The Painter's Craft

by Ralph Mayer

This book "presents the basic background knowledge that any artist must have in order to work. Ralph Mayer explores the widest spectrum of materials, from the ancient encaustic, or waxed~based paint, to the newest synthetics & acrylics, including a full discussion of solvents, thinners, glues, brushes, sprayers, & wood panels."

Genres: Art, Reference

236 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1948

Reviews

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the main two books for Mayer are

Mayer's Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques - Third Edition
and the updated edition of The Painter's Craft

I'm not sure entirely what the differences are, but i've liked the 70s-80s-90s editions more

I wasn't keen on the cheaper paper and production of the later versions of the handbook
but the newer paperback of the painter's craft is the one to get on much nicer paper

If you want to know about pigment chemistry with just text, you get the big Mayer, and if you want crisp black and white 50s style photographs you get the thin large format paperback mayer

[Alessandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a useful book, but somewhat dated.