Painting and Drawing, The Complete Book of ( a comprehensive guide) (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Joseph F. Ryan (Author) "Michelangelo said that it should be possible to distinguish one artist's work from another by the way he or she drew a single straight line..." (more)
Key Phrases: primed board, sable brush, chalk pastels, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Lamp Black (more...)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Courage Books; Revised edition (September 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762402903
• ISBN-13: 978-0762402908
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 10.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,175,909 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Look at the pictures; Don't bother with the text., October 7, 2002

By	R. Stephen Gracey (Cleveland, OH United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book has a series of drawing and painting projects in different media done by different artists, step by step. These are immensely helpful to me, as I get a lot out of watching other artists work.

The author, however, makes a pretense of "teaching" things about media and art in this book, but really, adds nothing to the learning process at all. He makes sweeping generalizations about art, without explanation. (e.g., "I tell my students to work in terms of the media." What does that mean??) He criticizes the artists' work without offering any analysis or alternatives, which might be helpful. (e.g., "This works well in terms of the color.") And above all, the arrogance in his critiquing tone is offensive.

On the whole, the author could be removed entirely from this book, and it would be more helpful. The photography is lovely. I like the book--I just don't read the text anymore.

24 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Follow along with the author from pencil to oils, July 24, 1999

By A Customer

After finding this in the library, I want to have this book for myself. As a person getting back into my artwork, I enjoy the author's use of other artists to demonstrate each lesson. Want a concise explanation of working in a variety of media from pencils, pastels, watercolors and oils? Then get this book. Seeing the four or so artists approach to each lesson is a reminder that each one of us has our own style. There isn't one "right" way to depict a landscape, a portrait or a city scene. As the reader turns each page, he/she will find themselves chomping at the bit to get pencil, charcoal or paintbrush in hand.