Featuring oil paintings by Thomas Crawford, this collection highlights thirty-one of the greatest basketball players of the twentieth century. Each portrait is accompanied by a brief biography and statistical records, providing insight into the players' careers and accomplishments. The book celebrates the artistry of basketball and the impact of these athletes on the sport's history.
The subjects portrayed here represent the highest qualities of character and achievement. The group is not ideal except to the extent that it is worthy of that tribute by my personal standards. You might select a different group of people to honor. I chose this group in part because of the great pleasure I took in painting their portraits. Abraham Lincoln, Ida Wells, Frederick Douglass, Thurgood Marshall, Martin Luther King Jr. and Ruth Bader Ginsburg have in common their impassioned crusades for racial justice and equality. Herman Melville, Mark Twain, and Albert Camus are preeminent writers and seekers of truth. Journalists Jessica Mitford and I. F. Stone influenced public action and social reform for the public good. Vincent van Gogh, the incomparable modern painter, and the musicians Enrico Caruso, Renata Tebaldi, Billie Holiday, and Giuseppe Verdi arouse our deepest feelings and aspirations with the beauty of their art. Fidel Castro has done more than anyone to foil US imperialism in Latin America. And four great athletes, Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali, and Roger Federer, deserve our respect for their unmatched grace and prowess. -Thomas Crawford
Featuring oil painting portraits, this collection showcases 28 of the greatest baseball players of the twentieth century. Each player's unique biography and statistical records are included, offering insights into their careers and contributions to the sport. This book serves as both an artistic tribute and a historical reference for baseball enthusiasts.
The book explores the practice of copying master self-portraits as a valuable exercise for young or amateur painters. This method offers the illusion of mastery and enhances the painter's connection to the original works, despite the results being potentially superficial. Engaging in this activity not only provides enjoyment but can also lead to improvements in technical skills, making it a beneficial endeavor for aspiring artists.
Featuring 50 oil painting portraits of renowned opera singers, this beautifully crafted book combines art and biography to celebrate the world of opera. The artist, a retired attorney and veteran of the U.S. Navy, shares his passion for both opera and painting. Each portrait is accompanied by informative biographies, highlighting the unique contributions of singers from Marian Anderson to Fritz Wunderlich. While the selection is subjective, it reflects the artist's personal experiences and insights, making it a delightful read for opera enthusiasts and general audiences alike.
The book showcases twenty-one individuals who exemplify exceptional character and achievement, reflecting the author's personal standards of worthiness. Each portrait is accompanied by the author's appreciation for the subjects, highlighting their unique qualities. While the selection may vary for others, the author emphasizes the joy experienced in capturing their likenesses, offering a personal and artistic tribute to these remarkable figures.
Here is a delightful collection of mysterious optical illusions — pictures that play tricks on the eye and baffle human perception. Some of these images are the result of shortcomings in our vision; others are still not completely understood. This book contains a rich assortment of these visual mind-bogglers, including "impossible objects" — constructions that look fine on paper but cannot possibly exist in reality — as well as pictures that suddenly change into other configurations as you're looking at them. Straight lines, for example, wave and bend before your eyes; gray spots appear and disappear; patterns pulsate and vibrate, and much more.The visual surprises and mysterious effects found in this book will especially delight youngsters, but readers of all ages are sure to have fun with these perplexing optical effects. An ideal companion for long car trips, Puzzling Optical Illusions will also be a source of stimulating entertainment at parties and get-togethers or during quiet times at home and school.