Georgia Books

As a parent of a teenager, I took a peek inside to find out if there was anything on her days at Chatham Hall, a high school O'Keeffe attended in Virginia a century ago, which was then Chatham Episcopal Institute.

A few quotes from the book:

"she would remember that period as important especially because of her long walks in the hills "with the line of the Blue Ridge Mountains on the horizon calling me, as distances have always called me."' (p.10)

"I only remember two things I painted in those years.... I slapped my paint about quite a bit and did not care where it landed."

"Of tremendous importance during this time was the admiration and encouragement Georgia received from the principal at Chatham, Elizabeth may Willis, who was also the art teacher. She saw Georgia's talent and encouraged it unstintingly. Even in later years Willis followed O'Keeffe's career, inviting her to substitute as art teacher when she herself took a few months off, and traveling to New York to see exhibits of her student's work many years later." (p.11,12)

"Georgia ... graduated from Chatham at the age of 17" and "went on the study at the Art Institute of Chicago...."

About Chicago Art Institute, according to Frazier, O'Keeffe said "I don't remember learning anything except that I finally became accustomed to the idea of the nude model." (p.15)

Apparently she blossomed as a painter later. O'Keeffe was "encouraged ... unstintingly" at Chatham. She even enjoyed patronage of a sort from Chatham in her employment as substitute art teacher. About her, Lewis Mumford later wrote "Miss O'Keeffe is perhaps the most original painter in America." (p.7)

"She was not unfriendly or antisocial.... She joined in pranks with high spirits while keeping her reputation as a nonconformist."

Wonderfully written with beautifully reproduced prints. It was great to get information of her development along with excellent reproductions of her work. (...)

December 3, 2001

"Georgia often rearranged the natural things she saw, and simplified them", p. 8

The young reader will learn about O'Keeffe's young years on her family's big Wisconsin farm, her years in Texas teaching art and during her free moments painting, her years with Stieglitz in New York painting, and her years in New Mexico painting.

O'Keeffe's choice of enlarging objects in her paintings makes this a perfect choice for young children. Everything is larger than life for the young. If there is anyone who will have nearly an innate appreciation for O'Keeffe's style it will be the young. They will readily identify her objects. Her color choices in her paintings are few and therefore not busy and distracting. The young reader will be drawn in by her bold and bright selection of colors.

Venezia's illustrations are humorous. His narrative is delightfully entertaining. His approach brings the artist within reach of the young. His re-enactment of an opening at Stieglitz's gallery of new artists' paintings is precious.

The size of the book is perfect for smaller hands. It enables the young to have art within their grasp. Venezia gives the locations of the paintings and as result if the child lives near one of the museums or will be near one on vacation, she/he would be able to see the original.

This is the 15th in Venezia's "Getting to know the World's Greatest Artist" series. He also has similar series on composers. Venezia's back cover illustrations tie back to the subject. "Like O'Keeffe, Mike searches near his home for objects in their natural surroundings ...".

The price of the book is well worth paying. The book contains the following: O'Keeffe's Paintings - 18, Photos of O'Keeffe - 3, Venezia's Illustrations - 8, Others' paintings - 3.

Convenient size. You can take it with you when you travel to New Mexico and see the lands that inspired a truly remarkable woman. The black and white photographs and the simple design of the book would please Ms. Okeeffe, I feel. I have been to Ghost Ranch and it really is amazing to see some of the changes and similarities that the pictures present. The photographer John Loengard has produced a compelling insight into the private life of a very intriguing woman.

This is an unusually perceptive and sensitive view of the life and art of Georgia O'Keeffe. The author not only includes information about the friends of Georgia, but samples of the works that very probably influenced her development as an artist. The photographs of Georgia at various times in her life were a nice addition. I learned more about this wonderfully independent artist from this book than from the other dozens of books that I have read about her. Very readable, and highly recommended.

If you enjoy the works of Georgia O'Keeffe, this is a book you'll want to savor. The reproductions of her paintings are marvelously printed, and the accompanying essays of O'Keeffe's life and work are erudite and lucid.

There are also pictures of O'Keeffe at various stages of her life and career, ranging from her time as a young student at the University of Virginia, into her weathered, mature age, the last one featuring her at 90 at Ghost Ranch in the desert.

You may want to scan many of the pictures, as I did, for use as computer desktops and ornamental additions to emails. Kudoes to Britta Benke for this must-have book for those who appreciate Georgia O'Keeffe!

"This calendar's twelve images, all from major American museums, include White Peony, 1927; Flower Abstraction, 1924; Datura and Pedernal, 1940; Black Pansy and Forget-Me-Nots, 1926; The Mountain, New Mexico, 1931; and Red Cannas, 1927. ¶ 12 x 13" wall calendar (opens to 12 x 26") with twelve full-color reproductions. ISBN: 0-7649-3102-4 . . . Related items available in Georgia O'Keeffe Gallery."--© Pomegranate

You will never be disappointed in any artwork by the great George O'Keeffe. I look forward to getting her new calendar every year.

Yes this is the 7th one I've bought. I love Georgia O'keeffes' art. Her colors are vivid, her lines sensual. A great way to get great art into your home or workplace.

The black and white photography captures the artist perfectly. You can feel her intensity and sensuality spring from the pages. It is an intimate look at a very private artist.

"A flower is relatively small. Everyone has many associations with a flower - the idea of flowers. You put out your hand to touch the flower - lean forward to smell it - maybe touch it with your lips almost without thinking - or give it to someone to please them. Still, in a way - nobody sees a flower - really - it is so small - we haven't time - and to see takes time like to have a friend takes time. If I could paint the flower exactly as I see it no one would see what I see because I would paint it small like the flower is small. So I said to myself, I'll paint what I see - what the flower is to me but I'll paint it big and they will be surprised into taking time to look at it." ~ Georgia O'Keeffe ~

"These works of art are self-portrait of a woman and an artist in full bloom. They are extraordinary because of the complexity and richness of their intimations. They speak of many things - the idea of filling a space in a beautiful way, the sheer joy of painting well, one woman's life. To me they are above all the most sublime expression of love that had ever been put into paint." ~ Nicholas Callaway ~

I simply love flowers!

I love roses for they are the ultimate message of true love. Flowers symbolize emotion gently unfolding like the love growing in your hearts.

This gem of a book, Georgia O'Keeffe: "One Hundred Flowers" is one of my favorite art/coffee table books and as someone who loves to draw and paint, this to me is a treasure more than anything else in the world! The size of this book is 16" x 14" x 1" - it's absolutely a collector's item. I love looking at one hundred beautiful flowers magnificently compiled here by Nicholas Callaway and truly appreciate the beauty and charm of each flower painted delicately with pastel and dainty colors by one of my favorite painters of all-time, Georgia O'Keeffe. I have appreciated her beautiful works of art and I own some of her most remarkable works. Who else can capture the beauty of flowers with brilliant imagination and innate creativity than Ms. O'Keeffe?

My beautiful, intellectual and creative sister, who is a Physician and paints as a hobby, got me into painting when two winters ago, while I was spending Christmas holidays with her and her very own family, a blizzard after Christmas Day kept us inside the house for almost three days and we had painting sessions with her son, daughters and her daughters-in-law where she taught us the basics. My first few paintings are of course flowers since I'm greatly fascinated by the charming masterworks of Georgia O'Keeffe. And I believe that flowers say a thousand words. These O'Keeffe works of art are startling with sensuality with images that constituted a new language through which the artist expressed profound emotion.

I'm so fascinated by every painting but the masterworks that deeply caught my eyes include the following. I own framed prints of the first five and they are all eye-catchers.

58 - Pink Rose
29 - Pink Tulip
26 - Pink Sweet Peas
81 - Pink Roses and Larkspur
73 - Light Iris
12 - Petunia No. 2
35 - Pansy
79 - Bleeding Heart
97 - The White Trumpet Flower
53 - Yellow Calla-Green Leaves
67 - White Flower
72 - Yellow Cactus Flowers
96 - Jimson Weed (Cover)
85 - Sunflower
46 - Poppy
98 - White Calico Flower
13 - Petunia and Coleus
89 - The Miracle Flower
14 - Flower Abstraction
86 - Mountain Flowers, Mariposa Lily
61 - Yellow Hickory Leaves with Daisy
55 - Calla Lily with Red Roses
93 - White Camellia
94 - An Orchid
83 - Apple Blossoms

This Valentine's Day, there's nothing sweeter than receiving flowers . . . so say it with flowers. And add this beautiful book to go with the fresh flowers for your special someone.

Happy Valentine's Day to you!