Artists Books

This is not a book to be judged by its cover. Although No Way Home by Carlos Junior Acosta is his story about becoming a world-class ballet dancer, it is that story about the becoming that has pulled me from page to page as a Cuban boy, born into poverty, defied place, people and time to reach the heights, literally and professionally, he has achieved. So little is known by so many of us about the real struggles of people who live on the islands of the Caribbean. Little is known by so many of us about the racism in Cuba, about what life is really like when people struggle against so much. This is not an anti-Castro book either--and I am thankful for that because I live in Miami Beach and have heard more than enough about the evils of Fidel. Instead the reader is carried along as a young boy fights against his black father--a father of many children by many women. Junior wants to be the next Pele, the greatest soccer player. But his father insists otherwise: his son will become a ballet dancer. I loved how accepting the Cubans appeared to be of a boy taking ballet, something we do not experience in this country. Mr. Acosta has sprinkled in wonderful dialog, rich descriptions of his white mother, of his two half-sisters, of the places where Junior had to endure life. The book is divided into three sections: the boy and adolescent, the maturing young man, and the powerful ballet professional as an adult. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the real life in Cuba as well as the humanness of a man who could so easily have written awful things about his father but chose instead to rise to a high level of grace.

...this book will fascinate you. This is ultimately a tale about finding one's place in the world; a place that seemingly evades and, at times, can appear as unattainable as a mirage. Carlos Acosta's descriptions of his familial and economic hardships are honest and direct without being either exploitive or self-deprecating. He states things as they are, but the lyrical quality of his writing lends his ultra humble origins an unmistakable air of dignity and pride. Even as he conquered the highbrow world of ballet, the boy who grew up in poverty in the Havana suburb of Los Pinos, never left his side. "Yuli" as his family called him, is ever present. The restless and truant boy who loathed ballet and dreamt of soccer and break-dancing is very much entrenched in the man who is considered the greatest classical male dancer of his generation. From playing "eating mud" to being the first ever black principal dancer of London's Royal Ballet, we come to know an individual who has struggled his entire life to stay close to people and places that his art necessarily pushed further away from him. Again, if you couldn't care less about ballet, you'll find a little bit of yourself within its pages, as this book will undoubtedly speak to everyone. At its core, it's a humanistic a tale as they come. Funny, moving, haunting and honest, No Way Home: A Dancer's Journey from the Streets of Havana to the Stages of the World is a deeply rewarding experience that reminds us of the price we must pay for the choices we make.

I'm not interested in dancing or Cuba. To speak plainly, I didn't expect to enjoy this book. But enjoy it I did.

From the cover, the book appears to be about the life of a fabulously talented dancer who begins his life is dank poverty in Cuba, and fight his way out of all that. Sounds like a well worn idea, right?

But it's far more interesting than that. Carlos Acosta actually didn't want to be a ballet dancer, and tried to stop being a dancer several times. He almost succeeded.

The book isn't really about dancing. You don't need to know anything about dancing to appreciate the soul of this man. Acosta could have had the same life and travels and written the same basic book even had he been a swimming star, a soccer star, film star, baseball star, a great break dancer or singer. The core question of the book would still have been the same: What use is ambition and earthly success if you lose your family and your sense of belonging in the world? Does having talent give you a responsibility to fulfill your potential?

Acosta comes off as a very likeable guy, even as he describes himself doing rather unlikeable things, at times. He is poor but does not hate poverty. He has troubles in his family but still feels that he belongs with them. He has troubles with his country but wants to stay. He acknowledges that he's in the minority-- that lots of his countrymen want to escape. He paints no rosy picture of life in Cuba. He sees the problems, he just doesn't mind them.

His family, teachers, and friends relentlessly push him to fulfill a destiny that they insist is his. At times he also becomes ambitious to dance well, but his thoughts always return to his family and the beloved dirty, terrible, dangerous neighborhood of his childhood. He travels far, but always finds a way to go back home. Perhaps the title should have been No Way to Stay Home.

I like Acosta because he doesn't buy into the philosophy of ambition for ambition's sake. Yet to please the people he loves he must leave the people he loves and appear to love something else. How he comes to terms with this makes for a book I felt compelled to read in one sitting.

I am not a balletomane or even a big fan of memoirs, but I loved this book! The writing, the style, and the story pull the reader in to Acosta's world. This is a universal story, told brilliantly and with great attention to language and pace. A great story for all ages!

I bought "No Way Home" because I heard Julie Kavanagh (she wrote the recent Nureyev biography) call Acosta the most charismatic figure in contemporary ballet. I am glad I bought it. It's an eminently readable and moving memoir. I am a big memoir guy, but hardly a ballet aficionado. The themes in this book transcend ballet. Acosta addresses universal human issues in relating his personal history (race, the idea of home, familial relationships, ...) and he probes these issues honestly and with a keen eye for detail.

My son loves all of the AIO stories and can't stop listening to them at bedtime. Problem is he stays up too late listening. These are great stories with solid moral themes. I also think they enhance a childs listening and imagination skills.

This is a great CD. There are many good lessons. Our family enjoyed it. Our favorite was the last story!

I haven't listened to it but I have heard and read about it. WELL! It sounds so cool. I like most of the new ones more than the old ones. SSSSSOOOOO it's the BBBBBBBOOOOOOMMMMMBBBBBB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This a masterpiece! Warning: Commenly known to get you addicted to Focus on the Family Kid Audio stuff! (It happened to me) I was CAPTIVATED. Heres a sneek peek:
Jimmy Barclay is working for a gossiping magizene and has dropped out of school. (PSSST! He`s even growing a beard now!)
Bernard Walton is suddenly losing customers.
Trent DeWhite overcomes his fear of oral reports.(VERY funny)
We hear some more of Bernard`s MAGNIFISANT storytelling (the Girl in the Sink & Bernard and Saul)
And so much more!

Take my my word for it, you`ll be missing a lot if you don`t listen to this aulbum!!!!!!!!!

1.
SOUNDS LIKE A MYSTERY
Odyssey is abuzz when a national treasure come to town -- especially once it gets stolen! First Nick Mulligan, then Rodney Rathbone seem to be the likely culprits. But the truth shocks even Whit, who may have found out too late... An exciting whodunit that speaks about the dangers of deception, whether big or small.
Theme-Dishonesty

2.
THINK ON THESE THINGS
When Mr. Whittaker modifies the Imagination Station to help Trent and Marvin with their story problems, the two boys are very excited. They're understanding math like never before. But then Trent discovers that he can use the Station to talk back to teachers, with no consequences. How far will he go in his virtual rebellion?
Theme-Thought Life

3.
FAIRY TAL-E-VISION
Ever wondered what TV would be like in Fairy Tale Land? KYDS Radio shows how sin never pays with "TV shows" like "Emergency Room: Three Blind Mice" and "6 Minutes: The London Bridge Collapse."
Theme-Consequences of sin

4.
STARS IN OUR EYES
What is a hero? Tamika thinks that a popular star on "Most People Love Sydney" fits the bill... until Mr. Whittaker gets Tamika an interview with the celebrity herself! At the same time, Connie, Wooten, Tom and Bart hear that a Hollywood producer wants to make a commercial for Whit's End, and each of them offers their wacky ideas.
Theme-Heroes

5.
SUNDAY MORNING SCRAMBLE
Sunday means church for the Washington family, and on this morning all of them are especially rushed. Ed, Elaine, Tamika and Marvin learn an important lesson about preparing for worship when putting on their Sunday best and competing in a Scripture memory contest becomes a real hassle... especially when a certain neighbor pays them a visit--Bart Rathbone!
Theme-Worship

6.
POTENTIAL POSSIBILITIES
Our friends in Odyssey find out a key truth about not neglecting their gifts -- and a surprise from Tom Riley's past! After years of making A's, Trent has finally made it into the Gifted Class at his school. But will he lose friends if he takes on a new level of academics? Meanwhile, Tom Riley discovers that Aubrey is quite the horsemaster and urges her to compete in a horse show.
Theme-Using your gifts

7.
CALL ME IF YOU CARE
Connie's cell phone is picking up mysterious messages from someone named Cindy. She's obviously trying to reach someone important, but who is William? Connie and Whit set out to find out what it's all about and discover a wonderful message of forgiveness.
Theme-Reconciliation

8.
TRUE CALLING
Irving and Solly are back and help teach Mandy an important lesson about talent. Everyone discovers that God does have a plan for our lives and will reveal it in due time.
Theme-Fear

9.
...AND THAT'S THE TRUTH
Tamika takes her Sunday School lesson to heart when she starts telling people what she thinks - honestly. Too bad she missed the `in love' part of the message. Jack, in the meantime, has a struggle with his new employee who needs to hear the truth but Jack is hesitant to share. All ends well for most everyone.
Theme-Speak the truth in love

10.
A LAMB'S TALE
Tamika donates her beloved lamb to a local toy drive and then decides she really wants it back. We follow the lamb's tale throughout the story and find that her original sacrifice is exactly what she needed to do.
Theme-Sacrifice

11.
A GLASS DARKLY
Trent wrestles between being in detention and auditioning for the local symphony. He keeps getting caught at the wrong place at the wrong time and earning more and more detention which certainly decreases his odds of making it to the auditions.
Theme-Trusting in God

12.
THE COOLEST DOG
Marvin is the lead in his new band and isn't interested in taking advise from anyone; especially Tamika, who is the best musician in the bunch but isn't even part of the band. Much ensues, and the group learns that pride and selfishness come before the fall.
Theme-Pride

I have an Early 1970's copy. I bought it used and in the inner sleeve was written Merry Christmas 1972 Mom and Dad, From Bob and Carrol. I found this book is as old as I am and has lived another life altogether.

Anyway here's my review. This is the biggest Norman Rockwell book I have ever seen and I own 90% of the popular ones. This being said, i must comment on the greatness of the printing. Some paintings like The Land of Enchantment, A problem We all Live With, Strictly a sharp shooter, Yankee doodle and quite a few others are available in a gigantic fold out version in startlingly great color. Thats not all....The book is also full of small Prints glued into the pages. WOW!!! and to add to all that theres a Ton of color pictures printed directly in the book. Alternate sketches, Pictures he used as reference for the paintings such as shuffletons barbershop. I paid Under 5 bucks for this used and Its a crime. But its now one of my treasures and hopefully you'll get one too.

If you must buy only 2 Rockwell books get this one (Norman Rockwell Artist and Illusttrator) and The Saturday evening Post (The Complete Cover collection 1916 to 1971)

I have the one that is published in 1970. I have picture that can be removed out of mine, and I just love it I don't know if the 1997 published version has the same but I will never part with my book.

Just Great !

My mother bought this book in 1970 and it is a precious family treasurer. Our library board which is in the process of fund-raising for a new library is considering this book as a drawing card for donations for a give-away. It is one which board members said they would love to own. Mother's large heavy book has several large prints that can be framed. It's a heartwarming book which emphasizes the truth that a picture can say a thousand words.

My family is artsy, and when I was little, my dad or my uncle (I was too young to notice) gave this book to Grandpa for Christmas. It was the BIG GIFT that year. We all ooohed and aaahed over it. Grandpa and Grandma handled it so reverently. Whenever I would visit Grandpa and Grandma, I loved to sit down and look at every picture. (I had to wash my hands first.) This is a big book, like a coffee table book, with many, many pictures in full color, and big enough to see all the details. I could see how he painted each picture, how he handled the light, the expressions on the faces, how he made each person seem like someone you knew (or yourself), and how he make each story in the paintings reveal itself. The pictures are not shrunken down, black-and-white half-tones. They are reproduced like fresh Post Covers. I would sit there for a long time absorbing every page. I don't know if it has EVERY post cover, but it seems to, as well as other things like calendar pictures. When I grew up, I wanted that book so badly, so I went to a used book store (before the Internet) and bought it for $80, which was a lot for a young adult, but worth it. If you can get it for less, more power to you. This has more Norman Rockwell pictures than another Norman Rockwell book that I have ever seen. So if you only get one Norman Rockwell book, this is the one to get(except for his autobiography, which is hilarious.)

I was certain this was a 100 dollar book. It's a work of art. You will never get a book of this quality for so little money ever again.

This book, with its two companion volumes on Egyptian Art and American Art, helps create a fun and focused visit to a specific collection. The reader learns what to look for in the paintings, and also learns entertaining facts about the various artists. The introduction is particularly helpful. For example, it explains basic concepts about colors and perspective, and sets reasonable expectations about what children can absorb. The section about "museum feet" is very pertinent. Obviously the authors know children as well as the art.

This book, with its two companion volumes on Egyptian Art and American Art, helps create a fun and focused visit to a specific collection. The reader learns what to look for in the paintings, and also learns entertaining facts about the various artists. The introduction is particularly helpful. For example, it explains basic concepts about colors and perspective, and sets reasonable expectations about what children can absorb. The section about "museum feet" is very pertinent. Obviously the authors know children as well as the art.

It is a thoroughly engrossing overview of the artists and their artistic accomplishments written in a manner so easy to read aand remember. It really could be for any age tii use in any museum in the world which has Impressionist paintings. Fascinating! Informative!

If you don't have children, but have a number of them on your holiday list, these three Off the Wall Museum Guides for Kids by Ruthie Knapp and Janice Lehmberg are truly a find. They'll delight everyone - the kids will love them, their parents will be thankful for something that is both mind-expanding and great fun, and, you'll be thankful for pleasing both parties. Every child on my list will be receiving them this year. What's more, if you need some brushing-up in American art, Egyptian art, or French Impressionism, take a look before you wrap them up or, better yet, get a set for yourself. ART 101 was never so much fun! (Make sure to order all three books.)

This is a wonderfully entertaining and a very informative book for kids, parents, school volunteers and teachers! There's something for everyone. I've used it as a parent and art volunteer in the classroom for our kids and the other presenters. My eight year old daughter reads from this and their other book on American Art. Wish there were more in the set besides, Impressionists, American and Egyptian Art guides!

The photo sessions in this book seem as if you are intruding on very personal encounters. It's intimate and sensual. Most of the men are fit and gorgeous, but don't expect Belami boys here. These are men...not boys. The groups scenes ranged from hot to fun, but my only criticism would be that it seemed the photographer needed to put himself in the mix. And he's not as young and pretty as his models. It came across as ego, but hey, the guy's earned it, right? Perfect coffee table book.

I recently purchased this book from Amazon after seeing it at a book store. Awesome pictures that seem a bit more graphic than Vol.1. No complaints here on that. A good deal of photgraphs seem to center on a certain interest that caught my attention. Highly recommend both volumes sitting on the coffee table. Amazon has the best price too that I have found.

Tom Bianchi continues where he left off in ON THE COUCH, VOLUME 1, so much so that if you showed me a page from either book, I would be hard put to tell you from which volume the photograph came. The men remain god-like, and the photography again is perfect. Perhaps the artist will combine the two volumes into one lavish coffee table book sometime soon. Oh, we have some variety here-- a little bondage, some leather, and we go from a threesome in the previous edition to four in the floor here. The men this time around come from Brazil, Chicago, Canada, Australia and San Francisco; and at least one model makes a repeat appearance. There are some handsome men here. I recommend Darren of the Beautiful Feet for one.

Mr. Bianchi states in his introduction that he wants gay men to be comfortable with their sexuality. He further says that this work FROM THE COUCH is his Sistine Chapel-- maybe a bit of a stretch--although this photographer is certainly not short on talent.

For the artist's next book, I'd love to see a series on men who have B bodies or maybe a couple of C pluses thrown in for good measure. Something tells me that a lot of men occasionally would enjoy seeing pictures of men who look a little more like they do as opposed to so many gods from Mount Olympus. It's a little like having only chocolate truffles at every meal.

I found ON THE COUCH, VOL. 1. electrifying and visually satisfying. ON THE COUCH, VOL. 2, is as brilliant as Vol. 1. The pictures are stories, the models are real, and the sensuality of the work leaps from the pages. THIS, LIKE VOL.1 IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST HAVE!..It will be a wonderful addition to your collection.

I remain an avid Bianchi fan, and this color photographic collection, Volume Two, goes one step further than Volume One. It is beautiful, but it is what some might call "pornographic," as Bianchi has taken his photography up another notch. The collection is definitely not child's fair or a coffee table book, but it is a mature adult look at gay male sexuality for the bedroom bookcase. All of Bianchi's fotos are stunning and highly charged, erotic visual treats. I loved the leather couch and Tom's decorating choices so much that I now own a couch just like in the book. Weird huh? Now I can psychologically enhance the fantasies Bianchi has created. If only the men came with the couch!

I know the Rev. MacAbloo is at least partly responsible (and he's probably *mostly* responsible). Miss Quartermourning knows something but isn't telling. Miss Underfold had second thoughts after the fact but she was in too deep to get back out.

What I haven't figured out is the missing floorboard or those odd two-legged creatures.

I don't know where this late sixties Gorey work has been hiding, but it's good to see it in print now. Apparently this is part one of a mystery, and I look forward to part 2. Fans of Gorey's unique world, with its obscure humor and painstakingly rendered artwork, will enjoy this offering as yet another fine example of the master's hand. It tells the story (more or less) of an Edwardian garden party at which somebody dies, whereupon the characters dither about in various suspicious and barely coherent ways, and nothing is yet resolved. Fans may find this one reminiscent of "The Willowdale Handcar." Those unfamiliar with Gorey's work should first investigate his fine "Amphigorey" collection to get a sense of the utterly unique niche Mr. Gorey occupies, a mix of fine art, cartooning, illustration, highly subtle literate wit, and a morbid turn.

There is somthing about this book. It is so intrigueing I keep reading it over and over. For such a short story I have definately gotten my kicks out of it. Well worth a read again..and again...My favorite Gorey book.

Out of all the Edward Gorey books I've read so far, I think THE OTHER STATUE is the finest and witties. Published in 1968, it is similar to most of Gorey's works from this era, but the humour is even more droll than usual and the characters amusingly named. Moments of great significance and total unimportance are juxtaposed in a hilarious manner.

No one reads Gorey for the plot alone, as the pen and ink drawings hold most of the charm, but a summary may be of interest. Like Gorey's first novel THE UNSTRUNG HARP, our tale is set in the province of Mortshire near Backwater Hall. A number of guests arrive for a party, but the weather turns stormy, and LordWherewithal is killed by a statue blown from the roof and the priceless heirloom, the Lisping Elbow is stolen. Who among the cast of characters could be responsible? The clergyman Rev. O. MacAbloo, Horace Gallop, a gypsy selling Orphobismic Lozenges, or Miss Quartermorning? I would suspect the governess Miss Underfold, but Dr Belgravius and his nephew Luke Touchpaper are out to find the person responsible.

Now that I have written a little about the book, I see that it sounds weird and silly, but this is a very entertaining book, and certainly the best introduction to Gorey around. Give it a look if you like droll humour.

Gorey fans will enjoy this dark vintage offering, which was first printed in 1968 and has been out of print until this year. Gathered for the annual charity fete at Backwater Hall in Mortshire, the assembled guests are suddenly disrupted by the mysterious death of their host, Lord Wherewithal and the theft of the family's heirloom, the Lisping Elbow. The Other Statue is a gothic mystery filled with exquisite details and haunting images (both in the illustrations and the words.) It leaves its readers pondering and wondering what happened to the sequel, "The Night Bandage", promised "to follow" on the back cover.

For me, Peter Catalanotto's book "THE PAINTER" was a happy discovery as I searched our library for a children's book about Venetian artist Canaletto (1697-1768).

"The Painter" doubtless has an eager audience among children & their caregivers. We all benefit from sharing a story that celebrates the give and take of parenting. Color-suffused illustrations highlight the background 'patter' ~ ~ not everyone's daddy writes & paints pictures for books.

The play between parent & child comprise the story-line narrated by the young daughter, and include activities & laughter of many families. In this story, the contemporary family shows dad working at home, mother using her computer and camera, and the dog very much a member of the family. I love it when is he pictured eyeing the child's breakfast pancakes.

The book's COVER is a large double-spread of The Painter-Father outlining daughter in a series . . . as she lies on a great roll of paper. The sometimes 'dreamy' watercolors are well-executed for telling this oh-so-enjoyable story. And be sure to read the artist's book "EMILY'S ART" also. In each of these thoughtful, playful and exuberant books there are 'family values' IN THE MAKING.

(This commentary-with-a-small-"c" by mcHaiku)

This is a rather simple book. The text is simple and the wonderful art work is likewise. I enjoyed the whole thing from cover to cover. It is quite a realistic look at a family working from their home and their relationship with their child. More families should be like this one. I was delighted. As I stated, the illustrations are top notch and the story line is one that is quite easy to follow and quite easy to discuss with your child, or class room, what ever the case may be. Well done book and I highly recommend this one.

I am in fifth grade. My library teacher read "The Painter" to us. It was confusing at first but the more we got into the book the more interesting it got. The pictures were wonderful and the story was super! It's about a little girl who wants to play with her father. He won't let her into his studio until she finally asks to paint with him. If you want to find out what happens next, you'll have to read Peter Catalanotto's, "The Painter." He came to our school and told us how he writes and illustrates his books. He was the best visiting author ever!

An absolutely beautiful book! This picture book is a favorite with my kindergartners each year. The watercolored illustrations allow us to peek at the artist's life, "meet" his family, and share in the joy of art. We love to study the paintings and look for the subtleties which Catalanotto includes in his work, (students are excited to see a picture of the dalmatian from Dylan's Day Out on the studio wall). We talk about the daughter's disappointment when daddy can't play because he's painting, but we feel her happiness when he's dancing with her after lunch (the most breathtaking painting in the book). Young readers love the watercolor by the daughter at the end; my kindergartners are inspired to paint the same rainbow and birds for the rest of the school year! Every primary teacher should have this wonderful book as part of the classroom library. Curriculum connection: art, family, love, artists and painters, parents who work at home.

For preschool teachers and parents who like books which address reality (and issues)this story subtly addresses the pro's and con's of a work-at-home parent. It also shows Mom working at he computer and Dad as an artist. Very nice.

I decided that as a children's librarian who loves picture books, I can no longer simply sit back and admire them in silence, so I'm determined to review my favorites here on Amazon and share with others the treasures I've found. The Painter and the Wild Swans is just such a treasure, and I regret that the cover image isn't available for the book, because that would at least give readers some idea of the stunning illustrations available in this book.

Claude Clement is a Parisian author of children's books who wrote this after she was inspired by pictures of Siberian swans. All I can say is, it's no wonder this book received the French Foundation Grand Prize for Children's Literature. The story is that of a skilled Japanese painter who is rich and popular. When he catches sight of wild swans, he is enraptured by their beauty and decides he must paint them. This pursuit of beauty becomes his obsession and ultimately, powerfully transforms him by the end of the tale. In addition to Ms. Clement's lovely text (translated to English by Robert Levine)there is a line of Japanese poetry in calligraphy on each page of the story. At the end, these lines are translated for the reader into Teji's (the painter of the story) Poem, recounting the entire story in poetic imagery. That alone would have made the book worth reading.

But then there's the art. Acrylic paintings by Frederic Clement (no relation to the author) give the jewel of story a worthy setting. This gifted illustrator has provided images that at once invoke the Japanese culture and style, and yet become art in their own right. Clements marvelous technique of morphing pictures (On one page the viewer can see the swans fade into snowdrifts. On another, a view of clouds and mountains slowly changes into an old man offering a cup of tea. The pictures are there to savor and look over time and time again.

There is perhaps one downside of this particular treasure, and that is the audience it is meant for. This book probably won't work for most youngsters--it's too subtle and mature. But adult readers may avoid it thinking that all picture books are for children only. This is simply not true, and I'd like to convince more individuals of that fact. The Painter and the Wild Swans really works best for ages 9 and up, in my opinion. It's a marvelous example of a folktale styled story from Japan, and should work well in any folktale, or multicultural book collection.

Those who enjoy the Painter and the Wild Swans may want to also look at THE BOY WHO DREW CATS: A JAPANESE FOLKTALE by Arthur Levine and MUSICIANS OF THE SUN by Gerald McDermott.

Happy Reading! ^_^

I have a hardback copy of the painter and the wild swans,i got it in north carolina i think that the art work is firt class.

HOW could a book like this be out of print??

The Painter and the Wild Swans is one of the most beautiful books I've read. The art work is stunning, the story is unforgetable. This author's other books are also of equal quality. It is utterly, utterly incomprehensible that they are out of stock.

We took this out of the library some months ago and it is still with me. The tale is marvelous: light, airy, beautiful but the pictures are what carry the book. They are carefully crafted and have a spirituality all of their own. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy and send a couple to friends of mine. Transportational!

I'm a third year art student with an enthusiastic appreciation for sorolla and his ability to handle painting the natural light of spain. I have this book by luck from a relative who searched high and low all over madrid, and came up with it from some obscure book seller, who had only two copies. The sorolla museum "when its open" never has this book. Good luck searching.

Sorolla lovers rejoice! New - "Joaquin Sorolla" by Bianca Pons-Sorolla. General editor Edmund Peel, ISBN 0856676055, 352 pages, larger format, more paintings, SUPERB, hardcover. Available from Amazon. The book can also be found at the San Diego Museum of Art in a softbound edition ISBN 0937108367 which is less expensive.

very goo

Sorolla is an outstanding painter of light and all of the above. His oils are so fresh and alive, it makes me salivate. When I read this out-of-print from my art teachers library I was in awe. He is a great painter and you will identify with him if you're interested in : life drawing/painting, John Singer Sargent, and Zornes. It is sad that this book is out of print. You might be able to find it at certain art galleries that might exhibit this kind of work. Or you can always visit his museum in Madrid.

This is a wonderful artist and a wonderful book. It was reprinted in 1998. I found a copy at the San Diego Museum of Art. This fabulous book would be of benefit to any portrait painter or plein air painter.

Susan Hall's Painting Point Reyes offers a lyrical gallery of rural landscapes wrought with the refined sensibility of an artist who cherishes her birthplace. Ms. Hall's selection of the spacious natural environment for her subject matter - California's stunning Point Reyes National Seashore - is as important as what she leaves out: all the peripheral contemporary distractions of billboards, crowds and cars. By haunting us with the universal through richly layered minimalist compositions often depicted under the diffuse light of night, she offers a spare and precious moment of touching the lagoons and pools, the hillsides and meadows she calls home.

The paintings are haunting and immediately transported me into a place from where I was able to see Pt Reyes spritually rather than literally. Susan's perspective of Pt. Reyes is unusual and soothing. Whether you know Pt Reyes or not, this is an opportunity to get intimate with one of America's greatest artists and look through her eyes at how she describes her place of childhood. Some of the paintings in this book are from private collections, so it was a treat for me to have in my living room, earlier work by Susan Hall, which is otherwise impossible to see, let alone own.

Painting Point Reyes is a real treasure. The collection of beautiful prints of Susan Hall's paintings provide an unparalleled look into the landscapes of Point Reyes through the paint brush of a native and outstanding artist. Her rich paintings are filled with emotion and capture a perspective of Point Reyes that one cannot see with the naked eye. This book resides on my coffee table and is hardly ever closed, people are drawn to it, and thus it is a perfect gift, both for those who know and love Point Reyes as well as those who simply enjoy fabulous art.

As "aum" captures the sound of the universe, as Georgia O'Keefe captures the vibration of a flower, Susan Hall's landscape paintings capture the very "prana" of the land in West Marin County in Northern California. The paintings of rolling green and golden hills, a watery marsh, a farmhouse nestled in the fold of a hill transport the viewer to what is transcendent in the landscape. Susan expresses a deeper essence of the land and water than could ever be subject to words. Her renditions of light, reflection, atmosphere and water are positively multisensory - I feel the density of the air, the moisture that lingers above the pond, I smell the dry sharpness of the grasses. Best of all, she leaves space for the viewer's feelings and projections while nonetheless managing to quietly and subtly uplift and inspire. Look for the joy in the brushstroke, the subtle whimsy in the color, the power in her earth.

The introductory sections are worth reading, locating Hall's body of work in the history of landscape painting (which I suspect will be significant!), in the local geography and geology, in her own personal history/memories there, and.as a commentary on human use of the land and water in the Point Reyes area. From these, the reader gets the sense of the largesse and intelligence and relevance of Hall's landscapes, yet it should be noted that the majority of paintings, modestly titled "Rocks and Sea," "The Beach," "Full Moon," are already in people's collections. A great American painter who obviously speaks to the souls of her audience.

I return to this compilation over and over, to rest, recalibrate and inspire my psyche. In addition to people who appreciate fine art, it is also appropriate for people in psychology, deep ecology, nature enthusiasts, those who live and work in the outdoors, and those in the meditative arts. I gave it to a writer to evoke his cherished spaces in Northern California.

Susan Hall's paintings of Point Reyes, part of the Point Reyes National Seashore, are sublime meditations on a very special landscape. And although the book is a tribute to this idyllic area, her paintings go beyond any physical setting. As I looked through the book I realized that I was turning the pages more slowly at each color plate. The simplicity of the format, the beauty and richness of the colors (which is too often the disappointment in reproductions) and the images themselves captured me and I was reluctant to go quickly. This is a successful representation of both the spirit and the amazing skill of Ms. Hall's work. I highly recommend it.