This miscellany of artists' knowledge is an open door into the art studios of old, letting the reader in on some of the artists' secrets - the invention of oil paint and how to mix your own, the origin of pigments, the discovery of perspective and how to prepare a canvas or watercolour paper.

This miscellany of artists' knowledge is an open door into the art studios of old, letting the reader in on some of the artists' secrets - the invention of oil paint and how to mix your own, the origin of pigments, the discovery of perspective, how to prepare a canvas or watercolour paper, and how to achieve luminous flesh tones and correct proportions of the human form. Thoughts and quotes from great artists, past and present, are included.