Annotated Bibliography
“The Use of Light in the Art of Painting: A Physics Perspective”
Meade Brooks
Mortimer Abramowitz, Kenneth R. Spring, Light and Color, 2005
Light is a complex phenomenon that is classically explained with a simple model
based on rays and wavefronts. Here many aspects of visible light are explored,
beginning with an introduction to electromagnetic radiation and continuing through to
the perception of color and the characteristics of lenses.
David Adams, Painting Terms and Tips, 2003
Provides a fairly exhaustive resource of useful definitions of painting terms used by
artists (as well as useful tips).
Michael Bach , Optical Illusions and Visual Phenomena, 2008
Demonstrates visual phenomena, and optical or visual illusions. When painting,
certain visual phenomena and their effects on the brain must be taken into account to
produce the desired result. Here many such phenomena are explored and analyzed.
Marion Boddy-Evans, Color Theory, Color Mixing, and the Color Wheel, 2008
All the basic information concerning color theory and color mixing, arranged in easyto-understand color theory lessons.
Thomas B Brill, Light: Its Interaction with Art and Antiquities, 1980
A treatise on the use of light in various art forms throughout history. I found the
information on paints and pigments particularly useful.
Bruce MacEvoy , Perspective in the World, 2007
Linear perspective is the two dimensional image of a unique viewpoint and direction
of view. Our vision creates an image of the physical world from the weave of light
around us. The author presents foundational perspective concepts and illustrates how
to use those principles in drawings and paintings.
Thomas D. Rossing, Light Science: Physics and the Visual Arts, 1999
Intended for anyone with an interest in the visual arts and assuming no prior
knowledge of physics, this introduction presents the science of light--that is, the
science behind what and how we see. The approach emphasizes phenomena rather
than mathematical theory and the joy of discovery rather than the “drudgery” of
derivations. Numerous simple experiments are included.
S. Allyn Schaeffer, Color, Composition, and Light in the Landscape, 1986
This text covers the basics of light, composition and color theory as applied to
painting landscapes.
Frederic Taubes, Oil Painting for the Beginner, 1950
Taubes was a prolific 20th century American artists. This book became the standard
art students' text for ten years, and which remains in print to this day. I found his
section concerning the use of glazing to be particularly relevant to the use of light in
painting.
Mark Weber, Bold Strokes, 2009
In this book the author takes a seemingly complex manner of painting and breaks it
down into simple, manageable steps using a three-step process: (1) identify the
primary elements, (2) simplify by eliminating distracting lines and details, (3) suggest
detail and dynamic appearance with carefully placed brush strokes.
Mark Weber, Brushwork Essentials, 2002
The author shows how to convey everything from realistic light and shadow effects to
dynamic mood and tension. My favorite physics related text from the book is “Light
from different sources is continually zinging and zapping about, striking some objects
and being partially of fully absorbed, passing through others, reflecting, glaring,
filtering though the atmosphere and finally reaching our eyes.”
Rolf G. Kuehni , Color: an Introduction to Practice and Principles, 2005
This text explores a variety of light and color concepts including sources of color, the
nature of color, color perception phenomena, calculating color and color
reproduction.