The Painter X Wow! Book
by Cher Threinen-Pendarvis
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Book Reviews of The Painter X Wow! Book
Book Review: Painter X Wow! wows even longtime Painter user
Summary: 5 Stars
TITLE: Painter X Wow! wows even longtime Painter user
David Purnell, M.A., CMI
NEW YORK WEST Medical Illustration Studio
skyotter@aol.com
September 16, 2007
This edition -- "The Painter X Wow! Book" -- of the book series by Cher Threinen-Pendarvis, like its predecessors, is beautifully done, and packed with valuable, accessible information.
I am a professional medical illustrator. Illustrations I create in Painter are the backbone of my work; of my business. I reserve Photoshop for image editing. But for original art that simulates natural media, I don't believe Painter can be beat.
One aspect of this book I especially appreciate are the many examples of how different artists have made use of various Corel Painter features. I find these "case studies" in Threinen-Pendarvis's book to be not only extremely informative, but highly inspiring.
As much as I've used Painter (since 1994, Painter v2.0), there is always more to learn. Within five minutes of perusing this new edition of Threinen-Pendarvis's book, I found something basic that I never knew. This new information will allow me to perform a frequently used task quicker and easier than I knew was possible.
Now here's something important I think new users of Painter should know. Painter, in my opinion, isn't difficult to learn. That is, it doesn't have a steep "learning curve." But what it does have is a steep "experiential curve." This is because it has so MANY fabulous features, tools, brushes, and effects. Even after all these years, there are features of Painter I've never explored. But I have a sense, generally, of the features available -- should I need to use them, or wish to explore them.
Painter is a rich gold mine of digital graphic tools waiting to be experienced. And Threinen-Pendarvis's "The Painter X Wow! Book" is a valuable road map to those riches.
Book Review: Chock a block full of new WOW! stuff!
Summary: 5 Stars
And as always in this new edition, Cher Threinen-Pendarvis does not disappoint. The Painter WOW! X Book is clear and concise with regards to layout and organization. It's easy to cross reference, and visually stimulating. I suspect you'll find, as I do this is a book that's tough to put down! As I said, the organization is such that you can jump around finding what you need quickly and easily. It's an exciting book too! I can't remember flipping through, and not getting the urge to "make stuff". You'll find tips and tricks in this book that you'll find nowhere else! I've examined similar Painter manuals, and find that they are either repetitive, hard to understand, and surely not as all-inclusive as The Painter WOW! X Book. One of the great things about this particular book is that it matters not whether you are a photographer, illustrator, fine artist or graphic designer. Nor does it matter what your style or aesthetic, figurative, illustrative, fantasy, photorealism, modern, or even if you're into typography! There is truly something in here for everyone; there is surely a doorway to your next great inspiration! I've been an Adjunct Faculty teaching Painter at an art college in Boston for years. And I've been highly recommending this text, edition after edition for as long as I've been teaching. There is none better! Regardless of your level of expertise, this book is a MUST HAVE for any digital artist that's using Painter. Oh, and if you've sitting on the fence with this purchase due to the fact that you have an older edition of this text, do not delay, as the application grows, so does this book! Enjoy!Book Review: Certainly is a WOW book, but
Summary: 5 Stars
As I'm always trying to learn how to handle Painter X in more depth, but so far I've only just scratched the surface, (same with Photoshop), I purchased Cher's book. She definitely packs a lot into it, and is an excellent publication and learning tool, but, I don't feel it is for the first timer. I have messed around with Painter X for about six months, and still feel I need a "this is how you do this". I thought Cher's book was a bit of a "chuck 'em in the deep end", thing. If you have covered all the basic's and are handling them well, then this is the book for you. However, if like me, you are still coming to terms with a lot of Painter X, then I would look furhter for something that provides more basic steps and explanations, and easy exercises to complete, so you know you have successfully learned the steps. Try "Digital Painting Fundamentals with Painter X - Rhoda Grossman", first, then move into Chers's book, then you'll have everything you need to really make Painter X work. Cher's book is a great tool, worth all 5 stars.
01/03/2010 - Okay, since my review above, 24/04/2009, I have a further comment that may help Painter X users. For those having problems coming to terms with the program, try doing Painter 1 & 2 at LVS Online, these are two great six weeks courses that I can guarantee will get you into Painter X without pain, and if you have purchased Cher's book, you will make great use of it as I am. Hope this helps and goodluck.
Book Review: Apparently the best so far
Summary: 3 Stars
I was forced to read and use this book for a class in Corel Painter X. I also owned the first Painter Wow book. This one is a great improvement over that, however it still misses the mark on what is needed. Painter has improved greatly also, and has become more complex, if not enigmatic program. Painter was designed for a special group of people, (artists, yes we're special,) who generally like to just pick up a tool and start making art with it. While this book has great full color illustrations of what is possible, thus the "WOW," i feel it has too many exercises, trying to emulate someone else's example, and not enough organized detailing of the tools.
What an artist needs with Painter is an accurate reference manual, where one can easily look-up a brush or other tool, find out all its standard variants, what they do and don't do, and what you may do to adjust it. The author attempts to do this, but you have to follow too many cross references, and too much detail is left out.
This book is however the best you can get and she does do a great job of explaining the principles behind the different aspects of this program. Painter is so complex it is not easy for any person to fully know, but this is why a complete and usable guide is needed.
Book Review: I'm Wow-ed but...
Summary: 4 Stars
As with many Wow books before this one, I just loved the graphics presented. The beautiful full color pictures printed on non-glare quality paper is superb.
As a new owner of Corel Painter X and not knowing this program, I was frustrated in trying to understand the text explaining how the graphic work was accomplished. So I put the Wow book down, for now anyway, and bought the book titled 'Corel Painter X for Photographers'.
My logic was that any book for photographers wouldn't assume foreknowledge of an art and graphic software product. I was correct, this book is the one to get to learn Corel Painter; for now anyway. Unfortunately the disc tutorials only ran for about 20 minutes before the screen filled up with a red color eventually blocking out the video on my Windows Vista Ultimate system. Don't let this stop anyone from buying the "...for Photographers" book however because it is well worth its price regardless of what the disc does or doesn't do.
Getting back to the Wow book, I'm hoping to be able to properly use this book once I master the Painter X software. Until then I'll just enjoy the presentations in it and dream of what will be someday. If you are already a Corel Painter pro by all means buy this beautiful book.