Favorite Color Theory Book

[nodaedalus]

So the title says it all, I'm really in need of working on my values, I haven't quite strayed from Grayscale or working with a single color in many shades.

I'm looking for a book that hits the basics, but is quite hefty, I'm looking for a lot of content, a book that I can resort to many times throughout my interests.


Plainly I'm looking for color theory and value balance.


What'cha Got?

Thanks!

[Idiot Apathy]

http://www.richardschmid.com/alla_prima_book_info.htm

Just buy it right now Trust me.

[nodaedalus]

Hey Idiot_Apathy!!

Thanks for the response man! Good to see you around here, I love your work, I've looked through everyone of your sketches and I'm thrilled to be able to view them.

Thanks Again!!

[Idiot Apathy]

Aww, thanks for the kind words.
Go buy the book ! 60 bucks with shipping, it's the art bible.

[G A I A]

I looked at the samples and I think it looks good.. better than the stuff I've read so far.
I read Goethe, Itten and a book from that Betty Whatevershesnamed and didn't understand much, so maybe I'm giving that book here a try too

[dcorc]

Schmid's book is excellent, but its not really a book on colour theory, its a book on painting. (though it does have quite a lot to say on colour and value, and I'd encourage you to get it)

As a colour theory book, I'd very strongly recommend you get:

http://www.amazon.com/New-Munsell-St.../dp/1563672006

(get it new, not second-hand - as well as a very good textbook, it contains colour-chips you need to do exercises in it - which are very educational and well-worth doing - but if you shop around, you might get it cheaper).

Dave

[nodaedalus]

I had a few bucks in my account, so I decided to grab Richard Schmid's book, I'm very excited.

Schmid's book is excellent, but its not really a book on colour theory, its a book on painting. (though it does have quite a lot to say on colour and value, and I'd encourage you to get it)

As a colour theory book, I'd very strongly recommend you get:

http://www.amazon.com/New-Munsell-St.../dp/1563672006

(get it new, not second-hand - as well as a very good textbook, it contains colour-chips you need to do exercises in it - which are very educational and well-worth doing - but if you shop around, you might get it cheaper).

Dave

Thanks for the Dave, that book looks incredibly helpful as well and will certainly be purchased in the next paycheck to be had.

Oh this is awesome guys, thank you all endlessly.


I won't be able to get any other books(or anything ) for a while as they set me back nearly $200 but I'm eager to hear more suggestions.

Maybe to expand this thread, beyond color theory, to your 'favorite "insert art topic" book' I'd love to see what other binded material you all base your study upon.

Thanks Again!!!

[G A I A]

I'll have a look at the Munsell book as well, doing exercises sounds like a method my brain can understand way better than analyzing other artists works


Expanding the topic sounds nice too, my favourite book on anatomy is "Die Gestalt des Menschen" written by Gottfried Bammes.

http://www.amazon.com/Die-Gestalt-Me...1147119&sr=1-2

It's in German and I don't know if there are any translations around (I think there aren't) but it's probably the best book on anatomy you can get, even the hyped Andrew Loomis's books aren't even close to Bammes in comparison.
Bammes has a great way of showing the human body to the artist, starting from newborns up to very old people and beyond that he explains and shows WHY a leg/arm/whatever moves how it moves so you really learn a lot about anatomy, poses, expressions and so on. You can understand and learn a lot by just looking at the pictures so I can highly recommend this book, even if you can't read the text
(To be honest, most of the text is boring as hell, Gottfried Bammes is some kind of chatterbox and loves to babble about the old masters like Da Vinci )

[nodaedalus]

I'll have a look at the Munsell book as well, doing exercises sounds like a method my brain can understand way better than analyzing other artists works


Expanding the topic sounds nice too, my favourite book on anatomy is "Die Gestalt des Menschen" written by Gottfried Bammes.

http://www.amazon.com/Die-Gestalt-Me...1147119&sr=1-2

It's in German and I don't know if there are any translations around (I think there aren't) but it's probably the best book on anatomy you can get, even the hyped Andrew Loomis's books aren't even close to Bammes in comparison.
Bammes has a great way of showing the human body to the artist, starting from newborns up to very old people and beyond that he explains and shows WHY a leg/arm/whatever moves how it moves so you really learn a lot about anatomy, poses, expressions and so on. You can understand and learn a lot by just looking at the pictures so I can highly recommend this book, even if you can't read the text
(To be honest, most of the text is boring as hell, Gottfried Bammes is some kind of chatterbox and loves to babble about the old masters like Da Vinci )

Unfortunately this is out of my price range at the moment. But I found another book he composed that was only $18.00USD So I'm pumped!!


Thanks Everyone!!

Keep the suggestions coming if you feel you can contribute, great thread

[OmenSpirits]

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho...d.php?t=112049

Go to his site.

[Elwell]

Unfortunately this is out of my price range at the moment. But I found another book he composed that was only $18.00USD So I'm pumped!!

This one? Don't bother.

[Steph Laberis]

No studio bookshelf should be without Alla Prima, which you guys beat me to but there's also this one... People might think I am being snarky with this reply, but the sad thing is that I'm being completely serious

[Elwell]

Steph, your post hit me like Proust's madeleine! I haven't thought of that book since I was four years old, maybe younger!

[Elwell]

Hey look, the original art is on tour:
http://www.nccil.org/experience/arti...ooks/index.htm

[Jushra]

@Idiot Apathy: Thanks for that link to the Alla Prima book; I had only seen it for $80. Definitely going to get on that now. Cheers.

[Steph Laberis]

Hey look, the original art is on tour:
http://www.nccil.org/experience/arti...ooks/index.htm

*gasp* It will be in MA when I am there for the Holidays! Thank you for the link, I will so be there!!

[nodaedalus]

This one? Don't bother.

Really??

Shucks I was excited about it!

How awful is it? Really a shame as I've already ordered it too

[G A I A]

Unfortunately this is out of my price range at the moment. But I found another book he composed that was only $18.00USD So I'm pumped!!


Thanks Everyone!!

Keep the suggestions coming if you feel you can contribute, great thread

I recommend buying the Bammes book at the german Amazon (or Ebay) if you want it, it's way cheaper
http://www.amazon.de/Die-Gestalt-Men...1197231&sr=8-1
79,00€ must be something around 115 USD I think
And believe me, this thing is worth every cent you spend on it... it's a really HUGE and THICK book lol

[nodaedalus]

I recommend buying the Bammes book at the german Amazon (or Ebay) if you want it, it's way cheaper
http://www.amazon.de/Die-Gestalt-Men...1197231&sr=8-1
79,00€ must be something around 115 USD I think
And believe me, this thing is worth every cent you spend on it... it's a really HUGE and THICK book lol

502 Pages? Wow!

Although, I can never find translated copies of his books! Bah!

I wonder though, is $120 worth it for only seeing the pictures and not getting any dialog?

Thanks !

[PieterV]

502 Pages? Wow!

Although, I can never find translated copies of his books! Bah!

I wonder though, is $120 worth it for only seeing the pictures and not getting any dialog?

Thanks !

The general consensus about Bammes is that while his pics are excellent his dialog is needlessly complex, using long complex scentences for something that would easily be explained in a few words.

[nodaedalus]

I wonder though, is $120 worth it for only seeing the pictures and not getting any dialog?

The general consensus about Bammes is that while his pics are excellent his dialog is needlessly complex, using long complex scentences for something that would easily be explained in a few words.

Is that a Yes?

[PieterV]

It's a "I think it's a yes, but I can't be certain because I cannot read german very well" ^^

[nodaedalus]

Haha touche!

[G A I A]

I searched for a few samples to show you and found this: http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho...d.php?t=119441
maybe this helps with the dicision

As already said, I'm hardly reading the text in the book because most of it is boring babble lol
And it's not that I can't read German, I can understand it very well cuz' it's my native language

[ArtZealot]

http://www.richardschmid.com/alla_prima_book_info.htm

Just buy it right now Trust me.

I can vouch for that book as well. That book rocks. get it.

[melodysw]

What is it about Munsell that you like?

[Doug Hoppes]

James Gurney has a book called "Color and Light" Fantastic book!

Dougie

[ArtZealot]

I vouch also for alla prima. That book is fantastic.