ART BOOK REVIEWS AND MORE
I wanted to share with you art books, magazines, TV and websites I follow that have been useful.
BOOKS
The Complete Printmaker - John Ross Clare Romano Tim Ross
As the title suggest an all round guide to printmaking. If you only own one book on printmaking this is the one.
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The Elements of Landscape Oil Painting - Suzanne Brooker
A great cover to cover read. Simply explained with good supporting images. Techniques for rendering sky, terrain, trees and water.
Sources of Inspiration - Carolyn Genders
This book shows how images can be visually abstracted, refined and developed to create beautiful patterns, designs and forms. A lovely visual book.
Crafted by design inside New Zealand craft artists studios - Jeanette Cook
A fantastic book about what's going on in the Comtemporary New Zealand craft scene. Beautifully photographed and well written.
The Group of Seven and Tom Thomson - David P Silcox
I describe this book as a visual feast of painting. All Canadian artists; FH Varley, AY Jackson, Lawren Harris, Barker Fairley, Frank Johnson, Arthur Lismer, JEM MacDonald, Frank Carmichael and Tom Thomson. A lot to learn by just looking at their work.
Place and Adornment A history of contemporary Jewellery in Austraila and New Zealand - Damain Skinner & Kevin Murray
To quote from the book jacket - This richly illustrated book, the first comprehensive history of contemporary jewellery in Australasia bring together detailed analysis of objects and historical sources to show how contemporary jewellery offered a way to negotiate relationships between settler and indigenous cultures, to find beauty in humble materials, to appreciate the natural enviroment, and test conventions of art, gender and identity.
ART MAGAZINES
The Artist - the practical magazine for artists by artists - since 1931
A monthly publication produced in the UK. This is a great magazine for anyone just starting out or for the more established artists to refresh their work.
It covers drawing, oil, acrylic and watercolour painting along with mixed media.
Each issue will normally have articles on all of the above. They have featured artists and interesting articles on things such as professional development for artists and new art products on the market.
They have a sister magazine called Leisure Painter, a website and both magazinzes are available in a digital edition.
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TELEVISION
Grayson's Art Club
During Britains 1st Covid lockdown Grayson Perry, one of Britain's leading artists, brings the nation together through art, making new works and hosting masterclassess set to unleash collective creativity.
Moving and inspiring. It will make you laugh and cry. Who said art wasn't powerful.
So far 2 series have been made culminating in a National exhibition of the works created. Genius!
Landscape Artist of the Year - focusing on landscapes
Follow professional and amateur artists in their bid to become landscape artist of the year.
Each week a group of artists compete to be chosen for the next round. Painting from new locations each week. Each artists has their own style and its great to see the compositions they choose for their landscapes. The winner gets a 10,000 pound commission to paint a final landscape.
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Portrait artist of the Year - focusing on portraits
Follow professional and amateur artist in their bid to become portrait artist of the year.
Each week three well known people are painted by three artists as the compete to be chosen for the next round. Each artists has their own style and its great to see the compositions they choose of their sitter. The winner gets a 10,000 pound commission to paint a final portrait.
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The Great Pottery Throw Down
10 Home potters go head to head each week to be named Top Potter.
Each week they focus on an aspect of pottery - wheel work, hand built, glazes and slip decoration etc.
4 Series have been made so far.
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The Big Painting Challenge
Think Bake Off but for artists. 10 Amateur artist compete each week in 3 specially designed challenges using a wide range of mediums with one being eliminated each week.
4 Series made so far.
ARTISTS/GROUPS I FOLLOW
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Michelle Hughes - Printmaker - michellehughesdesign.com
Carlos San Millan - Painter - Facebook
Handprinted.co.uk - All things print
Merlyn Chesterman - Printmaker
Ian Philips - Printmaker
Rich Fowler - Lino Printmaker - boardingallrow.com
Ben Young - Glass sculpture - blackdoorgallery.co.nz
Square Edge - Community Arts - communityarts.org.nz
Desiree Singer - Printmaker- desireesinger.com
Steuart Welch - Steel Sculptor - steuartwelch.co.nz
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