5 comments about Learning by Heart: Teachings To Free The Creative Spirit.

1. I bought this book because I am an Gen-X art teacher who saw it in the library of an older teacher. It was hard to find, but I devoured the entire book when it arrived. It's beutiful and insightful, and an inspiration to art teachers and artists everywhere. Corita Kent has touched many of us in the education community, and she guides teachers to foster the bravery to chart into the waters of creativity. I wish I had had the priveledge to work with Corita Kent. Buy this book and cherish it.



2. During my doctoral work in Leadership Studies, my literature review on Creativity that led me to Kent/Steward's coloful and wise book. Corita Kent was a woman way ahead of her times, and Jan Steward did the world a favor by collaborating with this amazing artist to share with the world her engaging and charismatic teaching methodology.

   This book is a must for all teachers of art, women's studies professors, and anyone interested in creativity, multiculturalism, and leadership. Why don't they republish this treasure so that new readers can access it for a reasonable price? It is worth the $..., but unfair to the humanities!




3. Rarely have I met a book that invites me to join in such a luscious romp in creativity. Since this book found its way to me 10 years ago, I keep it close at hand and revisit its pages with the same pleasure as visiting a dear friend. The writing style and images are inviting, informative and inspiring.

   This is a valuable tool abundant with ideas for the artist as well as the educator who dreams of a rejuvenation in their teaching and learning. I wish to see this book in print once again, to continue to inspire the joy found in true creativity.

   As Education Director for a large arts organization, I desperately need 30 copies to pass on to our teaching artists to ignite the fires we all kindle deeply inside. And then of course, I'll need a spare to takes its place alongside my own rather tattered and loved - Learning by Heart.




4. Since I bought this book about eight years ago, I've loaned it to many who have been loath to return it to me. I continue to hope that it will be republished. I think it deserves a revival. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in exploring their own creativity or enabling others creativity. This is a resource that should be availble for a long time. Please let me know as soon as it becomes available again.



5. I am using Learning by Heart as a resource with my graduate students in a course called "Research and Teaching in the Humanities". The book has fabulous activities, thoughts, and ideas for encouraging the creative process. I would have used it as the textbook, had it been available! Please encourage the publisher to reissue this wonderful, insightful book!

1 comments about Duccio Di Buoninsegna (Library Great Masters).

1. One of my very favorite artists, Duccio was a superb master of color and composition. The reproductions in this book are printed on good quality, glossy paper, with intense and rich hues. There are over 100 color reproductions, many of them in detail.
   Because Duccio was rebellious, hot-headed, and mismanaged his money, more is known about him than other artists of his era, thanks to the many fines he was given that were recorded...but the town authorities who gave him the fines, were sometimes the same ones to give him commissions. It's presumed that he was born between 1255 and 1260, and died in late 1318 or in the early part of 1319.

   His tender and majestic Madonna and Child panels are inspiring and of incredible beauty. The large "Madonna and Child Enthroned with Angels and Saints", which is the main panel from his "Maesta", is extraordinary in its symmetry, and its perfection, from the exquisite feet of the Christ Child, to each fold of embroidered cloth.
   It's interesting to compare the "Annunciation" (pg. 26), with the "Announcement of Death" (pg. 74). Both with a strong angel, and a serene, all-knowing Mary.

   Another glorious piece is "Entry into Jerusalem", from the "Stories of the Passion" panels. The composition, with its flowing lines, is Duccio at his most sublime.
   Well written and extensively researched by Cecilia Jannella, this 1991 book is a treasure for anyone who loves the work of this Sienese master.

3 comments about Mark Hampton: The Art of Friendship.

1. This is so wonderful-a nice permanent record of the all time great NYC decorator Mark Hampton. After all, decorating is the relationships that are created in the process. After years of fellowship and love this is the end result.
   
   I have suffered cancer and I cherish this volume as his legacy. I recommend all of his books as a memorial to such a great man. His daughter is carrying the torch now. Thanks Duane



2. I have given this special, exquisite book to several best friends and they have been thrilled. I am about to order more because it makes such a lovely little gift. I did also buy one for myself!



3. For those of us who love the wonderful watercolors of the late Mark Hampton, this book is essential. The watercolors in this book are of a very personal nature, whether interiors, architectural, or otherwise. I am pleased to own this book, and I will enjoy it as I do with the other two Mark Hampton books. Note that the price is somewhat steep (...), but given the way the other two books sell on the resale market for many times their list price, a good investment.

5 comments about Celtic Design: Knotwork : The Secret Method of the Scribes (Celtic Design).

1. Getting to know how this art was born, I strongly recommend to those who appreciate Celtic Art



2. I have not yet drawn knots from this book, but I have worked through Celtic Knots-Mastering the Traditional Pattern which I recommend at a first book for beginners like myself. However, I had read this book and can't wait to start drawing its knots.



3. If you're only buying one of Meehan's books, get this one. It's earned its cost 100 times over in helping me design my own knotwork patterns. The history is interesting on the first read; I'm not working on (nearly) priceless vellum so I can afford rough drafts on scrap paper and don't follow the formal construction methods. But there's plenty of material to serve as a starting point.
   
   The collection of Trinity knots in the back is fabulous--try them in balloon art for a change of scale.



4. This book will show you how to make Celtic knots and it does contain detailed diagrams, however what this book shows you in 20 pages can be easily shown in just a couple of diagrams while at other times the book shows you in just a couple of diagrams what it should have shown you in 20 pages...So there is alot to be desired.



5. Several years ago I was having a guitar made and wanted to use a Celtic theme for some of the inlay work. As usual, I discovered that this was a more complicated task than I had originally thought. Not all places on a guitar are equal, and trying to find a set of ideas that would work as a whole is almost as challenging as designing an illuminated manuscript page.

   I my frantic search through the catalogs for books that provided more than pretty pictures, I stumbled across several volumes by Aidan Meehan, including this one on knotwork. Meehan's focus is as much on design as it is on imitation, which was perfect for what I was trying to do. The book is done in clean legible calligraphy with countless illustrations of both technique and results, making it a bit of an artwork itself.

   Whether 'secret' or not, Meehan presents knots, their creation, and use in fine and methodical detail. He works through some important knots, then turns to panel design, plaitwork and spiral knots. Probably much more than I will ever need, but making this a valuable resource for the artist and the historian.

5 comments about Modelling and Painting Figures (Modelling Manuals).

1. Don't waste your money. There are good modelling books out there. This is just not one of them. The approach is too varied. There are several pages of photos and sequences on modelling a sci-fi figure in 1/48 scale. The figure is grotesquely proportioned and the scale and topic chosen does not sit well with the other historical themes which then proceed to take over the entire book.
   This is then followed by another modelling exercise based on modifying plastic commercial parts to make a WWI pilot. I swear that the left foot on the finished figure is longer than the right foot.
   Towards the end of the book, there is an extended sequence on painting a figure with acrylics.
   Between these three chapters, there are a few proportional charts showing scale reductions of the human figure and some nice pictures of commericially available figures. That's it!
   The coverage on real modelling is just not there - this book appears to be just an excuse to showcase some commercial European figures suitable for painting.



2. Overall the book is pretty good - a bit surprising considering its small size.
   
   The book focuses on modeling figures, with less space devoted to painting. Converting and building from scratch is covered, in various scales and using different materials. Text is accompanied by many pictures - small, but clear and helpful.
   
   Painting is described using acrylics, mixed from generic colors. Each time color variations are shown, giving a good idea of how to mix intermediate hues. Lack of reference to premixed colors by any paint manufacturer is good - makes it easy to apply for everyone.
   
   The book suffers a bit because of small size - photos are smallish and there is relatively little text. I personally found text a bit too short in places, esp. painting feels not explained in depth. But overall it's a very decent effort, covering a lot of ground, and doing it well.



3. This book focused on building figures from scatch, adjusting poses on existing kit figures, assembly, and painting. I was most interested in the subject of painting but I found that the information was too little and of insufficient detail to be of any real help. Much better books on the subject include: How to Paint Realistic Military Figures by Lynn Kessler, and How to Build Dioramas by Sheperd Paine.
   
   Lee



4. I found this book a little too general, for my taste. The most useful part are the scale diagrams of human proportions towards the front of the book. I like the pictures of other people's work--that's where the figure modeler can learn the most. I wish they had a few more close-up photos of how to sculpt different materials: cotton, skin, wool, leather, wood, metal. I don't know about every book out there, but my copy is printed rather off-register and that seriously limits the photographic fidelity.



5. This book is a very good read for both figure modellers and painters.The writer writes in a clear style and lays out the subject matter in an easy to follow manner. The topics include commonly used scales and proportionality of the human body, modelling human figures up to and including painting the finished figure. I especially liked the-all colour picture format and the inclusion of works by the likes of Julian Hullis and the Andreas brothers. All in all an enjoyable read and a worthy addition to any modeller's library

4 comments about Love and Loss: American Portrait and Mourning Miniatures.

1. I liked this book. Nice photos, good value. I can't say that I will go back and read it again, but it had decent information on the first read and great art.



2. Informative and well written with beautiful color photos of the miniatures. A book we'll treasure.



3. This is a wonderful book on American miniatures and mourning portraits. Ostensibly a catalogue of the Yale collection, it also gives a great history of miniatures in their cultural context, a discussion of miniature painters and processes, and a synopsis of the tradition of mourning items. Very well researched and well written. Beautiful pictures of miniatures, most at actual size, and many enlarged to reveal tiny details. This book is accessible to both scholars and the interested public.



4. I began my interest in miniature paintings several years ago, but found that long searches on the internet rarely produced any new information on this topic. Owning about 4 "worthwhile" books in my collection on the subject, I anxiously awaited Robin Jaffee Frank's book (which I became aware was "in the works" about 6 months before publication). I hoped that this book would be the frosting on the cake of knowledge I possessed on miniatures. I was delighted to find it is the cake itself. Miniature itself in size, it contains a whopping 358 pages packed with information and insights, along with plenty of full-size illustrations. It's presented in a format that can be easily followed, with many paintings also shown magnfied to enhance the concept being presented. You will want to take your time in reading and relishing this book, there's alot of information here. Well worth the wait.

2 comments about A French Alphabet Book of 1814: For Alfred Bourdier De Beauregard, Created by his uncle Arnaud at the Chateau DeBeaumoont De Beauregard.

1. 
   but the drawings are a delight.
   
   Uncle Arnaud created this charming volume of water colors in 1814 as an alphabet primer for his two-year-old nephew Alfred. Napoleon was on Elba, and the formerly exiled King Louis XVIII was in power. The views include the family chateau and its surrounding landscape and the elegantly furnished interior: kitchens, chapel, workshops, wine cellar, and stables. The book includes detailed drawings of other types of buildings - palaces, churches, cottages and barns.
   
   The book also focuses on nephew Alfred. His clothing and pastimes are illustrated. There are images of his instruction in polite manners, music, and the arts. Altogether Uncle Arnaud drew nearly 300 watercolors.
   
   The pages are filled with puns and French captions. Many of these have been translated into the English, and the book contains an excellent French to English dictionary of words and terms of the period.
   
   Charles Plante, a London art and antique dealer, acquired the book from a Parisian dealer who "bought it directly from one of the family members of the chateau." Plante writes: "I think it did more than train the young nephew about life in the chateau. It's telling him about the larger picture and perhaps things to come in his life, and that's one of the reasons why it survived. It was very much a treasured object within the family."
   
   Plante's researches lead him to believe their limited militaristic flavor speaks to the alienation of the French aristocracy from the Revolution.
   
   Wordplay and visual humor abound. A theater is placed next to a metal bathtub, or "baignoire", a word that also meant "theater pit." A chamber pot looms under a bed. An infant, an aged man, a skeleton with a scythe, an hourglass and other objects seem to warn of the fleeting nature of time. A whip and a razor in a grouping of toys convey an ominous note.
   
   Plante writes that juxtaposition of many of the objects doesn't make sense to him or to other historians. "The picture may become clearer as more research is done. Or in fact it may be rather simplistic and they're all things that the nephew would have come in contact with in the chateau or come to learn about in life. The more I look at it the more I learn from it. I think that's what has given a lot of people pleasure. And its naive charm adds a whole other dimension to one's interpretation of what is art."
   
   I found this a fascinating insight into the life of the aristocracy after the French Revolution.
   
   Robert C. Ross 2008



2. Really a wonderful book with great graphics. Got the title from the Movable Book Society. If you like pop-ups JOIN.

No comments about How to Draw and Paint Cats (from the How to Draw and Paint Series).

3 comments about Cezanne: Landscape into Art.

1. Although this is a great book for any art lover it is a must for the plein air (outdoor) painter. It demonstrates how Cezanne transformed his "motif", the scene he has selected, into a painting by showing photos of the motif side by side with his paintings. Machotka, an artist himself, discusses the artistic problems presented by each scene and Cezanne's various solutions as they vary over his development as an artist. Machotka is knowledgeable, thoughtful and writes well. This book will certainly extend your appreciation of Cezanne and if you paint plein air, will likely make you a much more observant and better painter. As a painter this is one of the few books on composition and technique that I recommend to other painters.



2. Cezanne's influence on Cubism and later abstract styles can make the viewer forget just how important looking at his native landscape was to the painter. This wonderful book helps us see the fascinating ways Cezanne succeeded in "realizing his sensations" in front of nature and landscape. A book to return to again and again.



3. This is by far one of the best books I have ever read and had. Machotka details Cezanne in a great way. I was never a great fan of Cezanne before purchasing this book, now I'm a devoted fan! Cezanne would be proud to have someone like Machotka writing about his work.

1 comments about The Year with Grandma Moses.

1. Grandma Moses, who died at the age of 101 in 1961, was one of the most beloved folk artists in the United States. "The Year with Grandma Moses," by W. Nikola-Lisa, brings together 13 of her classic paintings, along with brief excerpts from the artist's own autobiographical writings. The result is a beautiful tribute to a remarkable artist.

   The book opens with a great full-color photographic portrait of Grandma Moses at work at her painting table in 1952. A brief but informative biography sets the stage for the treasures that follow.

   Grandma Moses was a rural New York farm wife for most of her long life, and her paintings reflect this world. Colorful, lively, and rich in detail, these paintings record and celebrate the daily lives of farm communities. We see classic farmhouses, a horse-drawn carriage, children climbing a tree, cows grazing, people engaging in chores, and other sights.

   Because the book focuses on a year in Grandma's world, the paintings reflect all of the seasons. We see the green fields of springtime, the brilliant foliage of autumn, and the snowy landscapes of winter. "The Year with Grandma Moses" is a wonderful book that captures the spirit of an American creative legend.