Book advice for the beginner
 

I have just started to paint and love it. Portraiture in oil is what I wish to learn. What was your favorite book when you first started? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

RE: Advice for the beginner
 

I am a beginner myself, and came across a book by Paul Leveille entitled Paint Expressive Portraits in Oil which I think is a good basic source for mixing colors. Each sample is explained in detail, and there are lots of them. Good luck.

Skip

RE: Book advice for the beginner
 

Paul Leveille will soon be joining Stroke of Genius. Keep and eye on the New & Upcoming Artists page.

Solid art books
 

You need to get The Human Figure by John Vanderpoel and 'Bridgman's Complete Guide to Figure Drawing' by George Bridgman. Both are solid time tested texts on drawing.

Also recommend anything you can find by Andrew Loomis. The only thing in print by Loomis is a Walter Foster book called 'Heads 2' (The name changes with each reprint). Look for Loomis at used book sites--caution, his books are expensive if you can find them.

Harley Brown recently released an excellent book called Eternal Truths For Every Artist.

Finally, the most important thing you can do is buy a skull and learn it. Learn its simple relationships and nuances so that you can see them under a person's flesh. Nothing will catapult your skill more than this.

I have gotten an oportunity to buy a few books from the USA. My father will be visiting my aunt in Petaluma, CA, so I can order books to her and dad will take them home to Sweden.

I'm looking for books that will help me improve in all areas of painting and drawing the human figure and her surroundings. Books filled with essential knowledge on how to build me a more solid artistic ground.

So my question now is what books do you recommend I buy, and is there something I have to think about when buying books over internet in USA?

I'm pretty sure I will be buying Chris Saper's book but other than that what books can you not live without?

The books I mentioned in my last post are top notch. I suggest also looking for

Todd,

Thanks for the website references. I hadn't seen Scott Burdick's site before, his work is amazing and inspiring. Same to Morgan Weistling, although I had had the good fortune to see his web site already. The demos on both are great.

Holly

Don't leave USA without it
 

These are the most intelligent and insightful books on making art I have ever had the pleasure to read.

Oil Painting Techniques and Materials by Harold Speed; Dover Pubns; (February, 1988)

The Practice and Science of Drawing by Harold, Speed; Dover Pubns; (September, 1980)

Oil Portraiture Books.
 

As far as grabbing the bull by the horns goes, Harley Brown's book, "Eternal Truths for Every Artist" is a must for oil portraiture and oil painting in general.

It is very motivational, informally written, and makes you willing to pick up the brush no matter what your state of mind.

As for painting and drawing overall goes, I cannot recommend Anthony Ryder's "The Artist's Complete Guide To Figure Drawing" enough. Superbly written, with absolutely beautiful examples.

Hanna -- Re: Internet

Hanna, you asked about internet purchases. Most of the books and videos I've acquired during the past couple of years have come straight to my house here in Taipei through Amazon.com. The company is completely reliable, number-one rated for customer service and satisfaction, and secure (I believe they even promise to cover losses from someone else's misuse of your credit information). If you're dissatisfied in any way, Amazon will make it right.

The standard international shipping costs are very reasonable, but if you just can't wait, you can also get items through priority shipping.

I mention this especially because, as popular as many of the recommended books are, it may take a bit of time and luck to get to the right stores that actually have them in stock at the time of your father's visit. With time and gasoline having their own costs, the Amazon shipping charges might seem quite reasonable.

By the way, you can begin your Amazon search by checking the Stroke of Genius "art books" page. This has the benefit of routing a small commission (no extra charge to you, of course) to Cynthia in support of this site. As you browse through the other topics in this "Books, Videos, and Publications" section, you'll see the above-mentioned titles and many others in red type (like this), which means they're already linked to Amazon. Just click away.