The Beauty of Oil Painting, Book 1

If you like the Jenkins style of floral painting and you've had some practice, you'll like this book.It's early-ish in Gary and Kathwren's book publishing series, and that has its good and bad points.The good? Later in their publications, the Jenkins have a tendency to simplify the projects. Here, you get a chance to try your hand at scenes that include (relatively speaking) complex elements. Among these fuller items are a bulbous terracotta vase, an ornate Victorian gilded ceramic vase, sprays of gladiolus (10 blossoms and 12-13 buds), a beat-up copper teakettle complete with dents and verdigris, a detailed iris blossom, and a woven basket with multiple blossoms and a fairly realistic butterfly.Bound into the booklet are two sheets of full-size patterns, a nice touch. Since you'll be buying this as a used book, be sure to ascertain whether these are still included in the book.Finally, throughout the book are pen-and-ink drawings of various flowers, all signed by Kathwren. Over the years, Gary has made no bones about the fact that Kathwren is the one who knows flower nomenclatures and flower structure, and these drawings are outstanding in their expression of individual petals, stem and calyx shapes, as well as leaf forms.Shared with all Jenkins books are the 4-step color build-ups of select pictures. These are outstanding because they graphically convey the sequence of painting. Poppies in a vase, lilacs with butterfly, chrysanthemums with copper kettle, and wild flower bouquet are the pictures with these build-ups.The bad? One example, while the booklet has clear black and white photos of basic brush strokes and all the information is there, the written explanation for each is a bit opaque compared to later publications. In the Jenkins's defense, writing about brush strokes is like writing about dancing... words just aren't the right medium.Not necessarily bad is the fact that the paintings are tighter and more detailed than later Jenkins work. The colors tend toward the dark-ish and subdued side, reminiscent of Victorian flower painting or -- the wellspring of both the Victorians and the Jenkinses -- Renaissance still life painting with flowers, particularly the Dutch tradition.All used Jenkins books tend toward the high side, perhaps a reflection of their overall appeal (and value) to us amateur painters. The black and white ink drawings alone make this a desirable addition to your collection, and the relatively complex compositions will do much to improve your skills.The paintings:Poppies in a vase; Antique vase with roses; Geraniums in a clay pot; Lilacs with butterfly; Gladiolus; Chrysanthemums with copper kettle; Iris; Wild Flower Bouquet; Hibiscus; Basket with flowers & butterfly.

Like, yes!

I happen to be one of probably many thousands of viewers who watch Gary Jenkins teaching painting flowers on TV and since I love painting and other art forms, I decided to order THE BEAUTY OF FLORAL PAINTING. Actually I ordered the one written by his wife, Kathwren Jenkins, as I think she is probably somewhat more talented than he is. It is a 56 page of basic information with a copyright of 1988. (Wish I had made a note of that before I purchased it). I did read the reviews before I purchased it but, for some reason, thought that it would be significantly better than it is. The book looks like it was left out on someone's porch for a year, with dingy edges on all pages and rusted staples holding it together. I was fortunate, however, in knowing that there are two papers in the center with drawings of flowers and vases. I only know this as one of the reviewers mentioned to check it when recieved. These are only for very large and probably canvas boards, which is not what I was looking for. But they are there. Based on what I see on the TV programs, they paint significantly better now, 23 years later. The book is not much help but I have not complained before now as I guess it is better than nothing.

I bought this book for my artist wife and she loves it. She uses it all the time now. I am very happy I bought it. It is a well made hard cover book well worth the money. The author really knows art and is a great teacher in this book.

Like the book but they sent two . Need to send one back

Learning and creating are easy with this book. Lots of help with detailed instructions and photos to show you what to do. Awesome!

Great illustrations and informations. Took quite awhile to arrive and found elsewhere for less. Otherwise, a beautiful book. Good tutorials.

I'm just getting started in oil painting......well, did some Bob Ross dvds but really didn't like doing the mountain landscapes. Love florals and bought book for the beautiful flowers it has in it and then reading it, really have learned some things, instructions are very clean and can't wait to paint one.

Für Blumenbilder zu malen sehr gut erklärt.