Synopses & Reviews
"In any exhibition of amateur work . . . it is not at all unusual to find many charming water-colour drawings, but . . . it is very rarely that the work in the oil medium is anything but dull, dead, and lacking in all vitality and charm."—Harold Speed
Such provocative assertions are characteristic of this stimulating and informative guide, written in a highly personal and unique style by a noted painter and teacher. Brimming with pertinent insights into the technical aspects and painting in oils, it is also designed to help students perfect powers of observation and expression.
Harold Speed has distilled years of painting and pedagogical experience into an expert instructional program covering painting technique, painting from life, materials (paints, varnishes, oils and mediums, grounds, etc.), a painter's training, and more. Especially instructive is his extensive and perceptive discussion of form, tone, and color, and a fascinating series of detailed "Notes" analyzing the painting styles of Velasquez, Reynolds, Gainsborough, Franz Hals, and Rembrandt.
Nearly 70 photographs and drawings illustrate the text, among them prehistoric cave paintings, diagrams of tonal values, stages of portrait painting, and reproductions of masterpieces by Giotto, Vermeer, Ingres, Rembrandt, Titian, Reynolds, Gainsborough, Hals, Giorgione, Poussin, Corot, Veronese, and other luminaries. In addition to these pictorial pleasures, the author further leavens the lessons with thought-provoking opinion.
Clear, cogent, and down-to-earth, this time-honored handbook will especially interest serious amateurs studying the technical aspects of oil painting, but its rich insight into the mind and methods of the artist will enlighten and intrigue any art lover.
Synopsis
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. 64 photos. 5 line drawings.
Synopsis
Clear, thorough guide to techniques, tone values, color and materials, more. 64 photographs.
Synopsis
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. 64 photos. 5 line drawings.
Table of Contents
Preface
I Introduction
II Modern Art
III Technique of Painting
IV The Painter's Training
V Tone Values
VI Elementary Tone Exercises
VII Colour
VIII "Colour, Pratical"
IX Painting from the Life
A Note on Velasquez
A Note on Reynolds
A Note on Gainsborough
A Note on Franz Hals
A Note on Rembrandt
X Tone and Colour Design
A Note on Taste
XI Materials
XII Picture Painting
Index