To an Englishman it is another of those baffling long words that mean little or nothing. For the initiated - the Welsh themselves - the word ‘Eisteddfod’ is synonimous with the identity of the nation. The word is ‘Eisteddfod’ is derived from the Welsh word ‘Eistedd’, which means ‘to sit’- setting the scene perfectly for a festival of this nature. Read more »
Whether your party has a risque tone to it, or is more on the dignified side, you need to keep in mind that not all your guests will know each other.It is likely that the soon-to-be-married couple will be the only common denominator for all your guests - so, to get everyone relaxed and having fun, play trivia games that ask questions about the bride and/or groom. This article will give you a few ideas on how to structure the games, what kind of questions to ask, and even prizes you can give to the winners.
Bridal/Couple Trivia
One idea is to create a multiple-choice or short-answer quiz which you can hand out as people arrive for them to fill out at their leisure.You can ask bride-related questions (Did Anne have braces? Read more »
With all the Christmas parties fast approaching, it is imperative to book up the perfect venue for the office bash.
In my experience, these office parties can get really out of hand and with me in particular, very messy.
I didn’t even manage to get to the restaurant on one of my more memorable office do’s. Read more »
With Christmas fast approaching many are starting to think about gift buying. Digital cameras will be a favourite gift item as their prices have fallen dramatically in recent years. But what are the features that you should look out for when shopping for a digital camera? Read more »
Scene from ‘Visit to Picasso’, a documentary by Paul Haesaert . If you are interested in the full high resolution version, please visit http://docsonline.eu/?search=Visit%20…
Visite Picasso? is a classic documentary by dir. Paul Haesaerts which features the frequently used footage of Picasso painting on glass while a camera films him from the other side. The trick of filming thru glass allows the viewer to witness Picasso’s true genius as he paints his famous Torros with just a few well-placed brushstrokes. Shot in beautiful black and white in Picasso’s home in Vallauris, the film is a poetic treatment of the master-painter. This captivating film is a must see for anyone interested in art.
#TITLE#The Picasso Scam (Detective Inspector Charlie Priest Mystery)#/TITLE#
The Picasso Scam (Detective Inspector Charlie Priest Mystery)
Customer Review: The Picasso Scam (Detective Inspector Charlie Priest Mystery)
Great book I am new to Stuart Pawson and I will recommend this books — I will now be reading all his Detective Inspector Charlie Priest books.
Customer Review: First in the Charlie Priest Series
Stuart Pawson had a career as a mining engineer He followed this with a spell working for the probation service, before he became a full-time writer. He lives in the pleasant waterside village of Fairburn in Yorkshire.
The plot revolves around a now well respected businessman, a pillar of the community everyone might say. That is everyone except Inspector Charlie Priest who has more than an inkling that he was involved in international art fraud. But if he takes his suspicions to the limit he is taking on an enemy with friends in high places.
Charlie Priest is not one to be put off by a man’s status in society and when he comes up with a link with heroin, not threat, no matter from what source or how high up is going to stop him. Art fraud is one thing pedaling lethal drugs is another . . .
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#TITLE#Pablo Picasso: Breaking All the Rules: Breaking All the Rules (Smart about the Arts)#/TITLE#
Pablo Picasso: Breaking All the Rules: Breaking All the Rules (Smart about the Arts)
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#TITLE#Picasso and the Girl with a Ponytail: A Story of Pablo Picasso (Anholt’s Artists)#/TITLE#
Picasso and the Girl with a Ponytail: A Story of Pablo Picasso (Anholt’s Artists)
Customer Review: Lovely book with an engaging true story
My five year old daughter received this for Christmas this year, and was utterly delighted with the story. Not too many words on each page, and beautiful illustrations, it immediately piqued her interest in this artist. So much so, we looked online to view some of his masterpieces and she has had to give his style a go. Suitable to read a child of at least 5, and the aproximate reading alone level of a 7-8 year old. We also have the Da Vinci book in this series and are looking forward to getting the others. A most excellent introduction for children!
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#TITLE#A Life of Picasso: Triumphant Years, 1917-1932 v. 3#/TITLE#
A Life of Picasso: Triumphant Years, 1917-1932 v. 3
Customer Review: Valuable Insights into Picasso’s Sources and Methods
If you think you know Picasso’s work, this book will convince you otherwise. John Richardson has done a tremendous service by sorting out when Picasso produced his greatest works between 1917 and 1932, what sources he “borrowed” from, what he was trying to accomplish, and how all of these works affected his career. This book was quite a revelation to me. Simply by seeing a lot of his work (as you can do at Musee Picasso, for example), you quickly realize that Picasso constantly copied himself. And, of course, it is well known that he borrowed much while trying to establish a style and while working with Braque to develop cubism. But Picasso borrowed early and often in ways I didn’t realize. In that sense, he was a supreme stylist who could execute someone else’s idea in a more profound way. I came away with a new appreciation for that aspect of his talent.
While Picasso was alive, very little was said in books about his mistreatment of women and the motives behind his paintings of his wives and lovers. While his second life was alive, people were still pretty circumspect on this point. But now we know that Picasso was louse when it came to women and his family. This book gives you the full story of his first marriage, relationship with his young mistress who inspired so many joyous works, Marie-Therese Walter, and his constant attraction to prostitutes.
There are some other surprises in this book including how central his work with ballet was in creating interest in his paintings and sculptures. It was through Diaghilev that Picasso met his first wife, Olga Khokhlova, a ballerina in the Ballets Russes. Picasso decided it was time to settle down and marry. Despite having had long relationships with women before, he now was looking for someone who would help make him respectable. In the process, Picasso adopted the lifestyle of one of the first wealthy artists (famously being driven around in one of the world’s most expensive cars by a chauffeur in the middle of the world-wide economic depression).
As good as John Richardson is on those subjects, he can be most annoying in other ways. For example, Mr. Richardson seems to have an obsession with Jean Cocteau and writes a lot about him even though Picasso didn’t like Cocteau very much and Cocteau didn’t influence Picasso very much either. Mr. Richardson also has a writing style that can be enormously elusive, describing what happened without saying anything. Picasso’s wife seems to have had a lot of physical and mental problems but these are mentioned without providing much real information other than when they occurred. A greater problem comes in that Mr. Richardson likes to drop in lots of French phrases (I read French so I had no problem), but if you don’t read French it makes the text harder to follow. Some will also find some of Mr. Richardson’s put downs of those who disagree with as being rude and high handed. Perhaps the most annoying problem comes in using academic words to describe distasteful aspects of Picasso’s personality and behavior. It’s like putting lipstick on a pig.
But I advise you to read the book while being prepared for its weaknesses. I’m afraid there is no substitute. The generously represented art makes up for the weaknesses.
Customer Review: Not up to the mark
My copy was warped and the front cover was scratched. For a book of this quality and price I would expect it to be delivered in pristine condition.
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#TITLE#Picasso (Basic Art Album)#/TITLE#
Picasso (Basic Art Album)
Customer Review: Excellent value
(A review of the papeback editon)
The two volume book is arranged in seventeen chapters concluding with a considerable Chronology illustrated with numerous black and white pictures, mostly photographs with many of the artist, Notes, a Bibliography which includes exhibition catalogues, and a rather brief (one page) Index of Names.
The opening Chapter reminds us of the stature of the man, and of his prodigious output; briefly summarising his career. The subsequent Chapters chronicle Picasso’s progress starting with his childhood efforts, through the Blue and Rose Periods, Cubism, “Guernica” to mention just a few and concluding with “The Legend of the Artist”. It is intelligently written, accessible and makes very interesting reading. The illustrations run with the text and are usually within a page or two of the relevant reference.
Produced in two paperback volumes in a cardboard slipcase Taschen’s 25 anniversary edition is an impressive effort. It is superbly illustrated throughout with approaching 1,500 images mainly in colour but with a few back and white (usually drawings or photographs). The smallest pictures are just thumbnails, the largest full page and the occasional double page spread, with every size between; but there are plenty of good sized pictures with whole sections of colour plates, it certainly makes an impressive array. Overall the pictures far outweigh the text.
At such good value for money it is hard to be critical of this two volume set, but I fear I have two concerns. Firstly the Index seems wholly inadequate, an Index of Names which amounts to one page; finding a particular painting or anything else might prove difficult. Secondly, while the two volumes come protected in a slipcase, the card covers (paperback edition) to the individual volumes feel very slight; with each approaching 400 pages one feels one has to handle them with great care for fear of damaging the binding. It is however a very worthwhile set, one would be hard pressed to find so many reproductions of Picasso’s work elsewhere for the money,
and would not hesitate to recommend it.
Customer Review: A 'Must Have' book for Picasso lovers.
A must have for anyone really. Lovely cover, big print, easy to get around and absorb. Educational for those who are not familiar with his work. Now a classic really for it refers to last rather than this century.
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#TITLE#Lump: The Dog Who Ate a Picasso#/TITLE#
Lump: The Dog Who Ate a Picasso
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#TITLE#A Life of Picasso: 1881-1906 v. 1 (Pimlico)#/TITLE#
A Life of Picasso: 1881-1906 v. 1 (Pimlico)
Customer Review: A Fan Explains His Hero
Where does genius come from? What are the motives? What are the stars that guide?
Picasso was arguably the most original and influential artist of the 20th century. In volume one of four planned volumes (three of which have been produced to date), John Richardson collaborates with Marilyn McCully to establish the detailed record of how Picasso developed as a man and an artist through the early Rose period. The book is made richer by Richardson’s friendship with the artist and his access to Picasso’s memories of key events. But he doesn’t slavishly accept Picasso’s version (except in damning Matisse as inferior to Picasso) but rather checks out the different versions and picks what seems to make the most sense.
Picasso’s fanatic desire to succeed was fueled in part by his contempt for his father’s failed career as an artist and his father’s views that Picasso should follow in his footsteps. Picasso also needed to be treated as special, more than most of us. Groveling before exploitive dealers built a lifelong passion to be in charge. Picasso also knew that Paris was where he had to shine and suffered greatly to make his success there. His struggles will impress you.
Where the book is unequaled in my experience is in tracking down the sources of Picasso’s images, gestures, styles, and innovations. The book is filled with black and white images from the works of other artists, Picasso’s notebooks, photographs of the scenes and subjects, and related works that Picasso did. From these, you get a better sense of Picasso as a synthesizer of styles and modes.
In closely examining Picasso’s work from these years, it’s easy to develop superficial impressions of what sort of man did those paintings. For instance, the paintings of women show someone who feels compelled to alternately adore and dominate women . . . especially sexually. Learning later that he locked his mistress into the studio even on the hottest days when he left adds to that impression.
The book provides other powerful insights of this sort by relating the heavy use of opium by Picasso and his circle of artist friends during the Blue period. A lot of the models seem stoned in those paintings. Could it be that they were? Picasso loved to paint the circus performers and one of his first mistresses was one. Could it be that those performers are really emotional self-portraits? The book isn’t clear on that point, but the possibility of the interpretation will occur to you.
A few central mysteries are left undeveloped. Why did Picasso stick so long with styles that he later abandoned and which didn’t sell well when he was very poor? Picasso admitted to Richardson that the Blue and Rose periods had been mistakes. Why did Picasso slow down his production at times when he had contracts and shows upcoming? How did Picasso incorporate his love for poetry into his paintings?
At times Richardson is over the top in his fawning. Here’s an example. Picasso is described as clearly one of the great poets of the 20th century, but Richardson doesn’t reveal any evidence . . . nor was Picasso doing any poetry writing at the time of this volume. I suspect that the fawning was the price of admission for his access which rewards us in other ways.
Ultimately, the book’s main weakness is that the images are not in color. Fortunately, color is less important to Picasso’s work during this period than in later periods. Perhaps there will be another edition at some point that will bring the full dimensions of the work to bear at least for the masterpieces.
Enjoy your immersion in Picasso’s chaotic world.
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