Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting by John F. Carlson, Art Instruction
|
List Price: Our Price: $5.18 You Save: $4.77 (48%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $4.67 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting
Book Review: carlson's guide to landscape painting
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of the best books for artists I have ever read. I will reread it many times. Thank youBook Review: Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting
Summary: 5 Stars
Book arrived within a few days of order in excellent condition.Book Review: Classic must have for landscape painters
Summary: 4 Stars
This is an essential how to guide for landscape painters. Carlson addresses the real nuts and bolts of how to paint a landscape and effectively deconstructs all aspects of the painted landscape into digestible principles and points. It has many B&W illustrations and examples of Carlson's work. In this day and age, however, it suffers from a complete lack of color pictures. It has been in print for decades and would get five stars and more if the publisher would find a landscape painter to add color reproductions of current painters who incorporate Carlson's principles, into the book. Or a companion book showing how other artists paint, using Carlson's points. There are many contemporary plein air painters, for example, who cite Carlson's tome in their list of recommended books. Any of them would add a great deal to this book and bring it into the mainstream of technique books that painters clamor for.But for pure technique, it can't be beat. Richard Schmid's book, Alla Prima, is also highly recommended, with more personal philosophy and some fantastic color reproductions of Schmid's works.
Carlson's Guide is, however, noticeably cheaper and too inexpensive not to have on your studio bookshelf.
Book Review: Worthwhile, but a little old-fashioned
Summary: 4 Stars
This book covers a lot of important landscape painting topics that are often not covered adequately or well in other books. Although very conscientiously written, Carlson's prose at times can be old-fashioned and very difficult to read. Also, it is unfortunate that the illustrations for this book on painting are presented in black and white.These negative observations made, I found the book to be very worthwhile reading. Carlson speaks to both the craft and art of landscape painting with a master's knowledge and the intent of an experienced teacher. His chapters cover value, light, aerial and linear perspective, color, trees, clouds and composition and contain much valuable information and tips for the painter.
Book Review: A classic! A bit outdated but still useful
Summary: 4 Stars
The book is old, but it's still popular because the advice contained given by Carlson is timeless. Unfortunately the pictures are b&w. One thing I liked is Carlson gives guidelines which help to make realistic landscapes. A teacher such as Hawthorne (highly recommend his book) would say to forget rules and just get the color right. But I find that's not easy to do. Carlson's guidelines, especially comparing values between foreground, trees, mountains, and sky are very helpful. I read his book on the beach while on vacation and I was able to see for myself a lot of the things he claims, especially about clouds. This book is so cheap there's no excuse for not reading it at least once!