Editorial Reviews

Rich colors are a desirable result for most artists. The techniques of creating a tonal underpainting and layering colors have been used by master artists for centuries. This book, which uses complementary colors for the underpainting, allows the contemporary colored pencil artist to tap into that tradition used by the Masters.

There is no other book that approaches color in this manner for today's artist.

Opposite or complementary colors create contrast and vibrancy. Masterful Color is loaded with instruction on how to layer colored pencil effectively to create deep, vibrant colors that exude richness. Readers will learn how to layer these complements over one another, creating rich shadows and adding depth and dimension to their paintings. With extensive coverage of basic techniques, detailed information on composition, color theory, textures and more, colored pencil artists will learn everything they need to achieve rich, vibrant colors by layering complementary colors. 17 demonstrations show readers the various techniques needed to use this approach and an extended final demonstration leads them through the entire painting process, step by step.

Customer Reviews

Exactly what it says it is..., 2009-10-30
by J. Daily (Fort Worth, Tx United States)

a book about layering your colored pencils to make vivid colored pencil paintings. So many of these types of books are a collection of thoughts that seem to be random streams of consciousness that dont really teach you how to do exactly what is needed. Not this book. Step by step you will learn how to make pencil 'paintings.'

I don't know what to say, 2009-08-24
by K. Hunt

Because I cannot eloquently review this book, I defer to those who gave it 5 stars. Their descriptions were right on the money. I simply wanted to write a review just to give this wonderful book 5 more stars.

good, 2009-07-12
by P. Lai

I intended to buy a drawing book for watersoluble colore pencils. However this book is a nice one for color pencils drawing learning.

Last layers are dead, middle are fresh and beautiful , 2009-04-26
by Book Girl. (Florida, USA)

Value of this book for me is 4 stars
but I give 5 stars to this book just only to compensate one star of recent rating. This book is much better that one star. What I don't like about her work, that Arlene's works look overworked for me. She does a great job and a lot of work is included, but like one of previous reviewers mentioned, I also often thought while looking at her step-by-steps: " I would stop here". Her intermediate working steps look more fresh, breathing and colorful. Even changed underpainting hues look unusual and charming if compare to overworked deaf final image. In intermediate stages you can still see all reflections and color variation, which got completely lost after final layers and burnishing has been applied.
It's just my personal point of view because I like more classic colored pencil works like in Gildow's book (Colored Pencil Solution Book).

Arlen's book has valuable table of color overlaying combination on p.47. It inspired me to make my own table to have it at my hands. In general I love this book, it adds some new vision to library of mastering colored pencil techniques.

Go with Alyona Nickelsen's New Book, The Colored Pencil Painting Bible, 2009-03-21
by Girl Next Door (USA)

Instead of this book, try Alyona Nickelsen's new book instead. Much more concise with references from her website for tracing. She has more of an in depth explanation and isn't forcing you to do things 'her' way...which I found so much in this book, like I was being told the right and only way to create art... I would rather experiment and find my own way than have someone tell me that their way works and that's the only way. This is the mentality through the book and I found that Alyona has a way different approach that is just so true and clear. :)