Books by Linda Brandi Cateura

The most popular art instruction books ever written come from students taking notes from actual workshop sessions with all their power and immediacy and with practical one-to-one contact between student and teacher. OIL PAINTING SECRETS FROM A MASTER is such a book. For 2 years student Linda Cateura, who was studying painting at the Art Students League in New York, took notebook in hand and pursued teacher / artist David Leffel as he critiqued his students' work. Her succinct notes capture his insights, philosophy, painting hints and general comment.

Leffel's classic, painterly style, in the manner of Rembrandt and Chardin, affords ample illustration of his ideas in the Leffel paintings that are reproduced. These are accompanied by details, demonstrations and diagrams, almost all in color. Beginners, advanced students and professionals will find invaluable guidance that will make them rethink and learn more. They will find hints to save them effort as well as solutions to persistent problems. It is in the "5-Star" category of Amazon art books.

OIL PAINTING SECRETS FROM A MASTER addresses
many problems art students encounter, such as:

SEEING * CONCEPTS * MATERIALS AND PREPARATION *
BRUSHSTROKE TECHNIQUES * MASSING * LIGHT AND
SHADOW (CHIAROSCURO) * BACKGROUNDS * VALUES *
EDGES * COLOR * STILL LIFES * PORTRAITS *
FIGURES * PROCEDURES * GENERAL COMMENTS *
ATTITUDES THAT CAN HOLD YOU BACK


Comments:

COLLEEN RICHMON from Divide, Colorado, writes:

OIL PAINTING SECRETS FROM A MASTER will appeal to all levels, from very beginning to advanced. The book is filled with the most basic instructions from brush cleaning and preparing the canvas to discussions on how to solve a variety of problems with your paintings. I bought this book immediately after taking a workshop with Mr. Leffel and feel that it completely incorporates his basic painting techniques, as well as his philosophy of painting. I have returned to it for review many, many times. It is also beautifully filled with reproductions of his art. Mr. Leffels' style is 20th century old masters, but there is something here for everyone's style and subject matter. I consider this book a 'must have' for every artist library."

Reviewer from Boston, MA:

"This book is highly recommended for someone who has never had a painting instructor or been part of a painting class. The tips and techniques are applicable even if your painting style differs greatly from the featured artist."

Reviewer from Mobile, AL:

"The artist the book derives from is a master in his own time. He stresses perpetual learning and expressive style. The beginner will benefit from the strictness of detail in the text, as well as the thorough explanations. The advanced will benefit from the refreshing way the book is laid out in small caption-like snippets of information.

"The book features breathtaking full-color pictures that prove the text to be a fitting read to any would-be or already-is artist."

Reviewer from Madison, Wisconsin:

"One of the best ever art instruction books! It is a book to own, and I base this on having reading many art books, as well as my own experience as an oil painter. It is both enjoyable and profound. My hat off to the artist! The book is a FIVE-STAR."

Snippets from OIL PAINTING SECRETS FROM A MASTER:

In painting a still life, the principles are the same as in painting a portrait or landscape. Only the subject changes. In all cases, you paint values, color, focal points, and edges.

You get depth in shadows by keeping the shadows thin. No brushstrokes should be seen in the shadows. Impasto destroys the illusion of shadowiness. If necessary, use more medium to thin the paint.

If your canvas has a good smooth surface and if you don't work the paint too much, the paint should stay on top of the canvas and remain shiny, rather than sink in and look dull. I prefer a smooth canvas that allows you to move the paint around a bit.