Book #3 〰️ This Is Warhol

the book

early years

silver clouds

 

I have been to a couple of Warhol exhibitions; one solo at Ta Papa in Wellington and at NGV for the Warhol and Ai Weiwei exhibition seeing his work in real life is amazing but I bought this book to get to know more about Warhol.

“If you want to know all about Andy Warhol, just look at the surface of my paintings and films and me, and there I am. There’s nothing behind it.” one of the key quotes I found in this book was located on the first page, provocative and vacuous.

As I stated before, I bought this book to get to know more about Warhol. The book reinforced most of what I had already known about Warhol. I guess seeing two Warhol exhibitions you do end up absorbing more than you realise.

His commercial career did span a longer period of time than I realised though, the style of his early illustrations were in a more delicate style to his more infamous pop art work.

I did find the impact of both shootings on his life and work very interesting and I am so glad that the book mentioned both. They are quite interesting and unique to Andy Warhol’s life.

One key part I noticed that was different from This is Matisse is that the start of This is Warhol, did jump more in terms of time frames and then went back to chronological order. Some thing that I did not enjoy as I expected it to be the same as This is Matisse so I was thrown.

I would recommend reading this book if you want an overview of Warhol’s life and generate your own ideas about the book.

My next post will be up soon.

Keep reading,

M

 

Here is where you can get your hands on your on copy of This Is Warhol

The List 〰️ Updated

1. This is Matisse
2. This is Warhol
3. Spectrum
4. Art as Therapy
5. A-Z Great Modern Artists
6. Vitamin D2
7. Vitamin P2
8. Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei
9. Akademie X
10. David Hockney: Current
11. The Making of MONA
12. The Secret Garden
13. Art Made from Books

Can you guess what my next post is about?

M

 

Something I am still thinking about…

This is Matisse revealed something about Matisse I never knew or even thought about, which is how conflicted Matisse was. Picasso acquired a piece from Matisse’s Morocco trip when he was confined to his room, Picasso could not understand how a piece that was so vibrant and happy looking could be painted by someone so miserable.

This is something that I am still thinking about because the vibrancy of Matisse’s work doesn’t depict this confliction.

〰️ My thoughts on This is Warhol is coming this weekend.

M

My Book + Tea

My Ai Wei Wei NGV notebook/my analogue blog

The List

Notes on This is Matisse

Notes on This is Matisse

Notes on Spectrum

Even though I am doing a blog I am a very analogue person in the fact that I need to have handwritten as well.

Let me introduce you to… My Book

My book is what I write in while I am reading my art books. I write what I find interesting, things I don’t want to ever forget and the start to my posts.

My book must be written in black ball point pen and in capitals, because I am fussy about very particular things.

Tea is an important part of my life and reading process to I guess. Tea in many varieties will be a strong ally to my journey as it calms me and puts me in a more focused mindset.

Another book post will be coming soon,

M

Unfortunately you can no longer get the Ai Weiwei note book set by there is an amazing pop art notebook set still available

Book #2 〰️ Spectrum, A Book Full of Colour

Summary

700 Delaware by HENSE

700 Delaware by HENSE

A Preschool Rainbow

Koban by Klien Dytham Architecture

Spectrum is a book I hold dear for two reasons.

Reason #1 – The Summary

The summary expresses why I love colour theory the way and amount I do. Colour and selection is important to the effect a work has on its audience. The book has a strong design focus. Examples of these in the book are:

#5/700 Delaware

The work by HENSE (Alex Brewer) uses bold colour to decontextualise the church into a sculptural object.

#24/A Preschool Rainbow

Where colour association teaches the kids.

and finally…

#38/Koban

Klien Dytham Architecture created an approachable and friendly police station with colour and design.

 

And Reason #2 – Where I bought it

I bought the book in Bangalow in NSW while visiting family. Bangalow and Binna Burra hold many treasured memories and happiness. When I buy something in Bangalow – like spectrum – they hold even more meaning and significance for me. There is so much vibrancy to the area as well, associating something with there brings an incredible amount happiness and joy.

Thank you for reading,

M

You can buy Spectrum here

Book #1 〰️ This is Matisse

This is Matisse

His early years

Colour Theory

The Dance

I bought this book in my final year of university (like most on the list), I have and was really interested in colour theory. Matisse’s work has always had a strong sense of colour so I am really excited to read this book cover to cover.

This is Matisse starts off with the perfect quote “Henry Matisse dreamed of ‘an art of balance, of purity and serenity… something like a good armchair which provides relaxation.”pg 5.  The book starts with a basic over view of Matisse’s career as an attempt to find order in chaos and misery, and affirm the richness and beauty of life.

I found it really interesting how his childhood was in a bleak and highly industrialised town, he longed for vibrancy and light which was brought to his village through visitors and circuses. This vibrancy anticipated his future aesthetic.

Textiles from his home town of Bohain were vibrant and decorative, this notion of finding art in the everyday is one that inspires me.

The Dance (image 4) is a work that has always drawn me to Matisse and the reason I bought the book because I wanted to learn more about the piece. The space informs the piece but also the vibrant colours are bold as are the forms in the work

“Matisse would reflect that ‘the artist has but one idea.’ He is born with it and spends a lifetime developing it and making it breathe.” This notion of personal and aesthetic development I find really interesting and is something I saw throughout my practice during my degree as well.

From depicting Matisse’s influences, relationships and his growth throughout his career the book was detailed without feeling as though the book was dragging.

The book gave me a lot to think about but also more to look into. The book mentions Matisse’s manifesto ‘Notes of a Painter’ which is something I want to read. I also want to look further into the colour theory of Chevreul that inspired Signac and Matisse.

So that is book #1 done, and has motivated me to keep going with this project.

I hope you check out book #2, post coming this week.

M

Here is where to buy This is Matisse

The List

1. This is Matisse
2. This is Warhol
3. Spectrum
4. Art as Therapy
5. A-Z Great Modern Artists
6. Vitamin D2
7. Vitamin P2
8. Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei
9. Akademie X
10. David Hockney: Current
11. The Making of MONA
12. The Secret Garden
13. Art Made from Books

The starting point

Hi all, I’m Margaux, I’m 23 and I collect books. As seen in book stacks 1 and 2 (there are more in my bookshelf) I have a collection growing and expanding. But I am yet to read most of them as life has gotten in the way – so this blog will follow me and my journey reading the pages of the books I have carefully selected and collected.

Disclaimer: if you did not read the tagline of my blog – these are ALL art books… so be prepared for major artist inspiration and books that will make you look at art in a different way.

I also have a list of how I think I will tackle this collection so check out the next post and let me know if there are more books I should add to my collection.

Thanks for reading,

M