Vitamin P: New Perspectives in Painting
by Barry Schwabsky (Goodreads author!)
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 140)
This may be an odd book about which to write a review, since 90% of its page space goes to pictures. But I take my art books as seriously as the rest of my collection, and took the time to go through this one cover-to-cover, so I figured I might as well write down my thoughts. As a collection of contemporary painters, this book is fantastic – the breadth of forms and techniques present is truly astounding, and even the most up-to-date art lover is bound to encounter the work of a painter the...more
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Read in January, 2006
recommends it for:
Anyone who enjoys contemporary art
Fantastic survey of contemporary trends in the medium of painting. Tends to focus on the youngest of the new crop of painters leaving out such luminaries as Jenny Saville and Gerhard Richter (who despite his age is still a vital contributor to the contemporary dialog so far as painting is concerned). Of course one could complain about who was left out but that wouldn't do justice to a well organized catalog that covers just about every manifestation of progress in painting today. Schwabsky's ess...more
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Read in January, 2008
More of a reference than a sit-down-and-read, Phaidon has created yet another incredible art book, that shoudl be considered indispensible for the contemporary painter, and invaluable for an enthusiaist of contemporary painting.
THAT SAID--
There's a lot of work in here that's not going to knock your socks off. The collection of artists assembled here are somewhat inconsistent in quality--but from an editor's point of view, an incredibly large range of work is represented--you might be su...more
THAT SAID--
There's a lot of work in here that's not going to knock your socks off. The collection of artists assembled here are somewhat inconsistent in quality--but from an editor's point of view, an incredibly large range of work is represented--you might be su...more
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recommends it for:
any poor souls interested in contemporary art
Though I haven't explored their photography volume yet, Phaidon's Vitamin series are excellent primers to contemporary art, narrowed down to a specific medium (thank god). The general scene being as diverse and everywhere as it is, this kind of loose focus (operative term being loose) is amazing to experience, leafing through artist after artist. The critical blurbs can be frustratingly brief and at worst too vague, but for the most part they give a reasonable introduction in thinking of an ar...more
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recommends it for:
everyone
Another excellent art survey from Phaidon, Vitamin P includes a surprisingly broad assortment of contemporary artists working in paint. It's a useful reference for the artist, and an accessible introduction for anyone new to the world of late 20th - current painting. Also check out Vitamin D, their book of drawing.
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Read in October, 2005
Definitely one of my favorite reference books. This book is indispensible and time and time again I thumb through it for inspiration when I come up to that road block of creativity. A must have! Well done, Phaidon, well done.
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recommends it for:
artists and art lovers
This book is a "must have" for anyone interested in painting. My only hope is that they release new editions as the landscape of contemporary painting changes.
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Read in October, 2008
Barry Schwabsky writes the best critical essay on painting over the past ten years found anywhere!
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Read in January, 2005
recommends it for:
all artists
This is a must have for all currently working artists. Great selection of contemporaries.
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i pick this book up from time to time; some paintings are good, some not but interesting
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