MBR: The Art Shelf
Midwest Book Review
Moving Pictures
Nancy Mowll Mathews & Charles Musser
Hudson Hills Press
PO Box 205, 74-2 Union Street, Manchester, VT 05254
1555952283 $65.00 hudsonhills.com
Moving Pictures: American Art And Early Film 1880-1910 is a fantastic
artbook about the intersection between American art and the new medium
of moving pictures during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A
medley of essays written by a variety of authors explore the complex
interplay of both genres and how they impacted one another, while color
illustrations and photography (black-and-white in the cases when the
original film or artwork is black-and-white) reveal the evolution of
images and the portrayal of motion. Chapters especially focus upon
American artistic traditions, and how artists and filmmakers of the era
captures both the body in motion and the city in motion. Moving
Pictures: American Art And Early Film 1880-1910 is a truly stunning
art history that places as much emphasis on the written insights
concerning the transformation of genres as it does on upon its vivid
and vibrant images. A companion DVD-ROM, which is compatible with PC
Internet Explorer/Firefox or Macintosh Safari/Firefoxm, complements
this impressive volume.
Trompe L'Oeil: Sky And Sea
Ursula E. & Martin Benad
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.wwnorton.com
039373171-5 $29.95 1-800-233-4830
Sea and sky are the trompe l'oeil painter's favorite and best motifs
for modern interiors, and here Ursula E. and Martin Benad provide
artists with easily-followed introductions to painting clouds, waves
and seascapes. Patterns, examples, and tips cover both large and small
formats for walls and ceilings, discuss the challenge of perspective
and special lighting, and gauging color intensity and effects. Packed
with color photos and illustration examples, Trompe L'oeil: Sky And Sea
is a wonderful beginning artist's guide.
Pacific Pattern
Susan Kuchler & Graeme Were
Thames & Hudson
500 - 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10110
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
050051237X $50.00 www.amazon.com
Very highly recommended as a special holiday pick or art collection
basic is the gorgeous Pacific Pattern, blending lovely color photos by
Glenn Jowitt with a survey of South Pacific arts, from fiber art and
videos to traditional patterns used in floor coverings and clothing.
Pacific traditional patterns blend with new materials and purposes to
blend old styles with new innovations - and Anthropology researcher
Susanne Kuchler is the perfect choice, paired with Research Fellow
Graeme Were, to explore both the artistic and anthropological roots of
Pacific region art. A gorgeous history of patterns, fiber and peoples
evolves.
Advanced Airbrush Art
Timothy Remus
Wolfgang Publications
217 - 2nd Street N., Stillwater, MN 55082
1929133200 $24.95 www.wolfpub.com
Advanced Airbrush Art: How To Secrets From The Masters could also have
been featured in our 'Transportation' section, for many of the
techniques are demonstrated for auto art purposes - but it's reviewed
here for its fine technical survey of airbrush techniques. Nearly 500
color photos provide step-by-step explanation to accompany projects
from ten selected airbrush masters. The bikes being decorated serve as
project examples for cutting masks, using graphics, mixing and more,
making Advanced Airbrush Art a definitive guide for any entering into
the airbrush art world.
Art Deco Ironwork And Sculpture
S.F. Jerry Cook III & Tina Skinner
Schiffer Publications
4880 Lower Valley Rd, Atglen, PA 19310
0764322923 $49.95 schifferbooks.com
Any interested in either studying or collecting art deco ironwork
simply must have Art Deco Ironwork And Sculpture: it's the definitive
guide to the topic, presenting over 500 pieces in detail on pages which
pair photos with history of the Moderne Art movement in Paris. The
illustrations were selected from folio volumes published in the
mid-1920s to inspire other artists, and are arranged by ironwork theme:
windows, facades, walls, columns, and more.
Paintings Of New York 1800-1950
Bruce Weber
Pomegranate Communications
775A Southpoint Boulevard, Petaluma, CA 94954-1495
0764933191 $30.00 pomegranate.com
Almost eight artists celebrate New York through paintings featured in
Bruce Weber's excellent Paintings Of New York 1800-1950. Undoubtedly
there were thousands to choose from - but only a little hundred a
hundred made the cut for Paintings Of New York, which profiles works by
such classic artists as Georgia O'Keeffe, Edward Hopper, and Childe
Hassam. These are New York at its finest: crowds, seasons,
architectural and neighborhood atmosphere and wonders. The idea was to
provide a diverse selection of New York interpretations accompanied by
a scholarly text blending history with art appreciation: packaged in an
affordable hardcover, Paintings Of New York is a pick for any with an
affection for the city.
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