Face to Face With Greatness The Adventure of Portrait Painting
By John Howard Sanden
n a beautiful
book that is part memoir, part book of instructive advice and counsel, and throughout
a portfolio of portraiture, an American portrait painter shares the lessons of
forty years depicting (as the author puts it) "the world's most interesting
men and women." This large volume begins with an absorbing personal story
- how the possibilities of a career in portraiture became apparent to a young
artist in the Midwest who then risked everything on a new start in New York. This
is the surprising account of how the author made the impossible leap from painter
of religious pictures in mid-America to recognition as one of the nation's most
sought-after portrait artists. Here is the story of early false starts and crucial
mid-life decisions. How the "big break" came and the long hard work
that followed. Through case histories the reader experiences a behind-the-scenes
look at big league professional portrait painting, with 129 examples in color
of the portrait work that has inspired tens of thousands of students and artists
around the world through the author's books and videos.
Hardcover, 176 Pages
Large Format, Coffee Table Size; 12½ x 9¾ Inches
214 Illustrations, 178 in Color. 155 Never Before Published
Themes of the Book:
1. THE POSSIBILITIES OF PORTRAIT PAINTING
Memoirs of Forty Years in Portraiture
Getting Started As An Artist
Taking On New York
Becoming a Portrait Painter
The Best Portrait Market in the World
2. ADVENTURES IN PORTRAIT PAINTING Memorable Case Histories and Examples
Painting Famous Cowboys and Preachers
Painting Giants of Business
Painting Government and Academia
Painting Women's Portraits
Most Memorable Assignments
3. CREATIVE AND TECHNICAL PROCEDURE Step-by-Step Portrait Procedure Described
Studio Essentials (Must-Have Equipment)
Studio Supplies (Checklists and Details)
Bonus: PORTFOLIO OF FIGURE PAINTINGS (Including Paintings Never Before Published or Shown)
A SELECTION OF PORTRAITS FROM THE BOOK: (Click image to enlarge.)
n a beautiful
book that is part memoir, part book of instructive advice and counsel, and throughout
a portfolio of portraiture, an American portrait painter shares the lessons of
forty years depicting (as the author puts it) "the world's most interesting
men and women." This large volume begins with an absorbing personal story
- how the possibilities of a career in portraiture became apparent to a young
artist in the Midwest who then risked everything on a new start in New York. This
is the surprising account of how the author made the impossible leap from painter
of religious pictures in mid-America to recognition as one of the nation's most
sought-after portrait artists. Here is the story of early false starts and crucial
mid-life decisions. How the "big break" came and the long hard work
that followed. Through case histories the reader experiences a behind-the-scenes
look at big league professional portrait painting, with 129 examples in color
of the portrait work that has inspired tens of thousands of students and artists
around the world through the author's books and videos.
