John F. Carlson

Perspectives from The Artist's Road

“We must not imitate the externals of nature with so much fidelity that the picture fails to evoke that wonderful teasing recurrence of emotion that marks the contemplation of a work of art.” - John F. Carlson

We have been revisiting the wonderful classic, Carlson’s Guide to Landscape Painting by John F. Carlson. With the resurgence of interest in traditional representational painting, the lessons that Carlson teaches are again highly valued by painters for their timeless insights into the mysteries of plein air painting and making art. Of the many different volumes in our library that teach painting, none surpass Carlson’s 1929 publication in organization, clarity and revelation. Designed as a book for beginners, it is actually much, much more than that. Carlson’s deep and thorough understanding of outdoor light and its effects on the landscape is clearly presented in plain language and revealing drawings. But perhaps the greatest value of this material is his enthusiastic love of pa…