1 comments about The Cats History of Western Art.

1. I bought this from an Amazon vendor as a Christmas gift for a dear old aunt who is both an art snob and a cat fancier. Once she opened this gift on Christmas Eve, she could not seem to concentrate on anything else! She kept looking at the pictures and laughing out loud, really enjoying herself. It was useless trying to distract her with any other presents - she was hooked!
   
   This book is basically a sort of highbrow art parody with a number of famous works of art (from ancient Greek to the Impressionists) re-done by Susan Herbert. Instead of the regular human figures in the paintings, Herbert has substituted cats. And so you get two cats as God and Adam on Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling (this was shown on the book cover of the edition I received), cats populating a Breugel village scene, a Rembrandt cat, a Van Gogh cat, and so on. It sounds like it would get boring, like a one-trick pony, but actually it doesn't. The combination of familiar art pieces from different periods, together with kitty faces offers enough variety to keep this picture-book interesting, even when you know where it's going.
   
   The text which accompanies the paintings supposes a strange fiction - that all these great Western Artists had somehow needed to do "first drafts" of their famous works using cats as models instead of humans. The dead-pan prose is quite funny, if you know how incredibly unlikely it is that any cat would sit still for long enough to be painted (in costume, no less!)
   
   I'm so sorry that this wonderful little book is out of print, but it was worth paying the money to an Amazon used-book vendor to see the delighted smile on my dear aunt's face!
   
   Two paws up!

2 comments about Matthias Weischer: Malerei.

1. I must said that this book is one of the best books I've ever seen.. the design is awesome, the images are perfectly clean.. it contains many details of Weischer's work and technique.. The size of the pictures is very good and besides you can truly apreciate he is an EXCELLENT PAINTER. I really recommend it, get it NOW!! I will attach some pictures of the book for you to look inside of it (if possible)



2. M. Weischer is one of the best contemporary painters out there and this book is superbly produced! Color is excellent as well as great design!!! Best artist catalogue I've seen!!

4 comments about Celtic Design: Illuminated Letters.

1. The Celtic sure did some amazing artwork. I bought this book to view the artwork closer. This book delivers.



2. THE COVER OF MEEHAN'S "ILLUMINATED LETTERS" IS MISLEADING. THE COVER EXHIBITS THE VIBRANT AND RICH COLORS THAT CELTIC ILLUMINATION IS REKNOWN FOR, BUT UP0N OPENING THE BOOK, I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO FIND NOT A HINT OF COLOR. COMPLETELY BLACK AND WHITE. THERE IS AN INTRODUCTION, BRIEF BUT INFORMATIVE, AN EARLY DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER, MAJOR INITIALS CHAPTER, DECORATED ALPHABET CHAPTER, ANIMAL ALPHABET, AND TWO DECORATED AMPERSAND CHAPTERS; WHO USES AMPERSANDS THAT MUCH?! I THOUGHT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN MANY MORE EXAMPLES OF ILLUMINATED LETTERS (NOT AMPERSANDS) FOR THE 160 PAGE VOLUME THAT IT IS.



3. This book makes Celtic lettering styles accessible to anyone. As great as Meehan's other books.



4. This is an excellent book for those looking to create celtic designs.

   This book teaches about the development of illumination. It then goes into the major initials, decorated alphabet, decorated ampersands, the animal alphabet and animal ampersands.

   The book is best used when accompianied by Aidan's other Celtic Design books. I have 7 of the books in this series and love them all!

   All in all this is a great book for someone looking to create celtic designs.

2 comments about Early Spanish Manuscript Illumination.

1. Spectacular medieval manuscript illuminations aren't exactly news, but I wasn't at all familiar with the Spanish versions. Specifically, these are Leonese style, thought to be derived from earlier Visigoth models. The Visigoths were sent to Iberia c. 410 to run off the Vandals (and to get them out of Italy), and ended up ruling most of what later became Spain and France, in the name of Rome. The Visigoth Kingdom of Toledo lasted for three centuries, until the Muslims conquered most of the peninsula in 711. The Christian kingdoms of Asturias-Leon, Navarre, Aragon and Catalonia occupied the extreme north of the peninsula. Wikipedia has the details, if you're curious.
   
   The Leonese paintings don't look much like their northern European counterparts. What they look like are contemporary Ethiopian Coptic religious paintings, and 19th century New Mexican santos: bright colors, big, teardrop eyes, flat perspective. I just visited Spanish Market in Santa Fe, which features contemporary versions of old New Mexican Hispanic art, and saw at least a dozen paintings of Adam and Eve with identical iconography to the 10th century Spanish version -- even to Adam being (always!) on the left: tree of good & evil at dead center, with that ol' devil-serpent, check; guilty looks, check, fig leaves, check. Bright colors, flat perspective, check. Pretty amazing, really -- no substantial changes in a thousand years!
   
   Very good color reproduction for a 30-yr old book, and not much else available on this topic. Check it out, if you have an interest in Hispanic and/or medieval religious art.
   
   Happy reading--
   Peter D. Tillman



2. This little book contains a concise history of Visigothic manuscripts from northern Spain and dozens of eye-popping full color illuminations. Some are well known from other texts and some are rarer, but all show the amazing color sensibility and vivid sense of life that characterize this style of art.

5 comments about The Poetic Landscape: A Contemporary Visual and Psychological Exploration.

1. Ms. Mowry is a talented artist, with great finesse in shaping dramatic landscapes. This book is filled with fine, instructive examples of her work. She does tend to get carried away, though, as she writes about the significance of Art, and Life, and Stuff. All that palaver tends to wear thin after awhile. But the pictures are well worth studying.



2. Ms. Mowry is a talented artist, with great finesse in shaping dramatic landscapes. This book is filled with fine, instructive examples of her work. She does tend to get carried away, though, as she writes about the significance of Art, and Life, and Stuff. All that palaver tends to wear thin after awhile. But the pictures are well worth studying.



3. I found that this book was one of the best art books that I have read in a long time.Ms. Mowry's insights into the poetic landscape will stay with you .Though I do not work in pastels I found that the ideas expressed by the author will be of insight to all artists regardless of medium used.The paintings illustrated are beautifull and express the meaning of the poetic landscape.This is a great book for artists looking to make thier own statement.If you do not paint this book will be of help in appreciating art and it may make you want to start painting!I strongly recommend this book to landscape painters and anyone who appreciates fine art.It will become one of your most read books.



4. I became lost in this book. Better than any "how-to" book on painting landscapes, Ms. Mowry opens ones mind to the poetry and philosophy of creating great art. The time spent reading this book is like attending a very, very good workshop where one learns to paint with his or her heart. And even if you never read the first word of this book, it's worth owning for the exquisite reproductions of Ms. Mowry's landscapes.



5. I became lost in this book. Better than any "how-to" book on painting landscapes, Ms. Mowry opens ones mind to the poetry and philosophy of creating great art. The time spent reading this book is like attending a very, very good workshop where one learns to paint with his or her heart. And even if you never read the first word of this book, it's worth owning for the exquisite reproductions of Ms. Mowry's landscapes.

1 comments about Where Is Ana Mendieta?: Identity, Performativity, and Exile.

1. Jane Blocker has done an exquisite job of her research and documentation of not only Ana Mendieta, but other realted artists pertaining to related areas of interest. I found this text to be deeply insightful. As one who has recently become interested in the work and life of Ana Mendieta, I found this book to be much more than an introduction to the "earth/body"-oriented artist, but a document helpful enough for in depth study. The photos, however, are black and white, and scarce. If it's a full color collection of Ana Mendieta's work you are in search of, this is not the text you want. However, if you are looking for a deeply fascinating, clearly well educated and researched text documenting this fine artist, you've found your match.

5 comments about Gouache for Illustration.

1. This is almost the only book you'll need to get started with gouache. As the medium of such outstanding artists as the late Bob Peak and industrial design master Syd Mead, gouache has so many possibilities IF you can learn how to use it and this book will tell you exactly how to get started! Be sure to do the exercises, get some decent sable brushes, and use one of the quality gouaches listed. Winsor Newton is pricey but Holbein's Acryla gouache is incredible once you figure out their color names (not standard like W&N or Holbeins standard gouache). His basic color palletes are a great start & his recommendation of the Quiller color wheel is right on. There is a new Quiller wheel out but the one in the book will not lead you astray. Study(!) the sections on color and color mixing and you will soon have a leg up on every other "beginner" and start seeing "what" makes some art professional as opposed to "straight out of the tube" amateur attempts. This book is great and I recommend it highly to anyone who wants to paint in gouache.



2. This is one of the beswt books i have in my collection. I have studied arts in Holland. I like gouache very much. (www.loekweijts.nl) It's a pitty however Holbein gouache is not available in the Netherlands. Falling in love on the mighty gouache. Amazed myself with the results. A MUST to have.



3. The "Blank Star" review at the bottom is actually just a snipet of self promotion from the book's author Rob Howard. It's strange that he does this because it drags down the average rating which could affect sales. I suppose that since this book is out of print it doesn't matter, but anyway, great book, one complaint: Some of the tools that Howard recommends are no longer manufactured and it would be nice to get some existing alternatives.



4. This book is jam packed with valuable information for not just painters who work in gouache, but all painters. If you only have room or money for just a few more books, make sure that this is one of them. It is excellent, I have worked in illustration and and have painted in watercolors for 24 years. Many gouache techniques and properties, for some reason, are not commonly taught. Some of the working knowledge in here is the type that one only learns either on the job, or as an assistant/apprentice. The author has been very generous to be so informative while writing this book. Definitely not your average "how to" book!!



5. This book is an excellent introduction to the best techniques for painting in gouache, also known as opaque watercolor. Gouache has been a standard medium for illustrators for generations, yet it is not often taught in American art schools. It also has been used by fine artists for centuries. Gouache is remarkably easy to use, has low toxicity and is easy to clean up. Considering all that, it is amzing how little information about is available for professional artists.

   Howard's book goes a long way toward correcting the problem. He explains how to select the right type of paint for your project, reviews several different brands of paint, and gives sound advice on color mixing. Even if you don't want to use opaque watercolor, the book is worth buying just for Howard's chapter on "Color Theories That Don't Work."

No comments about God & the History of Art, From Egypt to the Twentieth Century, With a Godly Focus: Over 250 Art Lessons (Curriculum Kit including textbook, 34 master postcards, 24 paint cards, and 10 marker cards).

No comments about Animal Painting Workbook.

5 comments about Popcorn Palaces: The Art Deco Movie Theater Paintings of Davis Cone.

1. The paintings in this book are so realistic that they look like photographs. The art work depicted is amazing. The detail of the paintings is outstanding from the theaters to the cracks in the sidewalks
   
   Along with the paintings there are stories about the theaters. With each painting the authors give the street location of the theater. The book doesn't really give a detailed history of any of the theaters other then generalizations like construction dates. The authors do a good job of detailing the history and popularity of the art Deco theater. While it doesn't go into depth it does do a good job of presenting it.
   
   The book also chronicles the rise of the art deco theaters in a way that makes you want to go out and find one and take in a movie. For me there is nothing like seeing a movie in one of these theaters to bring back the old time feeling of seeing a movie.
   
   Popcorn palaces is about the art Deco theater but it's main topic is the painter Davis Cone who painted all of the paintings. It talks about his style of work, the people who influenced his work and the preparation that goes into the painting. Each painting is discussed as the authors talk about how Cone was able to paint these stunning images and his mastery of paint, water color and canvas's.
   
   If you are interested in learning the history of the art Deco theater and marveling the incredibly realistic paintings of Davis Cone then this is the book to have on your coffee table to look at over and over again.



2. My husband's home town theater is on the cover! I have already given several books as gifts. The pictures are just beautiful!



3. Most people who appreciate the architecture of movie theatres are focused on the fantasy or opulence that the auditorium provides, but here a skilled artist helps us appreciate the facades of some 80 Art Deco styled cinemas across America by means of extraordinarily detailed images in paint. It is always a pleasure to welcome an artistic achievement to the body of work in this subject, and this handsome volume produced in the long format (11 inches long by 9 inches high by one half inch thick) and printed in wonderful color on satin-coated paper stock, with color photos on both film-laminated hard covers, will be a welcome addition to most libraries. Even the end papers and chapter heads are dyed a happy yellow to set the tone of the book. Unlike "Silent Screens" which is in the same format, "Popcorn Palaces ..." is nostalgic without being depressing, even though the writers make clear that many of the subjects have passed away and continue to do so. In that sense, this too is a `necrology' of sorts. It is completed with a detailed Index and Bibliographies of the artist and his art, as well as theatres.

   Within the 144 pages the authors, Messrs. Kinerk and Wilhelm, succeed in giving a good history of the rise of these theatres and also a story of how the talented artist Davis Cone found his subjects and brought them to life. Unlike "Silent Screens" and other efforts, this publisher selected experts in theatre history and architecture (one of them a member of the Theatre Historical Society of America) to create an authoritative and factual text to frame the pages of artwork.

   To be sure, the book is really about the artist, Mr. Cone, and his `photo-realistic' style and achievements; so the book is not primarily about the theatres, yet it does usually list the name, date of construction, address, architect and the date of the painting of most of the theatres. This thoroughness does give the book an historic value, even though most of the theatres are not individually profiled apart from those facts. It is not a `theatres book,' but a book about paintings, which happen to be of theatres and the remarkable artistry and foresight of one man: Mr. Cone. As the authors bring out, however, the subject was not a whim, but an integral part of the artist's life and sympathies.

   Within five chapters the authors cover the artist, the era, the style, the technique, and the "Epilogue - Curtain Call," for the era which created these charming examples of Americana has passed. If we confine ourselves to only examples of the Art Deco style, one could find no better mirror to the past of such cinemas. Perhaps in future Mr. Cone will stretch to also record those non-Art Deco theatres in larger cities. The only criticism an architectural historian might make is that there is no exposition of the interiors of these mostly smaller, neighborhood show houses, but then it must be admitted that few of them had really notable interiors, and getting permission to photograph interiors can be very difficult as the photographers of "The Last Remaining Seats" have disclosed in an article about that book. These paintings are not of the `palaces' of the big cities, but these fantastically detailed paintings do capture the significance of the facades and their marquees to the smaller urban landscapes.

   For those who want more history plus the artistry of architectural interiors, there are other books (all here at Amazon) such as: "The Best Remaining Seats ..."; "American Picture Palaces"; "Great American Movie Theatres"; and "American Theatres of Today" among others. Each of these captures in photos the wonderful era of such fanciful designs, but none of them feature the "Hyperrealistic" stylings of masters such as Mr. Cone. May his paintings inspire the saving and restoration of many of these examples of our theatres heritage, for then I believe that the artist will be truly rewarded for his work.




4. The paintings contained in this book are truly excellent. The fact is there are too few to really justify a whole book. Having seen another hundred fine examples of theaters in this country I am dismayed that so few are represented. The book leaves me longing for more . I wish the artist had included some of the fine interior spaces of these deco palaces. If you love theaters buy this book but also take the time to visit one in your area for the full experience.



5. This book is great for nostalgia of the old single movie theaters that are lost to the multicomplex theaters of today! All ages will find this book intertaining to look at. The art work of Davis Cone is very realistic and I find myself looking over every inch of the picture for little details. A book you can easily look at again and again and find something new, just like good movie picture.