Still Life Painting Atelier: An Introduction to Oil Painting

This is a rare find. A beautiful book, beautifully illustrated AND written. Trust Watson-Guptill to always be meeting or raising the bar in books that show you how to do something.As to the complaint about the material not being classical and relating this to the word "atelier" -- well, that word is simply a good French word for "studio". And what you need to do in your studio to acquire some ease with painting still life (and working with oils in general) is all in this book. Friel has one of the best practical explanations of how to arrange your palette and how to think about color in relation to your subject--creating the tints and shades needed for the objects in your still life before you start painting.He includes detailed explanations (with copius illustrations) of the importance and process of creating value sketches that are the best I've ever seen.Though I was eager to jump to the detailed lessons/exercises, I was hooked on the well-written text. The writing is clear and constantly keeps to the practical information one needs to really begin to paint.I'm a black and white photographer and retired graphic design college instructor who has moved into painting by way of an obsession with color. I have acquired a number of "how to" books on painting -- watercolor, encaustic, and now oil. This book is the best of the lot.

This has been a great book for me as a self taught old guy and just now realizing the loss of experience I could have gained had I ran into this authors Studio(Atelier). I have since built several shadow boxes and a Sculpture stand to raise and lower the shadow boxes to different heights and even squared away my "inventory" of Objects I have collected. Great information on the basic palette and how to mix up a basic palette the correct way from a teacher that really understands how to get the most out of your tools. One of the best purchases I have made in a long time.Vender service was Fast, professional and very well packed.

The main problem with this book is that it mimics the style and title of Juliette Aristedes two "Atelier" books (Classical Drawing Atelier and Classical Painting Atelier) but is not even in the same ball park as them in terms of depth of thought and insight.The first half of the book is spent reviewing the most rudimentary of rudiments, at least for anyone with any experience painting. That's fine I guess... let's assume that we're trying to reach beginners. And I don't even mind reading basic material, because sometimes there is novel insight contained in someone elses review of it. Unfortunately, there was nothing beyond the most basic rudiments... there was NO take-away for the more experienced.The second half of the book covers limited and full palettes, alla prima painting, and using glazes. This part seems solid and basic as well, and there were some good insights into technique. This second half works, then, for both beginners and experienced painters.However, the author never strays from simply demonstrating a step by step guide to various lessons. Again, this is good for the beginner, but I was really hoping for some insights into the "WHY" that lies behind the "HOW".For instance, the author demonstrates limited palettes of Orange/Blue, Yellow/Violet, and Red/Green... yet he never explains WHY these palettes are relevant. After all, you could construct palettes all day, using and endless variety of hues. What makes these palettes significant? In other words, what is the IDEA behind the palette? What is the theory of it? The author doesn't seem to have any. I suspect that he simply uses a collection of palettes that he has grown accustomed to through experience.The strength of the aforementioned Aristedes "atelier" books was how she was able to delve into the ideas behind the practice. This author just demonstrates practice. For beginners, or those who are in love with step-by-step approaches, this is fine. But for anyone looking to think deeper about what is going on, you are out of luck here.Overall, I just thought the book was decent. I wasn't angry at the book, or sorry that I bought it, because it isn't terrible. I was hoping that it would be on the level of the Aristedes books, but I kind-a suspected it wouldn't be. Unfortunately, I was right.

As a beginner I wanted something to teach me the right way and this book does just that.

Would not recommend in my opinion. Do not want to influence others because I may be biased and the author is very technically adept but for a beginners book, some things are overstated and others understated. In my opinion

A really great book for someone who didn't get to go to art school. (And it won't hurt if you did!) Really nice images, clear text, straight shooting advice. I turn to it often.

I have very mixed feelings about this book.On the one hand it is very good at explaining the basics of still life painting and limited palettes. Good for the beginner, but very basic.On the other, the word "atelier" in the title is a bit misleading to me.I expect any book with the word atelier in the title to be concerned with the more "classical" methods of painting (imprimatura, grisaille, and glazing). But there is only a single example of this in the demonstration section. Although it is good it left me wanting more.The rest are demonstration paintings are done in alla prima methods and although they are good examples, especially for the beginner, they are wanting for anyone desiring to learn to paint in the older technique.I am planning on keeping this since some of the information is good, but it still leaves me still waiting and hoping for a resource for learning the "classical" technique.

I am going through the book a lesson at a time, so I can't say what it is like to have done all the lessons, but the book is written so that it is easily understood, with a thorough description of materials and how to start, so that I would recommend it as the next best thing to being able to learn in a class.

A useful book.

good

Ottima introduzione generale al genere della natura morta nella tecnica della pittura ad olio. A differenza della maggior parte dei manuali qui anche gli esempi sono piacevoli e di buon livello sia tecnico che artistico.

Having read such good reviews about the atelier method for other subjects ie portraits etc I was disappointed by this book. Seemed like a re-hash of every other book on the subject, nothing new or specifically different. Nothing about composition... which you might expect in a book about still life. Most suitable for beginners-intermediate artists rather than more advanced artists trying a new subject.