Artists Books

Fantastic! Simply the best Saudek book thus far. I wouldn't miss this one.

I saw Jan Saudek's work at his gallery in Amsterdam (1970's) and then on a series of postcards. Finally, I saw his stuff on the walls of Good Vibrations in San Francisco and realized two things about him:
1. He hand paints his black and white images.
2. He produced his images during the worst days of communist repression.

He is a genius, His book will take your breath away. It is very representative of his work. You would have to see mounted pictures with the actual brush strokes to see what magic he truly weaves. You need this book.

Sometimes there are masterpieces hard to comment of.

Perhaps, works by Daniela Mrázková known as Jan Saudek belong to this category.

Live, deep, gay colours depicting controversially for even a modern viewer explicitly manifested homoeroticism and nudity, are surely shocking today as much as hundred years ago for then contemporaries.

A very special picturesque philosophy of Jan Saudek places these masterworks in a line with the best in this area of visual arts immortally.

This remarkable (and massive) collection traces at least forty years of Jan Saudek's career, from the late 1950s to the end of the 1990s, or maybe a bit beyond. Like any living, developing artist, Saudek's technique, subject matter, and style have developed too. As a result, broad generalizations apply poorly to this collection's full breadth.

The earliest work collected here tends strictly towards black and white, and the earliest chapter has a family oriention. With no clear break between phases of his career, Saudek's work in the early 1970s tended toward a more documentary style. Then, by the late 1970s, many features of his later work had emerged: studio nudes, often hand-colored, often set against a decrepit background, and with increasing sexual content. Paired photos, clothed and nude, appeared, as did time sequences. Saudek's quirky sense of humor came to the fore, also, expressed in terms of all the other features of his work. For example, the clothed/not and sexual themes came together in gender-bending sequences (like The Wedding, parts I and II) that elicit giggles along with confusion and careful attention. By the 1990s, Saudek's work added models well outside the usual range considered attractive, which added new facets to the sexuality and humor.

This huge, beautiful book makes it easy to trace Saudek's changing esthetic through his images. Readers (in English, French, and German) also see biographical information covering Saudek's life inside and outside the gallery world. A book this vast and a career so varied can't be summarized briefly except to say this: it's an outstanding presentation of a strange and wonderful collection.

-- wiredweird

PS: The cover picture is actually half of something - the other half changes its meaning completely!

Jan Saudek, the leading art photographer from the Czech Republic, is a dazzling artist who has found his own medium of expression for his fertile imagination. This thorough, splendidly produced (Taschen) monograph, edited by the esteemed curator and critic Daniela Mrázková, succeeds at every level: these are the finest 'reproductions' of Saudek's difficult, manipulated photographs available today and the accompanying biographical information is as richly detailed and illustrated as the body of work is explored. This is a large, heavy art book, now made affordable thanks to Amazon's pricing. It deserves the attention of those who respect art on the edge as well as collectors who appreciate the position Saudek has achieved internationally in the world of fine art.

'Our life is a journey, a journey to the end of night' is a phrase from Saudek, quoted by editor/essayist Daniela Mrázková, in the opening biography of the artist, a biography that includes Saudek's birth in Prague in 1935, his internment in a Polish concentration camp for Jews, his survival and early life in Czechoslovakia, military service, multiple marriages and children, and his immigration to the United States where his reputation as an enfant terrible of photographic art grew steadily. All aspects of this interesting, diversified life are accompanied by photographs of the artist and his influences. They prepare the way very well for the generous catalogue of Saudek's unique art that follows.

For those who are new to Saudek's art, this volume will explain his techniques thoroughly. Beginning as a black and white photographer, Saudek soon appreciated the fact that his vision of the world he wished to capture was a combination of reality pushed to extremes and fantasy overlay - and his finished products became hand colored enhanced images of physical feats, anatomical variations from normal, homage to the history of art, and explorations of sexuality that never offend but rather celebrate variants of dreams that seem to have no limits. He places himself in many of the works and seeks out the spectrum of models that range from the massively obese to the aged to the emaciated to midgets to accompany his tableaux vivants. Many of his works are narrative: one particularly beautiful work is entitled 'The Love Story' and is a sepia toned series of 12 images of a white rose in a glass of water beside a girl's photograph, the series showing the bud blooming then losing its petals and finally extracted from the glass which is then removed from the series in the last frame - a simple but deeply moving story of a love eroding to nothingness.

Saudek's images are grouped into exhibitions: The Family of Man, Memories, Forbidden Fruit, The Game, The Fight, The Window, Tales of Love and Ruination, To Be or Not to Be, Every Woman is the Most Beautiful in the World, Sinners, Warriors of God, Paradise Lost, and A Journey without End, a Cry in Vain. Placing his photographs in context with theme allows the viewer a gallery walk where the complete idea of that exhibition can be explored. The images may disturb some, but isn't that a part of fine art's mission - to think in ways outside our frame of reference? In all the works are reproduced carefully, including the all-important margins of each photograph in which Saudek makes meaningful notes and manipulates time, a concept that remarks on his vision of the 'journey to the end of night'. It would be difficult to imagine a finer art monologue than this, and it is apropos that such an important and fascinating artist receive such a fine tribute to a long and very productive life. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, September 08

This is a fabulous book, and is good for girls and boys. I love that it includes breastfeeding, which is unforunately very rare and hard to find. A definite read for any parent expecting a 2nd (and beyond) child.

Sophie and the New Baby is a good story to share with children having trouble getting used to the changes a new baby can bring.

Sophie is an only child who is used to getting a lot of attention from her parents. One spring day, her parents announce that there will be a new member arriving in the family. That baby will be a winter baby. Sophie waits, and waits, and waits. Finally the baby arrives. Sophie is disappointed that the baby cannot play with her. She is even more disappointed when her parents spend all of their time with the baby and not with her. Sophie is sad and lonely. Eventually, with the passage of time, Sophie adjusts and learns to love the little baby.

Catherine Anholt's charming illustrations detail the changing seasons beautifully as Sophie waits for the baby. They also accurately portray the things that occur once the baby arrives: the crying, the nursing, the diaper changes, the holding, the nursing (yes, there are two illustrations of the mom nursing the baby), the growing piles of laundry and dishes...

Sophie and the New Baby gives a young child a good idea of what to expect when a new sibling arrives. It also addresses the negative emotions that can be felt in a reassuring way. This is a very good book to read to an only child who will soon become a big brother or sister.

-Sherry Ellis
Author of That Baby Woke Me Up, AGAIN

This is a wonderful book for a sibling (2-4 years of age) who's expecting a new baby in the family. It follows Sophie throughout her mom's pregnancy and then describes how things are once baby arrives. It does so very well, and accurately per my recollection of younger siblings arriving at our house growing up. It is realistic enough that it does show Sophie yelling that she doesn't want "that baby anymore!" Then it describes how Sophie teaches her baby brother to smile, and they become friends.

I love this book. My oldest daughter still requests it, even though her little sister is six months now. I think it really helped ease our baby's arrival ... her big sister knew ahead of time that it would be difficult, and an adjustment, but to be patient and it would work (older sister was 1 month shy of 3 years of age when her baby sister was born).

I can't recommend this book enough! In addition, if you breastfeed or are planning to do so, this book shows the mother breastfeeding the baby (doesn't say what she's doing, and for families who don't breastfeed I doubt that it would be something a child would recognize - but it's great for discussing that with an older sibling if you will be breastfeeding).

We are expecting a baby boy this winter and my daughter Sophie truly enjoyed this book! It not only deals with the emotions of an older sibling but begins with how long the wait is anticipating the birth of a younger sibling.

My 2 1/2 year old loves this book. It gives us a chance to talk about all aspects of having a new baby: the waiting, the coming, the aftermath. We told her about our new baby very early in the pregnancy so it's helpful to have a book that talks about waiting through all those seasons until it finally arrives!

This is a very special book and a wonderful present to give anyone. I have given this book to my daughter's teacher, a good friend and a sibling. It's story is universal and the message is wonderful. The drawings and layout of the book are genious. Highly recommend it.

By far...the best book ever written. Great gift item for baby showers or for a young child.

This is a gorgeous book with a beautiful story.
I read this book aloud to my guests at my own bridal luncheon and it was a hit.

I plan to buy several as gifts.
Buy this book for yourself and for those you care about.
Do not pass this book up. It is a gem.

We are using this book in lieu of the traditional Guest Book at our wedding. There are lots of blank spaces in the margins that guest can use to sign it "yearbook style" and it makes a nice book to have on a coffee table after the wedding. Much more unique than a plain guest book.

The Story of the Heart is very moving. The art is beautiful and the story is wonderful. I've given this as an early Valentine's Day present to my wife, daughter, and mother, and they all love it. So do I.

Wonderful story! I felt like I was watching a movie. A really good movie. This book goes back to the things that were once inportant in life: Honor, Friendship, Love, Romance, Respect and just plan trying to do the right thing even when it hurts. Please write more!

Just a wonderful book. The ending through me for a loop. It was hard to put down once I got started. Great story, great characters. I recomend it for anyone.

"Tangible Memories is the best book that I have ever read about pure love.This book was an amazing love story that keeps you flipping the pages to see what happens.It toook my breath away and made me cry. It also made me happy and helped me believe that there is honestly a soulmate for everyone. It was astonishing to me that Jackie and Lewis could feel each others pain and love miles away and over the years. It is a great, real love story. "Tangible Memories" touchs your heart and soul.

I'm not a very fast reader, but I couldn't put it down. I stayed up late after work to finish this wonderful book. It's the best love story i've read in a long time, maybe the best love story i've ever read. I gave it five stars, but its a seven star book. I'll be looking for more to read from this wonderful author. Thanks bill, you made me feel great. Julie

Wow! What an adventure. I fell in love with all Lewis. I wish someone like that really existed. I loved the story and didn't want it to end. I'm all tingly inside. I'm gonna have to read this loving story again!

I own 3 books by Luis Royo: Dreams, Secrets and III Millennium. Of these 3, Dreams is the worst (though I would rate it 4 stars). The problem with Dreams is not the artwork, which is magnificent, as always, but the size of the images. When I buy a book like this I don't expect to find thumbnails inside or even half page pictures. In my opinion, Royo deserves one painting per page and every now and then a two-page spread.

With III Millennium you get exactly that.

As for Royo's art, whether it's sombre, erotic, futuristic or medieval, it is always at top quality, and its most unique characteristic is, undoubtedly, the way he handles light - the reader's eyes are literally drawn to whatever he whiches.

I haven't found a Royo art book I didn't like, but this is one of the best ones. He depicts harsh future worlds: some with machines, some with fallen angels, others with a "Planet of the Apes" theme. One of my favorite types is the kind with a mostly abandoned world, complete with the skeletons of buildings and torn yet sexy clothing of the women who still inhabit that world.

His women certainly are sexy, but much more than that. The women suffer, but endure these future worlds, and often come out the stronger for it, making the illustrations more touching and powerful.

There are also a few cover arts for futuristic space novels by Julie E. Czerneda, which also have strong women as depicted in Royo art.

Wow! When I heard about Royo, I decided to look around for some of his work. When I bought this book I was delighted to see that my favourite picture, "The Announcement" was in it. The subtle blue in the eyes of the child are beautifully hypnotic. I personally enjoy drawing and I have to say Royo inspires me deeply. His blend of the female flesh with cold automatons is beautiful. What might seem like weird to individuals who look at this book, aesthetically, Royo has won my admiration because he is bold and different and that's what makes a unique artist.

Once again Luis Royo has created a world of wonder for his fans. Anyone who is a serious collector of his work should own this book. His imagination has created a world of the future that only pure talent could capture on canvas, and make us believe that Three Millenium may look just as he presents it. Incredible!

This book will lead you into the future, as Royo sees it. It's dark, ice-cold, scary. Barren landscape, ruined cities, machine making love to astonishingly beautiful women; monkeys control humans. Fallen angels turned to stone, yet capable to make love to each other. The colors are grey, brown, green, which make the light even more vivid. The details are painstakingly taken care of - just like everything Royo makes. You will find women in this book (too) which you wish you'd meet in real life - if you're a guy, like me :)

For many years I've been a great admirer of Pablo Picasso's work. Whenever I travel I always look for Picasso's museums or General Art Museums where Picasso's works are displayed. As a result of these trips I've gathered panflets, brochures and many books focusing different phases of the artist. However something was missing! And that would be a comprehensive overview that could be able to explain and make sense of his imense and brilliant lifelong work and at the same time to show magnificent reproductions! congratulations to the author who was very successful in her enterprise!

This is a great book. It's chock full of illustrations--so many that they just quit offering text every few pages to let the images catch up. It goes through his entire life, showing the art he created for each section. It's great, insightfull, a huge folio-sized book and just an all around great read/see.

this book rocks so much it breaks the very laws that govern physics!! so much information, so many beautiful pictures, so dense. it seems to capture the very spirit of pablo picasso. it was give to me as a valentine's day gift, and it is one of my most prized books. this is a MUST purchase for any picasso fan.

To see tons of Picasso works in one book is nothing short of breathtaking. This is easily the best Picasso book that focuses on his paintings. What's incredible is to see the prolific amount of work he was capable of, and just what a inventive genius he was. Without a doubt the greatest Artist of the 20th century. Not all the works make sense, or are even recognizable as anything, but that was Picasso; his art was how he viewed the world, and how his own heart felt inside:confused, and out of place. His Cubism is nearly mathmatical, and very intriguing. IF you're interested in Picasso as more than that weird guy who made all those paintings i just don't get, come and check out this book to see all of what he was made of. You'll be amazed and inspired.

I took this book out of our university library to have on hand while reading Françoise Gilot's "Living with Picasso", in order to see representations of the artwork to which she refers throughout the book. "The Ultimate Picasso" proved invaluable. Not only does it contain Picasso's complete major works, they are also presented in chronological order which made look-up easy despite Gilot's often describing an artwork and the process used to create it but not always giving its title (she always gives dates). I ordered "The Ultimate Picasso" before the library due date because I couldn't bear to not have the book in my house!
The photos of the artwork are brilliant and crisp, and the accompanying text is informative.
You will not be disappointed by this book.

Finally, I found a book that might actually help me and some of my dearest loved ones. I adore this book; and would love to meet the author. This book is for every "artist" who struggles w/ the "blues" or depression, yet knows that traditional medicine and therapy won't help much. I'm going to revisit this review when I'm done w/the book (I'm only about 1/4 into it); but until then, I'll just say, I finally feel I'm on the right track. Even in just the first chapter, I knew, this book was for me. Even my husband picked it up and said, "Wow. This is so you!" (in a good way). I can't wait to share it w/ others that I know are troubled/plagued w/ similar issues. Hope this helps you in your search...

We all know the story of the brilliant yet tortured Van Gogh. His mind blowing creativity was only matched by bouts of deeply destructive depression. We've also become accustomed to hearing gossip about rock stars, artists, actors, and writers whose drug use, alcoholism, or suicide make the evening news. It seems the pairing of creativity and self destruction is a natural one.

The Van Gogh Blues doesn't seek to break this stereotype. Instead, it looks to examine the reason why creative people tend to have such extreme highs and lows. The answer seems so obvious that most of us probably would never have thought of it.

People who create tend to put all of their effort into their work. I do it myself, I can sit for hours and just type fully immersed in my own words and thoughts. Having such clarity of focus and such a single minded drive is fantastic.

However, once the project is complete, the creating is done. Suddenly, there is no more purpose. The individual is suddenly lost without any sort of direction. I can relate. I always know it's time to get back to my writing when I start to get depressed. Over time, I've learned that I have to a project. I have to create.

I am not fond of "self-help" books, which always become so quickly redundant, even when they make sense. This book, however, really hit home at a number of points regarding finding meaning in existence, supporting creativity, and understanding addiction from a different perspective (at least for me). I even went online and looked up creativity coaches in my area! For more of my rants, raves, and recommendations, please check out my book blog at allthepage.today.com

Eric visited Rainmaker's Prayers blog during his virtual tour for his newly released book "The Van Gogh Blues: The Creative Person's Path Through Depression." Shinan asked some difficult questions and Eric gave some brilliant answers that we feel are important enough to share with the world. So I've included them in this customer review.



Shinan Barclay : In the face of global warming/global cooling, Eric Maisel's book: "The Van Gogh Blues ," inspired me to compile an anthology entitled "Rainmaker's Prayers,Align with Global Harmony." How do I encourage clients and contributors to find and create meaning in their life?

Eric Maisel: By helping them make the paradigm shift from finding meaning to making meaning. There is no meaning to find; it is not lost. There is only meaning to make; meaning is a choice. Once people really understand
this distinction, they realize that they know enough already to make these choices and they can begin to stand behind their own meaning
decisions.

Shinan Barclay: With climate change and the extinction of thousands of species, many people feel hopeless and helpless. How do you encourage people to find meaning among the uncertainty and confusion of evironmental upheavals?

Eric Maisel: By reminding them that they have a life to lead and they can lead it authentically or inauthentically. They are not in charge of the
universe--no one is. They are in charge of only and precisely their own
life. They can make their life a thing of moral beauty by their choices or they can watch more television. Until the world actually ends, we have
the obligation to take charge of our life and aim it in the direction
of our choosing; that is what "making ethics" means.

Shinan Barclay: Some data says that major corporations control the media, i.e. television, newspapers and magazine, and that the American population is spoon-fed and numbed by "corporate propaganda." How can we create meaning in an inauthentic world?

Eric: Only with great difficulty--but life is difficulty. There never was
a guarantee that life would be easy. You think through what would
amount to right action in this kind of environment--where you can make the
most difference or any difference--and then you step in that
direction, recognizing that you can't alter the world's configuration, All you can do is make yourself proud by your own efforts. You heroically
try; that's it, period.

Rainmaker's Prayers, Align with Global Harmony

With so many books being published about creativity, it may be repetitive to read about the same old reflections and the same suggestions to nurture your abilities. Eric Maisel has found a refreshing way to address creative people's issues. With the Van Gogh Blues, he presents his approach to deal with the anxiety and depression creative persons tend to feel at different points in their lives.

While he doesn't shun the medical take on depression, he brings an existential understanding of the situation. This view expresses that a creator that repeatedly makes meaning, hold on to that meaning in his life (life's work meaning and meaningful day-to-day life)will have a better chance of dealing with an inclination to depression.

Eric Maisel covers the field as to how meaning can be created using other's artists biographies, emails from contemporary creators and his experience as a creativity coach (which might be the coolest job in the world, I think). The book's question could be: As creatives, how can we create meaning in life? This way, the books appeals to more than only the depressed artists. To top it off, the author writes in a clear but not-dumbed-down way, ideal to the sophisticated, intellectual reader who appreciates good writing.

Even for a person who constantly reads on creativity and life purpose, I found this book brings new ideas and a fresh take on what assails the creative person.

As far as I know, this is the only available publication on Thiebaud. The book covers the artist's career from his early pastries paintings to his recent large-scale landscapes. It also enables the reader to discover less "typical" works, like the portraits of his wife.

However, what makes Thiebaud's paintings striking is their thickness, the way the artist works through the layers of paint, what we call in French "la matière". It is not only the color, which of course is present in the reproductions that fill this book. Unfortunately, that is somewhat lost and therefore I was a bit disappointed when I opened this catalogue for the recent retro on Wayne Thiebaud. The reproductions should have shown more close-ups and details of the works. For this particular artist, something is lacking.

I had ordered this book to share it with my adult painting students in a class I teach. It was to inspire a lesson about painting pictures of pastries. What I found was so much more. The book provides an informative overview of a variety of types of work by this artist, both realist and pop artist, with fine quality reproductions of the art work.

an excellent book with excellent reproductions. i enjoyed it.

This is the definitive book on the works of Wayne Thiebaud, which accompanied the very successful exhibition at the Whitney Museum. Thiebaud is best known for his hyper-realistic paintings of food, so luscious and sensual that they have universal appeal. When Theibaud first started painting in this style, he was compared to the Pop Artists, such as Warhol, Wesselmann, Indiana and Ramos. However, Thiebaud always tried to set himself apart from these artists, because although he agreed with their use of repetitive images as a comment on the banality of American consumerism, he wanted to paint well and believed that a series of soup cans painted poorly did not reflect his goal as an artist. It took many years after the Pop Artists became famous for Thiebaud to achieve the recognition that he deserved, partly because he was considered a regional artist who painted in California. This book is the seminal treatise on the works of Thiebaud and is therefore a must read.

Remember that old Frank Sinatra song that served as an inspirational film for rainy day grade school entertainment in the 50's? Well, if there is an artist who has captured the imagination and dreamy reveries of life in the past century, the quieter, more ebulliently committed time to joy and the simple treasures here, that man is Wayne Thiebaud. WAYNE THIEBAUD: A PAINTINGS RETROSPECTIVE is a beautifully designed catalogue raisonne of the pop artist's oeuvre that toured the country a few years ago. Organized by curator Steven A. Nash of San Francisco (the artist's home) this book is beautifully illustrated with all of the iconic images of pies, cakes, candy apples, etc. that everyone associates with Thiebaud. Yet it gives equal time to the inimitable 'landscapes' of the hilly terrain that is San Francisco, valleys of Northern California, and beaches. Thiebaud's ability to flatten vistas into geometric patterns can be compared to Richard Diebenkorn's purely abstract Ocean Park Series of paintings: both artists understand space, color, and the excitement of the line.

Accompanying this 'delicious' array of Thiebaud paintings are essays by both Nash and by Adam Gopnik of 'New Yorker' who aptly praises Thiebaud as a man in the same company of Americana as Walt Whitman, William Carlos Williams, and John Updike! That about sums it all up and this essay alone would be reason enough to buy this important volume of American art history. Simply superb. Grady Harp, October, 2004

Thank you for the prompt service in receiving my book. It was just what I ordered.

This book is a visual delight with clear crisp images. As a teacher, it is a very user friendly book
with students able to see the intricate marks and the layering that Wolf Kahn has used in his work.
For anyone interested in pastel techniques this is a great book.

The book itself is excellent. Wolf Kahn writes beautifully and I love to hear what he thinks about his art -- this is so helpful to me as an artist struggling with many of the same issues in my own work. However, this is the SECOND book I've purchased from Amazon recently that was clearly USED (pages bent, cover scuffed & torn)when I purchased what was supposed to be a NEW book. This is inexcusable. I don't have the time to repackage and return it, so I just accepted it, but I am so dissapointed in Amazon. Had I chosed to purchase a used book I would have saved a lot of money and it would have been in the same (or better) condition.

If you are a beginner or a experienced artist, you will greatly appreciate wolf kahn. His book is inspiring as all of his works. I would highly recommend this book.

If you are a fan of Wolf Khan, this is a must-have. Great book.

you've got to get this book and check out page 97 - tell me what you think.

If you're even a remotely Addams family or cartoon fan, you wouldn't have to read these reviews. Just buy it!

If you are a fan of black humor, then these cartoons are for you. This book contains many of his "Addams Family" cartoons, but there is MUCH more in there as well. A collection of classic cartoons that will have you rolling read after read!

AAAHHHHHH. Now this is an art book. Experience the dark and clever world of Charles Addams in this once-in-a-lifetime treasury of high-quality images. Finally, a masterful collection of his work. Addams' widow, Tee, should be proud of this book, which she assembled, in tribute to good ol' Charlie. God rest his soul.

Charles Addams was the man behind hundreds of delightful and dastardly illustrations for the prestigous New Yorker. Here, in one volume, are 300 of his best pieces. Included are several pictures involving the all together kooky Addams family and the macabre events that to them seem so normal. It is from these illustrations that the popular televison series, The Addams Family, emerged. And if you ever watched and liked the show, you'll love the cartoons it was based on. A great book for the coffee table!