About this title: Seven Keys to Great Paintings puts the fun back into painting with lighthearted, down-to-earth instruction that also reveals the core elements of painting design. Each of the seven chapters begins with a poem verse to help readers remember the message behind the concepts; The emphasis on watercolour will appeal to painting's largest audience, as well as general painters; Creative, game-like instructions; Full-page charts and 8 well-illustrated step-by-step demos make the concepts easy to understand and apply; In addition, the author's friendly, personal tone and extensive workshop experience ...
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Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: North Light Books
Date Published: 2005
ISBN-13:9781581804799ISBN:1581804792
Description: New. No dust jacket as issued. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. With dust jacket. 127 p. Contains: Illustrations. Audience: General/trade. read more
"This book really stands out in teaching you about achieving good design, but Jane R. Hoffstetter does it in a way that I have not seen in other books. She also has an excellent way of conveying a complex idea into something very basic and understandable and also enjoyable. I agree with a previous review that this author gives a very "fresh perspective" to learning design, and this book is filled with outstanding artwork that presents a variety of styles.
The 7 keys that are taught in this absolutely wonderful book are: (taken from Table of Contents): PATTERN-- pattern of value shapes-learn how the sizes and arrangement of light and dark shapes can set up your painting for success, PASSAGE--how the viewer's eye will travel.."how to use a number of passage devices to make connections and transitions among parts to make a stronger whole". FOCAL AREA--"how to make your focal area an eye catcher" and how to quiet the surroundings of it, COLOR--how colors "create relationships, harmony, and emotion--what the options are and how to manipulate color, DESIGN--how to "organize the keys leaned so far and how to combine them", THE GOLDEN MEAN-"division of space that pleases the eye--age-old ratios of breaking up space", but presented in a captivating way. EMOTIONAL DEPTH--"learn how to interpret your subject and how to channel your feelings to create better more meaningful paintings". Hofstetter begins each chapter with a little verse such as: " As you start your work These words you'll recall, Make a PATTERN of shapes Big, medium, and small."
The paintings throughout this book are incredible, but they are not done in such a way as to "show off", but to illustrate the keys that make the painting "great". I love this book for it's simplicity in teaching complex ideas and they talented way in which Hofstetter holds you captivated --it is definitely a keeper."
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