Recently I enjoyed a delightful visit with author Devon Cox who was visiting New York City from London. He was on tour doing extensive research for his latest project, a new comprehensive biography of the late John Singer Sargent, which is to be published in 2025 on the centennial of the great artist’s death.
The Wait and the Reward, by Anna Rose Bain
Artist Anna Rose Bain shares her intimate journey from pregnancy up through the first year of her second child’s life in this portfolio of paintings, drawings and blog excerpts. Her goal for this book is to inspire and encourage other parents, wives and caretakers to pursue their dreams and to love without reserve.
Drawing the Head for Artists: Techniques for Mastering Expressive Portraiture, by Oliver Sin
Written by celebrated portrait artist Oliver Sin, this richly informative and beautifully illustrated volume leads readers step-by-step through his method, from establishing a point of view to applying the timeless principles for creating an accurate and expressive likeness. Brimming with striking images that document all the phases and details of the author’s process, the book inspires and informs all artists, from aspiring to accomplished, on how to successfully portray the physical subtleties and emotional eloquence of the human face.
The Garden, by Adrienne Stein
Personally designed and published by Adrienne Stein, this beautiful hardcover coffee table book features 50 full-color images and detail shots of Stein’s selected paintings from 2014 to 2017 with a foreword written by Michelle Hillestad. Stein’s vivid paintings come to life in this high-quality book that takes you on a journey into her world.
As we sat in my studio, we discussed the remarkable impact of the life and work of this giant among artists. Sure to be another delightful read, this is not Cox’s first foray into the lives of artists in what was once a very bohemian area of London. His 2015 work, The Street of Wonderful Possibilities: Whistler, Wilde and Sargent in Tite Street, also engages the reader with an area of Chelsea once filled with the most fascinating and talented of personalities. It has just been released in paperback.
The Goddess Project: Paintings and Stories by Judy Takács
This book tells the stories behind the paintings from the Goddess Project series thus far. Judy Takács reimagines the characters from the mythology of all the religions through a contemporary feminist lens and also retells these tales with an eye toward correcting harmful misogynist foregone conclusions that haunt us today.
We the People: Portraits of Veterans in America, by Mary Whyte
“We the people—these words embody the ethos of what it means to be an American citizen. As individuals we are a tapestry of colors and creeds; united we are a nation committed to preserving our hard-earned freedom.” In this heart-stirring collection of watercolor portraits of military veterans—one from each of the 50 states—artist Mary Whyte captures this ethos as well as the dedication, responsibility and courage it takes to fulfill that promise.
Portraits of Hope
This book features 42 dynamic and beautiful portraits of women and men associated with the Lovelady Center painted by well-known artists. The Lovelady Center is a faith-based transitional facility helping women change their lives after drug addiction, domestic violence and incarceration.
I am reminded by these books and others how much we learn from the full study of artists we admire. We gain a deeper understanding of their work by knowing them in more intimate ways.
Over the last 24 months, I’ve also been hard at work on a new book to be released later this year on the teachings of my mentor, Everett Raymond Kinstler. In this case, I’m focusing on the techniques (which interestingly also provides insight into the man) he passed along to his students, and styling it after his favorite book on art, The Art Spirit, a collection of class notes on the great artist Robert Henri. Organized by topic, I hope the book provides a helpful reference volume for information on topics such as drawing, value, composition and more. All profits from the sale of the book will be donated to the Portrait Society of America. Preorders begin April 2022.
Other artists and members of the Portrait Society have been busy getting their thoughts and techniques down on paper. There are many excellent new resources for those aspiring to grow their work to new heights. Here are just a few!
Michael Shane
Neal Chairman