Figure Painting Step by Step [Paperback]

Wendon Blake (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 5, 2000

Handsomely illustrated, easy-to-follow beginner's guide provides instructions for painting the head, torso, arm, and leg, as well as step-by-step demonstrations for painting seven female figures. Additional advice on planning the painting, lighting the figure, sketching with oils, and figure drawing with pencil, charcoal, and chalk.

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications; Revised edition (October 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486414701
• ISBN-13: 978-0486414706
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,407,220 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #20 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Arts & Photography > Art > Instruction & Reference > Study & Teaching

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good start., December 27, 2001

By 

The Artist "The Artist" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Figure Painting Step by Step (Paperback)

This book is good for beginners in oil figure painting. It is thorough and instructional.

As you may see in the preview pages, it covers materials and basic techniques in the rendition of female figures in oil. It is also well-written, very readable, and full of practical advice (from how to choose materials to how to find live models). The demonstrations covered in the book are presented clearly and step-by-step (as stated in the title).

For readers who consider buying this book: In the beginning, the book covers how to paint each part of a (generic) female figure. It then moves on to showing how to paint females in different positions. In essence, the artist does a quick sketch in umber (thin wash in turpentine) or charcoal to capture the gesture of the figure. The sketching involves using simple blocks to render torso, hip, legs, etc. This method perhaps is much appreciated by readers who still have not established facility in drawing complex figure gestures. The artist then continues with a dark-to-light approach, rendering masses of shadow and flesh colors; and finishes the painting with highlighted details.

If the above is still not helpful enough, let me be more opinionated, as follows:

- There are NO shortcuts in learning to become a good oil figure painter. This book only serves well as a STARTING GUIDE for beginning oil painters, rather than a comprehensive document as to how to paint female figures.

- When starting to learn something new, as in any discipline, a beginner who follows strictly the instructions will make good progresses. In my opinion, this book will guarantee the "breakthrough" that beginners are looking for. Namely, the level of confusion in the very first figure painting session will soon be diminished, likeness (in terms of gesture and color rendition) will be improved, etc.

- On the other hand, if the readers are looking for other approaches and techniques, perhaps there are two things to do: experimenting a lot and referring themselves to other books of this genre. (See my "About You Area" for a recommended list.)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good book, but the author has another that's better., May 28, 2009

By 

Alaskaguy "Alaskaguy" (Anchorage) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Figure Painting Step by Step (Paperback)

This is certainly a good book. Clear and amply illustrated in an expressive style of painting. The contents of this book and four others (oils, acrylics, watercolors, portraits) are contained together in the author's massive book: The Complete Painting Course: A Guide to Techniques in Oils, Watercolors and AcrylicsThe Complete Painting Course: A Guide to Techniques in Oils, Watercolors and Acrylics. If I were to recommend a single purchase for the beginning painter, it would be the more comprehensive edition.