A01=Helen Davison
academic painting
art education
atelier
atelier methods
Author_Helen Davison
brushwork
Category=AFCL
classic
classical oil painting
colour
colour theory
composition
composition principles
drawing fundamentals
edges
eq_art-fashion-photography
eq_bestseller
eq_isMigrated=1
eq_isMigrated=2
eq_nobargain
eq_non-fiction
figurative painting
fine art instruction
form
form and structure
forthcoming
light and shadow
masters
medium
Oil
old Masters methods
paint
paint handling
pigments and paint
portrait
realism techniques
realistic draw
sight size
still life
tonal values
traditional art techniques
values
Product details
- ISBN 9780719846861
- Weight: 921g
- Dimensions: 215 x 260mm
- Publication Date: 25 Aug 2026
- Publisher: The Crowood Press Ltd
- Publication City/Country: GB
- Product Form: Hardback
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This beautiful book is a masterclass in classical oil painting. It is structured to teach individual components as separate subjects, allowing students to understand each part without being overwhelmed by the whole. Richly illustrated, it provides a comprehensive guide to methods that yield consistent results and, most importantly, helps you learn and practise new skills to fully equip you on your artistic journey. Classical Oil Painting is a comprehensive guide to painting with oils. With illustrated references to masterpieces throughout, the author places today's students in a long line of artists who have gone before. Examples demonstrate how Manet utilises directional brushwork, how Pissarro arranges a still life, and how Rembrandt masters a hierarchy of darks, mid-tones and lights. This book focuses on the craft of painting so that, in time, artistry will naturally develop. It follows the principles of atelier training and is structured using the six fundamental components of form, values, edges, colour, paint handling and composition. With a strong emphasis on learning by doing, it supports the theory with demonstrations, examples and exercises, providing a complete account of this compelling medium.
HELEN DAVISON operated a successful graphic design studio before embarking on a career as a figurative painter. In 2010, she furthered her studies in draughtsmanship at The Sarum Studio in Salisbury, learning traditional drawing and painting techniques dating back to 17th-century artists such as Velázquez and Van Dyck. In a world filled with noise and activity, Helen believes that the effort and dedication needed to work within this demanding tradition remain as powerful as ever and welcomes a return to good, 'old-fashioned' painting. It demands concentration and thoughtfulness to respond to nature – whether it is a portrait, still life or landscape. It is not about copying exactly what is in front of you but about essential selection: a way of seeing that allows the artist to make choices over many hours as the light and conditions change. Helen is a member of the Bath Society of Artists (BSA) and has exhibited with various art societies represented by the Federation of British Artists at The Mall Galleries, London. She is also the proud recipient of several awards, including the 2016 ING Discerning Eye Chairman's Purchase Prize.
