No comments about Understanding Transparent Watercolor.

3 comments about An Artist's Way Of Seeing.

1. An Artist Way of Seeing by Mary Whyte is a personal viewpoint of important aspects of subject matter, thought and seeing. Her watercolors have warmth and vitality and I recommend this book for the watercolor lover.



2. Excellent book if you want to learn about the unique visual thought process that many artists share. This is not a "how-to paint" book... it is a "how to think" like an artist book- in my opinion. The artwork centers on the author-artist's own work executed in watercolors. I really enjoyed the book... I think that most intermediate painters and creative persons will find some points of inspiration within the book. And if Mrs. Whyte reads this review- your works that feature the older ladies are my favorites.



3. "I like to arrive early in the morning at the pond so that I can watch the lotus flowers open before noon." ~ Mary Whyte
   
   Mary Whyte's art has been exhibited by art galleries and has been collected by museums. She is also the author of Watercolor for the Serious Beginner and has illustrated children's books. I think the reason people love her art is because of the spiritual elements she is able to capture in watercolor. She also adds a magical dimension with color, like she adds blue to the steam from the pan on a stove. The sky burns in a rosy orange as a beautiful woman holds sunflowers.
   
   What I love most about her paintings is the use of blue colors to warm the moments. She also has an expert eye for capturing reflections in water. Her "Moon Over the Meadow" makes you wish you were there, bathed in the blue silvery light.
   
   Mary Whyte's paintings are all beautiful expressions of detailed observation, but where she truly excels is when she paints beautiful women in fields of flowers. They are just stunning.
   
   The beauty of this book is not only the artwork; it is also in the poetic writing and artist comments. Like a diary of experience, Mary Whyte explores landscapes, discusses specific ways she captures moments and is a true teacher in the way she explains how you can create your own watercolor magic. An Artist's Way of Seeing is a true inspiration and rare find!
   
   ~The Rebecca Review

1 comments about Renoir's Women.

1. i purchased this book after viewing this exhibition and i must say it includes alot of paintings that were not in the exhibit and all that were. the reproductions are beautiful, the text is very informative, however, i wish some of the images were larger. nonetheless, definately a incredible addition to my collection of art books. thanks!

3 comments about Encouraging the Artist in Your Child (Even If You Can't Draw: 101 Failure-Proof, Home-Tested Projects for Kids Age 2-10).

1. I bought the book after I read the positive reviews in Amazon. But I felt kind of shocking when I received the book. If I had bought it in China, I would have thought that it were a pirated copy. The printing quality is bad. Some of the words at the back of the book is half way cutoff. No color figures for any art examples and the black-and-white photos are so blur that they can hardly be recognized what was illustrated. I would accept it if it is a handout from an Art class, but not a book for over twenty dollars. As for the contents, I haven't read through it yet. I hope it is not as bad as it is "seen". It is unprofessionally printed/made.



2. I sheepishly admit that I hardly glanced at this book when I purchased it. It was on the recommended reading list for the art program my son is using for homeschool and it was the only book on the list that was for his age/grade. I assumed it was just another reading book, so I was surprised, albeit pleasantly, when it arrived and I found it to have so many wonderful ideas and suggestions and projects inside.

   As I read the book I find that she definitely knows children. The way she describes the ages of my boys is just about exactly where they are.

   She encourages "free art" which is a great boost for my morale. I have always felt that children should be free to draw and paint and do art in anyway they see fit (although I am not as strict as she in regards to coloring books). My older relatives have tried unsuccessfully to "teach" my oldest son to do things their way and have not only failed, but created a tension between themselves and him.

   I highly recommend this book. It will give you so many wonderful ways to spend the day with your children even if you do not homeschool.




3. This book is excellent for parents or teachers of young children. It gives easy instructions with illustrations for completing projects in the areas of drawing, painting,collage, yarn craft and sculpture. The book is divided into two sections: ages 2-5 years and 6-10 years. As a primary school teacher, and a mum of four children, I found the book to be an excellent resource for Art classes and general art activities for a fun session. The exercises range from very basic ideas to more complex projects and suit the different age groups well. I have used the book with children older than 10 years with similar success and personally have improved my artistic skills by tackling the projects with the children. The book also was useful as a stepping stone for other creative ideas. Anyone with no artistic talent or knowledge will find this book useful as well as the more experienced Art teacher looking for new ideas. I initially borrowed this book from the local libraray but found it to be such an invaluable resource that I wanted to buy my own copy.

5 comments about The Pre-Raphaelites.

1. This is a lovely book about the Pre-Raphaelites. The pictures in the book are beautiful, & I like the way the Pre-Raphaelite movement is broken up into sections showing how it progressed & changed through the years. A very informative book.



2. This is a must have book! I had bought The PreRaphaelites: Inspiration From the Past but this book is much better! The first book did not have the breadth of illustrations and seemed to focus a lot on the sex lives of the artists. Many of them were promiscuous, but their artwork is still awesome. The illustrations in this book are very inclusive and none of the large illustrations is split between two pages, which is true of the other book I got. The illustrations are gorgeous here and plentiful and the text is intelligent and informative without being too "heavy." I can't recommend this book highly enough for someone who enjoys the PreRaphaelites (and perhaps like me, wishes artists today had the same color sense, high ideals and delight in nature).



3. This is a stunningly beautiful book filled with incredibly beautiful art. The narrative text is well written.



4. 
   This book is the most amazing introduction to the Pre-Raphaelites! The pictures are absolutely amazing, especially since this is an over-sized book and therefore the details in the photos are amazing!
   
   I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to know more about the Pre-Raphaeilite Artists (in general) and also to anyone that loves the Pre-Raphaelite works of Art & needs a good introduction!



5. I am a learning hobbyist artist interested mostly in portraits. An artist friend told me that I might be interested in the pictures of the Pre-Raphaelites. "Pre-Ra...What?"

   When I bought this book I had not intended to read much of the text. I was primarily attracted to the beautiful pictures in the book, which I hope to learn from. It turns out that Christopher Wood's rendition of the biographies of these remarkable group of mid- to late 19th century English artists was exceptionally well weaved and readable. I got a very good education on the history of the Pre-Rephaelite art with fascinating details of the lives of the key players and, of course, beautiful, large-format reproduction of their best work.

   I came across a number of books on this subject. Some have better and more detail prose, but none comes close to this one in terms selection and the quality of reproduction of the pictures.

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.

1 comments about Peter Paul Rubens, 1577-1640: The Homer of Painting (Taschen Basic Art).

1. ...This small book is a treasure for those who are just going into the Art world and Rubens...it is a piece of a collection worth having...it gives you a little about the artist...and his most important paintings...I started my collection a year ago, and can tell you for the price there is not a better buy!

No comments about Louise Bourgeois: La Famille.

2 comments about Landscapes (First Discovery Art Book).

1. My two sons, ages 9 & 6, love leafing through this book, looking at the details of the different paintings and flipping the transparencies and cut-out pages to see them through different perspectives. I recently tracked down the other three books in the First Discovery Art Book series, which they enjoy just as much. The glossy pages, transparencies and spiral binding hold up well to lots of turning back and forth.



2. fascinating book that shows children, so beautifully, what is a landscape painting. This is a beautiful way to educate children for art appreciation. And it is very nicely designed.

No comments about Gardens in Art (Guide to Imagery Series).