1 comments about Guide to Impressionist Paris: Nine Walking Tours to the Impressionist Painting Sites in Paris.

1. Patty Lurie's 178-page guide 1996 to Paris offers a refreshing, artists' look at nine hot Paris walking tours, from the current-day perspective--accompanied by 19th century impressionists' views of the same locations. Tour Five, for example, runs from the Place de la Clichy through Place de Saint-Augustin, including along the route seven artists' haunts and their various renditions thereof.
   
   On Rue de Turin, Gustave Caillebotte painted "Paris Street: Rainy Day," in 1877, while the next year, Edouard Manet painted the nearby "Rue Mosnier Decked with Flags." The guidebook shows these paintings, alongside current-day photographs of the same spots, and includes discussions of the artists' similar works of the same areas and era.
   
   Each of the nine tours has a similar wealth of locations and artistic delights, and helps contemporary travelers to retreat in time and see Paris from the perspective of the impressionists who enlivened the City of Lights in ways that remain fresh, even 140 years later.
   
   In art, at least, the place is still beautiful and this little book can help one appreciate the city's former artistic glory.

1 comments about Basic Nature Painting: Techniques in Watercolor (Basic Techniques Series).

1. What a delightful surprise this book has been. I first picked it up at the library, but had to purchase a copy as a ready reference. There are so many useful tips and techniques for rendering natures beauty in watercolors. While this can pose serious challenges at times, this book gives you step by step methods to simplify the process. A must have for the serious watercolor enthusiast.

1 comments about Deep Blues: Bill Traylor 1854-1949.

1. I asked for a book on Old South history or folk art for Christmas, and my mom picked up Deep Blues: Bill Traylor 1854-1949. What a book! I get lost in the work of Traylor -- the king of folk art (sorry Mose T). And the photographs of Montgomery in the early 1900s tell a great story. This book moved me in so many ways, I hope it does for you as well.

1 comments about Conservation of Painting: Research and Innovations.

1. Needs a section on ethics, but as a text on methods, its flawless. Now when I buy damaged art, I know not to use scotch tape or a stapler and not to add fighter jets with crayons. Even the nascent should be fascinated on the quality of the restorations presented in the text. Extensive damage, when presented to qualified parties, becomes undetectable. Better have a ton of cash though. For the restorations, not the book.

No comments about Still Life.

No comments about Anasazi and Pueblo Painting.

No comments about Concrete to Canvas: Skateboarders' Art.

4 comments about Jackson Pollock: Energy Made Visible.

1. This may have been one of the better Pollack books when it came out in 1972, but now I think its main use is for die hards who want every detail. And the details are exhausting: galleries, museums, who what where - too much for me. What I was looking for was more process/personal/mindset stuff, and there is some but you have to go through a lot to get to the little of it there is. I recommend "Jackson Pollack" by Ellen G. Landau. Great reproductions and good text.



2. I was wowed reading this energetic, straightforward book, mainly by the many connections made--how Pollocks studies with the great Mexican muralist Orosco who used used/taught a dripping splashing underpainting technique can logically link to how Pollock got splashing and painting on large scale canvases---to the influence of other artists, such as Picasso, on the early works of Jackson Pollock, to the revelation of Pollock's love of and use of found natural forms...



3. I am just beginning to explore pollacks work - book is well laid out



4. This book is a thorough review of Jackson Pollock's work and his professional life; however I would have enjoyed it more if there had been more indepth reporting of his personal life. HIs relationship with his wife, parents and brothers would have made for a more insightful view of the artist as a man.

2 comments about Painting the Colors of Nature.

1. What I ordered - on time delivery - good price.



2. I'm not a fan of the instruction format the publisher decided upon for this book. Complete paintings are shown with a detailed description by the author of what she painted how, why and where. It's an approach that reminds me of written instructions for finding a road as opposed to drawing a map. I happen to be more of a fan of the step-by-step painting in progress form of instruction. If you don't like step-by-step or don't mind all-in-one-shot instructions next to the complete painting then this book will probably rank higher. Having said that - the instructions the author provides are detailed and solid.

   The paintings are in a very loose manner so don't expect highly detailed, color saturated paintings. Subjects range from landscapes (the most common) to florals to country cottages in meadows.

2 comments about Lovers and Other Strangers: Paintings by Jack Vettriano.

1. In 1989, or was it 1990, I stood in the Scottish Academy's "Open" show in Edinborough and marvelled at the work of an unknown Scottish miner's work named Jack Vettriano - Dammit I wish I'd had the 300 pounds to afford that wonderful painting. This is a book that shows a romantic at heart with the courage to paint what he feels regardless of modern day art critics who have failed to realize that their written word no longer carries any weight in the world of art. Vettriano is a romantic Hopper, but better - he stylizes, preaches, decorates, creates and delivers wondrous works that remind us why we love painting and painters who ignore critics and fashion and trends and paint what they want to paint. This is a success story from the very dark depths of the public's ability to make superstars in art that give art critic stomach acid for centuries to come - when their names are forgotten, Vettriano's dismissed artwork will still be colelcted, sought-after and admired. Keep them cookin' jack!



2. While I am quite a fan of Vettriano's work, most of the painting I've seen displayed on the Portland Gallery's website were of the type as "The Singing Butler." The paintings in "Lovers and Other Strangers" are not all so innocent. While they are all wonderful compostions I wasn't expecting the highly sexual nature of the pieces. (Perhaps I should have from the title.) There are several of his in this book of the type I enjoy such as "After Midnight" and "Winter Light and Lavender" I am not such a fan of Quinn's choices. While it gives a broad view of Vettriano's work you might not enjoy it if your favorite pieces are "Singing Butler" and "Mad Dogs." I do like the composition of all the pieces as well as the use of color I was not always taken with the choice of models. If you, like myself, enjoy Vettriano's work that are character studies of average people you might not care for the sexually charged nature of most of the pieces in this book.