A golden personality
In review of “My Life and Other Unfinished Business” by Dolly Parton, foremost I can proclaim it is the best autobiography I have ever read when I weigh the many…
Reviews – Books
A reflection of a colorful personality
The book “Paint Brushes for Freda” by Véronique Massenot and Elise Mansot is a children’s book inspired by artist Frida Kahlo, who at age 6 had polio and loss the…
Nashville! Nashville! ´Little Giant´ tells it his way
Stan Hitchcock´s “At The Corner of Music Row and Memory Lane” is a book that recants the many paths he has journeyed on, covering a span of over four decades…
A childhood memory of love and lols
Records in print, whether they be books, journals, photographs or paintings are visual aids by which the eye and the heart join in a recollection of a reality that was…
Iconic artworks re-imagined
The National Menagerie of Art by Thais Vanderheyden is a wonderfully imaginative picture book that reimagines many of the world’s best-known art masterpieces in a way that will delight both…
Friendship raises her up
Paint Brushes for Frida by Veronique Massenot and Elise Mansot is a delightful children’s book is a fanciful tale inspired by the famous artist Frida Kahlo. Its colorful, imaginative illustrations…
A gem of an art book of happiness
The children’s book, “The National Menagerie of Art” by Thais Vanderheyden is a fun way to learn about famous artists and art. People are replaced with birds and animals in…
His art has risen
In my review of “The Art of William Emboden” published by Premium Modern Art, its written text, as I see, a collaboration among William Emboden, Peter Shire and Chevalier Tony…
A chosen literary gem
As a child, I treasured picture books. Today that passion has dramatically increased; in fact, to the point where my library’s bookshelves are over stuffed with beautiful works of art…
“Sheer visual pizazz.” Grace Glueck, New York Times
COLUMBUS, OHIO (AAPDN) – When MacArthur “Genius” fellow Aminah Robinson died in 2015 she entrusted nearly her entire estate to the Columbus Museum of Art. Robinson’s driving force was, as…
A modern ‘masterpiece’ in print
As an artist and educator, I was hugely impressed with the book, “Masterpieces of American Modernism: From the Vilcek Foundation” by art historians William C. Agee and Lewis Kachur with…
Water Girl
Water Girl by Donna Rice
Hands-on knowledge at one’s fingertips
When you’re painting, do you find yourself wondering what color to use next? Do you have problems mixing colors to get the exact hue you want? If so, this book…
‘Thrilling, uplifting and hopeful’
“The Sun is a Compass” by Caroline Van Hemert is a memoir that blends Alaska adventure, natural history and personal narrative. An adventurer and biologist who study birds and other…
Life in small-town Ohio
In mid-June 2019, Columbus Press released “Random God Sightings” by Kelly Hanes, a book featuring twenty-six true stories of the author’s encounters with God in the real world. Born and…
Touches of destiny rolled into one
The “Wisdom of Nana via the Gebo Passage” is a magical short story about a young lad’s future when his Grandmother foretold it from the roll of the Rune stones.…
New book released
“Narrative readers will discover the author’s voice lights up when he tells of Benjamin’s relationships in regards to his Jewish and Catholic faiths, cultural heritage and career path with…
A show of prose and paintings
PIQUA, OH (NWPR) – A joint reception for the release of “Excursions: A Literary and Photography Journal” and the art show “Portals” which features a selection of abstract paintings by…
‘A brute force of nature’
“The Great Quake: How the Biggest Earthquake in North America Changed Our Understanding of the Planet” by Henry Fountain, a veteran New York Times writer and editor, tells about the…
Sam´s book is a chef´s palette
I find it amazing how several hefty handfuls of wheat grains can take on other visual forms in a variety as food staples, especially breads. I find it amazing how…
‘Historian´ spotlights legendary songster of rhythm
Francesco Paolo LoVecchio aka “Mr. Steel Tonsils”,”Old Leather Lungs”, and “Mr. Rhythm”, but mostly known as Frankie Laine (1930-2007) has been given a posthumously validation by the authorship of…
Could be a multi-cultural film starring the Pitts
Guardianship of life in a civilized society is a monumental responsibility, especially for those whose window to the world has blinds on both sides that shields the Good, the Bad…
Storyteller ‘crumbs’ are delicious
I have this friend who is quite an exceptional artist with a specialty in cartooning. After reading “Precarious” by Al Riske, I envisioned myself as a general practitioner in…
A visual trip inside the City of Lights
“The Tall Trees of Paris” is a book by Matt Wagner that is a collection of artists and their work from the magnificent city of Paris, France. The book is…
Ho! Ho! Ho! ‘Santa Nita’ stopped by
For me, Nita Leland’s art books have always been a wonderful source of information; in fact, her newest, the 30th Anniversary Edition Exploring Color Workshop, was also like experiencing the…
Leland: A definite ‘colorful educator’
When viewing this book, I think of Julie Andrews in that mountaintop scene as she twirls and echoes the “The Hills Are Alive” in the Sound of Music movie –…
She wrote about falsies
Written in an approachable and amenable style, however not only aimed at the layman, but also a recommended reading for non-specialists, art historians, curators and scientists alike, Jehane Ragai’s new…
A ‘rare’ experience
I will never forget a lecture series in April 2013 at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio. National Geographic nature photographer, Joel Sartore gave an inspiring talk with…
A treasured time
One of my greatest anticipations during the summer is a journey to the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts with my sister. The Clark is located on…
‘War boy’ story needs told on the big screen
There is no surrealism in my findings in this Holocaust survivor’s life, other than the word or a form of it has been used so many times in this…
A novel with a forever touching spirit
“Petey” is a young adult book which is about children born in the early 1900s with “deficiencies” and are thought to be idiots, morons or imbeciles; thusly they were put…
A new ‘bouquet’
There is a saying that deals with fine wine from Othello, II. iii. (315) by William Shakespeare (1564-1616): It goes, “Good wine is a good familiar creature if it…
New book should come with warning
Nita Leland’s art books are informative, adventurous and fun. Her latest accomplishment, “New Creative Collage Techniques” is another jewel in her crown. Each page is a wealth of knowledge…
Award-winner talks on Leland book
At the beginning of her book “New Creative Collage Techniques,” Nita Leland says, “Collage is like an amusement park with something for everyone…Anyone can do it, regardless of age or…
They rode on angelic wings
Heather Mercer and Dayna Curry are two faithful women, who decided to bring a better life and a little hope to those in need. “Prisoners of Hope: The Story…
Fiction I really felt
Author Melody Carlson creates such believable characters; I could actually feel their trials and triumphs, such as in “Christmas at Harringtons” where Lena is penniless and down on her…
A book with many revelations . . . . . .
Some books are read because the already words expressed serves as an endorsement about what we found in the first several pages. There are also other visual reasons that come…