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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: $20.53
You Save: $14.47 (41%)
Buy New/Used from $16.93
Avg. Customer Rating:  (17 reviews)
Sales Rank: 12057
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1st
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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| Customer Reviews:
 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.
 Great book Virgil! December 19, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Virgil Elliott's book is a well written and packed with information if you care to take the time to digest it. Although filled with great looking art, this is not just a pretty coffee table art book. The author explains complex concepts in art in concise and well crafted paragraphs. It's obvious that he speaks from a wealth of experience, but to translate it in such an articulate manner is a rare quality. If you are the type of reader that scans the surface, you probably won't like this book. However, if you are looking for a book that is packed with pertinent information about painting and you are willing to slow down and digest it, you will not be disappointed.
Great book! December 18, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
If you're beyond the basic beginners books, serious about your work and have an interest in the classics, then this book is for you. The reproductions are good and are used to great effect illustrating points made in the text.
The chapters include: Aesthetic Considerations, The Eye of the Artist, The Importance of Drawing, Principles of Visual Reality, Colour, Techniques of Painting in Oils, Oil Painting Materials, Portraiture, Landscape Painting and Still Life Painting.
Excellent! Among the best traditional painting texts. December 4, 2007
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Books like this one, similar to Jack Faragasso's "The Student's Guide To Painting", are an invaluable text, both for students undertaking formal training, and for those without access to competent instruction. It covers the basics of classical art and traditional materials, yet also delves into historical methods and materials. In doing so it dispels a lot of the confusion generated by the many self-styled painting gurus that fill the internet today, declaring to one and all that their way is the only way. The truly knowledgeable and honest classical painting teachers and traditional materials suppliers - Ron Garrett and James Groves instantly come to mind - will, no doubt, applaud Mr. Elliot's effort to share his vast, hard-won knowledge of classical realist painting techniques.
Mr. Elliot has distilled the basics - the most important part of classical training - into easily digestible bites and ensures the reader is provided a solid foundation from which to move on to the more advanced topics. The section on working methods and materials of masters from past centuries gives the advanced student a glimpse of the various ways realist art may be successfully approached. And the demonstrations of these historical techniques make it easier for the motivated student to test and fully grasp each, and then take from it what he or she finds worthwhile, based on their own working methods.
No single painting text can possibly cover such a vast subject to the nth degree. There will always be something not covered to someone's satisfaction. I'd imagine an author must choose what's most important to cover within the allotted time and space. And Mr. Elliot has done an admirable job of discerning what most likely is, and is not, important to the intermediate and advanced student of traditional painting. It's one of those books you will refer back to, time and time again, as you progress in your studies and as your ability grows.
Wow November 29, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book contains exactly the information I have been looking for. I quit art school for a term just to focus on painting with direction from this text.
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