Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #35405 in Books
• Published on: 2005
• Binding: Hardcover
• 169 pages

Customer Reviews

Must Read for the serious Outdoor Painter
Edgar Payne was one of the great american landscape painters, as well as a great teacher, and an accomplished writer.
I found his style of English to be a little more difficult to read, but after the first chapter or two I got used to it, and it was well worth the effort.

I highly recommend reading and referring to the chapter on compositional forms: the pyramid, circle, L, and S shapes for example. He lists a dozen of the most commonly used outdoor compositions, and gives easy examples for understanding them.

Lots and lots of valuable information!

Ten Stars.....this is the Bible!
If you can only buy one book on composition of Outdoor Painting, this is the one. The original book, published in 1941, has seen several editions and goes in and out of print. Although Amazon often shows that it is out of print, call the publisher directly. They have plenty of brand new copies in the latest editions. The book, itself, is not large, only 6x9 or so. And it mostly consists of WORDS! But it is one of the most succinct books on composition I have ever read. Each paragraph, each sentence is packed with information and advice. There are some simple line drawings which help the viewer and provide the basics for compositional outlines. Also, the newer editions have some very fine color samples of Mr. Paynes work in the back of the book, as well as several addenda by his daughter. If you are an outdoor painter, you could read this book every day for the rest of your life and still find something new to think about or try.