Steve Armes - traditional classical painting

Resources
Here is a list of resources that I have found to be helpful.

Books

The Science and Practice of Drawing, by Harold Speed
Oil Painting Techniques, by Harold Speed
    These two books are essential for the serious student. They set forth a clear discussion of the academic approach to drawing and painting.
Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting, by John F. Carlson
Landscape Painting, by Birge Harrison. Out of print and expensive, but worth it if you can get a copy.
Composition of Outdoor Painting, by Edgar Payne
Charles Bargue Et Jean-Leon Gerome Drawing Course, by Gerald M. Ackerman
    Now a standard text in ateliers worldwide, this book is an excellent source of plates to copy. Do not buy this book from on line sellers without checking availability at www.daheshmuseum.org.
Modern Painters, by John Ruskin
    Wordy and cumbersome at times, but contains much practical and theoretical teaching on landscape painting. This book influenced many painters working in the second half of the nineteenth century.
The Elements of Drawing, by John Ruskin
    Concise and more readable than the former book and in my opinion, underrated.
The Human Figure, by John Vanderpoel.
Hawthorne on Painting, by Mrs. Charles W. Hawthorne.
    Note from lectures and critiques compiled posthumously.
On Painting and Drawing, by William Morris Hunt.
    Another underrated book.
The Artistic Anatomy of Trees, by Rex V. Cole.
    Valuable for its discussion of design, line and massing, even for the non-landscape painter.
The Painter in Oil, by Daniel B. Parkhurst
The Classical Drawing Atelier: A contemporary Guide to Traditional Studio Practice, by Juliette Aristides.
    Very informative and worth reading.

Painting thhe Visual Impression by Richard Whitney. This is concise and full of helpful information. It is a must for realist painters. It is available here:

http://crescentpond.com/rwbooklet.html

Instruction

Juliette Aristides Classical Atelier Traditional training in the Seattle area from a prominent teacher and author of The Classical Drawing Atelier: A Contemporary Guide to Traditional Studio Practice.

Academy of Realist Art Classical training in Toronto.

Rational Painting Forum A serious forum for discussions of current and classical realist painting with a focus on critical thinking.

Quotes
We see nothing until we understand it . John Constable

Only an auctioneer should admire all schools of art. Oscar Wilde

The first thing in the study of art is sound, extensive knowledge. The next is to know how to apply it. Edgar Payne

…the academic artists of the nineteenth century…thought that finish denoted professionalism, that it indicated an orderly mind and represented the complete development of the artist’s idea. Gerald Ackerman quoting Graydon Parrish

In truth, strength of draftsmanship lies in the degree in which structural form is understood. John H. Vanderpoel

Lesser men do lesser art. John Kuehne

A sketch has charm because of its truth…not because it is unfinished. Charles Hawthorne

The secret of the old masters is that they were highly gifted and skilled painters, not amateur alchemists who dabbled in trying to make chemistry substitute for hard work and diligent practice. Michael Skalka

Spontaneity is a precious quality in good painting, but it should be no excuse for second-rate art. The drunken man who kissed the Jersey heifer was spontaneous. Hamilton Easter Field in The Techniques of Oil Painting, p.64

Art is but nature better understood. Reverend Elias Magoon, 1861.