Expressive Oil Painting: An Open Air Approach to Creative Landscapes

by George Allen Durkee

Become a Landscape PainterThere's a world of difference between painting what you see and conveying what you feel. "Expressive Oil Painting" shows you how to create engaging landscapes that capture a sense of light, depth, movement and above all, your own unique impressions of the world around you.

Within "Expressive Oil Painting," discover: Fundamental concepts of oil painting—including supplies, work habits, drawing, color and composition--explained in a friendly, straightforward wayA diverse sampling of ideas and approaches for painting landscape elements, capturing mood, painting en plein air, simplifying the complexity of nature and determining reference valuesNine in-depth landscape painting demonstrations illustrating techniques from basic to advanced Whether you're working on location or from reference photos, this book will empower you to pain light on your feet," improvising according to the needs of each particular subject and the conditions of the moment. With nature as your inspiration and this book as your guide, you'll find your way straight to the heart of landscape painting, bringing greater sensitivity, intuition and authenticity to your work."

Genres: Art

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Peter Herrmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

The artwork merits 5-stars (imho), but I only gave the book 3-stars because I find - after borrowing 'how to paint' books (be it acrylics, oils, pastels) from the library over a few years - that they are almost impossible to learn from (at least for me). Although the tips/rules are usually relevant (i.e. make distant objects softer, cooler; etc., etc.), they all have that info. And there are often exceptions to these rules. But the big problem is that to follow along as the author develops a painting is just frustrating because my own output doesn't look even close to the author's. Maybe some people just need classroom instruction ... or have to develop on their own. (The same applies - with a few superb exceptions - to trying to learn from youTube videos). I have learned much from books on drawing (as opposed to painting), because they contain not just tips/rules (i.e. re perspective, shading), but the examples are direct enough (unambiguous enough?) to follow. I will no longer be trying to learn how to paint from books. It also feels like many of the how-to books on painting are mostly a showcase for the (superb) artwork of the authors - which artwork, if you are reading such books - you can never come close to.

[Nigel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not really an oil painter, or planning to paint with oils anytime soon, but I just really fell in love with the paintings inside that I really have to have it!