James Gurney's Survival Guide for Art Students
The author of the 20th anniversary Calla Edition of the phenomenal bestseller Dinotopia, John Gurney is a master at bringing perspective realism and scientific accuracy to his artwork. Mr. Gurney is also a huge admirer of Dover's line of art instruction books and has graciously compiled a list of his ten favorite titles, which includes John F. Carlson's Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting. Here is what he had to say:
"John Carlson, himself a noted American Impressionist painter and teacher, addresses all the common elements faced by landscape painters, including design, light, perspective, color, clouds, trees, and composition. While the book was first published in 1929, Dover has reprinted the 1958 edition, so the language is a little more accessible to the modern reader without sacrificing Carlson's forthright style. Although the 58 diagrams are in black and white, the book's chief value is its practical principles and insights."