4 comments about Keys to Painting - Fur & Feathers (Keys to Painting).

1. If you are looking for a good book based on a wide variety of techniques, this book is a handbook. If you are looking for a book that showcases wonderful artwork by competent artists, this is a good book. If you are a painter who wants to learn how to paint feathers or fur, this is not a good book.
   
   The preliminary chapters of this book are all about drawing. Having studied, art, yes, we need to learn to draw before we can learn to paint. But the title of this book is _Keys to PAINTING Fur and Feathers_.
   
   There follows different ideas on how to capture light on white fur, how to paint patterns, and other useful techniques, but I do feel they could have been explained better.
   
   And then we get back to the issue of painting. Pen and ink drawing is drawing, not painting. Colored pencil is drawing, not painting. Pastels are, well, pastels, not painting.
   
   For the artist that likes to experiment in different mediums, this is an excellent resource book. For those that are into acrylics and watercolors, you'll find some nice things in here. But I think the title is very misleading, because much of the book does not focus on actual 'painting'.



2. This book is excellent for anyone who paints wildlife. It gives detailed illustrations of how to paint every type of fur and feathers in all mediums, can really recommend this book to any wildlife artist.



3. This book is full of beautiful and inspiring pictures painted in many mediums including oils, acrylics and watercolours. although this book is a beautiful book i only gave it 4 stars because it doesnt really spend alot of time focusing on how to actually achieve the effects that the various pictures in the book portray.



4. Quick summary of the book topics: Chapter 1) how to draw some animals in pencil and charcoal Chapter 2) painting fur textures Chapter 3) painting feather textures Chapter 4) detail area focusing on such things as how a bird flies, how they grip a branch, tail fur and feathers, eyes, etc. Chapter 5) Painting Demonstrations

   Although this book is advertised as "In All Mediums" and specifically mentions pastel in the jacket text by the editors, this is very misleading. If you are an acrylic, watercolor or colored pencil painter, this book is right up your alley. If you are a pastelist, think twice before you buy.

   The book contains a some wonderful paintings, usually unrelated to the text, and several of them are in pastel. However, the *only* place they even talk or even *use* pastel is in the "Painting Demonstrations" chapter. The demonstration is called "How to Paint a Raccon in Pastel". The raccoon is 3/4 posed and half in his den -- you can only see the raccoon's head and part of his side!

   Overall, it's a great book for acrylic, watercolor and colored pencil, and it can be used by painters in other mediums. However, if you are a pastelist and looking for a book that would either cover pastel thoroughly, or at least fairly (when compared to the time spent on the other mediums), forget it. Don't expect to find any pastel-oriented help here -- there isn't any worth speaking of.

No comments about Marcel Dzama: Even the Ghost of the Past.

1 comments about Drawing & Painting Flowers - Problems & Solutions.

1. Very good book. Excellent instruction on what not to do as well as how to do it correctly. highly recommended.

No comments about World Unfurled.

5 comments about Rock Painting Fun for Everyone!.

1. 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.



2. Yes, it is fun for everyone, as the details are well written and easy to follow.



3. I thought it was a good book but too expensive for what you get in it. She has another book, Painting Rocks for Kids, that is a lot less expensive and has many fun projects for starting out.



4. This book is great. You must have experience in painting and talent also. It provides with ideas in how to decorate your garden. I think that if you folow the instructions your landscape will look very original.



5. Rock painting is fun and most of the time rocks are free..
   Lin Wellford and her talents makes this craft available to everyone with easy, fun instructions for all ages to learn how to paint almost anything on rocks..
   Thank you

5 comments about Color Theory Made Easy: A New Approach to Color Theory and How to Apply It to Mixing Paints.

1. This is a good referance material for comprehensive study of colors. I find it very useful when I have to use complementary colors and choosing colors from different brands. The author did in deepth study on how to mixing different colors with various outcome. It helps me a great deal to choose the colors I want to use in my paintings.



2. Because watercolor colours name's aren't the same as acrylic and oil, it just doesn't make sense at all to me, and to say "made easy" I didn't think so, but i'm sure it's a great book for watercolorists!



3. Combined with Michael Wilcox's book, "Blue and Yellow Don't Make Green," this book will help make sense of the enormous number of colors available to the watercolor artist today. Many watercolor artists recommend specific colors just because they've been using them for years, or they confuse the issue by trying to talk about staining versus non-staining, opaque versus transparent, granulating versus non-granulating. Those are all important qualities to know about a paint, but even more basic to that is what color it is and how it will mix with other colors. If you understand the color theory presented in this book and in Michael Wilcox's book, then you will be quite capable of creating a wide range of quite satisfactory colors from just a few well-chosen basics. (Not that you have to stick with just a few basics.)
   
   What I found particularly valuable in this book is that the ideas *work.* I am not so sure about his theory about *why* they work, but the fact is that they do. The information in this book both overlaps to some extent and is complementary to Mr. Wilcox's book, so I highly recommend that you get both books. Between the two, you will have enough grounding in sound, applicable color mixing procedures that you will be able to confidently mix any two colors you want and have a very good idea what you will get as a result.



4. I just finish the book. i am not a painter but this book gave the basic, and more, theory on colors and how to use them.
   I study graphics and design in computers and today I can select colors and understand why i was selected them.
   this book belong to all of those that want to know how to understand colors and how, for instanse, to make a deap design or how to manipulate your color in the artwork.
   use this book!



5. This book teaches correct color theory and gives a great deal of useful information. The scientific explanation of cyan, magent, and yellow being the primary colors is very convincing and makes a lot of sense. There's a lot of practical information in this book. I don't know if there are any better color theory books, but at least this book is a good one and not a waste of money like Quiller's book, "Color Choices."

5 comments about The Art of Amy Brown: Bk. 1.

1. If you are familar with Amy Brown than you already know how fun her art is. I personally bought this particular book for some tatoo ideas. Her fairies all seem to have personalities of their own.



2. Outstanding book - gorgeous images... Fairyland at it's very best. The book is full of imaginative designs, which you can easily see inspired so many other artists. A treasure to add to your collection!



3. Amy's art is absolutely incredible, especially when the designs just come into her mind, all she has to do is paint them!
   
   Get this book together with her volume II, you won't regret it. The first one is more in neutral colours, the second one more colourful.



4. Fasinating and full of aura. I especially liked her Gothic style. Mystical and magical. It is a book that one can enjoy browsing the pages, scrutinizing the drawings and learning more about Amy Brown's experiences. The best book any fairy fan can have.



5. This is a great book for any fairy lover or art lover. The watercolors are beautiful. Her art has a wide range from beautiful/cute, dark/gothic, humorous and so on. A great collection of art.

3 comments about Classic Still Life Painting: A Contemporary Master Shows How to Achieve Old Master Effects Using Today's Art Materials.

1. I've spent a lot of time at book stores paging through books to find one that had actual tutorials for the beginning oil painter. Most were either books that talked about types of brushes, mediums, techniques, etc. without any actual demonstrating, or they were more theory or about composition. While those more advanced ideas are crucial to creating good paintings, as a beginner, I was looking for a book that would get me started actually painting. Something to give me a feel for what the techniques are, and not just describing them.
   
   This book covers everything from the color palette and preparing your surface, to the actual steps the author uses during the painting process. The text is not too wordy, but is in depth enough to give a clear understanding of what you are doing and why.
   
   If you'd like to learn to paint with layers and glazes, this is a perfect starter book.



2. I am learning exactly what I wanted to know about traditional painting from Jane's easy to follow instructions. The book is beautifully printed and full of important information. One of the best books I've bought.



3. This book is for anyone wanting to learn step by step how to paint with oils. Written with the beginner in mind, there is still plenty of information for the more experienced painter. Must have for any painting library.

1 comments about Winsor & Newton Colour Mixing Guide: Oils: A Visual Reference to Mixing Oil Colour (Winsor & Newton Color Mixing Guides).

1. This has been a great guide for my wife. She recently decided to switch from pastel to oil, and needed a basic idea of how to mix the colors. Check out her website: http://www.emilyroeart.com in the coming weeks to see how it turned out!

3 comments about Paint Along with Jerry Yarnell Volume Three - Painting Magic (Paint Along With Jerry Yarnell, Vol 3).

1. I just got back from one of Jerry's workshops and am amazed at how much I feel that I learned. I bought this book at the workshop and it is excellent. It follows Jerry's method of step by step instructions with a photo of what the canvas should look like at each stage.
   
   Jerry's workshop followed the same procedure except we could ask questions and get Jerry to help us over rough spots.
   
   I've bought lot's of art books trying to find something that will help me. Jerry's books fill the bill perfectly! You can't go wrong with them.
   
   mstrick



2. Excellent book! Very detailed step by step instructions for each painting right down to colors to mix and brushes to use. Highly recommended.



3. This book is a welcome addition to the vast repository of teaching materials by Jerry Yarnell. The paintings are more intricate and challenging than in the previous two books. There are moody seas and skies, dramatic cliffs, serene settings, quaint buildings, and birds, elk and a variety of wildlife in the compositions. The step by step instructions are comprehensive, with excellent and detailed color photos of each step. Mr. Yarnell does a terrific job of reiterating and expanding on the fine art techniques that form the basis of all of his teaching material. If you are looking for an instructional painting book that is beyond the beginners level, then you should find this book inspirational, challenging and fun.