Reviews

Pop Painting: Inspiration and Techniques from the Pop Surrealism Art Phenomenon by Camilla d'Errico

sitnstew's review

4.0

This review is difficult because this book was not at all what I was expecting. I was given a galley copy from Netgalley and the title they listed it as was very deceiving ("Pop Manga Coloring Book"). With the recent popularity of adult coloring books, that's exactly what I was expecting and wanting. I was dying for a coloring book that portrayed this art style! Unfortunately (for me) that's not what it really is. This book is an instructional book for creating pop manga paintings. The art is beautiful and for those looking for this type of thing, this is probably a great book in the genre. I, however, am unlikely to delve into this hobby so the book was a bit disappointing to me.

xxpumpkincatxx's review

5.0

I absolutely LOVED this book!! I'm no artist so I can't make art like this, but I would be so happy to have most of the art in the book on my apartment walls!!!

thisisxtina's review

5.0

This book grabbed my attention at work and reintroduced me to the imaginative and luscious art movement that is pop surrealism. I love the vivid colors and the interesting twist on pop culture icons. Art of this nature makes me realize why I loved Lisa Frank as a kid. There is something so fun about the bold color mixtures and the human/animal compositions- birds and octopus tentacles swirling through bright pink hair, Salvador Dali-esque melting skin, and eyes that include just about every color of the rainbow. My favorite is the My Neighbor Totoro forest spirit melting in an ice cream cone. Take a flip through, this is one exciting art movement!

theycallmehoops's review

5.0

This is a wonderful book. Not only is it beautiful, but it is actually going to be helpful to artists. Full of how-to's and vibrant, full-page images, D'Errico's Pop Painting is a must for anyone who loves and wants to learn this flashy, interesting style of art. I think the most helpful resource that this book provides is the question and answer portion at the end where most commonly encountered problems are tackled and solved.

writesofluid's review

5.0

I don't usually go for books that look at a type of painting I'm not really into, but the cover of this book was so beautiful and interesting that I simply had to give it a read. What I discovered was that this book is actually a really personable and friendly look at how to be an artist - no matter what your method is. Camilla writes in a really fun style with her little cartoon sidekick for added humour. She's also really encouraging. I particularly enjoyed how the book is split into sections or projects, giving a step-by-step guide on how she approached each concept and technique. It was fascinating to learn more about the medium of water-soluble oils; something I'm now keen to try. Camilla doesn't shy away from sharing all her arty secrets with us, and I picked up some fab tips on creating the illusion of fur, a dripping or swirling effect, colouring eyes effectively, and I was really impressed by her tip on drawing hair (to think of it like a liquid in order to create an effective draping effect).

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC. Will definitely be looking more into books of varied artists and styles in the future!

rachelkc's review

4.0

Filled with marvelous sketches, illustrations, and paintings, this "how-to" plus "you can do it!" guide could be a stunning addition to any art lover's collection or a quirky and fun coffee table book for an amateur art appreciator.

First thoughts: This book was as much self-esteem and motivation boost as it was tips and tricks on painting techniques, which made it accessible for this weekend artist.

Favorite quote: "Being imaginative is being open to interpretations and exploring and expressing ideas and emotions in ways that challenge the ordinary and present them in extraordinary ways." -p14

Art 101: Go with your gut; don't wait for inspiration. Seek out interesting things. Experiment! Do what works for you. Art evolves.

Life 101: Same as above. Be Yourself-->Do Your Thing!

Recommended for: artists, art appreciators, anyone attracted to color and unspoken emotions, those who value process over product, but can enjoy a quality-crafted product as well.

Final thoughts: d'Errico paints some beautiful pieces. The technical stuff was less helpful for me, but I always enjoy hearing about an artist's process and you can't go wrong looking at glossy pics of gorgeous, dreamy art.

Editor's Note: I received a copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.