Product Description

In order to draw or paint anything successfully, an artist needs a good understanding of perspective, but it is a subject that most people seem to find very confusing and challenging. In stark contrast to other books on the market, "The Artist's Guide to Perspective" demystifies this subject and explains it in a clear, accessible way. Before pencil is put to paper, a series of simple exercises which purely involve 'looking', enables readers to discover the basic principles of perspective for themselves; observing and understanding. The book then builds on these fundamentals, clearly progressing through the chapters covering picture planes, vanishing points, aerial perspective and foreshortening, culminating in how to produce a projection for a large piece of work. Sequences of colour photographs and clearly sketched diagrams accompany the exercises and information, so there is always a visual to back up the points being made. This book is for anyone who wants to draw or paint with the benefit of sound knowledge, method and consistency, in order to produce realistic, well throughout work.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #253803 in Books
• Published on: 2009-05-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 96 pages

About the Author
Born into a family of architects, Janet Shearer originally trained as a painter before becoming a model and moving into the film world as an art director and set designer. She is now well-known and much in demand for her trompe l'oeil paintings and her work has been featured in a range of interior design publications. She runs regular trompe l'oeil painting courses at her studio in Cornwall, England, teaching beginners valuable basic drawing skills and extending the abilities of those who are already experienced artists.

Customer Reviews

perspective
I have been lucky enough to have attended one of Janets painting courses. Janet is an extemely accomplished artist who specialises in painting trompe loeil and has worked in the film industry and also for the BBC.
This book is written in the same easily understandable and humorous way that Janet teaches her students which makes what may seem like a dull and complicated subject interesting and much more understandable ( just what us 'right brained' artistic types need!)
Invaluable to anyone who wants to acheive some depth and realism to their painting.It also contains tips on painting from unusual perspectives, achieving realistic colour matches drawing circular objects from different perspectives, foreshortening, painting sea and skys and lots more useful information.
I would say this would make a fantastic christmas present for anyone with any kind of artistic leanings

Review
Okay for a nuts and bolts approach, although would have liked to see more of the artists own work. Fairly dry subject, but one of the better of this type.