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Monday, September 14, 2009

Review: Color is Everything by Dan Bartges

Color Is Everything: Beginners to Advanced Painters Can Learn What All Great Artists Know ~
by Dan Bartges
Oaklea Press (July 1, 2008) ~ 96 Pages
Non-Fiction / Instructional and How-To / Color

Edition Reviewed/Special Thanks: Paperback ~ Many thanks to the author for sending me a copy to review~



Perfect for : Personal Use, Art Studio, Art/Painting Classroom, Hobbyist

In a nutshell: Color is Everything by Dan Bartges is a wonderful reference/guide/manual for anyone who uses colors on a regular basis, but is specially written for painters. Geared more toward beginners to advanced painters, crafters and art teachers, this book would even be a great resource for interior designers, and other individuals who use color on a regular basis. This full-color book is filled with over 100 illustrations and photographs, which help to show the reader how colors work together, and even includes helpful exercises and examples throughout the book.

Extended Review:
Content: The book starts off with a very helpful section in which Dan Bartges covers some of the basic supplies used by artists/painters (paints, pencils, containers, thinners, brushes, easels, etc). He then has four chapters about color basics and color schemes that are very helpful (exercises included to help you better understand what he is talking about). The next two chapters go into how to analyze and improve or fix a painting. The final chapter covers 10 quick and helpful tips.

Format/Readability: I found this book to be very practical and easy to follow. While I am still not the best at picking or pairing colors, I do feel I have learned from this book and will continue to utilize it for future projects/reference. I especially found the examples and illustrations helpful.

Overall: This really is a great and easy to use resource for anyone using colors on a regular or occasional basis. I have learned some valuable information from this book and will continue to utilize it for future projects/reference.

From the Author's Website:
A must-read for beginners to advanced artists, COLOR IS EVERYTHING explains exactly how to master color in oils, acrylics or watercolors. “Once you understand color,” comments artist & author Dan Bartges, “you will paint better pictures and have a lot more fun painting.”

Recommended by Library Journal as the “practical guide into the richer possibilities” of color, this well-designed 96-page book explains how to achieve color harmony in every painting. The concise, easy-to-follow text is enhanced with more than 100 full-color illustrations by the author as well as famous paintings from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts by Cezanne, Picasso, de Kooning, Goya, Degas, Sargent and others. Also included are quick exercises to accelerate understanding and strengthen color competency. “Color,” adds the author, “will become your strongest, most reliable ally at the easel.”

About the Author: (From the author's site)

A full-time artist since 1996, Dan Bartges paints primarily in oils. Featured in national and regional exhibitions, his landscapes, still lifes and portraits have been acquired by a number of private and corporate collections including Marriott, Federal Reserve Bank, Markel, ClubCorp, Owens & Minor, Lockheed Martin, Performance Food Group, Media General and Capital One.

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