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Masterful Color: Vibrant Colored Pencil Paintings Layer by Layer
Vibrant Colored Pencil Paintings Layer by Layer
Masterful Color will redefine the way you think about colored pencils. By employing such classic techniques as tonal underpainting, chiaroscuro and color layering, you will achieve a depth and intensity of color that rivals the celebrated paintings of the Old Masters.
15 step-by-step demonstrations teach a classic approach to color, value and composition
features a gorgeous range of subject matter, from luscious fruits and flowers to shimmering porcelain, crystal, silver, glass and more
all the lessons come together in a grand, start-to-finish painting demonstration, from initial concept to final touches
Ideal for artists at any stage of their colored pencil journey and applicable to any subject matter, Masterful Color is the key to creating glowing paintings that stand the test of time.
Masterful Color will redefine the way you think about colored pencils. By employing such classic techniques as tonal underpainting, chiaroscuro and color layering, you will achieve a depth and intensity of color that rivals the celebrated paintings of the Old Masters.
15 step-by-step demonstrations teach a classic approach to color, value and composition
features a gorgeous range of subject matter, from luscious fruits and flowers to shimmering porcelain, crystal, silver, glass and more
all the lessons come together in a grand, start-to-finish painting demonstration, from initial concept to final touches
Ideal for artists at any stage of their colored pencil journey and applicable to any subject matter, Masterful Color is the key to creating glowing paintings that stand the test of time.
- GenresArtNonfictionCrafts
144 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 31, 2011
Disclaimer - I do not use colored pencils, so I am infinitely fascinated by how they are used.
The cover of this book had enthralled me since I first saw it in a catalog; how in the hell can you create such vibrant, paint-like color with colored pencils!?
It's a fantastic book from cover to cover. It starts with very informative basics about sharpening, photography, and gridding, then goes from easy to complex arrangements in a step-by-step fashion, with lists of colors used and the order in which they're used. There's information about burnishing and sealing and continuing to work the project as well, which I was unaware of.
As a non-user, this was amazing to me because the progression pictures combined with the detailed paragraphs explaining what colors were added when and where heightened my awareness of how the painting (and these ARE paintings!) was crafted. In fact, the concept of a reverse underpainting was new to me and was explained in enough detail to actually make sense.
My own drawing skills are seriously pathetic so as I was reading along and NOT participating, I was a little disappointed that I couldn't try out all my new (theoretical) skills. This book really sparked an interest in colored pencils, because the paintings are so lush and so bright and the hand-holding extent the author goes to really made me feel like I could do it too.
To my utter delight, the back of the book features outlines of all the projects covered with the explicit instructions to trace or photocopy the exact tomato and the exact lily used in the demonstrations and try it yourself! There's even a sample chart of the colors used so you can get the exact match.
This is definitely a must-own book, especially if you use colored pencils, but even if you just like deep, vibrant colors and want to understand more about color theory. And yes, the fantastic painting on the cover is indeed created with colored pencils. Amazing!
The cover of this book had enthralled me since I first saw it in a catalog; how in the hell can you create such vibrant, paint-like color with colored pencils!?
It's a fantastic book from cover to cover. It starts with very informative basics about sharpening, photography, and gridding, then goes from easy to complex arrangements in a step-by-step fashion, with lists of colors used and the order in which they're used. There's information about burnishing and sealing and continuing to work the project as well, which I was unaware of.
As a non-user, this was amazing to me because the progression pictures combined with the detailed paragraphs explaining what colors were added when and where heightened my awareness of how the painting (and these ARE paintings!) was crafted. In fact, the concept of a reverse underpainting was new to me and was explained in enough detail to actually make sense.
My own drawing skills are seriously pathetic so as I was reading along and NOT participating, I was a little disappointed that I couldn't try out all my new (theoretical) skills. This book really sparked an interest in colored pencils, because the paintings are so lush and so bright and the hand-holding extent the author goes to really made me feel like I could do it too.
To my utter delight, the back of the book features outlines of all the projects covered with the explicit instructions to trace or photocopy the exact tomato and the exact lily used in the demonstrations and try it yourself! There's even a sample chart of the colors used so you can get the exact match.
This is definitely a must-own book, especially if you use colored pencils, but even if you just like deep, vibrant colors and want to understand more about color theory. And yes, the fantastic painting on the cover is indeed created with colored pencils. Amazing!
August 22, 2025
This is a great technique book for using colored pencils. The first half of the book is very basic beginner information but once it gets into the underpainting process in chapter 4 it's very helpful.
Chapter 5 goes into making richer whites, grays, and blacks followed by a lot of step by step practice drawings of underpaintings.
Chapter 5 goes into making richer whites, grays, and blacks followed by a lot of step by step practice drawings of underpaintings.
February 10, 2013
When it says 'vibrant,' it truly means it. The author is bent on *saturating* her bits of paper with the pigments. This is coloured-pencil art that you would not recognise as such, because the approach used, tedious and methodical, and the final effect is one of an oil painting. The photo-realism I greatly appreciate, the attention to colour detection and achievement is inspiring. I fear that I lack the dedication to follow a method like this to the end, but it helps that every stage on the way is a finished product on its own. I do not recommend the technique to any but those with the greatest patience.
January 4, 2014
Normally, I rate art books on whether or not I actually can complete the exercises and make them look at least somewhat reasonable. The explanations are really well thought out but I could never make anything look even close to what the samples look like but I love the paintings that the author creates so I gave this book higher marks than I might hVe otherwise.
April 22, 2013
p. 47 Underpainting colors for 20 hues
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews