Painting the Impressionist Landscape: Lessons in Interpreting Light and Color [Paperback]

Lois Griffel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 6, 2009

Master Impressionism with an art-instruction classic. Impressionism has inspired generations of American artists. And no one has done more for the cause of American Impressionism than Charles Hawthorne, the founder of the Cape Cod School of Art. In Painting the Impressionist Landscape, author and artist Lois Griffel explores Hawthorne’s theories about color and light in depth. Griffel, the longtime director of the school Hawthorne founded, teaches his philosophy like no other painter can, with inspiring step-by-step painting lessons and illuminating text. A true classic of art instruction, Painting the Impressionist Landscape has sold more than 30,000 copies in hardcover in the fifteen years since it was first published. Now a new generation of painters can bring impressionism into their work with this convenient and affordable paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lois Griffel’s lifelong interest in art began at the age of five, when she first entertained neighborhood children with her drawings and paintings. She discovered early in her career that she enjoyed teaching and attended Southern Connecticut State College in order to receive her bachelor of science degree in education. Later, while making her living as a portrait painter, she enrolled at the Art Students League and the National Academy of Design in New York, where she studied with many outstanding artists, including Everett Raymond Kinstler and Harvey Dinnerstein. Her introduction in the early 1970s to Henry Hensche, Charles Hawthorne’s protégé, led to her in-depth study and practice of the impressionist theory of painting. As director and instructor at The Cape Cod School of Art, it gives her great joy to combine her loves of teaching and painting, and to share them with enthusiastic students. Ms. Griffel has had a number of one-person exhibitions throughout New England, and has been included in invitational exhibitions in New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Carmel, California. She holds workshops in landscape, portrait, and figure painting throughout the northeast.


From the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill (January 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823095193
• ISBN-13: 978-0823095193
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 0.4 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (66 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #56,736 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > Arts & Photography > Painting > Still Life
  • #9 in Books > Arts & Photography > Painting > Landscape
  • #15 in Books > Arts & Photography > Painting > Oil Painting

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Seeing the Light, January 4, 2001

By 

Bernice Winston (New York City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Painting the Impressionist Landscape: Lessons in Interpreting Light and Color (Hardcover)

Any painter who wishes to see the light through the eyes of the impressionist masters will most certainly want to purchase this outstanding book. Written by Lois Griffel, Director of the Cape Cod School of Art, founded by Charles Hawthorne and continued by his disciple, Henry Hensche, PAINTING THE IMPRESSIONIST LANDSCAPE will gratify both the beginner and the advanced student. In her book, Lois Griffel, herself a master teacher, provides a theoretical framework for simple, practical exercises designed to develop in the student an understanding of how light affects the world of color around him. Of special interest are the block studies from where the artist begins his journey, first observing the effects of light on simple rectangular forms on sunny and cloudy days; then on to the rounded half tones of still life; on to the nuances of the portrait; and, finally, to painting out of doors where the artist is gradually empowered to see and understand the dazzling effects of light on the landscape. PAINTING THE IMPRESSIONIST LANDSCAPE is an outstanding book, profusely illustrated with Lois Griffel's own beautiful work as well as the work of other fine painters of this school. I treasure this book and am grateful to Lois Griffel for having written it. Bernice Ruth Winston

48 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great instruction for the impressionistic painter, December 3, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Painting the Impressionist Landscape: Lessons in Interpreting Light and Color (Hardcover)

Griffel's book has opened up a new world of painting for me. Returning from a trip to Paris I was inspired by the works of the great French impressionists and wanted to learn the basics of their style of painting. This book is a two part course in painting - the first section covers basic color theory and the second walks you through step-by-step excersises to learn to apply the techniques. My landscapes have taken on a whole new look and I'm looking forward to a workshop with Griffel in the coming year.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Closer to Seeing the Light, February 11, 2001

By 

Sheila Wolff (Key West, Florida , USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Painting the Impressionist Landscape: Lessons in Interpreting Light and Color (Hardcover)

Artists are always striving to increase their understanding of light and the way it affects color.In her book, Lois Griffel presents straightforward and concise ways to do this. Following her directions for painting studies of colored blocks in different lighting conditions, I learned more about seeing color than I ever possibly could have on my own. Seeing the way she and others who studied with Henry Hensche at the Cape Cod School of Art bring their work to brilliant life helps me to see more and more of the light possibilities in my own work.As I go outdoors to paint the landscape now, I think back to my studies from this book, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to absorb these teachings. Thank you, Ms. Griffel!!!!!!