol-system of Roman Catholic Church art, Ferguson's book illustrates the ways in which medieval and rennaissance artists tried to visualize scripture and cannon for their illiterate audiences.

Compact and consise, "Signs and Symbols" serves as a perfect bring-along for your next museum trip - but since the reader can look up various saints and doctrines (such as the Seven Deadly Sins and the Seven Virtues) as well as visual symbols, this book is more than just an art reference.

First-year art students are typically required to use this book in Survey of Western Art 101, but it deserves a place on the bookshelf of any home which aspires to cultural literacy. ... Read more

Book Description

A Theory of Feline Aesthetics

An unprecedented photographic record of cat creativity that will intrigue cat-lovers and art-lovers alike. As far as we know, no theory of feline aesthetics has yet been presented, at least not with such remarkable clarity and thorough documentation. ... Read more

Reviews (36)

It always makes me laugh
Whenever I'm feeling cranky or down-in-the-dumps, I pull out this book, and it always makes me laugh. The pictures are delightful, and if you're a cat lover, it makes you want to set up an art studio for your own feline -- after all, what's a little paint all over the walls, windows, and appliances? My favorite part, which makes me chuckle just to think about it, is the commentary on cat sculpture (i.e., shredded furniture). The give-away that this book is a spoof, though, has to be the discussion (and photo) about dead prey being a cat's form of artistic self-expression.

Exquisite send-up of the craft of art critique
Starting with a review of the history of feline art, the authors go on to explain how cats become artists, and how their owners can help develop their gifts. The section on the great contemporary cat artists is especially profound. Excellent photography, not only of their art, but also of the artists plying their craft, lends near-undeniable credibility to the extensive research published in the text. But be careful giving this book to either an artist or a cat-lover---a strong sense of humor is mandatory!

cute and informative book
Cats are artistic as this book show s and proves its really worth reading and so very good Cats are amazing creatures artistic and we can learn a lot from them

Don't take the book seriously--have fun!
This is a truly fun book--provided if you don't take this book, or it's creators, seriously. The presentation is great and so are the photos. As a painter and cat owner myself, this book makes me laugh at the mere sight of cats 'painting'. I only hope these cats were not severely mistreated!

Take a look at the MONPA website and view their video of this cat 'painting' and it's quite clear that it is easy to fake. (How would you know if that's the cat's own paw dabbing paint on a surface??!) Same with 'Dancing with Cats' (they also made a book on it!). They're dancing with toy cats in the studio, with the explaination that cats don't like new environments. Nice explaination, but it doesn't mean that's proof. There's no videographic evidence of dancing cats either.

So, please, this is nothing more than a very creative and original hoax. Don't give your cats paint. Don't dance with them. Love and cherish them. They are your pets, not your toys. It's not natural for cats to do any of these things. I've seen nutcases forcing their cats to dip their paws in paint to create 'pawtraits', and the cat is screaming in protest. And swinging a cat around during 'dancing' isn't a good idea. Although the authors of Why Cats Paint seem serious, don't take this book seriously and don't try this at home!

The cat's meow
The first time I saw this book, I thought it was such a riot that I couldn't stop laughing. But then, as the pages progressed, a small thought crept over me -- 'could this be serious?'

I am a person owned by cats - if one includes the kittens, I've had 19 cats officially (and another half-dozen stray hangers-on who know that food will be forthcoming). It had never occurred to me to give them paint! What would happen if I did?

The photography in the book is impressive. Working with children or animals in the best of settings is never easy for a photographer, but Heather Busch is to be commended for bravery, patience, and creativity that obviously rivals the cat-subjects of the text. Stunning colour shows not only the cats' creations, but the cats themselves, often matching their artistic styles in body as well as spirit (for example, Rusty, the orange tabby, likes to paint in a rustic manner; Wong and Lulu collaborate on interesting abstractions, etc.).

The text is written with ironic skill and creative flair by Burton Silver (cats may paint, but have yet to write...). Silver (the name of one of my cats, by the way) is a writer and art critic based in New Zealand, having written on subjects such as contemporary erotic Japanese paper sculpture.

In addition to going through a contemporary survey, the authors look at the history of cat art (including a Xois funerary discovery, ancient Egyptian art, medieval illuminations, and more). It also looks at the psychology of why cats paint (hence the title) -- the fascinating theory of Invertism is a case in point, which explains why cats lie on their heads looking at objects upside down approximately 3% of the day.

A funny book. A fascinating book. A beautiful book. My cats each give it paws up! ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Eyecandy of great inspirational and practical value.
This is the first volume of two, the second being 'The Designer's Guide To Global Color Combinations. I own both and I regard them as simply unmissable, because I use as well for recreative as practical purposes.

Each page offers a depiction of a work of art, which may be painting, illustration, texture, fabric. The main piece always has a short description (artist, origin, media) and a personal note by the author why the piece is so eyestriking.

All pieces are catalogued according to time and style, so you'll find art deco, popart, contemporary, ... styles but also 'bad' use of color.

However, this is NOT a book about color theory. The approach is subjective and you may find that your views differ with the author because the appreciation of coloruse is personal (which the author also underlines).

Never the less this is also an outstanding objective guide to historical color use during the centuries starting from the late 19th century till now.

For computer artists it also offers CMYK values, as well for the main piece, and variations on it.

If there would be one negative point, it's only that there is not a cd added with all the palettes, so you would not have to type in the values. And, for people operating mainly in RGB color space, as the book cover states: no RGB values. (you'll find these in the second volume, but for some strange reason they were not added in this first volume).

Despite this small point of criticism: this guide is a work of art unique in it's category. There is nothing that even comes close to the work of endurance the author has done, to offer the reader a practical and inspirational guide to color combining.

A guide you'll browse and browse again.

Amazing resource book...
I love this book, it makes my life so much easier coming up with color combinations that work. The best part is that it covers over a century's worth of color schemes, from dark earthy tones of the victorian period to the bright colors of today.

There are so many different color combinations to look at, each with a different variation as well. They're all in CMYK too, which makes it easier since I'm not familiar with the Pantone system a lot of books on color use.

The only drawback to this book is that it doesn't teach you how to create your own successful color schemes, so you'll need another book on color for that. This book tells you to look at the things around you for inspiration although it never tells you how to convert those colors to CMYK mode.

If you have a book or two on the science and practices of good color design, then you'll definately need this for a quick reference to some applied real world design.

If I'd ever lose it, I'd buy it again!
This book fulfilled every expectation I had prior to its arrival, that is - it's not a color theory book in any way. It has no color wheels, nor does it theorize about complementary colors and the like. It's a collection of suggested color combinations - usually combinations which I'd never think of. And that's where the real value is!
In the samples, you can easily notice which is the 'base' color and which colors 'match' in different situations. And each sample itself has some printed design-like feel, which makes it incredibly more usable than ordinary swatches in other books.
Just by flipping the pages I found (color) suggestions for the designs I'm working at.
Ah, and the book is also beautiful.
If you're looking for color inspiration rather than theory, add this one to your basket!

Practical Inspiration
Rather than just show color combinations in a vacuum, this book uses real examples from different design periods to demonstrate the use of color. Great as both a reference and inspiration. Also just plain nice to look at.

disapointing but still of value
the premise of this book is interesting in that it attempts to deconstruct the color content from various art pieces though the past century. I was really excited to recieve the book and was looking forward to reading it, but was disappointed.

Not all of the colors appearing in the piece shown were always represented. And I didn't think that the layouts redone with the chosen colors were creative or accurate in the reflection of the proportions of the pieces' color. In fact in more than one instance, I felt the most important accent color was left out of the breakdown all together. That made me mistrust the accuracy of the paletes presented that were based on other pieces for mthe same time period, but without showing the piece itself.

All in all, the book is interesting from a historical sense, and I will definitely derive some value from it, but i felt it was lacking in it's attention to detail. Unfortunately, because color is all about attention to detail, it's lack of it does undermine the book's intrinsic value. ... Read more

Book Description

Consisting of eight stencil-like disks that can be placed over ltten's color wheel to compare cool and warm values, complementary colors, and different hues and intensities, this useful and innovative tool helps designers explore a myriad of harmonious color. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Just a set of wheels
Very disappointed by the "book", which actually consists of a set of wheels,
with a 4-page booklet which does not explain much. I returned the book.

The color star
The black cut outs aren't cut acurately. I'd like to return this item to you and exchange it. A group of us purchased it for a class and I DON'T KNOW the account number. So how do i get it back into the mail and maybe get one that has been cut acurately? Thank you

Study Itten Till You Drop
If you came to me for a job in graphic design and you told me you hadn't studied Itten, I wouldn't hire you. But I'm picky. Please understand who this man is, and understand his philosophy of color. His work is significant.

The Color Star
This an absolute must for all people who work with fibre, paint or just want to understand colour. The ultimate colour wheel. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (8)

Good but.....
I really liked the book as others share in their review. But, I guess I really need some basics in regards to a break down. This book covers how to just get in and do the whole body, slowly laryering with charcoal. I like working in the charcoal, it is fast and easy to work with in regards to fixing mistakes. Once charcoal is in place, other mediums can be used over it if you are wanting to make your drawing into a painting. It is a good book though. The fours stars is only because I was expecting some breakdown of the figures.

Valuable Drawing Instruction for Every Level Student
Working the whole page all at once is key, by keeping in mind masses and tonal value. This technique is like painting 'alla prima' while working from larger masses to smaller details, because it creates while it plans. This is the best way to learn, beginning with how to place the figure properly on the page, saving time from redoing large parts because of an improper start.
The step by step approach with over 200 illustrations makes it easy to follow along. Not only is this the most efficient approach, it's the most exciting, achieving immediate progress with the greatest chance for accuracy.
The traditional practice of teaching the beginner to draw, using lines, only encourages bad habits which single them out as an amateur, while providing no special advantage over the approach in this book.
I recommend this book for all levels. For the beginner it is essential to first learn these principals of working with masses instead of lines, so telltale of the amateur. For the more advanced artist, there are many techniques useful to refining their skill.

Lovely!
You can learn a lot abt the human anatomy and charcoal techiques. Good buy!

Akin to "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain"
Having learned to draw from Betty Edwards' "right brain" approach, this book is a natural follow-on. It teaches a painterly approach to drawing by capturing the masses, rather than the contours, in much the same way as DRSB does. I've struggled with contour drawing from the beginning, whereas I see the masses and tones very easily. The drawings in this book are beautiful, and it's great confirmation and affirmation of the DRSB training I've had. See my other review for DRSB.

Bringing Charcoal to Life
I recently reviewed a book on life drawing where the author used a painstaking process to make gorgeous pencil drawings. He focussed on building up tone through meticulous hatching and shading. (And outlining and measuring - very obsessive but rewarding.)

This book also focuses on tone rather than line, this time in charcoal and without the rather anal measuring and outlining.

In fact it is far more accessible to the average life student, because the methods Graves uses can likewise be used in a life class. You don't need days and days of posing. Nor do you need the foundation drawing skills required by the other book. This is a book which can be put to immediate use.

And very valuable it is, too. Expect an improvement in your results the first time you put the lessons taught by Graves to use. You will find yourself looking at your model as a collection of tonal areas, rather than lines, and consequently your drawings will have more shape to them. They will be brought to life.

The essence of Graves' method is to work with two tools - charcoal and a chamois. Tones are built up with the charcoal, and the chamois is used to lighten them. One early exercise uses a "wash" of charcoal to create a background and then shapes are picked out with the chamois to make the drawing. Darker values such as shadows are added with more charcoal.

The book starts with the basics. Tools, media and techniques. All illustrated and described, along with exercises illustrated for the student.

Chapters are presented as exercises, each focused on a different topic. Lines and shadows, proportions, alignments, composition and so on, each building on the last. Step by step the final image is built up from broad tonal masses to detailed shapes. Construction lines are shown and at each step Graves tells us precisely what he is doing and why.

I particularly liked the illustrated explanation of the difference between lines and outlines. The body has lines, such as the creases formed when folding the elbow, and outlines, being the imaginary line where the body finishes and the background begins. Drawing body lines reflects reality, but drawing outlines imposes something that isn't there - we don't see bodies surrounded by lines - if the background and the body are the same colour they blend into each other, they don't form a line. Graves uses negative shapes to help define the outline, a much more natural and satisfactory method.

Graves shows and tells in a pleasant, consistent manner how to improve our techniques. There is something here for all levels, but this book is perhaps best used by an intermediate artist rather than a beginner or an expert. A few basic skills help to get right into it, and if you are already achieving good results you may not feel happy about changing your ways.

Having said that, Graves provides plenty of flexibility and new ideas to add to an existing skill base. This book *will* help you improve your style.

Highly recommended to anybody with an interest in drawing the nude. Especially valuable to students attending life class for the first time. ... Read more

Book Description

From head to toe, the human form, in all its complexities, is visually simplified to such a degree in this remarkable workbook that even complete beginners will soon be able to draw accurate, well-proportioned faces and figures every time they try. Avoiding complex charts of muscles and bones that are more helpful to doctors than to artists, this book's refreshing approach teaches anatomy from a cartoonist/illustrator's point of view. For example, there are many large and small muscles in the neck, all rendered in great detail in most anatomy books, but here, master teacher Christopher Hart shows only the four that are visible and need to be drawn. His clear instruction helps readers to visualize and portray shifting body weight in a pose without the need of a model, and instead of showing a mass of facial muscles and bones, he translates them into the simple planes an artist needs to draw a range of expressive faces. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Does the job admirably
First, I would like to say that this book is aimed at the non-professional, amateur artist who needs to learn correct anatomy. Otherwise, it wouldn't be a 'how to' book. As an amateur artist myself, I have looked for a book that would help me understand the basic anatomy of the human body.

With 520 muscles in the body, it seemed a little overkill to have descriptions of all of them - even the ones no one sees. Despite what some other reviewers have said, I personally have found Mr. Hart's book very useful and educational. There is nothing in the book that would cause anyone to pursue any particular style. There are no 'style' teachings in the book. Merely good depictions of musculature, skeletal structure and close-ups of problem areas for the average artist struggling with anatomy. I have reviewed quite a few anatomy books, some of them quite in-depth, and decided on this one for its ease of use and practicality.

The drawings are very useful and the order in which the material is presented is well thought out. Granted, Mr. Hart is a cartoonist by trade, but he does know his anatomy. This book is easy to understand and makes anatomy a joy.

If you want something more in-depth, buy 'Gray's Anatomy'. If you want something that will teach you the basics of anatomy without anatomical overload, do yourself a favor and buy a copy of 'Human Anatomy Made Amazingly Easy'

Amazing!!!!
I own this book for just 2 days, and after reading a first chapter I have to admit that IT IS AMAZING book! Right after reading I started to draw( I am not a proffesionall, and I do not go to art school, do not take any art classes, just started to draw about two month ago)and I CAN SEE the improvment I made. Everybody who saw what I draw said that I improveied. I suggest you buy this book before any other ones, and read it, and do not even think- yes, or no- just buy it and you will be pleased with all articles and illustration he put in this book. Very easy, and clear he explanes anatomy. Just what you need to know. Then, all you have left to do- is practising!!!!

This book stinks
The quality of the drawings is awful, anatomy weak and aesthetic is indifferent

A Good book.
I was looking for a good human anatomy book to purchase and came across this. The book is very detailed but lacks alot of detail in some areas. Such as hands and feet. But expains the anatomy of the head, arms and legs very well. Overall It has helped me to understand anatomy and it's a good buy.

Way to simple
The problem with this book is that you don't really learn anything about drawing anatomy. He just says 'This is what this looks like or 'This is looks like that w/o giving any real tips. Like all of Hart's books he just makes you "think" that you've learned something. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

The only book on drawing scenery you will ever need.
This book is hands-down my favorite step-by-step tool on drawing scenery. It's clearly written, which makes its instructions very easy to follow and understand, and it's masterfully organized in six sections that clearly relate to one another, making it easy to go back to specific topics at any time. In its first section alone (Introduction to the Basics of Scenery Drawing) it includes very well explained drawing basics like composition, space division, picture elements, comprehension factors, materials and more. It also goes beyond most scenery drawing books in the market to include, beside the usual landscape and terrain composition techniques, other important concepts: Drawing Trees and Foliage, Drawing Rocks and Mountains, Drawing Clouds and Skies, Drawing Water (Oceans, Lakes, Rivers and Falls), and Drawing Buildings (in various shapes and sizes). Additional bonuses are the authors' constant tips on a wide variety of topics that go from shading and highlighting to artistic treatment and texturing of surfaces.
This book is also fully illustrated with over 900 beautiful diagrams and pictures that work as invaluable examples, which accurately illustrate the instructions given by the author. Some people might be discouraged from purchasing this title due to it being completely illustrated in black & white, but trust me when I say that it doesn't need color images. It's so well written that you'll soon start seeing the illustrations in the colors your imagination and creativeness will give them.
I used this book as one would use a textbook on a course, doing all the exercises and going back to all the lessons in each section after I had finished with it. In only two months my work has improved 100% and my drawings have won praise from friends and family.
Buy this book if you are a professional trying to fine tune your craft and buy it if you are a beginner serious about drawing, both will discover the benefits of applying to your work all the essential scenery drawing techniques that it contains.

You Won't Be Disappointed
You will not find a more complete book on landscape drawing. My advice is to grab it from Amazon while it is still in print. Mr. Hamm is the best.

He does it for me...
Are you fed up with the books that merely demonstrate how much better the author is at drawing than you are? All you can do is try (and fail) to copy their examples without really knowing the how and why of making marks and coming up with your own compositions?

Jack Hamm tells you what marks to make, how to make them, where to make them, and why. And it turns out that it's easy to draw good pictures. Whodunnit in the end? Youdunnit!!!

His landscapes book was the first I bought in the series. I was so impressed with it that I subsequently bought ALL his other books in a single batch. And I've been just as pleased with each of them.

Buy this book, it's a steal!
I bought this book to learn the principles of drawing scenery. My interest is in creating both comic book line pencil art and 2D computer game graphics (bitmap -Photoshop and vector - Flash). While the book's description of the many tools and papers isn't directly applicable, they gave me a few ideas on how the techniques could be translated into forms suitable for comics and 2D computer graphics.

The book's target audiences are fine arts students or 'true' artists and some of the lessons presented and jargons used aren't readily understood by hobbyists like me. However, this didn't stop me from enjoying the book because of the specific content I was looking for: drawing trees, rocks, mountains, clouds, reflections, water correctly and many more.

I was hoping the book would have a few pages dedicated to 'cityscape' drawing but I am assuming that if you can draw nature, you can draw non-natural subjects like buildings. The book also didn't have lessons on using colors but it did stress on perfecting black and white values/tones before jumping into colors. If you want colored scenery drawing, get another book. (But this is just me being my usual picky self.)

Buy this book! It's a steal! As in you'll probably never need another drawing scenery book (unless of course you want to enhance your skill on a specific form such as oil, watercolor, acrylic, airbrush, etc.).

Belongs on the shelf of any artist
"Empowering" and "amazing" are words I've heard in reference to Jack Hamm and his books. The vast majority of "how to draw" books (sorry, but it is true) are self-indulgent galleries by people with poor skills. Jack doesn't show off. He tells you what he has tried, what usually works and what usually doesn't, and he gives you the confidence -- indeed, the urge -- to go out and try it yourself. And, oh -- his drawings are magnificent.

The layout of the book is unexpected. Sure, there is the expected list of trees and the panels of water reflections under different conditions. But the bulk of the book speaks to composition, particularly landscape composition, in ways that has made me recommend it to friends of mine doing Bryce and Terragen (computer landscape art).

As is typical of Jack's books, you read it once, then you pick it up again and again every time you need a little help, a confidence boost, or a kick in the pants. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Excellent Intro
This is an excellent introduction for the beginner. I also love her art. Other excellent, but more advanced, books are "The Art of Watercolor" by Charles Le Clair and "The Watercolorists Essential Notebook" by Gordon MacKenzie.

watercolor for the serious beginner
I have just joined up with AMAZON and am so excited about the selection of art technique books. I teach in the water medium and own many of the books listed. There is one review I would like to add and that is "Watercolor for The Serious Beginner",by Mary Whyte, 1997. The title sounds simple, however there is a a wealth of info for the students as well as accomplished artists. It is far from the basic of basics, which we all need periodically. I have viewed Mary's watercolors at a gallery in Charleston, S.Carolina. The paintings place you in there settings of great nostalgic memories and personalities. You would like to visit with Mary and tell her you,too,have been there. Mary shares all of her w/c knowledge in this book,and has been published in American Artist Watercolor as well a monthly publication, focusing on portraiture. Her still life ptgs. in the book are equally as instructional again and again.

One of my favorites!
This is a comprehensive book well worth your time and money. I especially like the instructional step-by-step color demonstrations which include still life, landscape, and figures and portraits. ... Read more

Book Description

The leading textbook for college figure-drawing classes, DRAWING FROM LIFE provides a clear, comprehensive, and thought-provoking guide to drawing the human form for anyone interested in exploring this time-honored artistic tradition. For centuries, drawing the human figure has given artists the tools and vocabulary for creating paintings, sculpture, drawings, or printsfrom Renaissance classical to contemporary expression. In addition to working from the model, the figure-drawing student needs instruction in anatomy, history, and conceptual approaches to drawing the human form; such instruction is often missing from life drawing classes due to time constraints. DRAWING FROM LIFE offers these elements, along with a tremendous selection of drawings that represent the broad range of approaches, techniques, and media for drawing from life. The chapters follow the natural development of a student's growth, from fundamental sketching and gesture drawing to creative expression and exploration. An entire chapter on drawing the figure in perspective offers information that is not available in comparable textbooks. Students begin with quick sketches and gesture drawings, giving them a non-threatening introduction on a level they can readily understand and master. The cohesive presentation of anatomy, including a chapter on the human head, helps students understand the human structure and its impact on visible form. The final section brings the concepts, vocabulary, and history presented in the earlier chapters to bear on contemporary use of the figure in art. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Figure drawing books don't get any better than this one.
"Drawing from Life" is a treasure an artist, teacher, and drawing lover finds once in awhile. It is very logically layed out. I enjoyed variety of illustrations, the learning exercises, and glossary. Alas... some negatives: the price, the quality and detail of the reproductions, especially the anatomy ones. The book needs to be bigger in size and make use of detail enlargements to show the beauty of the drawings ... Read more

Book Description

There's a trick to painting realistic subject matter withoutincluding every last little detail.It's this "soft realism" approach to colored pencil that Ann Kullburg shares in her insightful new technique book.

Kullberg teaches artists how to faithfully capture the essence of any subject without wasting time on excessive detail work. Step by step she presents 35 popular subjects and describes techniques for adding rich texture, depth and form in the most simple and straightforward way possible. Insights on getting a realistic effect include: • Mapping out a complex subject to make it easier to paint • Changing pencil strokes to create different textures • Mixing hues for greater visual interest • Creating softer, more natural edges by varying the pressure of the pencil It's all the instruction a colored pencil artist needs to effortlessly add gorgeous details to every piece they create. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Ann Kullberg Does It Again!
Ann Kullberg's new book, Capturing Soft Realism in Colored Pencil, is a fabulous sequel to her first treasure, Colored Pencil Portraits Step-By-Step. Each page has gorgeous artwork along with clear, understandable text. If you are interested in creating colored pencil portraits and you really don't know how to begin, this team of books is where to start. There are many many demonstrations and Ann writes the way she instructs. Simple but with clear directions. She tells you what materials to buy and which ones she uses for each painting. Her enthusiasm is contagious and the reader feels confident that one day, with this kind of practice, artwork like Ann's is attainable. I love it when those who have truly made it in the art world want to share everything they know with those of us still working towards that goal. Ann has a generous spirit and extends endless patience toward her workshop participants. It seems that her life goal is to communicate all that she has learned about colored pencils to others so that they can become as good as her. Her Internet magazine, "From My Perspective", is filled with more great art and advice.

I highly recommend this jewel of a book to beginners as well as published, accomplished artists. It's basic in its instruction, yet Ann paints difficult backgrounds step by step. These two books are the kind that you buy both and settle in some weekend with a good block of time and no interruptions to practice techniques and ultimately try your own painting.

CAPTURING SOFT REALISM IN COLORED PENCIL
ANN KULLBERG'S NEW BOOK IS SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL. HER INSTRUCTION IS STEP BY STEP AND ALL LEVELS WILL BENEFIT FROM HER DETAILED EXPLANATION ON HOW TO BUILD COLOR, WITH PHOTOS SHOWING THE PROGRESSION AS THE LAYERS ARE ADDED. THE EXAMPLES RANGE FROM BLACK PATENT LEATHER SHOES TO DRAWING AN OCEAN SCENE AND CLOUDS. HAVING THIS BOOK IS LIKE HAVING YOUR OWN WORKSHOP AT HOME. ANN HAS EVEN INCLUDED A QUESTION AND ANSWER SECTION THAT COVERS AREAS THAT BEGINNERS AND ADVANCED WILL FIND HELPFUL. ANN'S SPECIAL METHOD OF PAINTING WITH COLORED PENCILS IS NOTHING SHORT OF MAGICAL. HER TECHNIQUE CAN HELP GUIDE THE READER TO REALISTIC DRAWINGS WITH DEPTH AND BEAUTY. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BEAUTIFUL BOOK FOR ANY ARTIST'S STUDIO.

All reviews must have been written by the author!!
Not a good book for technique and selection of illustrations. Much must be considered in colored pencil and I learned nothing from this book. Thanks

YOU can paint realistically in colored pencil.
As a relatively new "convert" to colored pencil from watercolor, I was amazed to see the realism Kullberg can attain while still maintaining a slightly loose, soft technique with her colored pencils. I would have thought that she spent countless hours on tiny details...but in this book, Kullberg literally shows you, how to see and paint only the ESSENTIAL details in order to create masterful realistic paintings without hours of painstaking detail work.

After buying her book, I visited her annkullberg.com website and found that she also has a Video Workshop CD to go along with the book. The CD includes 2 full hours of video instruction, plus line drawings, plus extra hints, plus palette lists. I ordered the CD and have to say that it is an absolute MUST HAVE for anyone who wants to "fast forward" into colored pencil technique!! The video lessons seem somehow to have been filmed right over Kullberg's shoulder, so you literally see her every stroke as she demos, from start to finish, 6 of the subjects featured in "Capturing Soft Realism in Colored Pencil". Actually seeing Kullberg work on colored pencil paintings was a huge eye-opener for me, and well worth the affordable price!!

One last thing....don't be fooled by the cover of this book. It is not just another "Kullberg Portrait" book...but instead, covers foreground and background elements often found in portraits, and is divided into "Interiors" and "Exteriors" sections. Although I rarely do portraits, Kullberg's book will not be leaving my drawing table's side, as she covers landscape and still life elements.....and most importantly, really shows how YOU can paint realistically in colored pencil.

Ann's Book and Companion CD are the very best!!!!
Ann's Soft Realism book is fantastic but you can't just purchase the book, you MUST HAVE THE COMPANION CD! It's better than a vhs video tape. It's truly awesome and I don't say it if I don't mean it. Ann shows you step by step how to use the colored pencils and the techniques and guides you through so many demos, plus she supplies line drawings and palettes, hints, and other goodies to use and when used with the book, you can't beat it except to be in one of her workshops personally. It's so down to earth basic for the beginner and yet great for more advanced I am sure. I love that I can use the CD on the computer, it is so much faster and more fun than vhs. You can replay each segment without fussing with rewind too. Can't be beat. I think the CD companion and the book together is the best idea I have seen yet! I like that you chose different textures and materials to color. I feel that I got more than my money's worth.
. I hope you do more video workshops like this cd and hope you do it real soon Ann. Her newsletter is super too. Always a lesson to learn step by step using colored pencils. Great work Lady! I'll bet others copy this idea, but you are the first and the best!!
Hugs
Lucy H ... Read more

Amazon.com

Filled with great ideas and enthralling art activities,Young at Art introduces parents and caregivers to a fascinatingworld that Montessori teachers will find wonderfully familiar. AuthorSusan Striker created the delightfully different Anti-Coloring Bookseries and now turns her considerable talents to explainingconcepts of child development in a manner that all of us can enjoy. Shepassionately believes that children can use artistic tools and methodsas gateways to all forms of learning, from vocabulary building to earlymath skills and improved dexterity, and cautions parents to rethink theway we look at art materials. Pipe cleaners form wire sculptures farmore detailed than their typical role as bug antenna, and toddlers canhave a better experience painting with only one or two colors than theywould with an entire palette that instantly turns a muddy brown.Including a wide range of group and individual activities for all ageranges (and even songs to sing during cleanup time), this book is apriceless addition to an art-loving family. Jill Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Parents of toddlers NEED this book!!!!!!
I think this book is so important, it has so much info in it that I just didn't know. There are a lot of things I was doing that are actually the wrong thing to do, and I consider myself a pretty intelligent, well-read mom! Who knew I shouldn't offer her a huge box of crayons, or draw with her, or tell her that her drawing looks like a house?? Who knew she should have access to painting every day if possible? Who knew how directly early scribbling relates to later reading and writing competence? Please get this book. It's a revelation.

You Must Read This If you Have (or will have) a Toddler
I just read this book yesterday and it really enlightened me to the reality that even though my daughter is just 20 months, she is starving for self-expression! It makes sense... she can't make noun-verb sentences, has a limited vocabulary, and I'm one of the only people who understands her struggled attempts at communication. So that's why she's been coloring all over the wallpaper!
This book was great for me since I am artistically illiterate. I have had almost NO art education, and I don't know the first thing about how to teach ANYTHING to ANYONE. This book has simple, easy steps that I can follow... dumb things that I wouldn't know unless someone told me, like, Give your child one crayon at a time so she doesn't get overwhelmed.
The other thing I liked about this book is that the author is sensitive to the reality that many of us may not have a large budget to spend on art supplies. I went to the craft store and bought everything I think I need to get started... crayons, paint, brushes, play-doh, I even splurged and got the 80-weight paper like Striker suggested... and spent less than EIGHTEEN DOLLARS!!

Enlightening.
I wish I had had this book when my child was two. It guides the reader through the mysterious world of children's art. Basically, Striker explains that preschool children should not be "taught" art; rather, they should be allowed to experiment avidly with art materials. When given the opportunity, children use art materials to express themselves and pass through stages of mark-making that are vital to later reading and writing skills. My only complaint about this book is that Striker makes such a strong case against interfering with the natural learning process by, for example, suggesting imagery or otherwise rushing a child into the next stage of development, that it is guilt-inspiring for those of us who made some of these mistakes in the past. However, she gives the reader many concrete suggestions for appropriate art activities so that we can make up for lost time. They include the five basic art techniques: painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, and collage. The author explains how these mediums can be presented so as to promote the child's own discovery process. This is a very valuable book for parents, care takers, and educators. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

QUESTION - Visual Arts "different" as an academic pursuit?!
The answer: I think so. The author changed my way of thinking about the subject of what is plausible in arts education in our time. The apprearance of total artistic freedom from judgement as formulated by postmodernists, yet the intrinsic nature of how the academy/school affects an artist, is seriously examined by Elkins.

This book is amongst the first to pragmatically question some of our common misunderstandings about the methodology involved in teaching the visual arts. The reason for this maybe due in part to modernist and postmodernist intellectualizing of art (e.g.-the endless pages of ink spilled in history books about content free Minimalist paintings and Conceptual Art). Elkins really does an marvelous job at collecting the evidence that studio art teaching and learning is fundamentally different in goals from more conventional subjects such as the sciences, languages and even music...yet, artists should have a somewhat rounded education.

To the authors credit, the book avoids the idealistic view of the arts, dispenses with the RomanticEra cliches of " the gifted talent" or "starving artist" or "outsider art" and deals with THE pragmatic reality of art instruction. Elkins' surveys are about the historical roots of art instruction: the Medieval workshops, the Renaissance guilds,the Baroque academies, and the 20th c. Bauhaus School are compared and contrasted with one another.

THIS comparison of instruction models is EXCELLENT!

The assumed historical 'reality' of the types of artists each system was capable of producing serves as a spring board for discussions on how philosophical discourse influences the instruction model. The book addresses the question of "what body of knowledge is central to the education of an artist?" Is it life drawing, technical and mechanical skills or is it a selected reading and immersion in the liberal arts(i.e.- should an artist have a classical education w/ emphasis on Greek literature -or- postmodernist and shifting in emphasis related to an artist's native culture?_)

Elkin's book fully illustrates the very real world dilemna that students interested in the visual arts face when choosing between "art schools" and small "Liberal arts colleges." "Art schools" tend to only be interested in art, with a myriad of opportunities to be exposed to the art world, with little if any exposure to core general education courses. Paradoxically, the art schools are also places where one is likely to find the latest art theory in deployment despite an 'art school'student populace that MAY NOT have the educational background to engage in meaningful discussion with instructors. The situation is the exact inverse with students at "liberal arts colleges" (and the university in general) where the student is academically armed, yet, is enrolled in significantly less demanding studio courses. "Liberal Arts colleges" and art departments of universities,while providing excellant general education for an art student -most barely engage in the issues of making Studio Art much beyond the dilettante level. Elkins makes a very fine point of emphasis on what is either impractical or too obscure to teach about art in the general curriculum of both classroom enviroments-i.e.-such things as art that uses obscure techniques, extremely radical and/or conservative methods. He deals with that rarely mentioned art class phenomenon- "the critque"- where the student presents thier work to the class to be analyized. Elkins illuminates 'The critque' of art schools (and studio art departments) in a manner that should deal with every sort of postive and negative experience that could be siphoned from such an ordeal.

Essentially the heart of "Why Art Cannot be Taught" is to illuminate what works and what makes 'sense' to teach in the pedantic school environment about art. Elkin's thesis ("that art cannot be taught") is a descriptive interpretation of the reality that art education like 'true art', the 100%creative stuff, is something unique and irrational that can't be easily duplicated at the whim of educators. A must for anyone that has interest in the peculiarities of being a student of the visual arts!

all art students and profs should have to read this
The author details art instruction through the ages and discusses the question asked in the title. Art and artists would be so much better thought of by society, and art istself would improve, if the ideas in this book were taken seriously. It is a DEEP book, not for casual reading.

Insider Conversation
Chatty and irresistable, rather than being the harsh polemic that the title might suggest, this volume is a multifaceted discussion of the issues involved in teaching and studying art in a studio environment. Anyone who has ever lived through a studio critique will find the book hard to put down. Like Elkin's earlier work, "What Painting Is," it will make any art-student readers wish that they could study with him at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Despite the provocative title, Elkins has very little interest in transforming arts education. Rather, he wants to point to both the virtues and the pitfalls of critique-based evaluation, and to get both teachers and students to appreciate just what a mysterious and irrational process it is to attempt to teach/learn the studio arts.

The author is an insider speaking candidly for other insiders -- the audience for this valuable and intelligent essay may not be huge, but within that group, it will stimulate many electrifying conversations. ... Read more

Book Description

This innovative book helps readers develop a personal philosophy and an artful approach to teaching.This text uses the premise that teacher choices set the stage for a balanced approach to art education that considers the child, society, and the curriculum.This book provides information regarding artistic development, artistic behavior and methodology for developing curriculum across the developmental spectrum. The reader is directly addressed as each chapter presents recent research along with important concepts to understand, focuses on different aspects of art education, and outlines advantages and challenges of making the suggested choices, and also includes suggested activities so readers can act upon content.For art teachers at the elementary or secondary education level or students studying to be art teachers. ... Read more