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Customer Reviews (43)

Great book, but really for a certain style of painting
Good read and good study material but more fitting if you are into real loose and heavy brush stroke type of painting styles only. But does includes some pointers and info that anyone could learn from. The term Master in painting is used so loosely now days compared from when the term was coined and meant something so long ago. But to clarify, I am not downing the author, he is a great painter. Good book for any oil painters collection and or reference.

Oil Painiting Secrets from a Master
I have been painting for many years.I found this book full of comments that reminded me of the things I should focus on and things I might try to make a better painting.An artist should never stop learning. This is a good one to add to your library.Len

The best oil painting book I've read
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The raw amount of knowledge that Leffel reveals about painting is staggering. Your painting skill will vastly improve if you read this book. Highly recommended!!!!

Fascinating instruction, fascinating art
This book is worth it's price just to see the artwork. At the same time, I have learned a lot from the material in this book and I am inspired by the artist's work. You can tell he's mastered a technique unique to himself and his teaching methods are quite clear and informative. It's fun to see someone so talented who wishes to pass on that knowledge to others. I've read quite a few art improvement books but this one is different in that it really seems to get down to important fundamentals of art in a clear and instructive manner. I imagine I'll re-read it quite a bit as it has a lot of critical detail that I haven't run into before. It is obvious that this artist has great skill and insight and he uses an equal amount of those talents presenting clear and helpful information to those who strive to improve their art skill. I highly recommend this one to anyone with a serious desire to become an artist or who want to better understand real art.

art lessons are important to continued learning.
Everytime an artist studies the masters, current or old masters, it is a chance to grow.It takes much practice and time to achieve good art.Do not be satisfied until you understand the skills required to do this. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (8)

Beautiful and interesting vintage furniture painting
Technically perfect,very well explained, things to learn, interesting to read but just not very different from all the other books I may have on the subject.
If you have nothing on this kind of art and craft, if it is a first time for you, go for it because it is really very clear for someone just starting.
I will keep this book, to have a look in it sometimes.
I don't regret my purchase after all.

Vintage Furnituer Painting
This is a good reference book for those who paint furnitue.I'm glad I purchaced it.Pam in Texas

Very intriguing -- need a peek inside the book
If you are like me, you want to see inside the pages of a book BEFORE you buy it. I don't know why it isn't available at Amazon but I did find a place online where you can preview it -- at Powell's bookstore here in Portland, Oregon. Try [...] and enter the title. There's not many pages but it's enough to convince me to buy it.

Vintage Furniture Painting
Great artist and wonderful instructions. Customer service is great too!She is prompt at answering questions and I love this book.Flynn Gentry-Taylor

Beautiful Book - Exceptional Value
As an artist, I'm continually searching for fresh, new, inspiration and information.This book presents page after page of beautiful painting ideas and instructions.I was very pleased with the information provided- start to finish, with each project. The beautiful worksheets covering layout ideas,borders, and artwork illustrations were extremly helpful.I have been painting with the one-stroke technique for years and now have a new avenue to explore.This book would be of great value to a longtime painter like myself or someone ready to try furniture or home accessory painting for the first time.I have paid far more for many books that had much less to offer.A great value! ... Read more

Product Description
Offering information on the full scope of oil painting materials and how to use them to derive the best results from the medium, this indispensable encyclopedia compares leading brands of paints; describes mediums, solvents, and varnishes; and discusses brushes, palettes, and other tools. 335 color illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (32)

Can't say it better than that first feller.
Great book.Well written, and helpful to the new student and even the "old hands."

You will not be disappointed with this book.

Fast and reliable
The Oil Painting Book: Materials and Techniques for Today's Artist (Watson-Guptill Materials and Techniques)One of the best instructional art books I could ever refer to. You were fast getting it to me as well. It was like new! Thanks! It was a pleasure doing buisness with you. Sincerely, Rosita

Creevy's Oil Painting Book
The Oil Painting Book: Materials and Techniques for Today's Artist (Watson-Guptill Materials and Techniques) has a lot of good technical information covering materials and tools, oil painting techniques, and the related alkyd paints, water-miscible oils, and oil sticks.He also gives some coverage of brands; this is dated, since the book was published in 1994, but there is still useful information.The book omits detailed information about corrections to oil paintings like scraping down, tonking/blotting, wiping, and sanding.Many techniques are illustrated, however, and the writing is clear.

There are lots of quality glossy illustrations in the book.These illustrations are mostly from Creevy's hand.The paintings are pleasantly colorful, but often, when different techniques are being illustrated, the paint surface has the same kind of scumbled look.Another problem is that the paintings show a limited drawing ability.This is appearant particularly in his life studies, which are sorely awkward.I find the book useful, but consult it only for technical information and procedures, not aesthetic matters.However, materials and techniques are all that the title purports to cover.

Well Written
What I like best about this book is a very well written explanation of the techniques in oil. I haven't found this in other books on painting that I've purchased. I'd recommend this to anybody recently new to painting.

Oil Painting Book is a great buy!
This is a really good book for anyone who's painting - it give tons of information on the materials available, what can be done with them and the many, many techniques that can be used.Goes into surprising depth and would be a great help for any student or teacher of painting.It can certainly lead you into new techniques you haven't considered.Worth every penny and then some. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great book
This book is great for studying 19th century American painting. It gives details into the lives and artistic styles of the artists who changed American painting. The best part about this book is it not only describes the artist's techniques but also talks about the background of the technique and what and/or who influenced the artist. The writing is clear and concise, making it easy to understand. In this book the history of American painting comes alive and is a fascinating read for anyone who loves art history. ... Read more

Product Description
"Versatility, immediacy, luminosity, brilliance, ease of use--all these are attributes of working in pastel, but probably the most important of all is that it's just a lot of fun!"
--Maggie Price

Come enjoy the art of pastel painting with beloved workshop instructor Maggie Price. In this step-by-step guide, she teaches you everything you need to know to make the most of this accessible art form. From selecting the right materials to learning the fundamentals of composition, Maggie starts with the basics and progresses to 21 complete pastel demonstrations that detail specific painting techniques and effects. You'll learn how to:

• Create depth and movement with color
• Paint using a range of strokes
• Blend colors to create luminous skies, reflections and more
• Underpaint to achieve brilliant light and deep shadows
• Mix pastels with watercolor and gouache to create fluid effects
• Create new compositions from photographs

With its blend of visual instruction, thorough guidance and breathtaking artwork, this is the only guide you need to experience the joy and satisfaction of painting with pastels. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Painting with Pastels
I received my book on pastel painting in a timely manner and it was packaged properly, so it arrived in good condition.

As a beginner in creating art, I found this book simple to read and its instructions very clear.The author provides examples which are easy to follow. I think this book will help me greatly in learing how to paint in pastel colors sticks.

I am very pleased with this purchase.

BetterThan I Thought
I gave this as a gift to my sister, who is an accomplished artist, though not with pastels.At first I thought it might be too basic for her, but she said it was really quite helpful and had some excellent tips!

Pastels are fun
Well like the sub title says, " Easy techniques to master the medium" and they are easy. The paintings used in the book are really pretty and make you want to get out there and paint another pastel painting. The paintings chosen are easy to replicate with the instruction. Something you would not expect , but many other pastel books give hard examples to copy. The paintings in the book are all colorful, light, and happy. Something pastel's are suppose to be about. I would definately tell people to get this book if they want to have " fun" painting in pastels. Creative Painting for the Young Artist

Good book on pastels
Of the four books I purchased on pastels, this is the only one worth the money. It included more instructional aspects that the other three did.

Best on Pastels but great info for all mediums
This is one of the best books on pastels I've ever read.The information is so well done and so clearly explained that much of the information can be applied to other mediums such as oils, acrylics or watercolor.The information alone on color theory is outstanding - simple yet very clear and in-depth.
Highly recommend this one! ... Read more

Product Description
Using inks and liquid watercolor paints specially made for pens, Claudia Nice shows artists of all skill levels how to achieve the warm moods, rough textures and mellow hues of aging barns, farmhouses, mansions and more.Featuring dozens of step-by-step demonstrations along with her written instruction, Nice reveals simple methods for rendering a range of charming subjects.

Claudia is a multi-media artist, but prefers pen, ink and watercolor when working in the field.She has been an art consultant and instructor, has authored 15 art instruction books and travels across North America conducting workshops, seminars and demonstrations at schools, clubs, shops and trade shows.She has recently opened her own teaching studio near Mt. Hook, Oregon. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Painting Weathered Buildings in Pen, Ink, &Watercolor
WOW This is a great book.Claudia has outdone herself.We have lots of her books and this one is better than the last.(If possible)It has great information to help the person that wants to do this kind of work with a pen.The book was in new condition and arrived here very quickly.We are so pleased.Thanks

watercolor buildings
This book has very useful techniques for expressing details in watercolor/pen ink of rustic buildings. Easy to follow. Excellent examples and lists of materials needed.

dragon5
This is a wonderful book to learn how to do pen and ink buildings. Claudia Nice is a very good pen and ink artist! Her books are very nice and I enjoy them very much.

Painting Weathered Buildings in Pen. Ink & Watercolor
If you are an artist or a person who likes old buildings and barns and wants to try something new this book is a wonderful book to purchase. Claudia Nice techniques and directions used in this book and her other books are easy to follow.In this book Claudia's explanation of perspective and working with perspective along with her diagrams is easy to follow.I especially like how Claudia used photographs of buildings and perspective lines drawn from the photos to the horizon/vanishing point line.This helps me when I am looking at a building that I am going to sketch for a painting.Following Claudia's instructionsand lots of practice can help anyone accomplish the goals one sets for oneself.The way Claudia sets up her books makes her a wonderful instructor for any level art student or a person who just wants to try something new.Claudia's way of explaining, drawings and examples make learning fun.

Great techniques
More than any other book I have read by Claudia Nice, this book has so many useful techniques that should make it useful for artists on just about any level! The book is specifically about drawing weather buildings and you will find that most of the illustrations deals with old wood, metal and brick, but the techniques introduced are incredibly useful for a lot of other subjects where you want a rough "organic" texture.

Even if you don't like the traditional very contrasty look of pen and ink with watercolor, I would recommend reading this book for it's general discussions of texture and it's samples of ink work using grey and sepia inks. ... Read more

Product Description
Water is a fascinating yet challenging subject to paint. It changes forms, moods, shape and color as the surrounding influences are altered. In The Complete Guide to Painting Water, the reader will learn how to paint water in all of it's forms in order to incorporate it as part of their landscape and still life paintings. Readers will not only learn how to paint water, they will learn how to observe the motions of water in order to master this ever-changing subject. Through careful observation, readers will understand water's actions and reactions, how it reflects and refracts light, how it moves and much more! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

The Complete Guide to Painting Water
The author included many painting tips to improve techniques.His painting are wonderfully inspiring.

great reference book for painting water
This book gives step by step instruction on painting many different scenes involving water. It is a great instructional book, easy to read and follow. It has clear progressive drawings. Another great beginners book and a great addition to my library of Seascape painting guides.

Excellent Book-Excellent Service
The used book was delivered in better condition than expected and much faster than advertised.All aspects of the purchase went quickly and trouble free.

Decent
This book was decent in it's approach to painting water, but only covered the basics.It didn't go into enough detail in places, but it is a nice start for the begginer and possibly intermediate painter.

So So...it's a very old book.
Not one of my favorites by far and probably should have returned it. Mostly black and white with not many pictures, mostly text...not my favorite kind of art book. But I kept it anyway as part of my Painting and Art Library...it's just okay, but I'd pass it up if I had the choice again. ... Read more

Product 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 (29)

missing piece to the story
love the story. however, feel ongoing disappointment about the missing piece in the story of how and why etc. the widow from Ireland came to own the painting from Scotland.Can anyone enlighten me.

The Lost Painting
This wonderful book was recommended by a dear friend, even though she knew I was not an art afficionado.I could not put it down.The story behind the unlikely find of the painting and the resulting swirling interests of the true art intelligencia made for a fascinating read.Caravaggio was a talented, but troubled artist 400 years ago.The "characters" in the current day aspect of the book are equally intriging!I had never heard of Caravaggio, so you can appreciate my wonderful surprise to see one of his few known works, that of a reclining cherub, at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, exactly a week after reading the book, and then to only find out the artist is one of the very favorites of one of my granddaughters!

A great read!

Jim Kennedy, Honolulu

A Fascinating Detective Story
I have been fascinated with the art of Caravaggio for many years and been able to see the majority of his painting that still decorate churches in Italy.Jonathan Harr's book, therefore, had an instant appeal.The Lost Painting tells the story of how a painting of Caravaggio - The Taking of Christ - was found after being lost for centuries.The book initially centers on a painting of St. John the Baptist by Caravaggio and the attempts to track down its history.The St; John was purchased by the Mattei family from the artist along with The Taking of Christ.The whereabouts of the latter painting is a mystery.Mr. Harr's approach is to treat this like a detective story. He centers on three people: Sir Dennis Mahon, Francesca Cappelletti and Sergio Benedetti.Sir Denis is a highly respected art historian, Francesca is a graduate student in art history and a researcher, and Sergio is an expert in art restoration.

The book is as much about the personalities of the three main characters as it deals with art history, scholarly research and the preservation of art.We are plunged into the milieu of the art world. I learned a great deal about the search for family archives and the various states of preservation that these documents come in. Some are remarkably well preserved, as fresh as if written a few years ago when they are hundreds of years old.Mr. Harr provides nicely detailed descriptions of the three central figures. Obviously, he observed them closely. For example, here he introduces Sir Dennis:

"The Englishman moves in a slow but deliberate shuffle, knees slightly bent and feet splayed, as he crosses the piazza, heading in the direction of a restaurant named Da Fortunato. The year is 2001. The Englishman is ninety-one years old. He carries a cane, the old-fashioned kind with a hooked handle, although he does not always use it. The dome of his bald head, smooth as an eggshell, gleams pale in the bright midday Roman sun. He is dressed in his customary manner - a dark blue double breasted suit, hand tailored on Savile Row more than thirty years ago, and a freshly starched shirt with gold cuff links and a gold collar pin. His hearing is still sharp, his eyes clear and unclouded."

Sometimes the author gives a little too much information, such as when describing Francesca's long relationship with Luciano.His pacing is very good and I found myself wanting to continue reading even though I had to put the book away for the day.I found it easy to be caught up in the research of Francesca and Laura as they uncover, bit by bit, information about Caravaggio's painting of St John and the intriguing missing painting.I would have liked some photographs in the book to illustrate the three central figures of the book, and I am wondering what The Taking of Christ looked like before any restoration had taken place.

Nevertheless, this is an informative and entertaining book about the art world and how fate intervenes to give and take fame from painters and scatter their works to the most unlikely of places.

A good Read
Anyone interested in art history, and especially Carravagio's work, would enjoy this book.If the reader has visited Rome, it's all the
more intriguing.Harr has done remarkable research on the period and the known details of Carravagio's life.

The lost chance
There's nothing terribly or conspicuously *wrong* with this book, but there are several things that prevent it from being the wonderful read it could have been, being, as it is, based on a great story that should have ensured an absolute page-turner.

The first thing (which other reviewers have pointed out before me) is that Mr. Harr seems undecided on whether he wanted to write a novel or a work of nonfiction. He has written the latter, but trying (unsuccessfully in my opinion) to infuse it with some of the typical trappings of fiction thrillers, i.e. ending chapters with adrenaline-charged sentences or 'revelations', including a love affair, etc. This is unfortunate, because nonfiction, when presented in the right way (and not 'dressed up' as something else), can be as compelling as fiction. The example that comes most readily to mind is Deborah Cadbury's harrowing account of how the quest for Louis XVII, the boy king of France who went missing after the Revolution, was solved with the help of a DNA investigation. Unlike Mr. Harr, Ms. Cadbury didn't try to make the people in her book sound like characters from the Da Vinci Code.

This approach forces Mr. Harr to try to make the people in his book (who are all real) 'interesting' in the way that a writer of fiction tries to make his characters interesting. I couldn't have cared less about the love life of Francesca Cappelletti, the sexy Italian scholar on a motorbike --- whose affair with Luciano, by the way, must be the most boring 'romance' to have graced the pages of a book in decades. Neither did I care about the personal frustrations of art restorer Benedetti, or English scholar Mahon's aversion to being hugged by women. Most of these people actually come across as being rather petty (e.g. the two young female scholars' unkind behavior towards the aged Marchioness at whose residence they make their discoveries), but even with these human failings exposed they just don't seem to be very interesting.

The interspersion of a couple of chapters dedicated to Caravaggio's life felt a bit artificial, as if Mr. Harr was trying to fill up space. More substantial information about his life, or a better distribution of it throughout the book, would have been better.

The other problem I had with this book was its lack of passion. It doesn't sound as if Mr. Harr is in love with any of his subjects --- Caravaggio, Italian paintings, the world of art scholarship. This is a rather dull read, as if the work had been commissioned --- a view borne out by Mr. Harr's admission that he had originally written an article, but needed a book project in order to avail himself of an invitation to the American Academy in Rome. I didn't feel the passion that seeps through the pages of, say, Antonia Fraser's biographies, or Thomas V. Cohen's wonderful account of 'love and death in Renaissance Italy' (which covers roughly the same period in which Caravaggio lived).

Many reviewers have expressed disappointment in 'The Lost Painting' as compared with Mr. Harr's previous work, 'A Civil Action'. I can't comment on that, not having read it. All I can say is that 'The Lost Painting' is an informative read about a very interesting historical find, but don't expect an unputdownable book --- you'll be disappointed. ... Read more

Product Description
Lin Wellford, the original "rock artist" shows kids how to create amazing creatures, incredible toys and wild gifts for their friends and family.All it takes is some paint, a few rocks and a little imagination! Easy-to-follow pictures and instructions show kids how to turn stones into everything from racecars and lizards to teddy bears and flowers!

They'll learn how to draw each design on a rock with a pencil, then paint the details in whatever colors they choose. Kids can decorate their rooms, make doorstops or bookends, or just paint something for fun. They can make each project look just like the real thing or wild and wacky. The choice is theirs-and so is the fun! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Spectacular Book for Budding Artists/Avid Rock Collectors! Empowering Gifts Book for Your Budding Artist -- Think Paperweights
Spectacular Book for Budding Artists/Avid Rock Collectors! Finally...something to do with all those rocks my 5- and 7-year old girls (and I) have been collecting!Tips:Use washable paint for the first couple of rocks and younger aspiring painters.Add glitter while the paint is wet if your artist likes things to sparkle.Great idea for a birthday craft and party favor!The best rocks are those found along river beds (dry or wet) because they are very smooth.But any favorite rocks will do (small, medium, large).Adults, grab a rock and do a project next to your child...let your own inner artist out!This will keep you from trying to "help your child do it right."Simply sit next to your child and discover the steps together.If you or your child makes a mistake in the pencil sketching stage, don't get frustrated (yes, I'm talking to the parents too!); simply erase it.If you make a mistake while painting, use a wet Q-Tip or paper towel to remove the washable paint.

If your child is young and is developing hand/eye coordination, this is a great project!Put on a painting smock and some old clothes, give her a pencil, eraser and paint and just let her go!It's messy, so take a deep breath...make it 3 if it goes against the grain to let your kids and their clothes get messy!If you use washable paint, it's much more enjoyable.If your child is older and not too worried about the finished product being perfect, you can use craft paint.A sealer will help the paperweight to last for years.If you're using washable paint, inform the gift recipient so they don't get it wet.

You'll start seeing rocks in a whole new way.Rock collecting has become a favorite fun family activity!Great project for kids of all ages...and I'm 40!If you're like me and enjoy crafts that don't send you to the craft store every other day, this is a keeper!Who would've thought rocks could make such spectacular gifts!?

Great book for building/increasing self-esteem.What better way to empower your child to make a gift which truly comes from the heart?!I love it when my daughters proudly present gifts made completely on their own.Their faces glow with such pride and accomplishment!

My 7-year-old has been telling me she will be an artist since she learned to speak.After opening the book for the first time, she tried to make the bear.She sketched the bear with no problem, but was not happy with her painted bear and melted down into a puddle of tears...I made the mistake of giving her the book and not sitting with her and doing my own project right along-side of her.Hence the advice to do this project when you have time to grab a rock and do it with her.She recovered quickly after a warm hug, a wet Q-tip and a paper towel.She painted for an hour that day and my 5-year old painted about 45 minutes.Not bad for a 5-year old who doesn't like to sit still! My older daughter took off with her own sketches from their and made paperweights with the recipients favorite flowers in mind.It was a fun project and one of our favorites.She made a sunflower for her teacher as a paperweight...and then decided to make it double-sided with a rose on the back. She loves making the ladybug.This book provided the steps she needed to make her own designs.

Super fun for a grown up too
I bought this book for myself (33) so I can't speak to the fact that it was geared toward kids.I do, however, really love the projects in this book.As usual, Wellford provides simple and clear step-by-step instructions with lots of pictures for every project.Unlike her other books which have rich-looking and realistic end-results, these projects end up looking a little more "cartoony," as they should (although I thought a lizzard I painted turned out pretty realistic).If you're looking for a project for kids that is fun, cheap, easy, creative, and engaging for at least 30+ minutes, buy the book--you won't be sorry.

This Book Rocks
This book provided some excellet ideas on how to use simple rocks to make interesting art objects.Instructions were clear and simple.

Great Condition with speedy delivery!
I got this book used!The condition was great!My granddaughter loved it!We painted rocks!We had a great time.Thank you for such speedy service and wonderful condition of a used book.

Rock Painting isn' Just for KIDS!!!
I have a neurological disorder similar to MS and I have trouble with my hands because of it. I wanted a change for my Front Flower Beds. Something no one else was doing, and low co....cheap if at all possible.
I also recognize that I am not Da Vinci, so I decided to start out easy.
Thats why I choose Painting on Rocks for Kids by Lin Welford. I could start out slow and gradually get better.I am pretty good with leaves and flowers, vines etc. and Lin's book has rocks painted like little ( or big ) flower bowls or pots. Thats right up my Alley or should I say Rock Garden!!
[[ASIN:1581802552 Painting on Rocks for Kids (Creative Kids) I am just starting out so wish me luck!!!

P.S. ( I think that I need more than Luck,Maybe a prayer or two.)

Thanks for reading.........Dlorah ... Read more

Product Description
Bestselling author and artist Lin Wellford has introduced thousands to the art of painting on rocks. Rock Painting Fun for Everyone! makes this inexpensive and exciting art form even more accessible with a variety of easy-to-paint pieces that anyone can make. From colorful butterflies and luscious fruit rocks to vases of flowers, cosy cottages and adorable rock pets, plus Halloween ghosts and holiday Santas, even a complete Nativity scene on rocks. Fifteen projects in all, along with many more ideas and suggestions for display make this book a real value. Wellford is known for her clear instructions and imaginative artwork. Abundant step-by-step color photos and an encouraging tone make this the perfect book for anyone who longs to discover their hidden artist talents. The back of the book says it all: No Experience Necessary! Grab a brush and get rockin'! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

More Great Rock Painting Ideas
I was especially interested in the painting of Santas for Christmas.All of Lin Wellford's rock painting books are great fun and easy to follow.Buy all of them!!!

WAY BETTER THAN EXPECTED!!!
This product is better than the description!Fast shipping and real easy transaction.Will definetly order from them again.

Clear, concise instructions make painting easy, even for me
Lin Wellford gives such basic and clear instructions, that literally EVERYONE can paint the projects in the book.I have absolutely no natural talent for art, but I can follow a recipe which is how the projects are broken down.Wellford tells me which brush to use, which color to select, and the order of steps.It is foolproof for a person like me.Wellford also briefly suggests alternative variations (usually accompanied by pictures) for the more advanced painter.The end result looks fantastic -- rich and full of life, not cartoonish like a child painted it by numbers.So far, I've painted the ghost (actually my family of ghosts on a single rock - it's awesome), the sunflowers, and the Santas (40 Santas in fact - as gifts).I have ALL of Lin's books because I like them so much.I tell my fans (mainly my mom) that Wellford taught me how to paint, even though I've never met her.If you like any project on the cover of the book, buy it.

Worth the Money
Lin can and will help you to get started in rock painting.The book is well written and provides a large amount of information about needed supplies to get started.Some helpful hints on how to use some of her painting techniques with your first paintings.Along with many good ideas for your first projects.An excellent book for beginners and first timer intermediate level artists wanting to foray into a new medium.The only way to go wrong with a Lin Wellford book is to not buy and not read.

Inspiring- Even for Beginners
This book has really awaken more creativity within me. Up until now, I never would have considered painting on rocks, but the book has changed my perspective. It taught me that art can be displayed on pretty much any medium. The author really breaks down each stroke for you in the book, which is a must for me since I've never taken up painting as a hobby. The materials needed will not break your budget, which is a bonus. I loved the book so much, that I purchased more of Lin's books. I've even just recently read her book about painting houses, cottages, and towns on rocks. Imagine that! I would encourage anyone with even just a small interest in painting to buy this book. The projects are charming and inspiring. ... Read more

Product Description
Encaustic is a waxed-based painting medium characterized by luminous color and a lush surface. It's an ancient art, dating as far back as Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire, and today is enjoying a revival.

Here is the first comprehensive guide available on mastering this beautiful yet demanding medium. In The Art of Encaustic Painting, readers will learn surefire ways to achieve vibrant color and create surfaces that look as light as a wash or as densely textured as impasto. They will see how to produce effects from abstract to figurative to minimal. Finally, they will discover dozens of clear, step-by-step directions detailing how to use these various encaustic techniques in their own art.

This remarkable reference also includes 200 attractive full-color photographs of the author's own work, as well as stunning examples by such premier encaustic artists as Jasper Johns, Arthur Dove, and Nancy Graves. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

Still the encaustic bible
Don't be misled by negative reviews written by people who have strange ideas about making encaustic more complicated than it needs to be. If you use this book, you won't go wrong, and it will lead you to many artists whose work you can follow. Joanne is the doyenne of the encaustic world. She researched this book extensively and knows what she is talking about. Her emphasis is on making art, not merely using encaustic. Follow her blog: [...]

the only book you'll need
This book is beautifully and insightfully written. It starts with a history of encaustic painting and is written by the acknowledged master of the art. Look no further. This is the book you want.

Best book out there on encaustics
I add my wholehearted rec to those already posted. I have looked at all the how-to books out there and this is by far the best one.

Not a how-to book
The reviewer Angel Lee gives an excellent description of this book. I like the book very much and would not be without it. However, in the product description, it says readers "will discover dozens of clear, step-by-step directions detailing how to use these various encaustic techniques in their own art." This is simply not true. My quarrel is not really with the book, which is excellent, but with its blurb not accurately representing the book. Not every book can be everything to everyone, and it doesn't need to be. But when you are buying a book sight unseen over the internet, it does need to be represented accurately. Pages 4-27 comprise a history of encaustic, ancient to modern, including a few Fayum portraits. Pages 29-88 are pictures of the work of encaustic artisits with very spare explanations of technique. Pages 89-109 have a good deal of excellent information on various waxes, heat sources for fusing, pigments and making your own paints, a discussion on brushes, and studio safety. Pages 111-119 are on substrates, and 120-131 on techniques: one page on textured surfaces, one page on smooth surfaces, one page on scraped surfaces, etc. So you should be asking yourself if "dozens of clear, step-by-step directions detailing how to use these various encaustic techniques" would really fit on 11 pages that are themselves half taken up by photos of finished work. Pages 133-137 are about preparing and exhibiting your work. Almost half the book is the portfolio of contemporary encaustic artists, as is reflected in the subtitle of the book. The most substantial parts of this book aside from the portfolio are the sections on wax types, heat sources, making your own paints, studio safety, fashioning substrates, and making sure work is suitable for exhibition.

Over rated


There was such great hype about this book from both my instructors as well as fellow artists, that I was expecting extraordinary information.I admit it's a good book.It covers history, proper use of materials and it's limitations.What it doesn't do is inspire to explore/challenge the medium. If you are motivated to follow the status quo, then this is a great book. I feel this book emphasizes the traditional parameters of what encuastic is all about, however, it doesn't give enough exposure to current artists bending the traditional parameters of the medium . I would classify this book as a solid textbook. I look forward to future material from the author where contemporary artists are featured and material is presented in context of historical reference and limitations.

... Read more

Product Description
What is painting really? Daubs of sticky oils and crushed rock, blobs that form and reform, colors that look one way on a palette, another way on canvas, a different way still in relation to other bits of color beside them. Books on painting usually talk about Art, or about painters. But in this compelling and original work, art historian James Elkins turns to alchemy, for like the alchemist, the painter seeks to transform and be transformed by the medium.

In What Painting Is, James Elkins communicates the experience of painting beyond the traditional vocabulary of art history. Alchemy provides a magical language to explore what it is a painter really does in her or his studio--the smells, the mess, the struggle to control the uncontrollable, the special knowledge only painters hold of how colors will mix, and how they will look. Written from the perspective of a painter-turned-art historian, What Painting Is is like nothing you have ever read about art. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

The Why of Painting
[...]

What is painting?

Typically, art historians answer that question with a litany of the who and what for facts of painting--the social, financial, and political forces that conspired to bring a work into being. After all, their job is to securely place a work within the (academically-assigned) progression of human endeavor. An art critic may add nuance to this discussion by dissecting the position of the work on the artist's evolutionary arc or opine on the painting's merit by comparing it in compositional terms to works by other artists.

Authors of painting manuals answer by showing us how to paint--they divulge the secrets of achieving different effects with the many painterly substances.

In his 1999 book What Painting Is, James Elkins takes a different approach. He explores the why of painting, every bit as fascinating and important as the what for and how. Elkins points acknowledges that painting is a metamorphic act, simply put, "the name for what happens when paint moves across a blank canvas."The book is his thesis on the experiential process of transforming basic material substances--once pulverized stone (pigment) and water (oil). In this regard, painters in their studios are very much like alchemists in their labs--they wrestle, coax, redo, and every so often miraculously succeed in converting their raw materials into something of transcendent beauty.

It may seem far-fetched to compare painting and alchemy, particularly in the post-Enlightenment world of chemistry:

"Despite all its bad press, and its association with quackery and nonsense, alchemy is the best and most eloquent way to understand how paint can mean: how it can be so entrancing, so utterly addictive, so replete with expressive force, that it can keep hold of an artist's attention for an entire lifetime. Alchemists had immediate, intuitive knowledge of waters and stones, and their obscure books can help give voice to the ongoing fascination of painting."(p.7)

A Professor of Art History at The School of the Chicago Art Institute who trained as a painter, Elkins does bring substantial authority to his central proposition: that the essence of a painting is in the visible and invisible processes that went into creating it. Using details from range of paintings--from Sasetta, Monet, Debuffet, Pollock, Rembrandt, Nolde, among others--Elkins discusses the similarity in the processes painters (and alchemists) go through to create their magic.

It's a seductive comparison, which largely holds a reader's interest, because most of the discussion on alchemy is kept within range of the uninitiated. Further, Elkins always returns to the discipline of painting, which is the more important topic of the two, afterall. That said, I found some of the alchemic discussions a bit obscure and a few of the analogies to painting slavishly concocted. The chapter on"Moldy material prima" was brilliant, but my interest waned more than a few times in the chapter on "Coagulating, cohobating, macerating, reverberating."

Still, the observations on painting are more often than not heady and inspirational. I suspect painters will nod vigorously in agreement. A long passage on Jackson Pollock winds up this way:

"Thinking of the painting as a layered sequence, it may seem as if Pollock was actually working toward a kind of order, so that the painting would reveal its creation, step-by-step, to a careful investigator. But Pollock was desperately interested in avoiding the normal structure of drawing and painting. It is rarely possible to follow a stream of paint as it winds its way across the canvas (as museum docents often advise visitors to do). Whatever such a layer became too obvious, he obfuscated it, tangling it back into a pattern as if he were stitching a stray thread. Where marks threatened to become too clear, Pollock let a messy beige drip fall just on top of them, or he held the brush still while it spun a thread of paint, piling up like syrup on a pancake. . .

. . . It may be that what Pollock feared, and wanted most to destroy, was the long continuous contour that would imply a human figure. . ." (p.93)

Near the end of the book, Elkins hones in exactly why painters are so addicted to paint:

"Oil paint can't be entrancing just because it can create an illusion, because every medium does that. No: painters love paint iteself, so much that they spend years trying to get paint to behave the way they want it to, rather than abandoning it and taking up pencil drawing, or charcoal, or watercolor, or photography. (though I might argue that watercolor is paint. . .)

It is no wonder that painters can be so entranced by paint. Substances occupy the mind profoundly, tethering moods to thoughts, tangling stray feelings with the movement of the body, engaging the full capacity of response and concentrating it on unpromising lumps of paint and color. There is no meaning that cannot seem to flow from the paint iteself. . ."

As a painter, I think his are among the best descriptions of the process of creating with the paint medium out there.

Better than I even expected.
Was in better condition than I even expected. I'm very pleased and would definitely purchase from this seller again.

"What Painting Is" precisely describes how a painter's thoughts transmute the paint into something other than grease
Dear Prospective Readers:

I just finished rereading "What Painting Is."It is a wonderful book!The first time I read it years ago, I liked it a lot, but this second time it hit my heart harder.I suppose the knowledge and experience I have accumulated since my first reading have made me that much more sensitive to what Elkins had to say about painting.In particular, I think he precisely describes how a painter's thoughts transmute the paint into something other than grease, and more importantly, how the paint and the process of painting transmute the painter's thoughts.I take for granted at times that paint is changed from something liquid to something solid when it dries; thus making immutable these otherwise fluid and transient transmutations.The Painter's Stone!Thanks for reminding me about this Dr. Elkins.

The book's chapter about the psychosis of the studio was very meaningful to me, especially the section about how painting could be interpreted as --pardon me--masturbatory or `incestuous' because it cannot help being so self-referential.I can remember when I was a student how hard critiques were to take because of how close I was to my work.I must confess, I still find criticism hard to take even though it is often in a context that is meant to be constructive!From my student days I remember my work being criticized for being `self-indulgent' because my painting surfaces got so thick and clotted.I was a huge fan of those thickly painted, black and white heads by Auerbach and Kossoff, done early in their careers.I still struggle with this to this day, regardless of whether I work in oil or casein.

Last, the chapter on steplessness really got me, too.As I understand it, `steplessness' refers to the impossibility of there being steps-to-make-a-painting.Dr. Elkins legitimately casts doubt as to whether even the old masters from the Renaissance-first half of the 19th century actually worked in steps and had a formula.Moreover, Dr. Elkins dashes--rightly I think--the hopes of there being a formula to making a masterpiece.Understanding painting in steps seems like a non-painter's understanding of how a painting is made, when in actuality the best-laid plans often go awry and become chaotic once a painting gets underway!

I apologize for the length of this note.I write it with some nervousness because, I must confess, I don't think I'm much of a writer!At any rate I feel "What Painting Is" is marvelous as well as brilliant.It so eloquently describes the painting process and thoughts from a painter's perspective.After reading this book, a non-painter or someone who is not at all involved in art, would have insight into what painters do and how they think `through substances.'I'm going to make "What Painting Is" required reading for my painting students. Also, I will buy copies for my brother-a dentist, my mom-a former high school English teacher, my dad-a retired high school algebra teacher, and my wife-a professor and critic of 17th and 18th century British Poetry.These people, who are the most important people in my life, should know more about me as a painter; "What Painting Is" will explain this better than I ever could!



Sincerely,


Mike Ananian
Painter
Associate Professor of Art (Painting & Drawing)
University of North Carolina at Greensboro

What Alchemy Is
I think the title of this book is misleading.It should be, "What Alchemy Is".Most of the book is devoted to an overview ofalchemy, with a few relatively modest observations about the nature of paint and how the artist relates to it and to the experience of painting. The book might have been more worthwhile if the author had at least been successful in demonstrating more clearly his point, which was to show the relationship between alchemy and painting, but the connection here between the two is not very convincing.I almost never write any of these reviews, but be forewarned if you think you are getting a book about painting, because this isn't it.

Quirky, great read
Although the author occasionally gets bogged down in the esoteric notions of alchemy this book may be just the thing you've been looking for if you need to see painting in a new light. There are many insights available here that you won't find in any other book on painting. I highly recommend this book to the serious painter. ... Read more

Product Description
Lin Wellford has introduced thousands of people to the unique magic of transforming ordinary rocks into imaginative works of art. The fun continues in this book as Lin takes "rock artists" through 13 more acrylic painting projects. Step-by-step instructions show how to create frogs, penguins, field mice, foals, bears, wolves and other colorful creatures. 318 illustrations, 290 in color . ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

I love this book!!
In this book, and by following the tutorials, I found that I had somewhat of an ability to paint animals on rocks.I just love the book!The tutorials are clear and easy to follow.If you like crafts and painting, you will really enjoy reading this book.And, you may just have some talent after seeing the end product of your painting.

Wonderful informative book!
I was given the first book by a friend, I liked it so well and had so much fun painting rocks that I decided to purchase this one as well. It is even better if possible. She shows the exact patterns and directions to paint the "fur", Stripes, or whatever. This experience of painting rocks is a first for me and I have been painting and crafting for over 40 years now. The author makes it so easy and fun to do. My grandchildren (grown and teenagers) love the gifts of a painted turtle, hippo, penguin in their "Easter Baskets" instead of the usual stuffed ones! I HIGHLY recommend this book to all who love to do the unusual and have fun doing it! ps I have purchased all her other books as well!

painting animals on rocks
great resource
has encouraged me in my painting
people are impressed with the results

Lin Wellford's Rock Painting Bible, v2
This book (as well as Lin Wellford's other "Painting on Rocks") is the master of its genre, all other books I've seen have been small in detail, depth, and variety in comparison to this one. While it does follow the standard "Step 1...", "Step 2..." style of direction, i.e. learning by direct imitation, Lin Wellford also goes into variations and shows pictoral samples of alternate versions of her works. In fact, you could probably buy just one of her books and have all the knowledge necessary to create an indefinite amount of other animals and objects on rocks as long as you had the inspiration. For those of us who like to imitate some (all) of the time, directly following her step-by-step instructions is great, particularly considering how many different types of animals are included.

In "Painting Animals on Rocks", there are step by step instructions listed for:
- Frog
- Mouse
- Penguin
- Skunk
- Beaver
- Squirrel
- Cow/Calf
- Horse/Foal
- Bear (incl. Panda)
- Wild Cat (incl. Tiger)
- Wolf

Unlike the first book, "The Art of Painting Animals on Rocks", this book doesn't have a gallery at the end. Instead, it lists "More ideas..." after almost every project, teaching you how to use her instructions to alter the "pattern" (steps) in order to customize your rock creature. The initial how-to instructions, materials list, and helpful hints at the beginning of the book have also been updated compared to its previous edition. If you're only interested in purchasing a single rock painting book, this is a solid choice, although the patterns are somewhat skewed to wild and farm animals. However, once you have the pattern for say, a Wild Cat, it is relatively simple to alter it to a domestic housecat, and the wolf can be converted to a dog. It's all up to your own imagination and creativity.

Excellent book that taught me how to paint
After becoming addicted to Wellford's other books, I bought this one for even more cute projects.As usual, the step-by-step instructions are simple, clear, and littered with pictures.For a non-artist like me, the directions are fool-proof.I've painted several mice, a large bear, and penguin and have blown away by the results.Left to my own imagination and skill, I wouldn't have been able to paint a snail, but thanks to Wellford's easy instructions, I can paint rocks that look like the pictures in the book.If you like any of the animals in the table of contents, don't hesitate to buy the book. ... Read more

Product Description
In Jerry Yarnell's Landscape Painting Secrets, readers will refresh their knowledge of basic acrylic painting (materials, terminology, color mixing, working with values and simple generic techniques) before mastering landscape elements that will take their painting to a new level. Intermediate to advanced landscape painting techniques will be presented in quick 4-8 step demos including water, land, trees, sky and atmospheric conditions plus readers will find 2 complete landscape scenes that they can paint step-by-step utilizing many of the techniques featured in the book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Jerry Yarnell's Landscape
The author needs to include more technique instruction.The photographs of his paintings are wonderful and inspiring the reader to paint.

The best
I have bought several books by Jerry Yarnell. His book on landscape secrets is the best of the lot.Detail instructions on the various aspects of nature--weeds, grass, bushes, trees, ect , are layed out clearly with illusrations. The information on stone walls and sand was excellent and most helpful for me. I also enjoyed his explanation on painting wood ,such as would be used as a post in a fence.

All of his books have projects ( pictures ) with how to steps to follow . This is a nice feature but I want to paint pictures of my chooseing I needed some guidance with specific areas. All of Mr. Yarnell;s books are helpful but by far his Landscape Painting Secrets is the best :)I find myself reaching for it time after time .

very helpful book
I have found this book to be very helpful. There are several thumbnail studies that teach how to paint a better landscape using acrylic paints. The ones on tress and snow are really good. My trees and snow now look better. There is a little section where he talks about terms and what they mean and how to do them, such as: double loading and how to do it; dabbing and how to do it; negative space example. My negative space is not very good but now that I understand what it is I can work on it. Also there is a color wheel chart which I have referred to many times for the complements and graying colors.Also he lists how to mix the colors for the thumbnail studies. I have really enjoyed this book and of the books that I have bought recently on painting and drawing this is my favorite.

Highly Recommended
I own several of Jerry's books and enjoy all of them. His teaching method provides a sequential, one-step-at-a-time outline of the main steps involved in creating a finished work of art.

His method is especially beneficial in helping us amateur artists plan and structure our work (which never quite ends up looking like Jerry's). We learn to plan the work in stages rather than approach a painting as a free-form exercise. The originality (supposedly) emerges within the structure.

The writing that accompanies the illustrations is extremely well-written. It represents interesting technical writing at its best.

Any aspiring landscape artist will find this book to be worth its weight in gold. I have turned to its informative pages again and again, and I highly recommend the book to others.

landscape painting secrets by Jerry Yarnell

All the major landscape elements are covered with step by step clear instructions. Jerry at his best. A must have book. ... Read more

Product Description
Stimulating, informative guide by noted teacher covers painting technique, painting from life, materials (paints, varnishes, oils and mediums, grounds, etc.), a painter’s training, more. Expert analysis of work of Velasquez, Reynolds, Gainsborough, Hals, Rembrandt, etc. 64 photos. 5 line drawings.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

another great Harold Speed book for oil painters
This book should be read after Harold Speed's The Practice and Science of Drawing, as these skills are referred to in this book.Wonderfully informative - I wish I'd known about Harold Speed's books years ago.

"Classic" But Remarkably Up To Date.
If you walk into the store of the Art Student's League, NY, you will find this book for sale right next to the canvases and paints. Why? Because after 50 + years its still one of the best primers on painting for students. Speed was one of those rare gems with the gift for painting, teaching AND writing, so he was able to distill and articulate the collective wisdom that had been assembled up till his day.

The Best Painting Book....
.....for someone who already has a firm foundation in drawing.It's main limitation is that it was written for an audience that possessed a visual sophistication that is much less common today than it was then. It seems wordy, but every sentence says something worth knowing. Speed painted well, understood what he was doing, and, lucky for us, was also a pretty good writer. So, how cool is that?

Unusual ArtText
Art instruction of this nature are hard to come by. This book should be entirely redone - different format, larger illustrations in color, a little updating - not too much. Speed is so interesting and helpful. He organizes what you already know, introduces you approaches you never thought of, shares his artistic philosophy and generally fills in the gaps in one's education. Glad I bought it.

Very informative
Harold Speed has in this book explained everything an oilpainter needs to know. Very informative, and a great learning tool. ... Read more

Product Description
Modern art, filled with complex themes and subtle characteristics, is a wonder to view, but can be intimidating for the casual observer to comprehend. In this accessible, practical guide, author and instructor Jon Thompson explores more than 200 works, helping readers to unlock each painting’s meaning.

Beginning with the Barbizon school and the Realist movement of the mid-19th century and continuing through the 1980s avant-garde, artists including Bonnard, Basquiat, Van Gogh, Picasso, Degas, Warhol, and Whistler are featured. Thompson describes each artist’s use of media and symbolism and provides insightful biographical information. A natural companion to Abrams’ How to Read a Painting, this book is a vibrant, informative trip through one of art history’s most compelling periods. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fantastic for art experts and novices!!!
The most entertaining and informative art history book I've ever read. Recommended for those interested in art, history, psychology, even science (looking at questions like 'how do we see?'). For one who already knew and loved visual art, it re-explained the 'modern' era of painting from it's earliest origins. In essentially chronological order, important paintings are "de-constructed", along with the lives of the artists who painted them. Thompson explores the socio-political, philosophical contexts of the times and places where modern art evolved. Also, Thompson reveals the how and why of the techniques and theories (color theory in particular) which drove the modern movement. All this.... and it's really fun. I didn't want it to end!

interesting details
this is a great resource for teachers of art and art history. Thompson digs out some great details that I havent come across elsewhere ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Outstanding
What a fantastic opportunity to see one of the world's finest collections and a behind the scenes peak at work not available to the public. The scholarship is exemplary. This is a must for any art lover. Better yet is the essay about Albert Barnes which contains information that clarifies his mission and his vision for a world that we've yet to realize. This book should sell for ten times its price! ... Read more

Product Description
Have you ever considered using Photoshop to create fine art?

Photoshop is usually used for enhancing photos, but this extremely powerful software package is capable of so much more. Every feature, from brushes to background, can be customised and optimised for artistic effect. With a little guidance from a pro, your photoshop results can go from competent retouching of images to visually stunning re-interpretations of them, turning everyday pictures into breathtaking works of art.

In this beautiful and inspiring book, acclaimed artist, author and lecturer Susan Bloom shows you how to do just that. Starting with the fundamentals: creating your own artistic brushes and textured papers virtually, she goes on to demonstrate how to create a variety of classic artistic styles in Photoshop, with chapters on watercolours, pastels, charcoal and oil. Further chapters cover illustration techniques in photoshop, and using third-party software to create painterly effects.

While the results are highly polished and realistic, this is not a book written specifically for artists. The techniques are aimed squarely at the Photoshop user looking to broaden their pallette, with emphasis on altering photographs to create artwork, rather than creating artwork from scratch.

Beautifully written, clearly laid out, and guaranteeing inspiring results, this book is a must-have for every Photoshop user.

* Guide to using Photoshop to create fine art from photographs, covering many different artistic styles
* Highly visual, inspiring content with clear step-by-step instructions and hundreds of screenshots
* Backwards compatible approach: author has taken care to ensure that this fully up-to-date title also applies to previous editions of Photoshop
... Read more

Customer Reviews (38)

Poor Execution
The book provides a very good description of creative techniques using PhotoShop. It also provides a good decription of basic tools. However following the execution of the techiniques is impossible. Illustrations and decriptions do not coincide and one has to attempt to put the two together. I could not. Steps illustrated have been omitted from the instruction set and written instructions are not illustrated. A clear set of step by step instructions would make this book a real winner.

Reference
Overall, I liked this book. It is meant to expose you to all of the different styles of painting. While it does not go into depth on any given style, it does give you a solid introduction to all of them.

If I had one problem with the book, it is that in the second chapter, the author prints out images of all of the brushes as a reference. My thinking is that this should have been located in an appendix with only specific brush information located in the immediate chapter. It would be easier to reference that way. Overall the information in this book flowed very nicely.

Digital Painting in Photoshop is well thought out, well explained, and provides a good look at how digital painting can be accomplished from within Photoshop. If you are familiar with Photoshop, and are willing to explore and experiment, then this book will provide a good foundation into the realm of digital painting. I very much recommend this book.

Gorgeous Book, Wonderful Resource For Photoshop Mavens
One of my issues with many of the Photoshop/graphics type books out on the market is that there is too much writing and not enough images in the books that I see.What's that?Too much WRITING in a ahhhemm BOOK?Umm isn't a book SUPPOSED to be about writing?In most books the answer is yes, but for books that deal with pictures and how to make said pictures, I want full-color images of said content, not words about the content.With 'Digital Painting in Photoshop' I get exactly that, with 200+ pages of BEAUTIFUL pictures all throughout.Is there writing?Yes of course there is, but the main content (maybe 70%+) is full-color imagery, not words about what the user should be doing.Strewn over 8 chapters, you will learn how to make images into beautiful works of ART that take regular images to the next level.Digital content is amazingly good nowadays, but the regular old out of the box image isn't always the best approach.This book will teach you how to make images into art.

Ms. Bloom does a wonderful job in this text, and it's very very easy to recommend for any Photoshopper that wants to kick it up a notch... BANG!!!!

***** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Everything You Need to Know to Get Started with Digital Painting in Photoshop
Digital Painting in Photoshop by Susan Ruddick Bloom, is another quality book by Focal Press. As a skilled photography Photoshop user, I found myself lacking in the skills necessary to create more artist images, especially those that look like paintings. This book bridges that gap for me.

With Photoshop, unlike most software, there are numerous ways to accomplish the same thing, each suited to different artist approaches. There is no right way to do things in Photoshop; whether color corrected a photo, retouching blemishes, or creating artist works from scratch, there are multiple ways to do it that fit multiple personalities and artist approaches by the users.

What this book does, and does well, is introduce the Photoshop user to the tools and their applications that available for digital painting.. It also demonstrates some straight-forward techniques to accomplish a wide range of classic artist looks. Essentially, Digital Painting with Photoshop gives the reader the foundation needed to begin a fulfilling exploration of his or her artist inspirations; and, to build upon as their skill increases and their comfort with Photoshop's tools expands.

>>>>>>><<<<<<<

A Guide to my Book Rating System:

1 star = The wood pulp would have been better utilized as toilet paper.
2 stars = Don't bother, clean your bathroom instead.
3 stars = Wasn't a waste of time, but it was time wasted.
4 stars = Good book, but not life altering.
5 stars = This book changed my world in at least some small way.

A 'must' reference for any serious photography collection
Susan Ruddick Bloom's DIGITAL PAINTING IN PHOTOSHOP is a 'must' reference for any serious photography collection: it surveys a lesser-covered capability of the Photoshop program and provides keys to re-interpreting, not just re-touching, photos. Chapters show how to use the most basic of Photoshop's tools to create artistic styles and lovely illustrations from photos. Packed with color photo examples, this is a winner.
... Read more

Product Description
Realism in landscape painting is the ultimate goal of many fine artists and leisure-time painters, and this book shows how to achieve that goal by using the right colors, values and textures to express near, middle and great distance. Included are demonstrations for all seasons: winter, spring, summer and autumn, thus addressing how depth of field in the landscape changes during each time of year. Each demo is carefully designed to clearly indicate relative distance within the paintings and learning is made easy through the use of colorful diagrams, reference photos, and eye-catching side-by-side comparisons. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Straight Forward
Whether you are a veteran or a novice at painting, this book will at least provide a great sense of process to your work. I have my own way of painting, but I have already used a variety of techniques from this book that have produced some wonderful paintings.

not enough
This book was like a show and tell, tracing and painting subjects, was too surface stuff and not enough meat.I also didn't like the rigid paint selection, using a specific brand made it seem like a salesman's manual on how to.I could go to Lowes' for that info...

I was looking for a book with more depth to it, just didn't cut it for me.

Surpurb Book
This book has given me a lot of pleasure and taught me loads about oil painting.The how to oil painting projects inside come from georgous landscape paintings.The steps are clearly documented showing the painting process in it's various stages.The written instructions are also very, very helpful.I don't know how I can say this, but, this book is one of the best around that I know of.I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning oil painting.You'll be very pleased you purchased it.

Depth & Distance oil painting book
Appreciated the Step-by-Step lessons presented in this book on depth of oil paintings. Very thorough lessons and color guide. Would recommend to any oil painter, especially newer painters. Gives a lot of detail.

Bob Ross want-a-be
This book spends less than a page on how to achieve depth and distance.Rest are pretty much Bob Ross' for those who used his books.I've used Bob Ross' books to begin my oil painting hobby and wanted to move on to intermediate level and thought this book would help.I don't recommend it...I will return it if I can.
... Read more

Product Description

Vibrant Children’s Portraits

Painting Beautiful Hair and Skin Tones With Oils

Making your subjects look age appropriate is vital to successful children’s portraiture. Many artists fall short with features that are too severe, skin that lacks that glow of youth or proportions that are too much like those of adults. In this book, you’ll learn how to use tried-and-true oil painting techniques to achieve fresh skin tones, shiny hair, crystal clear eyes … all the qualities that will make your portraits look truly authentic.

· Complete instructions and color palettes for painting luminous skin tones and hair

· 11 complete step-by-step demonstrations covering a broad range of complexions, ages, poses and sweet expressions

· Quick tips and expert tricks for making your subjects look natural—not stiff or posed

Victoria Lisi’s instruction is friendly and easy to follow, delivered with the belief that the process of portrait painting should be as enjoyable as the finished product—beautiful, touching portraits of kids having fun, playing in the sun and being themselves.

Customer Reviews (6)

Painting Clildren's portraits
A good book for beginners with many how to do's in color management for chidrens coloration.

Inspiring and fabulous
I paint a lot of portraits and quite a few are of children.I'm always looking for new and vibrant ways to express their innocence, sense of fun, and beauty.This book shows techniques to gladden my heart and make me enthusiastic all over again.I was so pleased to see it featured in the UK Leisure Painter magazine and thought 'that's for me'.Easy to read, excellent demonstrations of colour, tone, technique and 'have a go' pages.This will be a book I treasure and use for years ahead. Do buy it if you see it, you won't be disappointed.

Annette - New Zealand

Excellent instructional book
This book is very imformative.I already sketch and want to try painting portraits. I found it very easy to follow. If your interested in painting portraits I would recommend it highly.

Great book
Really great book if you love painting portrait and want more vibrant colours or techniques....enlighting

Great Oil Painting Book
This is a very good book for people who want to paint portraits of children. Some of the things I found most helpful were the color mixing charts for skin tones, and the tips on painting hair. There are also lots of little helpful tips scattered throughout the book that could only come from an artist with years of experience, both as a teacher and an artist. Highly recommended. ... Read more