Customer Reviews

The City is My Canvas

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If there ever was a coffee table book for visitors to gasp at, this is it. I've given it as gifts. I've done a small trompe l'oeil. Richard Haas has dreamed bigger dreams. Inspiring.

Richard Haas is a trompe l'oeil artist (a style of painting that gives an illusion of photographic reality). Not content with the usual practice of painting to canvas, he applies his art to the sides of buildings. He takes boring, blank building walls and transforms them into unbelievable elegance. Adding realistic looking windows to these walls is child's play to him. His true talent lies in creating three-dimensional scenes. What was once bare brick is now fully windowed with a grand curved stairway entrance complete with sculptures and fountains.

A dreary Con-Ed substation comes alive with a new architectural style. Windows and doors appear, and the crowning touch is an open courtyard that penetrates the entire building and shows the Brooklyn Bridge behind it - remember this is a flat brick wall.

The photographic realness is truly awesome. The book is full of high quality color prints on glossy paper. If you like photography, art, and architecture, then this is a must read book.

Richard Haas is an extraordinary artist who uses buildings rather than conventional materials for his artwork. His work is displayed on historic buildings in some of the world's greatest cities. Because of his art, some of these buildings have been saved from the wrecking ball. Not only is Mr. Haas's work exciting and interesting to look at, but it also brings life back to aging cities. Definitely a great coffee table book.