Customer Reviews

Expressive Portraits: Creative Methods for Painting People

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

EXPRESSIVE PORTRAITS
By Jean Pederson

Jean Pederson's book, Expressive Portraits, is a must for every artist's library and, particularly, for the portrait artist. Artists at any level will find Jean's book both innovative and instructive. This well-written and pictorially illustrated book of 125 pages divided into five 5 chapters packs a wealth of knowledge from choosing one's materials to innovative methods of using mixed media in painting the portrait. Along with reviews of the body's proportions and a guide to drawing and painting the facial features and proportions, Jean reviews the principles and elements of design and instructs how to use these elements in planning one's composition. Next, she explains and illustrates the actual painting of the portrait including color strategy and layering paint. Finally, through demonstration, she incorporates creative methods of using various water media within the portrait and background that brings the painting to an exciting completion. The reader will find Expressive Portraits easy to read, enjoyable, and informative.

Review by Claire Hall, GWS
June 12, 2009

What an amazing artist. I love her contemporary take on portraiture. I'm hoping to adapt her techniques to acrylics or oils on board and/or canvas, rather than watercolor and gouache on paper. She does use some acrylics however, and overall I give this a thumbs-up. Very inspiring!

This is a nice inspiring book. I just don't give it 5 stars because i was expecting to find skin color recipes and the step by step demonstrations are not too specific to follow them.

I have had the pleasure of taking classes with Jean and feel that the book admirably projects her lessons. I especially like her information on using different medias. She has given me the courage to break all rules and experiment for myself. I think it is a very good book on painting portraits and a good addition to an artist's library.

I own more books on painting and more paintings than I've done myself, but I was truly moved by the artist's work. I saw the book while browsing, came home and had Amazon immediately hook me up! I'm proud to own Expressive Portraits; I just can't quit admiring it.

This is by far the best watercolor book out there. I've learned so much from it. I love the color pallette Jean recommended in her book. I highly recommend this book to all levels watercolorist. Thank you Jean for sharing your talent and knowledge with us.

This is a pivotal book for me. It has helped me to pull together all the different watermedia techniques I have learned throughout the years and begin communicating in a visual language that is one of my own. While it is a book that is part technique and part inspiration, getting the most out of this book is also dependent upon what you, the artist, brings to it. If you let it, it will be your personal workshop. Thank you Jean! I'm sure before long I will actually be one of your workshop attendees, but for now, your book has given me what I need to take the next step....

Expressive Portraits is inspirational and provides valuable information.
The strong visual images coupled with the clear use of text were informative and helpful.

This really helped me to understand how to use compliments and contrast in portrait painting. I love this book!

Has some nice pics but I didn't find it very instructional. Author can do some nice paintings but to me lacks the ability to teach someone how to paint them.