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I am new to oil painting and found this book very helpful in many areas. It covers working with live models , when and how to do this. How to begin your painting, color and many other areas in your painting. I think it will be of great help for my success in oil painting. It does not cover types of paint to use but it clearly tells you that is not the books purpose. I have only had it for a few weeks but have already gone thru it completely and feel like I have learned quite a lot.

As always, Helen Van Wyk style of masterfully illustrating the techniques from the start to the finish of portrait painting is well presented in this book. I found the book very useful in solving some of the problems that I could not seem to overcome. I now keep the book handy and refer to her whenever I find a challenging face to paint.

I would recommend this book not only for the techniques that she provides but also for the variety of illustrations that will help any level of oil painter improve their skills. From cover to cover, this book is a bargin to both the beginning painter and the master.

Clary Illian has given the ceramics community an amazing gift by writing this book. Not only is she thoughtful and clear, she inspires potters (whether beginners or professionals) to make better, more personal pots. Filled with examples -- beautifully photographed by Charles Metzger -- which add flesh to her supurb text. Every potter should consider this must-reading.

I have been teaching ceramics for over 20 years and have been looking for a book like this one to share with my students. I am also a studio artist and have and will find it an invaluable tool when considering the importance of form while I work. Clary Illian is a fabulous potter. She has a great love of the material and her instincts and knowledge about beauty in functionality in pottery is clear and lovely.

A completely delightful time. Easy to read and beautiful illustrations. This is a great gift for your hostess. Thanks!

If all of us would believe as the author has stated, "that we all have a garden inside of us", the world would be in a better place. As you read on and observe the drawings, you can actually feel her love. Not only for her husband which is evident, but also for her work. I have visited her charming shop, seen the magnificent tea sets, and was surprisingly stunned by her delicate art which adorned the walls of this enchanting little treasure of a shop. Ms kaplan not only writes with a soul of passion, she backs it all up with beautiful tea sets, then gives you dessert by offering a glimpse of her talent as an incredable artist with her heavenly water colors. Oh my goodness, now I am in a peaceful state of mind too! Thank you Lissi Kaplan

This book haves step by step illustrations and instructions on how to do antique effects. This book is one the best books I've bought to do antique effects for frames, chairs, cabinets, bed frames etc. The book list all the materials and the techniques.

This title is an excellent guide for beginners who want to reurbish old pieces or make new, mass produced furniture look expensive and antique. The illustrations are very helpful.

There are not many books available on tempera painting mainly because few artists these days have either the time or the patience to grind their own pigments and mix them into a binder. For anyone who does have such an interest egg tempera is a fascinating and beautiful medium to learn. Anyone who has ever tried to scrape off dried egg yolk from a plate will soon realize how incredibly durable a binder it makes for a painting medium. The Practice of Tempera Painting covers a lot of subjects in-depth. Everything from preparing the surface, pigment to egg to water ratios, discussions of various pigments to actual instructions for the traditional hatching and cross-hatching brushstroke technique is shown.

The only section readers today might want to supplement is reading up on a more up-to-date book on pigments. Many of the pigments discussed in Thompson's book, while still available, are now known to present health risks. Modern pigments that are safer and just as lightfast (in some cases even more lightfast) are now available that Thompson and painters of the 1930's didn't have. Other than that one caveat this book is a great introduction to egg tempera painting.

This excellent introduction to egg tempera is invaluable to oil painters as well. Thompson's writing is filled with humor and wit, making the book very readable.

I was delighted to discover that, unlike so many books about painting techniques, Thompson's is clear and thorough without being a condescending "how to" manual. It also avoids being mired in footnotes and tedious tangential detail. It is obvious that he speaks from the perspectives of both painter and scholar. The only drawback is that the reproductions are in black and white, but as this was standard when the volume was written it is forgivable.

This book will prove informative for artists, teachers, and museum professionals (I am all three) who are in search of solid information on tempera painting. Look no further and enjoy the read!

This is an exquisite table top book that you won't want to shelve anytime soon. Lavish in detail the book has 275 paintings that are world famous. The time period covered is the 12th right up through the 20th century. No easy task to get a sampling from the Prado, one of the greatest museums in the world. The author manages just that as he doesn't over emphasive the "known" masters and unveils some of the lesser and even unknown artists.Since the author, Santiago Alcolea Blanch, a renowned art historian, is Spanish, there is a leaning towards the works of the well known Spanish masters like El Greco and Velasquez, right up to the more modern Picasso. This is not to say that it only features Spanish artists as it includes the masters from throughout Europe. Anyone interested in art will love and benefit from this book. There is much to be learned from superb works that have withstood world wars and other atrocities of mankind and been viewed by millions of people. The first paintings revealed are those painted on murals and board, eventually working its way to oil on canvas. Since much of the works from the masters is of a religious nature one will find superb paintings inspired from the divine, mans earliest works as manifested through his interpretations of God and his glory. Marveling at these works leaves no doubt about the everlasting impression this subject matter must have had on the artists. That we would be given the opportunty to view such inspirational works from the comforts of our living rooms is an additional blessing. The works are not limited to religious themes as there are countless portraits of the nobility and loyalty that shaped the world events of their time and even directed the course of history. These were the photographs of their day, long before digital images could be loaded instantly on a computer, only the wealthy could afford such a luxury. The works, as percieved through the eyes of the artist are uncommon and magnificent testimonials of a bygone era. As an additional bonus the book is also a history book. The first 139 pages are a concise explanation of the origins of the Royal Collection and the Academy of Fine Arts. Included in the historical tour are great black and white photographs of the Prado in various time periods, including draft plans for the additions. Each director is profiled in story book fashion to illustrate the achievements and problems encountered during their time as directors. Captivating and informative, the written word in this book is an excellent source of information for the art historian. Follow the trial and tribulations of those most influential in giving the world one of it's greatest museums. For furhter exploration there is also a pretty extensive bibliography. This is a quality book that any lover of art will cherish, highly recommended for those that like the works of the masters.

Take a tour of the fabulous Prado museum with this lavishly illustrated volume. Featuring over 300 full page photos, this work reveals the astounding depth of the Prado's collection. The book is arranged by "schools" of nationalities, just as the museum is, and features many of the most classic and cherished paintings Europe has produced from medieval triptychs to Picasso's "Guernica". These aren't the only paintings featured, however. The reader is invited to see the collection longitudinally. I really enjoyed, for example, seeing the wonderful variety of Velasquez' paintings - those he did in the employ of the royal court were markedly different than his early work.

The book is not just colorplates, though. The first 125 pages give a detailed history of the museum itself, which is very fascinating (especially the travails of the building and the collection during the civil war). There is also included a reprinting of the royal proclamation establishing the museum in 1432.

The book is published by Abrams' reprint service, but the quality is still exceptional. The colors are beautiful and the binding is very nice and durable as well. Enjoy it!

This volume draws together some of the most remarkable paintings and sketches done by the Pre-Raphaelites during the mid-1800's. This movement, which focused on the appreciation of beauty through artistic interpretation of legend and literature, produced some of the most stunning works of art to date.

What I like about this book in particular, is that unlike many books, it does not neglect the work of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, brother of the poet Christina Rossetti. In my opinion, Dante (whose painting "Proserpine" appears on the cover of this book, is the heart and soul of the "Pre-Raphaelite Vision" and is too often left out. Do yourself a favor and buy this book.

"Some were painted almost obsessively, and with the passing of time have come to represent an ideal beauty"

This tiny book is filled with works by Dante Gabriel Rosetti, Arthur Hughes, Frederick Sandys, Edward Burne-Jones, William Holden Hunt, Albert Joseph Moore, and Eveyln De Morgan. In its pages you will find all the romantic, now 'posterized' images of this remarkable group of painters.

The paintings are interwoven with the beautiful poetry that inspired them and makes it a lovely and tender tribute to any woman. (or a not so shabby guide book for those poor souls out there that just don't know how to be romantic!)

Rossetti is a master of the misty eyed, Sandys finds that little resident saucy side that makes every woman human, and Burne-Jones seems to add an extra element of wisdom to the women that he paints.

These are the paintings that are beloved by so many - never offensive, always relaxing and full of brilliant color. Who could forget Moore's 'Midsummer' with its bright orange fabric against such a gentle sleeper? Or 'Love's Shadow' with that bright red hair? These are the only examples I can think of that use such bright color and still result in such soothing images.

I've yet to find a better collection of these beloved works, and the price and portability of this one can't be beat. Most of these works are from private collections or are in European museums so a lovely book like this makes them accessible to us all.

I own this book and have used it extensively. Marcella has a very "user friendly" approach to instruction. The next best thing to an "in person" instruction, by Mama Clown of course!

As a full time entertainer and face painting artist, I have used this book over and over, and would recommend anything on this subject by this author. She gives you the best recomendations on paints and materials, and her designs are lovely and easy to do! I'm having great sucess with what I've learned from this book.

Not being particularly artistic, but wanting to tackle some projects to make my home 'mine', I went searching for some books to help. I didn't expect to find such a wonderful book! The instructions are clear, step-by-step and (luckily for me) extremly easy to follow. The illustrations are lovely, and at the same time, very instructional. What I liked most was that the author gave you plenty of ideas and inspiration, so that you could take her instructions and design your own creations - what fun!

My goal with my book Quick & Easy Decorative Painting was to give clear instructions so that beginner could understand, I believe that with the help of the wonderful pictures in this book we have accomplished our goal... The projects in this book are mostly inexpensive items that are easily found in local arts and craft stores. I hope you enjoy this book. Peg

This is the first book I bought when I started learning this amazing craft. It has beautiful illustrations and pictures (in color), which really show some of the techniques better than you can describe them. It is short and to-the-point, but I did eventually buy a more detailed book. But this one remains the one that I check back with to answer quick questions! Definitely worth the money!

I am a beginner and I'm teaching myself. This book was very helpful in teaching me how to begin. It also has a lot of nice designs that I was not afraid to try. I found this book very helpful in getting started.