Composition: Understanding Line, Notan and Color (Dover Art Instruction) [Paperback]

Arthur Wesley Dow (Author), Art Instruction (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 31, 2007 | Series: Dover Art Instruction

A mentor to Georgia O'Keeffe, Dow literally "wrote the book" on composition. First published in 1899, this manual influenced generations of teachers and students. Relevant to all of the visual arts, it employs a workbook format to impart principles regarding harmonic relations between lines, color, and dark and light patterns.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (August 31, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 048646007X
• ISBN-13: 978-0486460079
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #77,674 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not worth buying, March 23, 2008

By 

Judith A. Weller "jw1917" (LaVale, MD United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Composition: Understanding Line, Notan and Color (Dover Art Instruction) (Paperback)

This product is not really worth the money. It is, in many places, just a copy of Dow's other book on Notan -- same info, same pictures, same exercises. Buy one or the other of his two book - not both. If you already only his NOTAN book pass this up. If you are choosing between the two -- the addition of color makes this one a better choice over the former.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Push you paintings to the next level, December 12, 2008

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Diane Overcash "Smart Thriving Artist" (Concord, NC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Composition: Understanding Line, Notan and Color (Dover Art Instruction) (Paperback)

I really, really like this book. It reminded me what quality artwork should aspire to and what I should aspire to in my own paintings. Painting is not about copying what you see. It is about adding an element of pleasing design that lifts your painting to a higher level.

Reading this book as inspired me and challenged me to attempt a higher level of painting.

Dow explains 5 principles of composition,notan-the harmony with dark and light shapes, and color theory.

The writing is a little dry in places, but the book is not intended to be an entertaining novel. There are plenty of illustrations and written explanations. The concepts are presented in a very understandable way.

I think this book is best suited for those artists who have some basic skills and experience and who want to be able to add an element of good design to their artwork.

I recommend this book.

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Finally, the right edition of this classic, February 23, 2008

By 

Tara M. Wheeler (Albuquerque) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Composition: Understanding Line, Notan and Color (Dover Art Instruction) (Paperback)

A simple reproduction of the classic work.

This is the book Georgia O'keeffe so highly recommended, not the bloated green-covered edition from the University of California press with the hideous *61* pages of useless introduction.