Black on Grey on White

Secret Knowledge (New and Expanded Edition): Rediscovering the Lost Techniques of the Old Masters by David Hockney Start of a new month, time for another wee book review. In the spotlight today is David Hockney's "Rediscovering the Lost Techniques of the Old Masters". Great book. I love controversy especially when it targets the art world, when it stirs up the way we perceive and look at great masterful works of art; when it throws a whole new massive spanner into the works. Optics or eyeballed? That is the question. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, I savoured it because of the artwork and the new light shining on them. (I still find myself today picking it up to satisfy a looming question, checking out uncertainties.) The author has written a good book without long and technically soporific dissertations but with, beautifully illustrated examples and to the point explanations. I found it thrilling in its controversy and inspiring through the art portayed. Inter...

Mastering Composition: Techniques and Principles to Dramatically Improve Your Painting by Ian Roberts Starting this week off  with a twist,  a short (yet serious enough) book review. This book has brought me so much sharing is a must.  This is quite simply The BOOK that changed my approach to composition. The book that brought me up a whole new level as an artist able to understand composition. A definite reference and "forever book" for any artist looking to acquire more knowledge and take the right steps in getting there. The one element I particularly enjoy is the layout: carefully thought through and user-friendly. This adds heaps to the enjoyment of learning something that can be down right boring. Roberts keeps all the elements he wants us to discover flowing smoothly and effortlessly on well written, illustrated and printed pages. This edition also comes with a cd. A great wee bonus to help highlight and clarify the content of the manuscript by visually illustrating...