2 comments about Van Gogh and the Colors of the Night.

1. I have to agree with the previous reviewers comments about the Van Gogh exhibit he was unfortunately unable to attend. I just came from the MOMA today, and it was indeed remarkable to have so many of the artist's works in a single show.
   
   That said, I would also concur that the central theme of the show is a bit contrived. It seems to be organized around a few comments Van Gogh made to his brother Theo (the exhibit includes multiple letters the artist wrote to his closest sibling) about effectively capturing the beauty of the night sky through artistic method. Beyond the two Starry Night works, the remaining pieces displayed are less on-point with regard to the general theme. However, so much Van Gogh in one place is truly rewarding. I can't complain about the exhibit.
   
   I am admittedly not trained in art in any way, so I'm left with what I've learned through some undergraduate classes and auto-didactic energies. Having said that, the value of the book for those who have not attended the exhibit may be limited with a couple of exceptions: The MOMA exhibit very effectively displays Van Gogh's progression through the late 1880s from work that lacks distinctive quality to pieces like the Starry Night works that scream his name. Also, the book breaks down Van Gogh's work by having numerous curators, educators, and artists evaluate his life and productivity. The commentary is doubtless not groundbreaking, but I found it interesting for someone who is not steeped in artistic technique or history.



2. I cannot help thinking, when opening this catalogue for the latest Van Gogh show at the Moma, that the only reason for the museum to mount such a show is to be able to make some more money at its bookshop and at its ticket counter.
   
   Granted, the reproductions of Van Gogh's night paintings (e.g. The famous Starry Night, Gauguin's Chair, the Café at Arles,the Starry Night on the Rhone, etc) are gorgeous, but why choose such an artificial and arbitrary theme? Many a painter painted night scenes or landscapes, before and after Van Gogh, and the paintings depicted here are masterpieces not because of the fact that they are night scenes, but because of Van Gogh's genius. There is no real connection between them: what is there in common between the early "Potato Eaters" and the late "Starry Night"? The fact that they both depict night scenes does not justify a whole book on the theme. Next time, will it be "Van Gogh and the colors of day"?
   
   The text, somewhat pompous and vacuous, does not really alter this initial impression. I would have loved to see the exhibition for the sake of the paintings (so many major paintings are seldom seen together, especially the two starry nights), but the book itself does not add anything of substance to the already extensive literature on Van Gogh. I'd rather read Van Gogh's much more illuminating own letters to his brother Theo...

5 comments about Art History, Combined (3rd Edition) (MyArtKit Series).

1. This book is good for one reason, it contains brief history of world art and many illustration and photos of its work. It is also in correct order as art evolute. However, I wish it just came in one form of book rather two spread books in one cheap case. It was not necessary, I do not want to loose one book, over the other. Its hard to read when there are two books split.



2. I brought this book for an art history class I'm taking. I like the format of the book. I also have found it easy to read and not boring.



3. This book was great! The major ancient civilizations were covered. The photos and drawings are fantastic. Lacking are the non-European civilizations (such as African art) in the amount of information provided. Some civilizations are a mere one or two paragraphs in length before a new topic is introduced.



4. I had to buy this book for an Art History class and I find it to be very informative, considering I had no education in the evolution of art. Would recommend for anyone interested in seeing how art evolved into what it is today.



5. Although large and weighty, the book is beautifully packaged and binded. The quality of the text is certainly worth the cost. Stokstad's Art History briefly covers the history of art from pre-historic to contemporary early 21st century art. The types of art range from medieval to roccoco with several chapters covering non-western art (Chinese, Japanese, African, Pre-Columbian, etc..). In addition to the wide range of material, the author provides a text that is an excellent source of definitions for art terms and a substantial bibiliography. Although it is only a survey of a variety of art, the bibiliography is an excellent source for locating other texts for further reading on the topic of your interest.
   
   Most importantly, the cd-rom that comes with the book contains both a study guide and the images of the excellent illustrations which are found throughout of text.

5 comments about A Brush With God: An Icon Workbook.

1. I love this book! I created the icon of St. Nicholas using the books instructions, and got positive feed back on it from my "extremely honest" family and friends. The materials required are readily available and the directions are clear. Most importantly, the spiritual experience during the process was incredible. I can't wait to do the other two icons in the book. However, I do believe you need to be confident in your artistic skills to be successful and avoid frustration. My only criticism is the lack of pictorial examples. I had to refer to another book to understand the difference between the Greek and Russian style.



2. A background about icon painting and projects to get you started.



3. This nice little volume gives enough background to get you started on both creating and appreciating icons. Whether you just want a deeper appreciation for the artistic aspects or a deeper appreciation of the spiritual disciplines associated with icons, this is wonderful place to start. It includes several colorful plates in the center to provide good examples or starting points for you own artistic exploration.
   
   The text is well written, concise, and clear. Chapters are arranged to first give you an appreciation of the spiritual connection icons can help fulfill. It is a brief introduction to a vast topic but one you will want to gain deeper understanding of their purpose. Then the author briefly describes some of the artistic nuances and differences in Russian, Greek, and Coptic styles that will give you more to ponder as an artist. With that brief overview of background information, the author then takes you through the technical aspects of creating several icons youself. The instructions are clear and step-by-step so they are easy to follow. Ultimately, practice will yield results. You will not likely create a priceless gem on your first try but the instructions are enough to give you a good start. And the more practice, the better you will be.
   
   There are several little tidbits of added information in the Appendixes for further study and appreciation. All of this in so few pages might seem impossible. However, this thin little book is loaded with a broad view that does not sacrifice too much in depth. It is a perfect introduction to the topic and very well done. The author clearly loves the topic and conveys that passion in an infectious manner. An enjoyable read even if you never pick up a brush. The understanding of the spiritual, artistic, and technical aspects will provide greater appreciation of this art form enriching your life with beauty.



4. I own this book but this book is not that good.
   The first thing I have to say is that the author is not Orthodox christian, but catholic of the latin rite born and former benedictine monk. The book suggest you to use Acrylic paint and say nothing about Egg Tempera! Well, if I am going to use acrylic paint, why hand painting? I would prefer an inkjet printer! If you have only this book then you will have to buy one about egg tempera.
   In page 11 he says that his first teacher recommended (just!!) abstinece from meat and alcohol but then he complete change the meaning of fasting.
   Say nothing about the use of Holy water and natural hair brushes, his brushes are acrylic as well.



5. I was pleased to receive the book in a timely manner, new, and exactly as I had expected it to be.

5 comments about David Hicks: Designer.

1. This book is hard to put down. When you do, you'll want to pick it up again. It is so interesting. He is a fab designer, very candid. His style is so comfortable while being exciting. This book will be read over and over. I love modern, although this book is for anyone who was ever afraid to try a fresh approach. It is one of my best coffee table reads. Val, from Mo.



2. A great book for those wanting to recreate timeless interior design.
   Fascinating insight into his life. Good balance of editorial and images. Given the pinacle of his career was the late 1960's / 1970's, some of the photos will appeal to those in the current 1960's 1970's retro style. However saying that, there are aspects of all the images that could be used and adapted for both modern and classical room styles.



3. I loved the cover, wish I could of seen inside photos. I am a designer and love to learn from books of all eras. This one however left me with lessons on what not to do, rather than models for success and beauty. So if you hope to see beautiful interior work on grand villas, palaces etc, buy Roomscapes by Renzo Mongiardino instead. The photos are stunners of a full life's in such places, and the text he wrote is so insightful in how to diagnose the problems of a room and how to listen to a room that it is worth the most to me in my design library. I always go back to it for inspiration and guidance. The Hicks book is a celebrity bio that shows how you can get paid a lot of money by installing interiors that shock most and cow nay sayers by their boldness. But that doesn't make it beautiful.



4. I waited an extremely long time for this book to be delivered. I have to say that is was worth the wait. This gives a great look at at great designer from a perspective of someone who probably knew him better than anyone. The photos are great and his designs are still very relevant today (probably more than ever). I recommend this book to any fan of Hicks or a fan of high end 70's modern design.



5. Amazon needs to get their act together. This book is great - but I would order it somewhere else. I ordered these books to give as holiday gifts and they came without the dust covers. I had to go ahead and give them anyway, but Amazon can't seem to locate any covers for them. They shipped 3 more books to me but they didn't have covers either. It has just been impossible to get in touch with anyone there that can help and I can't seem to talk to anyone other than a phone operator in India to help with the issue.

5 comments about Blue and Yellow Dont Make Green.

1. I'm a sorter. I organize. I put things in boxes. Color doesn't want to go in boxes. Or categories, or areas, or mix well with others. It drove me nuts. Sometimes it was too bright and sometimes it was so dull it hurt like a toothache. This book began my understanding of why color does what it does. Michael Wilcox put together a dictionary which unravels for me the complexities of color and the how's and why's of hue, tint, and shade. He has broken down the chemical compounds of color in an understandable way and broken the secret codes of the paint manufacturers so that you and I can read the labels. Now we can purchase exactly what colors we want and either mix our own exact shades and tints or get the individual paint supplier's.
   
   Ever wonder why you sweat in your sister's bathroom and not in your's? Her's is painted peach and your's is blue. Why that works, now, is someone else's story. And then there's black. Who knew there were so many different kinds of black? There's a black to fit each room in your house, made out of every color in the room in which it is to reside. And it matches perfectly. Amazing.
   
   Now when I see two shades of lemon yellow I don't see yellow at all. I see either greenish yellow or brownish yellow and refer to them as green or brown. It's very tricky to see the primary hue over the secondary color anymore. Huh. I guess that's what an educated color sense sees nowadays. Never thought about it before. Three cheers for Michael Wilcox and PO3, PV15, PY3 and others! I get true colors every time.



2. this book gets more interest for its paradoxical (and inaccurate) title than for its contents, which are straight out of 18th century color theory and painting practice. for a review of this book and links to background materials, google "wilcox handprint" and click the first few links. i should add that some of the positive reviews posted here appear verbatim at the wilcox "school of colour" website and are therefore just viral marketing.
   
   the quiller book "color choices" and the hilary page book "color right from the start" are excellent resources. this book is heavy on simplification, routine, and computer generated color samples.



3. This ia a fabulous book for any artist or aspiring artist. From a pallet of only 12 colors he show you the hows and especially the whys of mixing just about any color you want. Especially good for water colorists. You'll never be mixing "mud" again.
   
   Ben Albert



4. I am very pleased with this book. It is filled with valuable information for the painter which is presented in terms that are easy to comprehend. I am currently working my way through the exercises and by doing so can already see where the book has been worth every penny. As someone well acquainted with "mud" I think the book will save me a fortune in paint down the road. I wouldn't hesitate for a minute to recommend this book to anyone interested in painting whether new to painting or an experienced artist. We can all learn something new from it. In fact, I think it would make a great text book.



5. Before reading this book, I already had a good basis in the basic color theory: the primaries, secondaries, tertiaries, and the ideas of complementary and analogous colors. I even knew that mixing complementaries would result in browns to blacks.
   
   However, I hadn't learned how to apply that knowledge in the way this book presents it. As a result, sometimes I would mix colors that were muddy or shaded, and I didn't know why. This book explains it all so clearly and so simply that you are sure to retain and use the information with ease.
   
   In summary, this book tells you how to mix any color you want, reliably and with confidence, just using six colors, two of each primary color. Everyone who understands color knows that yellows fall on a range from almost-orange to almost green, blues fall on a range from almost-green to almost-purple, and reds fall on a range from almost-purple to almost orange. The fact that these colors are in a range means that, when you mix them, you will get different results depending on where the colors fall in that range.
   
   This book tells how to determine where a color falls in those ranges, and also gives you a clear and understandable way of knowing what to expect when mixing different primaries. The system works.
   
   One nice thing is that, with the price of paints today, if you need to, you can only purchase six colors and you will pretty much be set. Accordingly, this book recommends that you purchase those six colors, two from each primary, with one color each that tends toward each end of each primary (a green-yellow and an orange-yellow, for example).
   
   Of course, you can always buy a larger range of colors, but armed with the information in this book, when you do so, you can confidently purchase and mix those colors and have a good idea of what the results will be each time.
   
   If you are impatient with theory, you can skip all the stuff about reflected light, additive versus subtractive color mixing, color perception in the brain, and so on; it may or may not all be true, and is anyway only Mr. Wilcox's theory about *why* his system works. Instead, if you are impatient, just read the juicy stuff about the colors themselves. It will definitely improve your ability to mix colors well. If I were making a list of "must have" books in an artist's reference library, this would be one of them.

No comments about Mona Lisa in Camelot: How Jacqueline Kennedy and Da Vinci's Masterpiece Charmed and Captivated a Nation.

3 comments about Art of the Andes: From Chavin to Inca (World of Art).

1. Illustrations, analysis - all incredible. A wonderful first book for people curious about the indigenous Andean world



2. This book stands out, among many others, for the quality of insight that Rebecca Stone-Miller brings to her study of Andean art. Not content with simple typology and iconography, her account is illuminated by the cultural constants - "duality, reciprocity, hierarchy, and embeddedness in nature" (p. 218) that she finds in the underlying Andean cultures. Art history, in these terms, becomes an exploration of meaning, both of the art that is produced and of the culture that produces it. It's rare to find so much insight in an introductory book; I highly recommend it.

   Another strength of the book is the nicely-judged balance of attention that the author pays to the multitude of cultures (including the Chavin, Nasca, Moche, Wari, Tiwanaku, Chimu, and Inca, to name just some) that weave together into the Andean tapestry. The author also provides balanced coverage of all the arts -- metalwork, tapestry, featherwork, stone working, and architecture, in addition to the ever-popular ceramics (pottery).

   With so much ground to cover, there are relatively few individual ceramic examples in the book; this unfortunately gives a too-restricted an idea of the range of form, beauty, and variety of Pre-Columbian pottery from South America. I recommend a book such as "Ceramics of Ancient Peru," by Christopher B. Donnan, as a supplement to Rebecca Stone-Miller's study.

   A small number of errors have made it through the second edition. For example, the distance from Quito to Santiago is quoted as 3400 miles, rather than the correct 3400 kilometers. A bothersome number of specialized terms were left out of the index. A glossary would have been helpful, and one wishes that more of the photos had been printed in color rather than black and white.

   In summary, "Art of the Andes" is a balanced and insightful survey that should appeal to a wide variety of readers. It's the kind of book that doesn't just sit on the shelf after one reading, but gets picked up again, thumbed through, and read more than once.




3. This is an excellent overview of native Andean artform the earliest perod through Chavin, Paracas, Nasca, Moche, Tiwanaku, Wari, to Incan. Covers architecture, textiles ,pottery and metallic arts. Looks at the main themes of religious and secular art in these various mediums. Text is accompanied by many black and white photographs, drawings and plans. Some photographs are in colour.

   I found this work most interesting for the way it brings out the Andean worldview through the artistic artifacts remaining of those cultures. The work is also reasonably priced and up to date.

5 comments about Botanical Illustration Course: With the Eden Project.

1. A fabulous book- explaining all the materials, methods, colors, shapes, and such that make botanical illustrations so very realistic and beautiful. There are marvelous watercolor tips, tips on keeping a sketchbook, showing the roots of a plant, and painting white flowers realistically (somthing I am horrible at).
   
   The book shows you how to create highlights, depth, and texture. It also covers how to show a plant dissected and bisected. More tips include how to make your picture work. A really enjoyable book that has me sketching the leaves from my garden and yard at the kitchen table. Beautifully illustrated throughout.



2. This book emphasizes how to produce botanical paintings, and it really succeeds there, with a profusion of color illustrations and explanations of color handling. There are also about 20 pages on pencil drawing.
   One thing I do object to is the total absence of pen and ink techniques. This book is described as the best and most complete course in botanical illustration ever produced, and yet this cannot be true without pen and ink techniques. The vast majority of botanical illustration - as opposed to botanical art - is published as black and white. (I am a published botanical illustrator, all of the publishers I worked with wanted ink illustrations, not pencil). If someone is hoping to use this book to help start their career, it is lacking. But if you are looking to start painting botanicals as I am, it is great.



3. Everything the first 2 reviewers stated is so very, very true. The only comments I can add are superlatives to what has already been written.Garden Eden : Masterpieces of Botanical Book Illustration



4. This book is a wonderous compilation of educational guidelines on producing artwork and properly representing the beauty and complexity of plants using pencil and watercolor media. It also could pass as a coffee table book as the images are incredible. I was immediately struck at the techniques covered as every art book should - recommendation on watercolor/paper/pencils to use, other tools needed, shading & highlighting, importance of representing the tiniest details, color development (e.g. how to make the right green - I loved that part), depth and so much more. In many ways I was reminded of my university art classes I took many years ago, but this book covers so much more than I garnered through formal education. Those that purchase the book for learning how to bring plants to life on paper or canvas should follow the educational component of the book from the beginning to the end in order to gain the most on how to illustrate plants. By following this method, each artist will definitely get what this book offers - and makes one wish they could take part of the art classes taught at the Eden Project in Cornwall, UK. I definitely wish I could do so!



5. This is an in depth clear book about the process of botanical illustration. Well written and great pictures. Recommend highly!

5 comments about Audrey Hepburn: A Life in Pictures.

1. This is a gorgeous book. The pictures are huge and clear with lots of bio tidbits and quotes around the pictures. Definitely worth it for any Audrey fan.



2. I have not looked inside it is sealed and I plan to present it to my grandaughter in Nov. for her birthday. However, it looks beautiful and arrived promptly.



3. This beautiful book is a fitting tribute to a brave, talented and beautiful lady. Well worth the price. More than a "coffee table book" the biographical introduction is well written and informative. Where are class acts like Audrey today?



4. This beautiful addition to any Audrey Hepburn library is a classy production that brings into focus Audrey's life and work through extravagantly sized photos, reproduced on thick, lush pages that are velvety to the touch. It's full of stunning b&w and color portraits, snapshots, and film stills that are arranged well in a mostly chronological order. There are many quotes included, both by Audrey and about her, which give a good overall feel for her personality.
   
   However, glaringly absent, there is nothing at all from "My Fair Lady." I was introduced to Audrey Hepburn as a child by way of "My Fair Lady," and therefore the film will always have a special place in my heart. I'm sure I am not alone. How the author could leave such an important work totally out of the collection is a puzzle to me, and therefore I cannot say this collection is completely comprehensive.
   
   I found the biography at the beginning of the book a bit disjointed, although it does give a good overview of her experiences during her childhood and the war that so greatly affected her personality. Of course, the biography is not the point of this book, as this is not meant to be an in depth literary study of her life. This is her life and accomplishments told through photographs.
   
   For those seeking a gorgeous photo album, this may be what you are looking for. The "personal" pictures I believe to be mostly photo ops, and therefore you do not get a much of look into the "private" Audrey, but the pictures are many and well varied, and the beautiful portraits alone are well worth the price of admission



5. IS a very nice book, great photos. What I didnt like is that some of the picture titles are wrong.

5 comments about Art of Modern Rock: The Poster Explosion.

1. Art of Modern Rock features some incredible art drawn from great artists and is a must not just for a rock aficionado, but for an art enthusiast, an artist, a designer or even a writer. The tremendous amount of variety and unique and powerful imagery makes looking through this book a great pleasure.



2. I've had this book for several years now and this is my all time favourite art book, and I own far too many to even be considered in the realm of normal. The Art of Modern Rock is a huge book (almost 500 pages) and the art diverse and inspiring. I just love this book!!



3. I purchased the Art of Modern Rock online for my son and his wife for Christmas. I usually have a difficult time finding a gift I think they will like. They have a rock band themselves, and my daughter-in-law is also interested in art, so I gave this book a try. Not only did they love it, but they are in it! I wish now that I had opened it and looked through it before I mailed it to them. I was pleased with the book, and the service from Amazon is always excellent!



4. This is one of the greatest books I've read in the last ten years about rock posters. All kind of rock music is here. If you really like rock'n'roll music, you must get this one.



5. This book is THE bible for poster art. Fantastic collection of art, with great interviews and history accompanying. Obviously a lot of hard work by a lot of people passionate about poster art. Highly recommended.