Problem Solving for Oil Painters: Recognizing What's Gone Wrong and How to Make it Right


Gregg Kreutz - 1986
    IdeaIs There a Good Abstract Idea Underlying the Picture?What Details Could be Eliminated to Strengthen the Composition?Does the Painting “Read”?Could You Finish Any Part of the Painting?ShapesAre the Dominant Shapes as Strong and Simple as Possible?Are the Shapes Too Similar?ValueCould the Value Range be Increased?Could the Number of Values be Reduced?LightIs the Subject Effectively Lit?Is the Light Area Big Enough?Would the Light Look Stronger with a Suggestion of Burnout?Do the Lights Have a Continuous Flow?Is the Light Gradated?ShadowsDo the Shadow Shapes Describe the Form?Are the Shadows Warm Enough?DepthWould the Addition of Foreground Material Deepen the Space?Does the Background Recede Far Enough?Are the Halftones Properly Related to the Background?SolidityIs the underlying Form Being Communicated?Is the Symmetry in Perspective?ColorIs There a Color Strategy?Could a Purer Color Be Used?Do the Whites Have Enough Color in Them?Are the Colors Overblended on the Canvas?Would the Color Look Brighter if it Were Saturated into its Adjacent Area?PaintIs Your Palette Efficiently Organized?Is the Painting Surface Too Absorbent?Are You Using the Palette Knife as Much as You Could?Are You Painting Lines When You Should Be Painting Masses?Are the EdgesDynamic Enough?Is There Enough Variation in the Texture of the Paint?

Sargent Portrait Drawings: 42 Works


John Singer Sargent - 1983
    A two-pronged task, it requires great technical skill and an intuitive eye. In both these respects, John Singer Sargent stands out as a portrait artist of major stature.Born in 1856 in Florence of American parents, Sargent showed artistic aptitude at an early age and was enrolled at the Academia delle Belle Arti in that city. Later he studied with Parisian artist Carolus Duran, acquiring the loose, painterly style for which he is renowned. International acclaim as a portrait artist came early in his life and followed him throughout his career.Sargent's portraits done in oil are well known; they appear in major museums throughout the world. A lesser-known but no less respected aspect of his oeuvre, his portrait drawings are the focus of this collection. Included here are early works in pencil and pastels, and later renderings in charcoal, a medium Sargent favored after 1910. They have been selected from both public and private collections by art historian Trevor J. Fairbrother and attest to Sargent's technical skill, versatility, and dexterity in three different mediums.In addition, these works reveal Sargent's ability to treat a diverse group of subjects; he handles the languorous beauties of the Edwardian age, members of the aristocracy, and the great literary and artistic figures of his day with equal virtuosity, capturing their characteristic mood and style. This collection includes portraits of Lord and Lady Spencer, Henry James, William Butler Yeats, Vaslav Nijimsky, Tamara Karsavina, Dame Ethel Smyth, and Jascha Heifetz.Artists, students, historians, and lovers of portraiture will appreciate this selection of drawings by Sargent. Anyone interested in trying his hand at portraiture will find this volume both instructional and inspirational.

Crochet Afghans: Discover How to Crochet a Perfect Afghan in Less Than a Day


Emma Brown - 2015
    This is because crocheting afghans is presented by most crochet books as a very difficult and arduous process that can only be accomplished after mastering many different kinds of crochet stitches. This simply isn’t true. Whether you are just learning how to crochet, have mastered crochet for beginners, or know every stitch in the book, Crochet Afghans can help you improve your technique and learn how to crochet an afghan in less than one day. What does Crochet Afghans have that other books lack? It’s an easy to follow, step by step guide, complete with color pictures and diagrams. It walks you through the most basic techniques and ensures that even the most difficult and complicated of stitches are thoroughly explained. This is why this book is perfect for anyone who wants to learn how to crochet afghans, whether they have no crocheting experience, or having been crocheting for decades. By the time you are done reading this book, you will have ALL of the skills and information you need to make intricate, beautiful afghans. The book starts with the very basics of crochet, to get beginners started and to act as a quick refresher for even the most experienced individuals. It then moves on to more complex stitches, breaking them down into easy to understand steps, so even if today is the first day you have a hook in your hands, you can easily get the hang of even complicated stitches. This process would have once taken years, sitting with someone experienced in crocheting. Now, all you have to do is read Crochet Afghans and you will be able to follow even complex crochet patterns. To speed up the process, the book also includes a full list of pattern abbreviations, to explain the crochet terminology that patterns and other crocheters use. There is also an FAQ added to answer any question you might have about crocheting afghans or different crochet stitches. What does this book provide? Here are only a few of Crochet Afghans’ benefits: • Full-color illustrations and diagrams • Teaches how to choose yarn and how much to buy • Beginning and advanced crochet techniques • Teaches how to start your afghan • 22 gorgeous Afghan patterns from beginner to advanced level • Teaches how to find more patterns • Best yarn color combinations • How to divide a crocheted afghan • Most common crocheting mistakes and how to avoid them • How to start and finish any kind of afghan.. Would You Like To Know More? Download Now and start Crocheting Your First Afghan today! Scroll to the top of the page and select the buy button. Check Out What Others Are Saying... "This is a wonderful book for those wanting to crochet afghans but don't know where to begin. It shows in detail all the stitches needed to get started and has plenty of wonderful images throughout. Many crochet stitches often used in afghans are given step by step. They include the ripple stitch, shell stitch and more. The book is well written, is broken down into chapters and it has a working table of contents.

The Making of Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World


Tom McGregor - 2003
    It is sure to captivate stalwart enthusiasts of O'Brian's work as well as draw in new fans everywhere. With unique access to the cast and crew, Tom McGregor traces the project, from the actors' boot camp to the filming in the Galapagos Islands and on board a replica ship (in the same studio where Titanic was filmed).With exclusive photographs and interviews with key members of the cast, including Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany (A Beautiful Mind), and director Peter Weir (Dead Poets' Society, Green Card, The Truman Show), this book records the painstaking work of the crew and stars in making the film as historically accurate as possible, from replicating the uniforms of Nelson's navy to bringing the gun deck of the Surprise incredibly to life. Exclusive behind-the-scenes insight and information on the history of the project are dazzlingly showcased in this unique companion, featuring the same high production standards and imagination as the film itself.

Bridge Basics 2: Competitive Bidding


Audrey Grant - 2005
    It introduces preemptive opening bids, overcalls and takeout doubles.