Dynamic color painting for the beginner

There are many books that teach beginning painters to use a limited range of basic colors. Both of these volumes delve into the richer possibilities. In his brief, practical guide, Bartges, a successful "corporate" artist with works acquired by Marriott, Capital One, and Media General, explains how great artists from Degas to de Kooning consistently selected the best color combinations for their paintings. It's a good, inexpensive book, but for a more comprehensive volume with detailed instructions, Edison's book has the edge for addressing many aspects of design and a variety of techniques, like paint mixing, wet on wet, scumbling, and Venetian painting technique. Each is taught through the lens of color theory. Illustrations range from unfinished works by students to completed masterpieces by Raphael and Caravaggio. Edison is a leading professor of studio art (Univ. of Georgia) and a successful practicing artist. Recommended for both public and academic collections. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.