No comments about Papermaking and the Art of Watercolor in Eighteenth-Century Britain: Paul Sandby and the Whatman Paper Mill (Yale Center for British Art).

4 comments about Painting Duck Decoys: 24 Full-Color Plates and Complete Instructions.

1. this book was a waste of money! The pictures looked like cartoons and the instructions were non existant! The only instructions were in the last few pages and they were very vague. Like, details may be added now. That doesn't help much. Needs details like feather patterns abd brush strokes for feathers. I might as well have thrown $10.00 out the window.



2. The book is inexpensive and provides basic images of several duck species. However, it provides painting instructions only for mallards. For example, the book lists the primary paint colors for the other species, but it doesn't offer any information as to which of these colors are to be mixed to obtain the colors depicted in the images. This was a problem when I needed to repaint by Woodie dekes.



3. If you're looking for a super-accurate detail-oriented definitive authority on duck plumage, you won't find it in "Painting Duck Decoys..." The 24 color plates within could've been done by any budding high school art student. If not crude, they are at best poor approximations, not terribly useful for anyone concerned with painting decoys realistically. Perhaps the proportions of the ducks depicted will be of use to some. But most serious artists will undoubtedly find much more accurate information in books featuring photographs rather than the amateurish paintings in "Painting Duck Decoys..."



4. I am excited to see this book being offered at Amazon.com I became familiar with Anthony Hillman's book when I began painting my own decoys and had trouble finding any refrence material at hobby shops, craft stores or sportsman shops but my wife called our local library and found this book and it has been a God send. People have been very impressed with my refurbished decoys! So were the ducks! Although I am finnished painting my decoys, I am going to buy a copy for my collection! It is a piece of art in it self, The illustrations are crisp, clear and precise. The instructions are freindly enough for a beginner! I want to thank the author, Anthony Hillman for sharing his knowlege in his book. I have looked at all the hunting catalogs and have found that with the help of Anthony's book, my decoys look more realistic and I have saved money that I would have forked out for at least 4 dozen new decoys.

1 comments about Skies & Clouds (Pocket Watercolor).

1. Skies & Clouds by Richard Taylor is disappointing. Beginners should find the text instructive and techniques not intimidating, but the examples contain many errors (often according to his own advice) making them counter productive to the student aspiring to greater proficiency. The author demonstrates merely modest painting ability of the subject. Regretfully the lighting and shadows are not well rendered and contrast values are weak. His clouds are overly ephemeral with little structure. A watercolor of a "Sky and Sea" is the most convincing, because the waves of the sea are well rendered, but the sky is confused with fog and rays of light that look like rain. The book's purpose of being a "field guide" to aid in the artists perception of nature is good, but a more observant eye and commentary is desirable. The watercolors display visual paint textures but fall short of being inspiring Skies or Clouds.

No comments about Renoir Paintings: 24 Art Cards (Card Books).

No comments about Intuitive Composition: A Right-Brain Approach to Achieving Simplicity, Harmony, and Balance in Your Paintings.

3 comments about Anthony Van Dyck.

1. I was really disappointed when I received the book. Most reproductions are washed out and I kept wondering if I would love this Van Dyck's work any more if his paintings look like that. I've seen many originals and their reproductions in this book are too bad for a serious catalog.



2. This book presents a great overview of Van Dyck's work. The reproductions are clear, and the commentary is helpful. Brown also provides insightful commentary regarding the influence of Rubens' work on Van Dyck. Highly recommended.



3. One of the greatest painters of all time is well represented by his greatest paintings in this exhibition and hence - this catalog. Be prepared to be amazed by a painter of prodigious talent.

No comments about Painting and Sculpture in France, 1700-1789 (The Yale University Press Pelican History of Art).

3 comments about Pre-Raphaelite Women Artists.

1. Most books on the Pre-Raphaelites only touch briefly on the women artists. This book looks at these women, the barriers that made it difficult for them to paint and the tragic lives that some of them had. No Pre-Raphaelite collection is complete without this book.



2. Most books on the Pre-Raphaelites only touch briefly on the women artists. This book looks at these women, the barriers that made it difficult for them to paint and the tragic lives that some of them had. no Pre-Raphaelite collection is complete without this book.



3. I am an avid fan of Pre-Raphaelite painting, and was very pleased to find this book. It is very thorough and wonderfully done. It contains more than 230 lush illustrations, many in color. Featured are 20 artists, some of whom I wasn't familiar with before. Very nice!

1 comments about Imaging Sound: An Ethnomusicological Study of Music, Art, and Culture in Mughal India (Chicago Studies in Ethnomusicology).

1. This book is an exploration of 16th century Mughal paintings that include musicians and instruments. Much of the book is devoted to explaining the stories behind the paintings, starting with who was Akbar the Great? Wade elucidates the history of Akbar's family, and how they came to rule India. She relates the chronicles to scenes depicted in specific historical paintings. Each of the paintings includes musicians in some form, and Wade describes in detail the instruments that the musicians are playing and the reason for their inclusion in the work. The paintings themselves are exquisite, with 165 plates reproduced in black and white and 20 in full color. The book also includes family trees of the Mughals, maps, and a glossary of musical terms.

   Although the book is extraordinarily well done, it wasn't quite what I was looking for. From the title of the book, I had expected Wade to focus the text on the music of the Mughals rather than on their general history. I had expected more of the book to consider questions such as which instruments were played in Mughal times, how the instruments changed from then until now, and more generally, how much we can learn about the history of music by examining contemporary visual art works. Nevertheless, the book exemplifies excellent scholarship and it is, in itself, a magnificent work of art.

1 comments about Dali A&I (Art and Ideas).

1. As an art lover, I find Salvador Dali to be one of the most eccentric artists that the 20th century has produced. His work is often misunderstood because it is so difficult to comprehend and yet I find that his important contribution to 20th century art must not be overestimated.

   This book does Dali a lot of justice by explaining the political situations, the artistic influences, and the personal friendships that helped shape Dali to become the artist that he was. The book also includes almost all of the famous Dali paintings from his earliest years to his last painting from 1982. It also contains photographs and reconstructions of the various artistic projects that he created including jewelry, photographs, and the like.

   If you think that Dali is bizarre or that his art simply is incomprehensible to you, try this book out. You will be surprised by how much you learn and how you will want to learn some more about this great twentieth century artist.