Customer Reviews

A Fine Example of Art

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This is the one art book my household actually keeps out all the time because we want our friends to be able to look at it when they come over. We're huge John Lurie fans -- Fishing With John is the best thing ever -- and his paintings enchant on so many levels. They're funny, exciting, surreal, puzzling, and beautiful. The book itself is high quality, with very nice heavy paper and good binding.

I'm just a Lurie fan in general, usually his music, but the same humor and simplicity exists in everything he does. i'll be tickled to get this book.

Flipping through this book is truly an experience. Each painting is its own universe and you never know what to expect on the next page. Lurie has done things with watercolor that I never thought possible - he has completely obliterated my association of the medium of watercolor with watery landscapes by old ladies. The colors are rich and vibrant, sometimes almost primitive - the subject matter is profound, completely simple, hilarious, tragic, understated, insane. I have never encountered an artist so freely able to express his subconcious mind on paper - and it is a fascinating mind.

John Lurie's work often seems to walk strange lines. Often oscillating between innocent and profane, jarring and soothing, jovial and haunting Lurie's work seems be less concerned by what it's called and focuses instead on being what it is. Like his first collection, John Lurie: Learn to Draw "A Fine Example of Art" contains Lurie's distinct vision and humor. With titles like "Davey Crockett Has Lost His F***ing Mind" "Harry Didn't Want to Say Anything But The Appearance of Jesus Was Ruining His Vacation" and "Dog is Blind, Who Will Help?" give a glimpse into the world that Lurie creates.