1 comments about The Painterly Approach: An Artist's Guide To Seeing, Painting And Expressing.

1. Bob Rohm's, "The Painterly Approach," is an excellent addition to any artist's library for learning the keys and some advanced concepts of oil painting. I especially enjoyed his discussion on the difference between the "linear approach" to oil painting and the "painterly approach." One of the best instruction books I've ever read. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to improve their oil and plein air skills.

5 comments about The Painted Quilt: Paint and Print Techniques for Color on Quilts.

1. First off, all the other reviewers are right on the mark when it comes to this book, yet I wanted to add a few words that might help others choose this book for their library. For one, the page on the subject "Inspired to Design" is just the beginning of the subject covered in detail through the rest of the book, but its place at the beginning is so true - test projects on paper before using fabric and thread. A must do and often ignored when the lovely fabrics, delicate threads, and other embellishments come before us on our creating table. Yet if we do use paper, ink, paint and collage FIRST, we may be able to decrease error in judgement or come up with a more inspiring product. Artists, like me, often just want to dive in, yet this book really provides the information and inspiration to do it right. Excellent words. Plus the subtle reminders of safety when using some products is also extremely important to me and the authors remind us all to keep this knowledge foremost in our minds. The images that go along with the instructions are often more beneficial than the words, often the other way around in other books, but this one does it right. THE PAINTED QUILT is a fascinating read from cover to cover and, YES, fiber/fabric artists will refer to this book over and over again, if not for guidance, for definite inspiration.



2. Informative and well illustrated ideas for using other mediums on fabric surfaces. Good reference for the fabric artist or aspiring fabric artist. Includes photographs documenting various processes. Once read, I really felt as though I could successfully accomplish the ideas presented. Inspiring.



3. This book provides technical expertise in a very well written format and the inspiration to enter into a new phase of the quilting world. I can not say enough good things about this book. The book is easy to tote around and pick up, finding something new every time. With the examples, everything I have tried has come out fantastic. I have even amazed myself. The only downside is that my other projects are not being finished.



4. I have painted on canvas for many years and have been interested in combining this interest with quilting. I have dabbled a bit but now that I have "Painted Quilt", I know and have tried many more techiniques for combining painting and quilting. I am delighted that these ladies wrote this book - it is like they wrote it just for me!



5. Have only recently rec'd this book and am fascinated by it! Inspirational! It's one of those that when I waken at 3 a.m. and can't go back to sleep I slip it off the library shelf, curl up in my favorite chair, and just enjoy. Maybe in a slower, calmer time in my life I'll actually *try* some of these ideas.

5 comments about Vitamin P: New Perspectives in Painting.

1. Schwabsky manages to pull together precise & intelligent critical essays of an enlightening array of painters from all over the world. The selection of images from each artist's oeuvre is generous. Big names like Currin and Ghada Amer appear alongside lesser-knowns with little academic biases. The only beef, really, I have with this wonderful volume of contemporary painters is the miniscule sizing of the actual text. Tedious to acknowledge, but the problem is actually distracting. This may be natural hierarchization, but the text size is 6 or 8, at the most. Have plenty of focused light nearby when turning pages & enjoy!



2. Vitamin P arrived on my doorstep before its scheduled date in perfect condition! Its a fantastic source on contemporary painting filled with large coloured illutrations of the artworks.



3. For painters this is an excellent book in looking at contemporary painting inspiration or even just some of the issues. As I am taking a contemporary painting course this book on the side helps me when I need further information or perhaps a better explanation (if the artist is indeed in the book)



4. A wonderful selection of contemporary painting today which display a variety of interesting painting solutions.



5. I purchased this very interesting and unique book as a review for
   a grad student. It was well-received, but I regret that it had small type.

5 comments about The Watercolorists Essential Notebook.

1. This is really a must-have. Very detailed in a clear and direct language. Excellent for every level of watercolor painters!



2. -I last painted with watercolors when they were in paintbox form -40 years ago in high school art.This book has been a valuable tool in getting me up to speed on present day brushes,paints and techniques.I
   am very pleased with the results I have been able to achieve in
   just a few months time.This book is a definite buy for newbies or as a
   refresher.



3. This has some great step-by-step lessons for creating different effects in a landscape watercolor. The only criticism I have of it is the drab coloring in many of the examples.



4. Let's just say calling me an amateur would be an understatement. I bought this book in high hopes of entering the world of watercolor. It hit the nail right on the head.
   
   The text is informative and precise without being overwhelming. Enough different information and very comprehensive. Although perhaps lacking in the texture/details department. Overall the best of the 3 other books I bought. This one may be the best beginner to intermediate book out there!
   
   The only drawback was the fact it doesn't say in the description that it is for tube watercolors, as I want to use pans...but still I think most techniques will work either way.



5. This is a really great book on watercolor. It is full of wonderful tips and explanations of how to achieve many simple to advanced effects. It also explains why certain colors are better to mix with others for the results you want. It is also amazingly readable. I set it by my reading chair and I am drawn to pick it up and read just for interest. I am learning so much. FYI- I have lots of knowledge about art, but am a beginning to intermediate watercolorist.

5 comments about Abstract Painting: Concepts and Techniques.

1. I only wish I had seen this book before I started painting. It would have saved me time and money. Lots of great creative ideas and techniques. I recommend this book to beginners, like me.



2. This is a great book! It goes into the philosophy of abstract painting, methods, materials, composition, etc. The book also emphasizes each artist's creativity. The artist's interpretation and creativity is what art is all about, and even more so with abstract art, as abstract artists aren't painting something easily recognizable (i.e. a barn). The author did a great job in this book!



3. This book's images are impressive and provide motivation for the novice to explore abstract paintings. However, it really does not go into enough detailed instruction so that techiniques can be applied in the studio. I can't recommend this book except for those painters who 1) already have some experience with abstraction, and 2) novices who want a general introduction and can find other sources to help answer technical questions. It's a pretty book with little technical substance.



4. I have really enjoyed this book. It is informative on technique as well as rich in concepts, as the title suggests. It has many high quality photos, and is filled with wonderful examples. Thought provoking and well written. A welcome addition to my art library.



5. Good book. Really clues you in on the whys and what fors of abstract painting. After reading this book (more than once) I was not intimidated by trying my hand at abstract painting. The photos in the book are awesome. The author knows her art as does those artists who contributed to the book.

5 comments about Charley Harper: An Illustrated Life.

1. I purchased this book as a gift. The recipient was delighted with this book, and praised it highly.



2. the unique wildlife art of charley harper did deserve a retrospective dais of honor, but the quality of printing is so low and disappointing...
   as a collector and a passionate wildlife and wildlife art enthusiast i would have bought this book anyway, but if you are looking for high quality art books, then this is not the right address/investment.
   Ron, Israel



3. My dad got this for me as a college graduation gift, and I love it. I've always wanted this book, so was thrilled when I opened it up and saw what it was :)
   In my opinion, the matte finish of the pages suit the artwork well. The only painting that might have benefited from a gloss finish is probably the large ladybug one where the body of the ladybug is one shade of red while the background is another shade...if you have this book and know what I'm talking about.



4. We also saw the program on CBS Sunday Morning and immediately purchased the book. We have had it now for 3 or 4 months. My husband and I bring it out often and keep looking and looking. You see something different every time; the complexity of the simple and the simplicity of the complex. This man's mind was amazing. We are going to buy another one so we can dissasmble it and create a wall of pictures in our son's room that can be changed from time to time. It is one of my favorite treasures. I can't wait until my kids are a little older to look at it with them.
   
   We are not graphic artists or book people. We just buy what we love. Our book does not seem to have any issues or problems. Just beautiful picutures that inspire our mind. Oh and the box it comes in is beautiful too.



5. I gave this large format book to my son who is a graphic designer. I had seen a segment on television about Todd Oldham's admiration of Charley Harper, and the story caught my imagination. My son loved it, and recommended it to a retail store where he works near the Savannah College of Art & Design. They now carry it. Full of inspiration for the artist or the aspiring artist in your life.

5 comments about Watercolor in Motion: How to Create Powerful Paintings, Step by Step (Book & DVD).

1. This combo, book and video, is a great buy. Birgit is a wonderful artist and teacher. The book is sturdy and informative as is the dvd.



2. I am a painter of watercolors, mostly self-taught with the use of books. The appearance of this book is very striking, with an unusual and very interesting layout. The illustrations are excellent, and the text clearly describes each step in the fascinating art of watercolor painting. Even though the emphasis is mostly on flower themes, the methods can be applied effectively to any other theme as well. Personally, I am finding it very helpful for improving my process of learning to paint portraits. Although the book itself is a very useful guide, I have learned even more by repeatedly watching the attached DVD with its live illustrations of how to work with watercolors. I realized that this kind of guide was the missing link in my own learning. Although I have watched many YouTube videos on the process of painting with watercolors, in general I have not found them particularly useful. The DVD is very well structured, the technical quality is good, and the educational technique is effective. I have found it very useful.



3. This is a great book and DVD. Woderful exercises that help you paint wet on wet with control and vibrant colors.
   Any one who paints flower or plants will enjoy this book. It helped me to paint with more confidence and to use colors in a more exciting way. I hope to take a clas with Ms. O'Connner someday,



4. Watercolor is a challange for even the best of artists. One is constantly learning application, technique and how to create beautiful images on paper.
   This books demonstrates some of the secrets in achieving flowing watercolor works. The step by step demonstrations help you to learn different techniques such as wet on wet, and soft and hard edges and just the right way to blend colors. It is easy to read, easy to understand and the DVD guides you along making each lesson fun.
   I recommend this book to any watercolor artist both new and seasoned.



5. I bought this book and DVD for a friend and myself. I always say you can learn something from anything you read or watch.
   I learned a lot about using more water with my watercolors and how to layer things a little easier. The DVD was too short for me, so I guess it was good enough to leave me wanting more.

5 comments about Mastering Composition: Techniques and Principles to Dramatically Improve Your Painting (Mastering (North Light Books)).

1. Artist and author Ian Roberts has given us a gem of a book with his recently published "Mastering Composition." This book is an outgrowth of two events in Roberts life. As a child, Canadian Roberts joined his dad and his dad's artist friends on an annual plein aire painting trip to the United States. At the end of each day, the painters discussed and criticized one another's work. Much of the discussion centered on composition - "foregrounds were too cluttered," what works for the eye in the painting, and what does not.
   
   Then, later, as a professional artist and teacher, he noticed that most of his students created paintings that were superficial and "looked like postcards." He decided to focus on getting his students to use their creative core and think "behind" the subject matter: "think first about shapes, their arrangement in the picture plane; and the visual flow being created in the painting."
   
   "Mastering Composition," according to Roberts, could have just as easily been titled, "Shapes, Shapes, and Shapes" with the subtitle, "Their arrangement, interaction, and flow on the picture plane."
   
   The book begins with an excellent discourse on what composition is and how one can use the book to grow as an artist. He is insistent on self-directed study which includes doing one composition (sketch) per day for one year. The book is very well written, includes practical rules to follow, and is illustrated with plenty of before and after demonstrations, as well as examples from Masters of the 19th and 20th Century.
   
   "Mastering Composition" is organized around six subjects: Armatures - how to arrange shapes and how to create coherent flow; Abstract Masses - how to think in value masses not in subjects; Color Shapes - how these are all that we really have to create meaning, how to understand them and use them effectively to express our creative core; Guiding the eye through a picture plane; Gallery of the Greats - 19th and 20th Century Masters; and, Your Artistic Voice.
   
   Ian Roberts is a great teacher and a great communicator of concepts. This book will provide valuable insights into the painting process and the creation of meaning from one's creative core. "Mastering Composition" is a must-have book for all painters.



2. Like many art books of this kind, the title overstates the content. The content is mostly a rehash of many other books on this topic, many of which I already own. Not a bad primer, and worth reading if you haven't already studied the basics of composition.



3. This is one of the stronger books on teaching the role of structure in images and building structure into one's painting. Anyone who introduces image structure by way of Charles Bouleau has a leg up in my estimation. Among painting instruction books that deal with composition, this is one definitely to add to one's reference shelf. And then borrow or ante up for Bouleau's book to see to what this author is referring.
   
   This book is strongest at showing that decisions about structure need to be taken early in the painting process and, subsequently, how the painter can manipulate contrast to support the structure. Photographers can learn a significant amount from this book, especially in the post-processing phases.
   
   The DVD is cleverly done and nicely imparts one lesson, that even slight changes in color anywhere in the image alter the contrasts in the image and either support or interfere with the artist's intentions.
   
   This book is not a comprehensive look at structure in images from a theoretical standpoint. The author often does not specify what type of contrast he is pointing out in an image. But what he does cover he does very well.
   
   This would be a good textbook with one of the few DVDs that actually does its job well. Many photographers would do well to own this book. Congratulations.



4. Mastering Composition: Techniques and Principles to Dramatically Improve Your Painting (Mastering (North Light Books))Originally recommended by an instructor, found the book an excellent research and teaching tool, especially for those who have difficulty with composition



5. This author/painter makes essential points for understanding painting composition, one of the budding artist's most allusive challenges.
   But what sets this book apart is its brilliant teaching methods. As an example, among several possible, is the DVD that accompanies the book, in which the author gives the reader a tour of paintings, showing in each what happens when he changes something. Thus the reader gets to see the effects of the changes, experiencing them in a hard-hitting way.
   If you're struggling with composition, this is a good book for you. If you know composition, it is still an excellent review.

5 comments about Bold Visions: A Digital Painting Bible.

1. "Bold Visions" shows some intermediate to more advanced methods on how to create eye-catching works of concept art. If you are pretty familiar with the workings of Photoshop, there may be very little here you may not know. But still the book does offer some insights and ideas. I wish there were more fleshed out step-by-step demonstrations instead of just highlights, even an accompanying CD would be great.



2. im just gettin started into the concept art kind of stuff... i love all the imagery here and the helpful hints and tips for getting from rough sketch through to finished concept.
   
   great book!



3. This book is so beautiful that I chastised myself for getting finger prints on the pages, which I'm afraid is hard not to do. The images in this book alone are worth the price, but the author's walk through of each painting makes it priceless.
   
   A quick note, this book isn't for beginners (not that it claims to be). It goes over some basics of how to paint in Photoshop. Unfortunately, there's an artistic jump from the basics that are covered, to the paintings that are presented later in the book.
   
   Again, the book doesn't claim to be for beginners, but as a beginner myself, I appreciate the topics covered and, once I advance enough to be able to draw from my imagination, as opposed to only what I can see, I will refer to this book often. Until then, the images within will serve as great inspiration and a benchmark to aim for.



4. This book not only showcases beautiful and inspiring works of art, it provides advice and guidelines for artists hoping to develop their talents further. Be aware that the book does NOT provide step-by-step instructions, lists of tools, etc. on how each piece is done; that's to its credit. Rarely do artists do things in the exact same way. Gary Tonge simply presents his work and explains the concepts and processes that went into it. There are some examples of composition provided, although not with concrete rules, and an explanation of how light diffuses in some of his pieces, as well as sections on the importance of color, scale, perspective, and texures. This is not a rulebook or a stiff outline of steps. This is a guidebook. It offers suggestions and leaves the interpretation up to the reader. If you want a step-by-step tutorial, this is not for you. If you want inspiration and an understanding of what makes Tonge's art so dynamic, it's an invaluable text regardless of your choice of medium.



5. The author speaks in GENERAL TERMS when explaining his process for the 'start to finish' of particular projects. It is NOT a step by step guide if that's what you are looking for. You can still pick up some interesting ideas for starting a project of your own.

5 comments about Problem Solving for Oil Painters: Recognizing What's Gone Wrong and How to Make It Right.

1. The discussion of specific problems such as lack of depth,misplaced shadows, etc. and the illustrations are extremly helpful. The author illustrates what many teachers say. A great book!oil po



2. For the beginner and intermediate artist, "Problem solving for oil painters" is a must have on the bookshelf. The more experienced artist isn't going to learn anything new from this book, however it is a good book to keep for practical reference and inspiration. Beautifully illustrated with very many photographs of breath taking oil paintings. That alone is a reason to get this book.



3. This book has really great ideas and illustrations to go with everything, which really assisted me in seeing the value of what he talked about. If you are an oil painter, probably more especially beginning painters, or any kind of painter or color artist of any kind, this book has great insight, beautiful examples, and a lot of practicality. The only thing I didn't like about it was that the only pictures in the book are pictures that the author painted. This of makes the review of the pictures a bit biased. This is, however, something that can be overcome by by reading a section and going to a museum or looking up art online to see how the specific principle in discussion applies. I am a beginning painter and I find the book very useful.



4. This book suits more for the serious beginners or intermediate painters 'cause you have to be familiar with the basic concepts. It offers a way to verify the quality of your paintings point by point.
   My point of view is that you have to read it entirely before you can point on the problem. The topics are easy to reach after you know what you're searching for.
   Sometimes I would like to have more examples or explanations on some points.
   Simple but effective if you're not a complete beginner...



5. An excellent clearly written informative book. Will be much referred to and treasured for many years. Thankyou Mr. Kreutz