Artsy

Thanks to Random.org, Nymeth is the winner of Christine Rose’s limited edition signed print the Green Man II. Thanks again to Christine for stopping by during her Geekalicious Yuletide Blog Book tour!

Moving on to more art talk, did you see the Art History Reading challenge? Yes, I’m joining that one too. I have been going a bit challenge crazy these last couple of days but believe me, I won’t join any more challenges than I did last year so all is under control (ha).

This one asks reader to read six books throughout the year and the books can be fiction or non-fiction. I love reading about artists and their lives, whether they are real or imaginary, and had quite a few books to choose from. Here are my choices:

• The Letters of Vincent Van Gogh by Mark Roskill. This is a collection of letters written to Vincent’s closest confidant, his brother and art dealer, Theo. I can’t wait to read this. One of my absolute favorite paintings ever is Cafe Terrace at Night.
• The Illuminator by Brenda Rickman Vantrease. A book set at the time when the printing press wasn’t yet invented and yet beautiful, illuminated books and manuscripts were being done.
• The Journal of Dora Damage by Belinda Starling. So maybe when you think of artists you don’t necessarily think of bookbinding but you know I have a thing for book arts.
• The Forgery of Venus by Michael Gruber. A scheme about a forgery of a Velasquez painting. This literary thriller ought to be good.
• The God of Spring by Arabella Edge. This historical novel takes as its subject the French artist Théodore Géricault and the genesis of one of his best-known paintings, The Raft of the Medusa.

I’m so excited about reading all of these books. Thanks to Sarah for setting up the challenge.