Colored Pencil Solution Book (Hardcover)

~ Janie; Newton, Barbara Benedetti Gildow (Author) "Solving problems-that's what this book is all about..." (more)
Key Phrases: cellophane overlaps, design your composition, reusable adhesive, Indigo Blue, Black Grape, Tuscan Red (more...)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 126 pages
• Publisher: F & W Publications, Incorporated (January 1, 2000)
• ISBN-10: 1581800266
• ISBN-13: 978-1581800265
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #696,961 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

72 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Would Give it a 6 if I Could, November 17, 2001

By	hamsterdance (TX) - See all my reviews

Get this book. Really. Even if you work in colored pencil only occasionally it is worth it. This book is as close to being a reference guide on anything to do with realistic colored pencil work I've ever seen. The only things missing are styles that are more experimental in approach and no focus on water-soluable colored pencils.

Some of the things I particularly liked:
1. Focus on specific name-brands of colored pencils, their binders, the effects this has on different types of paper, etc.
2. Techniques - such as:
a. mixing colors, how to apply colors evenly on varying degrees of rough to smooth paper, tonal gradations.
b. linear, stroke overlap, circular/oval strokes, burnishing.
c. liquifying dry colored pencil layers with solvents.
3. Underpainting in grey tones to get values correct and more vibrant color applied on top.
4. The actual patterns of each of the demonstrations shown step-by-step in the book. So you can actually practice each technique used in each of the demonstrations. Each demo gives a recipe of the "ingredients" used.
5. A section on common mishaps or mistakes along with tricks to fix them.

And this is only a portion of the things you can learn. I would like to mention one other thing. Most of the subjects chosen for the book all lean to the still-life or floral arrangement category. So you won't find in-depth discussions of skin tones for portraiture or fur for wildlife paintings. Even so, I believe the consistent high quality of the artwork displayed and wealth of techniques make it a worthwile addition to any colored pencil artists library.

62 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good With Only One Drawback, December 4, 2000

By	carol irvin "c.k. irvin" (United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

There is a lot of good information for every colored pencil artist in this book. I certainly have gotten my money's worth. It is excellently organized and answers many questions and problems. However, the sole style represented throughout is super realistic. What you see pictured on the cover represents the one style shown throughout the book. If this is not your style, and it is not mine, then some of the information you will have to try to adapt to your own style. Some of the rest of the information you will not be able to adapt at all if you have a different style. The colored pencil field desperately needs a book showing styles that are not so realistic. I don't regret buying this book though. Despite my having a radically different style from theirs, there was still a lot of information for me to glean from its pages.

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Winner from Beginning to End., January 4, 2001

By	Angela Holt. (Bury, Lancashire,England.BL8 4HL.UK.) - See all my reviews

On the front of the "Coloured Pencil Solution Book," it says 'Tips and Techniques for Winning Results.'The book is definitely a winner from beginning to end as far as I am concerned, and is an absolute must for artists of all ability. After the introduction, each of the seven sections is made up of questions, such as "How should I arrange my Workspace?" A very good place to start. This form of questions follows through right to the end, making it easier to look for the solution you want. It covers everything from Composition,Application, and Technique, to a very good section on Colour and Light, which ends with the question, "How Can I Create Impact in My Work?" Something I really wanted to read about! My favourite sections were those on Reflections and Transparency Solutions, and Texture Solutions. Absolutely great, including a wealth of knowledge. The final section ended with "Problem Subjects and Fixing Mistakes." In this wasthe part dealing with 'How do I make Lace?', which was well worth waiting for, a clear demonstration, and as in all of them, the names of all the pencils used, were included. All demonstrations are clearly defined, with step by step drawings, all of which are a decent size, so that you can really see the detail. The one of 'Objects distorted in Water,' firstly, highlighted each of the six pencils, individually, as they stood in the water, so that it was easy to refer to them as pencils 1 to 6, in the demonstration that followed, which made it much easier to keep tabs on what was happening. Another very good idea, I thought. But, the 'gem' of the whole book was due to the generosity of both of the artists, Janie Gildow and Barbara Benedetti Newton, in including 24 of their own line drawings at the back of the book for artists to use, both, for the demonstrations, or for their own use to practise on. This immediately eliminates the mental block of deciding what to draw first, before even colouring! A truly wonderful book, and one I shall treasure. Thank you.