Traditional Oil Painting: Advanced Techniques and Concepts from the Renaissance to the Present [Hardcover]

Virgil Elliott (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 7, 2007

The only book that lets artists explore the highest levels of realistic oil painting.


As more and more artists today look to the past, there has been a tremendous resurgence of interest in painting realistically—in creating convincing illusions of three-dimensional depth on two dimensional surfaces. How did the Old Masters create their masterpieces? What kind of education allowed these great artists to create such beautiful work, and how can an artist learn these lessons today? Traditional Oil Painting answers those questions and many more. This comprehensive sourcebook explores the most advanced levels of oil painting, with full information on the latest scientific discoveries. Author and distinguished artist Virgil Elliott examines the many elements that let artists take the next step in their work: mental attitude, aesthetic considerations, the importance of drawing, principles of visual reality, materials, techniques, portraiture, photographic images versus visual reality, and color. Traditional Oil Painting helps artists master the secrets of realistic painting to create work that will rival that of the masters.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Virgil Elliott is a world-respected painter and writer. He is included in the Art Renewal Center’s Gallery of Living Masters and one of only twenty-four artists worldwide with certification from the American Portrait Society. A Signature Member of the American Society of Portrait Artists and the Society of Western Artists, and the chairman of the ASTM International Task Group on Artists’ Pastels, he lives in Pennegrove, California.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill; 1st edition (August 7, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823030660
• ISBN-13: 978-0823030668
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 0.8 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #42,744 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > Arts & Photography > Painting > Oil Painting

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 68 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant book August 8, 2007

By [e-mail]

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

For artists pursuing high quality art this is for you.

This book is technically correct, fully researched and invaluable in a genre where a lot of the books are light on information.

Virgil Elliott manages to communicate the real methods used by masters - past and present. Not an easy feat. He has disseminated quality knowledge with brevity. There is a no nonsense handling in his voice that is packed with experience which makes easy reading for anyone with an inclination for the brush.

What I particularly like about the book is its' detailed and straightforward information backed by visual demonstration. You won't find much irrelvant information here. This man knows what he's talking about and communicates so, par excellence.

The picture quality and choice of selection is revealing and appropriate making them relevant to his discussions.

If there can be any fault found and I don't think this is incredibly bad, the author just doesn't tell you how to paint an apple, or a jug or flower, which if you've come this far in your quest for artistic quality-you probably don't need to be told again.

Really this book is a classic and is destined to become an essential resource for students and professional painters alike. Virgil Elliot's years of experience and practical reasoning are apparent in the quality of writing. I thoroughly recommend it. It is a MUST have.

To add, for fans of the great William Bourguereau there is also a section and demonstration of his method-a GREAT credit to the author for this - I have never come across this generosity before.

Virgil Elliott has stripped away the layers and given it all to you here.

Well done.
[...]

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Overview But Something's Missing January 3, 2008

By Miles Harris

Format:Hardcover

Virgil Elliot is an extremely knowledgeable artist who understands painting in the way only an experienced practitioner can. That said, I still found myself wanting more from this book. While it contains an accurate, concise summation of traditional techniques and concepts in oil painting, it does not elaborate on these practices with adequate illustrations.

In his introduction, Virgil Elliot makes clear that he was pressured by the publisher to include demonstrations and samples of his own work against his own inclination to keep the book pure as a reference manual - not a "how-to" book. This is quite evident, as the processes are not very well documented with sufficient photography. Although, I think the publisher was RIGHT to suggest documenting the various historical processes visually through Elliot's hand! I wish he recognized the value of this more. Serious artists ARE plagued by the myriads of amateur how-to books on the market, however, I think Elliot's work is clearly above this mess.

I applaud Elliot's mention of the differences between modern store-bought paint and hand-made paint used by past masters AS WELL AS his discussion on the transparency of pigments. His discussion of the opacity and permanence of pigments is precisely the kind of information I would expect in a book discussing advanced techniques. Back to criticism - in my opinion, the omission of visually well-documented demonstrations of the discussed concepts and techniques are a major flaw in this work. Virgil Elliot is incredibly knowledgeable on the subject of traditional oil painting - I just wish the book contained better visuals.

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Reference Book March 27, 2008

By B. Harrison

Format:Hardcover

This is not a "how-to" book; it is an excellent reference book to keep within reach when you are working. The older books are so obscure, so difficult to try to understand (I am thinking of the Doerner book in particular) and based on speculation about the techniques and materials used by the masters of the past. Mr. Elliott has kept abreast of discoveries by conservators in the major museums using the most up to date, sophisticated technology; as well as the continuous testing of other experts in various fields (Paint manufacturers) and the ASTM. That is why he can warn about using zinc white; how and when to use the umbers; how to organize your pigments and use them according to their innate characteristics; the safe support to use for your painting; why some paintings from the '70s are falling off the canvas, etc. Again, it is an invaluable reference tool. I think other reviewers have been thinking of it more in terms of a how-to book, rather than as nuts-and-bolts information to bring to your own artwork.