Customer Reviews

Harley Brown's Eternal Truths for Every Artist

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A lot of reviewers give their reaction to the book reviewed. While that's helpful I'm going to do something a bit different. I'm going to show a few examples of some of the "eternal truths" the author gives.

1. The author on beginning a painting of a ballerina and after explaining in detail several of his measurement techniques continues, "Believe Your Eye. But Trust Measurements - ...every professional artist I've ever seen, without exception measures. You need to do it too. ...it will save your artistic life."

2. From the chapter 'Composition - Who Needs It?' - "Not Everything Should Be Equal! - We have a natural (though distressing) tendency to equalize everything in art, which is a problem. Placing equal amounts of warm and cool in a painting, and equal amounts of light and dark, can make a painting look weak and indecisive. Face it: dominance of color or value is easy to talk about, but much harder to pull off. That's one reason why many pros do one or more, sometimes many more, small studies to arrive at one powerful visualization of the intendeded work. Then they'll follow the little study closely to avoid their natural tendency to equalize."

3. From Chapter 6 - "Edges, in case you haven't figured it out by now, are among the half-dozen most important things in a painting."... "The more gradually an object turns away from the light, the softer and wider its shadow edge will be"... "As a shadow goes from light to dark, the soft transitional edge is called the 'core'... "These principles go way back in art. The Impressionists understood them well. Hardly an artist in history, painting a nice pink cheek, would miss the opportunity to make it pinkest just where it goes into shadow."

4. From "30 'Magic' Solutions to Common Problems" - 2. We've all seen the stereotypical artist holding his thumb before his squinting eye. He may be measuring proportions, but he might have something else in mind: comparing relative values of the objects before him. His thumb has a constant value to compare them with. Try it right now and see the revelation."

Hopefully this gives an idea of some of the insights this book contains. It's chock full of step-by-step examples demonstrating all the hints, tips and tricks. I re-read this book frequently. Often I'll pick a page and then critique a picture I'm working on to see if I've forgotten or misapplied one of the principles mentioned on that page. Sometimes I'll do the same for a technique. It's a good way to reinforce what I've learned and strive to improve. Artists of any medium can benefit from this great book.

OK, so the title of this review is cut off. It should say, "My eternal truths to the reading of "Harley Brown's eternal truths for every artist"".

First, a few lines about the author: I like this "guy" (with all due respect, Mr. Brown), just as I like people who are passionate about what they do. For artists, it is a must, because more often than not, people "do arts" because they love it.

About the book, all I can say is, "GET A COPY FOR YOURSELF, YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT".

Read the table of contents on this page (by Amazon.com) to know what is in it. As far as HOW to read it, these are MY ETERNAL TRUTHS TO IT:

1) This is a GREAT reference book, treat it as it is. In my opinion, it is full of great principles, but not simply a how-to book.

2) Apply these principles frequently until they become your second nature. For instance, Chapter 2 is about drawing skill. It amuses me to think what if Mr. Brown throws in a number of the percentage of "claim-to-be" artists who in fact do not know how to draw what they see. You'd be amused to hear some of the excuses when asked why what they draw is not what "we all see".

3) OK, so how long do you think it will take for you to nail Chapter 2? That is, how long would it take you to be able to draw accurately what you and I see? Yet there is more, such as light, shadow, composition, and then passion, confidence, and so on and so forth.

And we are only at Chapter 2. Need I say more?

To sum it up, I REALLY like this "guy", and do not call this a how-to book. It is not. It is a great reference book, in my opinion.

Well, I'm only up to page 39, but I can tell that this is a gem of a book. Harley Brown is an award winning artist that works mainly in pastel--and is very opinionated in a wonderful way. Lewis Lehrman, and artist himself, is a seamless writer--bringing out the very best of Harley Brown's personal teaching style.

Though Harley Brown works mostly in pastel, the book doesn't dwell on specific pastel techniques, instead it addresses major issues of design, color, composition and lots of other wonderful "eternal truths"--Actually, I wouldn't call them eternal truths, just the "doink" I knew that, why don't I take that into consideration when I paint! I work in watercolor and find what I've been reading to be invaluable. The section on color alone is worth the purchase.

If you are just beginning, some of the content may not be of value, as beginners are just learning to be comfortable with their mediums. I wouldn't get this book if you're looking for specific art techniques. This isn't a painting 101 type book, its more a graduate level type course. Don't get me wrong, even beginners could learn from it, it has been designed so well. But if you are an intermediate painter, or even an advanced painter, looking to rethink your methods of creativity and trying to push yourself to the next level of creativity--this really is the book for you.

The writing style is refreshing, with two different colors of text, the black being the formal, complete sentence descriptions, the red is the humorous and short--but meaningful re-interpretation. Then there are little tiny footnotes at the bottom with very personal asides and running up the sides of the page, in the margin, inspirational quotes. Its pretty neat, definately something to read over and over again, and in short, about the best "art how to book" I've read. Its almost like being in the same classroom with the authors.

Bravo Mister Brown! Finally I have found an HONEST instructional art book that gives away ALL the secrets that only come from a life long persuit of true art.This book sifts through all the misconcepts,takes away all the myth and presents to you The beginner,You the intermediate, You the master, a comprehensive easy to read easy to follow interactive look at the way true art is really achieved. For someone to truly give in this way is almost unheard of. I felt a kinship from the first page. He then takes you on an amazing journey, hand held trip into the real world of REAL art. If you want to be an artist and can handle the truth, here it is!! If you are an artist as my self, and are open to learn more, you have struck gold. I will have this book by my side for a long long time. Bravo Mister Brown!!

I first met Harley in a book called "How to be a successful artist" where he told his inspiring start . I really like his honest straight forward writing style (The same way he paints) I just read this book and it has already helped me as an artist. It answers many questions that no other book has,such as what to do with edges. I now know that I have been painting my edges much too harsh..ditto for my shadows. Harley also explains how hair should not be clearly defined but blend into the background and the forehead so as to avoid the wig affect. Good advice. Not only does Harley give good advice for painting,but inspirational advice to avoid ruminating and worrying about outside influences. Freedom from guilt!! The last segment on setting up the studio was very helpful also. Important advice such as adding a paper towel holder to your easel to avoid running to the kitchen. I just moved and have been setting up a room for my studio which my daughter quickly decided to take over because "You aren't using it"..I now have the courage to reclaim it and make the finishing touches with a comfortable easel chair and stereo. Male artists are SO lucky to have wifes who help to insure that there are no distractions. This is impossible as a single Mother, but I have held firm to my committment to being an artist and rely on my talent for my income. However, I haven't painted for my own pleasure and passion in quite some time. Because of Harley..I know that I am on my way! Thanks Harley!

My shelves are full of pastel and other art books but by far, this is the absolute best! Do just as Harley says, and USE it, do not just put it up on your shelf to collect dust. Mine is sitting next to my easel for constant reference. I love this man's work, his writing style is witty and makes it feel like he is talking right to YOU! I have seen a definite improvement in my pastels, just from using this wonderful book!

In the three months I have had it beside me, this book has made the most dramatic differece in my life as an artist. When you have lost all your enthusiasm and feel you just can't make it, this book is like a therapy session. It all started to come to light and I realized if I could read this book and have it inspire me this much I COULD start again and succeed. Thank you Mr.Brown. I will take all of your advice and I will do it with a new found joy !!!! Judith Jackson

I bought this book because of the reviews by others on this site. I must now agree with the one other negative review. This book is not the best for learning the concepts Brown is trying to past on. I have "Problem Solving for Oil Painters by Kteutz" and "Artistic Secrets to Painting Tonal Values by Kedzierski" which were much easier to understand and the examples fit the concepts so much better.

Brown is into mostly portraits and his book would be better put to use just for that purpose. I was very disappointed on the section on backgounds and foregrounds. It starts you out thinking he is really going to give you some wonderful advice in the next two pages and it falls flat. The one good section was on how to measure a figure on your canvas, but then you never see him use it in his other examples. He looses the student when it seems he starts his other lessons out of thin air. You have to do alot of digging around in this book to get what you might need out of it for that reason I gave it three stars.

Brown's book is excellent for intermediate or advanced artists. I think beginners will find it confusing and beyond them (Brown presumes some drawing and painting abilities are in place). His book will help you "bust loose" and get to the next level. His advice and side-comments are entertaining, anti-establishment, anti-artsy-baloney and generally right on! Enjoy.

Fantastic look into the thought process of an accomplished artist. Mr. Brown gives you the concepts and ideas you need to create better quality work. And I do think the concepts apply to "abstract" art. The problem is most abstract artists resist anything that might 'hinder' their creativity (Yes, that is an opinion). Things like knowledge or developing a skill through hard work. The truth is even if you're spewing paint at a canvas from 30 feet away with a super-soaker while riding a mechanical bull in your birthday suit, some of your 'art' will look better and feel more complete or finished. Why is that? Because somehow the concepts of design or of dominate value or dominate color, etc.. are satisfied. Maybe it would happen by accident but knowing the concepts will help you separate the good pieces from the unworthy or help you to know when you're done. This is not a How-To Paint Book or How-to draw or whatever, this is a How-To-Think-As-An-Artist book. Awesome book. I wish there were more from Mr. Brown.