Painting and Understanding Abstract Art [Paperback]

Leonard Brooks (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 143 pages
• Publisher: Van Nostrand Reinhold (September 1980)
• ISBN-10: 0671607901
• ISBN-13: 978-0671607906
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,479,243 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DO NOT PAY [too much]FOR THIS BOOK ESPECIALLY THE PAPERBACK COPY!, January 8, 2003

By 

bowery boy (seattle) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Painting and Understanding Abstract Art (Paperback)

Although this book is out of print, with a bit of perseverance and web searching I guarantee that you can find this book online for an affordable price. I found two paperback copies, one for $24 (which was scooped up before I had an opportunity to purchase it) and one for $30 which I bought. The first pressing, I believe, was done in 1964; in 1980 a paperback pressing was briefly re-issued. Having access to the hardback 1964 pressing I was able to compare it to the 1980 paperback copy. The pro is the 1980 color photos are printed on glossy paper making the paintings gorgeously richer and clear. The con is the 1980 color photos are sandwiched in the middle of the book, thus throwing off the continuity of the 1964 copy. Captions on one page refer to paintings on the next page that are not there. I was surprised that very few of the captions in the 1980 pressing were not rewritten to correspond with the pages of paintings.

Although this book is a bit dated (in the intro Brooks talks about one day man will possibly walk on the moon!), it is wonderful for aspiring abstract artists or for those who simply want to understand what that red paint swipe on a black background means. Leonard Brooks simply and straightforwardly explains the dynamics of abstract art, from its development over the years through present day (1964), touching on examples of surrealism, expressionism and cubism. He explains the use of negative and positive space, thrust and pull of compositions and understanding the abstract "alphabet" when tackling your own canvasses. He also touches on collage, texture, color, mixed media and new techniques when painting, like using pipe cleaners or cardboard cutouts instead of paintbrushes. Brooks not only explains these terms and details in a wonderfully concise and easy to understand text, he also offers up exercises for aspiring artists to create their own works of abstract art and a comprehensive year long study program for instructors or even a serious artist to follow. Peppered throughout the book are gorgeous color and b/w paintings, most of which were done by Brooks himself. Brooks, who recently turned 9o, is a decorated war artist and a well established and respected Canadian painter who, with his artist wife Reva, started his own art school in Mexico.

My paintings improved tenfold once I completed this book. I've had many ideas I wanted to convey on canvas and Leonard Brooks' book has taught me some valuable skills and techniques I needed to make my art more expressive. Although some may say abstract art is dead or kitschy in a 50s retro kind of way, the information contained within this book is priceless for any aspiring or established artist. Buy this book if you're fortunate enough to come across a copy of it, but don't pay [too much] for it!