The complete artist's manual The definitive guide to painting and drawing

Comprehensive and substantial, Jennings' single-volume, updated packaging of his The Artist's Manual (2003) and The New Artist's Manual (2005) begins with a quote from Renoir, who referred to painting as a manual skill. Consequently, Jennings posits painting as craft as well as art and emphasizes that artists need to understand materials and techniques in order to avoid pitfalls and increase the pleasures of both making art and art's aesthetics. The curriculum provided by this visiting lecturer at the Royal College of Art in London is divided into 10 sections, from Supports (canvas, paper, boards, and panels and their preparation), advancing to Painting Media (oil paints and sticks, brushes and knives, watercolors and acrylics) and Color & Composition, which includes color's language. With 1,300 full-color photographs, illustrations, and examples of artists' work, plus a glossary, index, and listing of suppliers, this practical text is accessible to artists of all skill levels, which should generate mainstream demand.--Scott, Whitney Copyright 2014 Booklist

In his latest wide-ranging artist's manual, Jennings walks readers through a great variety of drawing and painting techniques. While there are no step-by-step projects here, there is a lot of insightful description of principles, tools, and practices. The text is bolstered by over 1,300 color photographs of finished works, sketches, works in progress, tools, media, and materials. Chapters cover drawing and painting surfaces; choosing a subject, color, and composition; setting up a workspace; and the discipline of a routine creative practice. VERDICT This newly updated manual will have broad appeal to beginning and intermediate artists, and can even help experienced professionals hone their craft. (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.