Painting School: The Complete Course
Unlike most other such books, these two by Simpson have earned  the right to use the term "complete" in their titles. Designed  as workbooks, not merely as useful reference works, each  contains a foundation course for the beginner, a chapter on  themes and styles, and a final section on media and methods.  Each is packed with practical training, inspirational interviews  with artists, methods for self-criticism, an abundance of  well-chosen illustrations, and solid advice for further study.  These two books compete in a crowded field with other titles,  like Angela Gair's brief Drawing: A Step-by-Step Guide to  Drawing Techniques (LJ 11/15/96) and Simon Jennings's Art Class:  A Complete Guide to Painting (LJ 7/00). None is as comprehensive  and reasonably priced as these highly recommended titles.Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.