The Best of Portrait Painting (Hardcover)

~ (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Wolf, a prolific editor of art instruction books, may be a bit too prolific. This volume amasses more than 120 portraits from 96 artists, working in all media. With only a paragraph of text for each portrait, there is no depth to the material. Its value is limited to that of a portfolio of visual styles. Wolf did the same thing, with no better effect, in The Best of Wildlife Art (LJ 7/97). Roberta Carter Clark covered portraits in several media more successfully in her How To Paint Living Portraits (North Light, 1990).
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

A collection of ideas, inspiration and techniques for creating striking spirited portraits. The book contains 123 examples by 96 award-winning artists in a variety of mediums. Readers learn to: describe personality using pose, gesture and light; convey meaning through use of props, communicate emotion; use colour and work from life or photos.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: North Light Books; 1st edition (February 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0891348514
• ISBN-13: 978-0891348511
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #867,836 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars After a more careful review, I now rate it 3+ stars!, March 30, 1999

By A Customer

My other review was too harsh. I'm afraid I initially expected a book geared to painters of portraits rather than viewers of portraits. I've since had an opportunity to spend some time with the book and it wears well. Sorry painters and editor.

14 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A better title would be "Mediocre Portrait Painting", March 12, 1999

By A Customer

The book is a disappointment. The paintings are well reproduced, but for the most part they are undistinguished, pedestrian pictures by new and [one hopes] developing artists. Not master of the genre is represented. No Kinstler, no Sanden, no David Green, no Gordon Wetmore, no Jack Beal, nobody. Sorry, there are better coffee tables books available. No John Singer Sargeants here.

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Collection of Portrait Paintings, October 21, 2009

By	M. Crawford "Happy in Him" (Carlsbad CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this book for inspiration and ideas. It has a wide variety of portraits in various mediums. I felt it was a good art investment.