Reviews (6)

Excellent source for both art students and instructors
I am presently an art student working toward my degree in teaching college level art. This book is a wonderful source of information for both art students and teachers. The topics are covered very thoroughly and in an understandable fashion. Some of the topics covered in this book are: sighting (excellent content on sighting), principals of composition, value, space and depth, the human figure and anatomy, gesture drawing, portraiture, perspective (very, very well done), establishing a classroom environment, preparing group critiques, diagnosing problems in student work, suggested homework assignments, preparing a slide library, building a resume, and much, much more. Every chapter is extremely well written and contains a wealth of information. It presents a solid foundation for those of us who will be entering the teaching field of art, and for those of you already in it. This book will help you reinforce your art skills, along with prepare you for the ability to teach the knowledge that you have to others. I would give this book 10 stars if it were permitted.

Teaching Assistantships Must Buy This Book!
This is really an essential book for any teaching assistant, especially if the feel overwhelmed with the task at hand. The book is aimed at educators, a gap that was left open by many other drawing books. Any faculty overseeing graduate students would be well advised to recommend this book to their students. I think that it has one of the strongest sections on teaching perspective that I have encountered. There is little however that encourages experimentation or media exploration. It does offer a clear approach to teaching perceptual drawing. The book also provides sample syllabi, a teaching philosophy, and examples of letters of recommendation. This may be the essential book for someone attending the College Art Assoc. for the first time.

No TA or new art faculty should be without it!
When most artists attend graduate school they are thrown into the position of teaching freshmen level art courses with little or no preparation for doing so. Luckily, Professor Rockman has come along to provide in her book a clear and concise education on the teaching of foundations level art. I was lucky to have been a student of Ms. Rockman's and only survived my experience as a Teaching Assistant by having had her example as an instructor to draw upon. Now anyone who picks up this book can draw upon her reservoir of experience and insight. "The Art of Teaching Art" is a tremendous resource, one that no TA or new art faculty should be without. I cannot recommend it highly enough!

Great for artists as well as teachers!
I found this book to help my art as well as my teaching. Great book.

Finally some help for college level teachers!
This book is what every person needs who is teaching art in a college or university setting. It's actually got a lot of helpful information for non-art faculty as well. It is so thorough and so clear, and the illustrations make it evident that this author knows what she is talking about. It's one of those books that I will refer to over and over again. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Create lively, realistic clothing & drapery in your drawings

This is an excellent *solutions manual* for the artist who draws human figures or includes fabrics in his or her drawings. If you already draw, and you want to create dynamic fabrics and clothing in your work, this book is for you. The study of wrinkles and drapery in this text very impressive, and was exactly what I was looking for.

***Note: If you don't already know how to draw, this book won't be of much help, as no drawing techniques are included to show you *how* to draw these wrinkles. Some basic drawing knowledge is needed, and assumed. Used with other drawing technique books, however, I think even the beginning art student could get some good theories, understanding and ideas out of this book.***

What makes clothing look natural and lively is how it flows and folds with the body when you sit, stand and move. This text explains how fabric flows with the body and naturally folds in a variety of different situations.

Chapters cover how the body moves and how its movement and positioning effect clothing. Chapters also cover the various types of wrinkles found in clothing and other draped fabric, including:

- direct thrust wrinkles (wrinkles created when the body extends and pulls on the clothing),
- bend wrinkles (seen when the body bends and twists, particularly on arms and legs),
- crossing wrinkles (wrinkles in a zig-zag pattern, coming from two directions, often seen on loose clothing),
- compression wrinkles (outward pulling wrinkles created by crushing or squeezing of fabric),
- fragmentation wrinkles (seen on older, worn fabrics as lasting impressions in the fabric, or when movement is uncertain),
- swag and hanging wrinkles (think drapery, roman clothing, capes, and flowy or heavy dresses),
- trap and closure wrinkles (when a crossing wrinkle traps or blocks off another wrinkle flowing in a different direction),
- flying wrinkles (wrinkles affected by air or wind movement), and
- passive, inert, and lying wrinkles (flowing wrinkles on non-moving fabric).

Lastly, the text briefly but effectively covers wrinkle patterns, and how wrinkles are affected by different textures and types of material.

I think this book does a very effective job of classifying and explaining wrinkles so that their use in drawing makes sense. Its a very good solutions manual to help you achieve realistic looking clothing and drapery. I highly recommend it to the dedicated artist.

Contents
How a buyer I think that what you need is to know the content of this book and like always, you will have the last word: Contents: -Understand kinetic forces -Direct thrust wrinkles -Bend wrinkles -Crossing wrinkles -Compression wrinkles -fragmentation wrinkles -swag and hanging wrinkles -trap and closure wrinkles -flying wrinkles -Passive,inert and lying wrinkles -wrinkle patters,textures and materials. All explained with male and female figure It has 144 pages Presentation:Dynamic Wrinkles and Drapery is latest book in Burne Hogarth's continuing exploration of the problems and solutions involving the study of the human figure.Through a series of extraordinary drawings and diagrams,Hogarth,famous for his "Dynamic" style, shows how to depict wrinkles,folds,and drapery.His basic idea is that an accurate rendering of wrinkle patterns depends on understanding how the actions of a figure provoke any material.Thoroughly covering a subject often overlooked,this book is a landmark in the art instruction field,both for its clear expression of a hitherto difficult-to explain topic and for its informative and entertaining illustrations. Copyright 1995.

I neglected Hogarth as a teacher for too long!
I ordered this book along with "Drawing Dynamic Hands," also by Hogarth (it's excellent as well). I'd been doing mostly figure study, and it was time to make the jump to clothing. I realized I had no idea what a wrinkle looked like (you'd never guess that from my clothes!).

This is a really great book! It's always easier to practice using interpretations that have been filtered through the eyes of other artists. Hogarth's style is exaggerated, but this is exactly what makes this book a great learning tool and reference.

I do understand how someone could be put-off by this type of illustration, but I feel the principals shown in the book can be applied to other styles as well. I happen to like this style of illustration -- it's probably nostalgia on my part; I grew up reading comics illustrated by Burne Hogarth -- but I was worried that it was inadequate for learning fine-art. I find now that I was wrong about Hogarth as a teacher. His books have helped me improve my technique, without changing my style overmuch. His exaggerations illustrate and teach the concepts well, without requiring one to duplicate them.

Can't find this info anywhere else
You absolutely need a good background in human anatomy (i.e. the skeleton, muscles, and nude figure) before tackling this book. That said, I have not seen anyone else describe the rules of how fabric hangs, stretches, and crinkles on the stationary and moving human body (and on furniture). "Lines" on clothing I just thought of as a confusing and arbitrary muddle turn out to be much more systematic than I ever imagined.

He groups wrinkles by the forces exerted to produce them -- direct thrust, bend, crossing, compression (a subclass of crossing wrinkles), fragmentation, swag/hanging, trap/closure, flying, and passive/inert/lying wrinkles. I still don't understand the chapter on fragmentation wrinkles (hence only 4 stars), but all the other categories were clearly described and illustrated. He also notes the differences in wrinkles caused by different thicknesses or textures of fabric.

His examples are heavily influenced by his decades of professional experience in adventure comics (e.g. Tarzan) and period illustration, but the rules they reveal still apply. Fashions change, but how fabric behaves on the body is eternal. Essential.

Awkward and dated
I really don't care much for Hogarth's style or drawing at all. This book was not worth the money I spent on it. ... Read more

Book Description

Primarily designed to help visual art students make the transition from art school to their own practice, this book is also an excellent resource for practicing artists. This new edition continues to focus on all aspects of the emerging artist's career-studio practice, including developing ties in the art world, documenting work, exhibiting art, writing about art, taking on curatorial responsibilities, addressing financial and legal concerns, and attending graduate school. The text demonstrates how students can make things happen for their careers, in addition to helping them find and approach already-existing outlets for their work. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Lazzari's book is a vital tool, for serious studio artists.
It is a long road from Art School graduation to solo shows in major galleries. Lazzari's book is a vital tool to help navigate that road. The book is filled with practical information, on the business of being an artist, and opportunities in the arts.Much of the information is information you don't, normally, get in Art Schools.
Every serious artist needs help with the practical out of the studio stuff. If you do not have a dealer (you trust) or someone who manages your career and finaces, you can use this book. I have bought this book for friends and serious students in the arts.

Not for a serious visual artist
Sorry to disagree with Ms Lazarri's friends but this book should be accurately titled "artist-lite". It is strictly for an amateur - a Sunday painter - and not for an artist serious in pursuing a career in the visual arts.

If this is how you define yourself then this is a book for you.

Been looking for a second copy...
I gave my old copy to a friend that was starting out as a sculptor. This book is a comprehensive handbook for anyone wanting to become an artist, or one that has already started. I love that it has a section that shows how to take proper photographs of your artwork to send slides for shows. It is also nice that there are parts where established artists tell a little on how they do it and give helpful advice. It is very helpful. A must for the emerging artist.

Fantastic and Very Helpful from one who knows
I bought this book two years ago and never forgot the section on applying to grad schools. I followed Lazzari's advice and got into six of the seven grad programs I applied to. I cannot say how important this book is to anyone wishing to further their lives as a creative person. The advice and suggestions are invaluable.

The best book on learning to deal in the art world!
Lazzari, is an amazing artist, as well as writer. I used this book for a Gallery Managment course at El Camino College in Torrance, CA taught by Christian Mounger. While taking this course, we exhibited some of Lazzari's work's in our Gallery, and she gave an insightful lecture on this subject. It is excellent! I am still using it, and recommending it to others. It is well written, in sightful, and useful! A must have for all seaching a career in Art. ... Read more

Book Description

Using a wealth of examples, Arnheim considers the factorsthatdetermine the overall organization of visual form in works of painting,sculpture, and architecture. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

More scientific than artistic
The book reads like a complicated mathematical college text book. The author either tries to impress you with his knowledge of the english language or confuse you with the ideology behind his observations in artistic composition. I found the book to be very confusing and at times boring enough to put it aside and read something else. The author does relate some good input when critiquing paintings but you need pay complete attention to the beginning of the book in order to understand his complicated formulas. It is definetely not an easy read, and not for the artist. This book is for the art critic who tries to find scientific formulas for the study of composition.

The Power of the Center: A Study of Composition in the visua
This book offers an in-depth analysis of the visual dynamics in a piece of art according to the sizes, positions, orientations and the balancing centers of its components. Paintings, sculptures and architectures are the subjects of discussions in the book. In addition to the balance between the components of a piece of art, the shape of a picture frame, the environment, the perspective prescribed by the artist and the viewer all play an important role in the interpretation of a piece art. The author takes an step-by-step approach to explain how the understanding of the roles of all these elements would help us to appreciate a piece of art. Many examples, modern and classical, are provided to demonstrate his points. I find his approach to understanding a piece of art interesting and revealing. This is one of the best books I ever read about arts. I think this book would benefit aspiring artists and art enthusiasts alike. I would hane given it five stars instead of four and a half if the pictures in the book were in color. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Interesting and great pictures
The book contains page after page of wonderful color photographs of various works of art. The descriptions and analysis are very interesting. The only problem is that the book is small (142 pgs) and can't cover that many pieces. The book also contains a useful vocabulary section in the back that describes some of the art terms in the book. ... Read more

Book Description

As an artist, do you know how to present your work with clarity, confidence and professional credibility? Writing the Artist Statement: Revealing the True Spirit of Your Work guides artists, of all genres, on how to smoke out the relevant ideas they already possess about their art. Because the good news is, in spite of self-conscious objections about writing, artists can recover their own words. Using clear and accessible language, Writing the Artist Statement invites you to build a psychological bridge between ART AND AUDIENCE by tapping into the exact words that will portray the singular spirit of your work. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

EXTREMELY HELPFUL
From the beginning to the end I found "Writing the Artist Statement" easy to follow, inspirational, informative,and understanding.
With Arianes' encouragement, all along the way, I was able to get through the sticky parts of writing an artist statement. Now the reader can easily flow through the words and understand what I do, how I do it and most importantly why I do it.

INCREDIBLY HELPFUL!
Goodwin has given artists a goldmine. Not only does this book finally explain exactly what an aritst statement is, it also showed me how much an aritst statement can do for me. If you've ever struggled with writing an artist's statement, the exercises in this book will pull you right through to the end. And best of all, the book saved me a lot of time because it is concise without missing a beat. Who wants to read a zillion words when the author knows how to use the right ten words to tell you what you need to know?

Grossly overpriced
This slim tome is grossly overpriced for the amount of actual information contained in it. It could be condensed into a small pamphlet and should sell for perhaps $1.99 tops. ... The one example given at the end of the book of an artist statement that the author thinks is great struck me as pretentious and badly written. I'd rather not know anything personal about an artist than to get the impression that he or she is a pretentious twit, which seems to be what the author favors, judging by that one example. So skip this one, artists, and spend the money on supplies instead.

A Superb Addition to the Artist's and Art Lover's Library
Ariane Goodwin is to be commended for tackling the improbable and previously impossible task of aiding visual artists in breaking the fear barrier of writing the ubiquitous Artist Statement. This exceedingly well written manual has the wisdom to begin with discussing just why the artist statement is a valid tool in bringing artists of every kind to the highest professional level. Goodwin knows all too well the negative view held by most artists that "If the viewer doesn't understand my work by looking at it, then why should I have to explain it in words?" In a warm, supporting manner Goodwin proceeds to remove all the negative aura of using words to express the inner, soulful approach to art that many artists fear sharing for whatever reason. She maintains that words are the tools of language, our means of expression, and that when artists overcome the fear of putting their 'private selves' into the written word, their own windows of exploration open and they are empowered to create better art because they are able to discourse with the outside world what heretofore was the inner sanctum labelled 'creativity'. Goodwin is a fine teacher (she holds a doctorate in Human Development & Creative Behavior and teaches at Loveland Academy of Fine Arts, giving workshops for artists and even advises through her website ...and much of this book is a tightly composed course on teaching her methods of learning to write artist statements for the beginning and the seasoned artist.

But another aspect of this book that may just go unnoticed is the value of Goodwin's theories about the artist's psyche that is bound to be helpful to gallery owners, artist's representatives, and the collecting public at large. We are exposed in a most supportive way to the minds of creative people, why they find it difficult to discuss their gifts, put words to feelings and visual responses, and why they find it difficult to meet the public at Artist Receptions for their work or to answer interviewers questions for the media in all forms. This is where this 'self-help' book advances beyond a mere tool and instead becomes a thoughtful, thought-provoking treatise on Creativity. Ariane Goodwin has succeeded where few have even ventured: she anchors the bridge between the artist and the viewer without any of the pompous pitfalls of other teachers (read 'frustrated artists'). This book is bound to be an invaluable text for all art schools, liberal arts schools, artists in every field of making art, gallery owners, writers, and art collectors. Brava! ... Read more

Book Description

The most thorough guide to watercolor materials and techniques ever assembled in a single volume, this is the book for anyone working with watercolors, from beginners to experienced artists looking to develop more professional skills.Starting with a comprehensive, up-to-date review of the tools and techniques required to master the art of watercolor, the book then presents detailed lessons in basic drawing skills. Design concepts are explored: line and shape, light and dark, perspective, and composition. All the major watercolor painting techniques are shown: methods for laying washes, preserving white areas, glazing, establishing form, creating textural effects, lifting color, masking, and using resists. With color the driving force behind the author's whole approach to painting and his distinctive "organic" handling of the medium, color theories and strategies are clearly explained and applied to a wide range of subjects-still life, figures, landscapes, and architecture-some of which pair watercolors with other mediums such as gouache, pastel, and collage. An ongoing reference source, this is a book that watercolorists will turn to again and again for guidance. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

WC BOOK
Seems that the high ratings reviews shown here are more like long winded hype sales pitches than customer feedback. Especially when they indicate that all readers found the review helpful. I have not purchased this book nevertheless I place more credibility in the low raters. I pass on this one.

Don't waste your money
Not enough information to warrant you buying this watercolor book. You can select many more that give much better instruction and more technical advice. Not sure who is writing these other reviews but beware of this one. Pleased to be able to share!

Not an inspiring watercolor book.
For beginnings, insulting if your're not. Repeated material.

Dense with watercolor information
David Dewey's text on watercolor is not just another vanity book showcasing one artist's personal work, but a thorough in-depth introduction to both visualizing & handling a most difficult medium. Nor does it pretend to be an easy does it 1-2-3 & your painting watercolors type of book. Rather it is layered & dense with information that could easily keep you preoccupied for a year or more worth of instruction. Start with the monochromatic exercises in the beginning of the book & follow them religiously till you know them blindfolded. Do the same with the invaluable content on color theory & the related exercises. The lessons provided will reward you with a mastery of the medium & help you to find your own voice in watercolor. This book is not another feeble attempt at learning to carbon copy of someone else's technique. The many examples of various watercolor artist's work & their analysis is excellent as well.

the best watercolor guide available
This is a model of concise instruction, wise advice, deceptively simple exercises, and compact design. Like they say on TV: if you buy just one watercolor book, make it this one.

Dewey gives equal emphasis to materials, theory, technique, the principles of design, and simple practice. He sees the whole art. He begins with an overview of paint manufacturers, brushes, papers and other supplies, and closes with an invitation to try mixed media and a step-by-step explanation of how to do a large studio painting. There are penetrating discussions of color theory and mixing paints, on selecting the palette for each painting, and on building a painting from value sketches.

The technical advice in this book is exceptionally accurate and easy to understand. The four pages explaining how to paint washes avoid the errors or omissions common in most other books. All topics are illustrated with pictures that add information rather than decorate the page. Dewey includes several traditional techniques that other methods don't mention: pen and ink wash drawings, value design sketches, using a sketchbook, monochrome paintings, color chords for color design, the "color" of gray, and much more. The book is so compactly organized that many gems of advice are tucked in the picture captions; the book can be studied repeatedly and still teach something new.

Dewey has painted the student lessons and technical examples displayed throughout the book. The more advanced lessons build on simple but beautifully designed demonstration paintings (my favorite is the still life on a patterned rug). Everything comes together in a harmonious vision of watercolor art, a reference and inspiration for many hours of happy experimentation and learning. ... Read more

Book Description

If you can write, you can learn to draw, as this complete course for the beginner demonstrates in ten easy-to-follow lessons. Practical examples, step-by-step demonstrations and finished drawings reveal the whole process in detail, allowing beginners to progress their skills in easy stages and develop their creativity as they go. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

It is what it saids!!! A drawing workbook!!
This is a Fantastic book to practice drawing and not have to think about what to draw but getting used to the idea of drawing and what steps to take. It is well written and the KEY! EASY TO FOLLOW!! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Concise, Precise, Exact
This book contains all the principles a portrait artist needs to know. It is extremely useful for all levels of ability. It covers everything from the rudiments of the construction of the head to practical advice for composition. I really feel this book help to shape and refine my technique. I recommend trying to draw all the examples as you go through it. Then reread it one more time for a more thorough understanding.

A must-have for any artist
Jose Parramon's book is a necessity for any artist. This book not only includes a canon for the standards of proportions, but takes you step-by-step thorough the process of drawing a successful portrait. He also includes information on drawing children as well as older adults. This is one of the most helpful and complete book on drawing portraits I have every owned! ... Read more

Book Description

Peggy Macnamara, the only artist-in-residence at Chicago's Field Museum, shares her unique "No-Fear" approach to capturing all forms of wildlife in living, luminous watercolor.Co-author Marlene Hill Donnelly,Field Museum Scientific Illustrator and third-generation painter, discloses in-depth information on color, paint properties, and design learned over a lifetime of art study and practice. In Painting Wildlife in Watercolor, Peggy demonstrates her singular method, which relies on a gradual layering of washes that eliminates the rigid and disaster-prone formulas of traditional watercolor painting. Peggy and Marlene provide clear and simple instructions for any beginning to advanced artist wanting to know about creating life-like renderings of everything from fur to feathers, along with Peggy's detailed illustrations of a vast range of both familiar and exotic animals. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A wonderful book that teaches great techniques!
I took classes from Peggy years ago. I had forgotten some of her techniqes and ordered this book...reading it is like being back in class. She goes through her amazing process step by step with color photographs and clear instruction. This is a valuable watercolor technique book, don't pass it up if you are serious about making some eye popping wildlife paintings.
Thank you Peggy!

Very informative
I received this book for Christmas and was very impressed. It has so much information and great pictures. I am a self taught beginning water color painter. Very well written book that I could understand. I just hope she comes out with more.

BUY THIS BOOK!
Buy this book and save yourself thousands of dollars literally. As a student of Peggy at the Art Institute of Chicago I know. I paid tons of money to go to art school. Almost everything I learned from Peggy you can learn from this book. Plus it is an excellent showcase of her artwork. One of the best draftsman you'll ever see. Stop reading this and go buy it.

Fearless technique to painting wildlife
This book is outstanding! Peggy shows approaches to watercolor that make if fun for the beginer as well as an advanced painter. Her tecniques could be used in many aplications, not just wildlife. A beautifuly written and illustrated book.

How to, that actually works
The beautiful images from the Field Museum notwithstanding, this is a how-to manual that actually offers watercolor methods that work. The reward is in the process. No Fear! I highly recommend picking up the book, gathering your art supplies, and getting started.

Thank you Peggy & Marlene ... Read more

Book Description

Starting with simple projects to help build your confidence, Sketching School will be your personal tutor, showing you step-by-step how to develop the basic artistic skills you need to produce quality sketches.40 specially devised projects. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

good resource
This book is an excellent guide for anyone who draws and wants to keep a sketchbook. There are great examples and information that cover many techniques and themes. My only complaint is that the price is too high. On the content alone, i would give 5 stars. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

One of the best
The author is a medical illustrator and her familiarity with human anatomy is evident with each drawing in this book. Both male and female anatomy is presented, and the differences between each are noted. Where possible, the anatomical and finished drawings are placed side by side so that underlying musculoskeletal features are shown on the surface. Most of the drawings are of dynamic poses to show how the parts of the body work together. This book will be one of your primary references on human anatomy.

If you want to draw the human figure, click the "buy" button
I was struggling to get the concept of drawing the human figure even though I was enrolled in a figure drawing this class. Within a week of buying this book, and this is true, I was drawing extremely well applying what I seen and learned from the book to my drawings. The book shows you both the anatomy of the body, something extremely helpful since you'll need to know what goes where when you draw, and the bone structure and how one bone connect to the other. Louise Gordon's drawings are simply magnificent and can easy be achieved just by reading her notes and drawing the way she does. Once you do you can easily apply it towards your own drawing technique. And with the many depictions of famous artist drawing renderings, this book with give you a very high jolt in artistic vision to where it's impossible for you to not improve. Do yourself a favor, BUY-THE-BOOK and also check out her other books. If you start a collection of How To books, Louise Gordon should be a primary choice.

A SATISFIED READER
I thought that this book was great. It was really helpful. It had many great and useful tips on the human anatomy, which really helped me alot since I couldn't draw the human figure if my life depended on it lol. Now at least you can tell it's a human. ... Read more

Book Description

The latest entry in the successful Serious Beginner Series. Now the world's leading authority on oil pastel demonstrates, step by step, how you can become a master of this increasingly popular medium! Oil pastels are easy and flexible to work with, offering artists a virtually unlimited treasury of creative potential. They're also considered a safe alternative to soft pastels. Oil Pastel for the Serious Beginner shows both new and veteran artists how to make the most of this fabulous medium.Lessons progress simply and clearly from easy subjects and techniques to the more difficult and complex. First, artists learn how to use oil pastels to create traditional paintings in still life, landscape, and portraiture. Then, they'll discover 12 special, experimental techniques that push the medium of oil pastel to its limits-including impasto, etching, washes, and monoprint; stencil and screen techniques; and even methods for combining oil pastel with soft pastel and mixed media. Whether one is an an amateur artist or experienced veteran, Oil Pastel for the Serious Beginner is the ideal one-stop source for mastering of this popular medium. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

OK but not enlightening
Oil pastel is a very difficult medium to master and I bought this book looking for some kind of enlightenment that would help me become accomplished in the medium. Maybe my expectations were too high, but I was rather disappointed.

The book provides a wealth of examples of work of the artist intermingled with oil-pastel-evangelist preaching and information on techniques used. However even the step-by-steps didn't really help me to get from one step to the next and I was left kind of bewildered where I started.

This is the only book on the market that deals exclusively with oil pastels. This is the reason I bought it and as such, it is probably worth buying. However don't expect enlightenment.

Figurative Sculptor
As a figurative sculptor I know how to draw and I have been perusing various art books looking for an interesting new medium in which to draw. This book managed to convince me that oil pastels are just the thing.

John Elliot has included sufficient information in this book to allow an artist to work in this medium. This book contains a lot of practical advice on materials and oil pastel techniques. To integrate this information it contains six illustrated demonstrations that walk though a drawing from its beginning to its completion. In addition the book is well laid out and contains extremely numerous photographic illustrations. ... Read more

Book Description

In the mid 1920's a teacher at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago had a vision to provide students and instructors with a textbook that would introduce them to the artistic legacy of not only Europe, but of the entire globe. In 1926, Harcourt Brace and Company published that vision - ART THROUGH THE AGES. Since that time, Helen Gardner's vision has been the leader in educating students about the artistic legacy of the world. For the past 75 years, ART THROUGH THE AGES has defined the introductory art history course. The intention of this classic, in Helen Gardner's words, has been "to introduce the reader to certain phases of art, architecture, painting, sculpture, and the minor arts from the remote days of the glacial age in Europe, through successive civilizations of the Near East, Europe, America, and the Orient, to the twentieth century." Now, as we begin a new millennium, we do so with the eleventh edition. This text is more accessible and easier to read for students, but does not compromise the richness of the Gardner tradition. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

College
i used this entire book for 3 art history courses. its an excellent book with great examples and photographs.

the quintessential art history book there is
Despite 10 pound book up four flights of stairs at school, I found that this book is one of the most resourceful. There is a historical timeline that parallels goings on in the rest of the world that is very helpful so that you could get the gist of what's going on at the time. Also, in the text itself, it gives definitive explanations to what is happening at the time so that you can understand fully what the artist is saying or where he/she is coming from. For those who do not know classics, bibilical stories, and other things, there are also good explanations for those, so the reader/student is enlightened and erstwhile, in comprehension of the work. Absolutely the best resource when it comes to art history and the interpretation of art.

Comprehensive Source
As a high school sophomore using this book as a reference source for art history AP class has been quite an experience. While encompassing many of the major aspects of art history, there are some points it fails to acknowledge and which can only be addressed by a teacher who actually knows his stuff. The only other complaint that at 13 1/2 lbs., it's very hard to trudge up four flights of stairs.

New!
Book came within a week and was still in original wrapping. No complaints.

Essential for anybody interested in art
Short review: ... buy it. If it requires selling vital organs or loved ones to pay for it, it's worth it.

Long review: I enrolled in an Art History course with no idea what I was going to get as a textbook. This book is well-written, intelligent, informative without being overly esoteric, and above all beautiful. The prints are generally in color and always well-reproduced. Historical context is always provided, which gives a solid background for anybody looking to learn about the time any artwork was created. The text also offers insightful commentary about each piece selected for display. This book is so good, in fact, that it's become known as the semi-official Art History 101 textbook. Even if the history's not your thing (and for crying out loud, why not?), the book provides untold hours of beauty.

One word: perfection. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Add collage watercolor for intersting & beautiful results
This book delves into the fascinating technique of adding collage elements to watercolor paintings. Basically, this is adding bits of paper of various shapes, textures & colors to the surface to enhance the painting over them.

Experimentation to develop a personal style is stressed here. Basic principles of texture, layering, contrast and color are explored first. Then you see how these elements are incorporated into finished paintings.

The author is an accomplished master of this technique. Many examples of his work are shown in progress & completed. He emphasizes throughout how artists of any level in any medium can apply these concepts to their work.

Whether or not you decide to emulate Brommer's work, this book is a great springboard of ideas and ways of looking at the painting process. It is filled with solid and helpful ideas. ... Read more

Book Description

Absolute Beginners guides represent a fresh new series of drawing and painting books for budding artists written by professional artist/ teachers. In You Can Sketch, master artist Jackie Simmonds leads the novice by the hand, demonstrating dozens of step-by-step, easy-to-follow techniques using a variety of sketching media.Over 100 clear, full-color illustrations show readers how to sketch the separate elements of simple still life and landscape subjects one by one in pencil, charcoal, colored pencil, pastel pencil, and Conté crayon. Explicit instructions demonstrate how easy it is to combine these different elements to make a finished picture. With You Can Sketch, even the most hesitant artists will gain confidence and start sketching fast! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Sketching as a Hobby
I decided to do some sketching as a hobby. This book was perfecto. It is easy to understand and explains basic methods used. Simmonds explains exactly which parts of your subject to focus on and where to start. It also gives a good list of materials to use but simple pencils are all you need. I love this book because it gets me excited about sketching.

Very Basic but a good place to begin
The title says it all for this book. The author skillfully takes the reader on a step-by-step tour of basic sketching techniques. Throughout the book each project has detailed illustrations showing how the sketches should look as the reader follows along. It covers several drawing media including pencils, charcoal, pastel pencils, water soluble colored pencils, etc. The instruction covers basic sketching, shading, and composition techniques. Sketching subjects in the lessons include fruits, vegetables, natural forms, plants, flowers, trees, skies, water, landscapes, animals, people, buildings, people and the seaside. If you have had no art training and don't know where to begin or just want to try your hand at sketching then this is an excellent place to start. ... Read more

Book Description

In this innovative guide, master art instructor William Maughan demonstrates how to create a realistic human likeness by using the classic and highly accurate modeling technique of chiaroscuro (Italian for "light and dark") developed by Leonardo da Vinci during the High Renaissance.Maughan first introduces readers to the basics of this centuries-old technique, showing how to analyze form, light, and shadow; use dark pencil, white pencil, and toned paper tocreate a full range of values; use the elements of design to enhance a likeness; and capture a sitter's gestures and proportions. He then demonstrates, step by step, how to draw each facial feature, develop visual awareness, and render the head in color with soft pastels. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

not "complete" at all...
"The Artist's Complete Guide to Drawing the Head" by William L. Maughan, Watson-Guptill Pub, $24.95 160 pages

is a bit of a boast in the title. It is not "complete" because every portrait model shown here holds a totally passive expression. Not one shows the least bit of emotion; neither fear, anger, joy, leering, laughing, scowling or anticipation. They simply stare vacuously straight ahead or to the side with an empty, torpid expression. A really "complete" guide to any kind of drawing will show some animation.

The bestializized Half-human/half-hog, and Half-human/half-elephant, or Half-human/half-vampire portraits are entirely beyond the scope of the topic, pertaining to fantasy art and not human anatomy.

The list price of $24.95 is understandable, after all, it's a hardcover rather than a paperbound book.

If you enjoy alternatively, lifeless portraiture and fantasy portraiture, this book is for you.

Great for intermediate
This book is perfect for people with some traditional art training. It was great fun for me since I have taken sight-size training at the Los Angeles Figurative Academy taught by Adrian Gottlieb. Although I didn't feel like I'd made any progress while I was there, now I realized that those tedious sight-size trainings really were the stepping stone toward drawing well. This book complements those trainings. If you have sight-sized skills in your pocket, you can easily applied the theory in this book. Now I am able to draw my family members with great accuratecy and artistic expressions. My drawings look like they were done by someone who had been training for years....(actually, it took me three years of searching for the right techniques before I finally found Sight-Sizing). Remember, there is no such thing as instant shortcut to art training.

Clear, useful book on portrait drawing
As a previous reviewer has noted, the title of this book is a bit misleading- it's not a "complete" guide to drawing the head. It really has a rather narrow focus: it concentrates on drawing three-quarter view portraits with (if you follow Maugham's instruction precisely) using two particular colors of pastel pencil on shaded drawing paper. In addition to his specific materials and subjects, Maughan concentrates on teaching chiaroscuro (use of light and shadow to depict form) in a "classical realist" style. However, for what the book really does, it does quite well. Keeping a narrow focus in a drawing instruction book is a virtue. Many drawing books (and I have a lot, since I've been trying to teach myself) try to cover far too much. They try to summarize in a page or two each of the different drawing mediums (pastel, charcoal, pencil, pen, etc.) and different elements of drawing (line, tone, etc.) while not giving you enough depth or detail about any one thing to learn much that's useful. Maughan, though, sticks to his central focus, describes the basic principles of chiaroscuro in an understandable manner, breaks down his drawing process into basic steps, and provides more demonstrations and detail than most books of this sort. The best evidence I can give in its favor is that my drawing immediately improved after I read this book and started practicing its techniques (even though I've mostly been using pencil rather pastel, so you don't have to precisely follow Maughan's recommendations).

Overall, it's one of the clearest and most useful drawing instruction books that I've seen. It's not really an ideal book for people just taking the first steps in learning to draw realistic portraits (for absolute beginners I would still recommend Betty Edwards' flawed but effective "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain"). It doesn't have much depth on some of the things that beginners need to learn, such as judging proportion. However, it's a good book to use early in your drawing career.

Title is misnomer.
THE ARTIST'S COMPLETE GUIDE TO DRAWING THE HEAD isn't really a complete guide; it doesn't teach one how to draw the head from different viewpoints nor does it give information about using a variety of drawing approaches and media. It's subject is portraits done in a specific technique using particular materials. The technique: chiaroscuro, the non-linear use of light and shadow to define form. The materials: a red pastel pencil, a white pastel pencil and gray charcoal paper. The author, an instructor with 30 years of experience, states that it is "foolishness (to teach) students to describe nature through line" and that using Chiaroscuro is a more convincing alternative method to create three dimensions on a two dimensional surface. Mr. Maughan's method relies on shadows as the guideposts to accurate drawing. He writes, "It's all in the shadows. If the shadows are correct in size, shape, and placement, the likeness, sex, age, nationality, and the expression will be captured. The illusion will be lifelike and appear three-dimensional." I know from my own experience that this is true. And if you are an intermediate drawing student and are already well acquinted with the basics, this book will prove helpful in advancing you to the next level of draftsmanship. But, if you are a beginner, this book won't be very helpful because the absolute drawing basics of gesture, measuring, blocking in and mapping are not presented. That said, I recommend this book to you if you have some drawing experience under your belt. The first five chapters address drawing face and features using the author's method and chapter six instructs about working with color (using pastels). The material that IS here is complete, exacting and informative. The finished drawings are lovely and the informational illustrations are clear and helpful. A good book, just not the the book promised in its title. I wouldn't be surprised if an editor chose the title and for their misdeed I give the book only 3 stars. ... Read more