• Sharp-focus painting is very popular now. I've never been a fan because I enjoy the splash and freedom of watercolor. Susan Bourdet combines the two very well in her book,
Painting the Allure of Nature. North Light, 2001. Her subject matter is primarily flowers and songbirds. Opening with some good basic instruction in materials, techniques and design--not in depth, but useful--the artist gets off to a run with a chapter on painting washy backgrounds, with details on how to mask foreground areas so you can paint freely around them. There are more lessons on painting details of flowers and birds, including beaks and eyes, then techniques for nature's textures. Finally, four demonstrations, each eight pages long, show step-by-step how to put the elements together into a successful painting. |
• I've enjoyed reading Phillip Ball's Bright Earth: Art and the Invention of Color. The artistry of the materials of the artist from the beginning of art becomes apparent in this very readable book. From prehistoric pigments to colors in reproduction, Ball paints a picture in words of how pigments came to be used and how the culture of the time affected their uses. I was fascinated to learn of the part alchemy played in the early discover of many pigments. |
• In Sean Dye's book, Painting With Water Soluble Oils, fifteen artists show how to create successful realistic paintings with this exciting new medium. The author describes the medium's characteristics and tools and notes that they are pretty much the same as for traditional oils, except that natural bristle brushes may become too soft if left to soak in water for an extended time. Dye compares brushstrokes using the two media and gives detailed information on several brands of water-mixable oil paints. The major part of the book includes comments and demonstrations by accomplished oil painters. There doesn't seem to be any noticeable change in style for each artist when switching between traditional and water-mixable oils. This book would be a helpful reference for someone getting started in oil painting. Experienced painters will find the technical information on the paints useful, but may find some other information repetitive. |
• Cathy Johnson, author of several good basic watercolor techniques books, has added to her bag of tricks with Watercolor Pencil Magic. She covers the subject well in her usual down-to-earth style, applying assorted techniques to realistic themes. Techniques can be used not only for sketching, but also for enhancing watercolors and acrylics.
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• Gary Greene also has a book out on Painting With Water-soluble Colored Pencils. The book includes demos and tips, but isn't quite as complete as Cathy Johnson's book and the demos tend to be rather repetitive. It does include the work of a number of watercolor-pencil artists. You will find some helpful information on watercolor pencils, but I wouldn't call it the definitive resource.
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• Oil painters will find Ted Goerschner's book, Oil Painting: The Workshop Experience, very useful. I've been reading a lot to prepare for my first oil painting lesson and thoroughly enjoyed the book and the artist's work! Goerschner's book is inspiring and well organized. The workshop format is an interesting approach. A good resource for oil painters at any level.
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The Yin-Yang of Painting is an interesting approach to oils for those who key into spirituality in their art. A contemporary master reveals the secrets of painting found in ancient chinese philosophy, based upon the harmonies and energies of opposing forces in art. Not deeply philosophical, but an interesting play on the spiritual theme in art.
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• Here's the first book I've seen on The Art of Encaustic Painting.. Contemporary expression in the ancient medium of pigmented wax by Joanne Mattera. This technique has been making a comeback in recent years and the book looks to be pretty informative. I haven't tried encaustic myself, but this book seems to be pretty thorough in its treatment of materials and techniques.
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• Pamela Kay's book Gouache: A Personal View may fill a gap in the water-media painter's library, but it isn't a how-to book in the normal sense of the word. There are a few tips but not really hands-on demos. It's mostly a showcase for Kay's work, a sort of coffee-table book. You may enjoy the artwork, but probably won't use it as a techniques reference.
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The Business of Art edited by Lee Caplin is published in conjunction with the National Endowment for the Arts and consists of a collection of articles written by practicing artists and professional advisors, such as attorneys and accountants. This is a comprehensive step-by-step guide for serious artists wishing to establish a studio and business that eventually moves up into galleries and the higher reaches of artistic success. Although it is a useful book, it needs to be updated to include Internet and Web marketing matters.
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| Be sure to check out my Awesome Book List page for hundreds of recommended books with direct links to Amazon.com for reviews and ordering. |
