How to Paint: A Course in the Art of Oil Painting

Rating:
Summary: I feel like I can be a teacher of art after reading this!
Review: Found this book in my local library and dind't want to return it. I don't really like Gloria Foss's paintings, but she is an amazing teacher. Very well structered, clear, very detailed, covers everything that seemed so confusing to me before. It gave me so much confidence, that I feel like I can be a teacher of art now. It's expensive, but it's the only book you need. It covers media, tools, drawing, perspective, color theory, 3-dimensional shadowing, composition, design and everything is easily understandable. The chapter on design gave me more information than a course in interior design that I took.

Rating:
Summary: I'm buying it!
Review: I got this book out of the library among many other techniques books in various mediums on painting, composition, drawing, color theory, and this one is the best and most clearly comprehensive one I've read. Pricey, but I am buying it as a reference book.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent reference book for beginner or advanced.
Review: It's not often one finds a book that is this usefull. Filled with good advice and examples, color and B&W, that would be usefull to beginning or experienced painters. This book refrains from trying to teach a particular style of painting. Rather it covers subjects of interest to all painters in oil. I am primarily an acrylic painter but that has never detracted from the usefullness of this book. There are chapters on structural drawing, perspective, modeling, basic and advanced color theory, composition and design, color in landscape, even "Practical concerns for the emerging artist." The color theory chapters are particularly good, with examples and exhaustive color tables to help one learn one of the most difficult parts of painting, the use of color. One may or may not like Foss's style of painting, but this book is designed to help you learn the techniques that will allow you to find your own style.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent reference book for beginner or advanced.
Review: It's not often one finds a book that is this usefull. Filled with good advice and examples, color and B&W, that would be usefull to beginning or experienced painters. This book refrains from trying to teach a particular style of painting. Rather it covers subjects of interest to all painters in oil. I am primarily an acrylic painter but that has never detracted from the usefullness of this book. There are chapters on structural drawing, perspective, modeling, basic and advanced color theory, composition and design, color in landscape, even "Practical concerns for the emerging artist." The color theory chapters are particularly good, with examples and exhaustive color tables to help one learn one of the most difficult parts of painting, the use of color. One may or may not like Foss's style of painting, but this book is designed to help you learn the techniques that will allow you to find your own style.

Rating:
Summary: Teach yourself to paint
Review: The writter has successfuly bring a live a classroom lesson as well as a complete guide to deal with oil painting. I've read a few other similiar book and this book had demostrate a true dedication to education than just oil painting for hobbies. I had a wonderful time reading it and learning to paint. I hope to own a copy of this book as my own.