Painting the Secret World of Nature

by John Agnew

Book Overview

In this book, John Agnew shares his secrets about how to create those special natural atmospheres by controlling the light, color, textures, point of view and design in each painting. the book is... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1581800509
• ISBN13: 9781581800500
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Northlight
• Length: 127 Pages
• Weight: 1.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 8.9" x 11.3"

Customer Reviews

A must have.

I've found this book to be extremely useful as an artist. There are several easy to understand demonstrations on how to achieve various techniques, such as creating haze, fog, and humidity both for close up scenes and those at a distance. Other demo's include creating light and shadow, animal skins, furs & feathers, foliage, water, snow & ice, and sand & mud, to name a few. Each demo is accompanied by a complete materials list of easy to find items. Some of his techniques call for the use of an airbrush, but there is no need to run out and buy the best model available as a simple craft airbrush/air could work. The airbrush techniques described can be achieved with a little practice. Even if one didn't wish to use an airbrush and preferred to use glazes, I would still highly recommend this book because the exercises do not focus on the use of an airbrush, but rather a layering of paints. In the final chapter John Agnew showcases a few of his works, including some breathtaking murals he completed for various zoo exhibits and museums.

the most in deep painting tutorial

Recently I bought a load of painting tutorial book and this one has got to be the most detailed and well explained of them all. I was really surprised because I was not expecting them to go in such detail. I got the book "painting wildlife texture step by step" and "painting the secret world of nature" was even better in explaining how to paint nature texture. For exemple, the snake scales are better explained in the secret world of nature..and there are also step by step on how to paint realistic wood texture which was not in any of the other books that I have. This is a really fantastic book.

wonderful book!

Truely generous of the author to share his great techniques. The book is a gold mine of color and applications. The steps are very helpful. The technique results are fabulous!

Tangible art

There are many good books on nature; there are many good books on art; there are many good instruction manuals. John Agnew's "Painting the secret world of nature" is a rare book that excels in all three of these.Beginners as well as experienced artists will find this book both technically helpful and aesthetically pleasing. Its clear-cut instructions and step-by-step illustrations, showing the process of creating and elaborating a visually striking image, will help a practicing artist to improve the technique of realistic painting.All professional artists have their own trade secrets; few are willing to share them; even fewer are able to do it in a way that makes sense to others. John Agnew's book is the one that does it superbly.

Painting the Secret World of Nature

For the realist artist this book is great! Altho' Mr. Agnew's main interest is in painting exotic animals and places, many of his technics can be used for other realistic painting. I highly recommend this book.