Book Description
An elegant, completely updated edition of the landmark study of Washington's lost architecture The publication of Capital Losses a quarter century ago created a clarion call for preservation action by documenting the wanton destruction of many architecturally and culturally significant buildings in the nation's capital. In the decades since, rising public awareness and the passage of the Historic District and Historic Landmark Protection Act in 1978 have slowed the pace of thoughtless destruction. But as this completely new and updated edition of Capital Losses demonstrates, vigilance remains the watchword, especially as pressures for urban growth continue to intensify in historic neighborhoods.
At once a visual delight, a fascinating social history, and an eloquent appeal for ongoing awareness, Capital Losses reveals the Washington that was and how it became what it is today. This updated edition includes eighteen more treasures lost and ninety additional historic photographs. The 270 buildings featured here represent a legacy forever gone, a cultural heritage destroyed in the name of "progress." A thoughtful introduction by noted architectural historian Richard Longstreth brings the preservation story up to the present.
Customer Reviews:
D.C. DESTRUCTION.......2006-10-13
As you pour over all the wonderful black and white images and run you eyes over the artistry and talent it took to create most of these long gone structures you can help, but pause and take a deep breath. This book has scholarly, exhaustively researched text that enlighens and educates the reader. I agree with one articulate reviewer that stated that the author did not make allowances for market forces and changing times, but having said that, I do believe that most of these buildings could have been saved and used for other purposes, I mean the retrofited old buildings in NYC and Boston, why not Washington. The destruction of so many buildings is unconscionable, and when you see the buildings that replaced them all you do is stare. I was not around in the sixties so i didnt witness the worst of this senceless destruction, but i know that here in Houston, even today, great old buildings are never totally safe, it's no wonder Europeans don't get us, as an American i don't get us either. Highly recommended..the book and perservation.
The Non-Tourist's Historical Washington, D.C........2004-06-25
Unique and engaging, "Capital Losses" is a scrapbook chronicle of Washington, DC-- not as the "nation's capital," but as a collection of neighborhoods, people, and activities.
The book memorializes dozens of buildings lost to the wrecker's ball. Each edifice is featured in a one- to two-page chapter that includes splendid vintage photographs. The accompanying write-ups always discuss design elements, thanks to the authors' encyclopedic knowledge in this area. The story of each structure is then expanded into a discussion of the designers, builders, and notable inhabitants. "Capital Losses" is a survey of history, intrigue, gossip as well as architectural styles. That's what makes this book so fun.
The authors' sympathy for historic preservation is to a fault. Narratives hardly attempt to recognize the social, economic, and technological forces that so often make demolition inexorable. For example, the advent of central air conditioning initiated the doom of many hotel and office structures that could not be economically retrofitted. In addition, the post-war demise of downtown commercial areas also accelerated the decay and eventual destruction of many classic structures.
To be fair, an analysis of causal forces was not the intention of this volume. It pays homage to Washington's folksier history in an elegant manner. This is a wonderful coffee table book.
An exceptional architectural tour and a unique resource.......2003-06-12
Now in an updated second edition, Capital Losses: A Cultural History Of Washington's Destroyed Buildings by Washington history expert James M. Goode is a carefully presented documentation and chronicle of the great architectural and cultural edifices of Washington, D.C., which have been lost to the endless grind of urban renewal in the years prior to 1978. That was the year in which crucial preservation legislation was passed. Packed from cover to cover with black-and-white photographs, enhancing a text which is extensive in detail, history, unique historical insights, Capital Losses is an exceptional architectural tour and a unique resource offering a kind of "window" into the architectural past of the nation's capital.
Book Description
Comprehensive, popular guide by renowned artist and teacher presents a full course of watercolor painting, from basics to creating landscapes; painting portraits and figures; drawing; following design principles; and matting, framing, and selling completed works. Two full-color sections show how to create 7 of the author's watercolors. 37 color illustrations, over 100 black-and-white illustrations.
Customer Reviews:
black and white!.......2007-05-25
I was disappointed that 90% of the examples by Whitney were in BLACK and WHITE. It would have been far more helpful had the pictures been in color.
A Must read for the serious painter.......2007-02-28
If you are a serious painter, you need to know two basic things....how to put paint on paper and where to put paint on paper. A lot of books will teach you the former. No book will teach the latter better than Edgar Whitney's. And if you don't master design (where to put the paint) it doesn't matter how well you put it on paper or canvas(technique). Whitney said of the 7 elements and 8 principles of design " For lack of understanding of 15 words you will occasionally produce a good painting but will not be capable of evaluating why". This book is not for looking at the pretty pictures. It's a book to be studied and to learn from. If you do, you'll be glad you did.
Fundamentals of graphic design as applied to watercolor.......2003-09-21
I wish publishers would stop calling their books "Complete Guides" to a subject. No guide to watercolor-or anything else-can possibly be complete. This raises unrealistic hopes that the reader will soon learn are unfounded. However, I love this book, and recommend it to serious students of painting, despite the unfortunate and rather bogus title.
A better, though more cumbersome title, might have been "Introducing the Fundamentals of Graphic Design as Applied to Watercolor Painting."
While this book does not offer every possible bit of information you will ever need to paint in watercolor, it can teach you how to design your paintings thoughtfully and well. The author understood the fundamentals of design, and explained them clearly and logically. Many of his own paintings are included as instructional examples. I found them very helpful, although the black and white reproductions are not always easy to "read".
Some people like to paint intuitively and emotionally with no conscious consideration of design. If this is your preference, and you have no wish to consider other approaches, this is not the book for you. This is also not the best book for someone looking for in-depth lessons in color theory. There is some discussion of the general working methods and materials of traditional watercolor painting, but that alone would not make me recommend the book. Much of this information can be found in the many introductory watercolor books on the market today. These often have great visual appeal, with lush color reproductions, and lots of sparkling white space. But looks can be deceiving. While this rather plain-looking book will not win a beauty contest, get to know it well and you will find that it has hidden charms.
What makes this book so valuable to me is its emphasis on drawing and composition as the foundation of painting. If you share the author's faith in this foundation, but have not been able to master these subjects through your own efforts, this book can be an excellent (though not complete) guide.
so-so.......2002-07-08
I know I am not a traditional watercolor painter but I thought I could learn something from this book - given the glowing reviews I had read. Well.... right off the bat, the paintings Whitney uses for his examples, are horrible! its really hard to learn from a painting teacher when you don't like their paintings. He writes pretty well and poetically and seems to really love watercolor. Its just you do not see him putting his words into practice with his work and that makes it really hard to get into what the guy is saying.
The basics of producing fine watercolors.......2001-12-16
Edgar Whitney's Complete Guide To Watercolor Painting comes from a watercolor painter/teacher who provides beginners with the basics of producing fine watercolors, from landscapes to portraits. Black and white and a few color illustrations round out his advice in this reprint.
Book Description
If you’re eager to work in this beautiful and long-lasting medium, begin by getting tips from the experts, and the best techniques for rapidly building up layers of color. Try masking or painting with a knife to give your work an antique appearance. Full-color illustrations on each page, and a sumptuous painters’ gallery will guide your brush strokes!
Customer Reviews:
Passable.......2006-02-21
Your porduct was passable but rather steep a price to pay for a
struggling artist. Delivery was very prompt and all kudos to
Amazon .com for that.
great book.......2001-02-07
This book is great for the begginner in acrylic painting.
Customer Reviews:
A Great Place to Learn Watercolor Fundamentals.......2005-08-11
This book is still a classic from one of the century's most respected watercolorists. Tom Hill is widely recognized as one of the great painting teachers and has influenced many of todays artists, including me. What I like about this book are Tom's examples of fresh color combinations, and use of color in shadow areas.
Timeless Tomb on Watercolor & Use of Color.......2004-06-07
An excellent volume and companion to use in conjunction with Jeanne Dobie's book Making Colors Sing. While Dobie's book is outdated with all the advances in watercolor pigments and newer more permanent lightfast color, Hill's book not only picks up with the use of newer pigments, but his suggestions are excellent. This book is a wonderful addition to any library. I kept it nearby as I do Dobie's book. A must have book with excellent demonstrations and illustrations. Also the artist's style and work is wonderful too. A must have for anyone serious about watercolor, beginner or advanced.
Watercolor enthusiast's paradise ..........1999-12-03
This book gives an excellent idea and keeps an idol in front of the reader as how a watercolor painting should be. Nice simple language and examples chosen are truly magnificent. Tom's style of painting is simply out of the world.
You can't understand the color in watercolor without this........1996-08-07
Hill's painting style is loose, and ideal for the usually
spontaneous nature of watercolor. This is a fine and needed
book on color. The technique of painting receives a
concise two chapters, yielding space to the problem of
making watercolor paints behave. Hill's study of color
is based in physics and reality, not taste. I much prefer
it this way. Full and detailed descriptions of "all the
paints you will probably ever use" tell how they perform,
how to test your paints, and what to expect when you mix
them. If blue and yellow do not make green for you,
but brown or gray, this book gives insight into why this
happens. To show what effect color selections have in a
painting, one scene is painted with seven palettes, from
minimal (monochromatic) to full colors. Chapter Seven,
"Color in light & shadow", shows photographically how light
and shadow effect color and how to duplicate the effects.
I have not seen this covered in other books. Through ten
demonstrations you will learn how to render colors in
shadows, in colorful subjects, and in not-so-colorful
subjects by making colorful grays. You will learn to use
color to paint "white" subjects, the greens in nature,
clouds and skies, and even colors that are not in a scene,
but should be. This is a valuable an informative book.
I have given away some twenty or so books to my artist club
library, but not this one. It is worth the price, to me,
for Chapter 7 alone. I would have rated it a 10, if it
were on color only, minus the first two chapters, but these
are helpful to beginners.
Book Description
By explaining how water reacts on canvas, and then using examples of classic art and hands-on exercises, this fully-illustrated text can help anyone-from beginner to advanced artist-become a more skilled and creative watercolorist. Unlike oils or acrylic paints, watercolors are never fully controllable, and the artist must allow for unexpected movement and blending. In the hands of a truly gifted watercolorist, this untamed power can create moving and memorable works of art. You'll master those skills, beginning with terminology and equipment, and then going into the basics of color classification, the use of shadows, the color triangle, and forming a palette. Next, create preliminary sketches, experiment with both Wet-on-Wet and Dry Surface techniques, and learn the secrets of achieving fluidity and controlling the halo effect. Soon, you'll understand how and why Renoir and Monet chose and used their palettes, and be on your way to becoming a more accomplished watercolorist.
Book Description
An experienced artist and teacher uses stunning examples of his own work to explain every facet of watercolor landscape painting. Explore the wide range of effects possible with different brushstrokes and washes, such as blotting and sponging to produce texture and working with color to suggest movement. Plenty of practical suggestions on choosing materials and supplies are included along with inspiring, annotated studies and easy-to-follow projects that demonstrate basic techniques in action, including painting all kinds of skies, depicting perspective, creating shadows, combining colors and more.
Customer Reviews:
Easy & Fun Book.......2006-09-03
I have been painting watercolor for some time now and got this book to get some different techniques then my local class provides me. The author does a great job with this book giving you step by step ways to create some of the art in his book. This book is also full of many great and helpful tips for creating wonderful results with a watercolor landscape painting. A great book for beginners or a great addition for an already established painter.
Customer Reviews:
Wet, Wet, Wet.......2002-06-02
I found this book at a Book Outlet store and thought "for the price, I should get it", so I did. I have to tell you that this is one of the best books to use to build up confidence and technical skills in wet into wet watercolor painting. Each chapter is fun to read and the examples (step by step) are so easy to follow that they help you become an "expert" by the end of the book. I have lots of watercolor books and have found this to be one of my favorites on wet into wet technique for the above reasons.
Wet-in-Wet Watercolor.......1999-11-25
Ms Speckman's book helped me break through to a new level of watercolor painting. She deals entirely with "wet-in-wet", breaking it down into three sections: The Saturated Approach, Painting by Sections and the Painterly Approach. Beginning with a practical and thorough discussion of paper and pigments as they apply specifically to wet-in-wet watercolor, she proceeds to original and effective step-by-step instruction. Although I have purchased and worked from many books on instructional watercolor, I found Ms. Speckmann's techniques to be unusual and exciting. I particularly enjoy her iconoclastic preference for opaque pigments and the way she showcases their unique qualities. Well written and lavishly illustrated, this book is a valuable reference work.
Book Description
Watercolor is the medium of choice for visual artists today, and this practical new guide to is sure to top the list of must-have resources for beginners and experienced alike. Everything watercolorists need to bring their vision alive on paper is here: how to follow the inner rhythm of the water; when to reflect and when to take instant action; and how to choose the appropriate surface, color, and brushstroke to achieve the most effective results. All wet-on-wet techniques are explored and lavishly illustrated, and a series of vibrant artworks breaks down the watercolor process into stages to provide further understanding and inspiration.
Customer Reviews:
Good for a reference.......2007-09-19
This is a wonderful book on a subject that all new watercolorists need to master. What I really liked about this book above all was the authors discussion on saturation and the different levels of it. It is very informative with plenty of pictures and information.
great info--lousy writing.......2006-02-25
This is possibly the worst written book I have ever read. It is beautifully produced (particularly for the price), has wonderful illustrations, contains gorgeous paintings and is full of totally invaluable information for anyone wanting to learn wet-on-wet watercolor. The author is quite clearly a top exponent of the technique. Possibly the horrendously verbose and opaque writing is the fault of the translator, possibly not. It seems to have been originally written in Polish. This is not a book for a total beginner as you have to have some knowledge in order to decipher the jargon and puzzle out the obtuse sentences. I am still glad I bought it. It is a deal despite its short comings. If it was re-written in a clear and comprehensible style I would willingly fork out forty or forty-five bucks for it.
Book Description
“Fourteen projects...refer to the...options that confront beginning and accomplished painters...still lifes, landscapes, figures in a range of styles, lighting and seasonal conditions...vibrant color....Information...is well presented. Recommended.”—School Arts.
Customer Reviews:
Learn to paint with this book.......2000-12-06
This was my first book on watercolor and with it I was able to create my first paintings. Projects are step-by-step guides with interesting themes. Some paintings are a bit more demanding, so as a beginner, I have done them several times to master the technique (a lot of wet-on-wet work). I found this to be a wonderful book that can teach you how to paint landscapes, figures, cities, water...It is great for beginners, but even someone advanced would enjoy it because of the techniques shown.
Book Description
Beginners who want to master the basics of watercolors, acrylics, and oils will find more than 350 color photos to guide them, along with easy-to-follow instructions. More experienced painters can hone their skills using detailed studies of a range of techniques. Each section offers practical information on materials and equipment, a gallery of professional work to inspire creativity, and projects that cover landscapes, still lifes, people, flowers, animals, and buildings.
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General
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
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| Books
Best Addresses
Washington Through Two Centuries
Washington, D.C., Then and Now (Then & Now)
Old Washington, D.C. in Early Photographs, 1846-1932
Washington, DC: A Historic Walking Tour (Images of America)
