Reviews (5)

Comming from an art school dropout
Most graffiti artists are of the same school of thought, that being; advertisements are everywhere - Shepard Fairey the OBEY guy, everywhere you look there’s someone visually shoving something down your throat and usually they want money for it.So why is it illegal to put some of your own art up just as much as they do?This is true and valid opinion for someone to have, but not when its coming from a guy who just sprayed his tag name on the side of the highway in 8 foot indiscernible lettering - that is what gives graffiti a bad name.In my opinion it should be against the law to sign your name on a train or a building - no matter how big it is or how many colors you used or how fast you had to run when the watchmen saw.It just misses the point of having a public exchange of ideas.
Art Crime Extraordinaire!
No artist comes close to the emotional impact he makes in this work. Brilliant-Brilliant-Brilliant.
one of my favorite artists
Banksy is an amazing artist, a lot of conceptual as well as visually appealing works. I knew that he is like a god father of stencil graffiti, but i never thought good he is with installations.
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions - General    4. Criticism    5. Exhibition Catalogs    6. Popular Culture - Counter Culture    7. Popular Culture - General    8. Art / General    9. Individual artists    10. Painting & paintings    11. Social Science / Popular Culture   

Reviews (7)

SUPERSTARANDYWARHOL BLOWS UP
"Gee..." as Andy would say. "It's so big..." Brilliant compilation of Warholia with analysis and photos as evidence of His Genius. Two chapters- "America the Beautiful" and "Matinee Idols"- written by David Dalton who was there at the Creation are especially perceptive and insightful. Andy Warhol lives- Bigger and Better Forever!

ANDY ANDY ANDY ANDY ANDY ANDY ANDY ANDY ANDY
this book is really really big.
Great
I really enjoyed this book.If you are at all interested in Warhol this is the book for you.The format is amazing.The book has everything Warholian that you could want. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American - General    2. Art    3. Artists, Architects, Photographers    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Contemporary Art    6. Fine Arts (General)    7. Historical - U.S.    8. Individual Artist    9. Techniques - Painting    10. Art / Individual Artist    11. Individual artists    12. Pop art    13. Postwar period, 1945 to c 2000    14. USA   

Reviews (2)

Fifty plus years of an extraordinary artist's output
Cy Twombly is an artist who remains on the playing field, creating much the same type work over the years, yet still inspiring artists and audience alike.There is something gloriously spontaneous and innocent abouthis seemingly random 'scribblings' on canvas or paper.Perhaps he connects with the nascent artist in each of us: 'if this man can do this, I could, too!'
About the only major Twombly book in print
Basically, works on Twombly seem to come and go out of print, and become rather pricey collectors items quickly. This book contains an excellent selection of reproductions, including foldouts, of all phases of his career. The only thing that prevents this from being a five star book is the rather pedestrian (although well researched) text, in the usual obfuscating artspeak that passes for deep insight today. The out of print Varnadoe book from the major restropective of the 90's has a far more lucid outline of the works in question...but, really, you're probably buying the book for the reproductions anyway, and there are plenty of them, including some nice full page close up details of the often massive works. Not an inexpensive book, but well worth it for anyone interested in this "painter's painter" works. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1928-    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Contemporary Art    5. Criticism and interpretation    6. Individual Artist    7. Twombly, Cy,    8. Art / Individual Artist    9. History of art & design styles: from c 1900 -    10. Individual artists    11. Painting & paintings   

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Fine Arts    4. Individual Artist    5. Spanish: Adult Nonfiction    6. Catalogues raisonnes    7. History of art & design styles: from c 1900 -    8. Painting & paintings   

Reviews (8)

For the Serious...
It's been difficult to give a balanced critique. On one hand, "Elements of Color" has a wealth of information, but on the other, it takes serious committment to fully understand and comprehensively apply the information Itten presents. There is much valuable data, but it's interspersed with almost stereotypic, outmoded "Teutonic" concepts; e.g. assigning "Blond Types" springtime, bright, vivid colored topics, while "Dark Types" should be assigned "Night, Burial and dark room" topics. There is much valuable, technical information, but it is like digging through hard stone to find the gold; overwrought and culturally centered, judgemental statements are very common ("red expresses intermediate degrees between the infernal and sublime"... what's this?!?!). Other statements seem value-laden, i.e., "sentimental blue", "angelic pink", "blue reigns supreme"... Some excuse may be found in realizing the concepts in this treatise may have been developed before the Post Modernist Age, which accepts cultural and ethnic diversity, that accepts art and the use of color as being open to various interpretations, that color is certainly relative and greatly subjective, that many statements about color are only opinions...and that there is no absolute truth as to what color is "right" or "wrong". Unless the reader is studious and very serious about trying to unearth the information contained in this book, he or she is much better served by studing Albers or others. Too bad there is no editing, no index, and no glossary. What would Itten think of the book, "Chromophobia"? ... Pablo Tellez

so you decided to learn the truth about colors...
Itten, himself is one of the greatest color theorist of our century, and the masterful mind behind the Bauhaus School.
Color from a master
Although witten for artists who mix colors for an effect, this small book has a wealth of information for fiber artists and quilters.How do translucent colors interact with other colors?Illusions in color? Which colors can be used in conjunction with other shades and tints? It is all here in this book.Many illustration,color plates,and well written text.
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Color Theory    4. Art / Color    5. Painting & paintings   

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Landscape    4. Landscape Painting    5. Oil Painting    6. Plein air painting    7. Subjects & Themes - Landscapes    8. Technique    9. Techniques - Oil Painting    10. Techniques - Painting - Specific Subjects    11. Art techniques & principles    12. Nature in art, still life, landscapes & seascapes    13. Oils   

Subjects:  1. Still-life painting    2. Technique    3. Trompe l'oeil painting   

Reviews (3)

Fascinating read for any art lover!
This book is a tremendous read.And you don't need to be an art historian or student to appreciate the information. Easy to understand, you will never look at those "boring old masters" the same way again.

Thought-provoking book on European Art Masterpieces
If you have never been particularly interested in art but want to start learning about the great European artists between the 14th century and the early 19th century, this is a great book to start with.And I am sure it has a lot to offer to advanced students of Art too.
An amazing European art history course
This book is worth every cent, just for the 1,000 glossy photos of major European "Old Master" works!!
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Subjects:  1. Appreciation    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Painting    5. Painting, European    6. Reference    7. Symbolism in art    8. Techniques - Painting    9. Themes, motives    10. Art / Reference   

Editorial Review

First published in France in 1994, Read more

Reviews (1)

An excellent work on Chardin
As an admirer of Chardin I was realy glad to buy this book. Actually this is not a book, this is a treasure. It is an exhaustive work on Master Chardin not only on his still lifes but his work as a whole. The quality ofthe presentation in one of the best I have ever seen in art books!Read more

Subjects:  1. 1699-1779    2. 18th Century Art    3. Art    4. Art & Art Instruction    5. Biography    6. Chardin, Jean Baptiste Simeon    7. Chardin, Jean Baptiste Simâeon,    8. France    9. General    10. Individual Artist    11. Painters    12. Art / Individual Artist    13. Chardin, Jean Baptiste Siméon   

Subjects:  1. Essays    2. Individual Photographer    3. Nature    4. Photo Techniques    5. Photography    6. Subjects & Themes - Plants & Animals    7. Individual photographers    8. Nature in art, still life, landscapes & seascapes    9. Photographs: collections   

Reviews (16)

Excellent
If you are an artist, have an interest in art or even just like to read thought provoking quotes then you could do a lot worse than have this on your shelf. The book is collection of conversations, thoughts, writings. There isn't much of a structure to it - more a random collection although the index helps somewhat. It lends itself to just opening the book at a random page and reading whats there. It contains one salient point after the other on the how's, whys and wherefores of painting, drawing and sculpture. This book should be on every artists shelf.

"Art," before commercialism took over.
Finally a review of art, for the sake of art, without becoming cluttered by commercial concerns.Paint color, composition, line...The book is written as a painting with no particular beginning, middle, or end.It needs to be absorbed as a whole to fully appreciate its contents.The pedantic English can tire but it does not subtract from the freshness of the message and the pleasure it provides to every student of art.

an eternal favorite
"There are moments in our lives, there are moments in a day, when we seem to see beyond the usual.Such are the moments of our greatest happiness.Such are the moments of our greatest wisdom. If one could but recall his vision by some sort of sign.It was in this hope that the arts were invented.Sign-posts on the way to what may be.Sign-posts toward greater knowledge." Robert Henri
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Subjects:  1. Addresses and essays    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Criticism    5. Fine Arts (General)    6. Techniques - General    7. Painting & paintings    8. Theory of art   

Reviews (18)

A Must.
Yes this is a must for landscape artists.I have been a professional artist and art teacher for years.I have used this book and have recommended it for my students.

Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting
Book arrived within a few days of order in excellent condition.

A very important resource for the Beginner
My Artist teacher asked that we read this book. It is a very helpful tool for those hours that you spend alone trying to analyze and fix problems in your paintings. This book provides those lessons and advice. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Landscape painting    4. Technique    5. Techniques - General    6. Techniques - Oil Painting    7. Techniques - Painting    8. Art / Techniques    9. Art techniques & principles    10. Painting & paintings   

Reviews (2)

I agree with "A reader": This book is sublime.
This should be considered indispensable to anyone interested in this artist, Romanticism, or landscape painting in general. As well as offering a carefully considered account of the artist's life and work, the text is careful to separate the myths that have grown around some of these paintings, carefully placing the artist within the context of his own time andcovering the manner in which these images have been misappropriated up to the present day.
Sublime
Werner Hofmann's new monograph on Caspar David Friedrich benefits from superb colour reproductions as well as Hofmann's own discursive brilliance.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1774-1840    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Criticism and interpretation    5. European    6. Friedrich, Caspar David,    7. Germany    8. History - Romantic    9. Individual Artist    10. Individual Painters - 19th Century    11. Landscape in art    12. Romanticism in art    13. Art / General    14. Individual artists    15. Painting & paintings    16. Romanticism   

Reviews (1)

Quite simply, brilliant...
The life of the scheming fraudster is by its very nature more interesting than that of the natural genius. Everyone loves an underdog, and Han van Meegeren was that most unusual of underdogs: a winner.
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Art forgers    4. Artists, Architects, Photographers    5. Biography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Criminals & Outlaws    8. History - General    9. Netherlands    10. Painters    11. Art / History / General   

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Drawing    4. Painting    5. Technique    6. Techniques - Drawing    7. Techniques - Painting   

Reviews (1)

Artist and Dog
This book presents a charming side of Picasso, demonstrating his affection for a sweet dachshund named Lump. The photos show Picasso's universal, gullible side in allowing himself to be wonderfully manipulated by a dog ! The images of them together are unforgettable. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1881-1973    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Dachshunds    5. Dogs - General    6. European    7. History - Modern (Late 19th Century to 1945)    8. Individual Artist    9. Modern Art    10. Pets    11. Picasso, Pablo,    12. Pictorial works    13. Art / General   

Reviews (49)

Of course it's brilliant, and it's b.s., which is why it's brilliant...
Seriously, at a certain point when I was around 18 or 19, this was my Bible, or my Little Red Book - I and a handful of friends (Warhol died at about the same time) took every syllable here very, very seriously.
At worst, amusing and entertaining.At best, brilliant.
When viewing a piece of famous art, a person might ask themselves, "what exactly was the artist thinking?" or they might wonder what the artist was like to be able to produce the work that they do.In the case of Andy Warhol, the biggest art star of the last 100 years, these questions are answered in his autobiographical work, "The Philosophy of Andy Warhol : (From A to B and Back Again)".
Warhol....WHO?????
This is an excellent book to read if you want to take a look into the life and mind of the man himself, Andy Warhol. It is an entertaining book that will get you through the boring days at home or the long bus rides, yet it is not a repeat reader.The clever relevancy of the stories directly relating to the chapter titles makes you want to read further to see what exactly he is talking about. The book contains some material that seems completely irrelevant and dim-witted, making me wonder why I am reading it. Warhol has his moments though, creating a few laughs here and there, but nothing that would make the book justifiably great.
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Subjects:  1. 1928-    2. 1928-1987    3. Artists, Architects, Photographers    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Individual Artist    7. Warhol, Andy    8. Warhol, Andy,    9. Art styles: c 1960 -    10. Biography & Autobiography / Artists, Architects, Photographers    11. Individual artists   

Reviews (2)

I would give this glorious book 10 stars if I could....
This book is simply magnificent.But first, a word about the price. The British publisher, Thames and Hudson, prices this book at 45 pounds.At this time, 1 pound = $1.8 US.I encourage you to compute the currency exchange and then shop . . . .
Intelligent extraordinary and revealing.
Extremely well written account of the ongoing excavation of Chauvet Cave. The detail in the authors descriptions of the many artifacts found and the maticulous fragility used in processing, dating, and cataloging. This book goes way beyond cave art. From the animals and humans that had contact with the cave to the environment, geology, and paleo-botony. These are some of the oldest art ever dated and while reading their accounts the reader is transported back into time witnessing specific events that occured more than 32,000 years ago during the IceAge.
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. France    3. History of art: pre-history    4. Painting & paintings   

Reviews (21)

Just like his workshops--and with one cautionary bit of advice.
This book is just like Kevin's workshops.I took one with him years ago--when I should have bought his paintings--and he helped me immeasurably.One of the quickest ways you can learn to paint outdoors is to buy this book (while you still can) and then take a MacPherson workshop somewhere.
Great Stuff For the Plein Air Artist!
This book is chalk full of information anyone wanting to do or improve their Plein Air painting, and thus, studio painting as well.
A book with focus
For a painter with modest experience, or a starter who wants a direction, this book can help coalesce a wide variety of landcaspe percetions and techniques. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Techniques - General    4. Techniques - Oil Painting    5. Techniques - Painting    6. Art techniques & materials    7. Oils   

Reviews (2)

The Spiritual in Art - an absolute winner!
I have owned this book for over twenty years and I never get tired of pouring over it again. It is an absolute treasure trove of information and is packed full of glorious illustrations- it's the one book I refuse to loan out. As an artist, this is the most important book in my collection.

the spiritual in art: abstract painting 1890 - 1985
There is a fantastic quality to the compliation of works in the Spiritual in Art, that indicates a profound understanding of the mystical forces of inspiration involved with the process of artistic endeavor.The book chronicles the exhibition of the same name organized by Maurice Truchmanand Judi Freeman at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.Many of themajor artists of the 20th century are represented; Mondrian, Duchamps andKandinsky to name a few.The ideosyncratic spin to the show lies in theexamination of their work from a philospophical and spiritual standpointthat involves a more involved examination than is often given with thepopular criticism styles of art history - ie; socio-political andaesthetic.With the aid of this book, the reader gleans a more profoundunderstanding of the motivational forces at work in these artists whosecreations transport viewers to new worlds and dimensions with only aglance. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. History - General    4. Reference    5. Abstractionism    6. Painting & paintings