Wow ... that's bizarre. I was just on Amazon looking thru the comments on that particular book before I received notification of a reply here via email.
I was able to work with a drawing teacher for three months last year via the internet, and my portrait likenesses improved dramatically - it didn't carry over completely to my painting, though
. This particular drawing teacher's personal style is rooted in Loomis, but many of the exercises I did with him were more along the lines of trying very hard to SEE and draw the actual line and form, as opposed to constructing from anatomy or formulas a la Loomis, Faragasso, etc. So I thought the Ryder approach, based on the little I know about his method, might compliment what I learned with the teacher. Weird, huh?
I will continue to draw and practice the exercises I learned last season, in addition to painting, and will most likely pick up the Ryder book soon. I will always believe that drawing has to come first, and that without facility with a pencil I will never be a decent portraitist. But I sure would love to find a classical oil painting teacher locally.
I'm very stubborn. I'm sure it'll happen eventually.
Minh "Stubborn" Thong
BTW ... does SOG have the Ryder book in it's bookstore? I bought H. Sanden and H. Brown thru the site last year, but I don't see a link for Ryder. Isn't there a bookstore somewhere?