Still Life in Oils: An Insight Into the Artist's Creative Process -- Seeing, Thinking, Acting (Creative Painting Series)
Philcox begins with a discussion of color and its uses, noting that painters used oils for trompe l'oeil accuracy then changed in the late nineteenth century to the more contemporary impressionist uses of broad dabs of paint that fuse in the viewer's eye. Analyses of representative works concentrate on the "seeing, thinking, and acting" steps of painting development, then move into a consideration of formal construction, such as the classic "pyramid" composition. Surface, an exploration of which follows, has also undergone change as seventh-century attempts to minimize the appearance of brushwork gave way to more textured, painterly styles, some using a palette knife. Philcox moves on to mood--how to achieve reflective quiet or to exude energy--via increasingly sophisticated analyses that emphasize the influence of classic masters while keeping focused on the essentials. With an artists' glossary, this generously illustrated, beautifully designed, full-color resource will likely see great demand from painters at all skill levels.Whitney ScottCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved