Color and light: a guide for the realist painter

Overview: James Gurney, New York Times best-selling author and artist of the Dinotopia series, follows Imaginative Realism with his second art-instruction book, Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter. A researched study on two of art's most fundamental themes, Color and Light bridges the gap between abstract theory and practical knowledge. Beginning with a survey of underappreciated masters who perfected the use of color and light, the book examines how light reveals form, the properties of color and pigments, and the wide variety of atmospheric effects. Gurney cuts though the confusing and contradictory dogma about color, testing it in the light of science and observation. A glossary, pigment index, and bibliography complete what will ultimately become an indispensable tool for any artist. This book is the second in a series based on his blog, gurneyjourney.com. His first in the series, Imaginative Realism, was widely acclaimed in the fantastical art world, and was ranked the #1 Bestseller on the Amazon list for art instruction. "James Gurney's new book, Color and Light, cleverly bridges the gap between artistic observation and scientific explanation. Not only does he eloquently describe all the effects of color and light an artist might encounter, but he thrills us with his striking paintings in the process."--Armand Cabrera, Artist.

Tradition : Old masters' color ; The academic tradition ; Open-air painting in Britain ; The Hudson River School ; Plein-air movements ; Symbolist dreams ; Magazine illustration -- Sources of light : Direct sunlight ; Overcast light ; Window light ; Candlelight and firelight ; Indoor electric light ; Streetlights and night conditions ; Luminescence ; Hidden light sources -- Light and form : the form principle ; Separation of light and shadow ; Cast shadows ; Half shadows ; Occlusion shadows ; Three-quarter lighting ; Frontal lighting ; Edge lighting ; Contre jour ; Light from below ; Reflected light ; Spotlighting ; Limitations of the form principle -- Elements of color : Rethinking the color wheel ; Chroma and value ; Local color ; Grays and neutrals ; The green problem ; Gradation ; Tints -- Paint and pigments : The search for pigments ; Charting pigments ; Lightfastness ; Warm underpainting ; Sky panels ; Transparency and glazing ; Palette arrangements ; Limited palettes ; The mud debate -- Color relationships : Monochromatic schemes ; Warm and cool ; Colored light interactions ; Triads ; Color accent -- Premixing : Mixing color strings ; Gamut mapping ; Creating gamut masks ; …