Interesting and fun even for a crusty old artist
929799
Watercolor for the Artistically Undiscovered has been a fun workbook for our whole family.  My daughter received one for a gift and it was so entertaining we had to order two more so everyone could sit and do it together.  The book's layout is in page by page exercises that might inspire further fun and thinking, as well as build on each other to create a more versatile way of looking at painting.  In my opinion, the most fun part is being able to paint in a book and even cut out parts and glue them elsewhere.  Kids have a chance to breakout from the usual parental mantra of "Be sure not to write in the book, watch out with the paint...".  The pages are very sturdy and good quality and the author's sense of humour is wonderful.  I have my very own copy to play in, which is sometimes just the thing to inspire me in my own work.  And well, there is something about turning squiggles into bugs....
1556998
Absolutely addictive - sly, funny, beautiful and all about why it's so difficult to Have Nice Things, let alone hold on to them. It takes some subterfuge, much nuance, and help from zombies, and even those can fail. I have already touted this to my writer/painter relatives, but if you're less than 200-300 years old, you'll still enjoy it.
3281869
I have always been interested in art but never knew where to begin. Then one day having a browse through Amazon I stumbled on this and thought it could be a good way of finding what kind of art and artists I liked.

Since buying this book I have found so many artists I would never have heard of. Artists like Arcimboldo with his quirky paintings of people with faces made of fruit and Isaak Levitan, who created the sparse but beautifully colored `The Vladimirka Road'. Of course the book features the likes of Da Vinci and Van Gogh, but I found the lesser known paintings to be much more interesting in terms of dipping my toes into the art world. For those of you interested in the biographical side of things, the book also offers short biographies of some of the artists which I found easily digestible and interesting.

For anyone wanting to scrub up on their art, or even for Art students/teachers wanting a touch of inspiration, I can definitely recommend this book. Great pictures by some great artists, plus the price is reasonable too!
30733
I imagine really advanced artists might not find this that helpful or interesting but as someone who still has a great deal to learn I found all the stories very helpful. He has a great way of explaining what is going on in his mind as far as choice of composition, the importance of getting the drawing right, how to play with color adjustments etc. Super helpful for someone at my level.
3839983
You can now have a sample of the bronze age Jughead funny books all on one disc.  Really interesting even for people who didn't grow up with it that are studying the graphic arts in different time periods.
2544150
Jerry Maren has had the most incredible career. I had no idea he went on to do so many things after appearing in The Wizard of Oz.  "Short And Sweet" is primarily a picture book. It is like a scrapbook of his life. There are photos on almost every page showing the author working with everyone from Groucho Marx to Barry Manilow. And who knew that he was one of the aliens in the original Star Trek?

He tells his story in a gentle fashion. It is not a catty tell-all book.  He is very respectful of everyone he worked with.  Well, ok, he mentions a couple of people who drank a bit too much, but that is as gossipy as it gets. He comes across as a man who genuinely loves his work, enjoys himself, and enjoyed his years of working in Hollywood.

It was fun learning a bit more about the other Munchkins, too.  I enjoyed this book a lot.
4299942
This book is full of art that is an illusion such as a painting that looks like a boy is walking out of it and a wall painted to look like a you could walk into it to another place.  It also describes how illusions work and how to create them yourself.  There are some classic examples such as the endless staircase and the duck/rabbit, but there are many modern examples.  The book also shows some unusual and unexpected art from around the world.

This book was great fun.  My only wish was that it could have been a little longer.  This is the type of book where you could stare at each page in fascination for ages and ages before turning to the next one.  The fact that it shows how to make your own art illusions makes it perfect for the younger and curious crowd.  This is also an excellent book for budding artists due to the art concepts taught (such as perspective).  I highly recommend this book for the coffee table, for the classroom, and for just plain fun.
Ages 8 and up would get the most enjoyment out of the more difficult concepts.
1622872
There are some dualing reviews here, one reviewer loved the old fashioned carvings and illustrations, one of the reviewers did not like it since it is an older book and felt the instructions were not clear enough. I like it, including the old drawings. The carving challenges are very much the way things used to be, and the items for carving are very nostalgic to me. I posted a picture of the cover, so you can see some of the types of whittling projects there are in this book. It is challenging, but fun for any whittler. I do not think it is the best book for a beginner, but any seasoned whittler can figure out from the diagrams how to reproduce the amazing projects in the book. Wooden chains, animals, and the cage in ball are old classics, and he reveals the tricks behind them. The book was originally written by Walter Faurot in 1930, and he also drafted the illustrations. Special thanks to the publishers for bringing this oldie back to us.
2205016
Gorgeous art, funny and silly pictures. The artist put a lot of time and work into this book. He does most of the work for you but still PLENTY to color. If you have had a hard day and need a break from reality, and practicality, open this book and color! It's fantasy but somehow comforting to shut the real world out for awhile. I enjoyed the giants and elves and talking trees. Took me back to my childhood, a more carefree time. I look forward to seeing more work from this artist and will definitely buy another of his.
4350132
Interesting insight into the art auction world. Since I'm old, I recognize many of the names he inserts in his narrative.
263625
Dufy may not be the best known, or most popular painter, so I was so happy to find a book entirely dedicated to him. I really liked the biography that gave me a refreshing look at his life and the times he lived in. I also liked the color plates at the back of the book. The plates chosen gave us a closer look at some of his paintings. I also liked the description of Dufy's thought process when he painted that particular piece. I gave the book 4 stars because the paintings that accommodated the historical biography were not in color. I mean how do learn about a painter if you can't see his paintings in color?  Some of the referenced paintings were included in the back of the book, but a lot of them were not shown. I was even more despondent when I found more colorful representatives of his paintings on Pintrest than in this book. I recommend the book for the biography and color plates at the end. I would caution readers to expect more black and white in this book.
386901
The author is also an artist,and after looking at his art ,I looked at some of the  books he has written. This one sounded interesting so I purchased it.
1429061
This is the first time I find something like this. I think it is not intended for expert sketchers, but I found the content is very interesting yet entertaining,  it is written nicely. I am a sketcher myself, it is fun to have and read the book. Enjoy so much seeing all sketches included and read the description.
1983068
I like to draw and paint when I have the time, but Ive found coloring to be super-relaxing and fun. And now, since its become a trend, I can say I love to color without everything thinking Im six years-old. With the new adult coloring books, like this one, you will feel like you have created some unique art. Plus, its a fun way to keep your hands working while watching television or hanging out in front of the fire in the wintertime (I don't knit, crochet or sudoko). This particular book was entertainingthe creatures are adorable and the drawings are intricate, leaving the coloring a bit of a fun challenge.  All you have to do with this Kindle version is screenshot the page you want and then hit print. Very enjoyable for myself and to share with my kids.
3267268
Once it gets going, chuckles abound. The art is a magnificent backdrop to the musings, packaged and joined in a way that I'm sure our intellectually gifted ancestors would have enjoyed. Funny fun times.
925082
It's worth your time and your monetary investment. A very fun read, and great artwork. Even though I'm an older guy, it was a lot of fun.
1151532
Within the last few years, there has been an uptick of quirky, elderly, sarcastic/angry protagonists. There was Ove in A Man Called Ove, who would regularly kick things while being super grumpy. There was Allan in the 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, who wasn't so grumpy, but just got tired of being in a nursing home. There was also Martha of The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules and her mighty band of pensioners who go for broke one day and go on a spree.

Into this genre, enters Hendrik Groen who is 83 years old and is one of the youngest people at his old age home. He decides to keep a diary for a year telling about life in the home. He is sarcastic, opinionated, and is approaching the diary without a filter, as he says.

There are fights in the home as to who can sit in certain benches or not. There are mysteries, such as they dying fish (they died because Hendrik threw a rock hard biscuit into the tank), and there is a new "gang" called The Old, but Not Dead Club of which Hendrik is a founding member. They stay up late and keep planning to go on an outing.

Life in the home is pretty normal with all of these things going on, until Eefje moves in. Hendrik has always had a thing for her and wishes life had been a bit different.

Throughout the book, Hendrik also deals with a memory that seems to be slipping at time, getting older so he might need a scooter, and has insights about getting older that will delight.

This book is a "safe" one. By that, I mean you know what you are going to get and it can be read by any single person in the family who can read. It is heartwarming, it is funny, and there isn't too much to set someone off. It is a completely "safe" book. It would be fun for a book club to read.

The good news, is I am not quite tired of these types of books yet. I am still enjoying the sarcastic, grumpy, yet a heart of gold elderly person books. I find them good palate cleansers after some heavier books and this one is no different. It was so fun, I started it in the afternoon and finished it right before going to bed that evening. It was a simple, fun read. This sounds like an insult, but it isn't meant to be- this is the equivalent of a Hallmark movie, but in book form. I think too many more of these types of books will start to burn out the genre, but for now, I am still loving them.

I gave this one a 3.5.

*I want to thank NetGalley for the early copy of the book. I received it in exchange for an honest review*