Dramatic Light: Paint Eye-Catching Art in Watercolor and Oil [Hardcover]

Patrick Howe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 12, 2006

With two popular mediums and a favourite topic, "Dramatic Light" is sure to become a staple on every artist's book shelf. This guide shows painters how to capture the elusive quality of light and make their work glow from within. Highlights include: instruction in both watercolor and oils; 23 step-by-step demonstrations on seeing and painting light; an in-depth look at basic light principles: transparency, translucency, luminosity and reflections; and gorgeous transparent and translucent subjects such as glass jars, sheer curtains, stained-glass windows and water. Artists at every level will come away with a better understanding of light - and more dramatic paintings!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

An award winning illustrator, designer and fine artist, Patrick Howe has been painting for more than 20 years. He exhibits his work frequently, and it is held in both private and corporate collections. He lives in Seattle, Washington.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: North Light Books (April 12, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581806582
• ISBN-13: 978-1581806588
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #858,017 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Drool over the paintings, select your medium (oil or watercolor), July 3, 2007

By 

Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dramatic Light: Paint Eye-Catching Art in Watercolor and Oil (Hardcover)

The example paintings in this book (such as on the cover) are the drool-over sort that you want to paint but can't--or can but don't.

The author lets you in on secrets; how to paint translucence, using a banana and a fictious cellophane screen. Then you move on to copy an exercise of those translucent shopping bags from trendy little boutiques. After that, you will have little problem rendering translucent windows, bags and even diaphanous material over skin.

There are bags of sweets in cellophane, glass jars, sheer curtains, stained-glass windows and water. A lot of material on differently-lit surfaces and scenes. And the book is not just for watercolorists--oils are also included (by figuring out how oil works, you could probably extrapolate these studies to acrylics.)

A very nice book just to peruse, helpful for the actual examples and 23 different studies-in-progress. Big Thumbs Up.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars City Artist, April 12, 2007

By 

Max "Max" (Mississippi) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dramatic Light: Paint Eye-Catching Art in Watercolor and Oil (Hardcover)

I purchased this book based on the available descriptions. It is well laid out and a really good book for a beginner. It includes demonstrations and description of needed materials to achieve the various desired light effects. It has lots of organized color photos and would be a good first painting book for special effects. I gave it 4 stars only because I am well beyond the beginner stage and was looking for more advanced information. If you are serious about starting out, this could be good for you.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Skilful, February 27, 2008

By 

S. Wright (Cyprus) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dramatic Light: Paint Eye-Catching Art in Watercolor and Oil (Hardcover)

I really enjoyed the book, bought it for a friend and could hardly bear to pass it on. I have taught art for years and still learned from it. The author really knows his stuff. Good value for money and useful as reference when teaching. Aimed at adults, but easily understood.