Book Description
One of the most important Los Angeles architects, Paul R. Williams' prolific career extended from the 1920s to the 1970s. His vast body of built work stretches across the world from Paris and Colombia to Washington, D.C., New York, and Memphis. However, the Los Angeles area was his personal and professional focus. Overcoming incredible prejudice in an all-white field, Williams became the first African American admitted to the A.I.A and designed over 3,000 projects, including the Jetsons-like theme building at Los Angeles International Airport, Saks Fifth Avenue and W. & J. Sloane's department stores in Beverly Hills, the famous Beverly Hills and Ambassador hotels, and renowned celebrity haunts, such as Chasen's and Perino's restaurants. He also designed mansions for Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Tyrone Power, William "Bojangles" Robinson, Lon Chaney, and other entertainers. While Williams had extraordinary facility with the historical styles popular in southern California at the time, he was equally adept at modern design, as seen in his work for Fisk and Howard universities, Saint Jude Hospital in Memphis, and several banks, churches, and country clubs. Karen E. Hudson, a third-generation Angeleno, is the granddaughter of Paul R. Williams and director of his archives. She chronicles the African-American experience in Los Angeles in writings and photographs. David Gebhard, the renowned historian, was a professor of architectural history and Curator of the Architectural Drawing Collection of the Art Museum at the University of Santa Barbara. Call-out: The first architectural monograph of Williams' extraordinary and inspiring achievements.
Customer Reviews:
Singular style.......2005-04-09
This is a very nice book on a very important architect. It is nothing short of amazing that Mr. Williams had the career he had. He is a master of the California Regency, the style just exudes grandeur. This book does a fine job of hitting on his most well know buildings and gives a nice cross reference of his work. The text is very interesting because it comes from Ms. Hudson, his grand daughter and the pictures are quite vivid. I'm sure Mr. Williams would be proud that she has honored him in this way. Taking nothing away from Ms. Hudson, I would love to see UCLA do a series on his work with an architecture scholar, but for now this is a very nice tribute to a singular architect.
Paul R. Williams.......2003-03-25
In 1868 the proposed amendment to Congress, was passed by the Senate to abrogate servitude on the shores of the Americas. Thus, it would seem exceptional to some, that only twenty-eight years later on the West Coast of the same shores had begun the legacy of an African American architect and the ascension of over 3,000 architectural structures. That architect was
Paul R. Williams.
Yet it was known in many circles that descendants of servitude were making strives in many a pursuit and occupation. Scientists, inventors, publishers, congressmen, and diplomats, the list is extensive. However, there is relatively très très peu known about the quality of Paul R. Williams, the architect. His granddaughter, Karen E. Hudson, the director of the PRWs archives, documents a veritable gold-mine of history within the annals of these pages. Although troubled by the "driving while black" phenomena, Paul R. Williams took the Booker T. Washington "bootstrap" premise to heart and created an empire of structures on the West Coast (Los Angeles in particular) and universally.
A Legacy of Style is a collection of Williams' work from the 1920s to the 1960s. Prefacing with a conspectus on his life and continuing with a preliminary from David Gebhard, (architectural historian and curator), that traces PRW from his beginnings and interprets the style and significance of his life's work. Splayed throughout the pages are brief narratives from voluminous articles and books of Williams' writings. Through the photographs, illustrations, captions and dreams, the reader unearths the flavor of this architect's nearly six decades of elegance and polish, signature homes, characteristic PRW curves, sleekly designed molding and particularly his "refinement and high taste". Williams' affinity with the traditional and sensitivity to the modern allowed for a lasting style of moderne classique. Yet his style expands further, from Byzantine to European Gothic, to Colonial to the Pueblo, from Romanesque to the English Tudor, Paul R. Williams envelops it all. In the 1930s, Williams reprised the neoclassic style of the relationship between interior and exterior, as in his Jay Paley residence in Bel Air. With this, the inhabitants would embrace a sense freedom. He was at ease in working with diverse styles and locations, from the Beverly Hills Hotel to the Compton Housing Project.
The advances Williams made despite the impediments would inspire the reader. The skills, such as drawing upside-down at a desk for his clients and developing the psychology of marketing his work were all elements of his craftsmanship, acumen, restraint and his concentration to detail. Being Black, he had faced difficulties that made him a " . . . far better craftsman today than I would be had my course been free." The reader will absorb his thoughts and hopes of being seen as an individual and his metamorphosis of his politicization of "being a Negro".
Unfortunately, Williams was unable to complete some of the wishes he had for building in Nigeria nor did he complete the autobiography of his life, but Hudson fulfills an exquisite task in this preservation. Yes, a little known book that should be in everyone's home is also an essential chronicle for the student of architecture. Paul R. Williams, an exceptional man of character, has left us a legacy of style.
Yasmain Broady-Soya...
America's Greatest Unselfish Architect.......2002-02-16
Thank you Karen Hudson. Finally, the American public can learn that a great Architect is not just the arrogant Frank L. Wright that abandoned his wife and six children to run off with a client's wife to further practice his art. This book is about a cultured, hard working, creative and civic minded Black American Architect. In overcoming the racial adversity of the twentith century, Mr. Williams produced three times more work than Wright because of the confidence he instilled in his clients as an Architect that cared about their needs first and not his personal wants. Frank L. Wright regarded himself as America's greatest Architect because of his "honest arrogants" and most American Schools of Architecture promote this narrow view. But the American general public deserves better and should know that they have it. And this book illustrates that Mr. Paul Revere Williams, FAIA is by far one of "Our" greatest Architects by virtue of his Honest Integrity. Hence, he stands as a role model for all future American generations. And by that virtue recognition of his work must continue with more books like this and recorded oral histories from persons still alive that knew and worked with him.
This book is really two books in one. On one hand it is an excellent biography. But, it is an interesting look at the homes of surprisingly, Movie Stars from the Golden era of Hollywood.
A movie about Mr. Williams would be far better than the movie the Fountainhead, where an architect name Rouke blows up a large building project because of his hurt arrogant pride. And an American court of law finds him not guilty in the end. Hmmm and the setting for the Fountainhead was New York City. Daaa
There are many books about Wright's arrogants. But the times in America today call for the integrity of Mr. Paul R.Williams to grace the coffee tables and personal libraries of the land.
Conrade C. Hinds, Architect
An Eclectic Design Aesthetic.......2000-04-22
Paul Williams' archtectural designs, which are photographed quite beautifully in this survey of his work, are rather varied in style. He ranges from traditional English tudor homes, such as the San Rafael cover photo, to futuristic buildings, such as the building now named Encounter at the Los Angeles airport. His buildings and private homes explore the radical changes in design that have spanned the 20th century.
Customer Reviews:
A Lesson in how to live and work.......2000-08-06
This book, written by Williams, tells a story of a quiet, deliberate, tenacious, focused, genius of a man who should join the likes of Martin Luther King, Paul Roberson and Jackie Robinson during Black History month. "The Will and the Way" is inspirational and filled with how-to's that overcame obstacles he encountered time and time again. His story is one of a gentle man who took a natural talent (drawing) and became an amazing architect. An orphan who didn't let adversity hamper his progress or thwart his dreams. His work ethic and preparedness are unmatched by anyone past or present. He defines "Success".
This is a story of a man of honor, dignity, integrity, superior intelligence and impeccable taste. His life was rich in extraordinary experiences and his public relation skills were stunning. His ability to draw upside down is the most amazing thing ever!
The common sense displayed by Williams and the maintenance man at the cotton mill are comforting. Williams's advice of how to plan your day and the importance of reading, listening and thinking are jewels.
Thanks to Karen Hudson for sharing this inspiring story that might have been lost to those of us who love Black History.
Book Description
Enclosed in a handy, portable case, this kit includes paints, brushes, and a blank pad of absorbent watercolor paper -everything you'll need to begin creating right away! The instruction book details watercolor materials and techniques ranging from laying down tones to using complementary colors to developing your own painting style, while the watercolors dotting each page provide subject ideas.
Customer Reviews:
Nice Kit for the creative mind.......2007-01-12
This kit is wonderul, and if you have a person in the house who likes to draw/color/sketch/shade, give them this book and watch their skills improve. NICE
Average customer rating:
- Serves a specific purpose well, as titled
|
First Impressions: Sketching Nature in Watercolor
Edward Norton Ward
Manufacturer: Watson-Guptill Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General
| Instructional & How-To
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Watercolor Painting
| Instructional & How-To
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
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Drawing
| Instructional & How-To
| Arts & Photography
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General
| Painting
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Watercolor
| Painting
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General
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Similar Items:
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Watercolor, You Can Do It!
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Making Color Sing
ASIN: 0823018202 |
Customer Reviews:
Serves a specific purpose well, as titled.......2006-11-30
If you want to loosen up your work and/or paint outdoors efficiently and effectively, then this book will be a big help--as it has been for me. Even if you want to paint in a more representational, detailed style, than is represented here, getting the basics first as this book presents them could still greatly simplify things to make your process easier.
Edward Norton Ward's watercolor "sketches" (They are signed, so I assume he considers them completed paintings.), which are abundant throughout the book, at first might appear more simplistic than they are. In other words, there is experience and knowledge behind creating an effective, yet simple, watercolor. Mr. Ward has been generous in sharing this knowledge and the thoughts that are behind each painting. His discussions about simplifying the subject and the effects of light on color are particularly good. He also explains his painting process.
This book is useful in any case, but more useful if you paint outdoors, as that is its focus. His tips on traveling lightly and the materials he uses/prepares, has a couple valuable tips that I will use, even though after painting for a number of years I have already gone over the endless supplies combinations for painting outdoors.
The painting on the cover is a good representation of Ward's work and one that I like (although not my favorite). I admit that some of the paintings in this book do not appeal to me as the parts seem too detached and there are too many isolated dabs of paint. Others, however, elicit a sigh of appreciation, because they represent what I would like to be able to do: paint directly from nature in a very direct(impressionistic)style that doesn't involve a lot of fussing in the studio later--if I do not wish to do that--and still end up with a painterly thing of beauty. This book shows me how to achieve that goal more than any others I have studied.
I have just sorted through my rather extensive library on painting in watercolor with an eye to thinning down the collection to about half--to the ones that I deem most essential. I am keeping this book over several boxes of other watercolor books, a number by better known artists, simply because there is something valuable here that I want to learn, and I feel that I will use it as a reference for some time.
Book Description
The Sierra Club Guide to Sketching in Nature is a drawing and watercolor painting primer created to enhance any experience of the great outdoors. In a skillful blend of inspiration and practical instruction, nationally recognized artist, author, naturalist, and teacher Cathy Johnson encourages aspiring artists to use sketching and painting to deepen their understanding of the natural world, to savor its every detail.
Featuring simple, easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions and more than 280 illustrations--in color and black-and-white--Sketching in Nature covers a broad range of subjects, including:
--Tools and equipment
--Choosing a subject to sketch or paint
--Artist's shortcuts to getting the angles right
--Rendering hard and soft edges
--Mixing paints and washes
--Understanding color and using a color wheel
--Using light to express volume
--Using a camera to supplement your work
--Using watercolor to suggest texture
--Sketching flowers, trees, and animals
--Depicting clouds and weather patterns
--Using field sketches as studies for future paintings
--Lists of sketching workshops and sources for art supplies
Customer Reviews:
excellent resource.......2007-03-26
I loved this book. I am a beginner and it was an excellent resource.
Important for beginners........2005-08-04
I am a novice artist and need all the tips and help I can get. This book is a big help and I refer to it frequently.
Don't let the title fool you.......2004-04-22
This book provides a tremendous amount of information on sketching in nature but don't let the title fool you- this is a terrific general sketching and drawing book. Johnson covers topics that are rarely covered in other books. The use of pens, watercolors, pencils and colored pencils (both water soluble and not) are covered. This is an invaluable book and is an asset to both the beginner and more advanced student. I'm on Amazon right now trying to find other books by Cathy Johnson- I'm that impressed.
Cathy keeps it simple...and affordable........2001-08-30
This is a very refreshing book. Cathy Johnson not only makes it look easy to draw and paint loose, yet accurate, watercolor sketches outdoors, but she tells you everything you need to know. This book will actually teach you how to draw and paint what you see, without making things overly complicated. Best of all, her supply list is well within the means of most people. I really enjoyed this book, and learned a great deal from it. This summer, I caught Lyme disease. It's nasty. For months, I could hardly walk, let alone hike and garden and do stuff I used to love. But Cathy's book has helped draw me back outside, and I'm learning to love nature all over again, one leaf, flower, and bug at a time. This book would make a great gift.
Fine for the Arteest on the Go.......2000-04-14
This is a pretty complete little volume. When you get it, you really do have to assume some knowledge and practice of making art and the media, however, she goes over materials and techniques, which can serve as a good refresher or initial exposure.
The best part is a discussion early on about how to pack all the materials so you don't keel over from exhaustion, hauling too much art gear, along with the usual standard hiking goodies. (I especially needed help with that, given my childlike adoration of way too many pretty colors.)
The emphasis is on SKETCHING, not doing the Mona Lisa. This is important in outdoor work as light changes and speed can be of the essence. I sometimes pick up this book so that I can just relax my techniques a bit.
The examples in the book, in many media and in monochrome or color are a delight to view. Sometimes, it's just fun to sit down with a cuppa and flip through the nice drawings of objects and scenes in nature.
Book Description
Pen and wash is the easiest and fastest way to build painting skills. Master painters commonly use it as a first step in more complex, complete paintings: to get down basic compositions and solidify ideas. In Work Small, Learn Big, an impressive list of artists from around the world illustrates the value and possibilities in pen and wash: Tony Couch on designing with pen and wash Richard Plincke on building confidence Keith Bowen on techniques to develop personal style Judy Schroeder on experimenting with pen and wash Don Getz on expanding picture-making ability with a travel journal
Compressing the styles and methods of a broad array of artists into one volume, this book overflows with ideas delivered in a beginner-friendly, illustration-heavy format.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent book.......2007-02-09
Reasons why I highly recommend this book...
* Lots of inspiration for different techniques to try
* Lists of art supplies the artists prefer is very helpful
* The artists are actually very good, unlike some books
* The book itself is nicely designed
* I have a fascination with other artists' sketchbooks
* It's my new favorite book
divers info with good loose artwork.......2006-12-12
I buy way too many art, drawing and how to books. Too many because a lot of the books just have terribly cramped or uptight art in them. This is not one of them. Often books either have good technical information but the art looks bad; or the art is really good but the instruction goes from a sketch to the final painting in one and a half sentence. This is one of the books where instruction as well as the quality of the art are both interesting.
If you like pen/ink/wash sketches or if you've been doing a lot of pen sketching and you want to add some washes, this book will give you lots of examples and progress shots, mostly of environments, buildings, sheds, nature, streets. The implementations of the pen/wash method are varied and are shown to you by various artists (roughly 15 artists - each having roughly 6 pages to show their method), and my guess is you will find some that will suit you, or that you can use as a base for for your own way of doing things.
Educational as well as inspirational. 5 stars.
My New favorite Art Book.......2005-08-06
This is both a great coffee table book and a great guide for artists. This is not a book of step by step instruction for drawing or painting objects. Instead, each chapter is given to a different artist to explain their materials and methods in pen and watercolor sketching.
I appreciated the way each artist listed the materials that make up their sketch kit, from the type of pen to the paper, usually accompanied by a photograph of the whole thing. The artist then goes on to explain their approach, accompanied by numerous illustrations and pictures. There are so many different approaches covered here that you are sure to find some inspiration for your own work.
The works displayed in this book are outstanding. While some artists here use the sketch to prepare for a painting, many have the sketch as a final goal. I personally get much more enjoyment out of looking at sketches than at finished works.
If you use a sketchbook, watercolors or pens i can't recommend this highly enough.
Step by Step Instructions!.......2005-03-24
Learn new watercolor & sketching skills by creating small versions with this super book of clearly diagramed steps, by a variety of artists around the world. From realism to quick sketches, this wonderful book is loaded with great ideas and examples. A must have for any sketchbook artist!
Book Description
This is the perfect jump start for beginners who want to tackle the watercolor medium with speed and success. It presents an easy-to-understand approach that quickly familiarizes aspiring artists with basic materials, tools and techniques for getting started.
Illustrations, exercises and complete step-by-step demos show how to achieve fast results by creating sketches with drawing media as well as watercolor. With this easy "sketching" approach, artists will learn how to plan successful paintings using thumbnail sketches, value sketches, color sketches, sideline sketches, composition adjustments and experiments.
Accessible, affordable and fun, this guide will have beginners developing their skills and on their way to creating satisfying work in no time.
Customer Reviews:
Makes Me Want to Go Sketch and Paint!.......2007-03-07
Good solid teaching methods in this book. I gained insight into the necessary thinking, tools and methods to fill my sketch books with loads of painted sketches....Takes you into the interesting world of composition of multi-viewpoints that are possible for a location, and describes the journey in entertaining ways-lots of very nice artwork examples. Recommended for the artist in everyone! No masterpieces allowed!
Book Description
The wonders of Paris never fail to delight both visitors and inhabitants alike. Like many before him, artist Alain Bouldouyre, a long-time resident of the City of Lights, has been snared by the city's charms. My Paris Sketchbook documents his deep attachment to the capital, presenting a selection of sketches made over the past few years, all executed in watercolor.
Bouldouyre takes us on a very personal tour, visiting both the well-known and less frequented streets and sites the capital has to offer. My Paris Sketchbook evokes the true character of the city's particular palette of colors, its imposing historical architecture punctuated by discreet contemporary interludes, and the eternal romance and beauty of the Seine and its banks. This book will provide a treasured addition to the library for Paris lovers, while enthusiasts of watercolor will appreciate the artist's mastery of this highly popular medium.
Customer Reviews:
This Sketchbook Illuminates The City Of Lights!.......2003-11-16
No city touches my soul like Paris. She is the queen of old world charm, of romantic ambiance, bourgeois elegance and bohemian grit. Fine art and cuisine flourish here, as do sidewalk cafes, flea markets and Parisian attitude. The Pont-Neuf, along the banks of the Seine, is one of my favorite places in the world. Artist Alain Bouldouyre, a longtime resident of the City of Light is obviously another person who has been captivated by the delights of Paris. Monsieur Bouldouyre is an illustrator and the artistic director of Senso magazine.
This richly visual sketchbook, filled with Bouldouyre's elegant watercolors, brings the city to life, in all her glory. His sophisticated palette of colors and sensitive line brilliantly capture the historic architecture, contemporary street scenes, the beauty of the Seine and its banks. The Place de la Concorde is depicted at sunrise. Readers are given a poetic portrait of the various Arrondissements and their attractions at different times of day and night, in natural light and illuminated by streetlights. We are taken to the Louvre, the Opera and down less frequented side streets. Christophe Auduraud's narrative complements the illustrations. Auduraud is a film critic and novelist, and a past scholar of the Villa Médicis, the French cultural institute in Rome.
The book has a lovely flow to it. It is handsomely bound with a linen spine and a color-washed cover painting. The paper is a heavy cream colored, heavily ribbed stock with notes written in longhand alongside the vibrant sketches. If you have been to Paris, this is a wonderful remembrance. If you have never been there, Bouldouyre' watercolors capture the city's essence better than any photograph could.
JANA
Average customer rating:
|
Sketching in Watercolors (Easy Start Guides)
Narito Saimaru , and
Graphic-Sha Publishing
Manufacturer: Books Nippan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Instructional & How-To
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
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Watercolor Painting
| Instructional & How-To
| Arts & Photography
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General
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| Arts & Photography
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Watercolor
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All Japanese Books
| Japanese
| Foreign Language Books
| Specialty Stores
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ASIN: 4766107128 |
Book Description
Wendy Jelbert begins this book by asking the question 'why sketch?'. Her answer is that it is the best way to record inspirational scenes and to capture special moments. Through a series of step-by-step projects Wendy demonstrates how to develop your sketching skills and to transform a sketch into a finished painting. Everything is covered from capturing detail, composition and texture to making the most of your sketchbooks. Many of Wendy's finished paintings and the sketches that inspired them are included throughout the book.
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