5 comments about Caravaggio.

1. I just purchased this book based on previous reviews. One disappointment I have with it is the cropped paintings or paintings with the seem slicing through them. It's frustrating as a student of the arts to try and copy the tiny details out of the bindings. Aside from that, I am glad I bought it. The works inside are fantastic.



2. This is an excellent book. The pictures are amazing! and the explanation is precise. I give it 5 stars!



3. I did so look forward to receiving this book greedily unwrapping it as soon as it arrived. I'm a huge fan of Caravaggio and having seen many of his paintings in situ I was eager for any new information. Unfortunately I'm one of the people who can't read the small silver text on glossy white paper. When I say "can't read" I mean that within about two minutes all of the little silver words on the page just dissolve into whiteness. I agree it looks pretty but perhaps that combination of ink and paper might best be reserved for an invitation to a Winter Solstice dinner and not used in an obviously superb book such as this one. Catherine Puglisi was done a terrible dis-service in the design of this book. The quality of the photographs of the paintings (and the quantity) are fantastic and I have enjoyed them immensely. Maybe the paper version is black on white but I sure don't like to have buy the same book twice. I'm giving two stars to what is probably a five star book.



4. Dr. Catherine Puglisi is not only a fine scholar, well informed about her subject, she is also a fine writer. CARAVAGGIO is a richly produced heavy volume (hardcover reviewed) that spreads the text throughout the course of the book as each of the points about the artist's life and technique and gifts to art history is explored.
   
   The color plates are reproduced with clarity and two-page extensions of the larger horizontal works aid the reader in gaining perspective. Multiple images of details offer close examination of Caravaggio's technique, a manner that continues to influence representational artists today.
   
   Puglisi gratefully does not shy away from the controversial aspects of Caravaggio's life and sexuality. She deals with the facts and presents them in context with his concurrent paintings. The volume includes an exceptionally fine body of appendices that offers a complete checklist of the paintings including small reproductions of some, a terse bibliography, and a series of extracts from the myriad sources from which Puglisi extracted information.
   
   The one criticism of this book, and it is a significant one, is the small type font in the pale gray ink selected by a designer who seems more concerned with 'making a pretty book' than in respecting the written word! But in the end this is a definitive volume about one of art history's more interesting and gifted painters. Grady Harp, December 05



5. Anything showing photos of this fellow's incredible oevre would probably deserve the highest praise even without editorial guidance. But just browsing thru this one will stun anyone not familiar with Caravaggio, which is probably 98% of the populace.Ms. Puglisi interweaves the artist's life and times around the glorious color photos. The print may be a tad small,but the fact that there's around two spaces between each line of text makes it, IMHO, even easier to read than otherwise. The raw,harrowing originality of this artist are beyond description, and his life is a near match. He died violently before the age of 40...Especially recommended for those (mainly males) who may think that Art and Art History are less than manly pursuits!! (Yes there are plenty of guys out there who think like this.) Give this book, the author,publisher, and the artist way more than five stars!!

No comments about RHS Diary 2009 (Rhs).

5 comments about The Watercolor Book: Materials and Techniques for Today's Artists.

1. I have way too many watercolor books (buying WC books is addictive, although not as addictive as buying new colors). This book is one of my absolute favorites, and one I find myself returning to over and over. I am a very big fan of the entire "Materials and Techniques for Today's Artists" series, and I own their Drawing Book, Pen & Ink Book, Pastel Book, Acrylic Book, and Oil Painting Book.
   
   All of the books in this series seem to follow the same basic format. The first third or so of the book cover materials in great detail. The emphasis is on the types of materials that you need, options available, and characteristics of specific brand names. If you're a beginning watercolorist lost among all of the brands of brushes, paints, and paper available then this will be a great resource. The middle 3rd of the book focuses on general techniques, followed by a series of discussions related to specific subject matter. The final third focuses on mixed media - and in my opinion this is the area where Dewey's books really shine. I think he's a great pastelist and uses pastels and watercolors together to do some amazing stuff.
   
   I view this is a great book for folks that know at least a little bit about watercolor painting and are interested in getting into more depth and detail. I probably wouldn't recommend the book for absolute beginners, because I think absolute beginners would find the book a little overwhelming. Some initial questions that absolute beginners might ask (like "What colors should I have on a basic palette") aren't really addressed until pretty deep into the book. For an absolute beginner, something like Jack Reid's "Watercolor Basics: Let's Get Started" or Charles Reid's "Painting Flowers in Watercolor With Charles Reid" could be a better choice. But if you've seen enough of watercolor to know that you want to know a lot more about it, this book is a great resource.



2. I found this book very helpful -- a good introductory book on water color techniques and products. Lots of detail on the different materials and tools used in watercolor (paper type, brushes, paints, misc). The author discusses the uses of each and which products and brands he finds most useful/of the best quality. The author also discusses different techniques (with examples). The book is in color and the step-by-step instruction is useful for beginners or those of us that are a bit rusty. This book will also be useful for people that have never taken an art class as there is background info as well (the color wheel, values, etc.).



3. I wish I would have bought this book before I bought the supplies I did. I know that I would have saved a lot of guesswork and helped form my style faster and more satisfactorily. I am an amateur painter and will always be, so cost effectiveness is an issue. Even though I have brushes and stuff that I will not use (probably) I have the feeling with this book that I have an instructor at hand. Thanks guys!



4. After reading several books about watercolor, I found this book to be the best watercolor book on the market. It is the clarity and thoroughness of the explanations that make this such a valuable resource. I particularly found the section on color theory helpful. This is not a book with a few scattered tips against a background of gorgeous pictures of the artist's work. Rather, it is a master teacher reaching out to all levels of learners as he takes the mystery and confusion out of doing watercolors. If you were only going to buy one book about watercolor--this is the book!!
   
   The Watercolor Book: Materials and Techniques for Today's Artists



5. I was recommended this book by a professor to use as my guide in an Independent Study in watercolors. I don't have any other to compare it to, so I'm just writing what I got out of it.
   
   It has very good descriptions about types and brands of paints, papers, and brushes to start out with. There are also some chapters dealing with general composition and color theory.
   
   I was more interested in techniques though, which I thought Dewey covered well. As a newcomer to watercolors, I was introduced to different types of washes, layering, lifting techniques, etc. I really liked the mixed media section which discusses laying watercolor with things like pastels or colored pencil.
   
   It was nice to see a variety of work too. It's not all of Dewey's pictures (though I thought his stuff was pretty dang amazing).

5 comments about Survival Kit for the Secondary School Art Teacher.

1. This book will help beginner art teachers as well as give some interesting ideas and insight to seasoned art teachers. There are reproducable pages, black and white art examples and I will probably use this book heavily in my curriculum.



2. this book was a gift from my mentor teacher after college graduation, and now i continue to share it with my student teachers! a great resource to generate unique and creative art ideas-for any grade level!



3. Great book! Very helpful.Helen D. Hume Has saved my life on more than one occassion.



4. Having purchased the wonderful Survival Guide for the Elementary/Middle School Art Teacher I expected this to also be a spiral bound book filled with tons of great ideas and projects. It is a relatively thin book with a few good ideas and the rest projects that I've done before. Maybe my expectations were too high.



5. There are not many books out there which is specifically for secondary level. A very resourceful book to have especially when you are in a sole charge department and have to teach across the different art fields at secondary level. It is also handy for those days when your mind goes blank and you have to come up with some quick exercises. Once you have gained confidence, you can also adapt them.

4 comments about Painting Water (Watercolour Tips and Techniques).

1. I think it is a good book, but not really for a beginner...although it has lots of step by step demonstrations they are quite elaborate, I am sure I will enjoy it more when I become more proficient.
   I actually ordered it because I was wanting to learn how to do waterfalls, but he does not include that in this book.



2. it is good beginning book to start painting water, I am still trying the demos, however the demo about water in motion (like waves etc.) is too weak, it is mostly informative for puddles and still water. The demo of the pic at the cover page is the most I liked.



3. I bought this book based on the cover illustration and the one existing review at the time I purchased the book. While evaluation of art and technique is subjective, my sense is that the author is considerably more skilled in painting still water than moving water, such as a seascape. His seacape watercolors seems to have been accomplished in a way that conveys mood but not competency in terms of technique to portray a realistic seacape (the fluidity and rolling of water). My suggestion is that one would be MUCH better served by getting a copy of "The Watercolorist's Essential Notebook- Landscapes" by Gordon MacKenzie (the best watercolor book I have) and looking at the section "Landscape Elements- Water,Sky and Land" beginning on page 59. Now THAT is how to paint water!



4. As a watercolorist specializing in seascapes/waterscapes, I've read dozens of how-to books. "Painting Water" is the best of the genre and a joy to use. Joe Francis Dowden does an excellent job of presenting techniques and tips in an easy-to-understand, concise style. Where many other authors seem to omit key painting steps, Mr. Dowden is thorough and precise. His color demostrations rank among the best I've ever seen. In a mere 96 pages the author has given us an outstanding guide to the painting water all watercolorists should find invaluable.

4 comments about Draw 50 Monsters: The Step-by-Step Way to Draw Creeps, Superheroes, Demons, Dragons, Nerds, Dirts, Ghouls, Giants, Vampires, Zombies, and Other Curiosa (Draw 50).

1. This book is only so-so as a drawing book, whether for beginners or more advanced artists. The pictures are weird, and not aesthetically pleasing, even for monsters. However, this is definitely not a book for kids. The pictures are frightening enough to give kids nightmares. Think horror. Not a very useful book.



2. I ordered the library editions of this book for my grandson and another little boy and I was surprised that a "draw your own monster" book would come with a pink cover! I was also a little disappointed in the array of superheroes, but I'm sure copyright restrictions made it necessary to exclude Superman, Spiderman, Batman and so on. This is a case where actually seeing the book before purchasing would have been a help. Vona Van Cleef



3. I can't draw very well, so I bought this book to improve my drawing. This is a Great book for beginners! Gives you an idea how to start off and how it should looked finished! Awesome book as a "get started guide type". And After you got the idea of how to start to draw the monsters you can create your own. Perfect idea for kids that love to draw!



4. Lee Ames does another excellent job, as he does with his entire "Draw 50" series. His step-by-step format is easy to use and quite rewarding as well. Ames is the only drawing artist that simplifies the drawings so that anyone can follow and become adept at drawing intriguing figures. This particular edition contains a great variety of characters to draw and will be on and off any doodler's bookshelf for years

5 comments about Turner in His Time, Revised and Updated Edition.

1. Arranged chronologically the book is divided into six chapters; chapter one covers the first twenty five years of Turner's life with the other five chapters covering ten years each. Well written and very readable the text provides an insight into Turner the man and Turner the artist, and includes numerous quotations from Turner and his contemporaries; it succeeds among other things in bringing alive the artist as a person.
   
   Concluding the book is an extensive Chronology; Inventory of the Late Residence of J.M.W. Turner; Turner's Library; Bibliography; a detailed List of Illustrations and an Index.
   
   The book is fully illustrated throughout, with the images usually on or close to the page on which they are discussed. In total there are 186 illustrations of which 164 are in colour. The illustrations not in colour are mostly engravings and the like, period photographs or the work of other artists. The majority of the illustrations of Tuner's work are full page (or as large as the picture format will allow on the page with a margin), with some full-page or page-and-half bleed images along with a few double page images. There are a few actual-size details of paintings; very informative. The quality of the pictures is excellent, often revealing the texture of the paint, and the colour very good. Very usefully each picture is accompanied by a brief description or commentary, but irritatingly not with the details of the pictures dimensions; surely with the great range in size of Turner's work these should be included alongside the image, (there are of course to be found in the List of Illustrations).
   
   This is a large handsome volume, almost square in format, which provides a very good survey of the artist and his work. It covers all aspects of Tuner's output, including his oils, water colours and examples from his sketch-books. The choice of work ranges from the very well known to the "I didn't know Turner painted that!" Very interesting are the few examples of his very early work, including a water colour produced when he was about eleven years old. Providing as it does a comprehensive overview of the artist and his work, this is a very worthwhile publication.



2. I was very satisfied with my purchase. I was also impressed by the speedy delivery time from Amazon.
   Regards,
   Craig Taylor



3. Beautiful Turner book with many colour reproductions, excellent chronology. Flawless work! Highly recommended Thames & Hudson art monograph.



4. I checked this book out at my local library. It is so good, I'm going to buy it. While I knew who Turner was and had seen one or two reproductions of his work in books about other, later artists, I had seen little of his work and knew nothing about him before reading this book. It has been an absolutely wonderful introduction and has spurred me to look for more about Turner's art. There are something like 168 reproductions of oil paintings, watercolors, and drawings; most of them are large and in color; all of them are outstanding. I have looked at them in awe. The great landscape painter is himself a marvel. His prodigious talent revealed itself very early (by age 11 at least) and was recognized by his father, a London barber. He hung his son's paintings in the window of his barbershop with prices attached. Thus, Turner was a professional from childhood. In as much he was blessed with a reasonably long, healthy, and extremely productive life as well as extraordinary creativity which increased, rather than decreased with age, Turner left the world with a huge treasure-trove of great art. Stylistically it spans the period from the Old Masters of the seventeen century to the Expressionists, and in my view, towards the end of his career, it verges on Abstract Expressionism.
   
   This book is a biography of the artist as he was perceived during his life. Thus, it is filled with an abundance of quotations from contemporary sources, which serves to make Turner a very real and likeable, though very prickly, man. However, the emphasis is on the pictures. Wilton is a Turner scholar. His discussion is well-informed, without being pedantic or impenetrably academic. He has appended lists of the contents of Turner's house/studio and the contents of his library, which were made after his death, a bibliography, and an index of the pictures included in the book, which identifies their locations.



5. Excellent reproductions that will knock your socks off. Also, interesting read.

5 comments about Painting and Experience in Fifteenth-Century Italy: A Primer in the Social History of Pictorial Style (Oxford Paperbacks).

1. This was my first introduction to the art historian world and it was fascinating. Unfortunately, but only for me, is the fact that both my educational level and acquired knowledge of the subject were insufficiently advanced to fully appreciate the author's insights. That just calls for more work on my part to study up in advance. It should be taken as praise for Mr. Baxandall's pedagocic style which -- as the best teachers tend to do -- opened up new vistas, if only I choose to look.
   
   My only crticism is not of the contents or the author but of the publisher or more likely the editor. Perhaps it is pure economics which resulted in this insecure form of binding and too much type on each page to save space, while the juxtaposition of plates against the relevant text reference was very poor.



2. I really can't add more to Robert W. Moore's insightful review. However, I feel a need to counterbalance the ranting reviews posted by others on this page.
   
   In particular, the one-star reviews listed here are simply embarrassing. Clearly, these reviewers do not represent the intended audience for this book. It's not Michael Baxandall's fault that these reviewers were unable or unwilling to engage themselves with the depth, detail, and scope of his book. Ignore them.
   
   Here's a useful litmus test: If you would consider taking an art history course because you think it would be an "easy A," avoid this book. On the other hand, if you hold a genuine interest and enthusiasm for art history in general - and for Renaissance art in particular - this book should be well worth your time.



3. 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.



4. 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.'



5. ... 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.
   ...

5 comments about The Oil Painting Book: Materials and Techniques for Today's Artist (Watson-Guptill Materials and Techniques).

1. This book has a wealth of information for the new artist. Tips, techniques, materials, tools, solvents, mediums, and how to apply them. I haven't had a chance to go through it all yet, but it seems to be the most complete book I've found on oil painting.



2. Has some nice excersices but overall was rather bland to me. I would actually say the "oil painting for dummies" is a better choice.



3. This book is great! It is very comprehensive and approachable for a beginner. The author goes to great length, but is concise.



4. I am taking a beginning oil painting class, where this book
   was recommended as the best reference book available. I do
   agree with that assessment. It is most helpful with information,
   materials, techniques and sources. It's really great.



5. After almost 30 years I am ready to start painting again. I felt very lost and over whelmed when I went to restock my painting supplies. This book has been tremendously helpful, and I will be keeping it on hand to use as a reference.

5 comments about The Rolling Stones: 365 Days.

1. Este libro que nace de la mano de los creadores de The Beatles: 365 Days nois muestra fotografias de Los tones desde sus inicios hasta el concierto de febrero del 2006 en Brasil. La gran mayoria dlas fotografias son nunca antes vistas y van acompañadas cada una de su respectiva leyenda ademas de la fecha en que los hechos se estaba desarrollando, impactan la del funaral de Brian JOnes en especial la de sus padres. Un libro quizas un poco incomodo para leer pues preciera que se te puede romper los bordes, pero que de seguro con mas de 700 paginas te dara horas de entretencion para ti y tus amigos.



2. A very detailed book about the Stones. So many pictures. They don't come any better than this!I recommend it for all Rolling Stones Fans



3. Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RA4RLLN7E0LRI This very thick picture book is much larger than I had expected for this low,low price.
   It's packed with photos, lots that aren't that common .Some color,but mostly in black and white.
   I am very happy with this purchase and it will take some time to go over all the pictures and the information about them.
   Recommended for fans.



4. This is a fantastic book for fans and, at this bargain price, it is a steal. There are 365 mostly black and white photos from the beginning up to last year and many of them I have never seen, and I have plenty of Stones' coffee table books already. The text describes the photo and gives a bit of a plot line about the time the photo was shot and there are plenty of quotes from the fellows and others to underscore things nicely. My one request would've been some Exile recording session shots, but that's simply being greedy and I won't let my greed drop a star off of this otherwise excellent purchase. If you don't own it, do yourself or a loved one who is into the band a favor and buy it.



5. Need a present for that Rolling Stones fan in your life? Then look no further as this book should fill the bill quite nicely. With about 460 pictures, this collection will satisfy even the most jaded Stones fanatic. Why? Because the bulk of these photos are from the 1963-1969 era (1-203) with the 1970-1979 decade (204-296) being fairly represented and the 1980-2006 years (297-365) breezed through at the end. With the majority of these shots never having been seen before, you'll get more enjoyment out of this book then those other ones that are filled with rehashed stories and sprinkled with stock concert and album pictures. Add to this a quick note about each photo and a pertinent quote and you've got yourself a gift that's sure to please. Of course, you could just do what I did and buy it for yourself. While the Rolling Stones still haven't gathered any moss, they certainly are gathering more shelf space.