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Hawthorne on Painting
Look around and select a subject that you can see painted. That will paint itself. Do the obvious thing before you do the superhuman thing.
It may have been accidental, but you knew enough to let this alone. The good painter is always making use of accidents.
Never try to repeat a success.
Swing a bigger brush — you don’t know what fun you are missing.
For 31 years, Charles Hawthorne spoke in this manner to students of his famous Cape Cod School of Art. The essence of that instruction has been collected from students’ notes and captured in this book, retaining the personal feeling and the sense of on-the-spot inspiration of the original classroom. Even though Hawthorne is addressing himself to specific problems in specific paintings, his comments are so revealing that they will be found applicable a hundred times to your own work.
The book is divided into sections on the outdoor model, still life, landscape, the indoor model, and watercolor. Each section begins with a concise essay and continues with comments on basic general character, color, form, seeing, posture, etc. It is in the matter of color that students will especially feel themselves in the presence of a master guide and critic. Hawthorne’s ability to see color and, more important, to make the student see color, is a lesson that will aid student painters and anyone else interested in any phase of art.
Although it does not pretend to be a comprehensive or closely ordered course, this book does have much to offer. It also represents the artistic insight of one of the finest painter-teachers of the twentieth century.
"An excellent introduction for laymen and students alike." — Time
"To read these notes and comments … is in itself an education. One cannot help but gain great help." — School Arts
It may have been accidental, but you knew enough to let this alone. The good painter is always making use of accidents.
Never try to repeat a success.
Swing a bigger brush — you don’t know what fun you are missing.
For 31 years, Charles Hawthorne spoke in this manner to students of his famous Cape Cod School of Art. The essence of that instruction has been collected from students’ notes and captured in this book, retaining the personal feeling and the sense of on-the-spot inspiration of the original classroom. Even though Hawthorne is addressing himself to specific problems in specific paintings, his comments are so revealing that they will be found applicable a hundred times to your own work.
The book is divided into sections on the outdoor model, still life, landscape, the indoor model, and watercolor. Each section begins with a concise essay and continues with comments on basic general character, color, form, seeing, posture, etc. It is in the matter of color that students will especially feel themselves in the presence of a master guide and critic. Hawthorne’s ability to see color and, more important, to make the student see color, is a lesson that will aid student painters and anyone else interested in any phase of art.
Although it does not pretend to be a comprehensive or closely ordered course, this book does have much to offer. It also represents the artistic insight of one of the finest painter-teachers of the twentieth century.
"An excellent introduction for laymen and students alike." — Time
"To read these notes and comments … is in itself an education. One cannot help but gain great help." — School Arts
91 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1960
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 23, 2019
Most of the book is about Hawthorne's comments and critiques of his student's work. This would have been an amazing book if it had the studies.
There are some pearls spread out regardless of this important fact, for example:
"The vision of the artist is the vision to see and the ability to tell the world something that it unconsciously thinks about nature. Everyone knows what a man looks like, or a tree or a house but it is our job to tell the world something about these things that it has not known before, some impression that we alone have received."
There are some pearls spread out regardless of this important fact, for example:
"The vision of the artist is the vision to see and the ability to tell the world something that it unconsciously thinks about nature. Everyone knows what a man looks like, or a tree or a house but it is our job to tell the world something about these things that it has not known before, some impression that we alone have received."
December 11, 2018
An interesting and quick read. Hawthorne was, I believe, the founder of the Provincetown Art School and a teacher for over 30 years, well-loved by his students. This book is an attempt to capture some of his teaching magic and was published after his death. His paintings can be found in museums in the US that has some depth in American art after the previous turn of the century. My local museum, the Toledo Museum of Art, has a nice painting of his, though it is rarely on display as his star power as a painter seems to have waned over the years.
I'm not a painter but read the book because of an interest in art history generally and specifically an interest in Margery Ryerson, one of Hawthorne's students and apparently the one who took down the notes and compiled her teacher's comments into a generally coherent text.
There are some very inspirational passages from Hawthorne that would appeal to anybody, not just aspiring artists, advice that could be translated into any artistic or spiritual aspirations. The book captures an excitement in his teaching that must have been incredibly nourishing for his students, as well as a candor that could have been intimidating.
A large portion of the book is documenting critiques that he had of student works. This part of the book can drag given that we don't see any of the images that he is critiquing. You do get a sense here that he was truly an honest teacher, unafraid to praise or trash a student.
Ryerson who compiled these notes did the same for Robert Henri in a similar type of book that I think was more successful. Ryerson, herself, was a prolific artist who was active for most of her long life. It is sad that she herself didn't publish a book. I would have liked to have heard her advice to students.
I'm not a painter but read the book because of an interest in art history generally and specifically an interest in Margery Ryerson, one of Hawthorne's students and apparently the one who took down the notes and compiled her teacher's comments into a generally coherent text.
There are some very inspirational passages from Hawthorne that would appeal to anybody, not just aspiring artists, advice that could be translated into any artistic or spiritual aspirations. The book captures an excitement in his teaching that must have been incredibly nourishing for his students, as well as a candor that could have been intimidating.
A large portion of the book is documenting critiques that he had of student works. This part of the book can drag given that we don't see any of the images that he is critiquing. You do get a sense here that he was truly an honest teacher, unafraid to praise or trash a student.
Ryerson who compiled these notes did the same for Robert Henri in a similar type of book that I think was more successful. Ryerson, herself, was a prolific artist who was active for most of her long life. It is sad that she herself didn't publish a book. I would have liked to have heard her advice to students.
November 5, 2015
Honestly, not good. I really wanted to like it because of a few one liners that would move any painter, but otherwise the whole book was really repetitive. "Get the spots of color, the spots of color, dont draw, spots of color, spots of color, just get the spots of color right" over and over again until I just had to put it down. Could not bear another variation of just get the spots of color one more time. That one notion takes up about 70% of the book, another 20% is him getting to that point, and 10% are refreshing insightful remarks about oil painting.
January 9, 2019
Please note that this is not an instructional book - and the lack of pictures really does contribute to this. Hawthorne on painting, rather, is a collection of quotes and brief lesson excerpts from a master teacher. His voice is so tangible you can almost imagine him in the room with you. I find this book most useful to dip into when I need a kick of inspiration or a re-focusing (as a painter and teacher both). Hawthorne describes the act of painting for what it is - a continued humble struggle, but one that promises the occasional chance to capture something true.
March 2, 2020
I liked his advice on focusing on color relationships. I just wish there were pictures of the paintings Hawthorne was critiquing so I had a frame of reference for some of his comments. I'd also to know what some of his studies looked like. (I've only seen finished works through my internet searching.)
January 31, 2021
If you are an artist, this is needs to be part of your collection
January 12, 2023
Absolutely a must read for anyone painting- be it artist or amateur. Hawthorne in his remarks, written down by his painter wife, teaches here to THINK- and not 'how to' do this or that. To point out lack of illustrations is to miss the most important thing this book has to offer. This book is to painters what "The Photogapher's Playbook" is to photographers.
December 14, 2025
This book has a lot of nuggets of wisdom regarding the mindset an artist should embody, which I find very valuable. However, after a while it became slightly repetitive and some texts are hard to conceptualize without the reference painting.
January 18, 2018
Excellent reference read
February 13, 2025
A philosophy book masquerading as an art guide. I loved it
March 18, 2010
This book offers good advice on how to approach painting in a very philosophical way. Practical advice mixed in with C. Hawthorne's brilliant descriptions of how to open oneself to seeing and looking more attentively.
March 2, 2011
A great collection of things to ponder for an artist at any age. Are you intrigued by the subject, have you shown this? Though I have not been a fan of his work (by ignorance to his work only, I assure you), I am a fan of his words and gusto. Passion, poetry and preaching is painting.
June 12, 2009
Great book for students of painting.
March 10, 2013
Full of the things I try to remember when I'm painting. Love this art book.
October 14, 2013
Each time I read this one, I pull more and more from it.
January 30, 2014
Lovely, not as dated as you would imagine. He restates fundamental principles of seeing and recording.
September 29, 2014
Highly recommended for any 1 looking for a great book to read on painting process or technique. It deals with the approach and skill both in a very fundamental and unique way.
June 15, 2022
Fantastic book for painters of all kinds
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews