From time to time artists write and tell us of the books they are reading. This is a cumulative listing of those books. Some, like The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron are favourites and are mentioned again and again. Others are less well known or in a state of becoming popular. If you wish to add to this list please do so by submitting your titles to sara@saraphina.com.
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Let Us Now Praise Famous Men: The American Classic, in Words and Photographs, of Three Tenant Families in the Deep South
By Agee, James and Evans, Walker In the summer of 1936, James Agee and Walker Evans set out on assignment for Fortune magazine to explore the daily lives of sharecroppers in the South. Their journey would prove an extraordinary collaboration and a watershed literary event when, in 1941, Let Us Now Praise Famous Men was first published to enormous critical acclaim. This unsparing record of place, of the people who shaped the land and the rhythm of their lives, is intensely moving and unrelentingly honest, and today—recognized by the New York Public Library as one of the most influential books of the twentieth century—it stands as a poetic tract of its time. With an elegant new design as well as a sixty-four-page photographic prologue featuring archival reproductions of Evans’s classic images, this historic edition offers readers a window into a remarkable slice of American history.
“The writing is beautiful, the story it tells of poor, sharecropping, depression-era families. It is heartbreaking, and the experience of reading about it all is like a baptism by fire. This book just might re-wire your brain.” — reviewed by Mike Smith.
“Outstanding depression photography now reissued.” — reviewed by DW. Buy Here |
Capturing the Light in Pastel (Paint Pastel)
By Aggett, Lionel Paint pastel landscapes bathed in pale, glowing light and rich, warm colors with the aid of practical instruction from and inspirational finished works by one of the masters of the medium. Learn to capture nature’s transient light conditions in order to anchor your work in time and space. Renowned artist Lionel Aggett offers easy-to-follow guidelines for working with pastels, choosing materials, and selecting a subject. He then explains how to approach the challenge of translating the unique effects of both natural and artificial light on paper. Develop your own approach to light, dealing with such variables as weather, geography, time of day, and season. Numerous step-by-step examples and stunning finished paintings will help you achieve a more perceptive and personal response to light conditions, as you develop your practical ability to render your inspiration on paper.
“He explains his methods very clearly and his demonstrations are broken down in sections so it makes it easy to follow.” — reviewed by Arthur.
View more books by Lionel Aggett. Buy Here |
Landscape Painting: Essential Concepts and Techniques for Plein Air and Studio Practice
By Albala, Mitchell Because nature is so expansive and complex, so varied in its range of light, landscape painters often have to look further and more deeply to find form and structure, value patterns, and an organized arrangement of shapes. In Landscape Painting, Mitchell Albala shares his concepts and practices for translating nature’s grandeur, complexity, and color dynamics into convincing representations of space and light.
“The book has a lot to say to anyone trying to move away from strict representation and toward looser, more open painting. It includes a great chapter on abstracting nature which has been particularly useful to me. And Albala’s several sections on color are also insightful, clearly presented and valuable” — reviewed by Blue, Wa. Buy Here |
Interaction of Color: Revised and Expanded Edition
By Albers, Josef Josef Albers’s Interaction of Color is a masterwork in twentieth-century art education. Conceived as a handbook and teaching aid for artists, instructors, and students, this timeless book presents Albers’s unique ideas of color experimentation in a way that is valuable to specialists as well as to a larger audience.
“The basic source for all understanding of color and color theory.” — reviewed by Dick Nelson.
View more books by Josef Albers. Buy Here |
You Own the Power: Stories And Exercises To Inspire And Unleash The Force Within
By Altea, Rosemary As spiritual beings having a human experience, each of us comes into this world endowed with breathtaking gifts. We may have the power of intuition…the power to sense the invisible world around us…the power to create healing energy. All that we need is a wise teacher to turn the handle, so we can open the door to what lies within us.
“Provides specific, actionable steps to take to tune in to one’s own power” — reviewed by Amanda C.
View more books by Rosemary Altea. Buy Here |
Color Therapy: Healing With Color
By Amber, Reuben B. Colour is a vibration that is constantly affecting us in our daily lives. This book enumerates the myriad ways we can choose to consciously use colour to influence our body, mind and soul to promote balanced health and well-being.
“We use this text to teach a course on color therapy and how these vibrations affect the mind, body and spirit. I’ve never seen a more comprehensive book yet on the material and am hoping this will never go out of print!! We need it…” — reviewed by Kristen C. Lauter. Buy Here |
Interpreting the Figure in Watercolor
By Andrews, Don Qualities of colour, value and shape rather than a laborious anatomical approach are highlighted in this course in watercolour painting. In explaining how to capture the essence of the human figure the author provides information on materials and discusses such techniques as gesture drawing and painting, light and shadow definition of the figure and linking darks and lights for unity, painting backgrounds, edge quality, working with a model and from photographs. The author teaches figure painting in watercolour and conducts workshops throughout the USA and Canada and has received numerous awards for his paintings.
“Don Andrews does a marvelous job explaining light and dark balancing act in the creation of a worthy painting. Design, color and technical understanding are carefully detailed in his instructions to painting the figure.” — reviewed by Kathy Bush.
View more books by Don Andrews. Buy Here |
The Big Book of Drawing and Painting the Figure
By Angrill, Muntsa Calbo I The latest addition to the popular Big Book series, this volume will inspire every artist, working in every medium, who wants to include human figures in his or her artwork. Over 500 full-color illustrations.
“This is my favorite book on painting the figure. The book demonstrates many approaches to the figure and each technique is demonstrated by a different artist…very well illustrated with color photos of the examples in process. For the student and the master the book offers many angles and approaches in every medium.” — reviewed by Kevin Goodman. Buy Here |
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Watercolor
By Appellof, Marian Imagine an art school where more than 15 popular watercolorists teach, and you’ve imaginedEverything You Ever Wanted to Know About Watercolor, a full-to-the-brim 400-page anthology of Watson-Guptill’s finest watercolor instruction from recent best-selling authors. This treasure trove reviews the tools and materials of watercolor, then proceeds with the color palette, color mixing, and applied color theory. The full range of painting techniques is presented—the fundamentals of brushwork, laying in a simple wash, working wet-in-wet, drybrushing, masking, pouring, scratching, glazing, and more—as well as techniques for achieving various textures like tree bark and grass.
“It’s got everything from selecting material and preparing paper, theory and practice of color (selecting, mixing, schemes), basic painting techniques, collaging and less traditional techniques, artistic principles (value, composition), perspective, and painting of textures, landscapes, figures, flowers, and special effects.” — reviewed by Arthur. Buy Here |
Classical Painting Atelier: A Contemporary Guide to Traditional Studio Practice
By Aristides, Juliette Want to paint more like Manet and less like Jackson Pollock?
Students of art hailed Classical Drawing Atelier, Juliette Aristides’s first book, as a dynamic return to the atelier educational model. Ateliers, popular in the nineteenth century, teach emerging artists by pairing them with a master artist over a period of years. The educational process begins as students copy masterworks, then gradually progress to painting as their skills develop. The many artists at every level who learned from Classical Drawing Atelier have been clamoring for more of this sophisticated approach to teaching and learning. In Classical Painting Atelier, Aristides, a leader in the atelier movement, takes students step-by-step through the finest works of Old Masters and today’s most respected realist artists to reveal the principles of creating full-color realist still lifes, portraits, and figure paintings. Rich in tradition, yet practical for today’s artists, Classical Painting Atelier is ideal for serious art students seeking a timeless visual education.
“There is no shortage of information out there about painting…the problem is it’s not distilled – what this book gives you is the distilled wisdom of the author – an accomplished painter who runs a respected atelier.” — reviewed by Richard.
View more books by Juliette Aristides. Buy Here |
The Watercolor Landscape Techniques of 23 International Artists
By Artists, International Watercolor Landscape Techniques combines the most popular medium with the most popular subject matter. All the artists have generously shared their individual techniques and visions, along with the crucial turning points in their artistic lives. Featured artists include: Tom Nicholas, Vivienne Ripley, Joseph Zbukvic, Alvaro Castagnet, Robert Lovett, Greg Allen and Lionel Aggett.
The book combines practical, step-by-step instruction and illustrations with beautiful gallery paintings. But most important, it captures the essence of 23 diverse, accomplished artists whom readers can learn from and internalize–instant inspiration for any watercolor artist! Contributors hail from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Norway and Austria.
“Landscape painting is a tremendous challenge to begin with, and watercolor can be both an excellent and incredibly difficult medium to attempt in landscape. This book shows how 23 artists with very different styles and methods tackle the subject.” — reviewed by Nicole N. Pellegrini.
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Sir Lawrence Alma – Tadema
By Ash, Russell The paintings of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema reveal much about 19th-century values. His languid women posed against white marble in dazzling sunlight, his forays into sentimentality, escapism and hedonism were adored by the Victorian public. He acquired fame, honour and wealth, only to have his pre-eminence undermined by the changing tastes of a subsequent generation. This book features his work from private and public collections, in large-format colour plates.
“Wonderfully skilled and beautifully reproduced paintings by a currently unpopular master.” — reviewed by Lance Woodley.
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The Nine Modern Day Muses (and a Bodyguard)
By Badonsky, Jill The Nine Modern Day Muses (and a Bodyguard) are actually 10 powerful creativity principles in the guise of wise and playful Muses. This is the third edition of this popular book that was published in 2003 and is now updated expanded with new sections. These modern day Muses provide empowering, playful but practical tools and concepts, quotes and a dazzling experience of returning to, deepening or discovering ones creativity. The Muses are designed to bust through every block that stands in the way of a mortals’ creative fulfillment in all aspects of their lives from business to parenting and from art to writing. Move through procrastination, overwhelm, perfectionism, self-sabotage, lack of focus to the joy of the creative process and its validation of our soul and spirit.
“This book helped me to lighten up and allow my creativity to flow, rather than trying to force it out of of myself. I loved Arnold, the bodyguard. He reminded me that my tender, young ideas do need protection. I recommend this book to others who create professionally as well as those who are exploring creativity as a way of self expression.” — reviewed by Kay Porterfield.
View more books by Jill Badonsky. Buy Here |
Creative Paint Workshop for Mixed-Media Artists: Experimental Techniques for Composition, Layering, Texture, Imagery, and Encaustic
By Baldwin, Ann A workshop-style book, oriented to the wide community of crafters and artists including those interested in paint, surface design, mixed media, and collage, which explores a wide variety of innovative and experimental paint techniques. Chapters cover composition, abstraction, texture, layering, using found objects, encaustic, integrating text, and adding digital imagery.
“Ann is a most impressive artist and communicator. After one day in a workshop with her, I left with skills and excitement I never expected to have. Now it’s simply amazing what she has worked into the 144 pages of this fabulous book…a wide range of beginner to more advanced techniques…all approachable with dramatic effect.” — reviewed by Laurie Mullikin.
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Complete Guide to Life Drawing
By Bammes, Gottfried This highly informative book represents the distillation of many years spent studying and teaching the human form by the author, Gottfried Bammes.
“I thought this was going to be another student show-off book but this one is the real deal! Aside from some well made reference drawings it has exercises to do as well.” — reviewed by Richard.
View more books by Gottfried Bammes. Buy Here |
Richard Diebenkorn: The Ocean Park Series
By Bancroft, Sarah This stunning exhibition catalogue celebrates in-depth for the first time Richard Diebenkorn’s seminal Ocean Park works, serving as a major reference and a source of new scholarship on the series. As he traversed the worlds of abstract expressionism and figurative painting, Diebenkorn became one of America’s most beloved postwar artists. The Ocean Park series, begun in 1967 and comprising works in a variety of media, is arguably the most celebrated of his illustrious career. This book features beautifully reproduced works that radiate with color, allowing readers to appreciate the artist’s evolving palette as well as his brilliant geometric explorations. The paintings, prints, drawings, and collages that make up the series are examined from diverse perspectives in essays that bring to light new influences and conceptual frameworks that reposition the Ocean Park series, as well as the artist’s role in the history of postwar art. The result is a timely re-examination of a major body of work that will excite the numerous fans of this quintessential California artist.
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Thinking Like a Mountain
By Bateman, Robert Thinking Like a Mountain is the result of many years of thinking, talking and writing about the world’s growing environmental crisis. Beautifully designed and illustrated with original drawings, it is a gathering of questions, observations and ideas Robert Bateman has drawn from his own life experiences and gleaned from the writings of some of the visionaries who have influenced him.
“About making sound ecological choices which will affect our children’s children. Lovely writing.” — reviewed by Sylvia Brault.
View more books by Robert Bateman. Buy Here |
Art & Fear: Observations On the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking
By Bayles, David “This is a book about making art. Ordinary art. Ordinary art means something like: all art not made by Mozart. After all, art is rarely made by Mozart-like people; essentially–statistically speaking–there aren’t any people like that. Geniuses get made once-a-century or so, yet good art gets made all the time, so to equate the making of art with the workings of genius removes this intimately human activity to a strangely unreachable and unknowable place. For all practical purposes making art can be examined in great detail without ever getting entangled in the very remote problems of genius.” — from the Introduction.
“This book made me feel as though the authors had crawled inside my brain and purged my thoughts and feelings into written word. It confronts the inhibitions that plunge us into inactivity or stifle our creativity and challenges us to look beyond these destructive forces and continue on the path of art making.” — reviewed by Laurie Friesen. Buy Here |
Crackers and Oranges
By Beecher, Carmen This memoir is a story of life in a small town before computers, cell phones, GPS, and water bottled in plastic. It is a tribute to a different way of life, a slower time, and some incredibly strong people who survived the Great Depression and World War II by sheer determination and hard work.
“Excellent book! The writers hand drawn pictures are great. Gives a great description of rural Florida life in the 1950s.” — reviewed by Kirk Sackett. Buy Here |
Bento’s Sketchbook
By Berger, John Bento’s Sketchbook is an exploration of the practice of drawing, as well as a meditation on how we perceive and seek to explore our ever-changing relationship with the world around us.
“Drawn from Berger’s own experiences, especially those connected with drawing, and the philosophy of Baruch (Bento) Spinoza…well illustrated with Berger’s own drawings (Spinoza’s do not appear to have survived) and is laden with thoughts fully- or half-formed, just waiting to be taken up by the reader. Highly recommended.” — reviewed by Stephen Persing. Buy Here |
ART/WORK: Everything You Need to Know (and Do) As You Pursue Your Art Career
By Bhandari, Heather Darcy The most comprehensive guide of its kind, Art/Work gives artists of every level the tools they need to make it in an art world so competitive one dealer likens it to “The Sopranos, except nobody gets killed.” Whether you’re an art school grad looking for a gallery, a mid-career artist managing a busy studio, or someone just thinking about becoming a professional artist, this indispensable resource will help you build your career and protect yourself along the way.
“Even those who have no interest in the art world may find Art/Work of use. Their instructions on how to pack objects, for example, are so thorough, only the most dexterously challenged will find difficulty executing them. What’s more, should this book reach the majority of working artists today, the quality of gallery staff life would improve by a level of magnitude.” — reviewed by Paddy Johnson, The L Magazine. Buy Here |
Broken Crayons: Break Your Crayons and Draw Outside the Lines
By Black, Robert Alan BROKEN CRAYONS is a book focused on helping the reader expand and enrich their creative thinking skills and train them how to help others do the same. BC is written in a conversational tone, as if the author and reader are discussing each lesson and chapter throughout the book.
“(Once in awhile, a book comes along that redefines those pesky negative self-perceptions from our past… In reading his book I realized I’ve been a crayon breaker all my life… Read this book and maybe you, too, will find that your troublesome behaviors of yesteryear helped pave your route to success. Here’s to more crayon breaking for all of us!” — reviewed by Dave. Buy Here |
Dear James: Letters to a Young Illustrator
By Blechman, R. O. RENOWNED ARTIST R. O. BLECHMAN’S illustrations are instantly recognizable. For more than fifty years, his work has appeared on the covers of The New Yorker, run alongside op-eds in The New York Times, graced the pages of Harper’s Bazaar, and, more recently, been featured on The Huffington Post, providing unspoken commentary on the world at large. In Dear James, Blechman has compiled all the wisdom he has accumulated over the course of his esteemed career into a series of poignant yet instructive letters written to an imagined young illustrator, “James.” The result is a wise and mesmerizing meditation on creativity.
“This intimate book gives one the feeling of a rare chat with an experienced and generous artist, willing to reveal his bag of tricks as well as some favorite quotations gathered over many years. Far beyond a practical guide for emerging illustrators this book is for ANYone who is fascinated by Where Ideas Come From, and the necessary dance that takes place in the artist’s studio.” — reviewed by LKP.
View more books by R. O. Blechman. Buy Here |
A Man’s Journey to Simple Abundance
By Breathnach, Sarah Ban The Authentic Journey Continues — for Women to Understand Men, and for Men to Understand Themselves.
“There are no perfect men, of course, but some are more perfect than others, and we can use all of those we can get.” — reviewed by Merle Shain.
View more books by Sarah Ban Breathnach. Buy Here |
Oil Painting: Traditional and New
By Brooks, Leonard This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world’s literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work. Buy Here |
End-of-Earth People: The Arctic Sahtu Dene
By Brown, Bern Will A history of the “End-of-Earth” Native people of Canada’s far-North Sahtu region.
Bern Will Brown, noted northern author, artist, photographer, and respected community leader living in Colville Lake, Northwest Territories, provides new insights and perspectives on the Sahtu Dene, the people referred to as the “Hareskin” in Alexander Mackenzie’s 1793 journal. Having lived among them for over sixty years and as a speaker of their dialect, Brown is well positioned to provide an adventure in history and culture rooted in the Hareskin traditional way of life.
“Artist, pioneer, filmmaker, journalist, dog-musher, pilot, priest and Robert’s friend Bern Will Brown who passed away at home on July 4, 2014 at the age of 94. He is buried at Colville Lake.” — reviewed by Sara Genn.
View more books by Bern Will Brown. Buy Here |
Artist to Artist: Inspiration & Advice from Artists Past & Present
By Brown, Clint Artists and art lovers will find a wealth of delightful, witty, wise, thought-provoking, and inspiring words from Old Masters like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Titian; Impressionists such as Monet, Degas, Renoir, Matisse, and van Gogh; and modern masters from Pablo Picasso and Henry Moore to Andy Warhol and Robert Rauschenberg…
“A collection of quotations that I’ve been leaning on for the past couple of months.” — reviewed by Robert Genn.
View more books by Clint Brown. Buy Here |
Harley Brown’s Eternal Truths for Every Artist
By Brown, Harley Harley Brown offers artists his “truths” for painting success– the stuff he hopes they teach in art school. A well-established artist, Brown has gained a large following with his frank, no-nonsense approach to teaching art.
“A genius painter… a genius teacher. Each page I open says something I need to know.” — reviewed by Marjorie Cooke.
View more books by Harley Brown. Buy Here |
How I Paint: Secrets of a Sunday Painter
By Buechner, Thomas S. What is the process by which a painting comes into being? What goes on in the artist’s mind? What different techniques are used in creating a still life, landscape, or portrait? In this look at the complex, often mysterious painting process, painter/museum director Thomas S. Buechner combines clear how-to instruction with striking insights to help us look at pictures in a wholly new way.
“He has spent a lifetime studying technique, and has been teaching art since the 1950’s. Buechner is an oil painter.” — reviewed by Bonnie Hamlin.
View more books by Thomas S. Buechner. Buy Here |
Childe Hassam: Impressionist in the West
By Bullock, Margaret E. The renowned American Impressionist Childe Hassam built his reputation on light-filled images depicting the streets of New York and New England’s coastal resorts. He was also known as a consummate traveler who delighted in discovering and painting new scenes and unfamiliar landscapes. In 1904 and 1908, Hassam traveled west, visiting Oregon and the surrounding region. He was captivated by the beauty of the Northwest landscape: its rocky coast, lush valleys, forested mountains, and stark high deserts. During his sojourns in the West, he painted at least 60 images, ranging from portraits and still lifes to landscapes and seascapes in oil, watercolor, and pastel. Childe Hassam: Impressionist in the West explores this significant, but little known, body of work in the context of the artist’s entire oeuvre and larger developments in modern art at the turn of the century. Richly illustrated, it investigates how Hassam’s images of the West mirror a number of his personal and professional concerns; provides insights into technical aspects of his work, which he tended to adapt to the subject and circumstances at hand; and looks at how the West appealed to his desire to create an art that was purely American in both content and style. Childe Hassam: Impressionist in the West offers a lucid and in-depth look at this intriguing interlude in Hassam’s career and the remarkable works that resulted. Buy Here |
The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity
By Cameron, Julia The Artist’s Way is one of the bestselling gift books of all time. Beautifully packaged with a slipcase and ribbon, this tenth anniversary gift edition is the ideal gift for loved ones engaged in creative lives.
“Every artist should own a copy of this book and utilize it religiously! It is the kind of manual that can be used over and over again for continual growth. I highly recommend it and feel it is a vital tool for personal creative expansion.” — reviewed by Amanda C.
View more books by Julia Cameron. Buy Here |
The Art of Urban Sketching: Drawing On Location Around The World
By Campanario, Gabriel The book, Art of Urban Sketching by Gariel Campanario, takes you around the world by showing you the stylings of urban sketchers spanning every continent and into 30 countries. Filled with more than 500 full colored illustrations drawn on location by artists within their own cities, you will hear their stories while learning expert tips and ideas for tools to use for sketching, as well as how to participate through social networking and online activity.
“Your list of Books on Artists Shelves is so dangerous…Wonderful! I really love this book…check out their website, Urban Sketchers.” — reviewed by Kit Miracle. Buy Here |
Carlson’s Guide to Landscape Painting
By Carlson, John F. Through his profound understanding of the physical nature of landscapes and his highly developed artistic sense, John Carlson is able to explain both the whys and the hows of the various aspects of landscape painting. Among the subjects covered are angles and consequent values (an insightful concept necessary for strong overall unity of design), aerial and linear perspective, the painting of trees, the emotional properties of line and mass in composition, light, unity of tone, choice of subject, and memory work.
“This is an essential how-to guide for landscape painters. Carlson addresses the real nuts and bolts of how to paint a landscape and effectively deconstructs all aspects of the painted landscape into digestible principles and points, in B&W but too inexpensive not to have on your studio bookshelf.” — reviewed by Douglas Moench. Buy Here |
How to Stop Worrying and Start Living
By Carnegie, Dale With Dale Carnegie’s timeless advice in hand, more than six million people have learned how to eliminate debilitating fear and worry from their lives and to embrace a worry-free future. In this classic work, How to Stop Worrying and Start Living, Carnegie offers a set of practical formulas that you can put to work today. It is a book packed with lessons that will last a lifetime and make that lifetime happier!
“Revisits platitudes and shows how they are less trite sayings than distilled truths. Turn lemons into lemonade. Count your blessings. Don’t cry over spilled milk. He also talked about putting a “stop-loss order” on resentments, having our thoughts work for instead of against us, and how knowledge isn’t power until it is applied.” — reviewed by Sarah.
View more books by Dale Carnegie. Buy Here |
Beyond Technique: Painting With Passion
By Castagnet, Alvaro Alvaro Castagnet believes that ‘your work is your best teacher’, therefore, the philosophy of this book will enable you to learn a great deal from observing and evaluating your own paintings, and building on your discoveries so that you can improve and develop your own personal style of watercolor painting.
The structure of the book is based on six chapters, each with introductory text discussing the key topic concerned. The chapters include a generous selection of stunning watercolor paintings which cover a wide variety of subjects and include detailed, informative captions, so as to expand on the points discussed in the paragraphs.
Furthermore, this book includes four advantageous, step-by-step lessons, using different reference sources such as photographs, computer, sketches and real life. Ãlvaro shares his demonstrations for appealing landscapes in Australia; boats in Cadaques, where his first DVD, Inspired Watercolor was filmed; ”Circulo Militar” Plaza San Martin, a beautiful building in Buenos Aires; and an interior painting in his own studio.
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Oil Painting Secrets From a Master
By Cateura, Linda Some of the most popular art instruction books ever written have been based on student notes culled over the years from actual workshop sessions, with all their power and immediacy – and with practical, on-to-one contact between student and teacher. This is such a book. For more than two years, Linda Cateura has pursued teacher / artist David A. Leffel, notebook in hand, as he critiqued the work of students. Linda Cateura’s succinct notes capture his insights, philosophy, painting hints, and general comments.
Leffel’s classic, painterly, twentieth-century old master style, much in the manner of Rembrandt or Chardin, affords ample illustration of the ideas expressed – through his many paintings, details, demonstrations, and diagrams, almost all in color.
No matter what your level of ability, there is something here to apply to your own work, ideas that will cause you to rething your own ways of painting, hints to save you effort, or solutions to persistent painting problems. Buy Here |
Girl with a Pearl Earring
By Chevalier, Tracy History and fiction merge seamlessly in this luminous novel about artistic vision and sensual awakening. The story of Griet, whose life is transformed by her brief encounter with a genius as she herself is immortalized in canvas and oil, is new again.
“A fictionalized version of the life of Vermeer.” — reviewed by Nina Stahlberg. Buy Here |
Painting as A Pastime
By Churchill, Winston This little meditation, written during Churchill’s time in the shadows before World War II, is a great find. Includes 18 color plates of Churchill’s watercolors, but it is the 32 pages of personal reflections of the value of the art as a means of relaxing from a stressful life that turn this into a small masterpiece in the area of self-help. Both painters and Churchill buffs will enjoy it.
“Winston Churchill recommends painting for health reasons. Particularly mental health reasons.” — reviewed by Robert Genn.
“Those who have not read Churchill may not have realized that his masterful command of the English language makes his works very easy to read; this work shows him making thoughtful points so effortlessly that you don’t realize how much practical wisdom you are swiftly absorbing… he developed a practical method of relaxation that may be helpful to the many of us who are interested only in mastering our own lives.” — reviewed by R. Winn. Buy Here |
A History of American Tonalism, 1880 – 1920
By Cleveland, David Adams The first definitive overview of the Tonalist movement-the crucial but long-misunderstood missing link in the evolution of American art.
“This is the best piece of art history I have read in years. Knowledgeable, detailed, interesting and pleasantly readable. Tonalism finally has a definitive history, a piece of scholarship that more than makes up for all the years of neglect and often intentional disregard given this school and most of its practitioners.” — reviewed by W. Forsberg. Buy Here |
De Kooning: A Retrospective
By Coddington, Jim Willem de Kooning was born in Rotterdam, The Netherlands in 1904, and moved to the United States in 1926. His early figurative painting slowly gained attention, and his black-and-white abstractions of the late 1940s made him a leader among the New York Abstract Expressionists; but the early 1950s Woman paintings made him famous for the violence of their depiction. De Kooning moved to Long Island in 1963, working in both abstract and figurative styles through the 1980s. He died in 1997.
“This book is the catalog for the great, albeit belated, retrospective currently held at Moma, supervised by one of the best museum curators in the US, John Elderfield. The illustrations are numerous and of a very good quality. Practically all the greatest masterpieces are present… and also traces some previously neglected sources that show how much the artist was translating the mood of his time on the canvas.” — reviewed by Reich Claude. Buy Here |
Veronika Decides to Die: A Novel of Redemption
By Coelho, Paulo Twenty-four-year-old Veronika seems to have everything — youth and beauty, boyfriends and a loving family, a fulfilling job. But something is missing in her life. So, one cold November morning, she takes a handful of sleeping pills expecting never to wake up. But she does — at a mental hospital where she is told that she has only days to live.
Inspired by events in Coelho’s own life, Veronika Decides to Die questions the meaning of madness and celebrates individuals who do not fit into patterns society considers to be normal. Bold and illuminating, it is a dazzling portrait of a young woman at the crossroads of despair and liberation, and a poetic, exuberant appreciation of each day as a renewed opportunity.
“Don’t be put off by the title – it isn’t a heavy or painful book! It makes one reflect on the pointlessness of not doing what you really want to do and of not being who you really are. In fact, you’ll go crazy otherwise!” — reviewed by Ginny Brink.
View more books by Paulo Coelho. Buy Here |
A Manual of Oil Painting
By Collier, John “Published in 1886, it’s a small book of 112 pages with nary a picture, but it’s just loaded with attitude, insight and wisdom that’s dangerously close to extinction. Fortunately, it’s been recently republished in paperback.” — reviewed by Robert Genn. Buy Here |
Tony Couch’s Keys to Successful Painting
By Couch, Tony Composition is perhaps the most important subject a painter will ever master. Couch teaches artists how to use the principles of design to create powerful and unforgettable paintings — in all mediums.
“This is the best book on composition and design I have seen. He is a watercolorist, but explains design and composition for any media…It is easy to read, has great illustrations, and, wow, he’s awesome!” — reviewed by Lisa Jackson.
View more books by Tony Couch. Buy Here |
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change
By Covey, Stephen R. In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, author Stephen R. Covey presents a holistic, integrated, principle-centered approach for solving personal and professional problems. With penetrating insights and pointed anecdotes, Covey reveals a step-by-step pathway for living with fairness, integrity, service, and human dignity–principles that give us the security to adapt to change and the wisdom and power to take advantage of the opportunities that change creates.
“Unlike many similar books, this book is written in an approachable, non-egotistical manner, and helps us to remember what matters in our interactions with the world.” — reviewed by Amanda C.
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The Talent Code: Greatness Isn’t Born. It’s Grown. Here’s How.
By Coyle, Daniel What is the secret of talent? How do we unlock it? In this groundbreaking work, journalist and New York Times bestselling author Daniel Coyle provides parents, teachers, coaches, business people—and everyone else—with tools they can use to maximize potential in themselves and others.
“A book on how to grow talent. The author is against the wisdom that talent is natural. The book is around the belief that talent comes from Myelin…the insulation that wraps these nerve fibers and increases signal strength, speed, and accuracy.” — reviewed by Viriya Taecharungroj. Buy Here |
Legal Guide for the Visual Artist
By Crawford, Tad This classic guide for artists is completely revised and updated to provide an in-depth view of the legal issues facing the visual artist today and provides practical legal guidance for any visual artist involved with creative work. Among the many new topics covered in this comprehensive guide are: detailed coverage of the myriad developments in copyright (including online copyright registration procedures and use of art on the Internet); changes in laws protecting artists in artist-gallery relationships are explained in depth; scope of First Amendment protections for graffiti art and the sale of art in public spaces; detailed as well as new cases dealing with art and privacy; and a model contract for Web site design and much more. The book also covers copyrights, moral rights, contracts, licensing, sales, special risks and protections for art and artists, book publishing, video and multimedia works, leases, taxation, estate planning, museums, collecting, grants, and how to find the best professional advisers and attorneys. In addition, the book suggests basic strategies for negotiation, gives information to help with further action, contains many sample legal forms and contracts, and shows how to locate artists’ groups and Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts organizations.
“Great legal tips for the artist about rights, copyright, avoiding disputes, privacy releases, fair use, work for hire, and leases and much more.” — reviewed by Bonnie Neely.
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Talking With Artists
By Cummings, Pat Pat Cummings draws out personal stories and practical advice from thirteen talented and popular artists, including Paul O. Zelinsky, winner of the 1998 Caldecott Medal for “Rapunzel” (Dutton), and Peter Sís, author and illustrator of the Caldecott Honor book “The Starry Messenger” (Farrar Straus). Artists answer questions about how they got their first job, what their studios are like, what they do all day, and where they get their inspiration. Though the artists’ answers are as unique and varied as their work, all of these remarkably talented people share a great passion for communicating with the world through illustration. Childhood snapshots or each artist, examples of first illustration attempts, a section on secret drawing techniques, and even an introduction to some special pets help make the third volume of “Talking with Artists” as humorous, engaging, and inspirational as its award-winning companions and a must-have for aspiring artists.
“Volume 1, 2, and 3 – I have read these over and over, like sitting down with artists and visiting with them. Such a rich experience.” — reviewed by Colleen Kindt.
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Daily Rituals: How Artists Work
By Currey, Mason Franz Kafka is one of 161 inspired–and inspiring–minds, among them, novelists, poets, playwrights, painters, philosophers, scientists, and mathematicians, who describe how they subtly maneuver the many (self-inflicted) obstacles and (self-imposed) daily rituals to get done the work they love to do, whether by waking early or staying up late; whether by self-medicating with doughnuts or bathing, drinking vast quantities of coffee, or taking long daily walks. Thomas Wolfe wrote standing up in the kitchen, the top of the refrigerator as his desk, dreamily fondling his “male configurations”. . . Jean-Paul Sartre chewed on Corydrane tablets (a mix of amphetamine and aspirin), ingesting ten times the recommended dose each day… Descartes liked to linger in bed, his mind wandering in sleep through woods, gardens, and enchanted palaces where he experienced “every pleasure imaginable.”
“This is a meticulously researched work on the work habits of writers, composers, artists and other creative types. He pulls this information from existing sources, biographies, autobiographies and personal journals. If you are looking for this type of detailed information, than this book easily could merit a five star review.” — reviewed by Michael.
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A Light Touch: Successful Painting In Oils
By Curtis, David David Curtis outlines his approach to painting light-filled landscapes. He stresses the need to paint “plein air”, with little or no studio work, and discusses techniques and materials suitable for this approach. Detailed instruction on preparing the materials for painting, and advice on composition and tonal range are all designed to enable the artist to capture the light effect that formed their original inspiration. The book includes examples of Curtis’s work, including five step-by-step demonstrations where the artist puts into practice the advice he has given.
“David Curtis is an incredible artist and this book depicts his skill admirably. The text is very informative and the illustrations are well reproduced. It is especially illuminating to see the step-by-step demonstrations to see how a master creates his work.” — reviewed by Brad Teare.
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Painting with Impact
By Curtis, David and Capon, Robin Whether it’s a landscape, seascape, or city scene, David Curtis’s paintings capture the beauty of natural light. In a unique instructional guide for professional and amateur alike, he divulges all his secrets: selecting the subject and finding the best way to dramatize form; establishing a mood through medium and technique; and using a color palette that best achieves the desired impact. With these elements in mind, he takes the reader through the creation of several paintings (and includes stunning images of the works in progress and finished pieces), explaining the key choices made along the way.
“This book is not really a “how-to” book focusing on technique, but rather his thinking process in choosing to paint plein air or in the studio, and whether to choose oil or watercolor. There are examples of both mediums in this book.” — reviewed by Kathryn C.
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