2 comments about AnArtist's Way Of Seeing.

1. 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.



2. "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

No comments about Mostly Miniatures: An Introduction to Persian Painting.

3 comments about Painting Sumptuous Vegetables, Fruits & Flowers in Oil.

1. The author is a warm and intelligent painter who expresses her passion for painting. and inspired a sense of excitement and possibilities in me. The chapter on drawing is extremely helpful. Although the paintings shown are mainly traditional in composition, there is a filip of creativity in subject matter and composition that is moving forward. I believe I can transfer the lessons to painting that I attempt here in the cold and rawness of Canada, Europe being beyond my reach....



2. Generous with sumptuous photographs of her work; generous with sharing her techniques and colors and study sources; generous in giving me the feeling that I can paint stills as wonderful as hers. Thank you Joe Anna.



3. This is an excellent book. Written the way she teaches a workshop. My first impression of her as a person was that she was an intelligent woman, this book is well thought out and a great help to anyone wishing to paint still life.

4 comments about Ways with Watercolor (Dover Books on Art Instruction).

1. Ted's watercolor book has helped artists and some of todays biggest names have learned from him. It's great that this classic is reprinted so more artists can learn from this classic.



2. This is a reprinted version of a book originally published in the late 40's, spiral-bound and intended to be a step-by-step trainer of methods used in traditional transparent watercolor and architectural rendering. Back then, papers were different but by recognizable European makers; paints were fewer (color choices too!) and methods of "paint-slinging" very "creative" as well! Kautsky was trained as an architect in Hungary and not a "Sunday" painter...hence his methodology was very traditional and "old-school" oriented. This is not a coffee table book-it is a concise study of picture-making, published in an historical period that didn't include the lavish color plates as today's offerings contain. This man could really draw! He had worked in the field for over 50 years by the time this book was offered by Reinhold, and he employed an economy of means practiced by only the best delineators of the period. Hence, his images are tight, well composed and clearly executed in a methodical and somewhat slow fashion (by today's standards). The "California Style" painters, for example, used symbols and a sort of shorthand collection of shapes and colors in their paintings, to convey their expressive imagery-not Kautsky! His are decidedly architectural renderings employing accurate perspective and traditional compositional devices. For images and techniques that are decidedly contemporary variations on this, choose a book by Robert Wade, or John Lovett or Al Stine, whose simplifications may be more appealing and certainly more colorfully printed with loads of useful, "painterly" advice. But, Kautsky's tree and wood renderings, roads and landscapes among other subjects are stunningly true to species and form and fashioned with only a couple of brushes which will require dilligent practice to replicate. Serious designers, architectural delineators and art students willing to practice with a vengeance, will discover Kautsky's instructional insights and methods to be invaluable and not equalled by ANY of today's current publishing artists.



3. I was very disappointed in the content. There were not enough color plates and transparency in the color was lacking. Many of the instructions were used with black and white sketches and plates. Many of Kautskys subjects and scenes appeared to me to be "pre watercolor career" pencil sketches which I recognized.
   
   Dark somber and sparse in my opinion.



4. I found the prints excesively dark, specially the black and white ones and the color plates didn't offer enough variations of tones. Overall his paintings looked quite uniform.

No comments about Peter Saul: A Retrospective.

2 comments about The Big Book of Oil Painting: The History, the Studio, the Materials, the Techniques, the Subjects, the Theory and Practice of Oil Painting (Practical Art Books).

1. Full of the basics of painting with oils, such as composition and colors. Also does a brief run through of techniques used by the artist who made them famous. Teaches you to mix and paint a full painting with only 3 colors, as well as provides examples of warm, cold, and broken palettes and how to mix them with only 3 colors. If you are looking to improve your understanding of colors and how they work together as well as learn new methods for painting I don't think you will be disappointed.



2. Jose Parramon puts together a fantastic compilation for the artist who wants to teach himself at his own pace; and does it at a very reasonable price. This is an easy to read, easy to understand guide to all the techniques you need to put what you feel on canvas! The title is an exact description of what you will find inside. After several semesters of art class, I had plateau'ed, feeling I was missing alot technically. Within five minutes of opening Mr. Parramon's book, my eyes open to what all my instructors had been struggling to teach to us in class. Since reading this book and following the exercises within, I have held five exhibitions in France and sold every time. I also began to receive commissions and plenty of requests from friends and family alike. Now I'm teaching my children what I've learned in Mr. Parramon's book. No matter what subject matter you prefer, Jose Parramon can help you render it better. Thanks to Mr. Parramon, I've sold paintings on many different subjects: from children to horses, seascapes to mountain views, St. Tropez to Mont St. Michel, snowy rivers to farmers' fields. The key to progressing in any endeavor is practice. Each chapter in The Big Book of Oil Painting contains many worthwhile exercises for you to do. I learned how to apply the color wheel to make my subjects stand out from the background. And how to make that background complement the subject. I learned how to analyze a composition to create the biggest impact on what I was trying to express with my brushes. I also learned how to make the colors in my shadows realistic, not flat gray, as I had always made them before. Finally, I learned to limit my palette to only what was necessary; making better use of the basics instead of floundering with so many exotic tubes of rare colors. Mr. Parramon also shows you how to stretch your own canvas, find the right medium, and set up your studio. He shows you how to paint 'en plein air' and studio alike. Also, he includes many different subject materials as examples; from still life to the Italian countryside; nudes to port cities. Its very complete with all you'll need to get you on your feet. You will see all the photo's and color plates you'll need; one for every example, technique, or exercise. Its a book I highly recommend to get you on your feet or to have as a studio reference. A great value at Amazon's price! Marvin Walworth Oil Painting Hobbyist

1 comments about Painting Angels in Watercolour (Fantasy Art).

1. This small tome makes an excellent coffee table book just on the merit of beauty alone. While a beginning watercolorist might find the art a tiny bit intricate, the clear, step by step instructions would guide them to a sucessfully finished project. Everything is covered; surfaces, paper, brushes, paints, mediums, techniques & colors, to how to use the illustrations to draw your own pictures. An expert might bypass the basic instructions but surely would find inspiration in the artwork and palette.

3 comments about Paintings That Changed the World.

1. I don't have a copy of the book with me, so this is going to very general.
   
   I was intrigued as to how a painting could change the world (outside of the art world) so I was quite looking forward to this book.
   
   I found the paintings selected to be an interesting mix as was the analysis and information about the paintings. However, while there were a few paintings which I would agree had changed the world, for the most part, I would describe the paintings as paintings of events that changed the world, rather than the paintings themselves changing the world.



2. At first I flipped through the book and looked at a some of the artwork. It seemed interesting, so I went back to the beginning (it was presented chronologically) and started reading. For the next three days I only put the book down when I absolutely "had to do something." The interesting historical tidbits that accompanied the artwork were so intriquing. I learned so much during the exciting adventure of reading this book.



3. Highly biased toward both Western art and Christianity, this book ignores a treasure trove of interesting facts about the paintings it discusses. For example, the Arnolfini Wedding Portrait is included, without one word of its symbolism or the "story behind the story." Very little information is included about the interesting lives of the artists as well. The book should be retitled "How Christianity and Dead White Men Changed the World."

No comments about The Art of Holly Hobbie.

5 comments about Reflections of Nature: Paintings by Joseph Raffael.

1. Having purchased hundreds of art books over the last 40 years, I would have to rank this book in my top 10. For over a year I was enthralled and captivated by the illustrations in this book and took the book with me everywhere, in case I had to wait for an appointment or have a cup of coffee at Starbucks. Usually even the best art book is returned to my shelf in a month or two but Raffael's art is so intoxicating. I only wish the reader could see his work in person because of their large size, otherwise, please buy several copies for you and your friends.



2. This is the most complete book I have ever seen on Raffael's work. As an artist, I can tell you that part of what I try to do is to understand the painter as a way of appreciating his or her work.
   This book is stunning and full of information.



3. Beautifully printed volume on the work of watercolor painter Joseph Raffael. Very comprehensive of his work as a painter through 1998, the year in which the book was published. I'd like to eventually another book showing the work that he's done during the last 9 years.



4. Perfect book for the student, collector, dealer or art historian interested in this important artist. As one of America's foremost buyers of Joseph Rahael paintings, I highly recommend this book. www.LawrenceBeebe.com



5. REFLECTIONS OF NATURE: Paintings of Joseph Raffael is one of the most elegant monographs on a practicing artist I have had the pleasure of reading. Yes, "reading" is an operative word here. Too often artist monographs are coffee table picture books, lush and lovely to look at, enlightening as to a chronologial path of achievement, and even historically relevant - solely on the basis of the images: the written essays are seldom read and if they are read, they are merely perused. Such is not the case with this warmly informative and evocative collection of the works of this fine realist painter. Authors Amei Wallach and Donald Kuspit write with courage about techniques (use of the photograph as the springboard, method of appropriation form the photo image to the paper or canvas, etc) that would frighten most of our painters today, so revealing of secrets and methods publically scorned as "copying" or NOT "representational". But the real coups in this valuable volume is having the artist talk us through not only his techniques, but is personal history and vulnerabilites.

   As for the paintings, there are splendid reproductions of those paintings we all know and love (koi, water, water lilies, flowers) but there are also many examples of Raffael's wildlife images, spiritual images, and those of his wife Lannis seeming to metamorphose out of her garden. This book is a fine standard for future art books that stirve to inform as well as document an artist's work. Even if you don't know Raffael's paintings, I would recommend your adding this volume ot your library - for you eye's AND your soul's sake. Outstanding!