How to paint - Gloria Foss

This work presents a course in the fundamentals of light, shadow, modeling and colour. Every chapter features assignments, as well as "right" and "wrong" illustrations to show readers the pitfalls of ignoring basic rules. The book has three parts. In the first, students work with simple line drawing materials and only black and white paint. Chapters cover structural drawing, perspective, shape, value, light, shadows and modelling the four essential forms (cylinders, cones, spheres, cubes). Only with a firm understanding of how light and shadow logically define form - mastering what Foss calls the "form-building formula" - are students prepared to work with colour. Part two introduces basic colour theory and shows how to build convincing form with colour. This section features colour mixing assignments and step-by-step still-life lessons using limited colour combinations. Part three provides advanced colour theory and shows how to work with an expanded palette, as well as how to solve more complex colour problems. Composition, design and specific oil painting techniques (washes, glazing, scumbling, underpainting, brushwork, knife painting) are discussed.