Oil Painting Techniques-Books
Charles Eicher
In article <54h81v$m...@dsk92.itg.ti.com>, bs...@msg.ti.com (Barry Smith) wrote:
> Could anyone recommend a book on oil painting techniques
> of the Old Masters?
Ha.. ROTFL.. One of my personal favorite books of this type is called,
coincidentally, "Oil Painting Techniques of the Old Masters"... I don't
know if its still in print, I checked it out of my art school library. This
book was tons of fun, for example, I was rather astonished to see one
famous Reubens portrait on a wooden panel, where he apparently decided he
needed a couple more inches along the bottom, so there's a wooden strip
nailed to the bottom, he just painted right over it, you'd never know it
wasn't part of the original composition unless you saw the XRays. And
there's another funny Xray showing an area on the canvas where Franz Hals
would wipe his wet brushes, since he'd overpaint that area in black at a
later time. I love that kinda stuff, but perhaps some people don't like
their "Old Masters" unmasked. Pay no attention to the man behind the
curtain...
Anyway, everyone I know uses "The Artists Handbook", I think its by Fred
Meyer or some similar name. I have it on my shelf somewhere, but I'm sure
someone else will chip in with the whole title. Its not really a 'how-to'
book with pictures & stuff, its more a book of formulas and techniques. Its
not cheap, but it is definitely worth owning.
Personally, I don't really think that there is much 'technique' to oil
painting, there's a few basic moves, and endless variations on the basic
themes. The "Old Masters" went to a lot of trouble, and used a lot of funky
materials, but then, most of them had to manufacture their own pigments and
medium, it was a lot more trouble way back then. In the modern day,
decisions of color mixing are much more important to the technical end
(well, in my own humble opinion). For that, I particularly like a book
called 'Creative Color' which discusses the various oil color pigments in
detail, and their uses. I never really had my pallette under control until
I read this book. Sorry, I don't remember the author, I could look it up if
its really important to you.
| Charles Eicher |
| -=- |
| cei...@inav.net |
Barry Smith
Could anyone recommend a book on oil painting techniques
painting, and would like to learn some new techniques.
Thanks in advance.
Jacob Mattison
Charles Eicher wrote:
>
> In article <54h81v$m...@dsk92.itg.ti.com>, bs...@msg.ti.com (Barry Smith) wrote:
>
> > of the Old Masters?
>
>
> Anyway, everyone I know uses "The Artists Handbook", I think its by Fred
> Meyer or some similar name. I have it on my shelf somewhere, but I'm sure
> someone else will chip in with the whole title.
Ralph Mayer, _The Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques_
I would also recommend _The Artist's Handbook_ by Ray Smith. A little
more up-to-date than Mayer, and has lots and lots of pictures. It
devotes a page or so to each of the basic oil approaches. Plus other
useful stuff.
--
Jacob Mattison matt...@dolphin.upenn.edu
Department of Fine Arts University of Pennsylvania
perhaps some chocolate chip cookies and milk
R. Alzofon
> Could anyone recommend a book on oil painting techniques
> of the Old Masters? I have had basic instruction in oil
> painting, and would like to learn some new techniques.
> Thanks in advance.
--
On top of observing the paintings themselves, try reading a two volume set
republished by Dover:
Methods & Materials of Painting of the Great Schools & Masters, by Sir
Charles Lock Eastlake, 1847
ISBN#: 0-486-20718-8
It's not a brand new how-to book; the language is old, but decipherable.
Many questions will remain unanswered, but it has some very interesting
and enlightening passages.
--
R. Alzofon
http://art.net/~rebecca
Mike Duffy
In message <54h81v$m...@dsk92.itg.ti.com>
bs...@msg.ti.com (Barry Smith) writes:
> Could anyone recommend a book on oil painting techniques
> of the Old Masters? I have had basic instruction in oil
> painting, and would like to learn some new techniques.
> Thanks in advance.
I recommend a brilliant book called "Oil Painting techniques and
Materials" by Harold Speed published by Dover.
It gives in detail the techniques and the oil colours used by
Velasquez, Reynolds, Gainsborough, Frans Hals and Rembrandt.
Brimming with pertinant insights into the technical aspects of
painting in oils, it is also designed to help students perfect powers
of observation and expression.
Kind regards,
Gaynor
--
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| Gaynor & Mike Duffy: well.f...@zetnet.co.uk |
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Bonnie Miller
How To Draw And Paint What You See, by Ray Smith, is the best way to go.
I've read them all, and this book touches upon everything from grisaii?
to direct painting. They discuss different canvases and preparation,
good how to prepare your own and stretching instructions, advice of
brushes, care, pigments, formulas for mixing your own glazing medium
(which I prefer to the Mayer's book since the Mayers book has many medium
recipes and you can get confused). Until you've handled all the
varnishes and oils out there and ready to make your own decision, I think
it's best to go with a book like this one. It's probably priced below
most others.