The Art of Landscape Painting

Normally I shy away from how-to art books. They tend to rely too much on gimmicky techniques, and the art sometimes seems to lack sincerity. This book, however, is filled with images of Strisik's small, beautiful oils and informative insights into his methods. Strisik seems to prefer autumn and winter landscapes, but he travels extensively and captures scenes from around the world. There are many color plates that showcase his lovely muted-yet-rich palette. There are also many black-and-white photos, which is not a problem, since Strisik's tonal scale is so accomplished.There are demonstrations with the paintings depicted in various stages of completion. I found the comparisons of photos of the painter's on-site locations with the finished painting to be especially revealing.Strisik comes across as a master painter who is always searching, always striving, for the fullest expression of beauty in nature. Both serious and beginner landscape painters can benefit from this book.