The Oil Painter's Color Handbook: A Contemporary Guide to Color Mixing, Pigments, Palettes, and Harmony

by Todd M. Casey

A contemporary and accessible foundation of color theory and advanced techniques for the oil painter at every skill level " In The Oil Painter's Color Handbook , Todd Casey presents priceless information that every art school should teach and every art student should learn. The book breaks down the subject of color into useful pieces of knowledge that painters can put into practice. He analyzes color in terms of light, value, pigment, mixing strategies, palette arrangements, and painting techniques. Each topic is clearly and succinctly explained in the text, illustrated with captions, charts, diagrams, and finished paintings. By the end of the book, the reader will have a clear understanding of how realist painters and illustrators have used color through history." - James Gurney, artist and author “This is the most impressive and complete book on color ever produced. It covers a wide range of color concepts, including some I'd never seen before. It digs deeply into color harmony, techniques, and has powerful examples to demonstrate every concept.” - Eric Rhoads, Publisher, Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine From Todd M. Casey, acclaimed artist and expert teacher, The Oil Painter’s Color A Contemporary Guide to color Mixing, Pigments, Palettes, and Harmony provides everything the oil painter needs to understand all aspects of color and empowers the reader to paint with confidence. As Casey notes, every artist and artist-in-training must learn how to “master the main concepts of drawing, light, shadow, value, form, composition, and color.” A follow-up to the bestselling The Art of Still A Contemporary Guide to Classical Techniques, Composition, and Painting in Oil (Monacelli, 2020), The Oil Painter’s Color Handbook begins with an in-depth look at the use of color throughout art history. Casey then breaks down the process of understanding color into easily digestible lessons―each clearly explained and richly illustrated with both historic and contemporary paintings―so that the reader can learn progressively and layer more complex ideas as each skill is achieved. Through clear instruction, step-by-step demonstrations, and challenging exercises, readers will learn to apply these techniques and concepts to their own painting. Once educated with this fundamental knowledge, as an artist, one can begin to find the balance between the science and emotional intuition in creating art. This informative and visually dynamic book will be accessible and appealing to artists, art students, and art instructors, to serious amateurs and hobbyists.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Drawing, Art Design

320 pages, Hardcover

Published October 19, 2022

About the author

Todd M. Casey was born and raised in Lowell, Massachusetts. His artistic education includes a BFA in Communication Design from Massachusetts College of Art in Boston, Massachusetts.

After receiving his degree in 2001, he moved to New York City, where he worked as a Graphic Designer. He then moved to San Francisco to pursue a Masters in Animation at the Academy of Art. While taking the foundation classes for his MFA, he found a true passion in painting, and returned to New York City to the studio of Jacob Collins at the Water Street Atelier and began his classical painting training in 2007. In 2010, he finished his studies and began teaching at the Guild Atelier in Brooklyn, New York.

Being raised in Massachusetts was most influential for Casey, as he loves history, and Colonial culture. He is inspired by the richness of vintage objects in historical cities, and enjoys incorporating antiquated narrative into his paintings. He also finds inspiration throughout his travels, and paints the myriad items he collects.

Casey’s work, touches on more than simplistic, rigid realism. There is a haunting, nearly literary quality to each frame. A feeling that subjects are viewed from behind rain-kissed, mottled glass; burnished by enigmatic candlelight— or brushed by the soft, hazy edges of a half-remembered dream. Works that are classically styled, but progressive in approach— fine, somber details, rendered with a clear, meticulous eye; and yet, somehow, subdued with a gentle, melancholic focus.

There is a definite purity to Casey’s paintings; the order and function of classical realist art— but equally, a plush, sentimental homage to emotive recollection. Casey paints images that are not constrained by the details of each subject’s frame; rather they emerge from their housing, passionate, contemplative, reverent, or regretful. Make no mistake, Casey’s work is more than line and brush stroke. It is a colorful tour through the very powerful emotions, surging through one man’s mind.

Drawing inspiration from classical art, historical literature, and personal experience; Casey imbues each piece with a love of both pragmatic, corporeal form, and storied, intentional function. That is to say, every painting has a tale to tell; whether emergent from the viewer’s own perception, or brewed from the very deep well of introspective thought, the artist inculcates with each brush stroke. Subtlety, refined grace, meditation, and honesty— are the hallmarks of Todd Casey’s aesthetic.

His paintings have been honored with awards, several times in recent years. Most recently, he won first place 2 years in a row in the Portrait Society of America Members Only Competition, and first place in oil painting from the Allied Artists of America, in 2015. His work can be found in collections throughout the United States; and exclusively on the East Coast, at Rehs Contemporary Gallery, in Midtown New York City.

Casey lives in New York, with his wife, Gina. When he is not working in his home studio, or preparing for gallery events, he reads Joseph Cambell, Paulo Coelho and Eckhardt Tolle, watches Woody Allen movies— or toils in his garden, when the weather allows.

Reviews

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a normal student of art, rather self taught. I enjoyed and continue to enjoy Todd’s study of color and its application. I’m making progress. I recommend this book for the shelves of growing artists.

[Maki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the far best book on colors with very good explanations and colored examples.

[MeKenzie Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only negative thing I have about this book is that I felt a few chapters could benefit from more in-depth information, such as with pigments. He only covered a few. It would be epic to cover PV19, PR254, PR255, etc. As for Titanium White, I thought a little clarification would be nice. It could be shown to be slightly yellow, but it cools when mixed with other colors.

Still, it's a great book with lots of wonderful diagrams, including a color wheel, that I plan to use as a reference when I'm not sure about something. My favorite part of the book is the history of the palette from the Renaissance to today, how it evolved and how it inspired Impressionism and so on.

Color theory was pretty well explained. Understanding its history helped me see how the Munsell Wheel came about. The differences between color wheels were well demonstrated.

Good book!

[Black Pepperz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, I thought this would be more of a reference book for me. I was wrong. The structure and numerous examples invite you to keep reading. It’s enjoyable and combines theory with plenty of practical tips. For instance, how to make sense of a collection of colors you already own and organize them into a system to find the right shade for the right purpose.

There is, however, a small detail that bothers me a bit. The book contains many color wheels, and somehow they’ve been printed in a way that makes blue often appear purple or at least noticeably red-tinted. But that’s definitely no reason not to buy this wonderful book.

There’s a longer video where Todd introduces the book—highly recommended.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4VkC...

[Rich Bennett · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a nice, sturdy book. However, there is some incorrect and inconsistent information. Some mistakes aren't a big deal (e.g., saying a painting is 11 × 17 when it is clearly not in that ratio; or listing something twice in a list). The biggest problem I had was that he referred to titanium white as a pale yellow. I have never heard or read titanium white described as a pale yellow. It is a pale blue. Additionally, when he mentions getting a purple-pink when mixing titanium white with red. If titanium white was a pale yellow, you would get a orangeish red, not a bluish pink.

[Xixi Liu · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to read and reference for color mixing and painting! Some overlap in information with this book and "The Art of Still Life", but learned different things reading both books, and the paintings he chooses to explain a concept are usually different between books and can be helpful in re-affirming information

[Andrew Peacock · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous book for any painter of any level. There is so much here and everything is explained clearly and completely with beautiful illustrations. If you paint or want to understand painting, you should read this book.

[Carolm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it is titled for oil painters, anyone interested in color will enjoy this book. It doesn't have a glossary, so if you are not familiar with oil painting terms, you will have to look them up elsewhere.

[Amal · Rating 5 out of 5]

اذا مهتم بالالوان الزيتية نظرية الالوان .. لا تتعدى هذا الكتاب
غني بالمعلومات و واضح .. مرجع رهيب

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptional book on oil paint, color theory, and how to see. Highly recommend this one!

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential for any artist whether you paint in oil or any other media. This brilliant reference is the equivalent to a full course on color for a painter.

Will transform your practice! Absolutely loved it!