Paint like Monet

These first two entries in the new "Masterclass" series are outstanding volumes and bode well for the rest of the series. Many artists begin their careers modeling their style on the masters that inspire them. Heard, the Public Programmes Manager at the National Portrait Gallery and a practicing artist, offers unique insights into the creative mind of Monet. He explores how his paintings were conceived, constructed, and executed in what is a guided tour through the artist's methods, tools, materials, and techniques. Theoretical context is provided with, for example, a section on the influence of Eugene Chevreul's 1839 seminal volume, The Harmony and Contrast of Colours. White, an internationally exhibited artist, helps students gain an understanding of Da Vinci's techniques for depicting the human form and dealing with perspective, line weight, light, shade, and character. She explores how Da Vinci achieved his effects, chose his materials, and defined his approach, and she analyzes some of his finest drawings in depth. Both volumes provide chronologies of the artists' lives and glossaries of historic terms. Highly recommended. For a single-volume work, see Hazel Harrison's Master Strokes: Watercolor; A Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Techniques of the Masters. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.