How I Paint: Secrets of a Sunday Painter [Hardcover]

Thomas S. Buechner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2000

What is the process by which a painting comes into being? What goes on in the artist's mind? What different techniques are used in creating a still life, landscape, or portrait? In this look at the complex, often mysterious painting process, painter/museum director Thomas S. Buechner combines clear how-to instruction with striking insights to help us look at pictures in a wholly new way.

An expert on painting techniques, Buechner offers valuable tips for both amateur and professional painters on traditional methods that many schools do not teach today. An impassioned painter himself, whose work hangs in The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American Art, Buechner includes illustrations of many of his most inspired paintings and drawings-some shown in step-by-step series with enlarged details-illuminating for us the intimate relationship between the artist and his materials.

129 illustrations, 98 in full color, 8 1/2 x 10 3/4"

THOMAS S. BUECHNER, former director of the Brooklyn Museum of Art and the Corning Museum of Glass, is the author of several books, most notably Abrams' definitive biography Norman Rockwell: Artist and Illustrator. In addition to his long experience in interpreting works of art for museumgoers, Buechner brings to this book the perspective gained from decades of teaching painting.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Thomas S. Buechner is an accomplished artist who has painted some 2,500 pictures in his long career, some of which are in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian's National Museum of American Art. For How I Paint: Secrets of a Sunday Painter, he selected 50 works that he uses to illustrate what, why, and how he paints. The book explores not only how paintings can be better appreciated and enjoyed (Buechner is also the former director of the Brooklyn Museum and the Corning Museum of Glass), it also reveals the working insights that go into making a painting vital. Buechner outlines traditional methods of composition that many art schools no longer teach today. Though capable of composing majestic, calm landscapes and still lives of such exactitude and feeling that even a lowly red onion seems poised to address the viewer, Buechner excels in portraiture. He tends to place his sitters in dark, empty space, explaining, "We are, each of us, quite alone, and that's what I try to paint." This is a book about technique, practice, and the timeless fundamentals of the creative process from the perspective of a mature artist whose works reflect the luminescent lessons of the old masters. --Mary Ribesky

From Library Journal

At age 73, Buechner looked at the rest of his life and decided that it was time to be tidying up my thoughts on painting. From this modest premise, he has written a thoughtful, very personal work on oil painting. His chapters on tools, composition, and the painting of portraits, still lifes, etc., are well done. It is his meditations on topics like Knowing, Seeing, Wanting and Reality and Imagination, that give this book depth. The author!s years as director of the Brooklyn Museum of Art and the Corning Museum of Glass and his decades of teaching painting lend a authority to his sensitive words. Highly recommended; for a comparable volume on watercolor, see John Yardley!s Watercolor: A Personal View (LJ 7/97).
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 127 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (June 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810941538
• ISBN-13: 978-0810941533
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #621,936 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars simple, engaging and masterful, June 8, 2000

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How I Paint: Secrets of a Sunday Painter (Hardcover)

this books works on many levels for the amatuer, the collector, the art historian and the art lover: but for the painter, realist or not, it is an absolute must. By the time I had finished the first 60 pages I had come to understand my craft and its potential more clearly than the some twenty odd years of schooling and lectures and yes even painting to date has taught me. Mr. Buechner's genius lies in the simple and elegant, almost childlike way he destroys the fearful mystery of creatng depth on a canvas with paint. This knoweldge is not only the outcome of many paintings but of being aware of what each painting was teaching him. His marvelous description of how he learned about making a form come forward while he was painting a nose of one of Rembrandts paintings is a tour de force of a complex visual experience finally rendered understandable. If I seem overly impressed;well I am. I have been searching for a contemporary painter to explain some of the old master's techniques for years. In this book Mr. Buechner does so with warmth, humility and panache, but above all with wisdom grounded in practice and not wordy intellectual theories. Realist painters, run don't walk to buy this book. Anyone who has ever wondered why anyone is still fascinated with painting realist art the above goes for you also. This book is a treasure Thank-you Mr.Buechner

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Secrets of a Sunday, Mon, Tues, Wed, Thu, Fri & Sat Painter, January 2, 2001

By 

DIY remodeler (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How I Paint: Secrets of a Sunday Painter (Hardcover)

Don't let Tom Buechner fool you. He paints EVERY day. I know because I have the great fortune of taking Tom's portrait painting class on Friday nights. I get to experience first-hand Tom's enthusiasm, skill and knowledge as a painter and as a teacher. If you can not take one of his workshops, you must buy his book. It is written with the same wit, charm and wisdom that Tom shares with his class. As he does in his paintings, Tom's book presents his philosophy and work simply and elegantly. He shares the 'secrets' that he's discovered from over 60 years of painting. You should know that this isn't a 1st grade paint-by-number, step-by-step how-to book on painting. It is a succinctly written and beautifully illustrated book that explains with great insight how, why, where and what this talented artist and teacher paints. After suffering a 15 year drought, I want to paint every day of the week and I have Tom and his book to thank for it.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's More Inspiration and Soul Than Techniques, June 24, 2001

By 

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

This review is from: How I Paint: Secrets of a Sunday Painter (Hardcover)

I had been referred to this book by a female artist friend of mine a week before I wrote this review when she left to attend a workshop by the author in New York. I got my hand on this book a few days later and finished it (not in one sitting) in about two days.

This is more of an inspiration than techniques book. A very enjoyable book, indeed!

Although the author does cover the WHAT's and HOW's (along with the WHY he paints) in his book, his techniques are presented in a way that, perhaps, is more appreciated by professional artists than starters. Specifically, the author briefly presents his techniques in just one page/painting in average. Several technique demos are presented, and they are very good. If one needs to be spoonfed on every technique in oil painting, this is NOT the book to look for them. A lot of techniques he mentioned in the book can be found elsewhere. The author does provide a (long) reference citation for further reading.

What is so good about this book, instead, is the inspiration and humbleness that I feel when reading his book. Born in 1926, only began painting full time in 1987 (at 61 years of age) even though having done most "art-related" jobs since 1945, and still painting, his book is simply a natural outcome of this lifelong artist.