4 comments about On Location - Plein Air Painting In Pastel.

1. If you are inspired by nature but feel overwhelmed with information when you reach your painting site, then you must read this book. Richard McDaniel shows you how to see the structure behind the landscape. He presents you with a logical sequence of steps that allow you to focus on the important features without getting bogged down with details. The author describes his approach with precision and clarity. The examples of works in progress also help solidify your understanding by allowing you to virtually see the paintings come alive. There are also countless helpful hints for keeping yourself on track, like implementing practical organizational skills and working on value studies in the studio.
   This is a great book. I'm still applying the lessons I've learned from it and I can see a definite improvement in some of my paintings. Thanks, Richard.



2. This beautifully executed book is not just for pastels. I use it for watercolor painting. The colors and layering are similar. Many, many breathtakingly beautiful artwork in this book. His work is excellent. If you aren't afraid to use deep, rich colors in your artwork, this is a very good book for ideas. I can't say enough about the use of color in this book. It is exquisite.



3. The paintings, text, color schemes in this beautiful book are exactly to my taste, as are his other books. I even bought his great american pastel set to go along and am fired up to go paint- not easy to get me motivated but I am now!



4. As beautifully written as painted, this book "On Location" makes me want to paint in pastel even though I am a die hard oil painter of 25 years. Richard McDaniel will undoubtedly be recognized as one of the leading painters working on location in this era of plein air painting. As a painter he brings to the art world well composed, drawn, and executed works of art and yet never loses his sense of artistic touch in the delicate balance between bold color, subtle nuance and overlay upon this sound structure. What is all the more remarkable is his sense of paint, his touch and "brushwork" is as fresh, creamy and alive as any oil painter using the alla prima technique.
   
   As a writer his skills match his range in drawing and painting with his ability to interpret, explain and diagram his method to others... no easy task. This text is richly illustrated and also organized with logic and layout, it shows a thorough understanding of the subject and a clear mind at work carrying the reader from one point to the next. Ideas flowing, the text is a reference book of information and far more than just a simple "how to".
   
   I have seen all the great works of plein air painters of the past through exhibits in the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, Metropolitan, Terra and the National Gallery during Carter Brown's era. Very few works by contemporary artists' stand up to my scrutiny on mental comparison to these works in touch, color, composition and technique as well as Richard's work. Any student or professional could benefit by adding "On Location" to their library and studying and reflecting upon this man's work.

5 comments about Norman Rockwell 332 Magazine Covers.

1. This is not a review of Rockwells work as much as it is about the quality of the book. Its a nice big book , with one cover following the other. the quality of color is a bit sub standard and the descriptions at the end make things a bit hard to flip back and forth. A brilliant collection ofcourse but not as nice as I expected. Tom rockwell's best of Norman Rockwell is smaller but way better print quality. I do recommend this book ofcourse for the genius and technique of a great american master.



2. Norman Rockwell 332 Magazine Covers
   
   If you love Norman Rockwell's Saturday Evening Post pictures, you will love this book! There are some pictures that I have never seen before. It is a great coffee table book. You will never get tired of looking at all the pictures. You get a sense of what life was like back when Norman Rockwell drew those pictures.



3. This book is massive! Geesh, I wasn't expecting quite this and was pleasantly surprised. I'm very happy with this purchase, and kudos to Amazon for getting it to me a day before the estimated time it was to arrive! It came in this huge US postal bag and...it was just fantastic. Very exciting and I look forward to having a good look at it soon. I highly recommend this book to anyone. It's the definitive Norman Rockwell.



4. This would be a wonderful book for Rockwell's fans BUT the poor quality of the printing and the copies of illustrations made me regret buying it.
   
   It still makes a nice book on the shelf.



5. 
   
   
   Wonderful. Even my grandkids enjoy this book. The covers were done long before even their parents were born, but the appeal is universal. It's fun when the grandkids ask questions and notice the little social intricacies which made Nornam Rockwell so loved by so many.

5 comments about Robert Wade's Watercolor Workshop Handbook.

1. I was very impressed with this book. The side tabs make it easy to go directly to the section you want. Advice was excellent and well presented.



2. A beautifully printed hard cover book by an extraordinary watercolor artist. The book is filled with outstanding examples of landscapes, cityscapes from all over the world. In addition to being an inspired World class watercolor artist, Robert Wade is also a great teacher, the book is filled with practical advise and hands on lessons on color mixing, painting people,skies,glazing,location painting and many other subjects.Just to be able to look at his outstanding paintings would easily justify buying this book.



3. Excellent handbook for the serious watercolorist. Robert Wade has a great approach to some of the more difficult aspects of painting with watercolor. He is brief, to the point, yet his explanations make sense! Enjoyable reading and a great reference tool.



4. What a wonderful book with terrific instructions and insights. Replaces 20 books in my collection which don't come close to the wisdom this book provides.



5. I have a library of over 60 watercolor books, and this is by far my favorite. I also own all of Wades's tapes, and his new CD. I find them to be an extension of the book. I took a workshop from a famous watercolor teacher who had us doing wash on top of wash. She must have gotten the idea from Wade as he has a section on just that topic. He covers washes on top of finished paintings that changes the character of the painting completely. A fasinating book that I return to over and over again.

4 comments about The Skateboard Art of Jim Phillips.

1. Presented in this book is practically the very definition of BAD TASTE! But, two stars given because if you happen to be into the silly skateboard scene, you'll probably LOVE this one.



2. I bought this book based on the two other reviews on Amazon but when I received it i was a little disappointed. It wasn't exactly what I expected. I wasn't very familiar with Jim Phillips' art before this book. I own other skateboard art books, but this kind of art is too busy for me. If you're a fan of Jim Phillips' art then I guess this book is for you, but it wasn't exactly my taste.



3. I think there is a big difference between this book and the Skateboard and rock poster book. This book comes with full blown pages of closeups of all of or most of Jim's artwork. I'm a hobby artist myself so I'm really jazzed up about this book. Another book to get that is rather intresting is Disposable which covers different skateboard companies and riders but you will be happy with this book here.



4. Jim Phillips is finally stepping out from the obscurity of his drawing board to take a bow for the countless skating design innovations for which he is solely responsible. The skateboarding, surfing and rock & roll art of the last 30 years was trailblazed by this softspoken and humble artuer and the rest if the world has been playing catch-up ever since. Any skater who grew up riding in the 70s, 80s and 90s had these designs plastered on every wall of their bedroom as well as the decks of their boards. The ripples started in Santa Cruz, CA but have radiated out to impact the art worlds of Europe, Japan and Canada. Check out Jim's other 2 books on Rock Art and Surf/Skate art, too! AWESOME!

1 comments about Renaissance in the Classroom: Arts Integration and Meaningful Learning.

1. This book is a great review of and start off point to any school interested in Arts Integration. I loved it so much, I encouraged our school to do a book study. After my whole faculty read it, we were inspired! We have been integrating the arts for 5 years. This is a tremendous read!

4 comments about Chuck Close: Work.

1. Excellent reproductions and very informative text. A good resource book for artists and students. Worth the cost to have this one in your collection.



2. This really does not need to be that long. I am a huge fan of Chuck Close and have been so for years now. My personal library reflects this, with four other books and catalogs spanning his career. These books get brought out on a semi-consistent basis, as they all have something important to say about this mans art.
   
   "Chuck Close: WORK" is a definitive piece that fills in any small holes about the story of this artist that might be obscured in some out of print catalog, as well as talking heavily about his process. If you are in the market for a book that gives the full Chuck Close biography while supplementing itself with beautiful illustrations and plenty of dialog about his process, do not hesitate to purchase this book.



3. Christopher Finch has done a wonderful job of revealing both Chuck Close the man and the artist. This one of the best art retrospectives I have ever actually 'read' and enjoyed.
   
   I too had a chance to hear both artist and author speak this week. While Chuck did say this is the definitive book on his work one can hope that he still has many productive years left to continue to awe and amaze his many admirers.



4. This book is large! And it has excellent reproductions and bio of the life of this magical man. Chuck Close has made a career,while battling disabilities that would have stopped lesser men.Christopher Finch noted art writer,assists Close in making this book autobiographical and personal,like the unpretentious Mr. Close.
   The author and the artist together guide you through the evolution of Chuck Close noted modern portrait artist. You follow from air brush, to finger painting,collage disc painting, to the new color geometric masterpieces.
   Chuck personally supervised color choices in the lay-out and it is truly impressive. 95 percent of his major work is here. Self portraits,friends , his wife etc. are all vividly executed. Seeing Chuck in action shows the scale of the major works!The works are huge,and the pictures show the studio environment he works in.
   I was fortunate to attend his lecture,with both men ,and it Chuck says this is the definitive book!

3 comments about Paint Like Monet (Masterclass).

1. This book offers a nice review of Monet's painting methods, though it suffers along with other art books with chapters explaining what is an easel, what is a paintbrush, etc. I suppose if one had never seen any art materials before it would be just the thing, but for most people this is just unnecessary filler. The demonstrations might be great in real life, but the end result, as portrayed in the book anyway, give the impression (no pun intended) of a poorly painted reproduction. If the finished works were of higher quality it might inspire more people to try their hand at a Monet copy; right now it seems to say "Paint this picture this way and you will end up with a picture apparently done by a five-year old". Despite all this, though, here are interesting insights into tone and color as well as technique, so that it makes nice reading for a rainy afternnoon, but I'm not sure I would buy it again.
   B.O.



2. I think background color of The Regatta at Argenteuil was made of cobalt blue and white instead of ultramarine and white as the book suggested.
   
   Anyway, the overall content is okay.



3. A fantastic book for gaining insight into Monet's painting methods. As an art historian, I've spent years learning the academic facts about the Impressionists, but never picked up a brush until a few years ago. If you're like me, you don't really expect to paint exactly like Monet, but this book just walks you through a number of the artist's better-known works and guides you to create a painting exploring the key techniques. If you do all the exercises in the book, you will certainly gain an enhanced appreciation of painting with color and light. I wish my art history professors had offered us an afternoon with brush and canvas instead of just slides and books. This book would be invaluable for teachers, and it would also make a great gift for anyone interested in learning more about the process of making art.

2 comments about Modern Masters Volume 14: Frank Cho (Modern Masters (TwoMorrows Publishing)) (Modern Masters (TwoMorrows Publishing)).

1. For anyone who has not seen Frank's work this might be considered quite the treat. The interview is in depth, revealing a lot of what makes Frank tick. Unfortunately, for anyone who has been following Frank for the last ten odd years this is pretty much the same thing as has been seen in other publications. I read a revealing interview with Frank in The Comics Journal, Comic Book Artist and other sources so there really isn't much that's new. Frank is a candid subject, he's comfortable in his skin and it shows. His story of his formative years as a 6 year old from Korea, moving to and growing up in America, moving a lot after he arrives and life with his working class, practical parents, is nice. His efforts as a regular comic strip artist creating Liberty Meadows is all good and fine but I was hoping to find out the final fate of that comic strip and the comic book carrying it that was supposed to continue where the strip left off. After 38 issues, nothing.
   He's a busy artist, very much in demand, and that's a good reason to put his creation on hold but I'd like to read if there are plans to continue his very funny Liberty Meadows.
   The artwork featured ranges from his days in his late teens all the way up to his recent work on the Avengers. Unfortunately a lot of it has been used on other occasions. I was hoping to see more from his sketchbooks and some of the rare work from unfinished projects as well as little seen pin-ups.
   Bottom line, seeing as this book is primarily for the same people who are likely to have already been following Frank's career, there's not much new here. That's not so much a complaint as it is an observation. The title's worth owning and certainly worth the read but it's not something that reports on anything not already presented in other sources.
   Frank's a wonderfully talented guy. I'm waiting for the book that really drives that fact home in no uncertain terms. First step; stop asking him if he likes drawing bombshells and proceed forward.



2. The latest in TwoMorrows Publishing's tribute series to great comic book artists of today, Modern Masters Volume Fourteen: Frank Cho is an in-depth interview with award-winning Korean-American comic writer and artist Frank Cho, known for his penchant for drawing monkeys, dinosaurs, and beautiful women. Author of the popular comic strip "Liberty Meadows" as well as acclaimed runs on the Marvel comic titles "Shanna the She-Devil", "Spider-Man", and "The Mighty Avengers", among other works, Cho brings a refreshing balance of action, humor, and unabashed love for his work to the comic page. In Modern Masters Volume Fourteen, Cho talks about the pressures to pursue more traditional careers rather than become a comic artist, his efforts to break into the industry, the creators who most influenced him, the creative storytelling process, life, the universe, and everything. "I was all geared to go to the Maryland Institute of Art until I visited the campus... It was a bunch of modern art nonsense - abstract art and splatter paint and weird stuff just for weird's sake. It wasn't an art school, it was basically a playground for pretentious rich kids." Illustrated with black-and-white samples of Cho's work and art pieces that inspired Cho, including some rare sketches from Cho's college days, Modern Masters Volume Fourteen is not only a "must-have" for any fan of Frank Cho's comics; it's pure fun to read for any comic lover.

2 comments about Delicious: The Art and Life of Wayne Thiebaud.

1. Kids in grades 4-6 will relish this colorful biography - just over a hundred pages in length - of one Wayne Thiebaud, an artist whose food paintings have come to represent not only food but 20th century American art as a whole. From gum machines and paint cans to stadiums, Thiebaud's art representations captured and depicted popular American culture, and DELICIOUS reviews his life, influences, achievements and art forms with an eye to exploring his lasting impact. Any library strong in colorful biographies for kids will find this a pick that lends to leisure browsing as well as report assignment.



2. An absolutely "delicious" study of a contemporary painter, how he makes art, and what art does, packaged in a wonderfully designed book that young people (and pretty much anyone else) will enjoy.

3 comments about Picture Writing (Write for Kids Library).

1. This is not a book about Picture Writing. It is about how a writer can "direct" an illustrator(p.24 in the book). This is not how it actually works in picture books. The author can make notes for the artist as a guidance, but not give directions.
   It is obviously written by a non-visual person. If you want a book about Picture Writing, look at Uri Shulevitz Writing with Pictures.



2. This is the BEST book ever written on the art of writing for children and young adults - and I have read most of them! Suen provides essential insider information that gives aspiring authors the confidence to pursue their writing dreams. If you want to write for young people - whether infants or high schoolers - you must read this book!!!



3. Reading and using this book is almost the same as taking Anastasia's online Intensive Picture Book courses. In fact in some ways it's like taking IPB 3 ! Anastasia leads writers a few steps further than many "how to write for children" books do. The exercises help you study and discover what works while they also set up habits of keeping a writer's journal for you to think about your writing process, and a reader's log to keep track of what you've read. There's something for everyone- from board books to YA, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Make sure to check out the great info in marketing and in each appendix!