Tag Archives: Non-Fiction

Art & Design, book review, Non-Fiction

DRAWING AND PAINTING BOTANICALS FOR ARTISTS – REVIEW

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Litercurious Book Review

TitleDrawing and Painting Botanicals for Artists:
How to Create Beautifully Detailed Plant and
Flower Illustrations
AuthorKaren Kluglein
PublisherRockport Publishers (June 16, 2020)
FormatPaperback
Pages144
LanguageEnglish
ISBN #ISBN-10: 1631598570
ISBN-13: 978-1631598579

AUTHOR

Karen Kluglein is the author of Drawing and Painting Botanicals for Artists. Select link above to read more about her.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

Drawing and Painting Botanicals for Artists is unashamedly directed to the botanical artist community and those who aspire to the profession.

SYNOPSIS

Context is everything and before beginning the review of Drawing and Painting Botanicals for Artists I thought that you may like to know a little of the historic beginnings and importance of botanical art.

Before the advent of mechanical means for capturing botanical subjects artists and illustrators were the sole source for capturing plant forms for posterity. The practice of Botanical Illustration can be traced back through history to approximately 70 AD. The Greek botanist Pedanius Dioscorides produced the first officially recognized book of plant species for medical purposes. It wasn’t until the 1800’s and the explosion of exploration that the botanical illustrator became a respected profession in the eyes of the public. Previously, it was the preserve of physicians, pharmacists, botanical scientists, and gardeners for identification, analysis, and classification plant species who were respected. However, it was during the these halcyon days of worldwide discovery that artists and illustrators began to make significant contributions to the scientific publications of the day. Together with improvements in the printing of illustrations, the art of botanical illustration was set to change the world.

Botanical Artists became famous with such illuminated names as:

PIERRE-JOSEPH REDOUTÉ (1766 – 1854)

MARIA SIBYLLA MERIAN (1647 – 1717)

FRANZ AND FERDINAND BAUER (1750 and 1850)

MARIANNE NORTH (1830 – 1890)

ANNE PRATT (1806 – 1893)

ERNST HAECKEL (1834-1919)

Today photographs have replaced most illustrations in scientific journals. Botanical artists are still highly sought after and often editors of publications will engage a botanical artist to create a greater sense of importance in place of a mere photograph.

You may be one of many aspiring artists who find botanical illustration to be worthy of further study and you would do well to begin your art journey with, Drawing and Painting Botanicals for Artists.

Drawing and Painting Botanicals for artists, was produced by Karen Kluglein. She is a freelance painter and illustrator of significant talent and skill.

Kluglein has produced a concise yet inspirational work that is an essential prerequisite for anyone wishing to quickly enjoy the process of painting or drawing botanical subjects. The pages are full of both color and monochrome images, illustrations and photographs of Kluglein’s own handiwork. The chapters are well structured with a Key Terms section early-on to assist newcomers in getting to grips with the jargon. There are silverpoint illustrations that immediately caught my eye, as I very much enjoy that medium for certain subjects. Beginning with the mediums and supplies, the author quickly moves on to share the essential drawing techniques that can elevate your work considerably. You will learn the importance of values, tones and highlights in creating beautiful botanical illustrations. Kluglein, throughout the book heralds the primacy of proficiency in the fundamentals of drawing. Invaluable information sits comfortably next to spectacular color illustrations for an esthetically pleasing viewing experience. As the book progresses, there are step by step methods for producing your own homegrown botanical art. On page 53 you will find the suggested method to draw in the much maligned color pencil a Blackberry in six easy stages. A range of media are explored from gouache to acrylic paint and color pencils to watercolors. Each one with a brief nugget of advice to help keep you on track. Brushes, painting surfaces and painting such as washes, layering, lifting, graduations, and dry brush techniques are covered. There are suggested exercises for you to try out complete with examples of how it should look when you are complete.

She goes on to mention color mapping, natural hair brush types and sizes, painting surfaces, paper weights, surface texture as well as vellum. She explains how to attack overlaps, how to change a petal shape, fix spots, mottling, how to add texture-final details and how to finish.

CONCLUSION

Karen Kluglein has put together an excellent reference book for aspiring botanical artists. She provides tips-and-tricks for all types of media, art surfaces, supplies, errors, and techniques. She has created a wonderful book that will add to any home or office.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Karen Kluglein, NetGalley, and Rockport Publishers for affording me the opportunity to review Drawing and Painting Botanicals for Artists: How to create Beautifully Detailed Plant and Flower Illustrations.

book review, History, Non-Fiction, World War 2

Retribution – REVIEW

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Litercurious Book Review

TitleRetribution: The Soviet Reconquest of
Central Ukraine, 1943
AuthorPrit Buttar
PublisherOsprey Publishing; 1 edition (October 31, 2019)
FormatPaperback, Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook
Pages480
Language:English
ASINB07RD6YNZT

AUTHOR

Prit Buttard is a British general practitioner and writer. He has written multiple history genre books covering WWI and WWII. He even authored a couple of novels. He did a five-year stint in the British Army as a surgeon and medical officer. He had an outstanding career and recently moved with his family to Scotland in 2017. You can find out more about Prit Buttard here and here.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

This book will appeal to anyone who enjoys the history of epic war-time battles. WWII history enthusiasts will find the information contained within its pages invaluable.

SYNOPSIS

Retribution: The Soviet Reconquest of Central Ukraine, 1943 tells the story of the Ukrainian front during WWII. Through exhaustive research, personal accounts, and eyewitness interviews Prit Buttard brings the epic conflict to life. The reader gets an account of the myriad of detriments effecting both sides. The Germans were better trained soldiers but lacked supply’s, replacement personnel, ammunition, they were unsuited to the environment, and much more. The Soviets were not well trained but had an inexhaustible amount replacement personnel, resupply, and factories that were beyond the reach of the German forces. They were also well suited to the environment. The German Army was also constantly being undermined by Hitler trying to micro-manage the conflict without possessing any concrete knowledge of what exactly was transpiring on the front. The Soviets didn’t experience the limitations that Hitler did as they were right there managing the battles as they went.

Prit describes the battles from the major confrontations to the grittier hand-to-hand personal battles. He gives an account of the Ukrainian people that were caught behind the German lines and the suffering they endured both during the conflict and as the Germans retreated. He does an excellent job of portraying the human conflict from all sides during this dreadful time in history.

Although the information was captivating, the book was a little disjointed due the different timelines between chapters. The reference material was also lacking in usable maps for the reader to follow along.

 CONCLUSION

Prit Buttar does a great job of bringing this epic conflict into view. Even though the maps were somewhat useless, the story is one that needed to be told. This conflict tied up German forces, resources and time allowing Allied forces to win on other fronts. The loss of life on both sides is astronomical. The Soviets, through sheer manpower, overwhelmed the Germans and their limited supplies to force their retreat. Overall, an excellent read!

Rating: 4 out of 5.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Prit Buttar, NetGalley, and Osprey Publishing for affording me the opportunity to review Retribution: The Soviet Reconquest of Central Ukraine, 1943.

book review, Non-Fiction

WALKING TO SAMARKAND – REVIEW

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Litercurious Book Review

TitleWalking To Samarkand: The Great Silk Road
from Persia to Central Asia
AuthorBernard Ollivier, (Translator Dan Golembeski)
PublisherSkyhorse (April 14, 2020)
FormatKindle, Hardcover
Pages312
LanguageEnglish
ISBN # 10/131510746897 / 978-1510746893

“Life’s caravan is hastening on its way;
Brood not on troubles of the coming day,
But fill the wine-cup, ere sweet night be gone,
And snatch a pleasant moment, while you may.“

Quatrains of Omar Khayyam (tr. Whinfield, 1883). Vol. 1, Quatrain 137

AUTHOR

Bernard Ollivier is a French Author who has become the inspiration for a generation. Once he retired he decided that rather than embrace leisurely afternoons in one locations he preferred the adventure of travel primarily by self perambulation. 7,456 miles later we have the benefit of his experiences, his reflections, and his opinions gleaned on his journeys, in a range exquisitely written travelogues.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE

All of those with an adventurous heart.

SYNOPSIS

With the aid of Dan Golembeski, the translator of Walking To Samarkand, Ollivier has managed to cram his personal account into a seemingly impossible 312 pages.

Ollivier whisks us away with him from Bazaar to Bukhara across oceanic desert through multiple borders, and caravansaries (old world Bed and Breakfast, B&B’s). Our journey transports us to the magnificence of Samarkand in all its rare beauty. Along the way he introduces us to a host of characters including; the Robber-Cop, the pilgrims on the road to Mash-had, the Turkmens of Tehran and a myriad of other fascinating strangers.

We accompany Ollivier though our minds eye. We see and fell through his senses. We experience the sounds, the sights and the sensations through his exquisite descriptions. We feel as the heat rises and the competing demands of balancing hydration against the weight of carrying the priceless water press heavily on his mind. There is even a fleeting chance of a romantic liaison.

After Ollivier’s enormous effort the city of bright water and colorful people is finally in sight, and what a sight she is. For a millennia, Samarkand was the apple in many a tyrant’s eye. From the Khanates of Burkkara and Kniva to the Achaemenid Kings they all shared a thirst for her water resources. Samarkand is the very definition of an oasis in the desert. She has stood on the Great Silk Road from the beginning. Today however, Samarkand stands on the Great Cotton Road. White Gold, as cotton is referred to, has replaced the spices and other valuables. The road has had many names in the past; including the Golden Road during the time of the Achaemenid Kings. Who knows what it will called in the future. What we can say is that whatever the road is called, Samarkand will almost certainly remain a jewel of the desert.

CONCLUSION

It was a joy, a pleasure and an honor to have accompanied Bernard Ollivier on his journey, all be it vicariously though the pages of his manuscript. The phrase that ‘travel broadens the mind‘ holds true. Ollivier includes a plethora of information about the culture, the language, and the people of the region. I am amazed he managed to consolidate all of his observations so succinctly. I can still sense the bustling Grand Bazaar, the heat of the day, and the sight of the once great Bibi-Khanym Mosque (now a UNESCO site).

If you have one adventurous bone in your body then you will love this journal. I heartily recommend Walking To Samarkand.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Bernard Ollivier, NetGalley, and Skyhorse for affording me the opportunity to review Walking To Samarkand.

I would like to make a special acknowledgment to Dan Golembeski for the exceptional job of translating Walking To Samarkand.

Animal & Pet Care, book review, Non-Fiction

HOW TO SPEAK CAT – Review

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Litercurious Book Review

TitleHow to Speak Cat: A Guide to Decoding
Cat Language
AuthorAline Alexander Newman & Gary Weitzman, D.V.M.
PublisherHarper Collins
FormatLibrary Binding, Paperback
Pages176
LanguageEnglish
ISBN #10/13 ASIN#ISBN-10: 9781426318634
ISBN-13: 978-1426318634
ASIN: 1426318634

AUTHOR

Aline Alexander Newman and Gary Weitzman, D.V.M. are the authors of How to Speak Cat: A Guide to Decoding Cat Language. Click on their names to find out more about them and their publications.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE

How to Speak Cat: A Guide to Decoding Cat Language is appropriate for those of any age. The target audience is children and young adults.

SYNOPSIS

The structure of the book guides the reader through the essentials about felines from a veterinarian perspective and includes a quiz as a memory aid. As cats utilize both vocal and physical communication, the authors have provided a comprehensive yet brief breakdown of cat body language. Having owned a cat myself, I am only too aware of the importance of understanding the occult clues of feline behavior. What is abundantly clear, is that cats have a myriad of means to communicate their feelings, emotions and intentions. How to Speak Cat: A Guide to Decoding Cat Language will aid those who fail to pick up on many of the felines nuances and assist them in better addressing their pets concerns. Most importantly, following some of the advice herein contained will avoid unnecessary misunderstandings and ultimately be less stressful for the cat and owner.

Included within the book is a chapter on anti-social or dissonant behaviors is a brief breakdown of issues that can cause problems for both owner and cat. In this chapter biting, spraying and bullying are discussed along with a spectrum of other troublesome activities of some wild cats. Other chapters cover the playful side of your cat or kitten and some advice on how to recognize fear, aggression and frustrations .

The publication is resplendent with a gallery of full color high-quality photographs. The summation is elegant and includes some myth busting, fun ideas for you, your cat, and a fun quiz. There is a list of resources, an index and credits.

CONCLUSION

Ultimately, I had fun reading How to Speak Cat: A Guide to Decoding Cat Language and it is my opinion that you will also. I read so many intense scientific manuals on a weekly basis, that this publication was a complete breath of fresh air. It is bright, brilliant and informative as well as being amazingly illustrated throughout with colorful photographs. It is a great buy for your home library or as a gift for anyone who loves cats. I strongly recommend this publication to you.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Aline Alexander Newman and Gary Weitzman, NetGalley, and Harper Collins for affording me the opportunity to review How to Speak Cat: A Guide to Decoding Cat Language.

book review, History, Non-Fiction, Politics

THE DAILY THOMAS PAINE – REVIEW

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Litercurious Book Review

TitleThe Daily Thomas Paine: A Year of
Common-Sense Quotes
AuthorThomas Paine (Author) (Author Editor Edward G. Gray)
PublisherUniversity of Chicago Press
FormatPaperback
Pages176
LanguageEnglish
ISBN #9780226653518

AUTHOR / EDITOR

The eponymous Thomas Paine was the Enlightenment era Philosopher, Political activist, and some say Revolutionary. During his 72 years on earth, he made a lasting impression in the field of political science and philosophy. You can find out more about this extraordinary thinker here. Editor Edward G. Gray Professor of history at Florida State University.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE

Those unfamiliar with the importance of Paine as a philosopher will benefit most from this brief introduction of the man through his published thoughts.

SYNOPSIS

The Daily Thomas Paine could be described as a conspectus or a brief compendium of the learned man’s published thoughts. The main work is proceeded by a comprehensive Forward that acts as context to the broader work. Structured as a standard calendar year beginning on January 1st, there are quotes on each page in bite sized nuggets of wisdom ending on 31 December. The manuscript culminates with a brief Index of Sources.

CONCLUSION

I don’t prefer this method of reductionism, and it provides neither a sense of the philosopher nor an adequate take on his concepts and perspectives. There are little gems of wisdom sprinkled throughout the text but they are too few and too brief. I never felt that this volume was a satisfactory salute to Thomas Paine’s great acumen or his humanity. I wish I could say that The Daily Thomas Paine would have made a primer for those who wish to gain some insight into the man, but I’m unable to do so. I found this book to be something of a disappointment and a wasted opportunity. You may hold a different view, but you will only know if you read it for yourself.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to thank Thomas Paine, NetGalley, and University of Chicago Press for affording me the opportunity to review The Daily Thomas Paine.

book review, History, Non-Fiction

ENDURANCE – REVIEW

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Litercurious Book Review

TitleEndurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage
AuthorAlfred Lansing
PublisherBasic Books 2007
FormatPaperback, Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook
Pages304
Language:English
ISBN # 10 / 139780753809877 / 978-0753809877

AUTHOR

Alfred Lansing majored in journalism, served in the U.S. Navy, worked as a newspaper editor and later became a freelance writer. Find out more about Alfred here.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE

Anyone who loves: adventure, human struggle, epic survival, suspense, history, extreme seamanship, and great leadership will absolutely love this book.

SYNOPSIS

Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage is a true story of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. The information within the book was taken from the diaries of the expedition members, interviews conducted with the surviving members, and letters.

In 1915, Sir Shackleton attempted to cross the Antarctic overland from west to east. What followed was an epic struggle to survive in sub-zero temperatures, without food and minimal shelter. After his ship “Endurance” got mired in the ice and then later crushed, he and his men were forced to survive on the ice.

The story is of men fighting against nature to survive eighteen months on a drifting ice flow. Starvation, scurvy, frostbite, and illness are just a few of the hardships these men had to suffer through. These men spent endless nights in the freezing rain and snow waiting for spring to come; always hungry, always cold, always freezing, always wondering if they would live through it all.

As the months passed by and situation became more dire, Sir Shackleton kept the men going through sheer determination and leadership. This story is not just of survival but the struggle of Sir Shackleton and his dedication to his men. He is a man that is not easily equaled. His personal fortitude, expertise, and charisma kept the party alive as much as anything else.

Sir Shackleton’s heroism and self-sacrifice is why he decided to attempt a crossing of the South Atlantic Ocean in a lifeboat to reach help for his men. Crossing the South Atlantic in a ship is dangerous, but an 800-mile journey by lifeboat is almost suicidal. The human struggle against the elements of the South Atlantic is another epic chapter in this story.

 CONCLUSION

This book is one of the best books I’ve read. The story is well written and I enjoyed every minute of it. The suspense flows right through the book from beginning to end. The reader constantly wants to continue to the next chapter just to see how these men continue to survive. The tale is epic in the extreme. I most heartily recommend this book.

Biography, book review, History, Non-Fiction

DANGEROUS SHALLOWS -REVIEW

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Litercurious Book Review

TitleDangerous Shallows: In Search of The
Ghost Ships of Cape Cod
AuthorEric Takakjian & Randall Peffer
PublisherLyons Press (January 24, 2020)
FormatPaperback, Kindle
Pages272
Language:English
ISBN # 10 / 131493042300 / 978-1493042302

AUTHORS

Find out more about Eric Takakjian on his linkedin page here. He can be found on Boston Sea Rovers here. Finally you can find some information on Eric at Doug Grad Literary Agency, Inc. here.

You can find some information on Randall at Doug Grad Literary Agency, Inc. here. Randall Peffer gives a 90 second video biography here.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE

This book is for everyone. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a sailor, a diver, a history buff, an adventurer, or you just like a good thriller; this book has it all.

SYNOPSIS

Dangerous Shallows: In Search of The Ghost Ships of Cape Cod is a superbly written book that grips the reader from the very onset. Eric Takakjian takes the reader from the earliest of times in relation to diving techniques to modern mixed gasses. He intersperses his experiences with spellbinding tales of sunken ships and the events that led up to their tragic fates.

Eric explains in terms that are easy to understand all of the intricacies of diving and especially deep diving. He guides us through the uses of mixed gas to get to exceptionally deep wrecks and the troubles associated with each dive. He brings into view the price of miscalculation and bad circumstance and the lethal effects associated with deep diving. Intermixed is his own journey as a USCG crewman through his marriage and operating his own dive company while looking for those “virgin” wrecks.

Dangerous Shallows covers a myriad of different vessels and reasons for their current predicaments. The wrecks that Eric explores cover centuries of accidents, war, and depression. He takes the time to relate to the reader exactly what he sees and feels as he dives the wrecks. While swimming over the wrecks, he takes the reader back in time and makes the reader feel as if they are there for each vessel’s demise. The reader can feel the panic, the elation, the fear, or the determination of the people associated with each vessel.

Included within the book are the stories of his own trials and tribulations. He talks about the hardships keeping “virgin” wreck locations secret and the betrayal of “friends” who want to use his work for their own gains. He explains the research he, his wife, and friends undertake to locate and find each lost vessel. Eric describes the dangers each particular dive has; from currents, to sharks, to visibility issues, to the “bends.”

The author interfuses pictures and illustrations throughout the book. The color and black and white photos enhance the readers perceptions of the boats and the wrecks. Some of the photos are historic as are the schematics.

CONCLUSION

This book is thrilling, mysterious, and intriguing. Even if you don’t know much about diving and especially deep diving, this book easily explains the terms and conditions. The stories of the individual wrecks are told in vivid detail.  The reader can easily feel as if they are right there with him on this journey of discovery. I heartily recommend this book for everyone.

AKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Eric Takakjian and Randall Peffer, NetGalley, and Lyons Press for affording me the opportunity to review Dangerous Shallows: In Search of the Ghost Ships of Cape Cod.

Animal & Pet Care, book review, Non-Fiction

BEAUTIFUL HORSES – REVIEW

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Litercurious Book Review

TitleBeautiful Horses: Portraits of Champion
Breeds (Part of the Beautiful Animal Series)
AuthorLiz Wright
PublisherIvy Press (March 3, 2020)
FormatPaperback & Softback
Pages112
LanguageEnglish
ISBN -10 /-131782407790 / 978-1782407799

AUTHOR

The prolific author and writer Liz Wright edits Smallholder magazine and is the author of several books on small farming. She is a panel judge for the Ponies Association in the United Kingdom (UK) as well as the British Show Pony Society (BSPS). Liz is a regular judge of Gypsy Cobs and retired race horses at horse shows. She also breeds Exmoors and Welsh Cobs on her own farm and has authored articles for many horse publications, among them Horse & Hound.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE

All those epicureans with a leaning towards the equine species should anticipate an ocean of pleasure to be derived from this exceptional publication. Even if your interest in horse flesh is in admiring exceptionally beautiful animals then this is a must have book.

SYNOPSIS

Beautiful Horses is a sumptuously illustrated book dedicated to forty the world’s finest horse breeds. The book is illustrated throughout with spectacular full-page color images resplendent with pertinent details relating to the characteristics, temperament, and breed histories. This manuscript is much more than just eye candy.

I particularly enjoyed the peak behind the curtain as the owners prepare their magnificent chargers for the judgement.

CONCLUSION

Wright’s sumptuously illustrated and expertly collated compendium of pertinent characteristics and facts will have mass appeal for a range of reasons. In short, this book isn’t just another coffee table dust collector but a genuine a thing of beauty in-and-of itself. I heartily recommend this publication to you. If you enjoyed this book you may also enjoy our review of Horses, by Paula Hammond you can find it here.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank Liz Wright, NetGalley, and Ivy Press for affording me the opportunity to review Beautiful Horses: Portraits of Champion Breeds.

book review, History, Non-Fiction

THE LOUVRE – REVIEW

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Litercurious Book Review

TitleThe Louvre: The Many Lives of
the World’s Most Famous Museum
AuthorJames Gardner
PublisherAtlantic Monthly Press (May 5, 2020)
Pages416
LanguageEnglish
ISBN # -10 / ISBN # -13 0802148778 / 978-0802148773

AUTHOR

James Gardner is a prolific art critic. He is widely published with articles that have appeared in such diverse publications as: The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the New Republic, and the Spectator Magazine. He is presently an editor at The Magazine Antiques and has a half a dozen other manuscripts in publication.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

The Louvre: The Many Lives of the World’s Most Famous Museum is a serious book for those who adore the history, the spectacle, and the beauty of France’s most notable museum. If you enjoy history, art, sculpture pomp and circumstance of the land dating back some 7,000 years, then this could be a read you would enjoy.

SYNOPSIS

The history of The Louvre is only overshadowed by the history of Paris itself. Gardener ferries us skillfully through the sometimes-complex chronology of The Louvre from the past to the present.  Gardner guides us across the chasm of time beginning with the earliest inhabitants of the land to the stunning awe-inspiring beauty of today’s architectural masterpiece. The cast of historic characters remains every bit as interesting and notable as the iconic landmark itself. Some of the distinguished individuals within the pages are: King Philippe Auguste, Charles V, Louis XVI, and Napoleon to name but a few.

Across centuries from 7,000 years ago through the construction of a fortress in 1191, Gardner imbues us with a very intimate knowledge of the legend that is The Louvre. He takes us through the Reign of Terror, the Napoleonic period, the Commune, and on to recent history.

Gardner’s work is a masterpiece resplendent with facts, details and an appreciation of the museum. The author ends with the knowledge that The Louvre is now more popular than ever and its visitor levels are a very healthy 8 million most years.  

CONCLUSION

Contained within the pages of this volume are some black and white photographs, plates and illustrations. Furthermore, there is a list of endnotes and a Bibliography. I had anticipated a directory of detailed references, but I was disappointed.

Sadly, at the time of writing this review the Museum has been closed for several days as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak that is spreading across the globe. No doubt this will reduce the number of visitors annually, unless circumstances change.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to thank James Gardner, NetGalley, and Atlantic Monthly Press for affording me the opportunity to review The Louvre: The many Lives of the World’s Most Famous Museum.

Art & Design, book review, Non-Fiction

OIL PAINTING: OCEANS And SEASCAPES – REVIEW

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Litercurious Book Review

TitleOil Painting: Oceans & Seascapes: Learn
to Paint Step by Step (How to Draw & Paint)
AuthorMartin Clarke
PublisherWalter Foster Publishing; Revised
ed. edition (March 3, 2020)
FormatPaperback
Pages40
LanguageEnglish
ISBN # 10/131633228460 / 978-1633228467

AUTHOR

Martin Clarke, is a fine artist who specializes in seascapes and views. See more details by clicking on his name above

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE

Clarke’s Oil Painting: Oceans & Seascapes is written in the style of a self-help manual come tutorial. It hails from the renowned publisher Walter Foster. Whilst it is diminutive with only 40 pages in total, the information packed inside in conjunction with the attractive color plates and illustrations make it a jewel.

SYNOPSIS

<p value="<amp-fit-text layout="fixed-height" min-font-size="6" max-font-size="72" height="80">If you have read enough Walter Foster books, the format will be familiar and welcome. As always, it is written and illustrated with ease of use built in. Within the pages are five quick and easy tutorials complete with methods to help improve your skills. There are step-by-step directions and plenty of ancillary information to assist the aspiring artist even further. If you have read enough Walter Foster books, the format will be familiar and welcome. As always, it is written and illustrated with ease of use built in. Within the pages are five quick and easy tutorials complete with methods to help improve your skills. There are step-by-step directions and plenty of ancillary information to assist the aspiring artist even further.

There is a brief introduction to color theory, brush techniques, and recommended palettes. Whilst it appears at first sight to be a tutorial best used by those new to painting in oil, the methods and advice enclosed would be helpful to even those of an intermediate level of expertise. 

CONCLUSION

Sometimes less really is more. This is for those with the need for a quick to understand but highly accessible and informative read.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to thank Martin Clarke, Net Galley, and Walter Foster Publishing for affording me the opportunity to review Oil Painting: Oceans & Seascapes: Learn to Paint Step by Step.