Well here’s something refreshingly different. Translated from a French original, this is a look at the more intimate corners of landscapes in an attractively loose style that should suit the British eye. A series of nine demonstrations looks at landscapes and waterscapes, producing really rather charming results that provide a perspective that’s often overlooked.
Author: Jean-Claude Chaillou, Medium: Watercolour, Publisher: New Holland, Subject: Landscape, Subject: Still life, Subject: Waterscape
Once again, David Curtis comes up with a title that’s almost impossible to define, and yet it doesn’t matter. “Impact” could, I suppose, be the quality that grabs your viewer’s attention, and that’s certainly what we want, but how do you achieve it? I was going to say that you won’t find a straight answer here, although there is a section headed “Impact”, which pretty much confirms what I said above. “The degree of impact depends on the skill of the individual artist in selecting, responding to and interpreting ideas” – a deceptively simple statement which could be summed up as, “either you’ve got it or you haven’t”.
The truth, however, is that we all know what impact is, especially in relation to David’s work, because he undoubtedly has it and, if any of his experience is going to rub off, then working through one of his books is the nearest most of us are going to get. Like most of David’s books, this is about the creative process of painting rather than being a detailed instruction manual, but he has much to say and it’s worth hanging on his every word, except when your breath is being taken away by the quality of the illustrations.
David’s work is almost impossible to review. You know you’re in the presence of greatness and, if you like his style, then this latest book isn’t going to disappoint you. Be honest, all I really have to do is tell you it’s available, isn’t it?
Author: David Curtis, Medium: Watercolour, Publisher: Search Press, Subject: Landscape, Subject: Seascape
Mike Bernard’s style is unique and in this, his first book, he shows how he builds up images, starting with a paper collage and then working up the shapes and textures using acrylic paint, inks and other materials. The results are a stunning meeting of the abstract and the representational, with recognisable scenes that are nevertheless constructed from geometric shapes and strong colours that add an artist’s commentary to the finished work.
It’s important to look at the title of the book in full, because this is by no means something about collage itself as the technique is only part of the final result and both the book, and Mike’s style, are about using a number of different tools and techniques in painting.
There’s no doubt that this is a style of working that’s so individual that you’d never want to emulate it completely, but Mike offers many valuable insights into the way he works that you can use to stimulate your own creativity and provide jumping-off points to get yourself started in a wealth of new directions.
Author: Mike Bernard, Medium: Acrylic, Medium: Collage, Publisher: Batsford, Subject: Landscape, Subject: Techniques, Subject: Townscapes
This is clearly a book the publisher expects you to keep by your side and probably get dirty in use. How do I know this? Well, they give you a plastic sleeve for the paperback cover and that’s an additional production expense and publishers HATE those.
OK, so we’ve deduced that it’s something you’ll be referring to as you paint, but does it live up to the implied claim of its title? Well, the subtitle limits its coverage to Landscapes, Flowers and Animals, but that’s still a wide scope. The basic layout is: problem on the left-hand page, solution on the right, so it does follow the by now conventional pattern of the made-up problem, a painting done deliberately badly to illustrate a particular point. I’ve always had reservations about those because I can’t help wondering whether anyone finds them recognisable. That said, if you’re going to say, “most beginners do it like this”, there’s no other way round it really. A score draw on that one, I think.
In terms of coverage, there’s a good balance of both detail and more general work, especially in the landscape section. When we get to flowers and animals, things are a bit more specific and get down to species quite quickly so that you might find your particular bugbear [not a species, ed] doesn’t get covered. If the book has a weakness, this is it. Nevertheless, Trudy is an old hand at the problem/solution approach and she does it well. On balance, I’d say you’ll get much more from this than you’ll miss, which is perhaps faint praise, but it’s very much one you’ll need to make up your own mind about.
David & Charles
Author: Trudy Friend, Publisher: David & Charles, Subject: Animals, Subject: Flowers, Subject: Landscape
This is by no means a book for the beginner, but rather a comprehensive review of landscape painting, for the most part in oils, for the serious student and, as such, it’s to be welcomed.
Most of the book is taken up with a discussion of the process of landscape painting and methods of interpreting different subjects, elements, colours, shapes and lighting patterns. There’s a great deal to read, but it’s punctuated with plenty of illustrations that illuminate the text and never leave you struggling for comprehension. The final section of the book is devoted to a series of demonstration paintings of a good variety of subjects and these are discussed in detail rather than being in the form that could almost be described as painting by numbers.
If you’re a landscape painter and you want a book that takes you as seriously as you take your subject, look no further.
Author: Mitchell Albala, Medium: Oil, Publisher: Watson Guptill, Subject: Landscape
This introduction to fantasy art has the great benefit of simplicity on its side. Stuart Littlejohn has taken what can be a huge subject and distilled it into three very thoroughly illustrated demonstrations that will set you firmly on the right road if you’re just starting out. If you need a little help with the practicalities of the medium, there’s a useful introduction to materials, colour and composition at the beginning, but even more experienced artists will find that the real meat is in the demonstrations.
Author: Stuart Littlejohn, Medium: Watercolour, Publisher: Search Press, Series: Fantasy Art, Subject: Fantasy art, Subject: Landscape
This is another of Search Press’s bind-ups of several titles from the same series. Once again, if you haven’t already got most of the titles included, it’s very good value.
For the record, what you get is:
Painting Landscapes & Nature by Richard Bolton
Painting Skies by Geoff Kersey
Painting Water by Joe Francis Dowden
Painting Flowers & Plants by Janet Whittle
The Tips and Techniques series is aimed at artists who already have a little experience and features specific topics and subjects for them to develop their style and technique. There are step-by-step demonstrations as well as analyses of completed paintings and the whole is nicely balanced.
Author: Geoff Kersey, Author: Janet Whittle, Author: Joe Francis Dowden, Author: Richard Bolton, Medium: Watercolour, Publisher: Search Press, Series: Tips & Techniques, Subject: Landscape
For what’s intended to be a basic introduction, this features some quite complex subjects with a lot of elements, colours and brushwork. The extensive step-by-step photographs that are a feature of this series do a good job of working through the many stages of building up such images, but beginners might find themselves put off by the amount of work involved and the number of things you have to do to achieve the finished result. I can’t help thinking that Search Press have other series where this author might have been put to better use.
However, if you’re already reasonably proficient with oil paints, then you might find that this offers something in that no man’s land between the introduction and the masterclass. It’s not that there isn’t some good stuff here, I’m just not sure who it’s aimed at.
Author: David Crane, Medium: Oil, Publisher: Search Press, Series: How to Paint, Subject: Landscape
The medium of acrylics is increasing in popularity and there is a growing number of books describing techniques both in general and for a variety of subjects. What this one offers is something really rather comprehensive.
It starts with the usual basic introduction to materials and colours, moving on to techniques with some rather useful notes on brushwork before the more familiar bits about shapes, composition and so on. Every book ever written seems to assume that it’s the only book ever written, so this stuff is pretty much inevitable and you just have to pick out anything that’s better than the usual run of the mill or which seems relevant to any specific need that you may have. There’s actually some quite good stuff here, so I’m going to give it 7/10 but with a gold star for being specifically relevant to landscape painting which is, after all the subject of the book.
From this point, after some perhaps carping criticism (but I do see an awful lot of books!), it all gets a whole lot better with sections and exercises on specific landscape elements including clouds, trees, mountains and water. The final section of the book, Putting It All Together, comprises a generous selection of demonstrations which cover just about any type of landscape you’re likely to want to tackle. Although this is an American book, the style won’t be at all alien to a British audience and no translation should be necessary on that score.
As a complete introduction to painting landscapes in acrylics, this is hard to beat.
North Light
Author: Lee Hammond, Medium: Acrylic, Publisher: David & Charles, Publisher: North Light, Subject: Landscape
The Tips & Techniques series provides an excellent variety of extensively illustrated demonstrations frequently focussing on quite a narrow subject area. The advantage of this is that you can pick exactly what you want without having to wade through the author’s obsession with something in which you have no interest, at the same time giving yourself a deep immersion in a single topic.
There’s a good variety of subject matter here and Wendy offers tips covering all the main landscape elements as well as techniques for recession, colour and perspective. Overall, it’s excellent value for money and something you should find yourself coming back to again and again for both advice and inspiration.
Author: Wendy Jelbert, Medium: Acrylic, Publisher: Search Press, Series: Tips & Techniques, Subject: Landscape