5 comments about Rembrandt's Eyes.

1. Being Dutch, I remember as a kid how my teacher was mesmerizing about how wonderful it would be to have a big enough telescope to catch all the emitted light from long ago and to be able to see Rembrandt paint. I did not know why then, but now I do agree. How wonderful it would have been had he only lived 300 years more to light up all the museums in the world!
   This book is about, to my opinion, the best painter of mankind, his life and work. It is also a dual biography about Rubens, since he was so important for Rembrandt.
   The book works nicely chronological and winds its way through the younger years of Rembrandt til his last years. In the mean time we also learn a lot about not only his life in Leiden and Amsterdam, but also about the history of Holland of the 17th century. It is absolutely great to learn about for instance the Night Watch, for whom it was painted, who the people are on it, why it was so revolutionary and still the most stunning 17th century painting.
   I always wanted to know, as far as recorded history allows us, about the background of his paintings; who ordered it, did they and Rembrandt like it themselves? And most of all: analysis of the paintings themselves: what 'effects' are used, and how? This book goes into wide details of this all without getting repetitive or boring.
   Rembrandt is unique among all painters in his combination of talent and 'raffinement'. He could do anything: super precise works, impressionistic style where the paint itself was the 3d effect, portraits, group portraits, history paintings, landscapes, the best etches off all time. His touch and well-aimed strokes immediately got to the essence. His works under scrutiny come out even more unsurpassable and amazing. It is true that none of his students ever came close to his talent, and some of them tried for the rest of their life to master just some aspect of his art (for instance the light effects) while Rembrandt moved on to a more 'rough' style, although it was justly called in this book deceivingly easy to imitate, and of course, 'rough' here does not mean carelessly painted.
   Basically he is the first (and best) impressionist in the history of painting.
   I have been at the Rijksmuseum many times, and it does not matter which work you look at: Jeremia, his mother reading, the Jewish Bride, his hypnotisingly beautiful self portrait at a young age, it just shows that this is a once in a mankind kind of thing. Rembrandt has shown us once and for all what the art of painting can do, how it can lift our lives by trying so dramatically to imitate it. Indeed looking at his work, it almost seems that his paintings are triumphant over reality.
   This book is a great read and the many colour pictures of his work are, needless to say, a pleasure to look at.
   Only minus is, that Schama to my opinion is a little too modest about Rembrandt's genius.



2. One of the pleasures of reading books from your own library is that they are always there for return visits. Reading Hockney's 'Secret Knowledge: Rediscovering the Lost Techniques of the Old Masters' stimulated this reader to probe more deeply into some of the venerated painters. Simon Schama's fine book REMBRANDT'S EYES is like an old friend, an excellent resource book for facts about Netherlands painting, social and political history that so affected the works of the two featured painters Rembrandt and Peter Paul Rubens, a page-turner novel, and a catalogue of brilliant reproductions of paintings. This book satisfies - even more the second time around!
   
   A hefty book at over 750 pages, there is not a page that Schama does not use his charming style of writing to slowly inform. We learn about the atmosphere into which Rembrandt was born, follow his works from the earliest examples through his entire career, encounter his passion for elegance and his fall into poverty, and understand his envy of the creatively and socially successful Rubens. Not a book of gossip, this, but instead a biography well documented in a fine bibliography (no mean feat for a history of a great man without much written contemporary documentation!) and a survey of illustrations that augment the story as well as any yet written.
   
   For those who hunger for knowledge about a famous painter yet who deign to wade through the usual dry treatise format, welcome to the class with Schama. This is a book that will endure (first printed in 1999 and now available in paperback) because of the stature of the subject AND the stature of the author. Hats off to Simon Schama who so entertainingly and successfully takes us behind Rembrandt's eyes to see his work as few have shown it. Grady Harp, December 06



3. I think most of the reviews below cover the bases pretty well, the only criticism I can think of is the book might have been better off printed in the full "coffee table art book" size so the reproductions cited in the text would have been larger...but what a fabulous work it is, an utterly fascinating evocation of a time and place. Even if you only have a peripheral interest in the subject, you will be drawn into the sweep of the narrative through Mr Schama's depth of knowledge and skillful intertwining of the personal and the public world of 17th century Holland. I cannot think of another recent book that I have enjoyed so thoroughly.



4. When i bought this book, I thought that it would be an amazing and definitive book about one of the most brilliant genius of art.
   But i was wrong, this is doesn't have a point, it goes to the biography of Rubens fathers, passing thru history, economy, and anything else you imagine, this is so borring for the people that actually want to know about Rembrandt and his work. So if you are looking for a book abou Rembrand and his work, this IS NOT....



5. Simon Schama's REMBRANDT'S EYES is undoubtedly one of the authoritative works on Rembrandt's life and paintings. Schama vividly depicts the unparalled and tortured genius of Rembrandt, a man who was brilliant in success and even more so during tragedy. To understand Rembrandt's paintings is to understand the man behind each brushstroke: strong-willed, prideful, and uncompromising in his art. Schama conveys the essence of Rembrandt with such force and effectiveness that we cannot help but appreciate Rembrandt's tragic life and artistic genius.

   REMBRANDT'S EYES contains beautiful illustrations of all of Rembrandt's major works; the analysis of each is detailed, clear, and interesting. Through the course of the book, you will be fascinated by Rembrandt's self-portraits and the level of understanding with which he painted himself. Perhaps no other artist has given us such a powerful autobiography without the use of a single written word. This deep understanding of the human soul is evident in all of his works. Schama explains Rembrandt's paintings and his techniques in a comprehensive and powerful manner. If you are interested at all in the truly unique and fascinating genius of Rembrandt, REMBRANDT'S EYES is a must.

   I would highly recommend REMBRANDT'S EYES to any person interested in art history, Dutch painting, or just Rembrandt. This book also serves as a powerful autobiography of a man with a very interesting story. Be forewarned though: this book is very long, and putting it down may be hard.

3 comments about 500 Self-Portraits.

1. Is an excellenty little book to carry with you to art class. has some famous artists as well assome more obscure so definetly a toll for those who want to learn more.



2. An interesting collection of self portraits commencing with Ni-Ankh-Ptah (c. 2350 BC) through to Maurizio Cattelan (1997). The selction provides an interesting chronology of how portraiture has changed over the years. I'm uncertain as to which edition the previous reader has, as my version has 10 self portraits by Rembrandt. I would have liked to have seen more portraits by recent artists as the variation in how to approach the modern portrait is extensive compared with say the 17th C. The reproductions are good and the quality of paper is also good. The introduction by Julian Bell is well written and could have even been expanded upon further. It provides an excellent overview of how portraiture and art in general have changed over the centuries. A worthy book to have on the shelf - lends itself to random browsing.



3. This work is based on an earlier collection of self- portraits made by the scholar Ludwig Goldscheider. It contains many of the great works in the self-portrait including six self- portraits by the artist whose signature is written most prominently on this type of work, Rembrandt.
   It is difficult to fault a work which has so many great paintings in it, but I do find a couple of problems with the volume. The introduction is small and inadequate and there is no explanatory text whatsoever. I also found disconcerting and unpleasant a number of the more recent paintings selected.
   I would also point, to what it seems to me, is an inherent inadequacy of a book of this kind. Rembrandt teaches us that the true - self- portrait of an artist is a long series of self- portaits, is a history and a life of the person. The single self- portrait made of one time can show a moment of a life, can represent a person as they would be represented, but cannot tell us the whole life.
   Six self- portraits of Rembrandt are not enough.

4 comments about Painting Watercolor Portraits That Glow.

1. I've seen copies of this book priced at over $100. Before you spend that kind of money, be aware that:
   What I consider the most valuable advice in this book on portraits is repeated in Painting Beautiful Watercolors from Photographs, also buy Jan Kunz, and available at a much more reasonable price.
   Roberta Carter Clark's How to Paint Living Portraits, which covers oil and watercolor, and charcoal, is a better book over all. Two examples are, how to paint hair, and a much clearer presentation of value in painting. Clark's book even has a better index.
   I'm not saying Painting Watercolor Portraits that Glow isn't worth looking at, but borrow it from the library, and make sure before you shell out $100 to buy one.



2. One of the last things I wanted to learn in painting watercolor was painting portraits because quite honestly, I didn't care for it mainly because I didn't know how. But after reading this book, I no longer feel apprehensive about painting portraits. Jan Kunz's book is a terrific instructional guide on how to start, as well as what colors to use and where to use them. The book even includes some step-by-step samples based on real-life models Ms. Kunz has used that you can start off first as a guide.

   For beginners, this is a very good book to use to get started.




3. This is the one portrait book I would recommend for artists at ANY level of expertise and for all media., but especially for watercolor artists.



4. Jan Kunz has written a thoughtful, well-organized, presentation on how to paint watercolor portraits. Her realistic style of painting still manages to be expressive due to her emphasis on careful planning of how the image will be painted beforehand, allowing the artist's brush to put in correct values and hues with freedom and control at the same time. It's where I look whenever I get in trouble painting a portrait.

3 comments about Janet Whittle's Watercolour Flowers: An Inspirational Step-by-Step Guide to Colour and Techniques.

1. Any who would watercolor flowers needs Janet Wittle's Watercolour Flowers, an inspirational guide to color and techniques which assumes no prior knowledge of watercolor. Pages packed with color are perfect for general-interest lending libraries where art is an attraction, and show how to produce professional results, from combining species of flowers to best effect to a series of reference paintings from black and white patterns to finished projects for individual flowers. An outstanding, easy approach beginners will appreciate.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



2. This book has the most beautiful pencil drawings that compliment or preceed the vibrancy of the paintings. The compositional elements are excellent and the book covers a range of flowers that jump out of the page because of the background techniques. Thanks.



3. If you like painting floral subjects, Janet Whittle's method may be of interest to you.
   
   Starting with masked subject areas and dropping in pure colors, Whittle creates a lively, mottled background and then goes on to paint negative spaces around leaves and background flowers. This gives the effect of distant leaves and petals in shadow. Then the main flowers are painted in, dropping colors into the center, shadowing petals and adding detail to stamens, pistils and other structures.
   
   The good thing about this technique is it makes effective bouquet subjects. The bad thing is that the technique leads to somewhat of a sameness to every painting. In this book, the author adds vases, pots and other subjects to the still life, which helps. If you have this book, you probably don't need any of the others as this one is more comprehensive. I don't feel inspired to copy this technique, but there are worthwhile tips to absorb in handling iris especially.

5 comments about Nathan Oliveira (San Jose Museum of Art).

1. I don't think that the overtones of existentialism that resonated over forty years ago hold up today. This is a classy book with the full story from Peter Selz. Peter Selz used to teach art history at the Institiute of Design in 1953 -54. I don't think his interest in expressionism fitted the Moholy Nagy idealogy.The reproductions are ample and good.The late prints interest me more than the painterly figure work. A centralized figure that takes so much importance to his ouvre from those days ,is academic.He is sometimes Giacometti, other times Bacon, his sources don't seem to be resolved. I like his stuff better than Diebenkorn,another academic approach to the figure. My preference is for the Chicago figurative painters. Leon Golub's work still carries power, he saw Iraq prison torture scenes before it happened there.One figure seems easy. Compositions of figures such as Golub carry more weight because there is a message in the interaction of people.His work will hold up not just from a standpoint of subject matter, but form his more original approach to the canvas.For another critique of the San Francisco figure painters see. The Painters Mind: Carl Holty and Romeare Bearden. I am not alone in this judgement. It is a well written ,well illustrated book. Again ,the late prints of Oliviera struck me more than the early work ,as unique work.



2. This book was published for a Nathan Oliveira exhibit at the San Jose (CA) Museum of Art. It portrays the evolution of his painting and many of his most memorable art pieces. This professor emeritus from Stanford University is currently working on a meditation chapel to be built on the campus of that prestigious university.



3. i was disapointed by this book and the presentation of it.



4. plain and simple its a nice book and i like oliveria but i really don't think it was worth the price new- and i have quite a few books on painters.



5. Just the right amount of history and ample full-color depictions of the artist's masterful use of gesture, color and raw expression. This book really showcases Oliveira's amazing versatility and his under-rated virtuosity as a painter. Oliveira's work should be included among the greats of contemporary art--and this book proves it. Wow!

No comments about Francis Bacon: Incunabula.

4 comments about Artist's Photo Reference: Wildlife.

1. This book is great as regards to being a visual guide of beautiful pictures of wildlife which will help me with my future oil paintings.



2. When I need a reference book it is because I want to see the different angles, and a wide variety of types of animals and activity. This book ventured off too often into a lesson and show and tell for one piece of art. I think that is where the effectiveness is lost. If I want a "how to book" for an art project, I'll get a more descriptive and helpful book. If I want a reference guide to see angles, I am probably going to opt for a photographic books. I still was able to find some of what I needed, but was overall very disappointed in the content of the book and some of the subjects (whale tails and wet otters). I'm not sure I'd waste my money on another from this series.



3. This photo reference is adequate, however, there are much better resources for the artist out there. For example, "Paradise on Earth" by Jim Thorsell puts this book to shame. It is not intended as a photo reference, and I came upon it by accident, but it is a far better reference. The photos are diverse and they are of superb quality. In addition, this is a coffee table sized book so the photos are of adequate size- often in the ARtist's photo reference series the photos are just too small to be of any practical use. Also, the photos just aren't that striking- they don't excite at all. Paradise on Earth will get you feeling creative guaranteed. The bottom line is that there are many books often at bargain prices that don't purport to be artist's photo references that do a better job than this book. I just wish I'd looked around before I purchased this book.



4. This is a fantastic book. It's a must for any wildlife artist and it even makes a great coffee table book for anyone who likes wildlife. The book is just full of great photographs and the step by step paintings are very usefull.

5 comments about The Encyclopedia of Watercolor Techniques, 2nd Edition.

1. This book is an outstanding resource of techiques that can be used to produce an interesting and varied watercolor. I think it should be part of a watercolorist's library.



2. Harrison defines and employs standard language used in identifying watercolor effects. She also identifies watercolor usages and materials and is consistent in this regard. Her illustrative material is literally a survey of the watercolor world, with no histrionics, from abstraction to the tightest realism. It is a beautiful book and gratifyingly complete. She has no 'method' to push. With her insistence on planning as the key to realizing one's concept, she leaves the reader in peace to enjoy the experience the book offers of seeing how accomplished watercolorists plan their work.
   The index is excellent. I will admit disappointment that Harrison touches only lightly on the qualities of now very expensive materials that would enable one to make useful choices. Her remarks on paper by type and maker I find useful and I wish this knowledgeable woman had given the reader more insights on other materials.



3. Some years ago I purchased the previous edition of this book and found it very useful. When I saw what appeared like a new edition of this book I decided to purchase it. On the cover it is marked REVISED AND UPDATED. The techniques are described well and most are new material but Part 2 - Themes is exactly the same as the first edition and this was very disappointing and will make me think carefully about purchasing a book unless I can view it in a bookshop.



4. You might find it useful. If you can only have a few watercolor books, and you are short on technical experience, this might be just the thing for you. But if you are looking for a lot of creative inspiration rather than technique, this isn't so useful. I wasn't inspired by the contents, but the techniques are certainly ones that I do use.



5. I was requested by my editors to write the introduction to the Brazilian edition of this book and immediately accepted, because, unlike o most books on art techniques, Hazel Harrison concentrates on demonstrating how to master all the resources and effects that watercolor offers, without implying that there is any preferable way in which to paint. The techniques are clearly explained and well illustrated and, in the second part of the book, she includes many examples of how different artists used the effects described in the first part to interpret various subjects. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to master the art of watercolor.

5 comments about Trompe L'Oeil Sky and Sea.

1. For the lover of sky and sea, this is an excellent book! It inspires the creative mind to create beautiful murals. Her explanation/instructions of cloud shapes will improve the quality of your mural work instantly. She explains the use of color with step by step photos. Also I like the perspective on beach scenes...such as, 'this is a view of a palm tree from below', thus helping you to paint murals on walls or ceilings creating a realistic effect. If you are interested in painting ceiling murals with clouds, this is definitely the book to buy. I would say it leans towards the intermediate plus student but a beginner would enjoy it also...urging him to become better!



2. This book is an excellent how to for the mural artist in training. The authors explain composition as well as technique. Illustrations are to the point. It is an excellent teaching book.



3. This is an excellent book for learning techniques for painting both sky and sea. Insightful for the beginner with tips about what qualities and subject matter make a Trompe L'Oeil painting both believable and timeless.



4. If you are a mural painter, you will gain a lot of knowledge from this book. It has many step by step instructions along with photos of completed work. I particularly liked the instructions on painting water.



5. I'm glad I bought this book. It has beautiful artwork and gives me ideas for my house. It also explains how to bring the room into the painting so that it looks like you could walk into the painting.
   
   The only thing that I didn't like about the book is how they refer to murals that are not illusionistic as 'naive art'. That bothered me because everyone has their own style of painting and not every mural is meant to look like you can walk into it. It was kind of a pompous remark in my opinion.
   
   Overall, the book has beautiful paintings, a lot of information on how they did the paintings, and is very inspiring.

3 comments about Georgia O'Keeffe and New Mexico: A Sense of Place.

1. To understand this woman's art, you have to know her place.
   
   This is it. Her wellspring. The place she felt at home.
   
   I adore this book. To see pictures of the places right next to O'keeffe's versions is just stunning.
   
   I believe god gave her Perdinal, after all.



2. I live 12 miles from Abiquiu, New Mexico where Georgia O'Keefe lived and painted the last 39 plus years of her life. One can only imagine the beauty from her paintings unless you've had the opportunity to see it in person. The book does have quite a few of the paintings she did while living in Abiquiu and at Ghost Ranch; however, if you are interested in reading about her life, the book to read is Portrait of An Artist; A Biography of Georgia O'Keefe by Laurie Lisle. I couldn't put the book down!



3. I've toured her home in Abiquiu, visited the museum in Santa Fe, and now toured Ghost Ranch to view the locales of many of Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings. This book is a perfect reminder of these experiences and one I already treasure.