Since 1940, when it was originally published, The Artist's Handbook has become indispensable for thousands of practicing artists and art students. The book has remained continually in print through many editions and has sold more than a quarter of a million copies. A detailed index makes a wealth of information readily available. Charts and line drawings throughout.
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Ralph Mayer (1895-1979) was a painter and art conservator. Educated as a chemical engineer, he worked in paint manufacture and studied painting at the Art Students League of New York before going on to teach at Columbia University. He founded the Artists Technical Research Institute in 1959. He is best known as the author of The Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques (1940), which is still a point of reference for artists today, and he also wrote The Painter's Craft (1948) and A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques (1969).
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
57 of 57 people found the following review helpful
By AliMcJ
Format:Hardcover
This is the Artist's classic, and the Artist's Bible of not only what materials are but when they came into use, how they are formulated and why. Want to learn how to make your own gesso for silverpoint? Want to cut a quill pen? Want to make your own pastels? Can't remember how to make your own sizing or gesso? Want to try your hand at encaustic or egg tempera painting? Want to know which colors in the spectrum are likely to fade (are fugitive colors) in watercolor and which are not? It's here.
61 of 62 people found the following review helpful
By Damon Denys
Format:Hardcover
Probably the best, most available and comprehensive book on the technical aspects of painting. Very useful for artists who pursue absolute soundness of technique with a mind for permanence of their work. Explains in detail the wide range of supports, grounds, primers, pigments, media and application methods, as well as their respective benefits and defects. Certainly not for the casual reader.
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By Edward Falis
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I had this and an earlier edition of the book and found both to be exceptional resources. We are buying this book for our daughter, who after 3-1/2 years of high priced college study in art conservation still doesn't know how to do so many of the basic, time tested procedures that are the foundation of enduring artwork. Ralph Mayer's approach takes the mystery out of the science of art. Every student of art should have this book.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very objective, very technical, very must to have academic book.
The book is for those who has an interest in: oil, acrylics, pastel, mural, tempera painting and a bit extra. Read more
Published 9 days ago by Marius Kucinskas
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mayer vs. Smith
There are two books entitled "The Artists Handbook": the one here by Ralph Mayer, the other by Ray Smith. Read more
Published 3 months ago by AJ
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful reference book
This is an extremely well orgainized reference book that has the secrets that all of the old t ime artists used. A must for any artist!
Published 3 months ago by Nevada Sam
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Recipes for oil Painting
The book covers in depth, the traditional method of color mixing and mediums. This is a must have book if you are serious on thinking of painting as materials and how to preserve... Read more
Published 5 months ago by W
4.0 out of 5 stars
Should be on your shelf
If you are an aspiring artist and want to really do well with your medium, than you need to have this book on your shelf. Read more
Published 7 months ago by CCJ
3.0 out of 5 stars
Technical Detail High
The text is detailed written in language of yesteryear. It probably has all the information you need to know about paints and materials but the prose is dense and readable with... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Ian the Artist
3.0 out of 5 stars
Decent Book
I had thought of as this book as "The Joy of Cooking" for artists...However there may be quite a bit of information for artists, but in someways I felt as if the book was lacking. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Jason S. Jarvis
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book answers so many questions that I have.
I am an amateur artist with some very serious questions about the painting process. I have a need to understand in depth the materials that I am working with. Read more
Published 21 months ago by brhino
5.0 out of 5 stars
Used, Like New.
I was always trying to take this book out of the local library and It was always out. I was missing the use of this great reference book. Read more
Published 22 months ago by crocdog
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Artist's Art Book
This book is absolutely essential for any serious artist's bookshelf. I always find it helpful to just browse through or use it to look something up in particular. Read more
Published on May 3, 2011 by KerinSM
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 89
books:
See all 89 books this book cites
23
books
cite this book:
See all 23 books citing this book
- Materials and Techniques (Practical Course in Watercolors) by LEMA Publications in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
- The Practice of Tempera Painting: Materials and Methods (Dover Art Instruction) by Daniel V. Thompson in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques by Ralph Mayer in Front Matter, and Back Matter
- Lives of the Painters (Everyman's Library, Vol. 4) by Gilorgio Vasari on page 18, and Back Matter
- A History of Engraving and Etching (Dover Fine Art, History of Art) by Arthur M. Hind in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
See all 89 books this book cites
- Color: A Natural History of the Palette by Victoria Finlay on 5 pages
- Kevin McClouds Complete Book of Paint and Decorative Techniques by Kevin Mccloud on page 12, page 78, and Back Matter
- The Guild Handbook of Scientific Illustration by Elaine R. S. Hodges on page 22, and Back Matter
- Drawing and Painting Animals: How to Capture the Essence of Wildlife in your Art by Edward Aldrich on page 69, and Back Matter
- Fine Woodworking on Finishing and Refinishing: 34 Articles by Fine Woodworking on page 27, and Index
See all 23 books citing this book
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