Ships and the sea have been an inspiration to artists since the earliest of times, as paintings by ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans testify. This book by a noted maritime artist and teacher will serve as an excellent guide for beginners and intermediate painters. And for would-be artists interested in going beyond the painting of ships, there are other subjects to consider: beaches, fishing villages, the surf, a rocky coastline, and the open sea.
The first painter's manual to cover such a wide variety of maritime subjects, this volume offers something for everyone—some technical details and ideas as well as what to do and what not to do. There's an abundance of practical advice on portraying a vast number of subjects—from docks, sea gulls, fishermen and their vessels to close-ups of ships' hulls, masts, and rigging. Useful tips on perspective, composition, and reflections (the hardest element in a marine setting to reproduce) are accompanied by diagrams and drawings, while step-by-step guidelines help artists capture the essence of an ocean scene and inject more realism into their work.