Home Forums Explore Media Oil Painting What art books are you reading for inspiration?

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  • #463382

    Hello

    Just thought it would be interesting to hear what art books people are reading or good art books they have read. I’m sure there are lots of threads on instructional books so I was thinking more of books that you might have read for inspiration.

    For example, I’m currently reading a book called “Inside the Painter’s Studio” by Joe Fig. He’s made a body of work from documenting artist studios, including interviewing artists about their studio practice and making maquettes. I love finding out all the details of how different painters go about their work!

    The last book I read was about Gwen John, by Cecily Langdale. Some stunning paintings of female sitters I’d not come across before. Unfortunately it’s quite an old book so not all the images are in colour.

    In the past I really enjoyed:
    “Man with a blue scarf by Martin Gayford” (about sitting for Lucien Freud)
    “Color by Victoria Finlay” (travel/history of pigments)

    Chris

    #711799
    Ribera
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        Hawthorne on Painting: recollections of the great painter’s teachings
        by several of his students. His emphasis on spotting, shapes of areas,
        outlines don’t exist in nature really clarifies his concept of what
        painting ought be.
        Even more inspiring, all that emphasis on painterliness comes from
        not a good draftsman but a Great one. . . not the either or propositi-
        on it erroneously presented as.
        The concepts elaborated upon in this little booklet worth more ’n
        whole libraries!!
        r

        #711802
        Gribbey
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            Hi! just had to say, I was looking at that Hawthourne book this very morning. Pick it up once in a while and find it kinda centers me. Look for the spot of colour, he says.
            Also, I recommend what I’m reading right now, Whistler a Biography, by Stanley Weintraub. His life story is something but the insight in this book, into what art is and why, is really fascinating. Just finished the chapter on Whistler versus Ruskin, artist vs critic in court for a libel case, which was sobering to me, even though there were very funny things said.

            C&C welcome
            "If you go out in the woods today, you're in for a big surprise!" Jimmy Kennedy

            #711801
            Dcam
            Default

                Yes….Hawthorne “On Painting”.

                Usually now Chris, I count on current Art Periodicals:
                American Art Collector, International artist, Plein Air, Art Connoisseur,
                Southwest Art : I sit in my lazyboy chair with a coffee (or a beer) and peruse the pages. After viewing the excellent work, I’m ready to hit the easel.

                #711800
                Ribera
                Default

                    Oh yeah, R.H. Ives Gammell’s Twilight of Painting (on that
                    very subject).
                    Penned ’46 by the excellent painter on how the concepts
                    of Modernism virtually destroyed the transmission of draw-
                    ing and painting practiced so masterfully by the greats.
                    The replacement of that old system with “schools” a catas-
                    trophe.
                    At the conclusion of it he features images of the old school
                    followed by the new: Couldn’t make the comparison more
                    skillfully!!
                    r

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