The Artbook Shelf

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THE ARTBOOK SHELF

Art Nouveau in Russia
Vsevolod Petrov
Parkstone Press/Books International
Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
1-859953506 $55.00 44-1-202-52-82-63

Schools and movements within the Nouveau art movement in Russia are charted in
an exceptional catalog which documents the works and achievements of this
movement in Russia. This catalog is packed with full-page, excellent-quality
color reproductions of Russian art Nouveau, along with discussions of the
techniques and achievements of selected Russian artists. A noteworthy,
impressive, and simply excellent collection.

All Around the World
Jay Wolke
Art Institute of Chicago
111 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60603
0-86559-165-2 $22.95 1-312-443-3600

This could also have appeared in our ethnic section but deserves feature under
'Art' as an extraordinary collection of cultural images which excels in candid
camera excellence. Photos of American-Jewish communal life capture
celebrations, ceremonies, quiet moments and high drama alike, creating a
compelling set of images of interest not only to the Jewish community, but to
any seeking fine examples of cultural photography. A lively, powerful set of
color images.

Mary Hallock Foote
Doris Bickford-Swarthout
Berry Hill Press
2349 State Rt 12-B, Deansboro NY 13328
0-9646900-2-0 $35.00

Foote was called the 'dean of American women illustrators', but many won't
recognize her name. Mary Hallock Foote: Pioneer Woman Illustrator deserves a
place on any serious art library's shelf: it covers her pioneering works during
the late 1800s, provides biographical notes and supplementary text in Foote's
on handwriting, and includes over a hundred fifty black and white
illustrations. An excellent, involving study.

An Encyclopedia of Women Artists of the American West
Paul Kovinick & M. Yoshiki-Kovinick
University of Texas Press
Box 7819, Austin, TX 78713
0-292-72092-0 $35.00 1-512-471-7233

This isn't for the general reader: it's a strong reference guide art libraries
will welcome, providing a comprehensive encyclopedic compendium of over 1,000
women artists who depicted themes of the West. Small black and white photos of
their works accompany brief biographical and critical sketches in this
reference.

The Book of Flowers
Catherine Donzel
Flammarion/Abbevile Press, dist.
26, rue Racine, 75278 Paris, France
2-08013-655-0 $50.00 1-800-278-2665

The Book Of Flowers unveils the language of floral beauty as it traces the
story of flowers as symbolic messengers at times of celebration and mourning,
revealing the meaning of lilies, roses, tulips, and numerous other varieties
and their subtle meanings which were used and recreated by societies from the
Romans to the Victorian era. Author Catherine Donzel has undertaken extensive
archival research to find rare paintings, documents, and texts which illuminate
the complex language and symbolism of flowers down through the ages. Her
interviews with major flower importers and florists in the United States and
Europe provide unique insight into the contemporary world of flowers and
highlights their continued importance in our social, professional, and
emotional lives. Magnificently illustrated with fine art and superb
photography, The Book Of Flowers reclaims the traditions of floral decoration
and demonstrates why floristry today is gaining the status of haute couture
design.

Judith Rothschild
Jack Flam
Hudson Hills Press
230 - 5th Ave. #1308 NY NY 10001-7704
1-55595-150-3 $45.00 1-212-889-3090

This represents the first full-scale monograph on Rothschild, with over 100
reproductions of her work accompanying a retrospective exhibition of her
paintings. Woven into the sampling of her major pieces is an account of her
life and artistic achievements over a half-century, providing an outstanding
depth and detail surveying her life and times as well as her art.

The Best of Watercolor 2
Betty Lou Schlemm & Larry Webster
Quarry Books/Rockport Publishers
33 Commercial St., Gloucester MA 01930
1-56496-251-2 $24.99 1-800-289-0963

The Best Of Watercolor 2 is a full-color showcase honoring some of the world's
finest watercolor artists. The two hundred and fifty paintings shown here were
selected by award-winning watercolor artists Betty Lou Schlemm and Larry
Webster from a pool of more than 4,000 entries. The Best of Watercolor 2
features paintings in a multitude of styles and techniques by artists from many
different countries. These paintings will acquaint the reader with the
unlimited range of creative uses of watercolor and introduce artists who are
exploring those possibilities. An inspirational resource for artists of every
level, The Best Of Watercolor 2 is an essential addition to the library of any
watercolor artist, collector, or connoisseur. Also highly recommended is the
first volume of this outstanding series, The Best Of Watercolor (207-5
$24.99).

Wardell Publications
Box 480069, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308

This publisher's stained glass specialty will appeal to any working in the
medium: its books both profile finished works and explore techniques, providing
students and teachers with a foundation for stained glass education and
production. Randy and Judy Wardell's Introduction To Stained Glass
(0-919958-04-1, $13.95) provides a do-it-yourself teaching manual discussing
the latest tools and techniques of the trade. Beginners will appreciate the
project patterns and insider's tips and the photos which provide step-by-step
clear directions for the projects. Windows Of Distinction (985-22-X), Windows
Of Elegance (21-1) and Windows Of North America (24-6; $18.95 soft; $29.95
hardcover) each profile superior window examples in 100 color photos and 45
line drawings. Works of art selected for profile were all created and installed
for real clients: the juxtaposition of black and white patterns and color
close-ups of finished results makes for a fine survey of each project. Students
of stained glass receive clear examples of the entire process from start to
finish, and its real-life applications. All are highly recommended picks for
discriminating art libraries.

Painting from the Source
Aviva Gold
HarperPerennial
10 E. 53rd St., NY, NY 10022-5299
0-06-095272-5 $16.00

Paint with few inhibitions or conflicts with the aid of Painting from the
Source, a superb itle designed to help reach that 'inner artist'. Experiments
in painting are designed to awaken the painter's sense of play rather than a
critical eye: enjoy chapters which use the artist's experiences and add a
first-person element of personal insight.

The Business of Art
Lee Caplin
Prentice Hall Press
240 Frisch Ct., Paramus, NJ 06752
0-7352-0013-0 $19.95

Artists who need enough business basics to make important art-marketing
decisions will appreciate this third revised edition, which covers grants,
artist promotion, and all the basics artists need to survive on their talent.
Each chapter's written by an expert in his/her field; from insuring artwork and
artists to forming a business entity which complies with government rules.

Weatherhill
568 Broadway #705, NY, NY 10012-3225

Penelope Anne Lindsay's Placement Art (0-8348-0413-1, $14.95) is recommended
for interior decorators with a newfound interest in feng shui: it explains the
basic concepts and vocabulary of feng shui, analyzing spaces, structures, and
the process of evaluating a living space. The evaluation process is clearly
covered placing this beyond most instructional guides. Rosemary Grill's Indian
Ikat Textiles (0451-4, $45.00) covers a form of textile treatment which
involves resist-dyeing where threads are patterned before weaving. The history
of the technique as well as its production over the centuries are considered in
a work which profiles holdings in the Victoria & Albert Museum. The color
photos are outstanding.

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