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| Painting the Spirit of Nature | 
 enlarge | Author: Maxine Masterfield
Publisher: Watson-Guptill Publications
Category: Book
Buy New: $49.94
Buy Used from $49.94
Avg. Customer Rating:  (6 reviews)
Sales Rank: 486985
Languages: English (Unknown), English (Original Language), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 144
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 11.1 x 8.3 x 0.5
ISBN: 082303867X
Dewey Decimal Number: 750
EAN: 9780823038671
ASIN: 082303867X
Publication Date: March 1996
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
Spirit of Nature translated into the Art of the Abstract October 27, 2004
16 out of 22 found this review helpful
If you are looking for a watercolor tutorial in botanical painting, wildlife or landscape, walk away. This isn't the focus of "Painting the Spirit of Nature." Author Maxine Masterfield is, instead, taking the artist on a tour of an interior landscape, using the metaphors, symbols and shapes and colors of nature to create abstract or abstracted imagery. Look at the cover picture; the painting could represent boulders or broken rock face, but is in fact an abstract. This is the lesson of "Painting in the Spirit of Nature."
There is a lot about texture, unconventional techniques using things like salt and other methods, how to find imagery in everyday scenes and objects and how to compose a painting. The real value, however, in this book, is in the selection of paintings. You may or may not like them, but if you have been trying to find an "abstract voice"--I'd say this book would be great for you. If you liked "Watercolor Bold and Free", this is along the same vein.
 This is not the spirit of nature! August 23, 2002
12 out of 22 found this review helpful
I bought this book since the reviews were quite enthusiastic about it. I have more than 50 watercolor books as well as many other art books, and this is just and justly the worst of them all.It is about experimental painting, that is true, but it is not about "the spirit of nature". Experimental or abstract painting is simply no excuse. The abstract patterns made through various techniques aren't exciting or beautiful and the techniques themselves can be found in various books where they belong - as a small sidenote. The techniques shown aren't useful at all for a watercolor artist wanting to capture nature. The enthusiastic reviews gave me a diametrically opposite view of this book than what it was. As a "nature" book it belongs in the trashcan. What I thought about was some loose techniques for creating texture for nature paintings, but that was not the case, it is all about totally abstractism which was not what I was after.
If you are looking for ways of creating abstact patterns, okey buy it, otherwise don't!
 Awesome April 22, 2002
5 out of 11 found this review helpful
If you are looking for ideas and techniques this is a wonderful book. Very well done.
Fabulous Teacher, Fabulous Art May 5, 2001
31 out of 37 found this review helpful
I was lucky enough to have this artist-author as a teacher almost 2 decades ago. I no longer work in this style or medium but when I was working in it, her methods were the most marvelously freeing ones. If you feel constricted with your present results in water color, as if you must "break free" from such rigid control, Maxine is the teacher for you. The art works are totally glorious as well. Many are hers and she uses other artists' work as well. The book has art work on virtually every page. Back when I took her course, I know that her work was also selling for a lot of money to big commercial clients to put in their buildings and to some private homes as well. Thus, she had cracked the commercial barrier too. I applied her techniques in later years to acyrlics and liquid dyes as well and they worked fine there too.
A perennial favorite in my reference library April 5, 2000
30 out of 31 found this review helpful
I also frequently recommend this book to other artists, beginning or advanced. I've had this book for years, and am awed everytime I open it up. It's perfect for jumpstarting the creative juices because almost every page contains an inspiring thought, image or technique. Her photos of natural elements, together with paintings by herself and other artists shows everyone how to use nature as a springboard for creativity. You will LOVE this book!
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