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| Traditional Oil Painting: Advanced Techniques and Concepts from the Renaissance to the Present | 
 enlarge | Author: Virgil Elliott
Publisher: Watson-Guptill
Category: Book
List Price: $35.00
Buy New: $21.33
You Save: $13.67 (39%)
Buy New/Used from $21.33
Avg. Customer Rating:  (16 reviews)
Sales Rank: 70404
Media: Hardcover
Edition: First Edition
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 224
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.8
Dimensions (in): 11.2 x 9.4 x 0.9
ISBN: 0823030660
Dewey Decimal Number: 751.45
EAN: 9780823030668
ASIN: 0823030660
Publication Date: August 7, 2007
Release Date: August 7, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
As more and more artists today look to the past, there has been a tremendous resurgence of interest in painting realistically--in creating convincing illusions of three-dimensional depth on two dimensional surfaces. How did the Old Masters create their masterpieces? What kind of education allowed these great artists to create such beautiful work, and how can an artist learn these lessons today? Traditional Oil Painting answers those questions and many more. This comprehensive sourcebook explores the most advanced levels of oil painting, with full information on the latest scientific discoveries. Author and distinguished artist Virgil Elliott examines the many elements that let artists take the next step in their work: mental attitude, aesthetic considerations, the importance of drawing, principles of visual reality, materials, techniques, portraiture, photographic images versus visual reality, and color. Traditional Oil Painting helps artists master the secrets of realistic painting to create work that will rival that of the masters.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 11 more reviews...
 Mediocre work May 16, 2008
My impression is based on looking at the pictures on the author's web site. They are wooden and uninspired. He is technically adept in some respects, but altogether is work is not better than that of many art school students. Technique does not make a picture speak. Why even bother with the book?
 Excellent Reference Book March 27, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is not a "how-to" book; it is an excellent reference book to keep within reach when you are working. The older books are so obscure, so difficult to try to understand (I am thinking of the Doerner book in particular) and based on speculation about the techniques and materials used by the masters of the past. Mr. Elliott has kept abreast of discoveries by conservators in the major museums using the most up to date, sophisticated technology; as well as the continuous testing of other experts in various fields (Paint manufacturers) and the ASTM. That is why he can warn about using zinc white; how and when to use the umbers; how to organize your pigments and use them according to their innate characteristics; the safe support to use for your painting; why some paintings from the '70s are falling off the canvas, etc. Again, it is an invaluable reference tool. I think other reviewers have been thinking of it more in terms of a how-to book, rather than as nuts-and-bolts information to bring to your own artwork.
Traditional Oil Painting: A Wonderful Book February 19, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
The book is quite well written with several excellent tips for advanced oil painters and superb illustrations. The author is modest and knowledgeable, sharing insights about the mysteries of painting as well as several practical solutions to composition questions and palette references.
A Very Profound,,Teaching book on Oil painting February 9, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I, have been wanting to purchase Virgil Elliott's Traditional Oil Painting for some time... and I must say,,,it is one of the finest teaching books that I have ever read..Starting to paint later on in my life,,,words cannot express how glad I am that I bought it...It is helping me sooo very much,,,What a Master teacher he is...I highly recomend it to anyone even to those who have been painting for many many years...
Betty Jane Covington
An Excellent Overview But Something's Missing January 3, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Virgil Elliot is an extremely knowledgeable artist who understands painting in the way only an experienced practitioner can. That said, I still found myself wanting more from this book. While it contains an accurate, concise summation of traditional techniques and concepts in oil painting, it does not elaborate on these practices with adequate illustrations.
In his introduction, Virgil Elliot makes clear that he was pressured by the publisher to include demonstrations and samples of his own work against his own inclination to keep the book pure as a reference manual - not a "how-to" book. This is quite evident, as the processes are not very well documented with sufficient photography. Although, I think the publisher was RIGHT to suggest documenting the various historical processes visually through Elliot's hand! I wish he recognized the value of this more. Serious artists ARE plagued by the myriads of amateur how-to books on the market, however, I think Elliot's work is clearly above this mess.
I applaud Elliot's mention of the differences between modern store-bought paint and hand-made paint used by past masters AS WELL AS his discussion on the transparency of pigments. His discussion of the opacity and permanence of pigments is precisely the kind of information I would expect in a book discussing advanced techniques. Back to criticism - in my opinion, the omission of visually well-documented demonstrations of the discussed concepts and techniques are a major flaw in this work. Virgil Elliot is incredibly knowledgeable on the subject of traditional oil painting - I just wish the book contained better visuals.
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