"In the 1870s and 1880s, artists' societies promoted watercolors as attractive, decorative, inexpensive alternatives to oils, successfully elevating them to the mainstream of American art. Based in New York City, this American watercolor movement paved the way for larger, more seriously received exhibition watercolors, and for a broad turn-of-the-century effort by public institutions - among them the Brooklyn Museum of Art - to acquire American works in the medium." "Highlighting 150 paintings that span nearly two centuries, this richly illustrated volume documents the origin and development of one of the nation's finest collections by investigating for the first time aspects of American watercolor's patronage and critical reception." "Less often displayed than oils because of their sensitivity to light, watercolors nevertheless have enjoyed a lively, complex history. Illuminating well-known works as well as many that have never before been reproduced, Masters of Color and Light showcases an array of paintings that range far beyond watercolor's early reputation as the "lighter and daintier" medium."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Unlike many other art books only give recipes for mixing colors or describe step-by-step painting techniques, *Color and Light* answers the questions that realist painters continually ask, such as: "What happens with sky colors at sunset?", "How do colors change with distance?", and "What makes a form look three-dimensional?" Author James Gurney draws on his experience as a plain-air painter and science illustrator to share a wealth of information about the realist painter's most fundamental tools: color and light. He bridges the gap between abstract theory and practical knowledge for traditional and digital artists of all levels of experience.

Brand-new series! Elevate your art skills with definitive advice, tutorials, and inspiration from the world's most talented art masters.

Praise for the first edition: "I have learned a great deal from his book about modern painting in general. [Loran] devotes his attention mainly to Cezanne's concrete means and methods, and he arrives thereby at an understanding of Cezanne's art more essential than any other I have seen in print."--Clement Greenberg, Nation

"[This book is] unique and exciting...it works beautifully."--Library Journal Hone your skills on depicting water, dramatic landscapes, the nude, still lifes, and nature--all based on celebrated works by Cotman, Constable, Monet, Bonnard, Gainsborough, Fantin-Latour, and Homer. With the masters as inspiration, even budding painters can create evocative watercolors. Each of the seven exciting lessons here focuses on a single masterpiece by a great artist, providing background information, discussions of the work as a whole, and a detailed evaluation of stylistic intricacies. An in-depth examination of the most vital watercolor techniques-including backruns, blending, body color, brushwork, dry brush, glazing, and impressing-reveals all the possibilities of this luscious medium.