3 comments about The Watercolor Flower ArtistÆs Bible.

1. Even after I read the dimensions regarding this little book, I was still surprised at how small it is. Because it's titled the Watercolor Flower Artist's Bible, I expected more information on painting watercolor flowers. It's a spiral bound book divided into color sections which shows a list of small watercolor examples of the most common flowers. There are also some nice examples of other watercolor artists work. I want to reiterate that the book is very small, which means that the pictures are small. This book could really just be used a pocket or travel guide to use for a particular flower's general shape or color but not one to study specific features of any flower.



2. This is a handy little spiral bound book. The first 45 pages go into the usual watercolor materials/techniques, but that is followed by a short section called "studying flower shapes" which shows you how to draw the flowers based on their shapes. Then the rest of the book is dedicated to painting more than 100 different flowers, arranged by color, demonstrated in 3-4 steps. Basically short and to the point with a few pages of beautiful paintings by artists thrown in for inspiration. Very nice for an on-the-go flower painter.



3. Excellent book. Good size. Beautiful samples of watercolor flower art. Good reference for watercolor students.

5 comments about The Rembrandt Book.

1. Excellent book. I think it is the definitive book on Rembrandt if you're looking for something that covers much of what Rembrandt did.



2. "The Rembrandt Book" is a welcome reprise of Schwartz's now out of print "Rembrandt: His Life, His Paintings." Published to coincide with "Het Rembrandt Jaar" (the 400th anniversary of Rembrandt's birth) this new volume is probably the best general introduction to Rembrandt available in English. Schwartz, an American who has lived in Holland for decades, was a student of the great Leonard Slatkes and has contributed to the academic study of Rembrandt both through his work as a writer and as a publisher. (He runs the Dutch academic press Sdu.) He also knows how to appeal to a general audience: he produces a regular column on cultural matters for one of the Dutch daily papers. "The Rembrandt Book" gives readers all of these sides of Schwartz at once: the scholar, the popularizer, the creative book designer (the book has a wonderfully dynamic layout). Schwartz offers a very accessible and largely narrative approach to Rembrandt, but he does not shy away from connoisseurship issues, and he has the authority and credibility to weigh in on some of the more hotly disputed attributions. Every student of Dutch painting should read this book.



3. For an artist, the main reason to buy an art book is for the reproductions, not the text. The reproductions in this book are of high quality, but unfortuneately the vast majority are quite small, about the size you would expect for a typical entry in an exhibition catalogue. The exceptions are the wonderful full-page plates that precede each chapter; they really show what this book could have been if the focus had been Rembrandt's art and not the author's text. A further problem with this book is the inclusion of numerous etchings and drawings, intended to show the full scope of Rembrandt's output in a single volume. Its an admirable idea, but Rembrandt's graphic work has already been amply covered in the fine editions from Dover and its inclusion here feels unnecessary and takes valueable space away from the paintings. What Rembrandt really deserves is a large, high-quality book devoted to showing all his paintings with numerous details of each. Something similar to the excellent monographs from Taschen on Leonardo and Michelangelo.



4. Compiled and written by one of the world's leading experts on the life and work of Rembrandt von Rijn as part of the 400th anniversary of his birth, "The Rembrandt Book" is a 384-page compendium of biography and history of the Dutch master's life and art. Beautifully and visually enhanced with 700 full-color illustrations, "The Rembrandt Book" also provides interested readers with an introduction and analysis of all the various controversies and debates over Rembrandt in terms of just how many paintings and drawings can be accurately and definitively attributed to him. A core addition to personal, community, art school, and academic library Art History reference collections, "The Rembrandt Book" is most especially recommended to the attention of art historians, art students, art enthusiasts, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the colorful life and personal mysteries involving one of Europe's most famous and influential painters.



5. Rembrandt is probably the most famous artist of all time. And this book, celebrating the 400 years since his birth is at once a tribute to the man and his life, and his work.
   
   A great deal of information is available about Rembrandt. There are some five hundred documents covering various aspects of his life. But there are still many conflicts. We are not sure just when he was born, docoments say 1605, 1606 and 1607. We are not sure how many paintings he produced - of the 400 or so usually attributed to him, at least 150 are in doubt. Likewise the number of etchings - about 285 -- and drawings maybe half of the 1575 suspected.
   
   In this book the author presents the story of his life, as can be best determined intermixed with the story of his art. The author is considered to be one of the leading Rembrandt experts and the views presented here are well reasoned and as close to being definite as possible.

No comments about Modernity and Modernism: French Painting in the Nineteenth Century (Modern Art Practices and Debates).

No comments about The Ultimate Guide to Painting From Photographs.

5 comments about What Painting Is.

1. I think the title of this book is misleading. It should be, "What Alchemy Is". Most of the book is devoted to an overview of alchemy, with a few relatively modest observations about the nature of paint and how the artist relates to it and to the experience of painting. The book might have been more worthwhile if the author had at least been successful in demonstrating more clearly his point, which was to show the relationship between alchemy and painting, but the connection here between the two is not very convincing. I almost never write any of these reviews, but be forewarned if you think you are getting a book about painting, because this isn't it.



2. Although the author occasionally gets bogged down in the esoteric notions of alchemy this book may be just the thing you've been looking for if you need to see painting in a new light. There are many insights available here that you won't find in any other book on painting. I highly recommend this book to the serious painter.



3. I am not a painter, nor an artist. I am interested in the creative processes in life. I found this book entertaining and enlightning on many levels.



4. This book reminded me what I love about painting. After reading it I felt completely rejuvenated and excited to be in the studio. As I was painting, the language in the book kept flashing into my mind, increasing my mark-making vocabulary and providing me with creative juice.



5. I have been painting for nearly 20 years and this is the first book that I have encountered that has accurately described the material act of painting itself from a painter's perspective. I agree to some extent with other reviewers who complained that the discussions of alchemy were too long and obscure. However, in an age of digital images this foray into obsolete and arcane mucking about is absolutely necessary to explain why paint remains a vital medium. Even without the metaphoric parallels between painting and alchemy, delving into the alchemists kitchen seems like an excellent introduction into the mind of a painter.
   
   I have one serious reservation about this book: I do not think that it would be useful for inexperienced painters. It is all too easy to be utterly seduced by the descriptions of lush thickets of paint and exquisite glazes. These must remain a means to greater understanding rather than an end in themselves. Elkins is aware of the problem and devotes a later chapter to self-reference and narcissism.
   
   I am keen to try this book out on non-painting friends to see what impression it makes on them...

No comments about Watercolour Landscapes (Ready to Paint).

2 comments about Mark Rothko, 1903-1970: Pictures as Drama (Taschen Basic Art).

1. If you do not want to spend a fortune and still read a good introduction to Rothko's work, this is the best choice. It covers the whole career of the artist in a text which is short and easy to read, with surprisingly good illustrations of famous or rarely seen works (many are in private collections, like the one on the cover). This is what you call good value for your money. Do not expect, though, to have a comprehensive analysis on each of the works; I would call this book "Rothko for beginners", which is, in no way, a negative opinion.



2. There are many larger, fatter and even better books on Rothko, but this little volume is pretty solid. At ten bucks, you shouldn't even wait for the second thought: it's a sure thing. It includes a wealth of color reproductions, and frankly their scale is surprisingly generous for a book of modest dimensions. Some are as large as the repros in all but the largest-format Rothko books. Taschen has wisely chosen to devote a full, text-less page to most of the canvases reprinted here, and the photography is fine and sensitive. Good quality photos like these reveal nuances that make the photos effectively "larger".

   The text covers Rothko's life and analyzes his thought, innovations and development through abundant quotations and sound analysis. There's unusually full exploration of his early work, and a good chapter on his symbolist-surrealist myth-paintings (though I miss seing "Slow Swirl by the Edge of the Sea.") The book also includes a few works by other artists where appropriate (as in the reprint of a Matisse painting that Rothko answered with his "Hommage to Matisse"). It's a complete yet efficient book, as are most of the titles in this series.

   My sole important reservation about the book concerns the minimal coverage of the essential "multiform" period of Rothko's work--only three or so examples appear here. That's an important failing, but not enough to dull my overall enthusiasm.

2 comments about Robert Warren's Guide to Painting Water Scenes.

1. Very good instructions but I searched for acrylic books and did not check close enough as acrylics are mentioned but this book is strictly for oil painters. Also, no templates.



2. Robert Warren has outdone himself in composing this wonderful instructional book on oil painting-it is very well explained-this book is for intermediate to advance skill level.

5 comments about The Complete Book of Decorative Painting.

1. The Author, Tera Leigh, does a fantastic job "breaking down" decorative painting. The pictures and descriptions are fantastic. If you are contemplating starting decorative painting or just need a great reference, this is for you. Everything is broken down step by step and the diagrams, demos, and descriptions cannot be beat!



2. Tera Leigh's Complete Book Of Decorative Painting (1581800622 ...) tells how to use color basics, brushes, and techniques to create professional quality results in crafts, home decoration, and projects. From lettering and faux finishes to brush techniques and antiquing options, this uses a reference and question/answer format along with color photos to encourage easy experimentation.



3. Ms. Leigh's book, unlike so many others entitled 'complete,' is the genuine article, and comprehensively surveys the many styles and techniques used in creating decorative paint effects for craft. Whether you are a complete beginner (like myself) or an experienced artist, this is the only resource book on the subject you will need. Beautifully illustrated and written in Ms. Leigh's informed and engaging style, The Complete Book of Decorative Painting is as enjoyable a read as it is a valuable guide to painting. Each technique is illustrated with step-by-step instructions (including technique tips such as how to hold the brush and recommended types of paint that many other publications overlook), an honest evaluation and rating of the skill required for each (so the novice painter can select projects more likely to produce satisfactory results), and interesting details on the origins and historical development of individual styles. If you get the chance to see Ms. Leigh in person, as I recently did, do so. She is as engaging in person as she is in print. Long a Martha Stewart wannabe, I was genuinely surprised as how simple some of these techniques actually are, and found Ms. Leigh's instructions clear, comprehensive and easy to follow. I recommend this book without reservation to anyone interested in decorative painting.



4. This book is the finest book of its kind I have ever reviewed. It is a step-by-step guide to decorative painting that is easy to read and follow. This book is a must for your reference library of decorative painting materials. With this book you have a master teacher at your fingertips. The photography and detail is outstanding and shows the care and thoughtfulness that went into the completion of this work of art. The color-coded pages make it easy to find and follow illustrations you require; and I agree with the comments on the back of the book by Priscilla Hauser and Donna Dewberry.



5. This book is truly deserving of the word "complete" in its title. Novice and experienced decorative artists alike will benefit from the wealth of information presented. I'm sure it will become one of the most-often used books on my shelf.

2 comments about Gerhard Richter: Atlas.

1. The scope of the project deserves a deeper study, but this book is a very well made glimpse into Richter's Atlas.



2. Gerard Richter painter and photographer shared his life's work in an assembly of hundreds of pictures. Giving an interesting insight to how an artist collects ideas and produces the work that is seen in galleries. I would have preferred knowing before I bought the book that he included his pornographic work as well as the abstracts, landscapes and portraits.