Painting-the

Each day at work I have to read the new picturebooks that have been proccessed. I dislike few of them. I enjoy most of them. I love very few of them...especially on first perusal. "Angelo" is one of the very few.

It's the story of the unlikely friendship between a master plasterer (Angelo) and a pigeon he dubs Sylvia. He finds her wounded on the ledge of a building he is restoring & takes her in despite his negative opinions of birds. (The pigeon hospital bed he rigs up for her is wonderful). She flies off after convalescing...only to return when he needs companionship to see him to the end of his last great job. In thanks, he creates a tribute to her...a tribute only he could create & one only a pigeon could appreciate.

The story is heartwarming, but the pictures are silly, cinematic, and inspired. This is a treat to read (for young and old) and it is my pick (so far) for Caldecott 2002...

This restoration was to be Angelo's crowning glory, his masterpiece, and as he begins his work on the old church, brushing away years of debris left by birds, and searching the nooks and crannies for cracks that would need repair, he comes across a sick and injured pigeon. Angelo was not a fan of pigeons, after all they made a mess of his buildings, but he couldn't bear to leave this helpless, "barely breathing" creature to die, So he scoops her up in his hat and takes her home. There he names her Sylvia, nurses her back to health, and they become devoted to each other. As time goes by, Angelo grows older and tires easily, and he worries that he won't be able to finish his "crowning achievement". Sylvia works by his side every day, cooing her encouragement, fanning him with her wings in the hot weather, and entertaining him when he rests. And on a warm November day "Angelo finally applied the last coat of stucco to the cherubs in the high pediment." But he still has one more task to finish before his work is complete..... David Macaulay has authored a captivating and poignant picture book about an unusual and enduring friendship. His gentle text is beautifully enhanced by his evocative and expressive illustrations, full of charm, humor, and marvelous architectural detail. Together word and art tell a heartwarming and endearing story of a life fulfilled by dedication to work and special companionship. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, Angelo is told with great insight and wisdom, and makes a terrific read aloud story the entire family can share.

This is a beautiful advent calendar - buy it!

I saw this calendar last year at a friends house and this year am buying two! Everyday you open a window makes you re-analyze and re-appreciate the painting and understand a little more about the thinking of the times. I highly recommend it!

It is not unusual to find an anthology of spiritual poetry, especially in these days of interest in such matters. It's slightly more difficult to find poetry matched with art, and matched well. This collection combines what it calls "visionary poetry" with works from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and I can only say that Kate Farrell, who put it all together, must have a deft hand, a great eye, a broad heart, and a fabulous poetry collection.

The poems she chose cross the centuries (Proverbs, John Keats, Robert Bly), come from known and unknown poets (Emily Dickenson, Anonymous Chippewa Indian), and represent many countries (America, England, France, Persia, Germany, Japan, etc.), and most are matched with two works of art. The selections are astonishingly appropriate, and makes one wish that all museums would display their art with some poetry alongside instead of, or in addition to the usual dry blurbs about the artwork.

The book is broken into thematic sections, Dwelling in Possibility, Sailing to Byzantium, The Secrets of the World, and A Further Sea. The acknowledgements in the back make it easy to find the work of a poet who might have particularly struck your fancy (and is how I was introduced to the amazing work of Mary Oliver).

At $18.95, this little gem is more than worth the money, and deserves a place on your shelf!

This is a wonderful book which juxtaposes works from Poets ranging from Emilyu Dickinson to Mary Oliver to John Milton with reproductions from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, often two images to a poem. The poetry by itself is exquisite, ditto the art, but the combinations are inspired and inspiring. I bought this book as a gift but couldn't bear to part with it so I gave it to myself & keep it by my bedside.

just as Frank Lloyd Wright reflected on the environment in every situation, it was as though he were consulting a calendar, very much the Feng Shui master of homes and high-rises, and in the case of this home he uses two old concepts to great effect, making the situation one of effortless variabilty, or timeless change as we'd call it today. The only comparison I wuold make here is in the area of travel memoirs; compare Dennis Casey's aestethic views with Carleton Beals "Glass House", an auot-biographical imprint that visits Mexico, Spain, and Italy, etc.
and you get the general idea. There used to be a proverbial saying for Architecture students at Universities; accredited to 'Old Frosty' (whether correctly, we've yet to ascertain) "There is a 'WRIGHT' way... and then there is the 'Other Guys' way!" But by any yardstick-this book is great!

I've been buying FLLW glass patterns from Dennis Casey for years. I own all his other books and this is his best yet! For those who follow Wright's designs and his display of truth through art, accuracy and explanation are very important. Dennis Casey was allowed to take his micrometer into the Hollyhock house. Reading this book is like walking through the house. Each step is beautifully detailed: "...with surrounding glass, is exciting in the true since of the word. It is as if you walked into a room with a full symphony orchestra playing."

Three quarters of the book is detailed drawings, which will satisfy even the most picayune artisan among us. I'll continue to stare at these pages until I understand.

This book opened my eyes toa very different art form.Even after reading the book ,I don't exactly know what to make of it except that I found it interesting and really enjoyable.Obviously, Howell's subjects,techniques and realism are spellbinding.I guess what bothers me about this art is that I do not possess the faith expressed behind the art.Mother Earth,spirituality of ancestors ,circles of life,dream catchers,shamens,animal spirits,etc.,really escape me ;but that does not prevent me from enjoying the art.The imagination that comes through the painting "Fruit from the Light" coupled with the color,lighting and finess in the hair results in a painting that you just want to look at and enjoy for its own beauty.To me it doesn't matter who she is, what is on her mind,what does the painter want us to feel;I think that is to be determined by the viewer.
However,I must say that there is a great amount of mood running through his paintings which I find hard to describe.Haunting,bearing witness,distance,come to mind;but nothing such as happiness, hope,anticipation,peace,anger,etc.The images seem to say "This is me,and that's it ." I am looking forward to seeing more of his work.
So, if you like Indian Art with a strong slant on realism and a little mysticism,you should enjoy this book.

Frank Howell's work will take your breath away. This beautiful edition contains both poetry and a wonderful collection of Howell's sensitive and luminous work. You will find yourself looking at it again and again!

THIS BOOK IS FOR LEARNING HOW TO PAIN

The author gives the basics as well as very good illustrations and describes techniques clearly.

ENJOY! Each page is a large-scale color plate of one artist's work - 125 in all. My favorites include works by Mian Situ, Cyrus Afsary, Ray Vinella, Tom Haas, Ken Auster, Lanford Monroe, E Manning Crook, Oleg Stavrowsky, Stepahn Juharos, Howard Post, Paul Youngman, Martha Saudek, Judith-Moore Knapp, Sherry Blanchard Stuart, Tim Cox and Bruce Peil.

Whether it's a mystical painting of thunder maidens or plain-song renditions of cowboys taking a coffee break or a sketch of a bull rider at a rodeo or a buffalo shedding its winter coat this book is like a window on that hot, sunny world of Cowboys & Indians, desert & animals, sunsets & rivers. A glorious gallery of the Great American West.

I am a theorem painter, and I found this book to be very helpful in learning the history of theorem painting and also seeing pictures of antique theorems. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in theorems, whether you are a theorem painter or a collector of theorems. The book also includes patterns for those who wish to cut their own stencils. I know that this book is hard to obtain, but if you get a chance to purchase it, I know that you won't regret it.

Since I was a self taught theorem painter and was very hungry for history of this art. I was pleased to see the work done by the authors. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in doing theorems. I especially enjoyed the work they did on the history of this art. I am the only theorem painter in a 200 mile radius of my home. To find a book about it was exciting.

This is a great, comprehensive painting guide for anyone who is interested in getting into oil, acrylics or watercolor painting. It shows all the basics needed including the materials available and needed and it also shows (at least to me) some advanced techniques. Great for any beginner and maybe even intermediate painter. The only complaint I have to make is that I would have liked that the book covered other kinds of painting too, such as glass painting, but I guess it makes sence that they didn't really get into that since it seems to me that it is a classic kind ot painting school.

I am very pleased with the work I have created using this book. I had a lot of questions about watercolor and oil painting. Most of the other books I purchased and studied left a lot of the beginner things out....like how to actually mix colors well. The format is wonderful as well, you can go from one exercise to the next a really get some techniques under your belt. The approach to demystifying the products needed for each media was fantastic. You are shown what each product is for and when you might use it. The instuctions in the book include clear step by step pictures...so you don't start feeling lost halfway through the exercise. The best part? There is no rigid rules, the dialogue is personal and encouraging. You flip through it and start itching to paint!

This is an exquisite book that is more than just a storybook. It is about "a shy little girl who loved to draw" but who suffers because her classmates think her renditions are "weird," only to find....

Well, I can't give away the end, can I?

Any child--especially any little girl--will love this book. It comes with a tiny palette charm, a place to draw her own self-portrait, and pages designed for other creative efforts.

Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of "This is the Place"

The magic charm books are so wonderful! The Artist's pallet was just as great as the other 10! A story of a little girl who knows what she loves to do! It's just great!