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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: $20.99
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Avg. Customer Rating:  (17 reviews)
Sales Rank: 29830
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
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:
| Showing reviews 16-17 of 17 | | « PREV | | |
 Deceptively titled volume is also incomplete. August 28, 2007
42 out of 71 found this review helpful
This book suffers from two flaws, the lesser of the two being an inaccurate and misleading title and the other, more serious, flaw a major omission.
The first error lies in the subtitle which includes the phrase "Advanced Techniques and Concepts" but the techniques and concepts found in this book's ten chapters for the most part are rudimentary and intermediary level instruction with a sprinkling of, at best, advanced level information. What's offered is well researched and presented. Mr. Elliot is clearly well versed in the subject and the text covers most of the basics well, but the information here cannot be considered in any way advanced. This book would serve as a good primer on traditional painting except for its other flaw, a fatal flaw in my opinion, which is that it practically ignores the most challenging subject found in traditional art training: drawing and painting from the nude human figure, also know as "working from life"
The mastery of the nude is an absolute necessity, thus learning to draw and paint the human figure is the cornerstone of traditionally training, yet this vital subject is given barely a mention here - twice if I recall correctly; not only is working from the nude given short shrift in the text, only three paltry illustrations of what can be considered nudes are reproduced here: two of which are depictions of corpses, "The Entombment" by Peter Paul Rubens & "The Anatomy Lesson of Doctor Nicolaes Tulp" by Rembrandt, while the third is a tiny reproduction of a demur drawing by Bouguereau titled "Love's Resistance." I'm stunned that anyone would have the audacity to ignore the very pinnacle of traditional training. As Juliette Aristides writes in her book CLASSICAL DRAWING ATELIER "The heart of the atelier curriculum is drawing [and painting] from life...." This book cuts out that heart and attempts to transplant portraiture in its place with no explanation as to why. In my opinion this prudish self censoring renders this book practically worthless and I returned my copy to Amazon.
Perhaps I overreact, but I take the subject seriously so I can`t recommend this book.
FS
 A brilliant book August 9, 2007
27 out of 27 found this review helpful
For artists pursuing high quality art this is for you.
This book is technically correct, fully researched and invaluable in a genre where a lot of the books are light on information.
Virgil Elliott manages to communicate the real methods used by masters - past and present. Not an easy feat. He has disseminated quality knowledge with brevity. There is a no nonsense handling in his voice that is packed with experience which makes easy reading for anyone with an inclination for the brush.
What I particularly like about the book is its' detailed and straightforward information backed by visual demonstration. You won't find much irrelvant information here. This man knows what he's talking about and communicates so, par excellence.
The picture quality and choice of selection is revealing and appropriate making them relevant to his discussions.
If there can be any fault found and I don't think this is incredibly bad, the author just doesn't tell you how to paint an apple, or a jug or flower, which if you've come this far in your quest for artistic quality-you probably don't need to be told again.
Really this book is a classic and is destined to become an essential resource for students and professional painters alike. Virgil Elliot's years of experience and practical reasoning are apparent in the quality of writing. I thoroughly recommend it. It is a MUST have.
To add, for fans of the great William Bourguereau there is also a section and demonstration of his method-a GREAT credit to the author for this - I have never come across this generosity before.
Virgil Elliott has stripped away the layers and given it all to you here.
Well done.
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