Mastering the Craft of Painting

152 Pages·1985·18.14 MB·English

by  Angelo John Grado

Mastering
the Craft
qfPainting
BY ANGELO JOHN GRADO
Basic instruction in
form, color, and drawi^
^
based on Frank Reil1/s
famous teachings
Mastering
the Craft
cfPaintmg
BY ANGELO JOHN GRADO
Allartistsmustmasterthecraftofpainting
before they can fully develop a unique,
personal style. In this unusual book, An-
geloJohn Gradotakesyou intotheclass-
room of one oftheArt Students League's
most famous teachers—Frank J. Reilly.
Through Grado's lucid notes, sketches,
and diagrams, you learntheessentialsof
good painting and drawing just as Reilly
taughtthem. In addition, you learn howto
go beyond the lessons to discover your
own individual style. —
The first —half of the book "Lessons
from Reilly" includes valuable instruc-
tion for beginning and intermediate art-
ists on line, form, relationships, action,
foreshortening, and shadows. There is
clearadviceonthehandlingofbothvalue
and chroma, as well as the painting of
fleshtones. Step-by-stepdemonstrations
teachyou howtodoan initialwash-inand
lay-in, and howto goontocompleteyour
painting. The emphasis is on the figure,
butthe informationextendstoall painting
subjects
The second half of the book is de-
signed to show you how to adapt what
you have learned from Reilly to your own
personal needs. Grado offers advice on
the use of a free palette and gives a de-
tailed demonstration of procedures for
loosening up your technique. He also
provideshelpfultipsonworking with pas-
tels, handling textures, and creating life-
like portraits.
Filled with information and ideas, Mas-
tering the CraftofPainting is an excellent
guide for all artists, and it can be easily
adapted toclassroom teaching. Its many
diagrams and exercises make itthe ideal
book for anyone who wants to learn the
craft of painting.
144 pages. 81/4x11 (21 x 28 cm). 110
color plates. Over 400 black-and-white
illustrations. Index
A oON-GUPTILLPUBLICATIONS
BOSTON
PUBLIC
LIBRARY

Mastering the Craft ofPainting
AndreaCella, oiloncanvas, 30" x 25"(76.2 x 63.5cm)
StanleyMyron Handleman, pastelonpaper, 23" x 17"(58.4 x 43.2cm)
Mastering
the Craft
qfPainting
BY ANGELO JOHN GRADO
Hi
PortraitofJack,pastel,oil,andwatercoloronpaper,40" x 30"
(101.6 x 76.2cm),collectionofMr.andMrs.JohnR. Dick
WATSON-GUPTILLPUBLICATIONS/NEWYORK
BRIGHTON
w
Specialacknowledgmentandthanksto:
Mymotherandfather, Roseand PasqualeGrado,whoare
responsibleformybeing here. MylateUncleJohn, fortaking meto
myfirstmuseumand encouraging measachild; UncleFred
Polizzi, whoisalways readytopose; and mysonJohn, whoalways
makesthingseasierforme. TomydaughterBarbaraandher
husband Richard Devir, myson Paul and hiswifeJanet, myson
Frankand hiswife Kathy, myyoungestson Richard, and my
grandchildren Paul, Nanette, Megan, Kate. Stevan, Delia, K.C., and
Justin. MyspecialthankstoAndreaand GraceCella, Peter
Matulavage, and last butnotleast, toMaryGalletti, whoisalways
readytohelp in anywayneeded.
First published in 1985in NewYorkbyWatson-Guptill Publications,
adivisionof Billboard Publications, Inc.,
1515Broadway. NewYork. NY 10036
LibraryofCongressCataloging inPublication Data
Grado, AngeloJohn, 1922-
Mastenng thecraftof painting
Includes index
1. Painting—Technique. I. Title
ND1500.G65 1985 7514 85-13724
ISBN 0-8230-3016-4
Distributed intheUnited Kingdom byPhaidonPressLtd
,
Littlegate House, St Ebbe'sSt., Oxford
All rights reserved Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproducedor
used in anyformor byanymeans—graphic, electronic, ormechanical,
including photocopying, recording, taping, orinformationstorageand
—
retrievalsystems withoutwritten permissionofthepublisher
Manufactured inJapan
First printing, 1985
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10/90 89 88 87 86 85
This book is dedicated to my wife
Justine
for her love and patience
StillLifewithLemon,oiloncanvas, 24" x 18"(61 x 45.7cm)
Introduction 8
LESSONS FROM REILLY 10
Drawing 12
LINE 13
RELATIONSHIPBETWEENLINES 14
STRING OF PEARLS 15
ACTIONANDTHELONGESTLINE 16
THE SIX LINES 17
AXIS, BOUNDARY, ANDSTATIONPOINTS 18
FORMS IN ACTION 20
FROMACTIONPOINTSTOFORM 22
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN FORMS 24
INSIDE THE FORMS 26
SYMMETRYANDOTHERRELATIONSHIPS
THEIMPORTANCEOFRELATIONSHIPS 30
CONNECTORSANDACTION 32
ACTION AND BALANCE 34
WEIGHTANDSTRAIN 36
PLANES AND FORMS 38
FORESHORTENING 40
SHADOWS
44
CAST SHADOWS 48
PLANESANDLIGHT 50
STRUCTURE OFTHE HEAD 52
FEATURES 56
HAIR 58
BASIC GROWTH LINES 59
CHARACTERAND BASIC SHAPES 60
Understanding Color 64
HUE 64
VALUE 66
CHROMA
68
FOURTYPICALNINE-VALUECHROMACHARTS 70
COLOR, LIGHT, AND FORM 74
PaintingAdvice 76
MATERIALS 78
BRUSHSTROKES 79