Romantic Oil Painting Made Easy

Rating:
Summary: Exciting and Worth Much More...
Review: As a painting instructr, it is a joy for me to find work that thrills the class and instructs so well. Roberts mastery of simple, minimum color, a 'mother color' and exciting brushwork and well as his own enthusiasm and romantic leaning, makes using his well written book, a delight.
We actually hummed while painting! Well written. Filled with colored "how to" photos. Overflowing with step by step photos and instructions. Beautiful, large photos of completed paintings. The best instruction book I own...I have every book he has written. A must if you want instruction, how-to photos , an exciting approach to impressionism, all the help you need and a full understanding of Mr. Hagans work. As an added plus, his brushes are easy to locate and so inexpensive you won't believe it! A high praise, I know. I recommend it happily.

Rating:
Summary: His paintighs are amazing
Review: Hagan is without question one of the top painters that come from Australia. The book title "Romantic Oil Painting Made Easy" may be however a bit decieving. You have to understand that it is made easy for Mr. Hagan because of many years of drawing, painting and a great talent. He shows in steps how he painted some of his art, what source photos he used, what he was thinking about each step and what needs to be done in order to have picture that holds together. Don't think of this as a "step by step how to paint...". It is a view into artist mind and very worth the trip.
Other great artists that deal with modern impressionism and contemporary realism are australian watercolorist Joseph Zbukvic or american Pino.

Rating:
Summary: The art and science of landscape
Review: I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is having a little trouble getting started painting. Classes are fine, if you can find a teacher who doesn't just plop a model or still life in front of you and tells you to have at it. Books and videos are helpful (especially the ones by Helen Van Wyk), but most assume some prior knowledge of painting or drawing.

This book breaks down the complex business of oil painting by suggesting a palette which is both manageable and gorgeous. Hagan's palette will save you a lot of money and wasted time. It is not the usual palette suggested by most books; it will give you a huge jump start and prevent a lot of disasters. He also greatly simplifies the matter of brushes. But best of all, he actually explains the SCIENCE of landscape. There is a perfectly logical scientific approach to painting any landscape which will work every time you apply it, in every instance. I am astonished that after years of studying art, I have never seen this explained quite this way before. It works, too. I learned more in my first half hour with this book than I have learned in ages.

Lastly, don't let the "Romantic" word in the title fool you into thinking the author paints like Thomas Kinkade. Even if you don't wish to emulate the author--I certainly don't--his explanations of atmospheric phenomena and good, solid instruction of procedures will facilitate the expression of your own authentic work.