Book Review-The Acrylic Painter by James Van Patten

I found this book extremely helpful.  I have been an acrylic painter for many years but took a hiatus for ten years without producing many completed works.  This book brought me up to speed on new products and new ways to use old products.  It gave me much to think about as to the various approaches to acrylic painting.
I have read many books on this subject but I have to say, something about this book made it better than most.  It was useable, viable information.  Much of it was written for a beginner. However, I found this information a great refresher and thought provoking.  I did go out and buy some new products to try. I would recommend this book to beginners just starting the acrylic painting journey as well as someone who would like a comprehensive look at the overall approach and all the different aspects it takes to complete a painting from start to finish.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James Van Patten is a native of Seattle, Washington, where he graduated from the University of Washington in 1965 with a BA in art education with an emphasis on painting. He completed his MFA in 1968 in Painting with minors in both Art History and Printmaking from Michigan State University. He has taught painting (as well as other studio classes), and lectured in art history at the university level in the ensuing years on both coasts and in the Midwest. Presently, he is a professor of painting at the School of Visual Arts in New York, NY. There he has taught the only course in acrylic techniques offered by SVA for over twenty years. He’s spent bulk of his career in the studio as a practicing artist, working primarily in acrylic paint on large-scale landscape paintings. OK Harris, New York, NY represented him exclusively for over thirty years, and for over a decade the Plus One Gallery of London has shown his work exclusively in England. His work is featured in collections throughout the United States and Europe.

More Info on Purchasing this Book

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

Charlie

 

This painting was completed this week while I have been visiting Iowa City cat sitting for my daughter. I had the photo of Charlie from last spring, hense the dandelion.  I think I did a good job making his fir look fluffy.  He is a eight year old Lhasa Apso with a great disposition.  

I plan to paint the two cats in the near future, Stella and Toki.  They were much harder to keep track of than I had originally thought.  Rather sneaky, getting into their food when they weren't suppose to.  There was a learning curve involved with these two.  

Intimately it has been a slow week as far as painting.  However, I finished a book on acrylic painting which I will write a review on soon.  I also made a trip to Dick Blick here in Iowa City to purchase Golden Acrylic Gloss Medium to cover the painting before I put the final varnish on it.  Occasionally I do not put a finish on the surface and let the Matt gesso remain.  Then when it is held to the light it has a shiny, matt quality to it.  Not sure at this point which I like better.  

Rhythm and movement

Single Iris "8"x10"  acrylic on hardboard

I had an opportunity to visit our local county fair this morning.  The temperature was already creeping into the 90 degree range with a heat index close to 100.  Everyone was moving in slow motion but the general attitude of the attendees was that of fun and excitement.
I returned home at noon to a house full of company and an afternoon of visiting friends and relations I rarely see, reminiscing old stories as we remembered them.  We sat and talked as the air conditioner clicked on and off, fans humming, drinking ice tea and enjoying each other's company.  Last night was a full moon, the "Thunder Moon".  My zinnias are coming into full bloom as are the lowly marigolds that line my vegetable garden.   Summer has its own rhythm and movement.

I included in this post an earlier painting of a single iris that was painted in June.  A simple still life.

Trash to Flash....a Transformation

Flash 8"x10"  acrylic on hardboard 6/20/16

This painting is of a dog named Flash.  He lives with my sister and brother-in-law in Minnesota.  He has had a dubious life in his early years and when my sister first got him he was named Trash.  He was a street dog and a vagabond.  His first owner traveled on boxcars and hitchhiked across the United States.  He is now eating regular meals, has a comfortable Minnesota home to live in and loving owners who have changed his name to Flash.  He still has a ragtag look about him, tattered ears and two colored eyes that are disconcerting until you get to know him.  Once you do get to know Flash, you will find that he has the sweetest disposition and is a pleaser.

Roadside Inspiration

Immanuel Lutheran Church  12"x12" acrylic on hardboard

This is a landscape painting of a church in Copperas Cove, Texas.  I was visiting there a couple years ago and knew I would paint this eventually.  There is a large hill directly behind the church grounds where it is possible to get a high vantage point from where I took the photo the painting is based on.  I haven't painted many landscapes so I am not sure if I am finished or not.  I may change the shadow on the roof of the church and play with the trees on the right some.
I do like the depth created in the painting and the road disappearing in the distance.

Summertime...

Payton II Acrylic on hardboard  8"x8"

The weather is reaching 90 degrees this week.  The garden is full of green beans.  We are canning the first batch today of five quarts.  I have been eating fresh garden picked kohlrabi, fresh cucumbers, raspberries, zucchini, and beets. I am anticipating making my first batch of home made ice cream in my little ice cream maker.  Also, we have been going through the seedless watermelons like there is no tomorrow.

Summer festivals are everywhere.  Yesterday I played clarinet in Sigs band in Forest City, Iowa for their annual Puckerbrush parade. Forest City is home to the Winnebago Motorhome annual rally.  Afterwards I played in the Forest City Municipal Band in the city band shelter as the community ate their chicken dinner in the park. It was a perfect day and I couldn't help but get a little emotional as we played our final selection of Stars and Stripes Forever.   I couldn't help but appreciate such an exceptional day, with community hovering around enjoying our music and each other.

My painting I am highlighting today is a second painting of Payton. (see July 14)  I like the abstract negative spaces in red that surround her.  I also like how she fills up the picture frame.

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Unconditional Love

Howdy 8"x8" acrylic on hardboard

What is it when an animal looks at you with such unconditional love that you have to adore them.  This painting is from a photo that was sent to me by a friend of mine that is a member of my bookclub.  I had to paint it.  The meadow and the flowers with the dog in the center were the deciding factor in selecting this for subject matter, let alone the dogs attentive stare at his owner as she took the photograph.