The Venus Fixers

The following two books

describe the remarkable story of the Allied soldiers who saved Italy's art during World War II.

Botticelli's "Primavera" c. 1482 - saved!

During the darkest days of World War II, a ragtag band of British and American art scholars braved the battlefields of Europe to rescue thousands of cultural treasures.

These soldiers saved some of the most important art and architecture from Nazi pillage and the collateral damage of armed conflict.

Thank heavens for these men!

Taking inventory.

Above: Repaiting a statue at the church of Casa Professa in Palermo, damaged in an Allied bombing raid in 1943.

Rescuing Da Vinci: Hitler and the Nazis Stole Europe's Great Art - America and Her Allies Recovered It

by Robert M. Edsel

And

The Venus Fixers: The Remarkable Story of the Allied Soldiers Who Saved Italy's Art During World War II

by Ilaria Dagnini Brey

"About Eastertime"

"About Eastertime" is a beautiful nonsectarian* handmade book by Allison Randall. It is a powerful message of hope for anybody, any time.

I cried the first time I read it.

This is my friend Allison. Or at least these are her hands. 

A Quaker, she makes "Friendly Goods" - soft lovable quiet toys for children (and adults).

Long before I met Allison, I bought one of her velvet "Hands to Hold" and sent it to a friend who needed some comfort while undergoing cancer treatment.

It was an instant hit and I was delighted to eventually become friends with the woman who would think to make such a wonderful thing!

Allison is a very wise and talented woman who wrote and illustrated my most favorite Easter Story.

With her kind permission, I have reprinted her elegant story below for all to enjoy: 

The cover (above).

Below are some little pictures of the other items Allison makes. You can see and purchase her toys at her blog.

 

Allison has written another book, "I Love You Very Much" that is just as wonderful as this one.

* Footnote:

* And now to be completely sectarian; I'm wishing "a Happy Easter" and "a Joyful Passover" to all of you who celebrate at this time.

Circular Reasoning

My little story on circular reasoning (in grey below) is really an excuse to show you this absolutely stunning collection of the complete photographic portfolio of Edward S. Curtis.

The photographs in this book are from the first decades of the 20th century . It is not only a valuable document to history but a stunning photographic series made under "difficult conditions" (I'm sure that is an understatement).

But alas, this book is out of print.

"Outlier" by Frederic Remington

It's late fall and the Indians on a remote reservation in South Dakota asked their new chief if the coming winter was going to be cold or mild.

Since he was a chief in a modern society, he had never been taught the old secrets. When he looked at the sky, he couldn't tell what the winter was going to be like.

Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, he told his tribe that the winter was indeed going to be cold and that the members of the village should collect firewood to be prepared.

But, being a practical leader, after several days, he got an idea. He went to the phone booth, called the National Weather Service and asked, 'Is the coming winter going to be cold?'

'It looks like this winter is going to be quite cold,' the meteorologist at the weather service responded.

So the chief went back to his people and told them to collect even more firewood in order to be prepared.

A week later, he called the National Weather Service again. 'Does it still look like it is going to be a very cold winter?'

'Yes,' the man at National Weather Service again replied, 'it's going to be a very cold winter.'

The chief again went back to his people and ordered them to collect every scrap of firewood they could find.

Two weeks later, the chief called the National Weather Service again. 'Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?'

'Absolutely,' the man replied. 'It's looking more and more like it is going to be one of the coldest winters we've ever seen.'

'How can you be so sure?' the chief asked.

The weatherman replied, 'The Indians are collecting firewood like crazy.'

Clothes don't make the person...

...but those clothes, drapes and props surely do make the portrait.

THIS is what photographic reference photos for a painting should look like! 

If you're serious about improving your photographic skills in order to paint better portraits, find a copy of this book and take notes.

This is a book by David Seidner called "Portraits" that is a beautiful illustration of this.

Seidner has taken photographs that look like Old Master Paintings with a single light source. 

Yum.

Sadly, many painted portraits nowadays look like "snapshots" taken with a flash bulb. 

Yuck.

This woman's skirt is just a drape. She has fake doll's hair braids pinned to her hair.

This stunning "outfit" appears to be a blanket and the "hat" is feathers.

Drapery, ribbon, a fake flower and a lace tablecloth....I imagine that lots of things are "hidden" - like rubberbands, safety pins, clips, scotch tape, etc.

Material around the hair - a dress....on backwards?

Here is a vest with gauze tucked into it and arranged for the photo.

Jewelry in the hair, one glove, a pin, tablecloth, scarf. It is the arrangement of pose, color, texture, value, props and idealized lighting.

Get the idea?

Use your imagination and get creative with drapes, props and scraps in a photo shoot! For me, it is just a big girl's version of "playing dress-ups." 

Calvin J. Goodman's Art Marketing Handbook

I had the great good fortune to meet and chat with this remarkable, unique and charming man at the 2008 PSOA Conference in Philadelphia.

Management consultant Calvin Goodman has devoted more than four decades to advising artists and their dealers, publishers, and agencies regarding art marketing options, opportunities and methods. 

A graduate of Harvard, he is a recognized expert in the fields of marketing, sales, long-range planning and business systems. Goodman has prepared studies for many art and education institutions, conducted marketing seminars across the country and has lectured and conducted classes in professional practices for artists. 

Since it's inception, he has been active on the advisory board of the Portrait Society of America.

In addition to his hardcover book, Art Marketing Handbook (latest edition pictured above), Goodman's articles on art and the art market have appeared regularly over the years in American Artist.

I recommend this book - it is a good read for any person that seriously wants to make a living as an artist. I have never ever met any person more knowledgeable than Calvin Goodman on the subject of the business of art.

You can read more and order this book here: http://www.artmarketinghandbook.com/