The Unfeathered Bird
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Product details
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Princeton University Press; 1st Edition edition (13 Nov. 2012)
This fantastic book simply ought to be a must on everyone's bookshelf who has an interest in birds, art, ornithology and avian flight. If you just leaf through the book you are being presented with all these exquisite drawings and my first thoughts were a lot of admiration on how much hard work and time it must have taken to end up with such a unique book. Outstanding and most impressive. It is certainly not a book you "just" read, you study it and then you enjoy the fantastic drawings. Value for money ? Absolutely !"
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I purchased this book as it was recommended by David Miller (the great fish artist) and....
..... It’s stunning!
Fascinating views of birds as you don’t usually see them.
The illustrations are superb, great detail, form & texture (and the originals must be even better) lovingly crafted by gifted hand and eye!
You can truly appreciate ‘a life’s work’ and that it was a long time in the making, put together with a deep passion for the subject - with considerable effort and many focussed hours, I would say...
The stripping of deceased birds via dissection, to investigate their anatomy. The boiling of bones to allow for full skeletal reconstruction, an art in itself, and the production of detailed studies, mostly in pencil, of the full process and stages thereof.
Giving you, up close and personal observations you just don’t get - unless you go to these measures yourself (maybe) Highly recommended if you like art, birds, anatomy, quality illustrations and such...
For me: ***An inspirational reference to be looked at regularly***
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Even if you know a lot about bird anatomy there will be drawings in this book that will amaze and delight you. If you are only curious about natural history this book is a box of visual treats. If you are a wildlife artist, this is invaluable, and will help you understand how particular birds 'fit together' and will surprise you into wanting to know more. This book is a lifetimes work written and drawn by someone who has dedicated her life to her subject and has worked in places that have enabled such an in-depth study, and then she has shared what she discovered. A treasure of a book.
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This book is not an anatomy of birds, states the first line of the introduction to The Unfeathered Bird, by Katrina Van Grouw. What is it then? It is a beautifully illustrated book dealing with ornithology or it is a gracefully annotated picture book. In fact it's both; a convergence of art and science - the science is authoritative and expressive; complex structures, forms and functions are revealed and explained by the author who is familiar and comfortable with the technical detail of anatomy. The way that birds move, and especially fly, takes a great deal of explaining (and reciprocal understanding). In this book complicated mechanical processes are described in eloquent prose, at every step supplemented by perfectly rendered illustrations. The book is produced beautifully on superb quality paper which is a joy to handle.
There is a distinct flavour to the artwork, classically crafted and hauntingly reminiscent of Gothic images - there will be the inevitable comparisons with these drawings and those of the great historical masters, and deservedly so. But Van Grouw looks to emulate no-one; she draws in her own way - exquisitely! For over two decades she has worked predominantly in subdued and low-key hues, painting with charcoals and other muted media, toiling away at her craft. The works in this fascinating book are the culmination of this extensive and highly successful career. Van Grouw's use of monochrome or, occasionally slightly tinted drawings with highlighted areas, brings a sombre feel to the artwork - a respectful solemnity for the extinguished lives of the birds being depicted. And she handles the media with expert precision and dexterity.
The technical aspects of the book are softened and accessible.Read more ›
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I can highly recommend this innovative book. The subject matter may not be everyone's cup of tea but the skill with which the drawings have been done cannot be over emphasised. I particularly like the fact that the birds are depicted in natural poses which make them really come alive - a strange thing to say about a book which shows birds in an extreme state of undress. Buy it today and you won't regret it!
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
This book is amazing. If you are an artist or just interested in the inner workings of nature this book is for you. Katrina's drawing are beautiful and informative with text to explain the bird being studied. The book is so original - it's amazing. I love it
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