Color and light

A Guide for the Realist Painter

Paperback, 222 pages

English language

Published Jan. 21, 2010 by Andrews McMeel.

ISBN:
978-0-7407-9771-2
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OCLC Number:
555648023

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From New York Times best-selling author of the Dinotopia series, James Gurney, comes a carefully crafted and researched study on color and light in paintings. This art instruction book will accompany the acclaimed Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn't Exist.

James Gurney, New York Times best-selling author and artist of the Dinotopia series, follows Imaginative Realism with his second art-instruction book, Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter. A researched study on two of art's most fundamental themes, Color and Light bridges the gap between abstract theory and practical knowledge. Beginning with a survey of underappreciated masters who perfected the use of color and light, the book examines how light reveals form, the properties of color and pigments, and the wide variety of atmospheric effects. Gurney cuts though the confusing and contradictory dogma about color, testing it in the light of science and observation. A glossary, …

1 edition

Perfect for explaining... our perception of the world, really!

While I personally do not consider myself to be a necessarily "realist" painter, I will nonetheless seek out a variety of books, including ones on realism. Still, I found the book to be surprisingly pleasant to read despite it containing mostly technical information. The key points that I've loved: - explaining the complexities of light transmission, refraction, and reflection - "You are always painting light" - having a full, lightfast pigment table for traditional painting (& thus, being able to kind of re-create it digitally) - being very in-depth, without being extremely technical (very good recommendation for beginners!) - explaining each concept that could go into any possible piece

This list is non-exhaustive, of course, as I would hate to just explain the whole book in one review. The language is simply just light enough where it's super easy to pick up, which is wonderful! Additionally, I think I'll …

Subjects

  • Color in art
  • Light art
  • Technique
  • Painting
  • Realism in art
  • Non-fiction
  • Art Education
  • Art

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