New Artist's Handbook

Average customer rating:

Great reference material.

A great resource for artists

ADDIT TO LAST REVIEW I SUBMITTED

Good but contains some bad advice

Get this book!

New Artist's Handbook
Ray Campbell Smith
Manufacturer: DK ADULT
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
Study & Teaching | Reference | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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The Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques: Fifth Edition, Revised and Updated (Artists' Handbook of Materials and Techniques)

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ASIN: 0789493365

Book Description

Originally published in 1987 by Knopf, this fully revised and updated guide contains updated text and brand new, beautiful, full-color images. Inside the covers, step-by-step projects and glowing reproductions of the great masters inspire readers to expand their vision and experiment with creative techniques. The text is designed to instruct, inspire, and broaden the skills of anyone interested in all aspects of art from drawing, painting, and printmaking to digital media and applied techniques.

Customer Reviews:

Great reference material........2005-12-10

I keep this around for when I'm bored and just want to browse and think about materials, but it's most useful for when you forget things. For instance, when you forget exactly how much dammar resin to soak in turpentine, like I did today. I found the answer in seconds and went back to work. Very, very handy. On the other hand, if you're not doing two-dimensional work, this won't be so handy. This is a great text on painting, drawing, and formal aspects and techniques in those areas.

A great resource for artists.......2003-09-28

This book is an important resource for artists. Ray Smith has a complete knowledge of art materials, and he gives a complete and detailed description of each material and how they are used. It covers a wide range of art materials including paints, grounds, pencils, inks, printing equipment, cereamic tiles, stained glass, and so forth. Also included is information on color, perspective, framing, photography, and exhibiting your work. Basically it's a complete guide to the 2D mediums of art. if you're interesting in 3D arts such as sculpture or pottery, you're not in luck. Those fields aren't covered.

For me, it's interesting to just look through this book and examine the wide range of techniques and materials presented in it. You can find a lot of new ideas to try out. Even if you're an experienced artist, I think you can find something new that you will be excited to try. Check it out. It's worth it.

ADDIT TO LAST REVIEW I SUBMITTED.......2003-05-09

When recommending an alternative text in the last review I wrote of this book, I suggested Robert Gottsegan's book. His real name is Mark David Gottsegan. Apologies for this mistake.

Good but contains some bad advice.......2003-05-09

I agree with the preceding reviewers but must add I found this book to be so general as to require supplementation by other books such as those by Ralph Mayer(somewhat out of date but still useful) or Robert Gottsegan. Ray Smith does offer some very dubious advice in parts of the text eg. he suggests that after priming your support with the traditional lead primer, you should sand it to smooth the surface. This is a TERRIBLE suggestion. Lead is very dangerous when inhaled--it only becomes inhalable when sanded or when used in pigment form. Sanding it is an absolute no-no.Ralph Mayer is a chemist, so his advice on safety issues is a lot more reliable than Mr Smith's. Of all three books, that by Gottsegan is probably the one I would recommend most as it is far more up to date than Smith's or Mayer's.

Get this book!.......2002-01-06

Quite simply this is a fantastic book. The things you can learn from it are amazing. Starting from the very first chapter a very in-depth analysis of pigments, their types, chemical structures, lightfastness, reactions to different types of binders, etc. are given. And that's only the beginning because the next chapters cover different types of oils, resins, glues, starches, gums, solvents, waxes, and additives...and all of this just for the paint in the tubes or the mediums you use with it. Then the author moves on to an in-depth look at various supports (wood, canvas, steel, copper, fiber, etc). Paper and grounds each get its own chapter.

All this before ever discussing the media you can choose to use. The obligatory big four are covered in detail (watercolor, acrylic, soft pastel and oil) but what makes this book such a treasure is the coverage of so many less well-known media. Just some of the media that get their own chapters are pencils and graphite sticks, colored pencil, oil pastel, chalk and conte crayons, charcoal, silverpoint, scratchboard, pen and ink, brush and ink, egg tempera, gouache, encaustic, fresco, dry wall (aka mural) painting, stained glass, ceramic tiles, enameling, and a bunch of chapters on various kinds of print-making (woodcut, linocut, intaglio, lithography and screen printing). There are chapters covering color theory, perspective, painting restoration, making frames, repairing damaged paint films, varnishing, photography, computer art and even a chapter on how to set up a well-lit, well-ventilated artist studio and exhibiting your art. The last chapter gives formulas for making your own paints or pastels. The book finishes up with a glossary, bibliography and an index.

Average customer rating:

Everything you need to know about Chinese brush painting

Beautiful book!

The Chinese Brush Painting Bible: Over 200 Motifs With Step-by-Step Illustrated Instructions
Jane Dwight
Manufacturer: North Light Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

Asian | Regional | History & Criticism | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Painting | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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The Fine Art of Chinese Brush Painting

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ASIN: 1581809522

Book Description

*Chinese brush painting appeals to both the watercolor and acrylic painter who wants to try working in a simplistic looser, yet representational style

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

*Features an easy-to-use lay flat binding

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

Customer Reviews:

Everything you need to know about Chinese brush painting.......2007-07-03

This truly is the Chinese brush painting Bible; an awesome tutorial and guide to learning this art.

Beautiful book!.......2007-05-29

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

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

Chinese Brush Painting Step by Step: Step by Step

Average customer rating:

enchanting
French edition
chinese brush painting step by step

Chinese Brush Painting Step by Step: Step by Step
Kwan Jung
Manufacturer: North Light Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Watercolor Painting | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Calligraphy | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Painting | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1581802072

Book Description

Sumi-E, or Chinese brush painting, is admired and emulated by artists the world over. This beautiful and inspiring book shows painters of all interests and skill levels how to achieve the fluid, spontaneous style of this unique art form.

Through 12 step-by-step projects, readers will learn how to paint a range of popular subjects using traditional Chinese inks, brushes and papers. Projects gradually increase in difficulty, and feature such subjects as swallows, bamboo, wild orchids, plum blossoms, pandas, horses, peonies and more.

An introductory chapter explains the traditional materials used with this style of painting, its subjects and its composition. There is also an in-depth section on technique that covers everything from holding brushes to mastering brush strokes.

Customer Reviews:

enchanting.......2007-08-11

The book is easy to read (and I'm not speaking English as mother tongue), clear plus pictures and paintings are gorgeous from cover till the last page. I find this book over and over again from my hand. Also contents are excellent, speaking of learning how to paint. Although I have taken one basic course in Chinese painting, it still gave me more information including the repetition of the basics. I only can recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn the technique. I already bought one extra for a student of mine.

French edition.......2004-03-03

This book has been translated into FRENCH and is selling now. It is about painting, about art. The French Title is " La Peinture Chinoise, pas a' pas".ISBN: 2-215-07592-9 It is good enough for France to have a translaed copy is good enough to be rated 5 stars.

chinese brush painting step by step.......2003-12-28

I am drawn to Chinese brush painting by its emphasis on form, simplicity and elegance. I also love the use of pen and ink and watercolor. This book is a beautiful introduction and has made me want to read more as I begin to paint in this centuries-old tradition. In my search for serenity and beauty in Nature, Chinese brush painting has calmed my restless soul. Truly a wonderful book!

Book Description

Accomplished painters Helen Tse and Rebecca Yue invite you into their artistic worlds and show you how to paint a variety of subjects in the style of Chinese brush. With this 2000-year-old art form, each stroke simply suggests the spirit and character of the subject. Over the years, the materials and subject matter used for Chinese brush have expanded, but the basic principles remain the same. In this book, you'll find information on the history, tools, and techniques of this elegant art form. From a colorful Chinese landscape to a lucky dragon, Chinese Brush 2 also features 14 inspiring step-by-step projects. Follow each project stroke by stroke, using a graceful, deliberate motion that captures the subject's mood and energy. Soon you'll develop the skills you need to render your own beautiful collection of Chinese brush paintings.

Book Description

Following the success of Inside Sahara, photographer Basil Pao documents another of Michael Palin's unforgettable journeys, this time to the top of the world: the amazing, breathtaking Himalayas. The 300 resulting photographs provide a dramatic visual record of an extraordinary trip, and will be tied to a Travel Channel special program.

Armchair explorers, connoisseurs of fine photography, and fans of Michael Palin will gladly come along on this memorable expedition to some of the world's most inhospitable, yet exquisite, terrain. The adventure-the longest and most challenging that Palin has taken during his long career-extends from the deserts of Afghanistan to the sheer slopes of Mount Everest, passing through Pakistan, India, Nepal, Tibet, China, and Bangladesh. Along the way Basil Pao expertly captures the magical appeal of the region and its diverse landscapes, peoples, and cultures. Look into the infamous Tora Bora Mountains in Afghanistan; the storied Khyber Pass; the ancient cities of Peshawar, Taxila, and Lahore; the Bay of Bengal; and the mighty peaks of K2. In addition, intimate shots of Michael and his film crew at work and relaxing off-air give fascinating insight into the making of the TV series about the voyage.

Customer Reviews:

Big mountains.......2007-01-11

The Himalaya Mountains are majestic, to say the least. I didn't see any yeti, but pretty much everything else is there for your enjoyment. This book is an education unto itself, and a joy to peruse.

Beautiful and interesting photographs from the incredible Himalayan mountains.......2006-08-18

"Inside Himalaya" is a beautiful coffee table style book. It is large format and hardcover and printed on glossy paper. There is very little text in this book, just a 2-page introduction by Michael Palin, a 3-page postscript by Basil Pao and a short caption for each of the 300 pictures.

The pictures are wonderful. Some of the best are presented as impressive 2-page spreads, and most of the pictures feature the local people in some way or another. Landscapes may be beautiful but people are what makes life really interesting.

Incidentally, this book should not be confused with the better-known book "Himalaya" by Michael Palin. Both "Himalaya" and "Inside Himalaya" are based on the same Michael Palin trip that was arranged and filmed by the BBC, but there are major differences.

"Himalaya" is Michael Palin's account of the trip; it is illustrated with many pictures by Basil Pao, but the text is the most important part of that book. "Inside Himalaya" is almost 100% photographs by Basil Pao.

Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates beautiful photographs and/or is interested in the Himalayan region of the world.

Rennie Petersen

PS. For those who might be interested, I've written an Amazon "So You'd Like To" guide about Basil Pao and his participation in the Michael Palin trips and the books that have been produced by Basil Pao and Michael Palin. You can find it by clicking on my name and then finding the link to my "So You'd Like To" guides a little ways down on the left of my profile page.

Average customer rating:

Inside Himalaya
Basil Pao
Manufacturer: WEIDENFELD & NICOL I
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000K2IRGW

Average customer rating:

Inside Himalaya: The Journey
Basil Pao
Manufacturer: WN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000ORTQ6S

Book Description

Cathy has been woman's best friend for over two decades in matters of love, food, and shopping, although maybe not always in that order! Here is yet another collection for the frazzled modern woman who is forever plagued by the innate love of chocolate, and who is constantly in search of at least a semi-decent romance in the midst of career demands and parents who always have advice.

Customer Reviews:

Hip and relevant tribute to the fin de siecle everyperson........2005-01-06

Guisewite's frequent literary borrowing from ('tribute to', if you prefer) Dostoyevsky's more despair-ridden and fatalistic moments takes a turn for the even more existential in this post-gen-X work of ironic masterpiece. This work's main character, "Cathy" (a morose and sickly everywoman plagued with every social and psychological annoyance common to her stereo-archetype) while eternally and unwillingly aware of the meaningless futility that her incessantly short-lived strivings towards the dizzying heights of mediocrity embody, nevertheless continues to show us everything we loved so much when we first encountered it in Camus' loveable Meursault.

The necessary query that the author of this work is carefully posing, namely whether her daily choice to awaken, eat, breathe, bathe, and interact with other humans despite the obvious preferability of staying within her place of abode and not inflicting the pain and irritation upon herself and others that is concomitant with all her malaised and ineffectual flailings is one she should continue to make, is one that the protagonist of this work seems inclined to blind herself to in the sure knowledge that any awareness of the dichotomy on her part would lead to her inevitable decision to end the charade.

The lessons we can bring from the heroine's everyday dilemmas--each echoing the elegant sardonicism of Dorothy Parker's darkest works with a carefully calculated ratio of humor included--lead this reviewer, at least, to hope that "Cathy" chooses to prolong the situation indefinitely.

Cathy at her best..........2002-12-27

This is such a funny book for anyone, but especially women. We can all relate to Cathy's experiences with men, dieting, and shopping. Kept me laughing the whole way through.

viva la cathy!.......2000-03-27

This collection definitely matches up to all the others, and has some new twists as well. want to hear about caty's experiences as the new owner of a computer? read this one!

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