No comments about Spirit and Art: Pictures of the Transformation of Consciousness.

No comments about Dynamic Splendor: The Wall Mosaics in the Cathedral of Eufrasius at Porec.

1 comments about American churches.

1. 
   If you want a book of photography of interesting buildings, this is a great one to consider. But it is also a fine record of the churches of America down through history. So it is a reminder of the dedication and the aspirations of believers who have dotted the American landscape with places of worship that are inspirational whether one is going inside for worship or just passing by. The author's credentials are impeccable, as the director of the National Museum of American History in Washington he knows his subject backwards and forwards. This is a coffee table book at a bargain price--snap it up for the art, photography, architecture, history and faith-minded people on your gift list. Including you!

1 comments about God's House (Kids Preschool).

1. My three year old enjoys reading this book, and he is learning what many of the things in the church are called. The book taught him about the stations of the cross, the lector, the tabernacle, etc. I bought four more copies for his cousins!

No comments about Femal Buddhas: Women of Enlightenment in Tibetan Mystical Art.

No comments about How Noah Saved The Animals: Scenes from the Old Testament (Adventures in Art).

1 comments about The Icon: Image of the Invisible.

1. Originally published in French in 1981 by the great Catholic Publishing House Desclee de Brouwer in Paris as L'Icone: Image de l'invisible, this book may be the most thorough, useful and complete treatment of the theology, procedures, composition and aesthetic techniques of the Ikon phenomenom.
   
   Indeed the ample first section discusses the Genesis and Theology of the Icon, including history from the first days of Christianity, the art of the catacombs, etc. This first section also includes the various theological elements essential to iconography, as well as a discussion of Byzantine society and religious vision. It also discusses literary types in relation to icons, and a general theory of the icon as sign, symbol and as actual or sacramental participation in the Divine.
   
   The second section explains aesthetic elements, including geometric structures, such as proportions, which I find most immediately helpful for any artist who wishes to draw anything involving the human face and body as well as iconographers. This section closely analyzes the formal use of geometry in composition of the icons and their arrangements, and the use of the laws of perspective as well as inverse perspective, dynamic space and epic perspective. This alone is fascinating for anyone who studies art theory, and truly renders comprehensible and visible underlying principles and practices not previously noticed or known. Several common Iconic themes are examined iin this light, including the Annunciation as well as the Resurrection of Lazarus. This second section also fully discusses colors and the theory of color, their meanings in icons, and their composition. The second section concludes with a complete consideration of light, and the inner light of icons.
   
   As promised in the subtitle the third section fully examines the technical aspects of icons, including the preparation of materials in every way, the paints and how to apply them to the prepared and primed board, the selection of the palette and creation of flesh tones, for instance, and techniques and styles of the various ancient schools of iconography, including Greek and Russian. A thirty six page full page selection of icons follows in full color well produced, ending this excellent and comprehensive and informative and useful book with a thorough bibliography and a pair of indexes by subject and by name.
   
   Everything about this book is the best, but what really sold me was the discussion of proportions of the human body and of perspectives, technical problems I had been trying to resolve but which are very clearly presented here.
   
   Highly recommended for any artist, art historian, art lover, or especially the devoted Catholic looking for visual sacramentals as edifying aids in prayer and the saintly, sacred, immanent presence with us in prayer and contemplation. This book discusses everything from theology to hands on techniques and has something for everyone, expressed more completely and clearly with continual examples on every page, than in any other book I have seen. I have in my hand the 1999 paperback reprinting from Oakwood. If you are able to acquire the hardcover edition, or the original French, please invite me over for prayer and painting!

No comments about Crosses.

No comments about Sing a New Song When Music Divides the Church.

1 comments about The Gospel in Greasepaint: Creative Biblical Skits for Clowns, Mimes, and Other Fools for Christ.

1. I looked into this book because I needed Christian material for a mime. The skits in this book are parables and stories from the Bible that are acted out with a narrator or at least 1 person talking. This may be all right for a program in a church setting. But a mime working at a festival is often working alone or with another mime. And a mime is expected to "Respect the WHITE". In other words a mime is never to talk while he/she is wearing the white makeup. The skits in this book were good, but were no help for what I needed and I felt misled by the title.