Artist's Manual: A Complete Guide to Paintings and Drawing Materials and techniques [Paperback]

Angela Gair (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0811813770 | ISBN-13: 978-0811813778 | Publication Date: August 1, 1996 | Edition: First Printing

A veritable bible for beginners as well as an invaluable reference for accomplished artists, The Artist's Manual is a hands-on guide to hundreds of techniques for painting and drawing. For anyone who has ever had the urge to create art, this easy-to-use manual clearly explains the artist's essential tools and materials -- how to choose them, how to use them, and how to care for them. Packed with information on myriad techniques, from color use and composition to subject choice, and including tips from the professionals, here's everything painters and illustrators need to begin, develop, and perfect their craft. Over 500 color photographs, 200 original works of art, and an extensive list of suppliers complete the most comprehensive, inspirational, and affordable artists' instruction book available today.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This omnibus of a book serves as an all-around reference guide to the techniques and equipment for all painting and drawing media, and I do mean all. Emphasizing a partnership between personal vision and technical ability--the learning hand and the seeing eye--the editor brings together every conceivable step in the painting and drawing process, from support preparation to the final steps of protecting, matting and framing art. Areas of picturemaking often not attended to receive careful attention; for example, in the section on supports, there is in-depth information about the quality of different canvases--how to stretch, prime, size, tone and more. For drawing media (anything that makes a mark) advice is presented for colored pencils, charcoal, cont crayon, pastels, markers, and pen and ink, with an in-depth treatise on what to look for in drawing inks. 523 full-color photographs and 234 color drawings make the book a visual treat. Most pages have three or four color illustrations complemented by clear descriptive text. After dealing with varied aspects of all major media, Editor Gair also introduces pertinent material on color, composition, subjects, and themes. If your resource shelf has room for but one general book on drawing and painting, this inexpensive and informative volume can be recommended for secondary school level and beyond.

About the Author

Angela Gair is a painter, an art teacher, a regular contributor to art-education magazines, and the author of several art-instruction books. She lives in England.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books; First Printing edition (August 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811813770
• ISBN-13: 978-0811813778
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 8.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #211,077 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable book! Excellent resource for visual artists..., August 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Artist's Manual: A Complete Guide to Paintings and Drawing Materials and techniques (Paperback)

I have thumbed through many an art technique book, and have found many lacking. This one is great! Not only is it a feast for the eyes with gorgeous illustrations, but I learned things I never even heard of before! It is a wonderful way to introduce yourself to many different mediums and how to use them, including oils, watercolore, acrylic, gouache, colored pencil, glazing, ink... and plenty more...Very, very helpful. I read it all the time. A valuable overview of art technique and all the goodies available at your local art supply. I love this book!

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for Beginners, June 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Artist's Manual: A Complete Guide to Paintings and Drawing Materials and techniques (Paperback)

This book gives good, basic descriptions of a wide variety of drawing and painting media and techniques. The photographs and illustrations are easy to follow. The organization is well thought out. However, if you are looking for a substitute for Ralph Mayer's ...... "The Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques," this book will not have the technical depth you may want.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An easy-to-use guide of painting techniques, August 4, 1998

By 

Silvana Borges ([e-mail]) (Brazil) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Artist's Manual: A Complete Guide to Paintings and Drawing Materials and techniques (Paperback)

This manual is essential and practical, the informative text is very clear, it has hundreds explanations about techniques, composition, color, artist's materials and tools. And also is superbly ilustrated. If you are a professional artist so improve your knowledge with this book, if you are a beginner, here is everything you need to start your work.