Creating Radiant Flowers in Colored Pencil

Rating:
Summary: The Right Book at The Right Time !
Review: As a beginner with the colored pencil medium I have been working with flowers as my main subjects. With my love of the flowers,plants,and trees,I was naturally pulled towards wanting to put my hand to the drawing of flowers. A friend of mine who knew of my interest,gave me Gary Greene's wonderful book. Not only was I thrilled by seeing the works of truly accomplished colored pencil artists, but I was inspired by the instruction and care that went into the writing and illustration of this book.

It has not only become a teaching guide for me but,it has also become an inspiration to make me work harder to learn more about this wonderful, dynamic art medium. (And, I use the word work lightly, what a joy!)

Rating:
Summary: all a miss for 'radiant flowers'
Review: oh dear! someone needs to read up on their Foucault don't they Srs. Greene and Poulin. The post-modern condition dissucused so eliquently by the frech post-stuctualists, including Barthes and Baudrillard, has been avoided in a rather hap-hazzard and scruffy manner here, and its a shame. 'Creating radiant flowers in coloured pencil' begins well, although mainly focusing upon the Greenberg-esque Modernist Judeo-Christian approach. This stand point may be well and good, but really people, it ain't 1935 anymore!! It is as if this book completely missed the effects of the post-war (1945-1968) period that changed so much. 'Radient Flowers' makes no refecernce to cultural pluralism, an increase of egalitarian attitudes, or even simple concepts such as dedifferentiation, disscused way back in the 70's by Jameson or Harvey. As a result the flowers I created myself with the aid of this book where flat and formalist, and said nothing of the socio-political environment of late-capitalism. Those of you searching for something a little more contemporary should perhaps investigate the writings of Susan Grant, whose book 'Once a Pirate' helped me to understand the aesthetic significance of the flower much more than this trash!!!

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Pictures - not enough how to
Review: This book contains wonderful examples of colored pencil art. The pictures in this book are exquiste. As a person who is just starting exploring medium and just starting drawing, I found it lacking in the how to aspect. Each picture has a list of the colors used in it. But, it doesn't go into detailed instruction or detailed technique which is what I would have liked at this beginning stage. When I get more proficient with my technique I will go back to this book. The books displays wonderful examples of what can be done with colored pencils. The book is worth having for the beautiful pictures. If nothing else it makes a great coffee table book.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book!!
Review: This is a great book, it has many drawings not just by the author but by other artists. The pictures are clear and very large so you can see all the details. Every page has a drawing and tells what colors were used and how they were applyed. I think this book Is excellent but is aimed more for the serious artist.