Painting-the

Being a beginning watercolorist I knew I needed some help, so I searched all over for a good book on the subject but was unsuccessful. Then I found this book and I'll have to say it is excellent. It covers many of the techenics that new watercolorist need to know like how to stretch paper, the use of masking fluid, how to set up a still life, and how the watercolors work. I recommend this book to everbody that's interested in becoming the serious watercolorist.

As a novice watercolour painter and devoted bibliophile, I have found a new way of spending my hard-earned money: Watercolour books. However, this one might be one of the last I buy, as it's really useful. bought the book yesterday and I am delighted with it. The advice on how to do things is sound, and this is a book that encourages you to find your own style and shows you how the same image may be rendered in such a different way by different people. Unlike other books I own, this one is not only a set of beautiful pictures. In fact, I didn't like some of the art displayed in it, but this is in fact a plus, as it shows the variety of styles and effects you can achieve with watercolour. I know that there are other techniques not displayed in this book, but as a beginning step it's definitely worth every penny. It's got a lot of demos (which are implicitly exercises) and it might end up being a classic on the subject.

This book is an exceptional resource for the watercolorist. I highly recommend this book for both beginner and advanced artists. Terms are explained in plain English. Many watercolor techniques are reviewed and numerous artist's works are described in detail. Hazel Harrison has also written Acrylic School and Pastel School for Readers Digest, and they are all excellent reference sources. I recommend them to all my students.

The early chapters on handling paint and the brush seems to really get to the point. The section on "moisture control" really is a must read for anyone still struggling with this aspect of watercolor painting. I recommend this book all the time to anyone who asks about good reading material. Too bad it is out of print. A must for the watercolorist library!

This is a great book that addresses problems that I haven't seen addressed in other books. He is also encouraging to the painter who may not feel they have a lot of talent but still want to paint. He feels that all people with the desire can do it. I got the book from the library, and loved it so much I purchased it. I've heard his videos are great too.

This is one of the best books teaching watercolor painting. I've bought many. He stresses that the journey (learning) is more important than the goal (being a great painter). He's an excellent teacher and his step by step illustrations are some of the best. A great help to me.

This eerie tale will keep the reader intrigued long after finishing the book. In the town of Preston, an old rusting water tower stands on the edge of a hill. Two boys decide to go inside for a swim on a sweltering summer day. What happens inside is a mystery, but one of the boys is forever changed.

This 1995 Australian Picture Book of the Year winner uses the contrast between colorful illustrations and black background to great effect. In a twist on the usual picture book, the illustrations tell the real story, while the text provides the background information.

What a great puzzle. This is the kind of book that I could not stop thinking about, even long after I read it. This is an engaging book for adults as well as for children.

This book has kept the students in my grade 4/5 class at Acton School in Burnie, Tasmania captivated throughout this whole week. At first when I read it to them they picked up that the town residents eyes were funny looking but on further investigation they found many other peculiarities in the story. They were crowding around the book trying to see the different pictures and solve the mystery.

Erin says her favourite part was when Bubba came out of the tank and Spike wants him to show him his hand. Bubba says "No" because his mum would be worried however at the beginning he says that his mum would not care!

Alaster says that his favourite part of the book is solving all the mysteries.

Laura says her favourite part of the book was the picture of Bubba's face up close.

Melissa Lowry agrees with Erin that the part where Bubba came out of the Watertower is her favourite. Actually most of the class agrees that this part was the best. I think this is because it began all the questioning about the story.

Aaron and Matthew say that the mystery is related to the pitchfork that is seen on all pages.

We will be continuing to use Gary Crew books for language and drama work. We would love to hear from any one who has solved the mysteries in the story or of any activities you have been doing in the classroom. Thanks. .............

I have always been a fan of gary's and i was lucky enough to meet him. i was in one of his workshops on writing and i found him to be truly amazing.The Watertower, was a book we read in book club with older readers, and we found it intreging. It was easy to read the story, but as soon as you saw the subliminal messages in the illustrations, it was hard to focus your concerntration on the actual text. Don't shrug it off if you have that poor attitude about picture books.

This book is engagingly written, a "quick read" and, surprisingly for art history or criticism, has some great quotes from artists in it which give another insight into the art as well. The author has a passion for modern art, and the skill to make her passion understood. Highly recommended. Also has some lovely color reproductions to contemplate.

I was loaned this book to read by an educational director at a contemporary art museum. The book itself --- at least its hardcover edition --- is a lovely well-bound and glossy book, the pages are very sturdy and many of the reproductions are in color. I read the book in less than a day. It is short and easy to read. Heller makes the book, more personal in her address to the reader than other introductory guides, she lines each chapter with her own experiences, which seem more honest than most. When I read the book the reading was so easy, the advice was so simple, the process so quick and enjoyable, that I thought I had spent a few entertaining hours doing absolutely nothing. The book is more about, as the title says, understanding and enjoying modern art, than it is a guide to the different movements or artists within modern art, but the artists she does speak of have a tendency to stay with you (as I didn't think they would). A couple of weeks ago I went to a local museum exhibit and happened upon the work of Jenny Holzer, and smiled, remembering where I first read about her.

So much of what I have read about modern art goes in one ear and out the other. I think this is because writers feel obligated to impart a certain body of knowledge to the reader. Nancy Heller, however, starts with the questions people have about modern art and then proceeds to answer them. She even concludes the book with a chapter of answers to questions most asked about modern art.

If you are planning to read your first book about modern art, this is the one. If you are planning to read your very LAST book about modern art, this too is the one.

A well-researched, wonderful book. Lots of helpful info and a few pages of referene pics which may be helpful. Her own paintings are inspirational and believable. You can tell she really knows her subjects. Great book! It uses acrylic techniques, though, not sure how well these would translate into oils. S

I really love this book. Unlike other 'how to draw' animal books, the artist shows the initial sketch and the finished painting. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning to draw Canids.

This book is not for beginners though. It definately assumes you know how to draw and does not instruct you in basic drawing technique. That being said, the book is designed to prep you for painting some of nature's most fantastic creatures... wolves.

My only quibble with this book, is that I would've like to see more sketches and 'turn around' style pictures of wolves sketched from various angles, and perhaps a sketch started at the beginning and progressing through to its finished stage. I learn a lot from drawing in this manner, and it is a challenge to draw the faces of wolves and place their ears correctly. (my dog is a poor substitute) GRIN.

This is a great book. I plan on looking up more books in this series!

I counted 112 pages filled with 220 pictures, all in full color, including many wonderful, useful sketches of wolves, foxes and coyotes. There are 128 pages in the book and certainly more information than you could ever imagine. I am a wildlife painter and I too use acrylics and Ms. McGuire offered many tricks and tips that I had never seen but now use with a new excitement.
I believe that the book is very solidly packed. Chapters covering: Basics, Anatomy and Proportions, Pups, Attitude, Behavior and Movement,Natural Habitat, Painting a Pack of Wolves, Painting a Coyote, and Painting a Red Fox.
A few years back I had hoped to study from Jan Martin McGuire while she was in Joseph, Oregon but was unable to get there at that particular time. I realize, after reading and using this book, that I was SO right in desiring to study from her and this book will give me the chance. I have viewed her paintings and they are exciting and certainly something I want to study.
My students have also purchased this book and carry it to my classes.
If you are interested in learning more about Wildlife Painting and Wolves, Foxes and Coyotes, you can't go wrong in adding this book to you collecton of useful painting books.

... so much so that I chose to review it. It is an atypical "counting" book... one in which a certain object, in this case -- umbrellas, is added to each page. But the twist is that a CD comes with this book. The CD has various cuts of original piano music. Each cut wonderfully reflects the setting of the given page. On one page, as the umbrellas cross over a bridge, you can hear the plink-plink of the raindrops on the water below. On another page, you can hear an approaching train as the pianist speeds up his delivery of original music. The artwork is beautiful, with a subdued rainy palette used for backgrounds. Only the umbrellas themselves are vibrantly depicted. It's only at the end of the book in which we actually get a glimpse of the people (children) carrying the umbrellas, and even on that page, one only sees their legs. My two sons enjoyed trying to guess who might be carrying the umbrellas and where they might be going. My 9-year-old said, "Wouldn't it be funny if they turned out to be monsters!" Monsters notwithstanding, the audio-visual combination makes for a wonderful experience just before dropping off to sleep.

A very pleasant book. Great to use on a rainy day with the music. The illustrations give a sense of constant motion and are complemented by the fast tempo music. The pictures have a strong correlation between shape, size, and environment, with everything seeming very deliberate. A great medium and angle to depict the journey to school. All the different umbrellas seem to have their own characteristics and throughout the book you are left to wonder who is under the umbrella and where are they going. Beautifully illustrated!! Should be read with the music.

My daughters (3 and 5) received the book from their Aunt. The first night we popped the CD in and slowly turned the pages...I watched their eyes as we went page by page and saw smiles come and go throughout the book. The fact that there are no words makes us slow down, mingle music with imagination and every now and then we make up our own words - sprinkled here and there among the raindrops - to take the story in new directions whenever we choose.

Now...the CD player in the car brings the pictures back to the girls as we travel down to Rhode Island to visit family. Fabulous choice - thanks Aunt Betty and Uncle Duck.

Grandma is taking a little girl and her brother to the National Gallery of Art. As they walk in, the little girl hands her balloon to a nice photographer to hold for her, since balloons are not allowed inside. But as the three begin their tour of the gallery, the balloon comes loose and sails away..... You Can't Take a Balloon Into the National Gallery is a creative and inventive picture book that will entrance and mesmerize youngsters of all ages with its busy, expressive artwork, great attention to detail and famous Americans hidden in the pictures. The Preiss sister's marvelous and clever pen and ink illustrations, with bright color used only to highlight the chaos of the balloon's trip, parallels the tour inside the gallery, as life imitates art and art imitates life. This book includes a wonderfully detailed map of the balloon's route through D.C. and an answer key full of fun facts and historical notes for their hidden faces, at the end. It's impossible to open this book without finding something new and exciting that you've never seen before. For hours of fun, You Can't Take a Balloon Into the National Gallery is an adventure that will delight and amuse everyone in the family.

As I have just written in my 5-star review of "You Can't Take a Balloon to The Metropolitan Museum,": The really good news is that the Preiss sisters HAVE written another book and are working on a third. The second in this series, You Can't Take a Balloon to The National Gallery, is also fabulous. In fact, it is so good that, up until 2 weeks ago, my 3 year old would point out about twice a week that we had not been to the "Natural Gallery" when I asked her what we should do that day.

The only thing that changed since then is that I took her and her 1 year old sister to Washington last week, using the book as a guide book. If you think you like these books now, try using them as a template for a trip with your children! WOW!!!!!! What a wonderful way to get them ready for a trip and what a wonderful thing to carry the book with you, comparing what you are seeing to what you have read!!!! How great to go back to the hotel and see what you have seen and are going to see!!!! How great to get home and have an instant scrap book!!!!

With this experience behind us, we also can't wait until next Spring when You Can't Take a Balloon to The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston is scheduled to come out!

A profound success on many fronts. I'm totally taken by its creativity, cleverness, and messages. This book has adventure, drama, historical details -- I love the "Faces from History" part (plus the learning within them), as offered ever so playfully! At the same time, "You Can't Take A Balloon..." is warm and filled with great joy. If all learning was presented so refreshingly, we'd have a different world!

One copy of this elegant book lives in my backpack. On a 15-day walk through Wales, I used the 15 tenets -- around which the book is organized -- one each day, as the focus for that day's experiences. Holmes's Zen tenets enriched this hike immeasurably. The insights connecting text, art, and haiku are freshly realized with each meditative dip into this timeless book.

I bought my copy of this small treasure fifteen years ago, and few books have ever worn so well. It is as fresh and beautiful for me today as when I first read it. The book is divided into fifteen chapters, each devoted to a central tenet of Zen Buddhism, which is then elaborated upon through the presentation of several Chinese or Japanese paintings and a number of haiku, all of which are masterfully related to the tenet through a simple prose explantion. The tone is often light and playful, but the insights are profound, and the various parts of the book flow together flawlessly. It is a true pleasure to have and to read. You can't go wrong here.

Mr Holmes lives here in my town. It helps to be able to talk to him. The ideas are universal and transcend time.

If you are planning a trip to India, you should consider visiting the caves at Ajanta. If you are planning to visit the caves, you should read this book before the trip. You will get a lot more out of the experience of the caves if you know the Jataka stories and understand the Buddhist iconography described in this book.

Even if you have no plans to travel to Ajanta, the boook contains beautiful photograpghs which will make a nice addition to any collection of art books or, for that matter, to any coffee table.

The Ajanta caves can be considered among the wonders of the ancient world, both in terms of their artistic and their spiritual value, and this book captures the beauty and detail of the remarkable murals. If I were to make one criticism, it would be that it emphasizes the murals at the expense of largely neglecting the sculptures, which are magnificent in their own right. The book might better be titled, "Murals of the Ajanta Caves." I ordered it without seeing it first, and I was a little disappointed to see how few photographs were included of the sculptures. Nevertheless, the beautiful and clear photographs of the murals alone are worth the price of the book, and I'd certainly recommend it to anyone interested in the Ajanta caves, or in ancient Indian or Buddhist art.

This book offers the best color photographs of the Ajanta caves that I have seen. The text offers an excellent explication of the history and iconography of the images. Having been to the caves, I can honestly say that you see the paintings more clearly in this book than at the caves themselves. (This is due to crowded conditions and poor lighting at the caves.) This book is an important adjunct to any study of Buddhist art and inconography. If you're planning to travel to Ajanta, buy this book first.

My mom, an artist, received this book as a gift. I was intrigued by the paintings, started reading it and found I could not put it down. The life lessons spoken/lived by Alfreda and her friends touched my heart. If only we could all live accordingly. A deeply moving book. A wonderfully inspiring gift of encouragement.

A heartwarming true story for all ages, with incredible color paintings by a talented Charleston artist.

This would be a great gift for moms, sisters, grandmoms. A must-read for anyone who loved When I Am An Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple, or The Secret Life of Bees!

Here's to Alfreda and to all the wise women at the Hebron Zion Church on John's Island. You are an inspiration!

The book is wonderful, it is easy to read. This book is breath taking.