Book Description
The definitive, practical guide to all the tools, techniques, and materials of paintings, drawing, printmaking and related visual arts. Over 1,000 illustrations and 175,000 words of text.
Customer Reviews:
Great reference material........2005-12-10
I keep this around for when I'm bored and just want to browse and think about materials, but it's most useful for when you forget things. For instance, when you forget exactly how much dammar resin to soak in turpentine, like I did today. I found the answer in seconds and went back to work. Very, very handy. On the other hand, if you're not doing two-dimensional work, this won't be so handy. This is a great text on painting, drawing, and formal aspects and techniques in those areas.
A great resource for artists.......2003-09-28
This book is an important resource for artists. Ray Smith has a complete knowledge of art materials, and he gives a complete and detailed description of each material and how they are used. It covers a wide range of art materials including paints, grounds, pencils, inks, printing equipment, cereamic tiles, stained glass, and so forth. Also included is information on color, perspective, framing, photography, and exhibiting your work. Basically it's a complete guide to the 2D mediums of art. if you're interesting in 3D arts such as sculpture or pottery, you're not in luck. Those fields aren't covered.
For me, it's interesting to just look through this book and examine the wide range of techniques and materials presented in it. You can find a lot of new ideas to try out. Even if you're an experienced artist, I think you can find something new that you will be excited to try. Check it out. It's worth it.
ADDIT TO LAST REVIEW I SUBMITTED.......2003-05-09
When recommending an alternative text in the last review I wrote of this book, I suggested Robert Gottsegan's book. His real name is Mark David Gottsegan. Apologies for this mistake.
Good but contains some bad advice.......2003-05-09
I agree with the preceding reviewers but must add I found this book to be so general as to require supplementation by other books such as those by Ralph Mayer(somewhat out of date but still useful) or Robert Gottsegan. Ray Smith does offer some very dubious advice in parts of the text eg. he suggests that after priming your support with the traditional lead primer, you should sand it to smooth the surface. This is a TERRIBLE suggestion. Lead is very dangerous when inhaled--it only becomes inhalable when sanded or when used in pigment form. Sanding it is an absolute no-no.Ralph Mayer is a chemist, so his advice on safety issues is a lot more reliable than Mr Smith's. Of all three books, that by Gottsegan is probably the one I would recommend most as it is far more up to date than Smith's or Mayer's.
Get this book!.......2002-01-06
Quite simply this is a fantastic book. The things you can learn from it are amazing. Starting from the very first chapter a very in-depth analysis of pigments, their types, chemical structures, lightfastness, reactions to different types of binders, etc. are given. And that's only the beginning because the next chapters cover different types of oils, resins, glues, starches, gums, solvents, waxes, and additives...and all of this just for the paint in the tubes or the mediums you use with it. Then the author moves on to an in-depth look at various supports (wood, canvas, steel, copper, fiber, etc). Paper and grounds each get its own chapter.
All this before ever discussing the media you can choose to use. The obligatory big four are covered in detail (watercolor, acrylic, soft pastel and oil) but what makes this book such a treasure is the coverage of so many less well-known media. Just some of the media that get their own chapters are pencils and graphite sticks, colored pencil, oil pastel, chalk and conte crayons, charcoal, silverpoint, scratchboard, pen and ink, brush and ink, egg tempera, gouache, encaustic, fresco, dry wall (aka mural) painting, stained glass, ceramic tiles, enameling, and a bunch of chapters on various kinds of print-making (woodcut, linocut, intaglio, lithography and screen printing). There are chapters covering color theory, perspective, painting restoration, making frames, repairing damaged paint films, varnishing, photography, computer art and even a chapter on how to set up a well-lit, well-ventilated artist studio and exhibiting your art. The last chapter gives formulas for making your own paints or pastels. The book finishes up with a glossary, bibliography and an index.
The only things I would've liked to see included but didn't (maybe they'll add them in a second edition?) are chapters on casein, calligraphy and various types of sculpting and glass etching. Even so, that is a minor quibble. Overall, I really have high praise for this book. Definitely give it serious consideration as a reference for your bookshelf.
Customer Reviews:
the end all reference guide for artists.......2007-05-23
If you are searching for a book that will explain materials and tools for the artist this is the first book you should turn to. I have been referencing this book for a decade now and still have a lot to learn from Ralph Mayer, a man who spent his life investigating various techniques of painting.
If you open this book up, you will come across just about any question you might have. For instance, I recently used Mayer for egg tempra painting. In his book he has a few pages regarding the subject, not many, but enough to fully explain the basics and get you started properly. He covers brushes, pigments, paints, from the obscure to the most basic.
One section of the book that I am keenly interested in is his break down of a massive number of pigments where he goes into more detail on each than any other source I have come across.
This is not exactly a how to paint or draw book. This book is intended for those who want to make a serious study of process practices in the correct manner for archival purposes. This is a must have book that should be in any painters studio.
One last item of note: If you have used this book before and found it of interest, I highly suggest that the next time you are around New Haven CT that you visit the Yale 'Ralph Mayer' center. Yale itself has many museums and buildings worth visiting and the Mayer center is just one small highlight. Its staff was very kind when I visited. When I showed an interest in Mayer, they were eager to share some of the more interesting aspects of the collection.
Very good on pigments, but definitely painting not drawing oriented........2007-02-20
While I don't work in oils, the coverage of oils seemed exceptionally deep. Material on pigments also was relevant to watercolor (something in which I dabble) and pastels (one of my major areas). I was disappointed not to find any real discussion of charcoal, graphite, or colored pencils. It would have been nice to get a slight discussion of materials not "professional", such as wax crayons.
A must have for your library.......2007-01-25
This is a must have for your library. If you need to know the why's and the what for's this is the book to have. It covers techniques, materials, safety and much more.
Artist's Bible.......2007-01-12
This is THE bible for fine artists. Chock full of all the information you would want, need to know, or don't even know you don't know. Recommended by my painting professors at the Savannah College of Art and Desing. This is a heavy book - both material-wise and weight-wise. The anchor of your book shelf if you are a fine artist.
Technically Valuable Info.......2006-12-02
I haven't read the book yet, but I play to order it soon, based on the sample pages I read on the AMAZON site and the other reviews. I found the unformation valuable, and I "could't put it down". It seems to be a great book for the curious, obsessively detailed, intelligent readers who just always want to learn more and more details about what they are doing. I suspect the word "intelligent" may be the operative word here because, judging from a single review (by Victor A. Coronel "Armando") who said the book was useless, and the way his review was written, it sounds like it may be just a tad too difficult for Victor to understand, so he found it useless. I hope that other readers can tell by all the other reviews that this is probably the case, and the book may just be a little above the reading comprehension level for some readers.
Book Description
Every day, ceramic artists encounter techniques, processes, materials, problems, and more that leave them with questions such as: How? Why? Where? Clay: A Studio Handbook answers those questions with authoritative, comprehensive coverage of topics ranging from studio safety, finding, making, and improvising tools and equipment, firing processes and theory, and much more.
Drawing on more than 30 years of experience in ceramics, Pitelka has created the most practical, all-inclusive studio handbook for students, studio artists, educators, and all those interested in the art of clay. Ten chapters, addressing the full range of ceramic processes, bring a lifetime of ceramic knowledge directly into the hands of potters. Written with concern for safe and efficient studio operation, diligent attention is paid to safety practices. A thorough table of contents, glossary, and index make finding answers quick and convenient. Numerous step-by-step illustrations guide readers through the many techniques.
Selected Contents
Clay and Claybodies
Handbuilding
Throwing
Plaster Working, Mold Making, and Slip Casting
Surface Decoration on Greenware
Glazes and Glazing
Kilns and Firing
Mixed Media in Ceramics
Studio Safety and Sensible Studio Practice
Studio Design, Setup, and Operation
Appendixes
Index
Customer Reviews:
Pitelka's "Clay:A Studio Handbook".......2005-08-26
I have read several books (library) on pottery and technique and THIS book, for all inclusive information, beats them all. One definitely that should be in everyone's studio. Easy to quick reference. Easy to read and understand. I actually could visualize making forms as I read the text. It gets right down to the molecular events that happen in the kiln, things I didn't know before. Wonderful work!! Take a class, then read this book. You'll want to play with clay the rest of your life.
Perfect studio handbook.......2002-03-15
This book is wonderful. It contains information on everything from properly wedging and centering clay, to how to set up your own studio and select equipment. It's informative without being so academic that it's hard to read. I would recommend it to anyone who is trying to supplement their knowledge of ceramics. I have more hands-on pottery experience than academic, so this answers all the little things I've been wondering about such as "What is the difference between earthenware and stoneware?", "How does a noborigama work?", or "What is the proper way to photograph my work?" This is the perfect studio reference book.
For anyone with a yearning to create three-dimensional art.......2001-11-09
Vince Pitelka's Clay: A Studio Handbook is a comprehensive, highly detailed manual on all the myriad ways to create and enjoy clay sculpture, from hand-building to potter's wheels to kiln firing and glazes, to exhibiting and marketing finished works. Written in sensible language easily understandable to the lay reader or novice hobbyist, yet covering all the material a professional needs to know, Clay: A Studio Handbook is the perfect guide for anyone with an interest in learning or improving their clay craftsmanship, whether for fun or for profit. Black-and-white photographs and drawings visually model the many styles and techniques presented, making them easy to imitate. Clay: A Studio Handbook is strongly recommended for anyone with a yearning to create three-dimensional art.
Book Description
New third edition! This classic art reference shows artists how to handle materials safely while practicing their craft. Dozens of at-a-glance tables and charts present vital information about art materials, ingredients, technical hazards, proper protective equipment, and safe work practices simply and accurately. This brand-new third edition is now completely revised and expanded to detail lifesaving new safety and ventilation equipment, present urgent new discoveries on toxins and pollutants found in arts and crafts materials, and explain the controversies surrounding new government regulations. A virtual lifesaver for all art and craft workers.
Customer Reviews:
A great guide for artists and art teachers alike!.......1998-04-27
This book encompasses all areas of art safety from the materials commonly used by artists to the tools and machinery often used to produce artistic creations.
Monona Rossol as an artist and actress herself comes at this issue with the distinct advantage of also having a chemistry educational background.
Well written and easy to understand for laymen!
Customer Reviews:
A wonderful outline of a developmental art program.......1999-08-25
Reading this book influenced my developing philosophy for my own elementary school art program. While it is not written specifically for the public school program, many of the ideas can be incorporated. My students, in grades K-8, all enjoyed mixing their colors, using only the three primary colors, white, and, later, black. I would suggest this book to anyone, whether parent or teacher, looking for new ways to teach artitistic creativity.
Excellent book for parents or teachers.......1998-08-24
I bought this book because I was looking for ways to explore art and art materials with my 4-year old son. This book has been a wonderful guide. For one thing, the author suggests ways to organize art materials which make the whole process at once more orderly and serious, lending a tone of respect and importance to art activities. . I also followed the author's suggestion of supplying my son with only the three primary colors, and have watched his surprise and joy as he's be learning on his own how to create different colors. ( In between colors, he has learned to carefully wash and dry his brush, and seems to take pride in his workmanship -- another technique I learned from the book). I've yet to use the suggestions on various types of collage and clay activities, but I look forward to doing so. Another feature of the book is the many reproductions of works of art by both famous artists and students in the author's workshops, as well as fascinating quotes about art by famous artists. There is much here to pore over. I have found this book very inspiring, both in helping my son "do" art and in "doing art" myself. It is a book I will treasure and use for a long time to come.
Book Description
Combine the joy of creativity, the delight of imagination, and the thrill of an art adventure. The Big Messy Art Book opens the door for children to explore art on a grander, and more expressive, scale. Paint a one-of-a-kind masterpiece from a swing, or try painting a hanging ball while it moves! With The Big Messy Art Book, you are giving children the opportunity to go beyond the ordinary and into the amazing!
Customer Reviews:
From MaryAnn Kohl, author.......2007-10-05
This book has been out in the hands of good teachers/parents/child care folks/kids for awhile now, but I've found that it is new to many kids who are just discovering it. One little guy I worked with recently as a visiting author to his school told me: "I didn't know a tennis ball could be so interesting, did you?" He was referring to painting with tennis balls. Our group tried several approches with painty tennis balls....rolling them around in a wading pool covered with paper, tossing them at a wall of paper outdoors, holding and pressing on paper, bouncing on paper on the floor, and a few other ideas that kids thought up that are NOT in the book, but should have been. Read on: The little guy who told me tennis balls are interesting had thought up a idea where he rolled the ball deliberately through paint and then along the border of large paper. Within the border, he made dot-prints with different colors of paint. When it was dry, he outlined each dot with a black marker. The result was a huge bubbly design painting. I was impressed with his process, and the resulting painting was delightful and all his own! I love when my books give kids a boost to be their own artists and live in their own creativity. What a great day spending time with kid-artists. Someday I'll collect all their unique ideas and write a new book called "Kids Are More Artistic Than I Am!" Keep having fun with kids, from your friend, MaryAnn Please visit my website for free art ideas: www.brightring.com.
Messy Art is great........2006-08-02
I am a special education teacher and I am always looking for new ideas to enhance my sensory awareness program. This book has some awesome ideas and I can't wait to start using them this year.
More like Adventurous!.......2005-04-26
This book is my kids' favorite! Everything is either very LARGE and exciting, or SILLY and exciting, or ADVENTUROUS and exciting, or extremely INTERESTING and exciting. Don't buy this if you want your child to sit in a corner with crayons for the rest of her/his life and never look beyond the expected. This is for the kids that will challenge their imaginations and explore art from a new view, building who they will be as adults.
OUTRAGEOUSLY FUN FOR KIDS.......2000-06-19
THIS BOOK IS A FOR-SURE WINNER. IT ENABLES THE KIDS TO HAVE FUN AND GET DIRTY AT THE SAME TIME. I AM NO LONGER AFRAID FOR MY CHILDREN TO GET DIRTY! IT'S CLEAN UP IS EASY TOO. IT'S AN ULTIMATE GUIDE FOR FUN.
Some great new stuff to try!.......2000-06-16
I have been teaching preschool for many years and I love messy media... this book had some really neat ideas, things I had never tried before. When I got my copy, I couldn't wait to try out some of the ideas right away.
Book Description
Bargain Books are non-returnable.
So many people want to explore the artist within, but don't know where to start. Make Your Mark is the answer. Packed with exciting and accessible art projects, step-by-step instruction, beautiful illustrations, and helpful diagrams, Make Your Mark is a veritable at-home art instructor. Author, artist, and teacher Margaret Peot shares her encouragement and ideas in this fully illustrated guidebook, mapping out new pathways for the personal artistic journey. Eleven chapters focus on different art techniques—from stencils and prints to collage and rubbings—suggesting 55 easy-to-follow, step-by-step projects that offer sophisticated and satisfying results. Peot's warm and engaging voice, helpful tips, clear explanations, and simple instructions make it easy to get started, and the sheer range of projects will keep the creative fires burning. Decorated with more than 180 illustrations, every page is brimming with encouragement.
Customer Reviews:
Make Your Mark by Margaret Peot.......2006-08-05
Creative. Imaginative. Easy to follow directions to make all kinds of prints. There are ideas in here for those with no experience as well as great suggestions for new techniques for those who already make prints in one form or another. The visuals were beautiful and helpful when trying out a new idea. I recommend this for anyone who likes print-making. I think it would make a great text for a class.
A Treasure to Savor.......2005-09-25
Make Your Mark is truly a book to savor for many years. After getting it as a gift, the first thing I did was simply read it all the way through. The author has a warm and encouraging tone, and it is easy to imagine her standing by you as you are guided through a variety of wonderful and interesting techniques.
You don't need to be an artist or good at drawing to make use of this book, although if you are, you'll find these projects interesting and appealing. At the moment, I'm really into the gorgeous techniques that I've gotten spray painting with stencils. I can't believe how beautiful the effect is spraying through lace (cheap lace works really well), which I did on fabric, which is what I had around the first few times I tried this technique.
The other technique that appealed to me from the beginning is spray painting with lemon juice. I just loved the idea of the art work going in the oven for a brief stint, and watching it magically come alive. It's like baking, only the gratification is instant. This technique leaves kind of an aged looking mark on the paper, which is enhanced by darker edges where the lemon juice is sprayed heavily. The variations include adding salt and water. It's pure fun.
I can't wait to try some other techniques. An interesting and wonderful byproduct of working with the techniques in the book is that I just felt relaxed and loosened up creatively, and I was able to transfer that creativity to my work as a chef. I found my creative juices just flowing.
There are also chapters on all kinds of stenciling, rubbings, printing, water printing, paste papers, pattern dyeing, and collage, enough to keep one happily occupied with projects for a very long time. Each technique clearly explains what materials you need, available at most art stores, and the artist thoughtfully provides a glossary of places to get the materials.
I highly recommend this book for people of all ages, whatever your level of creativity is, for just a wonderful way to have a lot of fun!
So Helpful.......2005-09-21
I have used "Make Your Mark" to help me with my own creative blocks and I have given the book to several friends, some artist and some non-artist, to offer the same benefits. All have enjoyed and used the book extensively and have been thrilled with their individual results. It's really a great resource for anyone wanting to create, but feeling a little inhibited.
Exercise framed for Art Guild Show.......2005-09-21
This book is great. I did the gouache resist exercise and three of my experiments were selected for the Art Guild Show at City Hall. It is so easy to get caught up in the process of creating someting beautiful and interesting and artistic using Ms. Peot's methods. I love reading the chapters and imagening the end result. Once I get started, I am thrilled at how the methods enhance and facilitate my own creativity. Right now I am looking forward to trying my hand at collage knowing that I can just play with the process and see where it takes me.
Make Your Mark-Indeed!.......2005-09-21
What a delightful book Margaret Peot has written! It could be titled "Art for Dummies", because this grandmother surely qualifies. However, it is equally inspiring for granddaughters too. The book is fun to read and makes you itch to go and try the diversity of projects included. Ms. Peot convinces you that there is a hidden hint of "artist" you never knew was lurking inside. And not to be overlooked is the fact that you don't need a stash of expensive art supplies to get started!!
Joyce Tice
Book Description
• Fully revised to address the newest materials and the latest health issues • Dozens of make-it-yourself recipes for paints, pastels, varnishes, and more • Expert author is chairman of ASTM committee on art materials
Much more than just another guide to artists' materials, The Painter's Handbook is an amazingly useful resource, with information on everything from the canvas up: the canvas itself, plus paper, sizes and grounds, pigments and binders, solvents and thinners, varnishes and preservatives. Dozens of step-by-step recipes for make-it-yourself paints, pastels, varnishes, gessoes, sizes, supports, and equipment take this indispensable guide way beyond the competition. Authoritatively written by Mark David Gottsegen, chair of the federal government's ASTM committee on artist's materials, the revised Painter's Handbook considers the enormous changes in the art-materials world since the first edition was published in 1993. New materials, new health issues, new information on outmoded and even harmful supplies and practices mean that every painter needs a copy of The Painter's Handbook.
Customer Reviews:
Very Good and atualized.......2007-06-07
Very Good Book! There's no complete informations like Ralph Mayer, but is very simple and atualized in some topics like acrylic grounds and alkyd resins.
You make it so easy for me to shop........2007-01-16
I do know how I would rate the items I ordered for my son that works in New York City, He makes a wish list of several items he would and etc.
I have been doing this for several years and I love it as I would never know what to send him, other then Gift Cards. That's ok for some people but he lives away from home and I can choose anything I want and I know he will like the gifts I buy. He greceived gifts htat are wrapped by his Mother and Dad and he never knows what I pick out and send.. I do put other gifts like cookies, home made candy and some other surprises. Over all I would rate every thing I order and makes it so easy for me. A 5.
the premier guide .......2006-05-03
The Painter's Handbook is without doubt to artists' painting materials. Gottsegen's knowledge and expertise in the field allow for an in-depth understanding of the tools of the fine artist, and his book dispels so many of the myths surrounding art materials that have been perpetuated in other resources.
-Mark Golden, CEO, Golden Artist Colors, Inc.
Practical and comprehensive.......2005-06-04
My painting instructor reccomended this book. If you're serious about art, you might want to get this...It's a handy reference to materials (frames,grounds,paints,solvents), techniques and safety/protection...It's also easy to follow, well researched and comprehensive. The 4 stars is because there is some outdated information...e.g. Gottsegen explains how to make oil paints...But given the health risks (of working w/ dry pigments), difficulty and time required in this process, it really isn't feasible.
Best painting materials reference book I've ever used.......2004-10-15
I recommend this book enthusiastically to my students as a concise, clear, easy-to-use and thorough reference on painting materials, especially oil painting (though it does cover other painting media). There hasn't been a technical question about materials that it hasn't answered for me, and the information provided has also led me to experiment with new materials. It is not a "how-to" book on painting and there are no pictures or anecdotes, but it is oriented towards serious students and professionals. For me, "The Joy of Cooking" of painting -- wouldn't be without it.
Book Description
Newly published titles in the growing “Artist's Handbook” series are written for dedicated amateurs and can also be used and valued by professional artists. Each Artist's Handbook has a sturdy hardcover binding so that it can be taken out to the field for guidance or used in the studio. Hidden spiral bindings keep pages lying flat so that artists can refer to them while working with their materials. Each title supplements textual instruction with 400-to-600 color illustrations showing artwork in various stages of completion. Readers will also find information on artists' tools, techniques, color-mixing, creating special effects, and trouble-shooting to correct errors. The ancient art and craft of mosaics has become a popular modern medium for creating chic, stylish, and contemporary art objects and appointments for the home. This heavily illustrated and practical instruction guide shows how to create a wide array of beautiful things out of small pieces of colored glass, marble, ceramic, or stone. Readers will find detailed instructions for making a decorative floor panel, a Byzantine-style box, a geometric table top, and many other beautiful mosaic items. Hundreds of color diagrams and illustrations.
Books:
- The Ballet Companion: A Dancer's Guide to the Technique, Traditions, and Joys of Ballet
- The Blessing of a Skinned Knee: Using Jewish Teachings to Raise Self-Reliant Children
- The Blood Books, Vol. 2 (Blood Lines / Blood Pact)
- The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth by Day
- The Emotional Intelligence Quick Book
- The Fashion Designer Survival Guide: An Insider's Look at Starting and Running Your Own Fashion Business
- The History of Costume: From Ancient Mesopotamia Through the Twentieth Century
- The History of Costume: From Ancient Mesopotamia Through the Twentieth Century
- The Invention of Hugo Cabret
- The Lost Word (Alice 19th Vol. 7)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Saint Benedict on the Freeway: A Rule of Life for the 21st Century
- Hinds' Feet on High Places
- What Good Are the Arts
- Amor De Perdicao
- Botanica's Orchids: Over 1200 Species
- Earth System History
- DreamHealer 2 Guide to Self-Empowerment
- Vilhelm Hammershoi and Danish Art at the Turn of the Century.
- An Aztec Herbal: The Classic Codex of 1552
- My Dearest Angel: Virginia Family Chronicle, 1895-1947
General
| Reference
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
The Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques: Fifth Edition, Revised and Updated (Artists' Handbook of Materials and Techniques)
Painter's Handbook: Revised and Expanded
Formulas for Painters
DK Art School: An Introduction to Art Techniques (DK Art School)
The New Artist's Manual: The Complete Guide to Painting and Drawing Materials and Techniques
