1 comments about Looking at Paintings: A Guide to Technical Terms (Looking At...).

1. You would like to think that every Student of painting would already know this stuff, but...

1 comments about Great Women Masters of Art (Great Masters of Art).

1. This book is one in a finely done current art series, and every volume is a beauty! This one, "Great Women Masters" may be the best, since a large number of the artists here are not well known. Sure, there are Cassett, O'Keefe, and a few other very famous names, but perhaps the best descriptions and paintings are by pre-20th Century Artists,some from the 1500's,and especially some English Pre-Raphaelites. There are many,many color reproductions, descriptions of the lives of the artists, even very small color pictures at the book page corners, all which makes this a very special series, this being my favorite. Also, the size is rectangular and portable, not too heavy..All in all, just about perfect!

2 comments about Paint On Paper.

1. I just purchased this book and was impressed with its layout and the wide variety of methods used to "paint" on paper. Even though I own many collage and bookmaking books, I feel that this is a great reference book for decorating paper. Even as I was reading this book, the ideas helped refresh my memory of techniques I have used before and even added a couple of new ones. This book is a well organized reference for bookmaking, collage, and/or cardmaking. I plan on using it in my classroom with my bookmaking club. Visually it is also just fun!



2. This book is great for artists that haven't worked much with paint on paper, but for me, I have used most of these ideas for a long time and I was looking for some new ideas. I've been an artist my entire career and I love to find new and interesting ideas. This really wasn't what I was looking for.

1 comments about Charles Burchfield's Journals: The Poetry of Place.

1. Organized by topic, this is a must-have if you wish to understand Burchfield. Beautiful production job.

No comments about Watercolor Fix-It Book.

2 comments about Painting Materials: A Short Encyclopedia.

1. Compact, useful, essential much better than many other titles. Provides you with the basics & essentials, based on experience and knowledge.



2. For my research on Chinese painters and painting techniques I am in China. Taking a copy of this book with me as a reference work, now I end up buying it again for some of my Chinese friends. They are all very interested in this still very accurate and usefull book for restorers and other people working with Art. The coverage of materials is very complete.

5 comments about Dada: Zurich, Berlin, Hanover, Cologne, New York, Paris.

1. I have always had a weakness for Dada, and within this quixotic movement a special liking for Schwitters. So I visited the Dada-exposition in the Paris Centre Pompidou last year, and there bought both the Dickerman catalogue of the American exposition, and the (French language) catalogue of the Centre Pompidou itself, which differ in many ways. The exposition was wonderful by the way, and one of the best I' ve seen in many years. Thinking that a morning would be enough to see what I wanted to see, I changed my mind, decided to take dinner in the Pompidou, and stayed for the rest of the day. The immense amount of material was stunning. And the same thing really goes for both impressive catalogues. The American (Dickerman) version (520 pages) follows Dada by way of the cities where Dada developed, and does so in a more or less chronological fashion. Essays are excellent, photomaterial looks great. It is the sort of catalogue you would expect from an exposition like this. The European catalogue, more than thousand pages, printed on very thin paper, treats subjects, artists, and everything else connected with Dada according to alfabet. It seems to me that the catalogue has just about everything that could be seen at the exposition, with exception of the films of course. Although I felt a bit silly after buying both catalogues (spending some 100 euros), I was in the end very glad that I did. Everybody who buys catalogues now and then, know how disappointing these sometimes are. Well, these aren't. They are both superb, knowledgeable. And the people who made them have done a terrific job. In the end you wind up thinking: Hey, these guys (and girls) must have loved Dada as much as I do.



2. dada: zurich, berlin, hanover, cologne, new yorkk, paris



3. This book is wonderfully informative, plus it has so many full-color reproductions--the type of terrific catalog that inspires one to stroke its pages with a sense of seduction (works in my mind!).



4. Coupled with Hans Richter's: "Dada, Art and Antiart" and movement's philosophy and works are clearly understood. Graphics are truly great and commentary enlighten. It might be noted this book is German published as the Max Ernst book "Life and Work". Both with numerous colored plates of the highest quality. The Dada book though excels in text.



5. IF YOU LIKE ART THIS IS THE PERFECT MEAL.
   BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER AND SNACKS
   I WISH I HAD ONE OF THESE BOOKS IN EVERY ONE OF MY ROOMS
   OR ANYWHERE I VISIT WHERE THERE MIGHT BE FREE TIME TO LEAF THRU IT!

3 comments about The Complete Guide to Watercolor.

1. This is a good guide for the beginning watercolor artist...but I hesitate to give it more than 3 stars, simply because there is too much information and it is a tad overwhelming.
   
   The book is divided into:
   
   Materials
   Techniques
   Color
   Lanscapes
   Still Life
   
   There is adequate information as to appropriate tools and there is good information on color and brushmarks. However, there is too little instruction and the instruction that is given, is not always clear. I think I would have enjoyed the book more if there was less information on some of the more advanced techniques and more instruction on the basics. I also felt that the format of the book could have been better- there seems to be simply too much squeezed onto each page.
   
   However, I'd still recommend this to anyone interested in watercolor though I'd suggest checking it out of your local library as opposed to purchasing it.



2. Given to me by a friend when I just discovered watercoloring, I had high hopes for this book. It's nice to leaf through, with a wide range of beautiful color plates that can be the source of inspiration. But its "step-by-step" descriptions of various techniques are frustratingly unclear.
   
   I'm on the hunt for another.



3. When I think of watercolor, my mind wanders to the past where we were in art class trying to paint a still life. What a pity my teacher didn't have this book around. For some reason, I was always allowed to leave art class and go to the library where they felt I could be more useful. I guess I've been recently trying to "renew" my interest in drawing and painting.
   
   There are just so many expenses when it comes to "art" projects. So, watercolor is a nice way to get your feet wet again.
   
   Some great hints:
   
   1. Stretching Watercolor Paper
   2. Toning Paper - Gives your art a nice color background
   3. How to use a sponge to soften details.
   4. Letting each layer dry before building up the colors.
   5. Expert Color Mixing Techniques.
   6. How to Frame your art.
   
   You will also learn interesting things about paintings of the past. How they mixed in egg yolk to make the pigment a stronger medium. Giovanna Garzoni's Still Life with a Bowl of Cherries looks tempting or you could just start by making a sketch of apples and cherries and coloring them in.
   
   The "Gallery" sections feature works by artist like Philip O'Reilly, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, June Berry, Sue Sareen, Winslow Homer, Philip Fraser and Paul Cezanne.
   
   Contents:
   
   Materials: Pain brushes, Brushmarks, Other Marks, Gallery of Brushstrokes, Paper, Stretching and Toning, Gallery of Paper.
   
   Techniques: Ways of working, capturing an Image, Composition, Drawing, Laying a Wash, Washes, Gallery of Washes, Tone and Color, Building up Layers, Sponging Out, Scratching Out, Resist Techniques, Using Gouache, Gallery of Techniques.
   
   Color: The Language of Color, Color Mixing, Gallery of Limited Color, Warm and Cool Color, Complementary Color, Gallery of Complementaries, Color Influence, Exploring Composition, Harmonious Color, Gallery of composition, High-key Color, High-key Still Life, Low-key Color, Low-key Interior, Gallery of Light, Warm Summer Light, Cool Autumn Light, Gallery of Atmosphere, Expressive Color, Portrait Study, Color and Pattern, Pattern in Landscape, Gallery of Pattern and Shape, Abstract Color, Gallery of Abstracts.
   
   Landscapes: Getting Started, Venturing Outside, Monochrome Study, Monochrome Gallery, Receding Color, Limited Color, Effective complementaries, Gallery of Trees, color Unity, Gallery of Light, Creating Atmosphere, Skies Gallery, Sketching Buildings, Painting the City, Gallery of Buildings, Sketching Water, Painting Water, Sketching Figures, Toward Abstraction, Abstract Landscape, Abstract Gallery.
   
   Still Life: Introduction, Gallery of Colorists, Making Sketches, The Working Studio, Creating a Composition, Selection vs Inspiration, Seashore, gallery of composition, Light and Form, Tonal Painting, Creating Form and Tone, Negative Space, Gallery of Perception, Transparent Painting, Opaque Painting, Gallery of Paint Types, Day and Night, Special Effects, Gallery of Effects, Presenting Your work.
   
   This is really a comprehensive introduction to Watercolor painting. All you need to get started is a small watercolor box, water, a couple of brushes and a pad of paper. If you follow the basic guidelines, you can achieve a surprising degree of expertise in a relatively short time.
   
   Highly Recommended.
   
   ~The Rebecca Review

1 comments about Alex Katz Paints Ada (Jewish Museum of New York).

1. I love this art. it is the classic example of "less is more". his paintings have a real presence. I highly recommend this work. he is an artist's artist.

No comments about Painter's Quick Reference Birds & Butterflies (Painter's Quick Reference).