Customer Reviews

View from a Sketchbook: Nature Through the Eyes of Marjolein Bastin

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

 

 

"View from a Sketchbook" is a lovely album of watercolors by Marjolein Bastin, the illustrator of the children's books starring Vera the Mouse, and Tovah Martin, who kept a journal of Marjolein's nature walks during a full year from spring through winter. They spent the year at the Bastin's home in a carefully tended patch of Missouri prairie, visiting the Bastin's old home in Ede in central Holland, and on vacation on Grand Cayman.

There are three dozen full-page illustrations and numerous little sketches, sometimes just a single bumblebee or eggshell. You can see the love and care that goes into every little detail. Even the list of contents is terminated with a tiny ladybug. And the cover of the book underneath the dust jacket is decorated with a frieze of Canada geese with a family of chicks. This is an exquisitely beautiful book from the rabbit on the first page to the Giant Swallowtail on the last.

Great illustrations and a wonderful book!!! Gave this as a gift to a friend and was told that they truly enjoyed it. So, I would have to recommend this to anyone who is truly a nature lover!!!

I am a huge Marjolein Bastin fan. As always, the illustrations in her books are stellar, however, the writing is not hers. Most of it is written by someone named Tovah Martin who seems to know nothing about MJ or her work. Her writing is bland, boring and sometimes irritating. There are some quotes from MJ which are very illuminating. I feel like this book was something that was put out very quickly to meet the demands of the publisher. Save your money and get one of the more sought after MJ books, like: Butterflies - Winged Miracles of Nature or Nature Diary.

This book was a gift, purchased for someone who recently celebrated a 50th wedding anniversary and to accompany a card by Marjolein Bastin. The illustrations are every bit as lovely as the cards and capture her particular perspective on nature and the native grass preserve. Some might call Bastin a commercial artist or an illustrator rather than a "serious painter," but here she illustrates one of her passions--a native grass preserve and the birds it attracts on the Missouri/Kansas prairie. I reccommend the book as does the person to whom I gave it.
[I particularly liked the "belted cow" from Holland!]

I enjoyed the evocative writing that accompanied these beautiful watercolors. The words help to convey the sense of place, the sunlight and sounds. The art work is wonderfully detailed, with perfect coloring. Ms. Bastin is such a talented artist. This presents a pleasing diversion for a wintery day, to be enjoyed with a nice cup of tea.

Thank you for my book! It is in wonderful condition and came very quickly!