Product Description
For beginners to advanced artists who have been struggling with color, this remarkable new book explains and illustrates how to understand color theory and master the use of color. Written in cooperation with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Color Wheel Company, Color Is Everything is a must-read for any painter, art teacher or craft enthusiast who wants to capture color harmony in every painting, regardless of style or medium. It is written in a concise yet conversational manner and very easy to follow. Author/artist Dan Bartges sums it up best: This book is designed with one purpose in mind: to show painters exactly how to master color. As a result, you will gain greater confidence, you will paint better pictures, and you will have a lot more fun painting.

The unusually high-quality book features more than 100 full-color illustrations, photographs and paintings by the author. Further, it clearly explains what great artists know about color that most painters don t and demonstrates with master works by famous artists such as Degas, Picasso, de Kooning, Sisley, Goya, Sargent and others. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Small but Mighty
Great little book. Has excellent color information for the beginning artist & a great refresher for those that tend to stray into the muddy side. Amazon does it again!

Color is everything...but the binding is CRAP
The binding of this book is CRAP! What saved the book from getting a 1 or less...it is a good "hands-on" guide for learning how color works. I don't know why no one failed to mention the manufacturing binding flaw or perhaps I was just the only unlucky reader. After handling it for 10 minutes pages 1 through 14 fell off the binding!!!

An outstanding practical guide...goes right to the point.
I have taken several color theory classes and I can not denied that you always learn something new, especially with beginers.I was amazingly surprised with this book in the way that answered all my questions and made me able to choose mine color scheme and judge any painting in from of me.I have visited the most of Europe's museums and could tell when something is wrong but I did not know the specific reason. Now I do

Color Theory in Plain English
Dan Bartges believes that all artists, from beginners to masters, can benefit from more grounding in color theory.The most common artistic errors come not from a lack of form, but from mishandled colors.And this short but detailed guide tells you how to mix paints, how to use the color wheel, and how to arrange colors in energetic, eye-catching relationships.

My own painting course dedicated just one ninety minute class to color theory.I spent most of that trying to fathom why my every attempt to blend yellow turned into a muddy greenish brown.But Bartges' straightforward, practical-minded pedagogy of color is natural enough that even this art school dropout can savvy the exercises with enough time and practice.

This is emphatically not a complete painting course.It is about color, nothing more.Nevertheless, I wish my professor had been this thorough.Bartges includes steps for beginners to set up a studio, gesso paper for plein-air painting, and turn a sheet of foamcore, a piece of plate glass, and some masking tape into a professional quality palatte.

More than this book will be needed to make an artist out of me.But this book fills a gap in art pedagogy that my professor slid over.Artists need to know how to use, balance, and understand color, and Bartges teaches this without needless jargon or art school ephemera.Beginners and mature painters alike should study this simple guide to color theory.

Great guidance for anyone who uses color
Sometimes the biggest difference between a mediocre painting and a truly spectacular one is the artist's choice of color. In Color Is Everything, Dan Bartges demystifies this important technique, and shows us how to choose a color scheme for our paintings.

Working with a basic color wheel, he shows us how to use it to maximum advantage. Whether we decide on an analogous, split complementary, tetrad, or another specified combination, we can be sure we've chosen the right colors if we follow his simple directions.

Once Bartges explains these combinations, he then shows us how master painters used them in their own creations. We're then encouraged to try to replicate their results, so we can develop this color sense for ourselves.

If you're interested in creating master works of art, and you've never explored the use of color, you will find this book a valuable tool. I'd also highly recommend it for anyone who wants to be sure they choose the most appealing colors for anything from painting the living room to crafting a bedroom quilt. These techniques will ensure your color scheme is the best it can be.

Reviewer: Alice Berger ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Okay, But A Bit Outdated
An illustration student, I got this book thinking that it would prove useful for all types of techniques. However, not only is a lot of the information outdated, most of the methods are given only a few pages of description. I was most interested in what he had to say about gouache but there were only one or two pages dedicated to the medium.

Honestly, I was going to say that this book is a good idea for people who have very minimal knowledge of the subject, but it's such a quick introduction that I think anyone, even beginners, would do well to pick up a more in-depth manual. It definitely doesn't deserve the title of "Bible".

Basic techniques and rather amateurish work
I applaud the author's willingness to give back and to share, because I know writing books is generally no very lucrative.However, the techniques in this text are all merely snippets of tricks and tips that are far outdated and provide nothing in the way of practical application.If tricks and tips is what you're after, you'd be better served with Encyclopedia of Illustration Techniques or one of the Parramon titles.And the art itself is, I'm afraid to say, rather amateurish.I read in the intro that the author is a professional illustrator.And if that's so then I would be a bit embarrassed at the student-level work published in the text.If you are looking for real-world, meat and potatoes illustration instruction there are many, many titles better suited.Every medium and every possible genre are well represented here on Amazon.Skip the "Bible".Because it definitely isn't.And considering its hugely misnamed title, in light of the quality of the information provided, I felt it was only fair to other readers to give this book the lowest possible score.

Damn near indispensable
I got this book many years ago, and I still use it today. It's definitely one of the best, if not the best art book I've ever gotten. These are the old school techniques, prior to digital art. I'll admit that digital art is amazing, but I would not recommend throwing away all the old materials, as you may be able to discover a technique that no one else is currently using.
This book is very practical and dense with valuable information. I highly recommend it.

Not what I was needing.
As an art book, this book is very good, but I was looking for tips on how to illustrate a book. The title led me to believe that it was covered in the content, but alas... not so. There are some helpful sections of different type of art mediums and an artist or art student would find it very helpful.

old and crappy
This book is a bit outdated now.
The author of this book currently has a brand of his own paints and materials.He's so caught up on materials and your hands, that he doesnt teach to use your brain or eyes.He's one of those types that's obsessed with finding out the "secret" Maroger medium, the ratio of oil:pigment in old masters paintings, etc.
I dont know how anyone can think that using Raphaels' paints will make you paint like Raphael.It's like putting on Jerome Bettis' football pads and thinking you'll weigh 265 and run faster than a cheetah.It's not going to happen.

He's also big on slavishly copying photographs.I guess that's how a lot of illustrators think, though.

Compare this to books by the golden age illustrators; like Loomis, Rockwell, Leyendecker. . . even guys like Hogarth.They focus little on materials and "techniques," and teach more about learning to think and see.


In the end, you have to realize that Michelangelo could have painted the Sistine ceiling with a mop and a bucket of mud, and it would have been just as well done.Learn the basics of materials (which you can just find online), and find someone who will teach you to think. ... Read more

Product Description
Even the most talented artist runs into problems every once in a while.In The Artist's Problem Solver, 10 well-known professional artists look at some of the most common problems that leisure painters face and explain how to tackle them in a practical and straightforward way.

This guide addresses numerous topics including how to create a sense of space and depth in a picture, how to use color effectively, how to paint a convincing sky and many more!All the main painting media-watercolors, oils, pastels and acrylics-are covered, ensuring that every artist will find this book invaluable. ... Read more

Product Description
An excellent book of instrctions and step-by-step color worksheets that will teach you how to paint. The theme of the book is children. Includes tole techniques by Hauser. ... Read more

Product Description
Country Pathways 3 provides a wide variety of subjects from an Irish cottage to a county church, Victorian fans, and seasonal scenes. Palettes given for both oil and acrylic. Eleven projects are included in this book.(from this website: www.annettedozier.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=18) ... Read more

Product Description
Oversize Paperback (10 1/4" by 13 3/4") 16 pages in color. NO publication date. Price sticker on front is for $1.00. Suggested postage is $0.15. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

acrylic landscapes
I did not find a lot of useful information in this book. I own all of the rest of Jerry Yarnell's books so perhaps I am spoiled! ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

THe beginners Guide for Acrylics
Good information but for me not worth the cost.The step by step finished paintings were of no interest to me therefore I just couldn't even attempt them.I was disappointed but am keeping the book because it does have some good information.It seems that I am accumulating lots of info but not enough step by step subjects of interest.

Passable
Your porduct was passable but rather steep a price to pay for a
struggling artist.Delivery was very prompt and all kudos to
Amazon .com for that.

great book
This book is great for the begginner in acrylic painting. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

An Indispensable Guide
For those in need of a visual guide to mixing colors, this a terrific reference. The mixes presented are simple two-color combinations and run the entire spectrum. It can also help to minimize the number of colors in your basic palette...sometimes less really is more. Compreshensive, well organized and easy to use. A handy and highly recommended guide!

color mixing
Excellent book. well presented & easy to understand. Each color is individually explained on how to mix to desired colors. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Nice and well explained, very enjoyable
Very good book. I enjoyed very much to work according to the clear instructions and beautiful designs. I recommand this book. ... Read more

Product Description
TREES AND HOW TO PAINT
THEM IN WATERCOLOURS

Calling all Artists and Painters, do you have trouble painting trees and foliage?
Do your paintings never seem to look right?
Are you spending hours painting leaves only for your paintings to STILL look lifeless and flat?

Well help is at hand with this BRAND NEW Ebook ........

TREES and HOW to paint them in Watercolours!

Learn how to paint . . .

* The Oak Tree
* The Beech Tree
* The Willow Tree
* The Elm
* The Ash &
* The Scotch Fir

Learn which brushes, paints and pencils are best and why.
Learn how to build up your paintings piece by piece to acheive the results you really want.
Learn what to draw or paint and what NOT to draw or paint and why!

Learn how to get your paintings right from the beginning and transform your painting skills. This ebook includes many two-stage pictures showing you exactly HOW to paint trees properly. It also includes black and white close up sketches of each trees individual leaves.

This is an excellent BRAND NEW ebook designed to help you get the most out of painting trees to enable you to become a better artist! ... Read more

Product Description
Nobody ever said that oil painting was easy. But it gets much easier and a lot more fun when you follow a step-by-step approach that starts you off on the right foot, helps you build your skills one at a time, and gives you plenty of exercises to develop your craft. That’s what you’ll find in Oil Painting For Dummies.

Completely free of arty jargon, this full-color guide has all the hands-on instruction you need to master the basics. You’ll see how to plan a painting, build an image in layers, mix colors, and create stunning compositions. You’ll also find everything you need to know about oil paints, solvents, and pigments; brushes, palettes, and painting surfaces; and how to keep costs down at the art supply store. Discover how to:

• Choose the right supplies
• Set up your studio and care for your equipment
• Handle your materials safely
• Develop your design and composition skills
• Make practice sketches and studies
• Use broken stroke, dry brush, glazing, scraffito and other brush strokes
• Try out different compositions
• Mix any color you want
• Simplify tricky still-life subjects
• Paint landscapes and common objects out doors
• Paint portraits and the human form

Complete with handy color chart, basic materials list, and a very useful viewing square, Oil Painting For Dummies is the fun and easy way to discover your inner artist! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Oil Painting for Dummies
Didn't care for.Typical for Dummies Book.Lost interest and never finished reading it.

Oil Painting For Dummies
This is the first time I've ever read a book related to Art, I have taken online cources, I have being in art school before. Everyone goes at it very roughly with their own ways of teaching. This book is great, If you want to learn the proper ways in simple steps at a time!!! Nothing is left over, She'll walk you through all the way to the end. Very good book.

A Perfect Start
This book should be everyone's first instructional text regarding oil painting! I can't think of another "how to" book on the subject that is even close to offering as much, and in such an easy to understand manner. Granted, once you have "mastered" this issue, you will need to go deeper somewhere else. The only downside is the title and humiliating cover that everyone on the street recognizes (you don't want to walk in the front door of your local Museum of Modern Art with one of these beauties under your arm!) - if you are a beginner, amateur, or it has been a long time since you picked up a brush....buy it, you'll love it, it is probably exactly what you have been looking for.

Oil Painting for Dummies
Have never ever had a chance to use oil paints...It was very informative, however, at times I was getting confused when reading (terminology)!Have yet to buy the paints but do have some sort of clue what to buy and what to do when I get them.It's just like drawing I would guess!The more you practice the better you'll get!!

Great oil Painting technique book
I have purchased many teaching books on oil painting, but certainly like the way this one is written.It teaches step by step and doesn't leave out the information that is (suppose) to be understood.It was a great purchase.

I purchased this through Amazon and found it to be a great source. ... Read more