No comments about The Rothko Chapel Paintings: Origins, Structure, Meaning.

1 comments about Painting Nature's Details in Watercolor.

1. This is another great book by Cathy Johnson. I highly recommend this and any of her other works. Visit her website and be blown away! She is one of the most talented, prolific watercolorists and writers I have found.
   All her works make great gifts not only for friends, but yourself!

3 comments about Painting Flowers the Van Wyk Way.

1. Another great book from this author and painter. Again, a great variety of work and examples are shown, with excellent practical and easy to understand instructions.



2. This book is really well organized in a step by step understanding on the basics of compostion, color mixing (the actual paint to obtain a certain color),color fundamentals, brushes, and background when painting flowers. If a person is new to painting, the basics are here. However, it does lack detailed step by step demonstrations that will guide a person from the start of a painting to the finish. Only brief general demontrations are in this book. If a person wants to know how to brush stroke a leaf, make a stem, and a pedal I would suggest in addition to using this book another book on brush stroke techniques. There are lots of beautiful paintings in this book. Just looking at the photos helped me to figure out the brush strokes but then I have some experience in painting, mostly portraits. Not having painting lots of flowers before, I wondered "do I start in the middle? or the outside of a flower?" I don't beleive it is mentioned in this book. I found in another book that I would start in the center when painting roses, and tulips are different, and so are poppies on where to begin. A rough outline on the sphere and anatomy of flowers is given in Helen's book which realy helps when painting.



3. As a lover of flowers and a painter I truly enjoyed this book. Readers will find a step by step guide into the world of painting and be guided into the specifics of painting flowers. Tha author gives a through and one of the most complete explanations of the basic components of a painting. Her explanations for the values Composition,Drawing, Motivation, Color, Harmony and Tone value are excellent and well worth the price of the book and make you feel part of an actual art class. Illustrations are magnificent and the authors personal experience and tips are nopt only helpful in the art of flower painting, amateur or professional, but become actual blessings. It is truly a book worth owning.

5 comments about Painting Watercolor Florals That Glow.

1. I've owned this book for several years and have gone through all of the exercises at least twice over those years. I am totally puzzled by the other reviewer's rave reviews. Jan's paintings are absolutely gorgeous; in fact, she is my favorite watercolor painter- but don't expect to be able to paint anything like her after studying this book. There are many, many important techniques covered in this book, but the descriptions of how to do the different techniques are completely inadequate. There are only four steps for each demonstrated painting and there is no way you can produce a picture anything like Jan's by following those steps- unless you already know how to do those techiques. And I am an intermediate painter, not a beginner, just so you know. If you want to buy a book with lots of pictures of beautiful flower paintings in it, go for it, but don't expect to become a flower painter from it.



2. Jan does a supurb job of simplifying a complex painting problem.
   What a fine teacher! An excellent book to keep in a painters library.



3. This book is detailed, well illustrated, well written, and filled with clear instructions for all levels, but even a novice could paint a respectable flower picture in minutes by following the techniques in this book. Intermediate students should be able to paint one that would sell in minutes.



4. A very straightforward instruction book which helps one achieve a wonderful glow in florals as well as other subject matter.



5. This is one of those books that you read from cover to cover, cause you just can't get enough! After following Jan's instructions on the 40% rule of shadows, my florals now not only glow, but they have taken on a real three dimensional look!!

No comments about Watercolor Lesson-a-Day: 2009 Day-to-Day Calendar.

2 comments about A Book of Joy.

1. This is a precious little book with beautiful photos of the paintings of Thomas Kincade and wonderful inspirational words.
   
   Perfect to unwind after a hectic day and a wonderful gift.



2. This is a great gift. I have given Thomas Kinkade books numerous times as gifts. The pictures are beautiful and the inspirational words are wonderful as well. I think anyone who purchases this book will enjoy it.

No comments about Indian drawings and painted sketches, 16th through 19th centuries: [catalogue].

2 comments about Fresh and Easy Watercolors for Beginners.

1. I was very disappointed with this book. The title should be "Watercolor Craft Projects", because that's all it is. And some of the techniques used in these craft projects are not for beginners, so all in all it is very misleading. I do like crafts and may have kept the book if I liked enough of the crafts in it -- which I didn't.



2. I was disappointed about this book. It has craft projects that include watercolor, instead of just watercolor techniques.

1 comments about Raymond Pettibon: V-Boom.

1. The catalogue for an exhibition held in 2007, this book shows a very large sample of Pettibon's output (high-quality reproductions) and the accompanying essays give a new insight on the artist and the importance of the written word in his work. Quite a number of books have recently been published on Pettibon and I would say that this one is the best available.

No comments about Painting Landscapes in Oils (Oil Painting Tips & Techniques).