Painting: A Creative Journey
Painting: A Creative Journey by Larry Dinkin Kindle version. (Click here)
Painting: A Creative Journey visually encapsulates the book's theme: the creative path from figurative to landscape to abstract painting. It answers the question: how can a realistic painter create a unique personalized abstract world? With works in the permanent collections of forty-five prominent museums worldwide, Larry Dinkin is eminently qualified to write this book. In 154 selected paintings and illustrations, the reader is shown the artistic decisions made along the way -- and why -- as the paintings are developed from beginning to end. This book illustrates how paintings are "built" from the initial vision to the finished work. It delves into creative strategies, both intuitive and intellectual, and illustrates creative concepts that allow painters to build their own unique art.
​
How can one come to understand the creative artistic process? You can explore creativity in general or follow a particular creative path in depth. This book takes the latter approach: it will take you on a visual journey along Dinkin's artistic path. As reflected in the three images on the cover of this book, his path went from figurative to landscape to his present body of work, abstract painting. By seeing the many decisions made – from initial vision to the finished work – you will understand the logic and get a sense of the creative process.
​
Few books have literally illustrated the creative process with the level of detail you will find in this book. This approach offers the reader a whole other dimension of understanding. More than just illustrating various strategies and techniques, this book will allow you to explore the creative spirit that energized Dinkin's vision. This Journey is a lot like following a filmmaker from concept to scripting, casting, filming, and editing. Although one would make their own unique film, they would have learned greatly by seeing how a film is made. Dinkin endeavored to demystify the creation of paintings, revealing the creative process "behind the curtain."
​
Painters, both new and experienced: many well-regarded art instruction books are limited to one genre, demonstrating step-by-step techniques, often resulting in formulaic paintings – the antithesis of creativity. This book, to the contrary, illustrates creative concepts that allow you to build your own unique art.
​
Non-painters who find these images visually exciting will simply want to view them and see and understand how a body of original work is created. You can see Dinkin's art in forty-five museums or just turn these pages. A book like this allows the reader time to gaze and contemplate the art. Welcome to a visually exciting journey.
​
​
Acclaim from art museum directors for Painting: A Creative Journey.
“Painting: A Creative Journey by Larry Dinkin is a welcome addition to the shelf list of both guides to painting and the creative thinking process, by an accomplished and acclaimed contemporary painter.
Visual, practical, and intellectual – an amazing combination of three distinct, vital elements that comprise the art of painting. Larry Dinkin has created a book that can be used as an essential guide to the craft of painting or as an overview of how he approaches the art of composition and color. In this lavishly illustrated volume, Dinkin takes the reader from drawing to underpainting to completion.
In an overview of his career, Dinkin provides a clear and extensive look at his growth from a representational painter of figurative and landscape works to an abstract painter who uses the dynamics of color in the manner of Hans Hofmann to create brilliant works filled with motion and life. Whether for artists looking to improve their art or interested connoisseurs working to better understand the creative process, Painting: A Creative Journey makes for great reading and an enlightening visual journey.”
Alex Nyerges, Director and Chief Executive Officer, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
“Painting: A Creative Journey reveals Larry Dinkin’s passionate and meticulous approach from figurative to landscape to abstract painting. In this book, Dinkin offers more than a simple “how-to” as he interweaves detailed instructions with autobiographical asides and insights into his creative process. By literally peeling back the layers of paint, the artist guides the reader step-by-step through multiple illustrations and diagrams. The result is a process book which is easy to follow yet, at the same time, demystifies the ‘creative journey’.”
John Henry, Executive Director, Flint Institute of Arts
“A thought-provoking and exciting look into the mind and work of an accomplished painter and printmaker. Dinkin not only presents a personal exploration into the genesis of his own colorful contemporary work, but he also presents a crystal-clear précis into the genres of painting and printmaking.
The work is both an intellectual and personal journey into the world of an American abstract master. Dinkin’s pedagogy is educational at the same time that it is an exhilarating look into his visually stimulating aesthetic. It offers a rare glimpse into the world of an American artist who shares his perspective and techniques in a number of thoughtful chapters all illustrated with the colorful and decorative paintings and works on paper that have helped to create his accomplished career.”
Gary R. Libby, art historian, author, critic and Director Emeritus of the Museum of Arts and Sciences, Daytona Beach, Florida.
“Not only are Larry Dinkin’s truly fascinating, deftly executed, and intricately planned artworks presented in exquisite reproductions, but also his highly professional techniques are expertly explained. Having followed Dinkin’s amazing mid-life but fresh art career since its inception, it is most gratifying to see his progress as an artist continue to ever higher planes. All of us who are enamored of Larry Dinkin’s artwork are eager to experience his next phase as he continues to grow into an internationally recognized art world talent.”
David Miller, former director of the Boca Raton Museum of Art and previous board president of the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens as well as a curator and author.
“It was a pleasure to read Larry Dinkin’s Painting: a Creative Journey as I compared his analysis of his work with our recently acquired Dinkin painting, Turandot, 2005. Inaccessible prose accompanied by over 150 images, Dinkin provides us the tools to understand his creative intent and process. Dinkin analyzes his visually exciting paintings from the representational to the abstract and, along the way, we experience his creative journey.”
Steven High, Director, The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota, Florida