3 comments about Picasso On Art (Da Capo Paperback).

1. Picasso is quite a personality and that comes through in this book. I would recommend reading this book along with Gertrude Stein's book on him.



2. "Everyone wants to understand art," reflects Picasso early in this book. "Why not try to understand the songs of a bird?" It is a playful observation, and one that can only emanate, we imagine, from the mind of an artist throughly engaged with the material on palette. Picasso's witty comparison suggests art's elusive form and implies a truism which the reader will discover to be a driving force throughout these pages: The audience to a work of art, like its creator, succeeds by embracing rather than understanding the rendered object.
   
   It is the artist's full embrace which resolves itself into an all-encompassing vision, the very contradictions inherent in that panoramic view requiring for their complete rendition an array of angled planes that can only be created by the shattering of constructive materials. Hence arises that formal abstraction that so often mystifies those who seek understanding through simple assertion. How many individuals, indeed, feel that certain works by Picasso misrepresent rather than render the real? "We all know that Art is not truth," muses Picasso in acknowledgment of this confusion. "Art is a lie that makes us realize truth, at least the truth that is given us to understand."
   
   The truth that is so realized, adds Picasso, is something different from the artist's original vision, for the truly rendered subject, in a paradox, evaporates. Picasso recalls an effort to paint the portraits of two people; by the time his work was done his subjects existed no longer. In the artist's words: "The `vision' of them gave me a preliminary emotion; then little by little their actual presences became blurred; they developed into a fiction and then disappeared altogether, or rather they were transformed into all kinds of problems. They are no longer two people, you see, but forms and colors: forms and colors that have taken on, meanwhile, the idea of two people and preserve the vibrations of their life." So Picasso's human beings become real by disappearing from view, just as Isabel Archer becomes fully realized by vanishing at the conclusion of Henry James's novel.
   
   Art reveals truth by lying. Subjects become realized by disappearing. Any reader witness to this book's magical paradoxes, arising as they do from that hidden place where the creative flint strikes steel, can only view Picasso's observations as lending to our vision of artistic discourse a rich chiaroscuro. We cannot say this book will deepen the reader's understanding of art, unless by that understanding one means an embrace of the imaginative machine's secret pistons.



3. An engaging, if not wholly cohesive, account of Picasso's sayoing and writings about art, but more. The strength of the book comes when he speaks on art. The ancilliary issues that come up serve to round out the figure of Picasso more, but may not quite be the art treatise you're looking for.

2 comments about Francis Bacon: Portraits and Heads.

1. I expected something else. In 'Van Gogh and Expressionism' the Bacon images are vibrant and colorful and interesting. They include studies for portraits of Van Gogh as well as self portraits. They look much like the cover of this book. Unfortunately, the only image I liked WAS the cover. Had I looked through this book in a bookstore I would not have purchased. Perhaps i am not much of a Bacon 'fan'. Let that be a lesson to me.....more research in the future before purchasing.



2. FRANCIS BACON: PORTRAITS AND HEADS is a superb catalogue that accompanied an exhibition in the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh last summer and unlike most of the Bacon retrospectives, this exhibition focused entirely on the many heads Bacon painted. As other artist come and go Francis Bacon continues to be one of the more 'published' artists of the twentieth century and it is refreshing to see that there are still new things to say about the work of one of the most significant painters in recent years
   
   Included are self portraits, portraits of famous people some of whom actually commissioned portraits while the majority are of friends, lovers, fellow artists, and images from photographs. Bacons small works carry as much power as the large canvases, perhaps that is due to the lack of need to place the figure in a constructed environment or space. Or perhaps when Bacon concentrated on only the head, his probing eye could explore and paint the model's psyche (as well as his own responsive psyche!).
   
   The reproductions are superb, on excellent paper, and given full attention in the catalogue. There are two fine essays in addition to the obligatory Introduction and comments from the curatorial staff. Though most of these paintings can be found in other catalogue raisonnes of Bacon's work, seeing the small head portraits in a single space is a fine idea and one from which we continue to learn about just what made Bacon unique and inimitable! Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, August 06

3 comments about Paint Along with Jerry Yarnell Volume Six - Learning Composition (Paint Along With Jerry Yarnell, 6).

1. The book arrived as stated and in excellent cond. I feel it will be a vaulable tool for teaching composition. I own 5 of Jerry's books and enjoy all of them. Have also attended 2 of his workshops which were very informative. I'm also signed up for 2 more workshops in June.



2. His artwork is good. It is helpful in learning techniques to eventually graduate in doing your own work by just looking a scene or picture. All of his books are great, predictable, but great.



3. A very straght forward and very simple to understand book on composition. Sure there are more complex and detailed book on comp on the market, many of which are on my book shelf, but this one is great for beginners and intermediate painters. His video on compostion makes a nice companion to this book.

2 comments about Sumi-E Just for You: Traditional One Brush Ink Painting.

1. This was the best of the five books I ordered; simple, insightful, and helpful. My interest is in using sumi-e techiques in brushing oxides on ceramic pieces. Some modification of techniques is required. I "paint" on curved surfaces rather than paper and , use iron, cobalt, and copper oxides instead of ink. But the simplicity and suggestion of sumi-e assists in transending literal interpretation in desigh. It is this spirit that makes this a superior text for my purposes.



2. I found this book very helpful. I have a number of books on sumi-e, and I found that this book shows how to do the sumi-e brush strokes more specifically and clearly than other books I've read. It describes the materials you need, and shows how to use the sumi ink and brush to paint a variety of different subjects. I recommend it!

3 comments about Renaissance Rivals: Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael, Titian.

1. Goffen has provided a clear, engaging, and refreshing view of Michelangelo and allows for further study and questioning.
   
   I do want to make a remark regaring the review called "Qualified Praise." Goffen does not state that Michelangelo died in 1566. She adheres to the February 17, 1564 date:
   
   "Instead, Vasari paraphrased an anecdote reported by an unknown correspondent, writing within a month of Michelangelo's death on 17 February 1564." (p. 117).



2. Goffen's book is a powerful and thrilling volume of scholarship. Having passed away of breast cancer, the author rests knowing that her words and scholarship will continue to delight and inform many people desiring a new take on the overly discussed pieces of Michelangelo and his "antagonists."
   
   This books is both complex and lucid. Goffen has taken great care to use her language tactfully, but not sparingly. She presents many solid arguments with charged notation. The author leaves her reader swimming and fascinated at the same time. Goffen discusses the works of Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael, and Titian with solid grounding in the social context and network previously left behind by many scholars. Goffen is in fact so well grounded in the social context of her subject's time--and her own time--that "Renaissance Rivals" can certainly be seen as a modern day "Lives of the Artists". However, this text has not been embellished, nor fabricated by anyone desiring to create a legacy. Rather, Goffen's careful text offers argument and explanation for why Michelangelo and his rivals were indeed such great artists.
   
   This masterful work is a pleasure to read and will certainly stand in the pantheon of scholars as an accessible text written by a brilliant author.



3. A sumptiously illustrated book, written in a chatty, somewhat prolix style. Worthy of five stars, but for two significant problems, warranting the subtraction of two stars:
   
   1) Some annoying factual errors, the most significant of which is the author's repeatedly giving Michelangelo's date of death as 1566, rather than 1564.
   
   2) The binding is simply not up to the task of keeping the heavy pages of the book together. My copy has already split in a couple of places, even though it has been handled gently.

No comments about Gorgeous Glass: Sparkling Ideas For Painting On Glass & China.

2 comments about Mary Cassatt: Paintings and Prints.

1. I am a huge fan of Mary Cassatt as well as the Impressionist. This book as beautiful illustrations and very easy to read and easy to understand explanations about the paintings. I first checked this out at the library and enjoyed it so much, purchased it through an Amazon reseller for my personal enjoyment.



2. She called herself one of the Independents. The world remembers her as the Impressionist who painted "The Boating Party," the choice for a first-class U.S. postage stamp and one of the most widely reproduced paintings. She was behind America's first purchase of Impressionist art: a Degas painting. In fact, friend and mentor Edgar Degas advised her on the farther window light and floor for "Little Girl in an Armchair" and praised "Girl Arranging her Hair," the Japanese woodblock print inspired "Bath," and "Mother and Boy."

   The book's first plate, "The Bacchante," lets viewers know what MARY CASSATT: PAINTINGS AND PRINTS were all about: women communicating with others and hinting at states of mind behind beautifully lighted and shaded fabrics, such as "Woman with a Red Zinnia"; flesh, such as the swiftly scribbled modeling to "Mother, Young Daughter and Son"; and furnishings, such as the Opera House banquette and chandelier ovals taking up the ovals from the figure and reflected figure of her sister "Lydia Leaning on her Arms, Seated in a Loge." Art critic and historian Frank Getlein backs his well-written text with 72 well-chosen plates. His book and Griselda Pollock's MARY CASSATT: PAINTER OF MODERN WOMEN give the perfect examples for Michel Melot's THE IMPRESSIONIST PRINT, Paul Smith's IMPRESSIONISM, Gary Tinterow's ORIGINS OF IMPRESSIONISM, and Helene Barbara Weinberg et al's AMERICAN IMPRESSIONISM AND REALISM.

5 comments about Exploring Digital Video.

1. The book does a great job of offering an overview of digital video, including things like using still photos, what type of equipment would you need, and how to set-up a shoot.
   
   Only complaint is that the author occasionally states opinions as fact example: wide screen is better than standard, when in reality, it is an artistic choice, and it is how you use the space provided that makes something like widescreen better or worse.



2. Exploring Digital Video provides well-organized and reliable information. This book is quite appealing, with distinct photos and graphics, lucid text, and clear-cut chapters.
   
   Notably, a beautiful full-color insert offers a look at Star Wars. And the DVD-ROM that comes free with the book contains surprising and useful free offers and specials and a feature on The Philadelphia Eagles! A must-have.



3. This book covers so many areas of digital video that I'm sure it will have what you need. It talks about topics such as purchasing video cameras and includes technical specs and quality. It also discusses bluescreen technology, capturing video and audio, scriptwriting, storyboarding and so on. And this is all just the beginning. It goes on to discuss how to edit, render and output film for the internet, television, or for multimedia presentations.
   
   Other than just being a great source of information this book also has a lot of fun extras that will keep you interested. At the end of each chapter there is a quick question formatted review to make sure that you understood and remembered the important aspects of the chapter. There are also various inserts with profiles and interviews of some of the professionals in the field. Although all of the inserts are interesting and informative, the best was the piece about Star Wars. This particular insert is about Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) which is part of Lucas Film LTD. It discusses how one of the scenes from Star Wars was created. It's really cool to hear how they created something and made it look so amazing on film.
   
   As if this weren't enough already, this book comes with a DVD/DVD-ROM with interviews with the Eagles Television Network and a number of tutorials. For those unfamiliar with the ETN, it is the Emmy award winning network of the Philadelphia Eagles. You get to hear about digital video from experts in the field through watching the DVD and reading the book. For such a low price it is one of the best literary investments you can make if you want to learn about digital video.



4. Finally! A book that makes a difficult subject easy to understand - creating and working with digital video (DV)! Each chapter is well laid out with great illustrations and nicely sized titles for each section and lesson. It also enhances its content by making good use of sidebars, to add relevant information.. Each chapter ends with an very useful set of questions and exercises, which furthers the reader's comprehension.
   
   Lesson 6 was a highlight for me because I often incorporate photographs into my videos. This sometimes results in a badly distorted photo, forcing me to omit some great photos because of that distortion. Other times, I've been lucky and able to successfully place a photo without any distortion. Until I read this book, the causes were unclear; the author demonstrates the correct way to prepare a photograph for digital video in a way that I could understand and will remember. Though math and computations are a turn-off to many, she successfully covers the meaning of pixel values without confusion. The DVD included with the book contains tutorials which do an excellent job of taking the viewer step-by-step through cropping a photograph vertically and horizontally, so it is properly proportioned for video. The reader therefore has a visual and a written source for future reference at any time.
   
   As a bonus, the author interviews Fred Meyers and Ben Snow, the makers of the Star Wars movies from George Lucas' Industrial Light & Magic (ILM). Meyers and Snow re pioneers in the DV field. She interviews several other DV professionals as well, adding their vast experience to the subject.
   
   The DVD also includes discounts from major retailers, saving readers money on computer and electronics products.
   
   This book is a keeper-excellent for the both the beginner and the experienced hobbyist.



5. The book is great. All you have to do is open it up and glance through it to see that it will be helpful.
   
   The Companion DVD is even better with step by step tutorials. The DVD also offers discounts with retailers on equipment, stock video and a great DVD duplication offer from Action Duplication in West Conshohocken, PA (800-847-3827).

No comments about Young America: Childhood in 19th-Century Art and Culture.

No comments about Studying With the Masters: Lessons from Rubens, Velazquez, Turner, Degas, Monet, Sargent, Matisse.