Customer Reviews

Capturing Radiant Color in Oils

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I have always been intrigued with light and color. As an artist, I wanted to capture the ethereal quality of light, but the color theories, recipes, methods and techniques taught by noted painters just didn't express the radiance and range of light and color that I believed was possible. When I found Susan Sarback's book over four years ago, I knew I had reached a turning point as an artist. Her message is not about imaginary color, or formulas, or emotional expression. It is about attuning oneself to the full spectrum of light and color that is always present but is usually overlooked. After pouring through the chapters, examining the painting studies and practicing the seeing exercises, I felt that I had finally found the key to unlocking the secrets of luminous color and light that only Monet seemed to possess. For me, finding her book was like having an incredible dream and then discovering that the dream is true!

Sarback expresses a wonderful humility that is sometimes lacking in painting instructors. Rather than offering clever methods to contrive bright, pretty paintings, she suggests artists enter a relaxed state of sensitivity and openness, to let the light be the guide to each stroke of color. She discusses color notes and light keys, phrases that suggest the similarity between the subtleties of light and the harmonies of music. She shows us how to see the full spectrum of radiant light on the cloudiest of days, and how to see and paint the awesome color of something as mundane as a manhole cover.

The book is filled with wonderful paintings by Sarback and other artists who paint the full spectrum of light. There is also plenty of practical information, such as palette layout and choice of pigments. There is no need for black, grays or brown! She gives credit to her teachers and other great colorists, past and present, but her approach to light and color is fresh and alive, anything but dogmatic. Even now, after taking three workshops and several classes with her, I study this book more than ever. It has become my most essential tool as an artist. If you truly want to see and express light, with all its radiant color and subtlety, this is probably the best book available. Many write about painting light and color, but Susan Sarback has the sensitivity and humility to really teach it.

This wonderful book changed how I look at the world around me. I am not a great artist, but I love to be creative and this book gave me a whole new experience on how to see color and shade in nature which helped me find that I could paint. This book also somehow changed how I feel about the world around me. Have you ever noticed what color 'shade' really is? Grey. Nope, go look again. Then read this book and look again. I see so much more depth and beautiful colors in Asphalt. Yea, asphalt! Sounds strange but it is a must read for everyone.

Using Susan Sarback's book Capturing Radiant Color in Oils is a wonderful experience. After completing just two of the exercises I am seeing colors in a new way. I am convinced that my brain is making millions of new connections among my color perception neurons. It is about improving your seeing and painting together, they are inseparable. Lois Griffel's Painting the Impressionist Landscape is a good complement to this book as it covers much of the same material with a slightly different approach.

This book opened my visual world up in many ways. It's well written, easy and fun to read. I now can see colors I never knew existed in certain places. I got so much out of it, and hope to take one of her workshops in the future.

This book describes a method for seeing color that you may never have known was there. If you are an artist working in any medium and are thirsty for more information on playing with color and light, you'll find this to be an informative, inspiring, and valuable book.