Classical Painting Atelier: A Contemporary Guide to Traditional Studio Practice Hardcover – Illustrated, 1 April 2008

Firstly I don't ever leave reviews but felt that this book deserved it. I've wanted to be an artist for most of my adult life and have painted and drawn for most of it. My paintings were ok, friends and family liked them but I knew that they were not worthy of a gallery. I endlessly trolled around for courses, books and the such like to develop my basic knowledge of technique and understanding. I came across this book only recently although I wish that I had found it before I bought all the other countless books. It describes not just technique but also about processes that can be used to achieve your end result of a fantastic painting.It is not a step by step do this and there you have a painting of dog. Rather it is a manual to help you learn and understand the under lying principles in which good art and paintings can be achieved. It clearly demonstrates that all through the ages these techniques have beens used by masters and professional artists. So many books by artists talk about there practices and techniques in achieving there style of painting. Which is great if you want to copy them, but really it's a waste of time as what works for some doesn't work for others. By having the tools learnt in this book you can achieve your end goal with out the influence of another artists techniques.Further more, I never thought that drawing was important and preferred just to paint. For me drawing a picture of my painting was laborious and felt it detracted from the spontaneity, actually it has helped sped up my painting practice as a lot of the problems often encountered have been solved. I bought another book by juliette on classical drawing and already I''m drawing sketches quickly and efficiently and of a really high standard. I understand now how a good drawing can lead to a painting faster than just jumping all in. After reading both books and trying some exercises I have already found a vast improvement in my methods and technique. I will continue to use them as a guide till I have become a professional artist. I now feel so much more confident in producing good paintings/ drawing than I did before.Again don't by this if you want step by step instructions, do by this if you actually want some decent, useable under pinning knowledge of technique and method. Fabulous book worth every penny. Try out lessons on classical drawing by juliette too. I now really enjoy sketching and drawing. Top notch. Thanks to juliette for helping me change my artistic perception for the better.

Not sure exactly why I downloaded this book but I am very glad I did. I am neither an art buff nor an artist and this book is written for the aspiring artist. For me it contains philosophy, metaphysics, history, and more. Here is a sample..... "So does the artist have any advantage over nature? Is the artist’s job to copy what has already been expressed by nature but with limited means? No, the artist has intelligence and will—a clear advantage—and his job is most certainly not simply to copy. Nature has an external face, but not an internal one. Such things as trees, coffee mugs, and clouds do not have an emotional, spiritual, and intellectual component. Painting is an expression of the soul. The artist has the ability to reorganize and order this world to convey the internal aspect of life."There are very many fine reproductions of various artworks, both classical and recent. I found the analysis of many works, the foundations of each, a fine counterpoise to the supposed "spontaneity" possibly presumed.Much to reflect upon. A fine book. Thank you.

In need of refreshing my distant days of art college classes, I invested in this book. I can't recommend it too highly for folks like me whose art education was some 40 odd years ago. Although i have never stopped practising as an artist, my very stressful job as Head of Art at a Grammar school combined with running a home and commuting meant that for many years I had little time or energy left for my creative personal work. This book has not only regenerated my enthusiasm for and excitement about painting it has also taken me a stage further along the path to great achievement with new techniques and insights. The illustrations of contemporary work are superb: elegant, sensitive, delicate, powerful, moving, ... in fact nothing short of sublime. The balance of background history, practical exercises and sensible advice is compelling, and even the intelligent novice should be able to make good progress developing their skills using this book. One of the best examples of art instruction in book form. Up there with Richard Schmidt Kevin McPherson and Ian Roberts. Good bibliography at the back.

Classical Painting Atelier: A Contemporary Guide to Traditional Studio PracticeIn many ways an excellent guide for those serious about developing their skills and well worth the money. It is well produced and the images excellent (although ocassionally a little dark). Anyone prepared to follow all the istructions for putting the teachings into practice should benefit greatly. The following qibbles should not put a prospective buyer off: 1) There really should be some warning that the purchaser ought to have read the "Classical Drawing Atelier" because, for example, some terms are used in the former but only defined in the latter; 2)the presentation could be improved from a DIY point of view for those who cannot aquire personal tuition and, while much advice and instruction is given, it could be improved, not least in showing some of the steps involved.

A superb book. I don't think I've before owned an art book where I like every example used. This is that book. An excellent selection of famous and not so famous works used to illuminate an intelligent, knowledgable and informative text. Highly recommended.

Very inspiring and well worth buying. I used to paint in oils but have been using Photoshop for my commercial work. I am getting back into painting and wanted some classical inspiration and here it is! Well done to the author and publishers.

If you have Classical Drawing Atelier, then you must have Classical Painting Atelier in your arsenal of reference books on art.Once again, clear and concise guide which will help you to recreate as the Masters did.