How I Paint: Secrets of a Sunday Painter

Rating:
Summary: Most inspiring art book I own
Review: This is the best art book I've bought. I love it. Inspiring and informative, it goes through many techniques such as glazing and scumbling in a helpful and achievable way. For the serious art student, I can't recommend it enough. The author presents his material in a clear and easy to understand manner and his writing is encouraging and helpful.
I always put off portrait painting because it seemed so difficult but this book changed my whole perspective. I would recommend it to any struggling or hesitant portrait painter. It's gotten me a lot more serious about my art.
I also have to say that I found the writing style clear and easy the follow. The author doesn't pontificate or put himself on a pedestle and for such a good artist to want to share his learning after a life time of painting, is one of the things that makes this book so good.
Some books you read and give away and others you keep and continue going back too. This is a keeper. I'd give it 10 stars if I could.

Rating:
Summary: Most inspiring art book I own
Review: This is the best art book I've bought. I love it. Inspiring and informative, it goes through many techniques such as glazing and scumbling in a helpful and achievable way. For the serious art student, I can't recommend it enough. The author presents his material in a clear and easy to understand manner and his writing is encouraging and helpful.
I always put off portrait painting because it seemed so difficult but this book changed my whole perspective. I would recommend it to any struggling or hesitant portrait painter. It's gotten me a lot more serious about my art.
I also have to say that I found the writing style clear and easy the follow. The author doesn't pontificate or put himself on a pedestle and for such a good artist to want to share his learning after a life time of painting, is one of the things that makes this book so good.
Some books you read and give away and others you keep and continue going back too. This is a keeper. I'd give it 10 stars if I could.

Rating:
Summary: Unique and Enlightening
Review: Thomas Buechner has written a fine book. The Sunday Painter in the subtitle might make you think this artist is an amateur who paints only occasionally. Actually, he is very professional and now a full time painter after retiring from his career as director of several museums. He conveys to his readers the secrets of layered painting in oils as opposed to alla prima, all-in-one-session painting. He really opened my eyes to the beauty of glazes and scumbling, letting previous layers show through to mix their effects in the eye of the viewer. His insights into atmospheric perspective are unique in all the books I have read and are themselves worth several times the price of this book. This book has expanded my understanding and helped me paint much more vibrant paintings than before. Thank you Thomas Buechner.

Rating:
Summary: Unique and Enlightening
Review: Thomas Buechner has written a fine book. The Sunday Painter in the subtitle might make you think this artist is an amateur who paints only occasionally. Actually, he is very professional and now a full time painter after retiring from his career as director of several museums. He conveys to his readers the secrets of layered painting in oils as opposed to alla prima, all-in-one-session painting. He really opened my eyes to the beauty of glazes and scumbling, letting previous layers show through to mix their effects in the eye of the viewer. His insights into atmospheric perspective are unique in all the books I have read and are themselves worth several times the price of this book. This book has expanded my understanding and helped me paint much more vibrant paintings than before. Thank you Thomas Buechner.

Rating:
Summary: For amateur and professional painter alike.
Review: While Mr. Buechner is hardly a "Sunday Painter", his newest book is captivating and should appeal to the amateur, the beginner and the professional alike. Easy to read, superb illustrations and always entertaining. He tells both how to paint, what to paint, and with what to paint. He is a portrait painter, a landscape painter and a master at stilllife.