Customer Reviews

The Living Forest: A World of Animals

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This book is another wonderful Poortvliet collection packed with his signature realistic color illustrations (139 out of 160 are color!)and natural history studies about each animal; His love of art wedded to nature comes through as he describes and depicts in detail, attributes, habits and environments of each animal from field studies. Wild animals include: fox, deer, elk, fowl (ducks, grouse, crows,magpies, pheasants), boar, weasels, red squirrels, rabbits and more. His illustrations are inspiring - you'll want to get out the art materials - a wonderful addition to any artist or art lover's collection. About 160 pages long.

Rien Poortvliet's portrayal of animals in their habitat is simply amazing. In The Living Forest, he shows the fruits of a lifetime spent observing these creatures in the field. He is not a "hair and feather" painter creating photographic likenesses, but an artist who conveys much more by saying less. The atmospheric quality of his paintings and the beauty of his landscapes are reminiscent of the old Dutch and other European masters. Beyond its beauty, this book conveys a lot of knowledge. If you love animals, you will be enlightened, and if you are an artist, you will be inspired.

I have several of his books and this was also a winner...the pictures are lovely and he by far one of the best artists out there.

What a wonderful way to enjoy the inner thoughts of a great artist who is adapt at putting his love of nature onto the canvas. His casual style draws your eye to minute detail and graceful lines that are simple and powerful and show his extradionary skill. A treat for artists and nature lovers as well as the casual observer.