Favorite Art Books 12

A few months ago I posted about an art instruction book I discovered called Fundamentals of Drawing by V.I Mogilevtsev. The book serves as a text for students at the St. Petersburg State Academic Institute of Painting Sculpture and Architecture. In that post I commented that the book was systematic and clear, providing a way to conceive and execute high-quality drawings. It appeared to me that a dedicated effort to work through the concepts and methods in Mr. Mogilevtsev's text would be an excellent way to improve skills.

Published as a companion to the drawing book is Fundamentals of Painting, also by Mr. Mogilevtsev. This text is organized in the same clear and concise manner, from concept to materials to realization. Each stage in painting is dealt with in clear, rational prose and employs detail images to emphasize concepts and methods. A full page image of the demonstrated work is provided from beginning (above) to finish with lavish color. How to paint details is particularly useful and the images provided are excellent.

For a dedicated painter, Fundamentals of Painting provides a very helpful and easily used set of instructions and ideas. Highly recommended.