No comments about Francis Alys: Fabiola: An Investigation (Dia Foundation).

4 comments about Watercolor for the Fun of It: Getting Started.

1. Excellent book for those starting to paint using mixed media. Very clear instructions and full of very useful tips and info. Great value for money.



2. This is a one-of-a-kind watercolor book. You'll find the techniques, philosophy, and materials needed to express your personal point of view and creatively. In fact, this book is for anyone who loves watercolor but hates the repetitive, cliché filled world of "Garden Club" watercolor books.
   
   You won't find another boring Iris, barn, or pastoral. This is a book for artists and would-be artists. It is not for those people who think art means "It looks just like...", or "It's so realistic..." Anyone whose goal is to function with the mechanical accuracy of a camera (and the heart and soul to match) will be completely disappointed in this book.



3. I bought this book about a year ago and still go back and review. John's examples in the book are broad enough that it covers most people interests. His techniques and tips are clearly explained. I also LOVE his ability to create textures and brickwork. He teaches the basics but also covers basic design work. I currently own about 35 watercolor books and this one is still one of my alltime favorites. I would highly recommend this book. And also suggest that anyone enjoying his work, visit his website and check out his CD's. I own them both and love them!



4. I really enjoyed this book. He goes through some pretty basic things and then goes from there to being able to use these techniques to complete a painting. I like how he introduced color and explained each one on transparency etc. The demos are explained very well, then he goes on to show other ways to use similar techniques. Lots of good photos for reference. It is a fun and very worthwhile book for the beginner and intermediate watercolor painter. I would buy it again!

5 comments about Jackson Pollock: An American Saga.

1. This book was riveting and insightful on many levels.
   Life in America, the art scene in NYC, and of course Pollack, who struggled for many years to find his own "voice".



2. couldn't track down what this book was at the time and let myself get talked into buying that dekooning bio instead.



3. The writers have given us a very detailed view of the painter. When I finished the book I had a lot less respect for the man(he comes across as self-centered, insecure and immature), and more respect for his paintings. There was a little too much unnecessary psycho-speculation and they should have let us draw our own opinions.



4. Monstrous, pathetic, sexually dysfunctional, violent, coarse, demanding, uncommunicative and, most famously, a terrible, terrible drunk - all the bad boy stuff is here. Read it for that and also for the background which includes generous looks at the early 20th century American West, Depression era New York City, Abstract Expressionism and the artistic infighting it occasioned. I don't start 800 plus pages of reading lightly any more given my age and the books that demand my attention but this biography got its hooks into me and wouldn't let go.



5. Must admit that when I received this tome in the mail, it took me weeks even to pick it up and look at it, as it seemed just well over-the-top in length and weight for the story of this one man or for a summer read. But as soon as I began, I was off. The writers carry you along like the best fiction writers, and in the meantime you get an inside peak at an entire era -- the times, the mood, the other people around and active in the American modern art movement. It almost seems impossible that the authors were able to gather so much detail to make this so vivid! I became attached to it like a favored novel. Only one criticism--the last multiple chapters are all about his post-production, post-return to drinking, destructive downhill spiral. After a while, this portion became repetitive as in "enough already, I don't need to hear about his destroying yet another set of lawn furniture." At some point well before the end, I the reader wanted to jump in the book and put him out of his misery. Still -- what an American tragedy and must read.

5 comments about Glitter and Doom: German Portraits from the 1920s (Metropolitan Museum of Art Publications).

1. This is a nice book an the subject. Nice large plates, a must for any good art book. That's it--if you like paintings from this genre buy it.



2. I saw the collection that the Met had last year of this artwork and it was just amazing. It was provocative and raw, and just incredible. I can't wait for the paperback to come out of this so that I can afford it.



3. Finally an excellent review of what the first World War did to German culture and psyche. This book lays it all out. Hitler was a logical consequence. Unfortunately the Western world did not pay enough attention to these portentious signs. The book has beautiful color reproductions, great detailed commentary on each artist featured and enaough historical commentary to make it all plausible.



4. This is the catalogue for a beautiful exhibition held at the Met last year. The paintings reproduced here are among the best examples of the New Objectivity, a movement that was able to depict the atmosphere, the soul, the world of the Weimar Republic, that brief time span when pre-war Germany enjoyed freedom in the arts and in the minds. These gripping paintings show how ultimately doomed that world was and how the artists were the first to sense the tragic developments that were to succeed it. The front cover, a detail of one of Christian Schad's best known paintings, is a perfect illustration of a society that seems to have enjoyed life knowing that death would come too soon, with the end of that joyful and poetic decadence that was the Berlin of the 1920's.



5. Twice viewed the exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum here in New York. German art in the 20s is raw, obscene and decadent. A raucus reflection on hard times there. They had just suffered WW1, in the midst of fascism, insane inflation, etc.
   Highlight: Otto Dix is a wild artist, forever a favorite now. Also a DaDa artist.
   I am a frequent art museum visitor. Therefore, in my opinion, this catalogue did the show great justice which is not aways the case.

2 comments about Painting Missouri: The Counties En Plein Air.

1. When it comes to both beautifully written and well-researched text by author Karen Glines, plus breathtaking pictures (taken from on-site paintings by artist Billyo O'Donnell, I've never seen a book that better captures the spirit and soul of Missouri than the Glines and O'Donnell collaboration, "Painting Missouri." An inspiring format that should serve as a model for other states, "Painting Missouri" belongs on the library shelves and in the hands of anyone who lives in Missouri, used to live here or plans to visit the state!



2. This book is a treat for any Missourian. It not only has great information it also has beautiful art. If you love Missouri or the midwest you will love this book. If you are an artist you will be inspired to get out ant paint.

3 comments about Kanji De Manga Volume 3: The Comic Book That Teaches You How To Read And Write Japanese! (Manga University Presents).

1. While I do like these books, and I have found them to be useful in my and my families learning of kanji, they are organized in a completely non-sensical way. At the back of each book, they proclaim that they are useful in studying for the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficieny Test) exams. They are useful.. just not comprehensive.
   
   For example, Volume 1, which has 80 kanji in it to learn, (despite what the paragraph at the back of the book says) is NOT the full list of kanji you would need to learn to pass the first level exam (JLPT4). The JLPT4 test requires 103 kanji at the current time, as well as like 700 vocab words, and basic grammar and listening skills. If you were to just study this book, and nothing else, you would surely fail.
   
   At first I thought maybe the authors had just made an error and meant to say that the books were organized loosely based on the elementary school grade level. However, this is also not true. An example of this is 花　(はな　"hana") which is a grade level 1 kanji taught to first graders, but is in fact in Volume 2.
   
   The only other glaring problem I've found with these books is the lack of any sort of English definition lookup or table of contents. While you can look the kanji up if you know the spelling in kana, being able to look it up in English would've been really nice. However, the books are cheap and fun and pretty easy to use.



2. As with the previous Kanji de manga books, the third volume comes with clever drawings that will help you learn another essential 80 Kanji. The yellow cover is a bit much for me, but other than that, this book is great.



3. Volume 3 deals with the last half of the Kanji needed in the Japanese Language Placement Test (JLPT) level 3. Each kanji is explained in on and kun yomi format, then stroke order is introduced. Most importantly, it presents each kanji in a short manga (comic) that introduces translations of idioms and frequently-seen-in-manga sound effects. Perfect for both the JLPT taker and those with some Japanese classes under their belt who want to pick up more words in Japanese that aren't in conventional books on the language.
   
   That said there are only about 80 kanji introduced per book, so there are cheaper books out there, but this certainly makes the learning a fun experience.

2 comments about Bosch A&I (Art & Ideas).

1. This is a fantastic book for those interested in Bosch. Readers will appreciate the fatuality of the book. The reality is that little is known about the artist's life. The author makes clear what scholorly research and scientific analysis tells us, and about several different theories surrounding the work. For example: the different styles of paintings could mean different artists working under Bosch in a workshop, or it could just mean he was inconsistent in style. - and nobody knows yet.
   
   This is an important look at the artist who has inspired so many - including the surrealists.
   
   Dixon, to places Bosch into historical context. While many look at Bosch's images and try to paint him as an alchemist, a heretic, or a madman, Dixon approaches Bosch with an open mind, but with an understanding of the times.



2. i've been interested in bosch since i was 8 years old. since i entered college for a major in art history my interest has grown. i picked up this book a couple of months ago and couldn't put it down. dixon has compiled a wonder book filled with facts and interpretations that are both original and insightful. this book eventually led me to do a thesis on bosch. for all students interested in bosch, it has a detailed bibliography in the back, which can lead to multiple new sources. dixon is outstanding once again.

2 comments about No Experience Required! - Watercolor (No Experience Required).

1. I own several how to books on watercolor and this one by far is the best in my collection. The step by step projects are easy to follow. I have been very happy with the finished projects! This is a very fun, informative book for beginners. You also don't have to be great at drawing to have some nice results from doing the watercolor projects in this book. Definitely would recommend this book!!!



2. The author of this book definitely knows what she is doing - as I've seen firsthand - she is my watercolor instructor at the college I attend. The book has gorgeous pictures, easy-to-understand instructions, and fun step-by-step projects. You'll be surprised at how easy watercolor will come to you by simply following her instructions. This book is excellent for beginners wanting to get their feet wet to the world of watercolor. You will not be disappointed with this buy!

4 comments about Painting Murals Step by Step.

1. Although this book was visually nice to look at I found it lacked in teaching me how to paint murals. I have stumbled across a great site that has free tutorials on it. I hope you find this helpful. The site is [...]



2. We went to a home tour which included murals by Charles Grund. Wanting to finish one I started, I thought I would be inspired to complete it with a look at more of his works.... and I was!! I only wish there were more tips for painting techniques included.



3. As a decorative artist I can say this book has it's good and bad points.It has some good step by step action for begginers, but it's just bluh.The colors are bluh, Mr Grund knows how to paint though, and teaches You a couple of tricks,but never the less, it is lacking something.LIFE.The paintings are all well done, yet they aren't really alive.But at the same time,everything is nicely done, well researched,maybe it's just how the pictures are photographed...It is a good reference book to have, but not too inspiring.



4. This is a good book that gives the general idea of how to paint a mural but technique is only lightly touched upon.
   

2 comments about George Inness and the Science of Landscape.

1. It is with no end of begrudging that I award five stars to this book. It is unconscionable that University of Chicago Press published this fabulous text on Inness' work, but included a mere twenty-one color prints, at that most of them two a page, and charges $50 for it! If you consider buying it, do so with the sure knowledge that Dr. DeLue's work is a classic, not to be missed, her analysis extremely depthful, her prose elegant. As for UofC Press, how greedy. For shame!



2. This is a terrific book, beautiful and thought-provoking, about one of America's best and most intriguing artists. The author shows how Inness' desire to help people see more deeply, to see God behind the landscapes, shaped his paintings. It is a delight to read how ideas have consequences in art; how deliberate Inness was in his project; and then to see how gorgeous his paintings are.
   
   The only reason it does not get 5 stars from me? Not enough color plates. But it really is a fine book.