Customer Reviews

How to Paint Living Portraits

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

 

 

A workshop guided by a master painter of portraits. Robert Carter Clark sets out here to teach you thoroughly from her professional experience, without cutting corners or resorting to caricature. Fully one-half of this fine book is given to draftsmanship. She begins with proportions of the head (male, female & infant) in Chapter One, then moves on to drawing features -- with special attention given to the windows of the soul, the eyes. Chapter Three is dedicated to drawing the body. In Chapter Four, Ms. Clark presents the difficult skill of capturing fabric folds. Chapter Five covers lighting for four different views. Charcoal portraiture comes next, then using color, stepping through hue, value, intensity, & flesh & hair tones.

Finally, she devotes chapters to painting portraits from life in oils & in watercolors. Oil techniques include wet-into-wet, monotone, & glazing.

"How to Paint Living Portraits" is a standout, user-friendly instructional book within a genre glutted with volumes that can be too light or too dense, or promise too much, too quickly. Roberta Carter Clark cooked this one right. She's an excellent teacher.

Bob Rixon, Pearl Art & Crafts

I work for an artist who owns a gallery in Lahaina, Maui for over 12 years & has a 30 year reputation as a respected International artist. As a budding artist, myself, I requested Jim Kingwell to critique' a painting of mine that was in progress - he handed me Roberta's book and told me that she was his teacher and great influencer in painting. After a few days I re-emerged from the book with a painting that captured not only the subject, my mother, but also captured the emotions I wanted to communicate. Jim could proceed to help me with small refinements...then he asked for the book back. He jokingly referred to it as his "bible". I since have ordered my own and Roberta's book on capturing children's portraits! A must have! Incredible guidance and techniques. Mahalo.

Great for anyone that has some experience in painting but is just beginning portraits. Detailed step-by-step instructions work you through the process. Lots of illistrations and color pictures.

I ordered this book sight unseen( a mistake) because of Amazon recommendation and glowing reviews.
Its not terrible but I am not impressed with the content.
The artist is not nearly as strong as many other portrait painters who have written texts.
Her drawings tend towards the mediocre and formulaic. Her paintings are splashy but fail to cover her flaws in understanding form.
The information presented is basic and general with the exception of the color mixing section which is quite useful.

This book is a tremendous resource for both beginning and experienced portrait painters. Each chapter is rich with information about human physiology and the painting techniques necessary to complete your portraits. I especially liked the color mixing guide for various hair colors.

I love this book . It is one my favorites. the reason I don't have it because anytime I hear of a friend want to draw better I end up giving it away. its that good. It is the only art book I have ever done that with. it not only gives you tips on painting but tips on drawing the face and drawing them well there is a part in it were she talks about fabric folds, I was able apply that part to sculpting. the ideas she recommends are good for anyone over seven and there is no nudity so any kid can look at it with out adult supervision. I am not saying this is a kid book only that the concepts in it are a lot easier to grasp then most art books out there. it also beautiful to look at so really little guys can enjoy that even if they don't understand what the book is about.

Well-written with many illustrations, most in color. Great tips on creating realistic portraits from live models. Just look at the cover. You can learn how to make a portrait like this using the techniques given in the book.

1-ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS IN DRAWING/PAINTING PORTRAITS. THE NEW EDITION LOOKS SHORTER IN SOME CHAPTERS, SO I BOUGHT BOTH
NEW AND PREVIOUS EDITIONS (THIS LATTER, USED, IS HARD BOUND, WHICH IS A PLUS). THE NEW EDITION BOOK SENT TO ME IS IN GOOD CONDITION.
AND THE AUTHOR WENT INTO DETAILS IN THE SECTION OF DRAWING THE HEAD.

2-LOOKS LIKE LEARNING PAINTING FROM BOOKS, I MEAN GOOD BOOKS, IS 10 TIMES BETTER AND CHEAPER THAN FROM A LIVING TEACHER !!!
WHICH WOULD BE A WASTING TIME.

3-BTW, 30% OF BOOKS I BOUGHT FROM AMAZON HAVE SOME DEFECTS: BOOKS WERE BENT, SCRATCHES ON COVER, PEELING OF FILM ON COVER.
PLEASE-DOUBLE-CHECK-THE-BOOKS-STATUS-BEFORE-YOU-SEND-THEM-TO-CUSTOMERS-PLEASE.