Painting What You Want to See

Book excerpt: If you have ever wanted to control your art so you can paint anything--and paint it well--this book is for you! The mediums are oil, watercolor, and contour drawing, but this is a book about making good paintings, not about a particular medium. The subject matter is broad, ranging from still lifes to figures and portraits, to landscapes. Again, the point is that if you can paint, you can paint anything! But you must never feel compelled to simply paint was is before you. You must feel free to paint not what you see, but what you want to see--the way you want it to look--and this book shows you how.In this book, Charles Reid offers up a complete course in painting and seeing. He critiques student work and analyzes problem paintings, explaining where the artist went wrong and what they could have done to improve their work. Reid also includes numerous assignments to help guide your practice, and important lessons on values, color and composition. You'll learn to make a contour drawing; how to layer your washes to achieve a desired value; how to mix values for bold statements; how to mix subtle colors and flesh tones; how to paint lights and shadows; how to uses edges to direct the audience's eye; how to integrate the subject with the background; how to loosen and liven up your painting; and much more.Painting What You (Want To) See is perfect for artists of all levels of ability, but is exceptionally well-suited for intermediate and advanced students who want to increase the range and expressiveness of their paintings. The clear instructions, detailed tips, and innumerable illustrations and examples will help you develop your own style. This is one of Charles Reid's finest books on painting technique.