Review: Painting for the Absolute and Utter Beginner

Painting for the Absolute and Utter Beginner by Claire Watson Garcia
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Excellent

"Based on the author’s successful courses and workshops, Painting for the Absolute and Utter Beginner really does start at the beginning, helping new painters find "what works" while providing information on all the necessary tools, tips, and techniques they’ll need to create a representational painting.

The chapters follow a progressive sequence that teaches basic skills through practical, accessible exercises–how to handle a brush, achieve the right paint consistency, mix color, and create dimension–building a solid foundation that readers can rely on as painting projects grow more challenging.

A special feature is the artwork and commentary of real students, which helps beginners set realistic goals and shows them how other artists at the same level of experience have worked through inevitable setbacks to achieve success. "

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Review: Too Like the Lightning

Too Like the Lightning by Ada Palmer
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Nope

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Review: Rock Art Critters: Paint the Perfect Pebble

Rock Art Critters: Paint the Perfect Pebble by Denise Scicluna
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Visual artist Denise Scicluna provides inspiration and advice for rock painting--a craft that's perfect for "kids" of all ages. Readers will discover:
Tips for finding and identifying rocks and preparing them for paint
Techniques for creating the perfect "rock" from polymer clay
A guide to gathering tools, from paint, pencils, and brushes to wood filler and varnish
Dozens of projects for bringing pebbles to life with personality and style
Projects include woodland creatures (foxes and squirrels), exotic animals (tigers and pandas), things with wings (birds, bees, butterflies), and other fun critters. With clear step-by-step instructions, lots of variations, and loads of inspiration, Rock Art Critters will soon have you on your way to creating your very own pebble pet coterie of cute critters just waiting to be brought to life with a little bit of paint and a whole lot of imagination. Get ready to rock on!

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Review: The Death of Hope

The Death of Hope by Jude Watson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"I pledge myself to you, Tahl."
"I pledge myself to you, Qui-Gon."

With these words, two Jedi Knights acknowledged that their bond had grown beyond friendship and into love.

Now Tahl has been abducted in a trap that Qui-Gon feels he should have foreseen. Consumed by dark visions, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan Kenobi must do everything in their power to get her back before it's too late. But that won't be easy in a land where nobody can be trusted . . . and everyone has something to hide.

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Review: The Call to Vengeance

The Call to Vengeance by Jude Watson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Qui-Gon Jinn is a man on the edge. His heart has been shattered. His beliefs have been destroyed. And now he is dangerously close to stepping over a line that no Jedi dares to cross.

He wants revenge.

His fellow Jedi--his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Jedi Council member Mace Windu--will try to stop him. But when Qui-Gon strikes out on his own, anything can happen. Revenge is not a Jedi trait . . . but it is a human one. Can Qui-Gon separate his personal feelings from his Jedi training.

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Review: The Evil Experiment

The Evil Experiment by Jude Watson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An evil scientist is imprisoning and torturing Jedi to find the secret behind the Force. She taps their emotions, monitors their actions . . . and then drains them of their blood.

Qui-Gon Jinn is now her captive.

Obi-Wan Kenobi is desperately searching for his Master. Meanwhile, Qui-Gon must match wits with one of the most dangerous enemies he has ever encountered.

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Review: A Storm of Swords

A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"Here is the third volume in George R.R. Martin's magnificent cycle of novels that includes A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings. Together, this series comprises a genuine masterpiece of modern fantasy, destined to stand as one of the great achievements of imaginative fiction.

Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage as alliances are made and broken. Joffrey sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis, stands defeated and disgraced, victim of the sorceress who holds him in her thrall. Young Robb still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daenerys, mistress of the only three dragons still left in the world. And as opposing forces manoeuver for the final showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings arrives from the outermost limits of civilization, accompanied by a horde of mythical Others—a supernatural army of the living dead whose animated corpses are unstoppable. As the future of the land hangs in the balance, no one will rest until the Seven Kingdoms have exploded in a veritable storm of swords..."

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Review: Painting Class: Oil

Painting Class: Oil by David Sanmiguel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"Nearly all the greatest modern painters have favored oils for their rich hues and expressive texture, but you don’t have to be Van Gogh or Monet to make oils work for you. This step-by-step, gorgeously illustrated entry into the popular Painting Class series introduces all the materials, techniques, and styles needed to become comfortable with this versatile medium. Find out about the properties and ingredients of oil paint, as well as how to mix your own and work with solvents and dryers. Instructions tell when and how to use brushes and spatulas to shape the paint; how to create realistic fleshtones; and how to “model” oils without blending brushstrokes. You’ll also learn the characteristics of warm, cool, and neutral colors, and how to approach figure drawing, still lifes, and landscapes."

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Review: Portrait Painting Atelier: Old Master Techniques and Contemporary Applications

Portrait Painting Atelier: Old Master Techniques and Contemporary Applications by Suzanne Brooker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"The art of portraiture approached its apex during the sixteenth century in Europe with the discovery of oil painting when the old masters developed and refined techniques that remain unsurpassed to this day. The ascendance of nonrepresentational art in the middle of the twentieth century displaced these venerable skills, especially in academic art circles. Fortunately for aspiring artists today who wish to learn the methods that allowed the Old Masters to achieve the luminous color and subtle tonalities so characteristic of their work, this knowledge has been preserved in hundreds of small traditional painting ateliers that persevered in the old ways in this country and throughout the world."

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Review: The Shattered Peace

The Shattered Peace by Jude Watson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

For generations, the firstborn children of the rulers of the planets Rutan and Senali have been exchanged at the age of seven. This was meant to promote peace and understanding between the societies. Now it has led them to the brink of war.

Leed, the heir to the Rutan throne, does not want to return to his home planet. His father will stop at nothing to get him back. Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi must prevent this rift from turning to bloodshed.

It is their hardest challenge yet.

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Review: The Texas Post Office Murals: Art for the People

The Texas Post Office Murals: Art for the People by Philip Parisi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Walk into any of sixty post offices or federal buildings in the state of Texas and you may be greeted by a surprising sight: magnificent mural art on the lobby walls.

In the midst of the Great Depression, a program was born that would not only give work to artists but also create beauty and optimism for a people worn down by hardship and discouragement. This New Deal program commissioned artists to create post office murals—the people’s art—to celebrate the lives, history, hopes, and dreams of ordinary Americans. In Texas alone, artists painted ninety-seven artworks for sixty-nine post offices and federal buildings around the state. Painted by some of the best-known artists of the day, these murals sparkled with scenes of Texas history, folklore, heroes, common people, wildlife, and landscapes.

Murals were created from San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas to Big Spring, Baytown, and Hamilton. The artists included Tom Lea, Jerry Bywaters, Peter Hurd, Otis Dozier, Alexandre Hogue, and Xavier Gonzalez. The images showed people at work and featured industries specific to the region, often coupled with symbols of progress such as machinery and modern transportation. Murals depicted cowboys and stampedes, folk heroes from Sam Bass to Davy Crockett, revered Indian chief Quanah Parker, and community symbols such as Eastland’s lizard mascot, Ol’ Rip.

In this beautiful volume Philip Parisi has gathered 115 photographs of these stunning and historic works of art—36 in full color. He tells the story of how they came to be, how the communities influenced and accepted them, and what efforts have been made to restore and preserve them.

Enjoy this beautiful book in the comfort of your living room, or take it with you on the road as a guide to the people’s art in the Lone Star State.

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Review: The Ties That Bind

The Ties That Bind by Jude Watson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Leaves you hanging for the next book.

"Six years ago, Qui-Gon Jinn and Tahl helped the people of the planet Apsolon choose their first free leader. It seemed that peace had arrived at last.

Now the leader has been killed. His daughters have been kidnapped. And Qui-Gon and Tahl have returned to Apsolon with Qui-Gon's apprentice Obi-Wan--against the wishes of the Jedi Council.

The ties that bind Qui-Gon and Tahl are about to experience their most powerful test yet."

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