The Big Book of Oil Painting: The History, the Studio, the Materials, the Techniques, the Subjects, the Theory and Practice of Oil Painting

Rating:
Summary: Superior for self-instruction and as a technical reference.
Review: Jose Parramon puts together a fantastic compilation for the artist whowants to teach himself at his own pace; and does it at a very reasonable price.This is an easy to read, easy to understand guide to all the techniques you need to put what you feel on canvas! The title is an exact description of what you will find inside. After several semesters of art class, I had plateau'ed, feeling I was missing alot technically. Within five minutes of opening Mr. Parramon's book, my eyes open to what all my instructors had been struggling to teach to us in class. Since reading this book and following the exercises within, I have held five exhibitions in France and sold every time. I also began to receive commissions and plenty of requests from friends and family alike. Now I'm teaching my children what I've learned in Mr. Parramon's book. No matter what subject matter you prefer, Jose Parramon can help you render it better. Thanks to Mr. Parramon, I've sold paintings on many different subjects: from children to horses, seascapes to mountain views, St. Tropez to Mont St. Michel, snowy rivers to farmers' fields. The key to progressing in any endeavor is practice. Each chapter in The Big Book of Oil Painting contains many worthwhile exercises for you to do. I learned how to apply the color wheel to make my subjects stand out from the background. And how to make that background complement the subject. I learned how to analyze a composition to create the biggest impact on what I was trying to express with my brushes. I also learned how to make the colors in my shadows realistic, not flat gray, as I had always made them before. Finally, I learned to limit my palette to only what was necessary; making better use of the basics instead of floundering with so many exotic tubes of rare colors. Mr. Parramon also shows you how to stretch your own canvas, find the right medium, and set up your studio. He shows you how to paint 'en plein air' and studio alike. Also, he includes many different subject materials as examples; from still life to the Italian countryside; nudes to port cities. Its very complete with all you'll need to get you on your feet. You will see all the photo's and color plates you'll need; one for every example, technique, or exercise. Its a book I highly recommend to get you on your feet or to have as a studio reference. A great value at Amazon's price! Marvin Walworth Oil Painting Hobbyist