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I have not only read the book, but I personally know the artist, and own some original pieces by RD. I am his sister. My name is Lisa Marie Riccoboni, and I proudly say, with great pride, that my brother is one of the most imaginative and original artists to come along in a very long time. I received my copy of this book as a Christmas present, shortly after it was published, and I was impressed by the beauty and emotion that came through. To see my brother's work in print for everyone to enjoy makes me proud. All our lives, RD and I have both been artists. But whereas I am a landscape painter, capturing the beauty of America, my brother is a socially conscious artist who is aware of the inner beauty and soul of people. RD does not just paint, he tells stories through colorful brush strokes on each canvas. This is not just a book for the Gay Communnity. This is a wonderful book for anyone who loves to look at beautiful paintings that tell the story of people and the! ir differences, and how those differences make all of us unique and special. His paintings show the colorful side of people in a joyful setting. Not depressing or strange and ugly. Most people find them uplifting and positive in such a way that no matter who you are, you will love RD's work. As far as I know, my brother has never painted a negative, depressing work. He loves people and relates well with everyone. He always sees the good in people and the inner beauty, and overlooks the negative. This book shows that in a colorful, uplifting way. I'm very proud of him for going forward with his work and sharing it with the world. He has so much to give and teach. This book not only celebrates the Gay Community, it celebrates the beauty of all people. Whether or not you are Gay, if you love beautiful art, this book is worth your money. You won't be disappointed.

Lisa Marie Riccoboni

So much comes out of the gay art community that borders on porn BUT THIS BOOK this is refreshing to see and quite a self esteem booster for anyone gay or straight. The work manages to caputure masculinity in way that is erotic but non threatening to the viewer. If you are a gay man you should have this book.

Along with the companion book, Decorative Paint Finishes Made Simple, this is one of my core reference books for faux finished paint surfaces. Pictures are useful, instructions clear . . . a must-have for the faux painter's library.

As I look for all my faux finishing books, not one of the books could describe lovely finishes any better or any easier. My stucco and blocks have turned out marvelously...just like the book! Now that's what we like!

Anthropologist Johannes Fabian performed an outstanding service in sponsoring painter/historian Tshibumba's unique vision of his country's history. His words and the paintings themselves offer a rather romantic look at precolonial life, but a searing indictment of the epoch of Belgian rule. The interpretation of the Mobutu period is more equivocal, partly due to living under the authority of that regime, but also because Tshibumba genuinely admired some of Mobutu's achievements. Our painter vanished (presumably deceased) in the mid to late 1970s just as the tyrant's control began to go sour; it would be fascinating to read and see how Tshibumba assessed Mobutu's decline and fall.

His history operates on three levels---through his startling folk images, his own words, and the dialogue which emerges out of interviews with Fabian. The result is probably the most fully realized popular interpretation of the history of any African country, though oriented toward Tshibumba's home province of Katanga (Shaba). Fabian's essays in Part II further enhance our understanding of their joint project, though some are dense enough to deter some students and lay readers, thus 4 1/2 stars. Overall, a stunning and memorable collaboration. If only we had more like it....

For another indigenous perspective on many of the same events, by a Katangan girl who grew to womanhood during the Mobutu era, see Suruba Wechsler, "By the Grace of God," less penetrating but rather more accessible. Useful background material is also available in works by Eduard Bustin, Crawford Young, and Phyllis Martin and David Birmingham.

Anthropologist Johannes Fabian performed an outstanding service in sponsoring artist/historian Tshibumba's unique vision of his country's history. His words and the paintings themselves offer a rather romantic look at precolonial life, but a searing indictment of the epoch of Belgian rule. The interpretation of the Mobutu period is more equivocal, partly due to living under the authority of that regime, but also because Tshibumba genuinely admired some of Mobutu's achievements. Our artist vanished (presumably deceased) in the mid to late 1970s just as the tyrant's control began to go sour; it would be fascinating to read and see how Tshibumba assessed Mobutu's decline and fall.

His history operates on three levels---through his startling folk images, his own words, and the dialogue which emerges out of interviews with Fabian. The result is probably the most fully realized popular interpretation of the history of any African country, though oriented toward Tshibumba's home province of Katanga (Shaba). Fabian's essays in Part II further enhance our understanding of their joint project, though a couple are dense enough to deter some students and lay readers, thus 4 1/2 stars. Overall, a stunning and memorable collaboration. If only we had more like it....

For another indigenous perspective on many of the same events, by a Katangese girl who grew to womanhood during the Mobutu era, see Suruba Wechsler, "By the Grace of God," less penetrating but rather more accessible. Useful background material is also available in works by Edouard Bustin, Thomas Kanza, Crawford Young, and David Birmingham & Phyllis Martin.

Are you looking for non-fiction which is well-written and interesting, and covers topics over which students are generally tested for state proficiency or competency standards? This book fits all requirements. The author doesn't flinch at presenting the difficult, occasionally less-than-flattering side of the talented photographer, so that the reader comes away with a feeling of having met a "real" person, albeit one with tremendous talent. Yet, Partridge focuses on the life and times of her subject without "sensationalism". The book is well-written. Partridge never talks down to her readers, and her clear language and vocabulary should be well within the capabilities of 7th, 8th or 9th grade students. This book ties art, social studies and language arts together in perfect harmony for a study of the Depression Era of US history. Adults will enjoy this book as well.

Well I love photography and for thoes of you who do this is the best book. Dorthea Lange was the best photographer and is obviously my favorite. This book tells the great story of her life and has great classic photos. I highly recomend this book

Intersted in the Rio Grande Railroad? This book has everything you ever needed to know about freight and passengers cars. Great photos and infomative captions. A must have reference book for Railway modellers and Rio Grande fans.

This wonderful book is a truly catalog of Grande rolling stock. For each boxcar/flatcar/stock car (and the passenger cars too) it give comprehensive explanation, with the road numbers series and one fantastic color image of each item in its class. A real must not only for the Rio Grande fans, but for all railroad lovers.

This book has become one of my best reading and reference books I own.He takes you through every step of his techniques simply and right to the point.I love the fact that he points out mistakes that he and other poeple have made from their experiences.His humor makes it an even more enjoyable read!I love this book

Wade's book takes the aspiring artist through all of the techniques and approaches that make him such an engaging painter. He does this with detailed and very systematic discussions and lots and lots of paintings (many more than in most watercolor books). This book (as does Robert Lovett's companion book) covers as much territory as 4 usual books. I've learned a great deal from Wade's book and continue to learn from him. I cannot recommend it too highly.

If you are interested in native american petroglyphs and want facts not fiction then this is the book for you. Dr. Coy's 30+ years of research are dutifully documented. Eastern US rock art has been overlooked and unappreciated by the general public for years. Dr. Coy's compilation of sites is extrodinary. Numerous photos, unbaised presentation and a passion for preserving our past make this book a must have.

Any one interested in Native American Art must read this book.Has great pictures of rock art found in Kentucky.

I've always been interested in paleontology and fossils, and in my wildest dreams I never hoped for a book as wonderful as this one. Barbara Page has created three-dimensional panels that track the evolution of life on earth, and this book reproduces them so superbly that the two-dimensional surfaces of the pages almost become three dimensional. Fossil ammonites and trilobites, fishes, reptiles, birds, and mammals emerge from the panels to illustrate the history of life in an entirely new way. Here a fragment of a wing, there a piece of dinosaur jaw, just as the fossils emerge from rock. The full color printing is gorgeous, and the text is terrific--not overwhelming but supporting the marvelous art. If you know of any amateur of professional fossil fan, this is THE gift book of the year! It cannot disappoint. Wow!

Impeccably designed and magnificently printed, this book offers the reader a remarkable opportunity to view Barbara Page's important work in another venue before final installation at the Museum of the Earth in Ithaca, New York.

It is rare to experience a combination of intelligent and informative prose as that of Rosamund Wolff Purcell and Warren Allmon with such truly breathtaking art as the work of Barbara Page in one edition. This book celebrates what those of us in publishing know to be true--there will ALWAYS be a hunger for beautiful and important books on ink-printed pages.

The great humanist Rockwell Kent is represented well in the plates of this "lost Landscape" edition. The plates are great color, and the text fills you in on the complexity of his socialist political life. Kent is a superior mannerist as was his contemporary Grant Wood. It is heartening to see these works from the Soviet Union in such an inexpensive and reputable package. The book is true to the beauty and substance of this sometimes underappreciated legend! I was lucky enough to see some of the great Adirondack paintings at the Blue Mtn. museum last summer, which made me ravenous to get this book. I am thrilled! Buy it if you have an affinity for the works of Kent!

"Rockwell Kent's Forgotten Landscapes" presents 47 full-color, full-page paintings which he gave to Russia in 1960, and which have not been seen in the U.S. since. This treasure trove of his "forgotten" paintings was reproduced by Scott R. Ferris and Ellen Pearce in a 96-page coffee-table format.

By their direct simplicity, these paintings may startle viewers, especially those who revel in the nuances of paintings by impressionists, for Kent's pictures have sharp lines, bright colors, and deep shadows, and show the use of artistic license here and there. Edward Hopper's "houses" are done in a somewhat similar style. Kent's painting locales included the Adirondacks (his home), Greenland, Maine (Monhegan), Tierra del Fuego, Alaska and Ireland.

After studying the collection this reviewer emerged convinced that he has a better grasp of North Greenland, where the sun wheels around 360 degrees while hanging just above the horizon during summer months and casting a sort of perpetual evening light and long shadows. Kent's paintings often show no human or animal life, but there is enough inclusion of Indian activities as to cause cultural anthropologists to consider his paintings to be rare records of this primitive, by-gone lifestyle. Kent's portrait of Mount Assiniboine in the Canadian Rockies was so startling in color and composition as to make this reviewer actually gasp in wonder at its beauty.

In addition to the big color plates, the authors have included 36 smaller black & white pictures which amplify 15 pages of scholarly text by Ferris, in which he discusses the genealogies of selected pictures and their believed locations abroad. The text is backed by 95 footnotes, many of which are interesting in their own right.

Appendix I lists "variant titles to some of Kent's basic scenes." Appendix II organizes his "non-paintings" into engravings, lithographs, books and brochures, manuscripts and reproductions and portfolios -- all wonderful guides to other Kent works. Then there follow a Bibliography and Index.

Ellen Pearce's major contribution is a seven-page essay on the life and political entanglements of Rockwell Kent, which climaxed in his being summoned before Sen. Joseph McCarthy's Committee on Government Operations. Further, the State Department refused to renew his travel visa until the Supreme Court overturned its ruling. All this disheartened and embittered Kent and predisposed him to bequeath his "great collection" to the Russians, who had received an earlier show of his with warmth and enthusiasm.

For those who heretofore have known Rockwell Kent (1882-1971) only by his book and magazine illustrations, this is a grand introduction to his work in oils. One hopes another book someday will publish his collected works so that Americans can even better appreciate a great native-born but forgotten artist.

This magnificent compilation is th result of hard work and vision. Congratulations on your efforts Ms. Diba. You have brought the best of Persian artistry of this period to the rest of humanity.

This book is the best about the Iranian Qajar history I've ever seen. The unknown paintings, genealogical tables, beautiful design: all this makes it very important in understanding the great culture not only of Qajar but also of Zand, Afsharid and Safavid epochs. I wish there were more such books in the great world of not only iranian but of whole world's royalty.