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MIGHTY ART DEMOS and TUTORIALS
Previously Featured Books with Great Demos |
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Medium: Colored Pencil Wendy Hollender is one of the nation’s leading experts in the field, and is the coordinator of botanical art and illustration at the New York Botanical Garden, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and the National Tropical Botanical Garden. Hollender starts with an overview of the field of botanical drawing, and introduces colored pencils and other materials. She then takes them into the realm of plant life that is rendered scientifically accurate yet artistically too. Hollender arranges each lesson to increase in complexity to build skills smoothly and securely. She also refines the instruction so that it can be naturally absorbed by artists with very different skills and art backgrounds. This is a well thought out book, beautifully illustrated, designed and printed. Recommended wholeheartedly. |
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A Basic Guide to Mastering Realistic Form and Naturalistic Color
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Medium: Pastel Richard McKinley is one of the most knowledgeable and well-regarded teachers of landscape today whether through plein air workshops or through his books and columns. In this book he focuses on presenting fundamental principles of portraying landscape whether in pastel or any other art medium. A great teacher knows what the student artist wants to know, and he explains and illustrates the answers to these questions. Highly recommended. Read more details and reader comments about his book, Pastel Pointers, on Amazon The tutorial we've selected from his book clearly explains and demystifies "Aerial Perspective." Read Richard McKinley's tutorial and his "simple order of influence: cooler, lighter, and finally softer." |
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Medium: Oil Brian Gorst's book, first published in 2003, continues to be a virtually definitive reference for beginning and more advanced artists. Each two-page spread bristles with exciting and skillful instruction and illustrations. A painting of daffodils in a glass vase included in Gorst's book was demonstrated by Kim Williams. It took about four hours to complete using an alla prima, or direct painting, technique. SEE THIS STEP-BY-STEP DEMO |
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Medium: Oil Painting
Category: From simple landscapes, still lifes and flower paintings to more challenging animals, seascapes and portraits Demonstrations: Many mini demos; 12 step-by-step painting projects by Mark Willenbrink; a 98-minute DVD of two demos is also included This book is the Willenbrink's' third in their successful "absolute beginners" series. It focuses on the needs of the first-time painter covering everything from sorting out materials--including non-toxic choices--to learning about art principles and practicing basic oil painting techniques. The last half of the book helps the reader make it all tangible with hands-on painting projects. The Willenbrinks project a genuine quality of wanting the reader to suceed in painting with oil. Mark Willenbrink takes the beginning oil painter through nine simple steps for creating "Still Life with Pears."SEE THIS DEMO-PROJECT |
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Medium: Watercolor
This book is about the lushness of using pure color side by side in much the same way as the Impressionists did to create light-filled and luminous artwork. The authors have put together an expert instructional book that covers art concepts and techniques that they feel are essential for painting light! The demos are projects--you are invited to paint along.
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Medium: Pastel pencil and soft pastel In this book illustrator and fine artist William L. Maughan provides authoritative instruction in using the technique of chiaroscuro, light and shade, to model form. Its focus is on the head but this centuries-old technique may be applied to any element where a striking and effective three-dimensional effect is desired. Highly recommended as a best source for this invaluable technique. --BB Read about The Artist's Complete Guide to DRAWING THE HEAD on Amazon |
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Medium: Watercolor Soon Warren's teaching and exquisite art demonstrations of still lifes featuring flowers and ornate accessories and patterns in her first book are well known and enjoyed. She expands her repetroire in this second book, to include such other subjects as landscapes, animals and wildlife. And these too are characterized by her keen designer's eye for the dramatic, and her spare and quiet way of explaining each step from beginning to finish. The teaching format for this book is project oriented. Soon Warren writes: "As you look at these demonstrations and consider my instructions, always remember that you are the owner of your personal creativity and individuality. It is up to you to apply these ideas in the context of your own work to make them uniquely yours." |
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Medium: Oil George Allen Durkee has a blend of two voices in this helpful and inspirational book: First he walks in swinging with the nuts and bolts of composition, draftsmanship, color mixing--basic and reliable approaches to constructing art. And then he speaks with a gentler and nurturing voice that threads throughout the lessons: "Don't paint by formula; look deeply. As you gain understanding, painting will become an intimate dialogue with Nature. She will say, "I am this," and with brush in hand you will reply, "And I feel this." |
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Medium: Oil over Acrylic Julie Gilbert Pollard paints what she feels, and does this through the use of expressive, emotive color. And as spontaneous as her artwork appears, it is backed up with a methodical use of solid color principles, and a special concentration on color value. Beginning with a fully illustrated explanation of how color can contribute to vibrant artwork, Pollard then lays out for readers how to achieve brilliant and eye-filling color through 10 step-by-step projects with detailed captions. Each project focuses on a specific color lesson. She also offers her own three ways to begin an oil painting with acrylics. Highly recommended. All projects include a traceable template for the reader to use. DEMO: This project is of a bold and colorful garden scene in Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC; begins with a toned ground; and a template to follow And here is the full listing for Julie Gilbert Pollard's book, Brilliant Color, on Amazon |
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Medium: Acrylic Animals in projects are: an african elephant, alligator, alpha male wolf, black bear, bull elk, giraffe, golden eagle, leopard, male lion polar bear, red fox, sea lion, swan, tiger, and a young buck deer. What sets this book apart from others on painting animals is that William Silvers doesn't idealize his subjects and their environments. He presents wildlife in landscapes that are sometimes partially obscured, dusty or midnight-dark. The visual effect is a blend of heightened reality and drama. The emotional effect is riveting. To illustrate his unusual approach, here is his demo-project of Silent Stalker, a leopard in a dark and mysterious scene with only small shafts of light breaking through the upper forest canopy to reveal this predator hunter. Read Amazon's full description of Painting Realistic Wildlife in Acrylic by William Silvers |
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Medium: Charcoal Category: Drawing/Composition Demonstrations: Generous mini-demos throughout The second part of Bradley's book is devoted to drawing the clothed figure stressing the importance of rendering fabric folds correctly. Her emphasis on how fabric works on the human form is often overlooked in books on figure drawing and may propel this book to classic status. Highly recommended for Bradley's valuable expertise and genial voice in its writing. Over 600 black and white illustrations. HER TUTORIAL breaks down the types of folds into categories and illustrates how each one is rendered. READ ABOUT Barbara Bradley's book, Drawing People: How to portray the clothed figure, on Amazon |
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Medium: Oil Category: Landscape/Seascape, Still Life, and Figure Demonstrations: 7 in all -- 5 mini-demos (3-and 4--step), and two major indepth demos. This is a fully developed and authoritative book on working as a colorist. McMurry conveys through her instructional narrative and with over 100 illustrations in oil what are often complex and elusive color concepts. Her painting style is passionate, and rich with emotive color. Highly recommended. DEMO: Vicki McMurry begins her work, "I toned the canvas with a thin wash of Ultramarine Blue + Cadmium Red Light, wiping off any excess turpentine. I used a darker version of that mixture to sketch."...Follow her working process as she demonstrates the use of a limited 6-color palette while painting Rapture. |
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Medium: Watercolor, Acrylic Category: Floral Demonstrations: 20 in all -- 1 demo in "The Basics" unit; 4 in "The Techniques" unit; 15 in The Demonstrations" section. In this book she also reveals her special technique for using final acrylic glazes to heighten watercolor effects (see below). See Mary Backer's tutorial illustrating how use of a final acrylic glazing step can add dramatic color intensity to a traditional watercolor painting. |
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Medium: Oil Category: Portrait, Figure, Still Life, Landscape Demonstrations: One 2-step demo on color blocking; 4 major demos from 13- to 21-steps in portrait, figure, still life and landscape |
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A Contemporary Guide to Traditional Direct Painting
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Follow Al Gury's thinking and progress as he develops strong plane and color temperature changes in a vigorous and sculptural portrait. A 13-step demo-tutorial.
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Medium: Watercolor Category: Figure, Landscape Demonstrations: Nine 3-step demos; one 11-step demo Charles Reid's painting style appears loose but is grounded in a structured and disciplined practice of first making a "modified" blind contour drawing, enabling him to understand the shapes, values and relationships in his subject and background. See the listing of Charles Reid's Watercolor Solutions: Learn to Solve the Most Common Problems on Amazon |
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An excellent source book for further exploration of the contour drawing technique is the famous classic,
The Natural Way to Draw |
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Medium: Acrylic Category: Animal/Wildlife, Landscape and Still Life Demonstrations: 39 Demos by Elin Pendleton, Pablo Dominguez, Rod Lawrence, Nathan Rohlander and Tom Swimm; 4 mini-demos and additional illustrations by Ken Goldman and Lori Lohstoeter. |
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Medium: Pastel
Category: Still Life, Landscape, Figure and Portraits Demonstrations: 4 Demos Larry Blovits' four process demonstrations highlight his thoughts and decisions as he takes the reader with him while developing each painting. He is a master teacher. His instruction is based on classical art principles and a lengthy experience working with pastels. Blovits is a dedicated communicator, holds nothing back, and seems to anticipate students' questions as he paints. --BB If you've taken reference photos of knock-out scenes, and have been surprised at how undramatic the result appears as a photo, see this snippet from Blovits' book (below): |
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| See a full pastel painting develop from lay-out to spectacular finish |
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Medium: Watercolor
Category: Still Life Demonstrations: 11 short exercises and 10 step-by-step demos Recommended for artists with some watercolor experience. But beginners too will likely be inspired and motivated by Faulknor's elegantly realistic artwork. --BB |
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Medium: Watercolor with lots of water Category: Floral Demonstrations: 15 step-by-step demos and 10 exercises; book includes 50 minute instructional DVD Using dramatic close-up flower imagery Birgit O'Connor shows how to create subtle color transitions, hard and soft edges, atmospheric effects, natural highlights and more--all this with a friendly and direct voice. This book will prove useful for the experienced artist as well as the beginner--BB Here is a demonstration by Birgit O'Connor, which reveals the interplay between water and paint that makes her work so dramatic. And see the full listing for O'Connor's Watercolor in Motion on Amazon |
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Medium: Graphite, Ink Category: Children's Book Illustration Demonstrations: A mix of sequential illustrations and mini-demos fills almost every page; over 600 illustrations by author Shulevitz as well as many other well-known children's book illustrators How to Make a Storyboard from Uri Shulevitz's book is demonstrated here The full listing for Writing with Pictures: How to Write and Illustrate Children's Books on Amazon can be seen HERE
And DON'T MISS...Drawing Words and Writing Pictures: Making Comics, Manga, Graphic Novels, and Beyond by Jessica Abel and Matt Madden Read the full listing for this best-selling textbook at Amazon |
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Medium: Watercolor, Pen and Ink Category: Landscape Demonstrations: A mix of mini-demos and full demos on almost every page See how Claudia Nice's demonstration combining loose watercolor and a more controlled ink can produce a spontaneous--and credible--textured landscape. The full listing for Creating Textured Landscapes with Pen, Ink and Watercolor on Amazon.com can be seen HERE. |
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Medium: Pen and Ink Category: Mixed; people and portraits, animals, still life, florals, landscape Demonstrations: Mini-demos, step-by-step projects, and full demos
Read the full listing of Drawing in Pen & Ink by Claudia Nice on Amazon.com HERE
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"From finding inspiration to capturing diaphanous detail, a step-by-step guide to fairy art" Medium: Acrylic, Watercolor Category: Fantasy, Fairies Demonstrations: - 4 projects, 40 constructional demos How to Draw and Paint Fairies is highly recommended for Ravenscroft's original approach to this genre, the variety of media she uses, and the simplicity of her instructional style. Full listing for "How to Draw and Paint Fairies" at Amazon.com |
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Medium: Oil This book works magic. Studying composition may conjure up masterworks overlaid with triangles, arrows, accompanied with arcane explanations. But not here. Author Ian Roberts makes fascinating sense of all this on every single page. And he brings excitement to this reading experience: His bristling expertise and brilliant artwork becomes a pump to engage and inspire beginners seeking a hand-hold in a too often elusive subject. For other artists wanting to refine compositional skills this book can become essential reading. Ian Roberts' fine and highly readable book plus its instructional DVD make this a 5-star recommendation. Here is a demonstration by the author of how eliminating distractions and composing with large simple masses based on value can achieve a painting that is strong and coherent. Check the full listing for Ian Roberts' Mastering Composition on Amazon |
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Medium: Acrylic
Category: Varies Demonstrations: - 26 Demos by Sheaks; 10 additional artists also contributed artwork and technical insights The heart of this book is Barclay Sheaks' 26 demonstrations—two on using materials and tools, four on the basics of painting in this medium, and 20 on the technical processes and looks that acrylics can achieve. Acrylic is one of the most versatile mediums of our time and although this is a wonderful characteristic it can also be a confusing jumble of myths and misinformation. Sheaks writes clearly and with authority about the materials, tools and techniques of this medium. Although he acknowledges the usefulness of acrylics as a craft medium, his emphasis is squarely on its application in fine art. An excellent choice among the current books on acrylic for its potential use in saving the beginner months of time and effort in navigating this medium's many techniques and materials. |
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Medium: Oil
Category: Still Life Demonstrations: 16 Demos This is a book about becoming an oil painter. In addition to its techniques and demonstrations it has a philosophy and it goes something like this: The materials and tools of every medium have their own characteristics. These characteristics ultimately determine how they can best be used, and the effects they tend to produce. Overall Bill Creevy offers two important things: He shows how to understand and navigate the sometimes-bewildering array of paraphernalia, and explains as he discusses and demonstrates oil painting techniques, how materials shape and influence them. The Oil Painting Book will be beneficial to artists new to this medium, as well as to those already working with it. A rare 30-step demonstration of the classic oil glazing technique is especially valuable. Bill Creevy's painting style is sometimes painterly, sometimes realistic but in either style he celebrates the luscious surface complexity for which oil is so well known. As an example of this see his extended alla prima demonstration. Check the full listing for Bill Creevy's The Oil Painting Book at Amazon |
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Medium: Watercolor
Category: Landscape, wildlife Demonstrations: 15 complete demos by Cathy Johnson This book offers a friendly guide to painting the natural landscape and its flora and fauna—en plein air. For many the idea of confronting all of the sensory information Nature presents can be daunting. And if no preparation has been made, the experience can be pretty discouraging. But Cathy Johnson lays out an un-intimidating way to make the trip pleasurable and productive. She begins by sorting out the different things that can be painted out there--from mushrooms and insects to far landscape vistas. She suggests materials for a portable kit and some basics of composing and sketching. Johnson also invites use of a camera for reference shots. The balance of the book is devoted to 15 full demonstrations with lively instruction, tips and notes. A nice touch: different habitats are arranged by chapter. Recommended for the artist already familiar with the basics of watercolor and is now ready for a walk in the woods. Water is fascinating but painting it can be elusive. See a complete demonstration from this book showing how Cathy Johnson accomplishes it in simple elegant steps. Check the full listing of "Creating Nature in Watercolor: An Artist's Guide" at Amazon |
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Medium: Pastel In an unusual beginning for an art instruction book—and before the first chapter--Maggie Price rivets attention with a gallery of inspirational pastel artwork by some of the leading artists in this medium along with her commentaries about the techniques they used. Another unusual feature is that the demonstrations begin in the first chapter—yes, the basic chapter that discusses the materials needed with pastels. Throughout this book in fact, most every concept is illustrated and often with full step-by-step demonstrations. It is these demonstrations and Price's technical expertise that make this book valuable. She and the other nine artists she has gathered together tell a pastel story that is bright and exciting. Highly recommended for its reliable instruction and imaginative strategies in every chapter. |
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Medium: Ink and other drawing media On every page of this book J.C Amberlyn reveals a spirited affection for wildlife of all kinds. Her expert instruction in various drawing media is generous and inspiring. Aimed at all skill levels Amberlyn covers basic animal anatomy, body details and how these parts differ from species to species. Her expertise with animal coats and fur throughout this book is eye opening. She also provides insight into building form and figuring proportions and how to handle negative space, contrast, reflected light and much more. After a thorough introduction Amberlyn provides lively step-by-step demonstrations and mini-demonstrations in still poses and in action. Beautifully put together there are 300 drawings and 60 species of wildlife covered (and indexed). 192 pages. Recommended for artists and naturalists. J. C. Amberlyn shows how to draw a gray wolf in pen and ink in a demonstration from_Drawing Wildlife |
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Medium: Watercolor Anne Abgott offers a way to create color that has great vitality, is stunning and emotive yet doesn't ambush composition or subject. Her instruction describes the elegant technique of mingling color instead of thoroughly mixing color. Beginning with a color review, and how transparency, opacity, granulation and staining qualities relate to her mingling technique, Abgott then explains how this technique is done—step-by-step with 24 knockout demonstrations. An additional inspiring section is dedicated to expanding artistic capabilities with the aid of photo references and tissue overlays. She never recommends copying photos, but instead illustrates her method for refining compositions with these aids. Almost every artist who loves color wants it to have impact and resonance but this often seems just out of reach. Anne Abgott removes barriers and de-mystifies this process with charm and an artist-to-artist rapport. View a demonstration from Anne Abgott's book showing how a neutral gray cast shadow |
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Medium: Watercolor Category: Fantasy/SF Demonstrations: 7 projects by James Browne, This is a book about painting fairies. But it is also about creating art that tells tales. The realm of most artwork that illustrates folklore and mythology embodies extremes—of snow and fire, night and dawn, treetops and roots, plants, fungi, and fairies and goblins. The authors skillfully weave this world of fairy lore with technical instruction and well-paced demonstrations/projects by some of the leading artists of this genre, and with styles ranging from painterly to high realism. Highly recommended for its specific demonstrations by different artists as well as its fascinating overview of the fairy and earth-spirits world. Over 24 artists participated in illustrating this book. See a demonstration by Linda Ravenscroft from Watercolor Fairies |
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Medium: Oil
Category: Animals/Wildlifel Demonstrations: 15 projects including 63 mini-demonstrations Sherry C. Nelson's unique instruction in Painting Songbirds will help you paint birds in oil that have an appealing and tactile realism. The book's first part is aimed at beginners and offers solid and specific advice on the initial concerns of setting up to work in this genre. Yet there are also surprising nuggets for more experienced artists. But the real pay-off is Nelson's way of demonstrating. While using 15 different kinds of birds as subjects, she divides each painting into a series of smaller demonstrations of the bird's separate parts for extra clarity. Her instruction in general is outstanding and her depiction of all kinds of feathers is masterful. But it is that special tactile quality that imbues her artwork of songbirds with heart. |
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Medium: Watercolor
This remarkable book by Soon Y. Warren may save you months of time and effort in painting flowers and the things around them.
Many art instruction books claim to be for all skill levels. This book truly is. A full one third of it begins with solid instruction on the watercolor techniques Warren uses as well as her thinking behind it, and then relates this to some of the characteristics of specific flowers and leaves. Beyond her basic instruction 18 of her demonstrations include fully developed backgrounds with such things as art glass, metallics, textiles, texture, wood, and reflections. Her exotic and dramatic illustrations are large and well photographed and her explanations concise and thoughtful. An excellent choice for step by step instruction at any skill level. |
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A new edition of Robert Henri's revered art classic (originally published in 1923) is now presented in a larger and easier to read format, and with an updated and reconsidered index.
This book states the essential beliefs and theories of a great American teacher, and contains much technical advice and critical comment. Highly recommended for both instruction and inspiration.
I would give anything to have come by this book years ago. It is in my opinion comparable only to the notes of Leonardo and Sir Joshua...One of the finest voices which express the philosophy of modern men in painting." [NOTE: This book doesn't feature demonstrations.] |
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MIGHTY ART DEMOS and TUTORIALS
Copyright 2007-2012 - Richard R. Sands. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. |