Customer Reviews

Sara Midda's South of France: A Sketchbook

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I came upon Sara Midda's slim volume of wonderment at a bookshop in Santa Cruz, California a few years ago and was transfixed by it for all of the next day. It is marvelous -- sensitive, witty, and oh, so right-on with color and technique. I don't understand the negative comments from one of the reviewers here -- this isn't a textbook, nor even a "book" in the usual sense. Rather, it's Ms Midda's exquisite remembrance of a year in the sun in one of the extraordinarily magical places on the earth, all filtered through her remarkable eyes. This book is a rare gift -- an intensely personal collection of impressions offered to all to enjoy. I feel fortunate to be allowed to own it. Do yourself a favor and buy it for yourself and a few friends! It's a gift that speaks volumes about the giver and his/her opinion of the receiver.

Midda spent a year in the South of France. She takes her pen and paintbrush and records notes of all kinds in her journal; types of olives, a page of colorful espadrilles, signs, flower pots, colors of shutters. The cover itself is the record of the colors of the sky, trees, walls-- each with its unique stripe of watercolor wash. If you paint, this is an education in itself. If you keep a journal, this has beaucoup ideas.

I keep a watercolor journal and this book (it's fairly small) goes into my suitcase on every trip to remind me to see inspiration in the little, everyday things. Books go out of print, so don't miss the opportunity to get this lovely, unique book of sketches by Sara Midda.

I was given the book by a very dear friend and it has traveled with me to many a foreign country. It serves as an inspiration to my own travel sketches and journal writing, reminding me that there is true beauty in simplicity. With beautiful, little paintings of places, foods, fabrics and signs, she shows us that even every-day objects are worthy of our attention.

This book is a wonderful picture book. The text is more for the overall look then to read. For anyone who can appreciate watercolor this book is wonderful. One of my all time favorites.

In all honesty, I have been enchanted and in love with this book ever since I came here form Poland 12 years ago and saw this work of art in a bookstore.
I didn't have enough money , so silly me, I "visited" the book whenever I took watercolor classes at the nearby art school on the weekends, and I looked through this gorgeous book because it is so whimsical, so beautiful so memorable, and It haunted me untill I finally broke down, saved my pennies and bought it.

Sara Midda starts her book with some fresh watercolors and a journal type of a book, her first written page reads;

- "4th Apri 1854 Death of Hippolyte Allibert de Berthisr, botanist from Marseilles, known for his work on the grenium
-Asparagus season starts
- April 1764; Smollet writes, "Beginning April, mulberry leaves begin to put forth;the eggs or grains that produce the silk-worm are hatched
- Orange trees in flower"
,,,,


And this glorious artist paints this book which is her diary, her soul and inner core with watercolors of houses, fruits, vegetables, eggs, postal stamps, cuisine, house street bumbers on the sign of the building, plates, gardening utensils, pots and pans and fancy doors when she is at the South of France, she gives us the visual of her daily life filled with luxuries to be able to record the sweet days of summer with wonderful watercolors paintings.

She writes short and fresh phrases but she paints to the point where its love at first sight,

Basically this is a small size coffee book that I love with my whole heart, I think It shaped my future as an artist and I think , as cheesy as it soudns, I tear up when I look at it, it's raw memories.

This is a gorgeous book, and Sara is an exceptional artist, she prduced
numerous books to which she paitns her darling little watercolor pieces of art.
As an artist this is a must have, but as a human, this is balm on your soul.
Lovely!!!

This is a book I run to on the weekends, or after a hard day's work at the office. It is a lush, beautiful escape from hectic urban life. Sara Midda's watercolors are inspirational--I love the handwritten text, so personal. You don't need to be a Francophile to enjoy the sentiment of this incredible sketchbook.

Two years ago, as a beginner watercolorist, I found this book by accident and I could not believe how many emotions Sarah Midda is able to transmit with her delicate depiction of landscapes, food, daily life watercolors. Not only artists will enjoy this treasure, but also travelers will be delighted with this fantastic and colorful invitation to visit the South of France. You'll feel tempted to look at its pages over and over again.

Length:: 1:16 Mins

South of France is the personal journal of Sara Midda, filled with little drawings and observations from her travels.

I like the simplicity of the drawings and the beautiful pastel tone watercolours she uses. The book feels breezy.

The drawings have sort of a collective theme. When she's drawing sandals, there will be many different coloured sandals. Same for road signs, fruits, textile or whatever that catches her attention. Each of the lines of colours on the cover actually represents a subject, from the top, the sea, sun, line of cypress trees, olive trees, stucco, rose wine, peeling shutters, etc.

The chapters are organised by months but the book is not really sequential. Each month would start with a list of historical events that are picked randomly. The text that appear elsewhere are just short labels.

This is a 144-page hardcover. The downside of the book is its small size. Small handwriting text are quite challenging to read.

The book I have has a few pages that aren't cut at the edge. The pages have to be separately with a pen knife. Maybe it's just this copy.

This is a nice sketchbook to check out.

(There are more pictures of the book on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.)

I have always wanted to be more artistic - and this book is inspiring. Midda is truly talented - she creates a world where everyday objects become beautiful and endearing. There pages dedicated to bread - numbers - even a fellow in a blue striped shirt. With a few strokes of a brush, her renderings are indelable. Charming! Wonderful for artists - artist wannabes - armchair travelers - anyone who enjoys a little quirkyness in their lives. Bravo!

This is a lovely and inspiring book, full of evocative and quirky watercolor sketches. I especially enjoyed all of the pages that visually display information in intriguing ways - color schemes for each month, dozens of styles of house numbers, or a collection of sugar papers. The print is tiny, however, so be sure to have your reading glasses handy!