The Painter's Workshop: Creative Composition & Design [Hardcover]

Pat Dews (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 16, 2003

Good composition and design is the underlying foundation of any successful painting. This book is packed with solid composition and design instruction for any painter working in any style, whether super-realistic or non-objective. Step by step, author Pat Dews shows how successful painters in a variety of styles and media - including watercolour, watermedia, pastel, collage and more - use design principles in their own unique ways to create gorgeous works of art. A few of the artists take an experimental approach as they paint, using various techniques to decide what will work before committing to a final composition; others design their paintings before they pick up a brush. Some combine the two approaches. A special critique section gives hands-on advice to help artists improve individual paintings and finish good starts. Readers will discover how they can compose beautiful paintings while being as creative as they want to be.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Award-winning artist Pat Dews is a signature member of both the American and National Watercolor Societies and is a very popular workshop instructor. She is also the author of Creative Discoveries in Watermedia.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: North Light Books; 1St Edition edition (June 16, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581803036
• ISBN-13: 978-1581803037
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #731,066 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

77 of 81 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well Worth Waiting For!, June 18, 2003

By 

dennis marshall (paterson, new jersey United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Painter's Workshop: Creative Composition & Design (Hardcover)

This is one of the best art instruction books that is now available.It is an excellent follow-up to Creative Discoveries in Watermedia published in 1998.Creative Composition & Design is a workshop in book format. Pat Dews warm positive attitude comes across on each page.The book is very well designed with excellent color photographs of art that will inspire you to create.The tips that are listed on various pages are very helpful.The section showing how different artists work on design and composition is an excellent way to gain additional ideas for your own work.The critiques shown of student work places you right into the workshop experience.You will see how paintings are resolved.You will learn a lot from this book and return to it often.I highly recommend this book-it was worth waiting for.If you are unable to attend a workshop with Pat Dews this is the next best thing.If you have been fortunate enough to take a workshop with Pat Dews this book will act as an excellent follow-up.

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must For Your Art Library!, July 15, 2005

By 

Wendy Lee Lynds (whidbey island, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Painter's Workshop: Creative Composition & Design (Hardcover)

if you are interested in composition and design, this is a must for your art library. clear, consice, immensely readable, pat dews acts as your personal guide! while her focus may seem in the "abstract vein", there is something for everyone here, no matter what your interest is. warmly written, i found myself reading every word. now that's something for a visual book! her explanations, photos and critiques were helpful and made me want to run to the studio to start my own wonderful discoveries!

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars very involved, October 27, 2005

By 

L. McNamara "on the upswing" (Southern NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Painter's Workshop: Creative Composition & Design (Hardcover)

the book teaches a lot, and it's great to read how to finish started works. however, you need a background in abstract work to understand her lessons. I have no such background, and her descriptions of the works in progress confused me. as well, her projects require a lot of specialized art supplies - inks and pigments and stuff that I don't have lying around. the projects also require a lot of space - easels w/ full sheets of watercolor paper, storage for scraps, etc. if you want to spend the $$, go ahead. I'm in a dorm and don't have the background, space, or $$ to do the projects.