The Art of Man - Edition 16: Fine Art of the Male Form Quarterly Journal Paperback – January 24, 2014

I always enjoy each new issue that relates to men in art. It is well illustrated and written for easy reading.

I am absolutely thrilled with this superlative, better than ever issue of The Art of Man! Each issue simple gets better and better and they are always extremely educational. Look for intriguing articles about Patrick Webb who has his MFA from Yale; self-taught painter Alexei Biryukoff; Dan Pyle who hails from California; Francisco Hurtz of Brazil; Jacob Fossum and David Overfield of West Virginia. There is also an extensive list of artists with their websites who have chosen to focus on the fine art of the male figure and there is a very honorable mention of Vitruvian Lens which highlights photographers who focus on the male figure as well as Eros & Adonis which is a collection of art history articles and discussions in The Art of Man.In addition, I must add that I loved renowned art historian Grady Harp's insightful essay on Rodin entitled "Rodin: The Inner Secrets of the Artist's Heart" and we get updates as to what is being showcased at both the Lyman-Eyer Gallery in Massachusetts and The Lizardi/Harp Gallery in Los Angeles.I very highly recommend this publication for true art aficionados everywhere and people who appreciate fine art of the male figure which has been so unjustly overlooked in the art world. Wonderful work, everyone--keep these issues coming!

A vanity press to feature publisher work. Still som e excellent artists.

Tasteful, thoughtful, with an amazing variety, edition 16 does not disappoint. From the detailed work of Jacob Fossum to the simplified line drawings of Francisco Hurtz, this volume shows the diversity of the male form in fine art.With an eye to the classical roots of figurative art, The Art of Man never ventures into the world of the erotic. Some of the work would certainly be considered sensual, but nothing that need be hidden from your guests. It is a book that should be available in museum bookstores, but as of yet, that has not happened.This particular volume includes the work of two artists that use unconventional models. Both Alexi Biryukoff and Derek Overfield feature robust figures, more in tune with the "regular" men of society today, possibly making their inclusion more realistic than the "cover boy" popular models of magazine covers. This too is refreshing and testament to the publisher's goal of a broad selection of artists and styles.For those that do appreciate a little "eye candy," Dan Pyle has some amazing hyper-realistic work in charcoal of very fit men in compelling poses. The work is stunning and beautiful. Using brushes and q-tips, he exhibits a mastery of the media like no other we have seen since the early works of Chuck Close.This book will make a wonderful addition to your personal collection.

Editor E. Gibbons has a finely tuned eye for finding gifted artists both inside the mainstream and on the periphery to make each edition of the quarterly journal THE ART OF MAN unique. Each new edition (and this is Edition 16 marking 4 years of publication!) finds a different focus, much the way a conductor plans a concert that ties together disparate artists and makes them better by their collected camaraderie. Without question this art journal is becoming one of the more consistently interesting and polished productions available today.One aspect that this edition responds to is the variation in line drawing, from the very simple nankeen ink on paper drawings by Brazilian artist Francisco Hurtz (the artist is also seen with his extraordinary watercolor on paper works), to the intensely photorealistic charcoal on paper drawings of Californian Dan Pyle, to the conte and pastel (and latex paint n some) drawings of West Virginia artist Derek Overfield - a survey of the art of drawing. In contrast are politically charged raw and richly colorful paintings of Alexei Biryukoff, originally from Krygyzstan and now transplanted to Pennsylvania, the humorous commedia del arte influences in the oil on canvas paintings of New Yorker Patrick Webb and the fascinating social commentary woks of Massachusetts artist Jacob Fossum who brings the contemporary obsession with pixilation to play in his fine works. It is a savory group, well disbursed by Gibbons to cover a spectrum of art expression. And as is the tradition of this quarterly the contemporary works are grounded with the art history article, this time on Rodin with superb images gathered from such important sources as the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas.Each addition matures and becomes ever more interesting and important. By far the most convenient way to avoid missing an issue is to subscribe to the quarterly. A word to the artistically wise...Grady Harp, February 14