Recent Book Purchases.

Using my Border's reward card I picked up Gerhard Ricther's Doubt & Belief in Painting and Odilon Redon's Beyond the Visible at a steep discount.

Redon toiled for years creating charcoal 'noirs' and lithographs until later in life he decided to use color and paint. The resultant paintings were some of the most fantastic, symbolist art ever created.

Thus Redon proves it is never too late in life to start fresh and achieve greatness.

Richter is the contemporary German master of realism, abstract and conceptual art. I was lucky enough to catch a major exhibit of his at the SFMOMA back in 2002 when I was in town for an Underworld concert and the historic reformation of the Chameleons; possibly the greatest rock band ever. The book contains an extensive interview with Richter who is easily the best interview in art today. Mostly because he makes sense. Richter is able to talk about his motivations and his art in an intelligent way as opposed to the pseudo-intellectual hacks you see mocked in the current film Art School Confidential.

Both books are competently produced and chock full of images. I highly recommend them for anyone who wants to expand their art knowledge outside the realm of the usual Impressionist and Warhol mass produced publications.