Artists Books

As a former webmaster for the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists, I had the pleasure of working with Jael to produce one of ASFA's Chesley brochures. This led to my becoming her webmaster. Until that time I thought she was a very talented illustrator having only seen the images that she has painted for covers and interiors of science fiction and fantasy publications.

While putting together her webpage she introduced me to examples of artwork that were unlike anything I had seen with the SF/F genre. These images cannot be considered illustrations. They are more than that as they evoke emotions and thoughts that transcend the physical plane; transporting one into higher planes of existence and depicting mindscapes of such vast and incredible beauty that the mind finds itself at a loss for words. These vistas can not be described. They can only be experienced.

With the publication of this book everyone can now own reproductions of these of these pieces of 'Fine Art', painted by one of the finest artists alive today. A must own book for every collector.

I am Jael... and I'm so thrilled with the overwhelming success of my first book, _Perceptualistics_! This book, packaged and designed so beautifully by Paper Tiger, contains not only wonderful samples of my illustrative work through the last twenty years, but the "now discovered" Perceptualistic pieces, that I've been painting throughout my entire lifetime. I thank everyone who has supported this, my first publication, and encourage you to keep traveling within your mind. Dream your dreams of worlds and journeys that are real, but perhaps as yet unexplained. Nurturing, personal, comforting realms in which to retreat, are very much needed for us in this world today. Jael

"Perceptualisitics" is a magnificent gift to the reader. But beware, you "won't find a banana in the middle of each painting..."

That quote captures the essence of a Perceptualistic painting, if such an exercise is even possible. There is nothing literal about these paintings, and a casual observer, expecting to "see" a clearly defined image or a pictorial story in them will be challenged. And that, dear reader, is exactly why you should own this book and drink in the intoxicating visions it contains.

But let me segue for just a moment, for while the Perceptualistic paintings alone are an experience that will engage and enthrall you, there is so much more to this book that make it a compelling "must have."

It is eminently readable. John Grant's prose is both succinct and lyrical, and his biographical rendering of Jael invites one into her world in a way that is palpable and enjoyable. Rarely does one find oneself wanting to finish the text in an artbook before viewing the illustrations. Reading about Jael through Grant's eyes and ears made me want to know more. If there is a shortcoming here, it is because one finds onself wanting an even more intimate and extensive portrait of the artist.

Jael's paintings, regardless of the genre, are superb. Those seeking to view her Science Fiction and Fantasy illustrations will not be disappointed. Her work is among the best in the field and begs comparison to no one. Jael stands among the pantheon of "great ones" in the SF&F area.

However, dear reader, Jael stands alone with her Perceptualistic paintings, and she stands on a lofty plane indeed.

Each Perceptualistic painting beckons the viewer to explore. That exploration might be an inner vision, a transporting to another world or level of awareness, an opening to endless possibilities and insights. In a way, these paintings are gateways to perception, and that perception may change with every viewing. Can you think of any other artist who can offer you such a journey? I cannot.

I thank John Grant for his warm and vibrant words, obviously written with much caring. I thank Jael for this incredible gift to the public, and for opening her heart and her life, if only for a glimpse, to those of us who can only dream of such creativity.

Final thanks must go to the publishers, not so much for having the boldness to go beyond the trite and conventional nature of many "artbooks," but for recognizing creative genius and giving the world an opportunity to share in it.

Jael is a genius. Her genius comes from the heart, the dwelling place of all true genius, and that is a wondrous gift to us all.

Open your heart and prepare to expand your universe, dear reader, and buy this book!

I've been familiar with Jael's super illustrations for a long time, but nothing prepared me for this book of her work, which concentrates largely on her fine art -- fabulously imaginative paintings that have almost all never been seen in print before. It's nearly impossible to describe them, because they don't obey any of the inhibiting rules that other fantasy artists tend to adhere to. This is a real breakthrough book, and the kind you'll want to buy extra copies of to give to your most special friends. It's lovely!

This book may be your only chance to see an extraordinary body of work from fantasy and sf artist Jael. Well known for her bookcovers, Jael (who goes by only her first name), had been doing an series of personal works over the last 40 years while she fulfilled the demands of motherhood and a busy artistic career. Not abstracts, not realistic paintings either, she calls them "meditations" or "journeys". They are unlike any other major paintings done in the 20th century; and while this book is beautiful, it doesn't do the original works complete justice--I had the privilege of seeing a couple first-hand, and they are stunning. Since Jael considered these personal works and "too odd" for public consumption, she had never publicised them before or even kept good track of the occasional times when she would sell one of these amazing works. The reproductions on page 40 and 54 hint at the splendor of the originals, but many of the illustrations of the perceptualistics were re-created from small slides, though Jael herself worked to restore them to something close to the original. The text is also delighful, since Jael has had a long, interesting (and rather inspiring) life. My hope is that this book will inspire a sequel, and that some of the owners of the perceptualistics will come forward for new scans of the treasures they own.

I have enjoyed the drawings in Martha Perske's book Pencil Portraits 1971-1990. I would love to get larger prints of some of the drawings or prints (not bound in a book). Are they available? if so, where can they be purchased?

I admit up front that my review is a bit biased, because Martha and I have been friends for more than 50 years. But this book, showing some of her very early sketches, lets you watch her talent mature, until when you look at the later drawings, you think they must be black and white photographs. Her ability to capture the beauty of these children (and adults) with disabilities is truly a gift from God. Her husband, Bob, captures the essence of Martha in his foreward, and when you read Martha's words about her father, you will begin to understand the depth of this woman. I have many wonderful memories of times spent with Martha and her parents, and know that the love and support she received from them helped her to develop into the woman she became.

In collaboration with her husband, several wonderful books have been published dealing with the many problems of people with disabilities, both from the viewpoint of their parents and carekeepers, and from the disabled themselves. Enough good things cannot be said about their collaborative efforts. But if you simply appreciate an extraordinary artistic talent, Pencil Portraits is a must.

In October, Martha will be receiving yet another in a long list of honors. She will be honored as an Outstanding Alum of our high school, Topeka High. Certainly not as noteworthy as some of her many other honors, but more special to me.

A pencil.

In my hand it makes numbers and scribbles letters that often even I cannot fathom. In the hand of Martha Perske it creates miracles that can melt even an icy heart. In this new book from Abingdon Press, we see a collection of her artwork depicting persons who have disabilities over a twenty year period beginning in 1971. We see her bring the human essence of all of us into her illustrations with such warmth, joy and compassion that I marvel not only of her self-taught talent, but of her uncanny ability to see in our soul.

How to experience this book? How do you review a book you don't "read", except for the forwards by both Martha and her equally renowned partner and husband, Robert Perske. Do you view the book? Are warmed by it? Enveloped by it? I shared my copy with staff who were not brought up with the Perskes work and some were brought to tears by the unabashed joy radiated in Martha Perske's illustrations. Can a ten-minute read to complete a book touch such nerves? Yes, and her work has for many of us for more than twenty years. The book also shows the growth in her artistic talent during the span covered by the book, from a lighter touch to illustrations of such richness and depth that one can only marvel at her talent. What is unchanging during the 20 year period is her ability to capture the beauty, common humanity, and the shining light even in a person with the most severe disabilities.

I recommend this book to those in disability services who are familiar with Martha Perske's past work and, like me, have been sustained by the humanity in her illustrations when our advocacy might flag from weariness, from budget cuts, from administrative indifference that disadvantage those we serve. Her work is a tonic during those questioning moments. I also recommend this book for those who are not in disability services so they can understand, without a word being spoken, the common humanity within all human beings and the motivation behind our work .

I recommend this book to anyone with a bookshelf, a coffee table or for a friend during gift-giving time. Every member of my Board of Directors will receive one as a gift for their gift, their volunteer service.

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Ed Goldman is the Executive Director of Solano Work Services, a vocational training and employment agency serving persons who have disabilities in Suisun, California. He has over thirty years experience as an advocate, government official and manager of services.

PERSKE: Pencil Portraits 1971-1990

A Review by Dr. Denis W. Keyes (College of Charleston)

Martha Perske is a uniquely talented artist and her efforts throughout the years have produced beautiful and remarkably vivid images of real people living real lives. Martha is a self-taught yet utterly remarkable artist, whose engaging insights into the faces (read `souls') of the people she portrays can at once tug at the heartstrings while lifting the spirits of the viewer. Her husband, Bob Perske, is a gifted writer whose powerful prose shouts down the mediocrity of the silent majority, exposing a need or illuminating the plight of this defendant with mental retardation or that family with some related problems. This exceptionally talented couple can often be found wherever there is some question about justice and disabilities.

Bob Perske's gift is in his ability to tell true stories about the myriad injustices accompanying many of the lives of people with disabilities, and he does it in such a way as to educate, enlighten, move, frustrate, and sometimes even anger his readers. Yet, when Bob and Martha work together to produce joint projects, it is their ability to compliment each other's work that seems to tie it all together. For instance, Martha has illustrated Bob's numerous books for years, lending her artistic expertise to his linguistic skill, and the end product has always been impressive. The cover of his last text, *Deadly Innocence?* (1995, Abingdon Press), told the story (that was elaborated inside) of a man on Death Row who was clearly mentally retarded, and arguably not guilty. Such is the depth of Martha's gift: Her art tells a story that each viewer elaborates upon. This time, it is Martha's work that is being spotlighted: while Bob has written an introduction that emphasizes the subject matter at hand, that being portrayal of people with disabilities in pencil and paper. Perske: Pencil Portraits 1971-1990 (Abingdon Press, 1998) is the result of their latest collaboration, some twenty-seven years in the making. This time, Bob's contribution is short, but characteristically to the point. In his introduction, he outlines a brief history of his understanding and appreciation of Martha's talents and her mission. But Martha's contribution is not limited to her drawings; in a candid and moving essay, she describes her closest association to a person with a disability: her Father's recovery from a stroke that permanently paralyzed his right side.

An interesting aspect to note in these pictures is the progression of Martha's use of her talents as the years passed. The earliest pictures, signed merely "Martha," illustrate a more sketch-like quality, while later pictures take on a near photo-image realism that brings out the minutest details, physical and emotional, in the faces of her subjects. Even the simplest images take on an individual personality that those who have known these people with disabilities will instantly recognize. A picture of a child attempting to dial a rotary phone dial brings to mind the strong desire for individuality and independence, while the next page shows an occupational therapist assisting a child feed herself, graphically illustrating the fact that we cannot always do things on our own. Examples of such simple nuances abound in this book, as do fine illustrations that evoke joy and sorrow, awe and inspiration. The Special Olympics, social activities, and even a music lesson are among the scenes offered. If the Inclusionists movement is looking for a poster illustration, they may want to consider page 93, or perhaps page 111. There are even a few portraits of the people who are first in Martha's life. For example, anyone wondering what Bob and Martha looked like about twenty years ago should check out page 61.

Though she no longer draws the images that have won her acclaim, she is, nevertheless, still an artist. Despite talent that merited a special presentation of her work to the late Princess of Wales, Martha Perske does not present a proud persona. Her beauty is in her art and her life, both of which are captured in this beautiful book. And that is the reality of her art.

You must have this book in your permanent collection. The beauty of the human spirit is captured by Martha Perske with a divine skill. If this collection of children with disabilities does not touch your heart - check your pulse to see if its still working. This book is for any parent who truly loves their children, for any grandparent who shares the world with other grandparents in their pride of parenting of all Gods children.

Jerry Fink

Dora Maar was according to most observers the woman in Picasso's life , closest to being at his own level of artistic perception and understanding. As this volume makes clear she was an outstanding photographer . The story of her relationship with Picasso, the part she played as inspiration and model for his work, her special role in regard to Guernica, her being the weeping woman of the famous painting, his abandoning her when he sensed ( or so he claimed) her impending madness, her passionate clinging to his memory, her breakdown, her turning to a reclusive life and one of deep religious devotion- are all presented in this excellent and clearly written volume.
There are also representations of much of her work, and of Picasso's in which she is subject.
Maar was clearly a considerable personality and artist in her own right, and not simply the inspiration for another.

Of some of Dora's photographs, and self portraits are a must have for any Dora fan. It shows her in her later years, it shows her paintings, it goes into detail about her love affair with Picasso as well. This is easily my favorite Dora book.

This is a wonderful book, full of beautiful b/w images of dora, her photography/art and Picasso's work of her and more! It is really worth getting for your book collection, especially at this price, and it gives you an insight to Dora's life, I think she is fascinating woman living in a time when most photographer's were men. She is truely a pioneer and deserves more credit than being known as Picasso's muse. Very inspiring book.

Picasso's Weeping Woman: The Life and Art of Dora Maar

I am grateful for this book. It is insightful but not definitive. It is not an in depth biography of Dora Maar. A better perception of the psyche of Dora Maar is contained in James Lord's personal memoir "Picasso and Dora". And a better understanding of the cruelty of Picasso is presented in Arianna S. Huffington's "Picasso: Creator and Destroyer". Both I think are necessary to truly appreciate this book as I do.

Since Dora Maar's death in 1997, little has yet been published of her work. She is primarily known as one of the mistresses of Picasso but there was a world of complexity to this woman. She was deeply involved with the surrealists before she ever met Picasso. She knew them all, Breton, Tanguy, Man Ray, Hugnet, Crevel. She was a noted photographer, an exhibited painter, a poet and Picasso's muse and inspiration for seven stormy years culminating in a breakdown that left her a changed woman, a recluse and a religious devotee.

Mary Ann Caws book presents a dazzling panorama of works by both Dora Maar and Picasso including some wonderful comparative paintings of both artists. Dora Maar assisted and photographically chronicled Picasso as he created his masterpiece Guernica. That chronicle is beautifully presented in Caws book.

This book is an easy read with gorgeous reproductions of photographs, painting, sculpture, and poetry throughout not only from Dora Maar but also from Paul Eluard, André du Bouchet and others. It is a great visual companion piece to books on Picasso's works, photography and surrealism. It will occupy that regrettably tiny portion of my bookshelf devoted to Dora Maar. Thank you Mary Ann Caws for this delightful book

I would recommend this book to everybody. I am so delighted I purchased this book. It includes everything you need to know about Dora - her personal life before, during and after Picasso. I have always been interested in Picasso and by studying his life, I noticed all the fascinating women in his life. In my opinion, Dora was the one who made a big difference and who had a huge influence on him. Although it was Francoise Gilot, another woman in Picasso's life who gave him two children. Dora's own career and life as an artist (photographer, model, painter) is described in this book from the time she moved to Paris and tried to establish herself as a photographer.

You will not only find Picasso's portraits and drawings of Dora but Dora's own work (a lot of black & white photos taken by her that remind me of Man Ray's work). She truly was a talented artist. This is not often mentioned. Most of the people saw her mainly as Picasso's model and Muse. Dora was a very complex person full of emotions. She could be very dramatic in the way she looked and dressed. This all is revealed in this book. As I said, it has it all: Dora as a private person (Theodora M.) and Dora as an artist, the famous and remarkable Dora Maar. Trust me, with this book, you will get all the information you need. I consider this book a piece of art.

Stirring, compassionate, profound. One of my favorite books of all time. One of the most poetic books of photographs ever created. Best wishes to Mr. Gere.

This book is really special. The cover, first of all, feels so wonderful. The pages are on incredible quality paper. And the photographs are incredible. It's really a wonderful book.

This book was exactly what I expected from such a sensitive and intelligent man. Thank you, Mr. Gere. We need our hearts broken now and then.

Richard has access to places most people do not. Take, for example, His Holiness the Dalai Lama. His Holiness is not accessable to you and I on the level that Richard has. Richard shares private photos, such as plate 63 where His Holiness is in meditation. The photo alone portrays a depth of intensity that the experience offers. Richard also has a true sense of the tragedy of the Tibetan people and can deliver that in a light that few people can ever grasp, even after several trips to the region. Richard is the Pilgrim and we are fortunate to be able to see things in a way he does. Very few photographers can say that of their work. Perhaps it is due to his experience in film, perhaps as a result of his practice as a buddhist, maybe just because the openness of his sharing is felt in his work, regardless of the medium. Thank you my friend for sharing your life with us and a wonderful book.

I cannot look at this book without crying. It is very beautiful yet pierces my heart with sadness, I believe that the plight of Tibet is the canary of our planet. This book is about an amazing and gentle people and my hope and prayer is that it will generate more compassion . The text is very direct and simple and is not next to the photos but at the back. One quote stuck in my mind, "It's all ego." You can see these photos with your heart and they will melt it, if you are open.

Be prepared to marvel. You will need a lot of concentration, and a lot of silence to process these teachings. It's not hard, but this is deep stuff. This book is prophetic. You almost have to prepare yourself spiritually in order to really grasp this material. Are you willing to invest the time? I suggest you ask yourself this question before you order this book. If you are, then let me tell you it is worth every word, or should I say "point" on the page.

PS: This is not a book for someone needing basic information. This is only for the serious art student or seriously interested lay-person. Also, those who enjoy logic and math might like this book.

This item was received in a very timely , and in excellent condition.

I think this book is useful for understanding Kandinsky's art but I think it is most useful for artists trying to form their own ideas about art. The reason for this is that in ascribing characteristics to many aspects of art for example lines curves and planes, the author makes us as artists think about how we use these aspects of art in our work. So, in other words, he gets you thinking about the meaning of all those marks on paper we make. I think most artists will find their own explanations of the various types of line, curve, color and plane, what this book does is give you the idea for doing so in the first place.

Kandinsky's goal seems admirable, to create a vocabulary in which abstract visual art can be discussed. That would allow a theory of abstraction to develop, with the promise that art would advance as its theory advanced. He argues his case well, he was trained as a lawyer after all, using analogy to that most abstract of arts: music.

He presents his thoughts in three sections following logical progression: point, line, and plane. As one would expect in discussing visual impression, Kandinsky acknowledges the mathematical point but generalizes it to isolated, self-contained marks of many kinds. Already, in the zero-dimensional world, Kandinsky begins his conceptual whirl: a point is not just a point, but a tension, a temporal presence, and even a sound - though I'm not convinced that this "sound" relates to audible impressons. The point even manifests as a period in punctuation. Its presence and position changes or erases a sentence's meaning; presumably, one is to infer that it has similar meaning in visual compostion.

Moving on to Line, Kandinsky crams a huge number of concepts onto the page: temperature, hue plus white and black, movement and force, angle, sound and triple sound, and even the duality of male/active vs. female/passive. Certainly there is much to discuss in all of these things, but the color, sound, and sex of a specific diagonal angle elude me. They are clear enough to Kandinsky, though, who announces these relations with absolute certainty and inevitability. His writing makes me think of mysteries revealed with papal infallibility, and with internal reason beyond human reasoning. Discussion of Plane drives even deeper into thickets of interlaced concept. I admit that I was never able to hack a clear path for myself through his conceptual undergrowth.

In the end, Kandinsky's vision remains a statement of his own inner experience - not of thinking that could be shared and pushed forward by other minds. Instead of showing the world how to think, he shows the world how he thinks. Although I'm no great fan of his art, that glimpse fascinates me, and is reason enough for reading and experiencing this remarkable text.

-- wiredweird

Este libro se ha convertido en el indispensable para los estudiantes de artes plásticas, nos define el punto, la linea y el plano desde muchos puntos de vista además de explicar la generación y desarrollo de los tres elementos básicos del arte visual.

Portrait of an Artist is just that - a portrait of a powerful, unique artist. Refreshingly, for those of us who have an interest in art and some knowledge but are not familiar with technicalities, the book is very direct and honest. One comes away with the feeling they have met and experienced a fascinating woman - one who is not always pleasant and kind, but one who is always open and honest. Her art is used as a lens into her deepest feelings, although the only representations of her art are in photographs where she is posing in front of one of her paintings. Her devotion to her art was inspiring, although it seemed to overwhelm everything and everyone that surrounded her. I walk away from this book very glad to have met and experienced Georgia O'Keeffe, but also glad to have experienced her from a distance and not had to endure her intensity personally. This is a great compliment for a fascinating book.

For so many years to me, Georgia O'Keeffe was just a well-known woman artist who painted flowers. Thanks to this book I came away feeling that I got to truly know and admire this artist and now I can look at her pictures differently with a deeper understanding and appreciation for them. Thanks to this book I think I have learned to look at the beauty in nature in a different way and feel that this book has taught me much about people and truly opened my eyes in many ways to the world around me and made me curious about different areas of our wonderful country. Very enlightening in many ways and definitely worth reading.

When author Laurie Lisle advised the artist, Georgia O'Keeffe, that hers was a story Lisle "wanted to tell," O'Keeffe, as was her wont, elected not to participate but told Lisle, "you are welcome to what you find." ("Forward and Acknowledgments.") Lisle, equipped with a passion for her subject and steadfastness of purpose - qualities similar to those governing O'Keeffe's own work and life - pored through museum bulletins and exhibition catalogue notes, magazine and newspaper articles, memoirs about O'Keeffe's artistic peers (including her husband, photographer Alfred Stieglitz), and O'Keeffe's letters preserved in Yale's Beinecke Rare Book Library. She spoke with O'Keeffe's schoolmates, in-laws, and friends. And, of course, she viewed O'Keeffe's creations.

There is not one spot of color in this book except for the auburn and gold lettering on the jacket of my paperback. The sixteen pages of photographs in the book, only four of which show O'Keeffe posing with her art, are black-and-white. One imagines, had the artist participated in this project and accepted that a literary work, with an artist as its subject, could be as beautiful and fascinating as the flowers, skulls, rivers, and stones she captured in her own paintings, O'Keeffe would have appreciated the lack of color. For much of her life, O'Keeffe's signature garb was black with a touch of white, due to a belief that admirers ought to focus on the art, not the artist.

While reading this book, one obviously is tempted to take occasional breaks from Lisle's gorgeously plain, non-effusive prose to google O'Keeffe's paintings. After I read about O'Keeffe's initiation into the jet age, where she was surprised to peer down from her airplane window and "see so many rivers, tributaries, and deltas undulating through the earth's deserts" ("Chapter 13: Clouds"), I just had to view "It Was Red and Pink." However, this book clearly is not an art critique. Paintings are discussed insofar as they provide insight into O'Keeffe's mind, heart, and soul. Most of the time, while reading, I stayed far away from the computer. I was riveted by tales about family, femininity, marriage, the artist's apparent struggle between remaining dedicated to painting and perhaps having a baby, the conflict between how she and the public perceived her work, intimations of mortality, and a devotion to the splendors of New Mexico even after her eyesight failed.

I would recommend this book to anyone who relishes art, history, New Mexico, femininism, humanity, or just would love to read a great book.

There are parts of New Mexico that, if you know of the woman, just scream This is Georgia O'Keeffe Country. This honest and admiring biography lays out the story of this incredible woman who lived to age 99. That's a long, long, long life. Her life found its trajectory when, in 1916, a friend sent some of her drawings to renowned photographer Alfred Stieglitz. He proclaimed her to be "a woman on paper." Furious (as only O'Keeffe could be furious), she confronted him, became his lover, and eventually married him, initiating an emotional and artistic collaboration that endured until his death.
O'Keeffe became a feminist before the word was even invented. When she realized that it would be impossible to become her own person while working in his shadow, she established the pattern of spending 6 months with him in NY and 6 months on her own in New Mexico, a place she always referred to as her spiritual home. Stiegitz died in 1946, and O'Keeffe lived on for another incredible half a century.
If you have the opportunity to visit New Mexico, don't miss the O'Keeffe museum in Santa Fe - and my all means visit her home in Abiqueque. To say it's Georgia O'Keeffe country is to put it far too mildly.

Having just seen the Georgia Okeeffe exibition at the Phillips Gallery in Washington, DC, I had to run out and buy a biography to learn more about this incredible artist. This book gives deep personal insight to Ms O'keeffe's life and work.

I kept seeing glimpses of Mitch OConnell books and stuff in various culture shops online (lastgasp) and finally decided to get a copy of 'pwease wuv me'. I discovered Mitch was selling new copies from his website so I ordered it there, and received a personally autographed copy. When it arrived I was in absolute awe. Thumbing through the pages of his past art and comics in the quiet of my apartment living room became a mind-blowing experience. It reminded me of other past occasions encountering for the first time beautiful, weird, amazing art work -- EC Mad comics, Robert Williams in Zap, Art Spiegelman's RAW, Durer's woodcuts, Posada's engravings, Himalayan thangkas. Mitch's work stands in a class all by itself; I can't really compare it to anything else I've seen. It's fine and compelling illustration work, and the subject matter feeds from some alternate plane of lost cultural memory, a bargain basement of our collective American insanity. The book by itself is worth having; it's one of my personal treasures, but I also had the good fortune (no idea if Mitch continues to do this) of having my copy stuffed with ephemeral extras between every page: postcards, sketch tracings, tattoo flash samples. The book sits fat on my shelf with these bonuses intact, and has become something of a holy relic in my collection. Take a niacin pill and you still won't get near the same flush of astonishment that Mitch's work provides. A must-have for anyone who loves art tapped into a strange and lovely world.

More great stuff from Mr. O'Connell. Only complaint is that this slim volume contains too little of his full color paintings. Hopefully his publishers are considering a third volume dedicated exclusively to this portion of his work.

PWEASE WUV ME MORE the art of Mitch O'Connell by MITCH O'CONNELL is a very colourful ,playful kitch take -on old skool type tattoos with a new funky twist . His artwork is sooo detailed and eyepopping . You can not smile and feel happy when viewing this book . it was worth every penny i spent and more , if youre into tattoos , mark Ryden , cartoons , and looking at new ideas , i would say buy it now because you will love it !!!:)

Please Wuv Me is a brilliant look into the mind of Mitch O'Connell. It has great ideas for tattoos and other artwork. I loved it!

I remember seeing Mitch's work as a kid and not having any money to buy the material because my cheap parents wouldn't give me an allowance. Years later, thanks to Amazon, they brought his work back to my attention. His work is brilliant, full of emotion, color, humor and thought and in a way I'm very much jeaolous of the man because I use to think along his lines. But unfortunately you can't get very far in life without conforming to it's way's and that is what I had to do.

So it is refreshing to see so much spirit in his work. His paintings and drawings are a raunchy blend of traditional cartooning, graphic design and advertising art that at times can be an overload to the senses.

This book accompanies an exhibition of Diebenkorn's works painted in New Mexico in the early 1950's. Wonderful illustrations make it a valuable addition to the literature on the artist. Now, you really have to be an all-out Diebenkorn fan to consider that these early works measure up to what was being painted at the same time in New York by the likes of Pollock, De Kooning, Rothko, Kline and Guston. Diebenkorn became great when he started the Ocean Park series in the 1970's, but here, he only reveals himself as a good colorist. The merit of this catalogue lies, in my opinion, in the high quality of the illustrations, albeit of minor works, and in the sensible text written by a leading authority on the artist.

The book is lovely: a great layout and nice reproduction quality. What I find most curious is that there are three authors whose names are all so similar. How curious that they were all able to meet an collaborate on this fantastic work!

For years. I had followings problems. I have gotten better answers in this book.

1. What does he think about A portrate " Portrate of a man"(414p. C13) in National Occidental Art Museum, Tokyo, which was attributed Rogier? Mr. de Vos >It cannot be attributed to Rogier. On style it likes Petrus Christus. 2. Whether of two sets of Milaflores Alterpieces should be his autograph? Mr. de Vos >Berlin (cat. no. 12, 226p) 3. I heard that Last judgement in Beaune was strongly damaged and restaured. What parts of it is original? ->Mr. de Vos describes detail in cat no.17. 4. Many archaic style painings are attributed to "Maitre de Flaemalle"/ Robert Campin. Three magnificat panels in Francfurt was done by one hand, but some painters works may be merged to this group, may not they? ->Mr. de Vos writes a fine paper"An Enigma of School of Tournai"(79--83p) in this book and discussed this problem.

At Head, this book has a long essay studing "Descent from Cross"(in Prado) Reading this, I thank that this masterpiece which contemporaries admired with Ghent Alterpiece, has survived.

Comparing his former work "Memling:the Complete Work", result of dendrochronology by P. Klein and others contribute dating in this book. I was much impressed its splendid date data. This feels more relaxed style than "Memling" and I feel the style of translation by Ted Atkins feels more fluent. The original may be written by flaman. In 116, about " potrate of a Lady"(National Galley, Washington, cat. no. 34, he described" To modern viewer, she looks for all the world like Briggite Bardo playing a nun.."

This book is an absolute must for anyone who has any interest in the culture of the western hemisphere. Van der Weyden was a key to the development of Northern Renaissance art of the early 15th Century, following Campin and Van Eyck and preceding van der Goes, Memling and Christus . This book is a tour de force capturing the magnificent paintigs of the artist in stunning detail. This easily is the best book ever published on this very important artist and will rank as one of the best books ever published on any artist. The author , Dirk de Voss, the curator of the Groeningsmuseum in Bruges, has written a scholarly, readable text. Buy it before it goes out of print. You will not regret it.

This is quite simply the finest art book I own, in every way -- the most faithful reproductions, the most comprehensive scope, the most insightful (but still accessible) essays.

Most importantly for the prospective purchaser, this book will without question be the standard reference, the ne plus ultra of Van De Weyden scholarship for a generation. In particular, it benefits from important developments in research on several fronts: in technical analysis of the works potentially attributable to Rogier; in stylistic analysis of the same; and (perhaps most significantly) in untangling the enigmatic relationship among Rogier, the Master of Flemalle, and Robert Campin.

If you like this book and are interested in Flemish art of the period, I can also highly recommend HANS MEMLING by the same author

Like others who have reviewed this book I feel that no praise is high enough. Yes the book is expensive, but it seems less so when you consdier that no fewer than twenty-five years of the author's life have gone into the scholarship here contained. The essays are excellent, based on sound argument and the latest technical and stylistic scholarship; particularly convincing is De Vos's account of the vexed question of the "Master of Flemmale". Anyone who has an interest in the development of Western Art would do well to read this book which places Van der Weyden right back where he belongs, as one of the most important painters in the western cannon.

The layout is excellent and the large format makes the reproductions vibrant and true.

As an example of a single artist study this volume is hard to fault. It sent me back to the originals in Berlin, Munich etc. with a clearer sense of Van de Weyden's schievement.

If you can afford it and this art is important to you then buy it.

I bought Camille Rose Garcia's book for my girlfriend, who, like myself, also happens to be an artist. We heard about her through friends and Juxtapoz magazine. The book has great photos of her work, not to mention a hefty amount of work to study from and enjoy. There are also detailed sketches of her work prior to them becoming paintings. If you're into Low-Brow, Pop Surrealism, or anything of the like, you'll definitely enjoy her paintings/drawings.

Garcia's art deals with several maddening topics, perhaps the main inspiration being the surrounding of the Disney utopia that her crime drenched suburn neighbored. I found her art to be eclectic, emotionally endrenched, and very powerful. Lots of great work all with a forboding tone. A unique yet satisfying feast for the angered eyes of society.

4/5

This was a wonderful purchase. The quality of the illustrations are amazing and the text to explain their meaning is short but sweet. Anyone who likes this artist must own this book!

I love this book! Camille Rose Garcia is one of my favorite artists. I would highly recommend Everything That Creeps by Elizabeth McGrath.

Nightmarish and beautiful. One of the most unique and hauntingly original artists of our time. Unfortunately the text that goes along with the art sounds like a stoned 16 year old punk talking about throwing a spanner into the "Republican War Machine". I will say that it made me laugh a little.