Book Description

Reviews (1)

HRH The Prince of Wales Watercolours: An Inspiring Book
This delightful book is a treat for those who have an interest in art, England, or for those who simply wish to understand the mind of Prince Charles a little better. Far more than any biography, this book will give you an insight into the artistic mind of the Prince of Wales, as well as enlighten you to the way he feels about the environment, his country, and the World beyond England. The book follows His Highness through his many travels hither and thither around the world, including his travels in Scotland, Italy, Spain, and the Middle East. There are 73 beautiful color examples of Prince Charles's work selected by him. For an "amateur", as the Prince so calls himself, his work reflects the fact that His Highness has put his all into these works, and he has tremendous talent in the watercolour medium. Each of the 73 color plates in this book also are accompanied by Prince Charles's personal experiences while painting the picture. Some of these experiences appear soul-stirring and patriotic; for example his painting entitled View of Double Haven Bay from HMY Britannia. Then there are some phrases throughout the book that are quite humourous. Such as this line from page 38.."I was sitting on a grass slope amongst a large quantity of sheep droppings with my back beginning to give out and with pins and needles in my bottom!" Similar examples of the Prince's humor are all throughout the book. He also addresses some of the problems he had along the way with his artwork, such as rain and the "gentlemen of the press" getting in the way of artistic expression! On the whole, this is a wonderful book that will inspire you with its artwork, and keep you laughing along the way as well with bits of Prince Charles's humor. His rather humble attitude towards his work is understandable, given his position in life. However, His Highness must indeed feel a hint of pride for producing such lovely scenes on paper. I only hope that Prince Charles will eventually publish more of his artwork, for it certainly deserves to reach a wider audience. I highly recommend this book. It is certainly a "must-read" in my library! ... Read more

Book Description

Using inspiring visual examples, this handbook simplifies the complexities of watercolor painting, so artists of all levels can build their skills and achieve better results.

Presented in an easy-to-reference format that covers everything from materials to marketing, this guide provides artists with simple, direct instruction for: using tonal values to create a better painting; creating attractive pen and watercolor drawings; using glazes to create atmosphere and mood; directing the viewer's eye by controlling focus and edges; painting subjects every artist must master.

Wade includes trouble-shooting tips, self-critique questionnaires and helpful hints artists can quickly absorb and apply. With its unique, interactive approach to teaching, this guide is the next best thing to attending a one-on-one workshop. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

awesome book!
This book has become one of my best reading and reference books I own.He takes you through every step of his techniques simply and right to the point.I love the fact that he points out mistakes that he and other poeple have made from their experiences.His humor makes it an even more enjoyable read!I love this book

Simply a great book
Wade's book takes the aspiring artist through all of the techniques and approaches that make him such an engaging painter. He does this with detailed and very systematic discussions and lots and lots of paintings (many more than in most watercolor books). This book (as does Robert Lovett's companion book) covers as much territory as 4 usual books. I've learned a great deal from Wade's book and continue to learn from him. I cannot recommend it too highly. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Not only beautiful, it's a useful book
There are 46 lessons and assignments in this book, critiques included. Reid covers not only painting but, more important, seeing.

Reid begins by reviewing the basics: Contour drawing, value scales, seeing shapes, adding values to drawings. Then he goes into detail in working with values, handling color, directing the eye, composing with color, and interpreting light. The last two sections of the book deal with critiques, solutions and learning from the masters. There's also a useful bibliography that's divided into books about painting and those on drawing. Then there's a list of artists whose work the student should study to gain insight into different techniques.

This book is a fresh look at working in watercolors and oils. I'd recommend it to photographers, too. These ideas and information could be easily translated to the film medium.

All that said, it's a gorgeous coffeetable book, too.

Great for learning about value, composition and color
I have been painting for about a year and have had a lot of trouble composing paintings that flow as well as I would like them to. This book has helped me tremendously. So many of the books I have read talk only about technique and do not thoroughly address the important issues surrounding composition as this one does. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Wonderful!
This is an incredable book! It has so much info about drawing and painting in watercolor, oil, and acrylic. It has everything from the basic pallet to the materials and brushes, to the techniques. A definate must buy!

A valuable resource book full of visual delights!
Artist's Manual, A Complete Guide to Painting and Drawing Materials and Techniques was recommended to me by an art teacher. I have been painting for over thirty years and I doubted this book would be valuable--art is a visual and tactile thing, not always translated through the written word. I was wrong. This book is great. It's exciting to turn the pages...which are filled with good information and nicely designed. Good going Cronicle Books, you've done it again

Beautiful
I'm a true novice, a friend once said I like to "color". She may be right!

I find this book informative (basic info for people like me who didn't go to art class in school) and inspirational. I love the art in it and the collage with art materials on the cover and throughout the book is stunning. A must even for us non-artists!

I bought the book a few years back and still dig it out when I feel the urge to be creative. That to me is a sign of a good book! It is a book that I look at over and over again, and doesn't get "dated".

Good book, but definately for novices
This is a good book to become familiar with a wide range of materials and basic techniques. Appearance wise, it is heads and shoulders above the competition.

However, the text itself is more of a dummy's guide to art materials. Essentially, it gives enough information for someone to be able to communicate effectively with others on the subjects. It gives some basic instructions, which are perfect for someone with little background in the subjects.

I would really give this text two scores, one on the body of content, and another on its helpfulness to amatures. The scores would probably be a 3 and a 5.

A Keeper
I see this book as a complement to Ray Smith's book The Artist's Handbook. Mainly because The Artist's Manual covers some media that the Ray Smith book doesn't. The chapters give a good introduction to things such as papers, canvas, stretching paper and canvas, preparing them with various types of grounds (the correct word is ground when referring to materials used to prime canvas - gesso technically refers only to grounds applied to prime wood panels - or did until paint marketing departments convinced artists to call any ground applied to any surface 'gesso').

Some of the media covered in this book are dry and water-soluable colored pencils, pastels, oil pastels, conte crayons, charcoal, pen and inks, colored drawing inks and markers. Paints covered include oils, oil bars, egg tempera, watercolor, gouache and acrylic. One of the nice things is that there is a special chapter devoted to Chromacolour paints (This is a type of paint that was developed for the film animation industry and is now available to fine artists and craftsmen). Each drawing or painting medium mentioned above has a chapter discussing painting techniques used for it.

The final one-third of the book covers such things as composition, color theory, working on location, landscapes, portraits, figures, architecture, setting up a studio, varnishing and framing, directory of suppliers, understanding health and safety information on paint labels, glossary and index. A really good reference book for any artists bookshelf. ... Read more

Book Description

Nature, the cosmos, and humanity were all subjects which Juan Miró (1893-1983) pursued in a tremendous array of styles and in nearly every known medium. This beautiful new book communicates the scope and quality of his art, including the most important works over his life.

Tracing Miró’s entire career, this pictorial journey begins in the 1920s with his introduction to surrealism, cubism, and dadaism, and with the flowering of his friendships with Picasso, Braque and other influential artists and poets. It moves on to his creation of a universal iconographic language, a style which reached maturity in the 1940s, and which forever distinguished Miró from his contemporaries. This book includes nearly one hundred of his greatest works, displaying the subconscious expression of this lyrical painter, whose brilliant use of color, line, and shape resulted in unique and dazzling compositions. Fascinating photographs depict the artist at various stages of his life while perceptive essays about his work round out this exciting vision of the world as seen through Miro’s eyes. ... Read more

Book Description

Retratos
2,000 Years of Latin American Portraits
Marion Oettinger, Jr., Miguel A. Bretos, Carolyn Kinder Carr et al.
A landmark survey of Latin American portraiture and
its powerful significance throughout history

The tradition of portraiture in Latin America is astonishingly long and rich. For over 2,000 years, portraits have been used to preserve the memory of the deceased, bolster the social standing of the aristocracy, mark the deeds of the mighty, advance the careers of politicians, record rites of passage, and mock symbols of the status quo. This beautiful and wide-ranging book—the first to explore the tradition of portraiture in Latin America from pre-Columbian times to the present day—features some 200 works from fifteen countries.
Retratos (Portraits) presents an engaging variety of works by such well-known figures as Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Fernando Botero, and José Campeche as well as stunning examples by anonymous and obscure artists. Distinguished contributors discuss the significance of portraits in ancient Mayan civilizations, in the world of colonial Iberians, in the political struggles of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and in a remarkable range of other times and locations.
With a wealth of informative details and exquisite color illustrations, Retratos invites readers to appreciate Latin American portraits and their many meanings as never before.
FThis book is the catalogue for the first exhibition of Latin American portraiture ever organized in the United States. The exhibition is on view at El Museo del Barrio, New York (December 3, 2004 to March 20, 2005); the San Diego Museum of Art (April 16 to June 12, 2005); the Bass Museum of Art, Miami Beach (July 23 to October 2, 2005); the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian, Washington, D.C. (October 21, 2005, to January 8, 2006; and the San Antonio Museum of Art (February 4 to April 30, 2006).

Marion Oettinger, Jr., is senior curator and curator of Latin American art at the San Antonio Museum of Art; Miguel A. Bretos is senior scholar at the National Portrait Gallery, Washington; Caroline Kinder Karr is deputy and chief curator at the National Portrait Gallery, Washington. Contributors to the book include Elizabeth P. Benson; Christopher B. Donnan; Kirsten Hammer; María Concepción García Sáiz; Renato Gonzáles Mello; Luis Pérez Oramos; Luis-Martin Lozano; and Teodoro Vidal.

... Read more

Reviews (5)

Awful... this deserves NO stars...
Luckily I only borrowed this book and didd't waste any money on it...
I bet your an artist who'd love to have a better understanding of light, right? Of how it reacts in different situations and fun stuff like that? Just because this seems to be the only book out there, it does not make it any good.
It's a selfish excuse for a gallery ofhis work. If you like galleries, buy it.

However I was looking for something that would allow me to understand how light worked in different situations. I reccomend, instead of this, "Light and Shade (Barron's Art Handbooks: Green Series)"
Much better.... it actually explains rather then expecting you to know already.

Worthless Picture Book
This is not a how to book. This is a picture book. The author is a consumate artist, no doubt about that, but the publishers have marketed it in such a way as to suggest that you...the reader...will learn how it can be done. Not true. The author merely shows countless numbers of his own work. This leaves you to guess how it can be done. If you are a fan of the authors work then add this to your collection. If you want a book on how to render lighting effects in your own work then pass this book bye.

Disappointing
I bought this book because i thought i could learn something .... actually i didn't ... this book just a gallery for the author ... it just contain drawings in black and white and you are suppose to see & take an idea ... if you are looking for a book for learning .... choose another book ... don't wast your money.

50/50
Honestly i was expecting more, this book doesnt have the drawing ( shading in this case ) process explained in such a good way as some other books. But its not so bad, I guess this book is worth getting after you got the others, Im not sure if I will stil buy Burne Hogarth books, maybe I will, but definetly AFTER I buy other art books im interested in buying. (...)

Good Book For Aspiring Comic Artists

As the father of the Tarzan character and art, and the co-founder of the School of Visual Arts with silas rhodes, Burne Hogarth is far qualified to teach the fundamentals of great figure drawing. His Drawing Series of Books should be on the shelves of any aspiring comic artist.

For more information on his books and a short collected listing of other useful books for aspiring comic artists and illustrators available in Amazon.com, visit der Mudgecko's Reading List for Comic Artists at: ... Read more

Reviews (9)

wonderful book
It has beautiful painted rocks in it and shows just how easy it is to paint rocks. I am not a real good painter but, I do plan to give it a try. Instructions and ideas in this book are great even for a beginner like me.

ANYONE UP FOR A ROCK PARTY!??
I couldn't help it, it sounded so fascinating when I was invited to a "rock party". A friend held it, and all of us got together at her place. She had a bunch of field rock, (though I've heard smooth river rock is good also) and she had cleaned them all up and they sat, waiting on her front step. We took turns choosing the rock that "spoke to us" and brought it into the house for some good old fashioned gossip and a fun project with friends. Oh, yes, we had doubts! Halfway through those rocks were UGLY, and we took a few chip and salsa breaks so we could look at them from a distance (they looked better that way- Laugh!). But- amazingly enough- when we finished the last step, perfectly outlined in the book- our rocks looked GREAT!! I actually DISPLAY mine in my little rock garden, and get so many comments on their "uniqueness". What a fun idea! And takes almost no $ to get started, if you're like me, you already have the simple materials lying around from previous projects!! Great book, simple instructions, great tips and pointers- even for the novice.

Excellent student tool
Painting Pets on Rocks is a fabulous step by step instructional book. My students (1st through 7th grade) created fabulous rock paintings following these easy-to-follow instructions.

painting more animals on rocks
Super, these books by Ms. Wellford are illustrated so beautifully that ANYONE could paint animals and such on rocks. Her directions are not only the written word, but also demonstrated by showing the drawing from the stones to use, preparing the stones, sketching from "square one" on thru the completed reproduction. These books are a MUST for any rock painter enthusiast.

A Fido that you don't feed
A new meaning to the words "Pet Rock":

Lin Wellford has out-done herself again! I just can't get enough of her books! For those of you who have not read any of Lin Wellford's books, let me tell you, IT'S TIME TO START! In "Painting Pets on Rocks" you learn how to paint your dog, cat, fish, and even your pet bird! The book doesn't just show you one type of dog, or only one cat. Lin gives you instructions on how to create many different rock pets. From Dalmations to bulldogs, tabby cat to siamese...this book has it all.

Even if you have never painted before, you can do these projects. The book has full color, nearly step by step photos with the step by step instructions. As with all Lin Wellford books, her instructions are written for the beginner and it is amazing how well your pet rocks come out. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Outstanding book you'll refer to again & again...
This is a gem of a book that I find myself referring back to time and time again. The illustrations are lavish and the technique instructions and description of materials are clear and concise. I find new inspiration each time I refer to this book. I have found, however, it's not a good idea to read it at night before going to bed. Invariably it gets me so inspired, I am compelled to get up and start a new creative project in the middle of the night! There is truly a wealth of information and inspiration contained in this book. Many unusual techniques and materials are also covered. Highly recommended!

Absolutely Awesome!
This is by far my most favorite book.......It is inspiring and has loads of ideas and "how-to's" for different techniques!
This is a must-have!

arteffects
I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK! WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO GET THE JUICES FLOWING. THERE IS NO WAY TO EVEN THUMB THROUGH THIS WORK WITHOUT FINDING SOMETHING TO INSPIRE YOU NO MATTER HOW DEEP OF A SLUMP YOU FIND YOURSELF IN. THIS BOOK IS EQUALY GOOD FOR THE NOVICE OR THE SEASONED PROFFESIONAL. EVEN KIDS LOVE IT!children must be superviced!!! I ONLY HAVE TWO REGRETS, 1 THERE IS NO SEQUEL& 2 I ONLY HAVE A SOFT COVER EDITION WHICH IS MESSY FROM USE. THE LAST THING I,D LIKE TO MENTION IS THAT NON ARTISTS CAN LOOSE THERE FEAR WITH A BOOK LIKE THIS.

Wonderful for paper artits, very creative, inspirational
As a rubber stamper & paper arts lover I found this book very useful. It is packed with tons of ideas and numerous color photos inspired me. I would recommend this book to anyone who ever runs out of creative ideas or needs some inspiration.

Included in this book are many techniques for creating stunning & unique backgrounds in almost every media type. Ideas include texturing with sand, freezing or microwaving ink, and using a non-stick spray as a resist.

However, this book is not just for backgrounds. Painting techniques for many mediums are also included. There are original and helpful ideas for using pastels, acrylics, oils, inks, gouache and watercolor.

Finally, to my surprise and delight, it also covered encaustic painting, carving on hardboard & then painting it, impasto effects and many original ideas for batik type work. Get this book and use it! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

What a goldmine!
This is one of the most practical and teacher-friendly books I have ever purchased. I teach art at an elementary school and my students have loved using the techniques and projects from this book!

Topal provides excellent examples throughout including lovely color reproductions of both children's and professional artwork. Her explanations are clear and the materials list is not extravagant for most of the projects.

Every regular classroom teacher would benefit from the beautifully layed out art elements and principles in this book. At the very least it would be worth having as a resource in a school library. This book is a keeper! ... Read more

Book Description

Sanford Robinson Gifford was a leading Hudson River School artist. His love of nature first surfaced as a youth growing up in Hudson, New York, and, together with his admiration for the works of Thomas Cole, inspired him to become a landscape painter. Influenced as well by J. M. W. Turner and by trips to Europe in the 1850s, Gifford's art was termed "air painting," for he made the ambient light of each scene-color saturated and atmospherically enriched-the key to its expression.Gifford was a founder of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. At the time of his death, he was so esteemed by the New York art world that the Museum mounted an exhibition of his work-its first accorded an American artist-and published a Memorial Catalogue that for nearly a century remained the principal source on the artist.Now, to coincide with a long-overdue exhibition of Gifford's work, an important new book is being issued.This volume features essays examining Gifford's position in the Hudson River School, his Catskill and Adirondack subjects, his patrons, and his adventures as a traveler both at home and abroad.More than seventy of the artist's best-known sketches and paintings are discussed and reproduced in color. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Definitive coverge of Hudson River School artist
150 pages of the book are devoted to the works on display at the exhibition (I saw it at the Amon Carter). Since most of the works belong to private collectors, once the exhibition finishes at the National Gallery in Washington, this book will be the only place you will be able to look at the body of Gifford's work. The plates are excellent. If you like other Hudson River School painters, you will want this book. ... Read more

Book Description

What is painting really? Daubs of sticky oils and crushed rock, blobs that form and reform, colors that look one way on a palette, another way on canvas, a different way still in relation to other bits of color beside them. Books on painting usually talk about Art, or about painters. But in this compelling and original work, art historian James Elkins turns to alchemy, for like the alchemist, the painter seeks to transform and be transformed by the medium.

In What Painting Is, James Elkins communicates the experience of painting beyond the traditional vocabulary of art history. Alchemy provides a magical language to explore what it is a painter really does in her or his studio--the smells, the mess, the struggle to control the uncontrollable, the special knowledge only painters hold of how colors will mix, and how they will look. Written from the perspective of a painter-turned-art historian, What Painting Is is like nothing you have ever read about art. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

abstractionist in disguise
The book starts out captivating then it suddenly shifts to Elkinks views of painting, that are strongly bent to the favor of abstractionist. Elkinks thoughts on Jackson Pollocks creative energy is more than I wanted to know. He devots almost an entire chapter to this already to small book, to his idol. How Pollock flicks his wrist to get the effect of splated paint just right and Pollocks tourched stance over his works as the canvis is lying on the floor.To much! I Do not recommend this little book.

Esoteric and fresh title by Elkins
The central premise of the title arises from the authors assertions that Painting and Alchemy are linked. It dealt with the notions of how painting like the scientifically naive Alchemy is rife with guesswork. No joke. It compares (as one of many examples) certain passages of Monet's paintings with the sort of haphazard experimentation that goes on in Alchemy. This is a well-researched book as far as I can tell, but then again I'm no expert on Alchemy.*pause* The book attempts to educate the forlorn and lost artist/art student such as myself on the lost pseudo-science of Alchemy.*pause* I had arrived at the idea that painting and alchemy are analogous in my own artwork; which led me to this book.*pause* I cannot stress enough in this review the extent to which he uses the Alchemy/Painting contrast as a springboard to jump into a bastardized survey course on the history of Alchemy. If you want a speculative art book that attempts to concentrate on the physical act of painting (as opposed to art history & criticism of content) this maybe worth checking out. I do have reservations about the book. Elkins compared the painter's studio to a 'jailhouse' and ascribed to painting self-reflexive connotations of the painted picture. The notions of a painters awkward methods of experimenting with media and it's spiritual connection are liken to the arcane pre-sciencitfic experiments of an Alchemists laboratory. "What painting is" really helps a student or artist ponder their personal feelings toward the actual experience of painting rather than the intellectual side of the content. Recommended simply because this book is really a new type of art book that concentrates a descriptive position paper around the actual activity involved in a favorite artistic media- Not AN ARTSPEAK book, coffee table glossy, "how-to" or technical manual!

The only possible negatives: It can drag on a bit when dealing with "Alchemical history". It can be slavish to the metaphorical relationship of painting to alchemy to a fault, at the expense of discussing the working life of a painter... Bare in mind that the author mentions the life of a painter is lived in oils.

Insight for Painters
This is a serious book for painters. If you are having a problem with what or why you're painting, this book may help. It seeks to explain painting from a truly unique viewpiont. Elkins does an excellent job. A fasinating book. An intellectual exercise. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Serving as both an introduction to fifteenth-century Italian painting and as a text on how to interpret social history from the style of pictures in a given historical period, this new edition to Baxandall's pre-eminent scholarly volume examines early Renaissance painting, and explains how the style of painting in any society reflects the visual skills and habits that evolve out of daily life.Renaissance painting, for example, mirrors the experience of such activities as preaching, dancing, and gauging barrels.The volume includes discussions of a wide variety of painters, including Filippo Lippi, Fra Angelico, Stefano di Giovanni, Sandro Botticelli, Masaccio, Luca Signorelli, Boccaccio, and countless others.Baxandall also defines and illustrates sixteen concepts used by a contemporary critic of painting, thereby assembling the basic equipment needed to explore fifteenth-century art.

This new second edition includes an appendix that lists the original Latin and Italian texts referred to throughout the book, providing the reader with all the relevant, authentic sources.It also contains an updated bibliography and a new reproduction of a recently restored painting which replaces the original. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Not A good Read!!!
This book is what I would call hard to read, unless of course you already have a masters degree in Florentine art. As a student in an art history class that required this as one of our reads, I can say this book is crap, yes I mean crap. I have read many more well written books covering this subject in an easier to read format. I would defiantly not recommend this overpriced piece of firewood.

Splitting Attractive Hairs
This is the kind of book that History of Art departments throw at you early on in their courses to instil the right respect and awe for the whole academic ritual. When I first saw this book I was duly impressed and intimidated into thinking this was somehow a classic. In this work Baxandall is the exemplary academic, slowly building up a case from painstaking research and cleverly interpreted trivia. This approach is fine and dandy until you reflect that at the end of it the conclusions Baxandall has laboured so hard to arrive at are perhaps a little banal -- i.e. Renaissance painting was influenced by such contemporary phenomenon as religious practices, dancing, and (oddly) the ability to judge quantities by eye. The reason this book works is that the Renaissance is such an attractive period that Baxandall's painstakingly dull technique receives a charming counterpoint in the endearing trivia of the period. Unfortunately this effect is not replicated in other works by Baxandall that I have looked at. To college students getting a dose of this, I would say, 'Enjoy the period, but think about how relevant this kind of hairsplitting really is.'

terrible!!
... this book was tedious. there are very few books that make me say, "i'd rather be working!"
you have to have a really high tolerance for italian art, or even art in general. a passing interest simply will not allow for an enjoyable read.
...

A classic study of the vocabulary of Renaissance painting
I find it strange that many people find it strange that one might read a book like this one for fun. Twice in one day I had people approach me and ask me for what class I was reading this, as if there are books one reads only in school and books one reads in real life.

I did read this in real life, and I read it for three reasons: 1) I knew this is a highly regarded book in art criticism, 2) it deals with a period of art history about which I wanted to know more, and 3) it looked like it would be a fun read.

My primary reaction to the book upon reading it was: how did the author fit such a huge book into so few pages? There are books that cannot be measured by page count. PAINTING AND EXPERIENCE IN FIFTEENTH-CENTURY ITALY contains 153 pages of text, with illustrations taking up around a third of those. Despite that, Baxandall is able to pack an amazing amount of information in a very small number of pages. Yet, as dense as this book is, it never becomes anything less than completely readable. It is a very fast read, and not merely because of the small number of pages. Baxandall's contention is that the visual experience of a Quattrocento person (or what he eventually comes to self-mockingly comes to call "a church-going business man, with a taste for dancing") is not one to which we any longer have conceptual access. He laments that we too often approach these paintings with our own conceptual categories in the forefront, and impose these upon the paintings, instead of judging them and perceiving them, as a contemporary would have. His goal in this slender volume is to attempt to reestablish some sense of the pictorial concepts with which a Quattrocento person approaches a painting. In this I believe he succeeds admirably. While visiting one of my local book superstores, I spent some time glancing through a number of books on Renaissance art, especially Hartt's well-known tome. I found that I was indeed responding differently to the paintings than I had before I read Baxandall. This is a book that capacitates its reader to enjoy a fuller participation in the appreciation of the visual world.

On a completely nonliterary note, I want to add that this is an extraordinarily attractive book. I am sure that no publisher ever decides to make an ugly, unpleasant book, but Oxford University Press with this one certainly managed to make a gorgeous one. The book is far more attractive than the price of the book would seem to support (good paper, pseudo-signature binding, high-quality four-color cover), which leads me to believe that this must get a great deal of adoption as a college text. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Keith Haring: Radiant Child
I first became interested in Keith Haring as an artist when I saw a collection of his work at the Tampa Museum of Art in the very early 1990's. By that time, Keith had already passed away; however, he left behind a very large legacy of his remarkable work. I decided I had to know more about this man whose colorful pop art had caught my eye, so I went out and bought the book, "Keith Haring: The Authorized Biography." This book is awesome!! It is part autobiography, part miniature art gallery. Keith's story is told in a very intimate, revealing way, and it really makes you feel as if you are right there in the middle of his life in New York in the 80's. All of the famous artists and people from the entertainment world that comprised Keith's social circle are also included in the book, offering up their observations and anecdotes of Keith Haring, his lifestyle, and his art. There are many personal photographs of the artist at work and with his friends included in the book, as well as eye-popping photos of some of Keith's famous works. Often Keith Haring is called a "grafitti artist." When you read this book, you will realize that he is more than just that; Keith Haring was a down-to-earth man whose stunning and sometimes controversial art holds a universal appeal and a bittersweet social commentary of life as he knew it. Art lovers - don't miss out on this one!

This was the first biography that I'd read
I had always been under the impression that biographies were purposely designed to be dull and pointless, until I picked up this book. I have always liked Haring's work and wanted to find out more about the man himself. Not only is this book a biography but it contains words from Haring himself. It is very accessible, all chapters are broken down into easy to read sections and you can dip in and out of the book as you wish. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in his art (it contains many colour photographs of his more famous works) and all those who are interested in learning more about Haring's colourful life.

A fascinating and intimate portrait of an artist
What makes "Keith Haring: The Authorized Biography", such a moving work is its unique approach to the biographical format. Rather than just recount his research into Haring's life, author John Gruen has pieced together writings by Haring, the artist's friends, companions, mentors, and dealers. The narrative switches perspective quite often, resulting in a balanced and more revealing account of Haring's life and art, from different points of view. Among other things, Haring recounts his beginnings as a graffiti artist, his rivalry with the painter Jean-Michel Basquiat, and his coming to terms with being gay, and eventually, his contraction of AIDS. Profusely illustrated throughout, the book also gives an inside look at several aspects of the 80's art scene in New York city. By the end, the reader gains not only a thorough knowledge of Haring the artist, but more importantly, an understanding of the humanist philosophy and intent behind the art ... Read more

Amazon.com

Georgia O'Keeffe, who was born in 1887 and lived nearly 99 years, was a prolific, successful artist whose work was exhibited continually throughout her adult life. To give an impression of the scope of this two-volume boxed set, here is a sentence from the preface by Barbara Buhler Lynes: "The catalogue reproduces and describes 2,045 objects, made by O'Keeffe between 1901 [when she was 14] and 1984." And for an idea of the care Lynes brought to her task, here is the next: "Of these, 2,029 were located and examined between June 1992 and December 1998: 821 on canvas or board; 1,137 on paper...."

Obviously, this catalog will be indispensable to many libraries and museums, but it is also a work that any lover of O'Keeffe's art will pore over for years. From the first pages of volume 1, a reader is struck by the early appearance of motifs that remained essential to O'Keeffe throughout her life: architectural forms; flowers; vases and vessels with monumental, simplified shapes. (After the early years, however, she deals with the human metaphorically, in phallic sculptures or nipple-like seed pods, or the swollen bellies of clay pots.) For those readers who may have fallen out of love a bit during the 1970s--when O'Keeffe's least works seemed to be included in every gathering of second-rate, so-called women's art--these two volumes will renew their passion. Her astonishing talent, which she never betrayed, pulses through these color-saturated pages. While most works are necessarily reproduced smaller than the originals, the book's designers have dealt thoughtfully with issues of scale by increasing the size of the reproductions as O'Keeffe's paintings became larger and printing her vast, late cloudscapes and other large works at full- or double-page size. This is typical of the sensitivity with which this catalog was conceived. --Peggy Moorman ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Wonderful
I was not a fan of Georgia O'Keefe before checking this volume out from the library. Now, I am frankly astonished by the beauty of her work especially her watercolors which are vibrant, clean, and just beautiful. It will be an eye opener to anyone who has formed their opinions solely on her giant flower or cow skull paintings-- whether you like her or not. She was an artist that constantly explored different techniques from printmaking to sculpture. She is inspirational. If you have a library that carries the volume I encourage you to check it out first you will be pleasantly surprised. I am definitely going to purchase these books.

A Wonderful Gift
This book was on my wish list before it was published! I received it as a gift upon my graduation from Art Center College of Design. I have loved Georgia O'Keefe's work since I was very young, and I have most of the books published about her and this one is not only the most comprehensive but beautiful as well. In a review I read it was described as 'cumbersome', obviously not written by an artist. How can you reduce a life's work into one volume especially a life that was so influential to so many artists, especialy women. I give it my highest recommendation.

Georgia O'Keeffe : Catalogue Raisonne
Beautiful - Beautiful - Beautiful I am a huge fan of Georgia O'Keeffe and this book has it all. Great color pictures. There are also many things that I learned from her throughout her life as an artist. This book is on my coffee table and will stay there for life. I will never put it away! A must for any Georgia O'Keeffe fans! ... Read more

Book Description

In watercolor paintings it is the masterful use of washes that creates depth, spontaneity and atmosphere. In Mastering the Watercolor Wash, Joe Garcia provides clear, simple step-by-step instructions that teach the four basic washes: flat, gradated, wet-into-wet and streaked.Painters will find plenty of guidelines and 33 demonstrations that combine these techniques to create light and shadow effects, as well as a variety of textures for popular subjects including rocks, clouds and sand.

They'll also learn how to develop unique textures and special effects using salt, a palette knife, masking fluid, sponges, dry brushes, spattering and lifting techniques. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Very Useful Book...............
There are many books on watercolor techniques so why should you buy this one? You should buy this book because it an excellent reference book to help you learn the "nuts & bolts" of painting watercolors.As an example I refer to pages 44&45, "The Gradated Wash".Here artist Joe Garcia gives you a clear definition of the technique followed by very direct instructions and clear photos on how to proceed.He then gives you a tip at the end to get the best results.While this book seems at first glance to be more of an introduction to basic techniques more advanced artists will find this book to be very useful as a reference resource.The book like all North Light books is well designed with many photos and illustrations.When I first saw this book I figured do I really need this one? The answer is yes for the reasons I have mentioned.The author also explains his preference for materials and using watercolor boards which he makes himself. Now that it is available in a paperback edition there is no reason not to consider buying it.

Mastering the Watercolor Wash
This is a must have book for anyone wishing to improve their watercolor painting. The instructions are easy to follow and understand. Your work will improve with every page you
read.

good one
this is a wonderful, informative book.there are several things to practice, demos, good descriptive book.I will use this book alot! ... Read more