Book Description
An Italian village on a hilltop near the Adriatic coast, a decaying palazzo facing the sea, and in the basement, cobwebbed and dusty, lit by a single bulb, an archive unknown to scholars. Here, a young graduate student from Rome, Francesca Cappelletti, makes a discovery that inspires a search for a work of art of incalculable value, a painting lost for almost two centuries.

The artist was Caravaggio, a master of the Italian Baroque. He was a genius, a revolutionary painter, and a man beset by personal demons. Four hundred years ago, he drank and brawled in the taverns and streets of Rome, moving from one rooming house to another, constantly in and out of jail, all the while painting works of transcendent emotional and visual power. He rose from obscurity to fame and wealth, but success didn’t alter his violent temperament. His rage finally led him to commit murder, forcing him to flee Rome a hunted man. He died young, alone, and under strange circumstances.

Caravaggio scholars estimate that between sixty and eighty of his works are in existence today. Many others–no one knows the precise number–have been lost to time. Somewhere, surely, a masterpiece lies forgotten in a storeroom, or in a small parish church, or hanging above a fireplace, mistaken for a mere copy.

Prizewinning author Jonathan Harr embarks on an spellbinding journey to discover the long-lost painting known as The Taking of Christ–its mysterious fate and the circumstances of its disappearance have captivated Caravaggio devotees for years. After Francesca Cappelletti stumbles across a clue in that dusty archive, she tracks the painting across a continent and hundreds of years of history. But it is not until she meets Sergio Benedetti, an art restorer working in Ireland, that she finally manages to assemble all the pieces of the puzzle.

Told with consummate skill by the writer of the bestselling, award-winning A Civil Action, The Lost Painting is a remarkable synthesis of history and detective story. The fascinating details of Caravaggio’s strange, turbulent career and the astonishing beauty of his work come to life in these pages. Harr’s account is not unlike a Caravaggio painting: vivid, deftly wrought, and enthralling.
". . . Jonathan Harr has gone to the trouble of writing what will probably be a bestseller . . . rich and wonderful. . .in truth, the book reads better than a thriller because, unlike a lot of best-selling nonfiction authors who write in a more or less novelistic vein (Harr's previous book, A Civil Action, was made into a John Travolta movie), Harr doesn't plump up hi tale. He almost never foreshadows, doesn't implausibly reconstruct entire conversations and rarely throws in litanies of clearly conjectured or imagined details just for color's sake. . .if you're a sucker for Rome, and for dusk. . .[you'll] enjoy Harr's more clearly reported details about life in the city, as when--one of my favorite moments in the whole book--Francesca and another young colleague try to calm their nerves before a crucial meeting with a forbidding professor by eating gelato. And who wouldn't in Italy? The pleasures of travelogue here are incidental but not inconsiderable." --The New York Times Book Review


"Jonathan Harr has taken the story of the lost painting, and woven from it a deeply moving narrative about history, art and taste--and about the greed, envy, covetousness and professional jealousy of people who fall prey to obsession. It is as perfect a work of narrative nonfiction as you could ever hope to read." --The Economist


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Reads like Fiction
Given the dry nature of Art History this book is a great page turner.The pace and writing make this read like something out of fiction.An outstanding read.

DaVinci wannabe?
A great idea ruined by boring writing and a plot that wouldn't get going, and characters that garnered zero sympathy. Perhaps this book was trying to ride the coattails of the commercial success of The DaVinci Code, which is equally matched in uninspired writing style as this.

Well worth it!

A fascinating story about a lost masterpiece by one of the most enigmatic painters of all time. This is a non-fiction book that reads like a thriller. Jonathan Harr masterfully tells a story of 1993 discovery of a lost painting by Caravaggio, one of the first and most influential of Baroque painters. The gist of the story: two young Italian graduate art students, by sheer tenacity, track down a priceless painting that was considered previously lost.The beauty of the book is in the details, of course.

The book pulls together ambition, greed, vanity and obsession - all the essential ingredients of a good treasure hunt! The author skillfully crisscrosses four centuries and half a dozen of countries to trace the story of"The Taking of the Christ" - a brilliant work by mad genius who was Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio.

The enigma of Caravaggio lives on, as we learn of a troubled painter (a rebel and a convicted murderer) who died before turning 40 but left a plethora of gems for the world to marvel at.

A treat!

Grappling for recognition
For me, the enjoyment of a non-fiction book depends on how much it reminds me of fiction in respect to flow and characterization. With THE LOST PAINTING I had trouble telling the difference.

On the surface Harr's book is about the search for Caravaggio's lost painting "The Taking of Christ," but on another level it's about how the people in the art industry compete for recognition. It's about their petty rivalries and feuds and how destructive these human foibles can be. In the first several chapters, art history students Francesca Cappelletti and Laura Testa do research for a man named Giampaolo Correale, who is trying to prove that the Caravaggio painting "St. John" hanging in the Capitoline Gallery in Rome, as opposed to the one at the Doria Pamphili, was the real Caravaggio. They are given access to the Mattei archives, controlled by the Marchesa Annamaria Antici-Mattei. Cardinal Ciriaco Mattei had been a Caravaggio patron and owned at least three of his paintings. Francesca and Laura were given access to Mattei's account books. They were not able to find a record of the purchase of the St. John but they did find conclusive proof that Mattei had commissioned "The Taking of Christ," a missing Caravaggio.

Harr incorporates a bit of humor here as the Marchesa is an older woman who is a danger to herself as well as the art world. She asks repeatedly what Francesca and Laura want to see, and they repeatedly tell her. She is also rearranging the archive, making it virtually impossible for researchers to find anything. Francesca hides the account book from her.

Francesca is able to trace "The Taking of Christ" to Scotland but there is no record of who it was sold to at auction there.This is where Sergio Benedetti enters the picture. He is an art restorer working on a painting he thinks is "The Taking of Christ." Although he's an experienced restorer, Benedetti almost ruins the painting. Twice. Benedetti was too poor to go to school to become an art historian, but he wants to recognized as a Caravaggio expert and as the man who discovered the missing Caravaggio, worth something like thirty million pounds. Another interesting character is Denis Mahon, a Caravaggio expert, who at ninety-three is still looking for the next missing Caravaggio. Caravaggio had been dismissed as a minor painter for a hundred years. Only recently had he risen to the level of Michelangelo and Raphael; so there were many missing paintings.

Harr also includes excerpts from Caravaggio's life. He was a man of the streets, who liked to hang out in brothels and bars. He was involved in many a street brawl and was even implicated in a murder. Harr cautions that he had no intention of writing a biography. In his notes on his sources herecommends several, particularly CARAVAGGIO: A LIFE, by Helen Langdon.

The Lost Painting
Wonderful book.I had no idea that there is a subculture loving Caravagio.The writing was excellent and kept the reader enthralled in the mystery of finding a lost masterpiece.In our book group it was rated as a "must read" by everyone. ... Read more

Book Description
Offers down-to-earth advice on painting gorgeous outdoors scenes through 10 step-by-step demos Teaches painters how to master the art of observation Shows readers how to translate field notes and sketches into fully realized studio paintingsThe overwhelming beauty of the outdoors is one of the most inspiring - and elusive - subjects for painters. With Landscape Painting Inside and Out, Kevin Macphearson first shows readers how to see like an artist, then teaches them how to recreate their vision into stunningly realistic outdoors scenes. His insightful process encourages readers to focus on the small details to achieve big results. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Kevin MacPherson
I enjoyed Kevin's book because his explanations were easy to understand
and the demo pictures so helpful.I have gleaned alot from this book.

Very Good Book
Very Good Book - landscape painting inside and out is quite inspirational, as are all of her books. I particularly enjoyed the reproductions.Barbara Barrick

This is well worth it, loads of inspiring information
Kevin has done a classic, and I am sure that is will be used by artists
for years to come.
Loads of useful information, great examples and good instructions.
I have been a professional painter for 30 years, and am always looking to
learn more, this one really hit home for me on many areas. Beautiful color
with strong draftmanship.

The Best
This is the book for the serious landscape artist who has had questions about their own work that have never been answered until now.I found things I always wanted to know.The book never talked down.The author shared information about what he is doing artistically now and not the way he did it in the past. There is a wealth of ideas and information, much more that I ever expected. I will be continuing to read and refer to this book in the future. It was a big inspiration, and one of the best art books I have ever purchased.

Excellent examples
This book gives practical, specific advice on improving your landscape painting technique.I especially like the illustrations.The paintings are beautiful and "fresh."Not your average landscapes.They inspired me. ... Read more

Book Description
From Ancient Egyptian frescoes to the Renaissance masters, from French Impressionists to American Abstract Expressionists, this highly browsable guide embraces all cultures and every style of painting from 4,000 BC to the present.A visually arresting reference for art lovers and students, it provides a truly comprehensive worldwide gazeteer of paintings organized chronologically by date of completion.Each entry includes the history of the painting, information about the artist or artistic movement, the current location of the painting (all are on view to the public), as well as other details.The works are also indexed by artist and by title, making for easy cross-referencing. Included are popular paintings, key works that are the most breathtaking for their extraordinary power and beauty, paintings that were turning points in the history of art, and rediscovered masterpieces, making 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die an art museum in its own right. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Pretty good! Many images too small though.
I bought this book based on the reviews here, I thought the book was pretty good.

My main problem was with the size of the images. Someone here said most images are one to a page, or two to a page... and that the smallest images are an inch by an inch.

I'd expected all the images to be a lot bigger. Many of the images, maybe even 25% - 50% weren't much bigger than an inch by an inch. This is a real problem if you are looking at the book as an artist and want to see how the brushstrokes were made a little bit etc. at least on some of them. But the images were too small for this, and no detail views were shown (except a very smalll number at the start of each section).

I found it really hard to look at all the small images and take in the painting properly too. Many were just too small for me.

I'd rather have had less white space and 30% bigger images, this could easily have been done without sacrificing much text or design quality. (The cover art was awful too!)

I also bought '1000 Masterpieces of European Painting: From 1300 to 1850' at the same time and this book was so much better at having larger images and showing details than this book (despite the book being far SMALLER and having far less pages than this one too!). It had a nicer feel too, the arrangement of the images and text was far less uniform than in this book and therefore much more interesting. It did have less white space but was actually far more elegant despite this.

The selection of images seemed very good though (despite the bad graphic design of the book) and it was well-made. It weights an absolute TON but then it would!

Beautiful compilation for all levels of interest
An enormous, beautifully compiled collection of artwork whose title I couldn't agree with more.Filled with easily digested insights into some of the greatest artwork in history, this almost 1000-page book is great for people only mildly interested in art or for serious art-core types.
The pictures are lovely and there's just enough text to get you interested in someone new (or old) at every turn.

Is this is a trick? Only 1,000 paintings in the book?
Did I get a bum copy of the book? Or is it a joke that the book contains 1,000 paintings to see instead of 1,001? The Kiss by Francesco Hayez is listed and pictured twice in my copy - but with different dates. The Kiss on pg. 429 is dated 1859. The Kiss on pg. 475 is dated 1881. Also, I've seen quite a few typos and wordos so far, and I'm half-way through. The book is cute, informative, but needs an editor ASAP before the next edition. Or let us in on the "joke" if that's what this is.

Home schooling
Purchasing this book is like taking a yearlong course in the history of painting.The reproductions are excellent, the essays are filled with information, the paintings are not always the best known, but certainly are excellent examples of each artist's works.A definite purchase.

Nice Choices
Nice choices selected for a good sampling of artworks. Arguably there were inclusions of varying taste and some masterpieces were excluded but the book delivers as advertised and is worth the price. ... Read more

Book Description
Did you ever wish you could go to a really good art school and learn how to paint in oil?Or perhaps you have painted for years and are still struggling with color mixing and wish you could find a good teacher to help.In the Oil Painting Course You've Always Wanted, author Kathleen Staiger gives you a complete painting course you can take at home.Crystal clear, step-by-step lessons build from learning about light and shadow, brush control, and foolproof color mixing, to still life painting, landscapes, and portraits—every topic is covered in clear text, diagrams, illustrations, and demonstrations, with guided projects in every lesson. Tips and extra help sections appear throughout the book to help with common problems.Staiger has taught oil painting for more than thirty-five years; many of her students are now exhibiting and selling their paintings.Every painter from beginning hobby painters to BFA graduates has questions.Here atlast are the answers! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Oil painting can be tricky - this book helps control oils
I got this book from the library. I always knew I could draw, and I always wanted to oil paint. I have a lot of books on oil painting, but I still struggle.Oil paints are tricky, sort of like playing the violin: you have to learn to control them before you start creating with them.

Now, it IS for beginners, but it also says for "experienced" because she shows you tricks that maybe you didn't cover in other classes.

She incorporates drawing lessons with the painting lessons. If you can't draw and shade a sphere, how are you going to understand a bush?She doesn't just have list of brushes, but she has exercises on how to blend paint with them.Each exercise in the book builds on the next.

It is true that you are not going to paint a masterpiece with this book, but I do think you will say, "Oh, that's the problem", and then you can move forward with your own talent.

She has one whole page on Taming Thalo Green, which no one else has in their books.She has a shading lesson in primary colors, and in secondary colors.She tells you how to dull a color without changing the value (mix it's exact complimentary in the same value, then add it).She explains glazing and scumbling.All the exercises are simple, so that if you are talented or not, you can do them.For example, she doesn't have you glaze a portrait like Rembrandt, but an apple.

As she gets to harder things, she introduces more drawing. For example, when she gets to landscape, she talks about drawing perspective, as well as atmospheric perspective.In landscapes, she explains the tricks for trees and rocks (do the darks first).When she gets to portraits, then she talks about drawing the face.I don't think her portraits are all that hot, but she shows the steps then you can do them too, and infuse your talent.

You will not create a masterpiece with this book, but you will have tools to create your own masterpiece because you won't be stumped with atmospheric perspective, how to do trees, how to make a shadow, etc. Just like you can't play the violin if you don't know where the notes are and how to get a good sound out of the bow, you can't oil paint if you don't know things like how Alizarin Crimson is going to behave differently from Cadmium Red Light.She will help you with this.

She has taught beginning oil painting for 30 years, so she anticipates your problems and questions.Oil will not longer be something to fight with, but something that will do your bidding.

A new era in art
Not only was l able to correct old bad old habits, l have learnt an incredible amount from this art instruction book. Highly recommended to both beginners and accomplished artists.

Fun & Useful
I'm an artist (or, rather, used to be). I consider myself an illustrator, but haven't painted in a long time. This book is great, as she discusses mixing colors, selecting brushes, using the medium and so on. This is a fine book!!!

Artistic Masterpiece!
This book IS the oil painting course I've always wanted.I've taken aoil painting course at my local community college, but did not recieve the detailed instruction this book offers.I highly recommend it for the beginner painter.I also recommend Color Mixing Recipes by Walter Foster.It really helps you to get the color just right.It has an index on everything from apples to wet sand.Color Mixing Recipes

great starter but you'll need more books
This book was a great starter book and was exceptionally helpful in learning where to start and how to mix colors.It also provides a few step by step classes to get you started.It is a true beginners book, but you'll be looking for new inspiration after you've spent some time with it. ... Read more

Book Description
Thread Painting is a wonderful way to add texture, dimension and interest to any quilt or sewing project.This book shows you how anyone can thread paint using any sewing machine, by using paper stabilizer papers and photo transfer fabric that go through a computer printer.No more tracing, drawing or painting onto fabric first.First you will learn free motion sewing; how to use that to do thread sketches, and then how to translate those skills into thread painting.There are lots of projects with easy to follow instructions with full sized patterns and scannable images. This technique is great for traditional quilts, art quilts, clothing, home dec--a wide variety of uses! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

thread painting - simple techniques to add texture and dimension by leni levenson wiener
Kudos to Leni for her book.I have bought a panel and started thread painting.It is great.I am finally an artist.

Creativity with ease at its best!
This book is wonderful!The instructions are so easy to follow.The creative ideas are endless. It definitely takes you to next level with quilting.The best part is, you don't have to be able to draw!!!!! You can feel the author's energy, it's contagious!

Sew EASY!
This book is GREAT! I found the technique so easy to learn and very effective.I especially loved the cat portrait in the book, and as a cat lover (I have 9 cats at home), I thought I could "thread paint"a few of their portraits.I'm so pleased with the results that I'm going for all 9! ... Read more

Book Description
*Chinese brush painting appeals to both the watercolor and acrylic painterwho wants to try working in a simplistic looser, yet representationalstyle

*Contains the most motifs one can find in the Chinese brush painting style,which continues to be popular

*Features an easy-to-use lay flat binding

Over 200 different motifs in an easy-to-use encased spiral format make thisthe perfect resource for Chinese brush painting. Each motif is accompaniedby an explanation of its symbolic meaning, a color palette and step-by-stepinstruction that includes the order, direction and type of brushstrokeneeded to complete the image. Clear graphic icons provide detailed brushinstruction on how much pressure to apply and what part (tip, heel orwhole) of the brush to use. The reader will find advice on composing andcombining images to create perfectly balanced, harmonious paintings andideas for using and displaying their finished art. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Fantastic
This is a great instructional book for anyone wanting to learn to paint in the Chinese brush painting style. There are 200 motifs with step by step instructions. I love it!

Everything you need to know about Chinese brush painting
This truly is the Chinese brush painting Bible; an awesome tutorial and guide to learning this art.

Beautiful book!
I was looking for a book on Chinese brush paintings that not only showed you how to to the painting technique, but also had a lot of different design motifs. well this is the book. It is a step-by-step book and has over 200 motifs that are beautifully illustrated. It shows you the finished painted motif and the steps to achieve it and each page has a sidebar of the paint colors you will need that not only tell you the color in words, such as pink, but has a small circle of the paint color too (great for a beginner) as well as the brushes that you will need for that particular motif.

The best feature of the book is that it is spiral bound, so that it opens flat and stays flat while you are referring to it. It is a small book height (about the height of a hardback novel), but loaded with great illustrations and beautifully laid out. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (26)

Fantastic information
I have read my copy of this classic many times and make notes in the margins each time I read it. I get something new out of it each time. As mentioned in other reviews there are only black and white reproductions. However, I am more a fan of Carlson's insights into painting than I am of his paintings themselves so for me the lack of color doesn't mar the overall impact of the book. This is one book every landscape painter must read.

Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting
This is a must read for all landscape painters who want to get deeper into their understanding of nature and her effects. This book is geared to the realist painter. There are several diagrams which support what Carlson teaches.

No color in a painting book?
It is a good book from an excellent artist. The book would have been more useful if it had colored pictures and lessons in color mixture and schemes.

Text good but all in black and white - no color!
the text is good, but it's hard to visualize a painting when it's all in dark and lite tones. Would not recommend this book even tho an artist recommened it to us.I suppose it's good for composition of your painting!

Fantastic review for any artist
This is one of my favorite books. In one of our moves - I lost it! How delighted I was to find it on Amazon. Thank you. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Roy Lang's "sea and sky in oils"
I have always been confused when trying to paint sand. A wonderful example of this is explained.
The waves in this book are painted and a great explaination follows.

Sea and skies made easy!
I'm a self taught weekend painter when the mood strikes, so trying to figure out some aspects of painting techniques has come after many hours of trial and error; as it should be. Self discovery in painting is one of the most rewarding of experiences a painter can have. All those "I get it experiences" when you see something come together for the first time!

I've never done a seascape before and I releasied the need for some help in the matter! This book looks as though it can do the trick and am looking forward to trying Mr. Lang's techniques!
After finding this on Amazon I looked for it locally at art stores and found it. As soon as I opened the book and leafed thru the pages I felt there is more than enough info and help for me to give it a go and try it for myself! Perhaps I'll update this review AFTER I finish a seascape! ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (14)

Traditional Oil Painting: A Wonderful Book
The book is quite well written with several excellent tips for advanced oil painters and superb illustrations.The author is modest and knowledgeable, sharing insights about the mysteries of painting as well as several practical solutions to composition questions and palette references.

A Very Profound,,Teaching book on Oil painting
I, have been wanting to purchase Virgil Elliott's Traditional Oil Painting for some time... and I must say,,,it is one of the finest teaching books that I have ever read..Starting to paint later on in my life,,,words cannot express how glad I am that I bought it...It is helping me sooo very much,,,What a Master teacher he is...I highly recomend it to anyone even to those who have been painting for many many years...
Betty Jane Covington

An Excellent Overview But Something's Missing
Virgil Elliot is an extremely knowledgeable artist who understands painting in the way only an experienced practitioner can.That said, I still found myself wanting more from this book.While it contains an accurate, concise summation of traditional techniques and concepts in oil painting, it does not elaborate on these practices with adequate illustrations.

In his introduction, Virgil Elliot makes clear that he was pressured by the publisher to include demonstrations and samples of his own work against his own inclination to keep the book pure as a reference manual - not a "how-to" book.This is quite evident, as the processes are not very well documented with sufficient photography.Although, I think the publisher was RIGHT to suggest documenting the various historical processes visually through Elliot's hand!I wish he recognized the value of this more.Serious artists ARE plagued by the myriads of amateur how-to books on the market, however, I think Elliot's work is clearly above this mess.

I applaud Elliot's mention of the differences between modern store-bought paint and hand-made paint used by past masters AS WELL AS his discussion on the transparency of pigments.His discussion of the opacity and permanence of pigments is precisely the kind of information I would expect in a book discussing advanced techniques.Back to criticism - in my opinion, the omission of visually well-documented demonstrations of the discussed concepts and techniques are a major flaw in this work. Virgil Elliot is incredibly knowledgeable on the subject of traditional oil painting - I just wish the book contained better visuals.

Great book Virgil!
Virgil Elliott's book is a well written and packed with information if you care to take the time to digest it.Although filled with great looking art, this is not just a pretty coffee table art book.The author explains complex concepts in art in concise and well crafted paragraphs.It's obvious that he speaks from a wealth of experience, but to translate it in such an articulate manner is a rare quality. If you are the type of reader that scans the surface, you probably won't like this book.However, if you are looking for a book that is packed with pertinent information about paintingand you are willing to slow down and digest it, you will not be disappointed.

Great book!
If you're beyond the basic beginners books, serious about your work and have an interest in the classics, then this book is for you. The reproductions are good and are used to great effect illustrating points made in the text.

The chapters include: Aesthetic Considerations, The Eye of the Artist, The Importance of Drawing, Principles of Visual Reality, Colour, Techniques of Painting in Oils, Oil Painting Materials, Portraiture, Landscape Painting and Still Life Painting.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

Wonderful!
I have been painting and studying art for many decades - this is a really great book!I keep re reading!

Oil Painting with Light and Color
Great book, was told about this from an art instructor, saying this was one of the best you can buy and have in your library.

Not impressed...
I purchased this book because of all the great reviews it received. I was not impressed. Everything was way too simplistic. If you're an intermediate or professional painter, you will not learn anything from this book that you don't already know.

REAL help for a struggling painter
AWESOME book packed to the full with inspiring paintings & photos, really practical tips for the would be painter, and help over all those overwhelming and sometimes insurmountable difficulties confronting the aspirant oil painter. Replaces mystery with method. I'm really thrilled to have discovered Kevin Macpherson's approach to painting "plein air" and am already seeing the fruits of applying it.

Fill Your Oil Paintings With Light & Color
Good reference book; should be in all artists library. ... Read more

Book Description
After a century in which the lexicon of artists' materials expanded from the classic oil, canvas, stone and plaster to include photography, film, performance, found objects and concepts, the spotlight has finally swung back. A new generation of artists--as well as some who never abandoned figurative painting in the first place--is relishing the solitary, slow, subtle set of processes involved in not just painting, but painting people. They are choosing paint's unique ability to distill a lifetime of events rather than photography's glimpse of a frozen moment. Painting People, edited by the prominent London art historian and critic Charlotte Mullins, unites and contrasts the work of a key group of artists from around the world, and investigates their richly varied accomplishments in lucid text with detailed commentaries, accompanied by more than 150 reproductions. The list of contributing artists is stellar, ranging from photo-based painters like Luc Tuymans, Peter Doig and Marlene Dumas to Pop artists like Sigmar Polke and Alex Katz, photorealists like Chuck Close and Gerhard Richter, Neoexpressionists like Cecily Brown, and comics-inspired painters like Yoshitomo Nara, Inka Essenhigh and Takashi Murakami. There are erotic grotesques from John Currin and Lisa Yuskavage, meditations on the muse by Elizabeth Peyton and Lucian Freud, "Repro-realistic" work from Neo Rauch and of course self-portraits by Philip Akkerman and Marcel Dzama, among others. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Nothing daring....
I am always interested in artists whose workincludes the human figure.I bought this book without seeing the contents, but figured that with a John Currin on the cover it had to be good.It did include a good range of artists, but I was disappointed to see some of the images.It seemed like the author selected PG versions of the paintings or at least the more PG work by many of the artists.

Very Current
Very current (mostly) and well presented.

Favorites; Eric Fischl, Lucian Freud, Chuck Close, John Currin,Barnaby Furnas

Steven Gefrom

Remember you can't JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER.
Geez, a couple of the other reviewers are complaining the cover of this art book is misleading. Didn't somebody teach them in grade school you cannot judge a book by its cover?

John Currin is only one of at least a dozen artists featured in this book.So there is a lot of different kinds of painting featured here, so if you only like classical portriature or very realistic painting, you are in the wrong place!This is for lovers of contemporary art, including some of the current greats, ie Cecily Brown, Yan Pei-Ming, etcetera and so on.

While not exactly an exhaustive or investigative feature on contemporary figurative painting, it does hit up a lot of the big names right now and the reproductions are very nice.Each artists gets two or three pages.I would have prefered more.But this modestly sized book is very pretty and fun to flip through and make comparisions.

More images of work next time
Where is David Humphrey? Clearly should have been included. A nice sequel could include more artists that deal with Figurative abstraction such as Humphrey, Amy Sillman and many others.

Also, not enough text, and could have had more images

I demanded my money back
This book is paired with an Odd Nerdrum book, in one of those "Better Together" promos that Amazon does.I'm not sure who decided these two books belong together.Some Amazon executive looked at the Nerdrum book, and said "here's a serious traditional realist.Let's pair his book up with a collection of cartoons."

And cartoons they are.I expected a collection of figurative works to include at least some serious works.Freud is in the collection, but beyond that, there's a load of stuff you'd see in a SoHo gallery where hype out-ranks skills.I have gone through the book three times, and have not seen a single artist I'd want to know more about.

Yes, I get modern art.I know what they're trying to do, blah blah blah, but the book was misrepresented by pairing it with a book by a realist, and further misrepresented by placing a semi-realist painting on the cover.That painting, by the way, isn't even in the book, nor does the dust jacket credit the artist.It's not representative of the book at large (I know.I know.I judged the book by the cover).

A book of figure painting would rightly include Steven Assael, Jeremy Lipking, Robert Liberace and other young greats.What it did include were over-hyped artists who can rightly be called modern artists, but not figurative painters.

I couldn't think of a single reason to keep this book, and for the first time in nearly ten years as an Amazon customer, I asked for a refund.Amazon has a very easy refund procedure, and if you've bought this book, I recommend you use it.

For those who are looking for a serious collection of figurative work, try "Strokes of Genius".I haven't seen it, but I've heard very good things about it.

Strokes of Genius: The Best of Drawing
... Read more

Amazon.com
Painting With Light was the first book on cinematography written by a major Hollywood cameraman. Published in 1949 and now put back into print, it is one of the best and most unusual books in the field. Written with good humor and full of helpful diagrams and photographs, it is certainly the most entertaining. Its technological discussions are dated, but Painting With Light remains relevant because its primary focus is on light itself and the many complex ways the camera crew can manipulate it. This new edition contains a biographical introduction by Todd McCarthy, who describes how the man who shot the strikingly colorful ballet sequence in An American in Paris also helped define the stark, haunting style of the film noir.Book Description
Few cinematographers have had as decisive an impact on the cinematic medium as John Alton. Best known for his highly stylized film noir classics T-Men, He Walked by Night, and The Big Combo, Alton earned a reputation during the 1940s and 1950s as one of Hollywood's consummate craftsmen through his visual signature of crisp shadows and sculpted beams of light. No less renowned for his virtuoso color cinematography and deft appropriation of widescreen and Technicolor, he earned an Academy Award in 1951 for his work on the musical An American in Paris. First published in 1949, and long out of print since then, Painting With Light remains one of the few truly canonical statements on the art of motion picture photography, an unrivalled historical document on the workings of the postwar, American cinema. In simple, non-technical language, Alton explains the job of the cinematographer and explores how lighting, camera techniques, and choice of locations determine the visual mood of film. Todd McCarthy's introduction, written especially for this edition, provides an overview of Alton's biography and career and explores the influence of his work on contemporary cinematography. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Learn To Walk
This book is really great. Written in the fifties it still seems very relevant to me today.

It explains very basic items like cookies, gobos etc. and basic concepts like how to let objects appear to be three dimensional.

I looked at the book from the eyes of a still photographer. Some content was only relevant to cinematography. Personally, I even liked those parts as they gave me an behind the scenes look into movie lighting, which output I see every day.

A revised version would be very much appreciated.

While I don't agree with every view in this book, I find this book superior to many on aspects of photography and film
First off, I want to note that the author DOES cover still photography in this book even though the major emphasis is on film techniques. As someone who has always considered lighting to be vital, learning more lighting techniques is a passion.I was naturally drawn to this one.

It didn't disappoint. Very convincingly, Mr. Alton makes his case for the way lighting and setting can affect the whole tone and mood of a film. He also reveals how some difficult situations, filming against snow, can be overcome.

This was a seminal book of 1949 and I'm glad to rediscover it, even though I wasn't born in 1949 and I came to it late but had the luck to see an earlier edition. As you can probably tell, the cover photo is riveting and the contents are also compelling.

I did want to note what may, perhaps, be obvious to some readers: film techniques and the ability to manipulate lighting have come a long way since 1949. Special effects can be used. But I come to this book with a still photographer's background and I'm thrilled to be able to use the information in both film and still photography.

If you are prepared to take what is here and remember when this book was written, you'll find an abundance of riches. For those who like noir type photos or movies, you'll be thrilled when Alton discusses how to use weather to your advantage - whether that be rain, snow, fog, etc.

Also, a confession: I prefer black and white photos and films - in many instances - so I was particularly delighted to read Alton's words about "rich blacks", two words that might not seem to be joined together - rich and black (and I'm not talking politics or class here). As most of us who work with visual effects know, there are shades of black and there are rich, deep tones as well as the infinite variations along the scale.

I'll forever be baffled as to whether it is the shadows that set off the light or the other way round. But whatever your take, you can't go wrong by reading this book on how to paint with light - and whether you are a professional or amateur, I think you'll find your work benefits from the experience.

Other subjects covered in this one: close-ups, aspects of outdoor photography, still photos (mentioned above), basic principles. When it comes to TECHNIQUE, if you think about what is discussed with a historical perspective, it will serve you well because some of the techniques have come a long way since then. Still, I found it very useful to pretend that some of those techniques didn't exist and it forced me to be more creative.

Highly recommended!

The Best Basics about lighting effects
Even though the subject of the book deals with B&W lighting effects for film and TV, as an artist, it helped me in creating paintings with better "moods" and making them more dynamic.

Very good
I think this book is an evergreen among books. "Romantic" way of writing covered by practical knowledge and techniques. I would recommend reading it.
Especially for people doing CG this could open some new ways, ideas looks.

Great book!
Was the perfect gift on Chritsmas ! My son is very happy!
Shipppin in time! Good service.........
Thank You AMAZON! ... Read more

Book Description
Until now, the techniques used to create great abstract paintings were surrounded by a veil of mystery.Abstract Painting: Concepts and Techniques lifts that veil to reveal the exact methods behind the masterworks.Now students and professional artists can stop guessing and start building on the techniques of the great abstract artists to create their own innovative new work.Two clear, comprehensible sections let artists focus quickly on their specific areas of interest.The first section, on Traditional Painterly Abstraction, using brush and easel, looks at pictorial space, brushwork, paint quality, and collage.The second section, on Post-Painterly Modern Abstraction, considers options ranging from the pour-and-spatter techniques of Jackson Pollock to the staining, scraping, and abrading of modern acrylic artists.Step-by-step recipes for key approaches show artists how to get the best aesthetic results, freeing them to move forward philosophically. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Lacks sufficient instruction
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.

a grounding read
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.

Abstract Painting: Concepts and Techniques
Good book. Really clues you in on the whys and what fors ofabstract 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.

First class, but not for the beginner
It's a pity to dismiss Vicky Perry's book if you have done absolutely no abstract painting, because you may well find it invaluable further down the track.The text provides advanced theories that will be well beyond someone who is a complete beginner, but will be a mine of information for the experienced amateur as well as the art student.

I purchased this book before I found Brian Ryder's "Beyond Realism" (see my review of this book) and was initially as challenged by Vicky Perry's text as other reviewers.However, having now worked my way through Ryder's book (and two other's I mention at the end of this review) I found that the concepts and techniques in "Abstract Painting" began to click, and even found them refreshing and exciting.What is more, the examples of abstract art in Perry's book are from professionals, which are hardly open to criticism from amateurs.Okay, so I don't like them all either, but that can only be a plus: you can ask yourself - how would I express the artist's idea myself?(You can't do that with the one's you like - they've already made the definitive statement!)

This is no paint-by numbers book for two reasons: firstly, by its very nature, abstract art cannot be taught literally, in formal steps - as is technical drawing, for example.Secondly, the author quite reasonably assumes that the reader has some experience, not only in the fundamentals of art making, but also in basic forms of abstract expression.If you are short on either of these skills, you need to start elsewhere.

Contrary to what other reviewers claim, there are plenty of books available that can get a beginner started on abstract painting.It is just that such books are not necessarily titled "abstract."They tend to come under the cateories of design, or creativity.Even collage books like those of Gerald Brommer are a good introduction to abstract principles - with instruction included.

For the absolute beginner, I would recommend beginning with Mary Todd Beam's "Celebrate your Creative Self."All the exercises in this book are abstract, and clear instructions are given as to materials and techniques.You even get to copy to some extent!Next, I recommend Maxine Masterfield's "Painting the Spirit of Nature." That also gives techniques, but assumes more experience.Try Vicky Perry's Book after you have cut your teeth on these two - or something similar. I am sure you won't be disappointed.

Very informative on abstracts
I haven't finished the entire book yet. I have read 3/4 of it and it is full of information in art itself. It makes you understand why abstract can be harder to paint than realistic. I think it helps with your realistic painting as you can plan it using abstract masses to balance and use of values. Abstract painting books are hard to find that actually makes you appreciate all kinds of art. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (17)

Required reading for my students!
Hawthorne on Painting was the most recommended book by master artist and teacher Sergei Bongart and, like most of his other students, I make it required reading for artists studying with me. The essential truths within are clear, even without pictures, and you'll find yourself reading and re-reading the rich, pithy text. A plein air painter cannot do without its information and inspiration!

Also of interest to artists...
Sergei Bongart
Sergei Bongart - Profiles in American Art ** RARE SIGNED LIMITED EDITION **
Eight Russian-American Artists [Exhibition, Newman & Saunders Galleries, Sept. 17 - Oct. 15, 1983]
Wm. F. Reese

Good reading but:...
How good could be an advice or critic if you dont see the pictures that goes
along with it. I did appreciate the reading of this book, but I'd say half of
it is wasted due to the fact that there is no artwork to base judgement for
yourself and understand the views of Mr. Hawthorne.

Good information
The material covered is good, but I liked the book Henche on Painting better.No color images.

Amazing artist
It's a good to hear the comments from this wonderful artist expressing what makes an artist. The books modest cost is worth it, just to feel how he processes the visual world. His constructive reviews of students is enlightening. What I really missed was pictures of the works he is reviewing. The book is devoid of any pictures. You have to visualize what he is talking about. I really wanted to "see" what he was seeing.

Classic
This is one of the classics on painting.Every artist should add this to thier libary.It is a small book full of treasuredinsights for painting.

Hawthorne's book is one I turn to when I am stuck in a painting.I read through the information that is given and see which one applies to my work.It is often just what I need to have a fresh eye.This is a great book for the novice or professional. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

Word Painting
This author's writing is exciting to read. I've learned more from reading this book than any other writing books that I've read.

Here's an adjective: Yuck
Weak, unconsidered, cliche ridden, mundane, obvious, repetitive -- How are those for a few descriptions?Well, they fit.This is not a good book. She repeats the most obvious and then repeats them again (where was the editor?). Some facts are just wrong, such as most scholars see simile and metaphor as the same. I am sure those who say they "highlighted" it or "read it over and over" must either have been dreaming or reading a different book. It's one long bad Writers Magazine article, one that says, Hey try using "carmine" instead of "red." Try using a metaphor instead of simply saying it was "brown."Duh.Keep reading the reviews, past the ones her friends wrote andyou'll see the real reviews -- it just is not a good book at all.

Worth Reading Repeatedly
Word Painting was recommended by an excellent writer.I ended up reading the book, cover to cover, four times.Each time I came away with numerous fresh ideas.This book does more than lay down and explain a list of rules.It also draws from the works and advice of great authors in a way that makes reading the book enjoyable as well as instructive.Ms. McClanahan's own experiences, as related in the book, were particularly beneficial, often coming back to remind me how I could make the passage before me more palatable to the reader.The exercises were not as helpful to me as they might be for others, but they are marvelous drills for the more disiplined reader.Whether you want to improve your ability to write a novel, a report, a legal brief, a letter or an e-mail message, try this book!

An Indispensable Writing Tool
Word Painting by Rebecca McClanahan is, without a doubt, one of the best writing related books I have ever purchased.Oh, other reference books have come and gone -- mostly to an auction site or a used bookstore -- but Word Painting is one that stays on my shelf and won't be going anywhere.

Is it a book heavy on technical information?Absolutely.At times it reads like a textbook for a writing class, so that might surprise some.But the more I read this book (and I go back to re-read it regularly) the more I learn.To say that Word Painting is merely a book that teaches you how to write more descriptively would be an injustice to the material contained inside.

Word Painting tackles all the standard writing "must knows" like tenses and points of view, moves on to the art of creating your own, unique similes and metaphors (avoiding the cliche), tackles passive vs. active & cluttered vs. uncluttered prose, then moves on to the biggies like setting, and how writing descriptively weaves into narration, description, and exposition to form the larger framework of your overall story...how writing descriptively affects your narrative voice.

McClanahan teaches you to look at the world, people and things around you with an "artist's" eye, noticing texture and sound and light, then guides you through translating what you see and hear and smell and touch onto the page in words so the reader can experience that with you.

Not only did this book teach me the importance of description and how it helps shape a story, it taught me the importance of all the various elements of fiction writing AND how to write them in a balance.Each chapter is full of useful information, but I'm not going to lie and say that it's not heavy reading.It is.But then writing is an art and a skill and it takes time, dedication, and the willingness to hone your skills into the craft.This is not light afternoon reading, and it's definitely a book you have to keep coming back to again and again because what you missed one time will click in the next, then something else the next.To me, that's an indispensable writing tool because it's not a one shot deal like so many other books that you buy, read once, then never read again.Word Painting -- like your writing -- is an evolving book that grows with you.

When people ask me for "how to write" book recommendations, Word Painting is first (and often only) book that comes to mind.

This Sucks
It is bloated.If there is any good information, its hidden very deep and i'm not patient enough to look for it.I want my money back. ... Read more

Book Description
Packed with FULL COLOR, easy-to-complete projects

The fun and easy way to discover your inner artist through oil painting!

Have you always wanted to paint with oil? Now you can! This friendly guide gives you all the hands-on instruction you need to master the basics. You'll see how to plan a painting, build an image in layers, mix colors, and create the right composition. And you'll practice your new skills by painting a variety of subjects, from portraits to still lifes to landscapes.

• Choose the right supplies

• Develop your design and

• composition skills

• Practice sketches and brush strokes

• Set up your studio and care

• for your equipment

• Work on a variety of compositions

Customer Reviews (3)

Oil Painting for Dummies
This is a great book for all us self-taught artists.It teaches us what all those terms and things are that we never understood, and how to acomplish them. I've been painting for 45 years and this book helped me a lot...."Back to the drawing board!"

Oil Painting for Dummies
Of all the oil painting instructional books I have purchased, this one is the very best.It takes you from the basics or oil painting in a very understanble way for any novice.Through the book, you are taught every element of oil painting from beginning to end.I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has the desire to oil paint.Make it the first one in your library.

Anyone who is interested in learning to paint must read this.
I teach painting and have learned so much from this book.Whether someone is just starting out or been involved in painting for years, this book brings new ideas and information.It's lovely as well, with plates of in-process and completed works.A must for anyone interested in learning to paint or learning new ways of working with color!Thanks for writing this! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (35)

Oil Painting for the Beginner
This book is not for the true beginner.It may be good for someone with a lot of experience but not me.I wanted a book with the basics of painting, a how-to book.Oil Painting for the Serious Beginner: Basic Lessons in Becoming a Good Painter

Great for a beginner painter
I found this book to be very easy to read and helpful with basic concepts needed for a strong foundation in painting with oils.I especially like the info about shading, color for impact and components to make your work more polished.

a bit disappointed
I should have listened to the other reviews.The images are yellow toned and it makes it very difficult for a beginner to learn how to mix paint and get the right colors.The book also doesn't guide you on this matter which makes all the difference.I haven't used this book once.

so so book
I read this and found only some info helpful.For a beginner this wasn't what I was looking for.

many good tips
This book is written by an artist that has a lot of obvious talent and ability which is always a good start for how-to-paint books!His approach to colour particularly sticks in the mind.There are no complete step-by-step demonstations (beginning to end mapped out)- but many snapshots of some of the processes and some of the stages he arrived at before the finished product.Particularly useful for artists interested in landscapes and alla prima.I would recommend this as a book which complements an artist's personal tuition program - but not a book for complete beginners I wouldn't think. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

Great Book!
This book isn't a "How to Paint" book. It assumes you already know how to do that. This book tells you how to create good paintings using light, space and color. It reminds you of all the things you learned in art school but have forgotten along the way.

Great Companion
This book is extraordinarily helpful for artists who already have some experience. It appears to be a collection of class notes with many illustrations and helpful tips, rather than a mapped out "method". I discovered in it many missing links of information, "ahas", so to speak.

Maddening Reproductions and Sketchy Notes of a great Artist
David Leffel is my favorite modern realist, along with Richard Schmid. Unfortunately, he is not represented well by this book. All of the other reviewers have said it - too many of the reproductions are maddeningly out of focus, and most of the others are dull and unworthy. While there are valuable things to be learned from the text, it is from class notes and it really shows.

The four stars are for the artist, whose work is the very best. There are some decent repros in the book and they are to be savored, and in my opinion make the book worth buying, although how Mr. Leffel and the publisher signed off on a production of this poor quality is a mystery.

One of the best books I've found on classical painting
This book, along with the other one by Greg Kruetz on problem solving for oil painting, is absolutely a must for those looking to learn the real power of classical oil painting using form and lighting.It is excellent and covers classical principles of oil painting including lighting, composition, and use of muted color.It is richly illustrated and features David A Leffel's work and masterful style with still life, mainly table top items, and lots of portraits.There are no landscapes featured and atmospheric perspective and plein air is not covered.However, David can make even the most simplest of items appear rich and strikingly important.I love this book and refer to it often.Truly beautiful and classical and an absolute must for those looking for traditional classical principles in the Rembrandt genre where a limited color pallet and the power of cascading light is important.This is NOT a modern art book and although the brush strokes are stylized with the impressionists' flare, it visually has the realist and Rembra