Ready to Paint: Landscapes in Oils

Aug 09

Ready To Paint are a series of unique books designed for beginning artists who want to paint, but whose lack of drawing ability is holding them back. Each book concentrates on a different popular subject for paintings, and contains six reusable tracings plus full instructions on how to paint the pictures. This title shows you how to paint landscapes in oils. Looking at local exhibitions, I think that landscapes must surely be the most popular of all subjects for artists to paint. This book shows the beginning artist how to paint six of the most typical: a bluebell wood, boats in a harbour, a Spanish scene, a poppy field, a river scene and spring lambs among blossoms. A list of useful paints, six brushes and a few other indispensables shows that this author does not want you to buy the store which is always an encouraging start to a practical book. Each painting is described in a number of steps, each step showing you how to do the next part so it is impossible to get lost. Along the way you will learn many tips and tricks of good oil painting, and have six very attractive and classic studies of beautiful, quintessential artist's choice landscapes. The lack of introduction and manner of leaping straight into the first project is an excellent ploy for beginners as there is no time to get intimidated; long before this happens you are painting, which is what it is all about!

Aug 09

It's good to see Noel Gregory, one of Search Press's best oil painters, back in their lists. His brush-applied impasto style and use of bright colours produces attractive and not over-worked results that have an instant appeal. This is, as far as I know, the first time the Ready to Paint series, with its pre-printed tracings, has ventured into oils and you might think that it'll struggle with what's sometimes seen as the expert's medium. However, that's a myth Noel easily dispels and, by allowing you to concentrate on the painting without worrying about the draughtsmanship, he'll show that results can come quickly and with relative ease.

Oct 09

For aspiring artists who want to learn to paint with oil without relying on their drawing skills. Bridges the gap between 'painting by numbers' and conventional art instruction books. The clear step-by-step photos with written instructions take you from the very first brush stroke to the last detail.