If you know me, you know I am a daily reader. But, I am also a “watcher” – I watch a lot of art documentaries.  So, here are a couple of “art” books I recommend, as well as an entertaining documentary about a crazy art theft!

SPRING CANNOT BE CANCELLED by David Hockney and Martin Gayford. If I were to describe this book in one word, it would be “delightful”. Hockney  is the eternal optimist. When he turned 80, he moved to Normandy and spent a lot of time “watching” – he watched the sun move across the sky, he watched the shadows dancing across the water. He looked “TO SEE”.  AND he painted the arrival of spring. This book is based on conversations between Hockney and the art critic (and friend of decades) Martin Gayford.  It is full of art history, they talk about Van Gogh, Monet, Bruegel, and others.

Hockney’s enthusiasm and his sense of wonder is infectious.  This uplifting book is one that will put a smile on your face. In fact, this reading was with an “art” bookclub – and I have to admit, it was my third time reading it, and I’m going to keep it to revisit at a later date. You don’t have to like Hockney’s art to fall in love with him!

Oh, when I asked the members of the book club to rate the book 1-10, several members wanted to give it an 11 or even a 12.

 

A GENEROUS VISION: THE CREATIVE LIFE OF ELAINE DEKOONING BY CATHY CURTIS

Finally, a good biography about Elaine DeKooning!!! This book goes into her life, exploring her abstract expressionist paintings and her work as an respected art critic and writer.  

Most consider her best work as an artist are her figurative paintings, including the “faceless man” series. AND she painted the official 1963 portrait of JFK, that was unveiled in 1965.

She was also the first visiting art professor at the University of Georgia in 1976 – 1978 (my alma-mater). She kept a studio on the campus beginning her famous “Bachus” series while there.  She even went to Cortona, Italy in the summer of 1977 as part of the UGA Study Abroad Program.

In keeping with the “DeKooning” theme, watch the documentary THE THIEF COLLECTOR. Directed by Allison Otto, it tells the story of WOMEN-OCHRE by Willem DeKooning, which vanished from the University of Arizona Museum of Art in Tucson in 1985. Value at $160 million (today) it was discovered in 2017 in the home of Jerry and Rita Alter, a deceased married couple. It’s a crazy story, with interviews of the Alters’ family. Here is a short trailer from the film, which is available free on KANOPY.

If you aren’t familiar with KANOPY, it is available to most people using your library card!!!!!!

Do you have anything to recommend? I’m always looking for a good book and I often take breaks in my studio by watching free documentaries on KANOPY.