Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
If you have ever wanted to control your art so you can paint anything-and paint it well-this book is for you The mediums are oil, watercolor, and contour drawing, but this is a book about making good paintings, not about a particular medium. The subject matter is broad, ranging from still lifes to figures and portraits, to landscapes. Again, the point is that if you can paint, you can paint anything But you must never feel compelled to simply paint was is before you. You must feel free to paint not what you see, but what you want to see-the way you want it to look-and this book shows you how.
In this book, Charles Reid offers up a complete course in painting and seeing. He critiques student work and analyzes problem paintings, explaining where the artist went wrong and what they could have done to improve their work. Reid also includes numerous assignments to help guide your practice, and important lessons on values, color and composition. You'll learn to make a contour drawing; how to layer your washes to achieve a desired value; how to mix values for bold statements; how to mix subtle colors and flesh tones; how to paint lights and shadows; how to uses edges to direct the audience's eye; how to integrate the subject with the background; how to loosen and liven up your painting; and much more.
Painting What You (Want To) See is perfect for artists of all levels of ability, but is exceptionally well-suited for intermediate and advanced students who want to increase the range and expressiveness of their paintings. The clear instructions, detailed tips, and innumerable illustrations and examples will help you develop your own style. This is one of Charles Reid's finest books on painting technique.
Readers interested in related titles from Charles Reid will also want to see: Painting by Design (ISBN: 1626543216), Painting What (You Want) to See (ISBN: 162654378X), Pulling Your Paintings Together (ISBN: 1626543844), The Natural Way to Paint (ISBN: 1626543828).
Synopsis
A hobby backed by centuries of tradition, amateur gem cutting remains popular today. Once a completely unskilled beginner himself, Captain John Sinkankas never forgot his struggles in learning how to cut and polish gemstones without the benefit of an instructor. With his own experience in mind, he wrote Gem Cutting to make it possible for others to teach themselves how to do every type of lapidary work without having to attend classes.
For over half a century, Gem Cutting has served as the go-to guide for beginners and experts alike. Offering a wealth of information for everyone, it starts with the fundamentals and leads logically to techniques and projects that will challenge even the most advanced cutter. Every step is described in detail and illustrated with drawings and photographs. Sinkankas covers common pitfalls and, wherever possible, offers hints on how to take money-saving shortcuts. Incorporating tips on operating equipment for greatest efficiency, he explains how to make or choose equipment for sawing, grinding, sanding, and other basic operations. Special chapters describe how to cut and polish cabochons, faceted gems, spheres and beads; how to tumble gems; and how to make carvings, engravings, inlays, and mosaics.
Sinkankas also advises on selecting and buying rough gemstones. A section on the description and treatment of gemstones has been expanded in this second edition to include more species and accommodate recent information on each.
With its comprehensive guidance, Gem Cutting is an essential addition to the library of any lapidary.
Captain John Sinkankas (1915-2002) dedicated his life to the study of earth sciences after his retirement from the US Navy. Winner of the Desert Magazine Literature Premium Award, Sinkankas authored a number of books on gemstones and published over 100 articles on lapidary subjects. He was a certified gemologist of the American Gem Society with memberships to the Mineralogical Society of America, New York Mineralogical Club, San Diego Mineral & Gem Society, and several other regional gem and mineral groups.
Readers interested in related titles from John Sinkankas will also want to see: Field Collecting Gemstones and Minerals (ISBN: 1635610648), Prospecting For Gemstones and Minerals (ISBN: 163561063X).