I first read this book and tried out some projects from it (out of a total of 24) in 1993 and only purchased a copy for myself as a reference recently.What a treat! Please do not touch (what you see)!
With only 155+ pages, the author thoroughly covered materials (paints, brushes, knives, canvases, mediums), techniques (stretching canvases, brushworks), basic figure proportions (from head to toe), and full figure painting; working in black and white paints; then moved on to colors.
Twenty four projects, working from separate body parts to full figures, going from black and white to colors, are discussed in-length. Different color schemes (based on complexions, such as blonds, red heads, and based on ethnic groups, including western and oriental).
For readers who consider buying this book: The author's techniques involve painting dark-to-light, covering shadow and background in early stages (block-in), then adjusting local colors to achieve appropriate hues and values, finally, going for little details to finish the painting.
If you have actually done some life figure painting in oil, you will appreciate very much the author's analysis on color temperature, light, and shadow. The author's expertise is surely shown in his paintings; these beautiful models have come to live right in front of your eyes.
HAVE YOU NOT BEEN WARNED NOT TO TOUCH!
My final notes, however, are that to most benefit this book, the readers:
- should have a good drawing skill to achieve likeness from a life model. This book does not help if you don't have it
- should read the book and try out some projects
- should apply the guidelines discussed in the book AND paint from REAL MODELS. Only until then will you have a chance to understand the subtleness and beauty of light, color temperature, shadow, as well as techniques presented in the book.
Subconciously, information presented in the book always comes back to me when I am doing life figure painting, to say the least.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
