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 for a slideshow.)
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.
