Book Review - Harley Brown’s Inspiration for Every Artist
Posted on September 16, 2007
After waiting for two weeks this book finally came in the mail. Greedily getting the package in my hands I eagerly opened the parcel. Pulling the book out I noticed the cover is exactly the same as I saw on the International Artist web site. I was hoping for something with a little more flare.
Finally getting the book clear of the packaging I cracked it open and my first thoughts were “Oh, it’s just numbered paragraphs of insight. “Hmm, disappointing”. To be honest I was hoping for more of the same style as his last book. This one, however, is 401 numbered paragraphs of insight and inspiration along with the occasional cliche. “Ok”, I thought. Lets read it before I make a final judgement on it.”
So far I am up to about point 120 along with breezing ahead a few pages to read over the development of his self portrait and skipping to the back to read over “50 things you must know before you conduct or take your next art workshop”. At this point I am still neutral. You can tell there is a lot of experience that went into this book. Let me finish reading it before I continue with the review.
– 2 Days Later –
I have made it through the entire book now. Somewhat exhausted. I found reading everything in point form took it’s toll on me over the last two days. Near the end I found the insight less informative and useful than the beginning 2/3rds of the book.
What I did find great were all the little anecdotes on each page below sample sketches or paintings. For me this provided a basis for his words instead of just having text on a page. When I do go back to this book I can see myself skimming through, just reading these side tidbits instead of the entire book.
If you are an artist looking for an insight into your craft I would suggest his first book “Harley Brown’s Eternal Truths For Every Artist“. That book is so chalked full of great and useful information. It is hard to come by these days though.
In the end, I have no regrets buying the book as it was under $30. If I had paid more, I would be upset. I think I will refer back to the book at a later date but for right now I will have to put it on my bookshelf instead of by my easel.
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Harley Brown’s Eternal Truths for Every Artist
Posted on August 18, 2007
Phew, long title to spew out but in all honesty it has been one of the best book purchases I have ever made.
It has a wealth of information ranging from drawing to composition. I have learnt more from this one book than any of the other 6 other art books I have at my disposal. I cannot recommend it enough.
Speaking of recommending, my good friend Robin Morley recommended this book to me. I searched high and low for it but since it has been out of print for so long it took me a long while to find a new copy that wasn’t over priced.
Then as fate would have it I found it at a price I was willing to pay over at Alibris.com. Someone over at the Wetcanvas forums points to Dakota Art Pastels site where the book is readily available and it is only $24.99USD. Needless to say I had a sinking feeling as I could have bought it for much less. Ugg… After I received the book, though, that sinking feeling disappeared as the book is worth what I paid. Looks like it has been confirmed that Dakota Art Pastels no long have the book available for sale.
(Some of the points that have made the most impact to me were his statements that:
- “Accuracy is not a dirty word”. In other words, you have to plan the painting out first. Measure twice, then paint. As he says, “Painting becomes much, much easier, more fun, when you’re right on the money from the start, and because you’ll no longer be reworking, your paintings can become as spontaneous and vital [as it can be].”
- Value is the most important aspect of a painting. “When values are right, it doesn’t matter what the colour you put in!”
- Colour! I really like his approach to using the Munsell System for colour over the traditional colour wheel. I am going to have to try this and see what the results are. Basically the Munsell system has 5 primary colours, not just tree. Along with that, the colours change as it move toward the centre, changing chroma, depending where on the value scale the pigment is. Now, due to the 5 primary colours both complimentary and triad (discord colours as he calls them) colours change. Blue’s complimentary is no long orange, it is yellow-red. Reds is blue-green. The triad of blue is not yellow and red it is red-purple and green-yellow. The whole idea is that the Munsell system will improve your results over the traditional primary model. Test will tell.
Beyond those ideas I have listed the book is filled with a lot more great information no matter what your medium. His medium of choice in the book is pastel which makes it ideal for us pastelist!
Overall I cannot recommend this book enough. I hope you have my luck in finding it at a reasonable price!
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