Artists Books

Gracie's Gallery is an imaginative book that children of all ages will enjoy. It is uniquely different from any book on the market. The story is delightful and I certainly hope that this is just the beginning of a creative series of books for all ages. As a former Reading Specialist I know that it will catch the attention of the most reluctant child.

M. Daugherty

In Gracie's Gallery, Kelly Houle has successfully revived a time-honored and engaging image-changing device that's been with us for hundreds of years, and given it a whole new life in the perfect environment - A book for children.

In this day and age of unfathomable technology that we can barely learn to use, let alone understand, it's so refreshing to see how a simple construction of paper, flexible mirror and clever artwork can reveal the secrets contained in an otherwise abstract image.

Yet, this is what Ms. Houle does, several times over in this single volume, and at the same time wraps it all up in a fun and interactive format that's sure to appeal to any child (or book collector) lucky enough to add Gracie's Gallery to their favorite book shelf.

Can't wait for the next installment!

Having been a preschool teacher for ten plus years, I find this sweet book a perfect representation of the hundreds of drawings I "reviewed" over that time. From cover to cover, the artist/author keeps it simple yet interesting. Also, I believe the art work affirms the efforts and skills of the young artist. My grandchildren are 4, 10, and 10 yrs. of age. They were facinated with "the mirror" and how it showed what Gracie saw reflected from the salt shaker. Overall, the quality and durability of this book is much appreciated. I will be gifting it to several youngsters in my life. Thank you Ms. Houle...you're brilliant!

Wonderful little book for children and parents. So fun to see the pictures appear in the mirror and see the different textures and means used to create art. It is fun to work your imagination and share this with your child.

Gracie's Gallery is AMAZING!!! Ms. Houle is a most talented artist as well as author. This book will inspire all readers (adults and children) to explore art, nature and their own imaginations. We need to see more of her work. It is truly "Magic".

An excellent compilation of rare images by this master illustrator of casual male nudes from the late 20th Century.

This book is a must have for lovers of gay erotic art. The attention to detail in this book is simply amazing. It's completely loaded with well hung guys in different types of artwork- sketching, color prints, etc- the book is HUGE too- It has over 200 pages and the biography on the artist of the book is extremely interesting as well. This book was very well done- You will love it!!

Harry Bush, may have been a sad character in real life, but his male(homo)erotic artwork is exceptional. There is a lot to be learned from his drawing style. As an erotic artist I draw and paint for the adult audience. I needed to learn what male erotica could be, this book is an outstanding example.

As an artist who specializes in the male nude, I found this book to be extremely inspiring and educational. Everytime I look at a Harry Bush drawing I learn more about anatomy, and how better to capture the male figure not only accurately but with panache. This book is a treasure trove of beautiful works from an artist who has not been sufficiently recognized for his contributions to the genre. I'm very grateful to the people responsible for making it happen!

I saw this book at a small bookstore and I bought it without hesitation. I didn't have to look inside, because I knew it didn't matter. It would be great no matter what. After seeing snippets of Mr. Bush's work online and in magazines, a monograph of his work has been on my mental wish list for years. As a child growing up reading comics, interested in art, and gay, I've always been taken with the precision and perfection exhibited in Harry's drawings. His art is somewhat hard to describe. The care and time put in to each drawing suggests painstaking realism, which causes the viewer to overlook some of the blatant exaggerations in the subjects' superhung endowment. Compared to Tom of Finland's work, which is too cartoony for my taste, Harry portrays a realistically exaggerated world of beautiful characters in the throes of budding manhood. The drawings are both erotic and fun, in addition to interesting to study as art. The almost all pencil-drawn pieces are crystal clear, with great care given to line weight and shading. The reproductions of the original pieces are very well done in the book, capturing little nuances like the texture of the paper they were drawn on, and notes Harry wrote to himself while drawing them.

I could write for days about this book, but in short I'd like to thank the authors for releasing it. Based on the story of Harry's life and attitude, it seems it is nearly a miracle that the drawings still exist for the world to enjoy.

As a college student in my early 20's, I never experienced gay culture before Stonewall; before AIDS. The art in this book portrays a care-free fun attitude throughout the '60's and '70's that I wish still existed. Even if it never really existed that way, Mr. Bush did a good job of making the fantasy as real as it could be.

A dear friend and breast cancer survivor sent me this book. Although I have several female friends who have been victimized by this scourge, I was unprepared for the revelations in the book and the undeniable positive effects of writing together. The insights and shared experiences are as valuable to men (fathers, sons, husbands and friends) as they are to women. Reading it certainly rearranged my own life priorities. Unequivocally recommended. Brian Oliver (...)

I have taught writing for healing for 13 years with a variety of groups (chronic illness and pain, breast cancer,etc.) and Sharon's book explains the basics of writing as a healing tool, gives suggestions for forming a group and includes writing exercises that can be used alone or with others. There is also examples of writing from women in the groups Sharon leads. This is more than a "how to" book, Sharon's story and voice make the book an enjoyable read! I highly recommend A Healing Journey.

Read this book; it is moving, insightful and useful. One minute I spot a great idea or concept about writing techniques that I can use in my teaching of psychology. The next minute, my eyes are flooded with tears (hey! I'm a guy and I teach coaching and business psychology) after reading poetry that has been written on the fly in groups. For example, there's a doctor who has been too busy to get her own mammograms. She tells the group she's a scientist and can't write. Then her group is asked to imagine and write about someone's hands-so she writes a quick poem of a recent memory of watching her son play his bass at a concert and noticing he has outgrown his suit. Oh--and will he be OK when he goes away to Harvard this September because she knows she will die before Christmas? Gulp. You won't forget that. Most of this book describes the process a writing group leader can use to draw extraordinary writing and emotion out of ordinary people--but be careful. The powerful examples of writing by these ordinary people will floor you. Is it the threat of disfigurement and death that does it, or the writing group? You decide; it's worth a read, and another read. Don't try to quickly skim this book for 3 or 4 usable insights and ideas and then pass it on to your daughter as if it were new (I'm not worried--she never reads these reviews because she gets all her books from me). This is a keeper-so get your own copy Claire.

Sharon Bray has written a powerful and tender book about healing through writing and sharing life stories. Bray intimately shares her own story along with members of the breast cancer writing group she founded and leads. I am profoundly touched by the courage, love and faith these women find through the healing power of writing and reading aloud together. With her extensive background in psychology and education, Bray makes a clear distinction between writing as healing as in the Amherst Writers & Artists method she draws on, and writing as therapy. She explains the basics of leading a writing group and includes the Amherst Writers & Artists' twelve basic principles for a healthy workshop. This book is a valuable tool for anyone looking for insight and inspiration for workshop facilitation. It is also a book that not only abounds with the human spirit; it leaps off the page and enters your heart. It is a gift. Thank you, Sharon Bray and the Scribbling Women of CBHP for your compassion, wisdom and eloquence.

Beautifully written and extremely well organized, A Healing Journey is a must have for anyone working with therapeutic writing groups. The author is herself a breast cancer survivor and a senior partner of Amherst Writers and Artists, thus lending a unique and credible perspective to the topic. The book chronicles Bray's experience as a writing group leader and includes short essays and poetry from group participants. It is packed with moving accounts and practical guidance to assist others in starting or improving their own writing groups. Chapters include such titles as When Writing is Healing, Writing Together, and Writing in Sanctuary.

This book was produced as he was shown at the Royal Academy in London. I begged the poster at the tourist-board in Stockholm and got my parents to buy the hardcover version at the exhibition. Collecting Hiroshige prints in Stockholm I would have loved to see them in London, but the book is the second best thing. The reproductions are terrific, the text short but informative. All the different subjects of Hiroshige are displayed, landscapes, fan motives, fish, flowers and so on. Get it and then get some real prints!

I recieved this not knowing its large format and the images in full color on quality paper. Informative and accurate descriptions of the work. You will not regret buying this book. Makes me sigh....

I have no experience with art at all, but from my point of view this book is a jewl. Printings are so beautiful and relaxing, and they are numerous in this book. Also the book is well organized with explanations about the paintings.

The text provides the necessary background to facilitate understanding of the fantastic pictures. A great variety of photos provide wonderful insight into the world of Hiroshige. The pictures can be perused for pure enjoyment. Terrific book.

Quick, stop reading this review and buy this Hardcover book in New or Like New condition now, while you can. For, this is one of the greastest modern so-called 'coffee table' art books that I have come across. Too often these days one finds that such art books which should be large, lushly produced, lovingly put together and brilliantly written are unfortunately done with punk production values resulting in poor reproductions on cheap looking paper stock and accompanied by unedifying, often stultifying essays. Not this one. As I said above it is one of the most impressive art books that I have come across in twenty years of buying them. It is printed and bound in Germany which in itself is commendable and noteworthy because it is quite expensive to produce a book there. I am so glad they did because, as good as they are, Italy and Hong Kong, two places commonly used for producing today's art books, just don't do as good a job as Prestel has done in Germany. This book was originally produced to accompany an exhibition at the Royal Academy of the Arts during 1997. As such, it commanded a skilled and erudite staff of authors to craft both an accurate history and an illuminating commentary of the artist and his art. They are: Matthi Forrer, author of a similar book on Hokusai; Suzuki Juzo, the author of the standard monograph on Hiroshige; and Henry Smith a Professor of Japanese History at Columbia U. You will come back to this book many times over the years because there is so darned much information to absorb, visually and intellectually and because the publisher's top notch production values have accurately captured the spirit and beauty of Hiroshige's Woodblock Prints. This is the sort of book that will be actively sought out by art book collectors in years to come. This is why I say, buy it now, while you can at such a low price. You won't be sorry.

"OVER 400 HIRSCHFELD DRAWINGS AND PHOTOGRAPHS MANY NEVER BEFORE COLLECTED
Essays by Whoopi Goldberg, Arthur Miller, Mel Gussow, Kurt Vonnegut, Grace Mirabella, Louise Kerz Hirschfeld, and Nina!

Commentary by Hirschfeld Throughout.
[from the book of the back cover of the jacket]

What a joy of a book. Not just the great grafics but very interestng information about the Great Hirschfeld

I really enjoyed looking through this book. I am absolutely in love with theater and I love seeing how he depicts all of my favorite shows and actors. He's been through the "Golden Age" of theater and has also done so much work for modern entertainment. I also have tons of fun looking for all the hidden "Nina"s. Just in case you might not know what I'm talking about, let me explain. After his daughter was born, Hirschfield began hiding her name in his drawings. The number by his "signiture" indicates the number of "Nina"s in the drawing. "Nina" is also written all in caps. Because of this, this book is not going to be just some ordinary coffee table book that only his fans might check out. It could also be a great deal of amusement for those who like to play the kind of "Where's Waldo" games.

Al Hirschfeld rose above titles like "cartoonist" and "illustrator", and every other tag specifically applied to visual artists who inject design and humor into their work. His intelligent blend of the caricaturist's eye and the designer's sense of the beauty in flat forms add up to an entirely unique contribution to twentieth century popular culture- and a highly influential one. His recent passing at age 99 marks the end of the century that he witnessed and commented upon so wittily and so stylishly. His legions of admirers (and imitators) will be well served by this 1999 book, assembled by the artist himself, with an excellent selection from his career, his invaluable commentary, and a fairly satisying selection of his amazing (and less celebrated) color work. The reproductions are fine here, and the volume is designed and presented well. It can only be hoped that more comprehensive releases and reissues of earlier books are in the near future.

Here is the indispensible Hirschfeld book - a must for any fan of his work, or of line in general. From his earliest pieces, all the way through his long career with New York theatre, his work is showcased - and done so through his eyes. Each piece is described by this great artist - his inspirations, methods, and thoughts. I cannot imagine a better way to present his wonderful drawings, and I am so very, very thankful that this collection was printed before his death. Although, yes, the work would show just as beautifully without, his commentary alongside each piece just opens up an entirely new viewpoint. This is a truly timeless book, and I highly recommend it.

"Holly Bloom felt as grouchy as the thorns on a rosebush.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't make her flowers grow."

Holly wants to create her own garden but doesn't know all the secrets of gardening. Her mother, Iris, has a green thumb and her father gives her creative advice. Everyone in the family seems to be participating in the gardening activities. The pictures are filled with bright colors and comforting gardening situations. Her father paints pictures of the flowers while family members cut roses or plant new flowers.

"What I really need, thought Holly, is a green thumb."

So, Holly puts green paint on her thumb. This book has a real sense of humor. Well, when that doesn't work, Holly tries using fertilizer and then a variety of tools. Finally she soaks the flowers with too much water. (Why does this sound like my gardening at times?)

Finally, Holly goes to bed and when everyone thinks she is asleep, she sneaks into her dad's art studio and makes all sorts of paper flowers that fill up the entire room.

Children will enjoy the surprise of Holly finding a way to "grow" her own flowers. The art by Lori Mitchell is healing and calming. She uses just the right colors to set a mood for each page. The illustrations were created using black Prismacolor pencil and acrylic paint on Arches hotpress watercolor paper. The result is vibrant art with a realistic feel.

~The Rebecca Review

This is a beautiful book for children of all ages. I have three nieces ranging in age from 4 to 13 and each enjoyed it at a different level. Wonderful illustrations support a fun and inspiring story. I highly recommend this book!

This is a wonderful story about finding ways to be q part of something even though you don't "appear" to have the talent. Holly finds a wonderful way to express her ability to "grow" flowers. The drawings in this book are absolutely beautiful and the attention to detail is amazing. Anyone who loves flowers or gardening, both young and old, will love this book! A great gift.

What a wonderful story about finding your own personnel way to express yourself when you can't do what everyone else can. A great story for children and adults to remind us to look at things from a different perspective. The book is filled with beautiful, colorful and detailed drawings. Gorgeous drawings of every kind of flower. Makes me want a garden like that. Great book for young and old flower lovers, gardeners and the gardening challenged!!!

I've shared this book a dozen times with my 6-year-old son. He gets greatly discouraged when things don't bloom after he's planted seeds, so "Holly Bloom's Garden" gave him the idea of making his own flowers. The book's illustrations are warm and charming and Ashman and Parent tell a good story that should appeal to both boys and girls.

It's really "The Best How To..." book, because it's not a "The Best How To..." book. Nice to see the "human side" of Design Gurus like Glaser, Bierut, Scher or Vignelli among many others.

This book was informative, insightful and a quick read. A must have for both students and designers alike!

Insights into how world-famous graphic designers come up with winning designs make for an outstanding collection of lively interviews revealing best thought and practice in the world of design. Over twenty designers reveal their designs, outlining how a love of design developed, influenced their lives, and how it translated into a passion for producing better graphic design results. Any library covering graphic design simply must have this, whether it be at the college arts level or the general-interest lending library.

This book is a must read if only to get a glimpse on how real these great graphic designers are. I enjoyed reading milton glaser's not because he's a favorite but because I found his insights humble and encouraging for the not so great graphic designer like myself. I was also bowled over to find a designer from my country and from my college included here, Lucille Tenazas! Great book!

I can't believe only 6 people rated this book. This is such a great book and I had so much fun reading it. I lent it to my program coordinator and it became one of our program's textbooks(graphic design). I totally recommend this to any one interested in design, art or in general, LIFE!
worth EVERY SINGLE PENNY!

I had been introduced to this book years ago by one of my peers. I had always remembered it, but never really had a need to buy it. I had decided this year to have my high school art students create altered books, and I knew it was time to get it so they had some visual references of how you can transform book pages. I am so glad I bought the book. You don't need to read it as a book, although you can. Every time I open it, I find a new treasure. It's just amazing what Phillips has created from an old book. It's an inspiration and a great piece of artwork.

I received this book as a gift about 10 years ago and have yet to tire of it. It is beautiful and funny, surreal, creepy and profound.

I own multiple copies and give them away to worthy friends. Visually, artistically, and intellectually stunning, this masterpiece is unique in the world of art/literature. The author/artist Tom Phillips began this work in the 1960s, and first published it in book form in the 1980s. He called the result of his decades of effort The Humument and it is a completely illustrated version of W. H. Mallock's 19th Century novel A Human Document. Each page is a well conceived and compelling work of art. On each page the author leaves only a few of the original words revealed. These surviving phrases tell, in prose and poetry, the pathetic love story of Bill Toge. Symbiotically linked to the art itself, the preserved text, and its tale of Toge, reveal a story Phillips found submerged within the original text, a story which Mallock neither wrote nor intended. Phillips calls his work `mining for meaning'. Everyone who has received this book from me has had great difficulty putting it down until they had read/absorbed/experienced/lived/studied it from cover to cover. If there is such a thing as a priceless book, The Humument would be a good candidate for the category.

Truly an elegant, messy piece of work.
Tom Phillips' Humument is one of the most affecting marriages of image and text that I have viewed/read. Visaully, it is stunning, with its layers of subsumed text and inventive imagery. Moments of profundity bordering on Zen surface intermittently, whilst bawdy puns [...] up beside.
If you're looking for sustained, easily interpreted narrative, then this book simply is not for you. If, on the other hand, you long for a story that is as much in your head/heart, as on the page, I can heartily recommend A Humument.

I love this book. I first learnt of Tom Phillips when he recently did the cover of an album by a band called Dark Star, and then was introduced to his work whilst on work experience last summer. I hunted down a copy of this book, and then devoured it completely. at times moving, at times funny, and all the time completely incredible to just look and marvel at. the art work is great. ingenuitive, original and inspired. this book seems to be getting harder and harder to find... buy one while you can.

This book should be reprinted. It contains a glorious cross section
of childrens literature. From "Little Miss Muffet", "The Story of the
Three Little Pigs", "The Walrus and the Carpenter". Excerpts from
"The Story of Babar", "Raggedy Andy Stories", "Robinson Crusoe" to
"Gulliver's Travels" most with the orginal illustrations.
A book for all from infant to adult. A book for those with a love
of literature or to develope a love of literature in children.

I loved this book as a child. Unfortunately my copy was lost, but a family member who had received the same book gave hers to my son. Reading through the book has brought back many happy memories-- I hadn't looked at the illustrations or read many of the stories in over 20 years, but I still remember them. I look forward to years of reading this book with my son and am thrilled the book is still available so that I can buy it for friends and family.

I have become the keeper of the family copy of this wonderful book. It is filled with some of the greatest fables and stories that you'll want to share with your child. I'm trying to find a new copy for my daughter to keep for the rest of her life. Meanwhile, I'm going to have the one we have rebound. < a native New Englander >

I loved this book so much as a child (of the 1970's) that I had the foresight to save it for my own children. It is one of three books I saved, the other two being "A Child's Garden of Verse" by Robert Louis Stevenson, and D'aulaire's "Greek Myths". These are classic stories that have not been softened and dumbed down or made politically correct like so many modern children's books. They really pack a punch and evoke thought, and the illustrations are gorgeous.

This book was given to my mother by my great aunt when I was 2 1/2 years old (my sisters were 1 and 5). We have fought over it ever since. I have been unable to find it for years (my mother kept the original copy and it is now a favorite of her grandchildren). I was fortunate enough to obtain a copy from a used books dealer in New Hampshire last year. I am ordering two from Amazon.com so that I can surprise my sisters at Christmas (amen!). With everything from Aesop to Wordsworth, and stories, poems and songs from Mother Goose to Rudyard Kipling, there is someting in this book for any child of any age. These are the classic tales of Peter Pan, Winne The Pooh, The Velveteen Rabbit, Heidi and Gulliver, to mention a few. My mother would read aloud from this book every night - "The Goops" on page 65 was a favorie poem and "Over in the Meadow" on page 101 was a favorite song - I know my mother enjoyed reading it equally as much as we girls. The illustrations are wonderful, and most are reproductions from the original books. Finding this book has meant finding a part of my childhood, and I'm sure anyone else who grows up with it will feel the same.

The Inspired Heart and In the Hands of Alchemy:The Art and Life of Jerry Wennstrom

"One of the most magnificent things about Jerry is his profound and courageous innocence. He has created a friendship with a part of himself which is in love with the world, and his art displays that. Jerry is one of the few people I know who, in a very quiet way, has actually claimed his happiness in existence." - David Whyte author- The Heart Aroused and Crossing the Unknown Sea

"In the Hands of Alchemy is a delightful film, an alchemical mixture in itself of inspiration, spirituality, art and the story of a remarkable human being." David Spangler, author of Blessings; Parent as Mystic, Mystic as Parent and Everyday Miracles.

"When Jerry Wennstrom destroyed his art in 1979, he threw himself into the great unknown searching for a more authentic life. Walking the road of radical emptiness, the result was the emergence of a completely genuine voice, gentle, sensitive to the stirrings of the divine in everyday life, and creative beyond reasonable bounds. Wedding compassion and creativity, In the Hands of Alchemy is a rare celebration of life and the joy of spiritual surrender." Chris Bache, author, Dark Night, Early Dawn
Jerry Wennstrom is one of a kind - and his point is that any of us can be that. We can, like him, walk straight into the heart of mystery and emerge more ourselves than we could ever imagine. His tells his story of being called to destroy his art, of struggling to hear any message but that one, of surrendering his will and allowing the soft something beyond will to guide him. It's all a fabulous tale worth hearing again and again like a great myth, and it's a deep, simple instruction for how to find ourselves in the middle of a life that seems real, but is often missing the central character. Jerry's amazing recent artwork, and his extraordinarily beautiful and talented wife Marilyn swirl around this story of a courageous soul, making it even more compelling. Best would be to know Jerry as I am privileged to do, second best is watching this film. -Vicki Robin - Co-author, Your Money or Your Life

"Few of us have emptied our cup as completely as Jerry Wennstrom did when he destroyed his art in 1979, and therefore few have experienced as deep a reawakening to the subtle stirrings of the divine in everyday life. It's hard for me to convey how deeply I respect what Jerry shares with us in his book /,The Inspired Heart, /in his art, and above all in his person. Here is a completely genuine voice of creative spirit." Chris Bache, author of "Dark Night, Early Dawn."

"The Inspired Heart; An Artist's Journey of Transformation" by Jerry Wennstrom is an unexpected gift and complete experience to read. There are many books written about the artist's spiritual/creative/intellectual journey. This book IS the journey! Selene

Autobiographically written by Jerry Wennstrom, The Inspired Heart: An Artist's Journey Of Transformation is the story of an artist's journey in search of truth. In 1979, New York artist Jerry Wennstrom destroyed his own paintings, gave away his money and possessions, and sought to purge his personal identity, and in the process, open himself to wonder. This remarkable artist's memoir is enhanced with black-and-white photographs and a 16-page inset section of full-color plates showcasing a series of magnificent interactive box art. The Inspired Heart is a unique and quite remarkable contribution to 20th Century Art History reading lists.

Artist Jerry Wennstrom shocked the New York art community in 1979 when he destroyed his paintings at the pinnacle of his illustrious career. Guided by an inner passion to connect directly to divine consciousness, Wennstrom gave away his possessions and began a journey based on complete surrender to life experience. THE INSPIRED HEART shares Wennstrom's personal journal of how he lived for years in a state of grace and faith, discovering divine intelligence and inspiration in a wide breadth of experiences. Wennstrom at various times fasted, experienced the sublime joys of sharing special moments with neighborhood children, and faced potential muggers with loving kindness... to receive loving kindness in return. THE INSPIRED HEART shows us how, "Enlightenment is not a grand finale that leaves us blissfully risen, Buddha-like, above the suffering of the world. It is a deep and unconditional surrender to what already exists and total trust in the larger inherent intelligence, which is willing to lead the way."

I love the color pictures of Wennstrom's art in the middle of this book, and the way Wennstrom's autobiographical short stories weave themselves in dreamy fashion through the places and times of his fascinating life. THE INSPIRED HEART shares the raw and simple beauty of one man's pure heart as it shows us how miraculous, magnificent and rich our lives can be when we let go of everything and allow ourselves to be fully present in this moment, now.

-- Cynthia Sue Larson
author of "AURA ADVANTAGE: How the Colors in Your Aura Can Help You Attain What You Desire and Attract Success"