Rex Brandt, N.A., RSA Life Fellow, AWS Dolphin Fellow, Founding member National Watercolor Society, Author of many books, Teacher for nearly 50 years.
"In these days of 'more is better', 'new is great', I feel we need a reassertion of the verities of visual expression. Your book does this. Commencing with the Fattori painting on your cover you underscore the direction of your beliefs: Simplify Composition and Exaggerate Chiaroscuro. You write your book with pictures, as I do, and illustrate it with words. The pictures are stimulating and carefully arranged. There is here a revelation of the seeing-doing process. You are obviously an inspiring teacher!"
Carlton Plummer, AWS, AAA, Rocky Mountain National and New England WC Societies, Illustrator, Combat Artist and 30 years a painting professor.
"The comprehensive presentation of design principles, so essential in the creative process, has been highly diluted in the art world for many years. Marie MacDonnell Roberts has created a valuable reference book in 'The Artist's Design: Probing the Hidden Order', through judicious selections of visual material from old and contemporary masters, augmented by clear explanations. This book allows us to examine 'the hidden order' that lies just beneath the surface, provides both inspiration and revealing information."
Arne Westerman, AWS, NWS, Knickerbocker Artists, Northwest and Oregon Watercolor Societies. His intense and vibrant figure paintings appear in many art publications. He is the author of two books on art and is a much sought after and respected teacher.
"If there is one book on design that I would recommend to my classes, it is 'The Artist's Design' by Marie MacDonnell Roberts. It is the most complete, readable, entertaining, descriptive and beautifully illustrated book on design.
"Her subtitle 'Probing the Hidden Order', is precisely what we as artists should be conscious of when looking at paintings and designing our own. MacDonnell helps us strip away the top surface of a painting, the camouflage so to speak, and really see and understand the structure that makes the painting work or not work! Read a little at a time and find yourself excited to try out new ideas!"
Don Andrews, AWS, highly respected artist, teacher and author of several books on watercolor painting.
"Regardless of the medium, subject matter, or one's chosen course of expression, the common bond that ties all art together is the endless search for order. It is what Marie MacDonnell Roberts aptly describes as 'probing the hidden order'. The road any artist takes to find expression must necessarily confront design. It is through a more intimate understanding of the tools of design that we grow as artists.
"' The Artist's Design: Probing the Hidden Order' explores and dissects these timeless design concerns, using elegant thoughts and pictures. It is a delight to recommend."
Don Stone, Associate of the National Academy, AWS, celebrated artist and art teacher.
"It's a delight to have this source of great information, with its wide variety of illustrations, without having a run-of-the-mill 'how to do it ' book. 'The Artist's Design: Probing the Hidden Order' is a MUST for any library."
John Salchak,NWS, Distinguished Artist and Past President of the National Watercolor Society.
"Design provides the synergy to a painting, making the whole greater than its parts. When this happens we usually recognize it but may not know why. ' The Artist's Design: Probing the Hidden Order' does an outstanding job of showing us the hows and whys of design applied to realistic painting. It should be read and reread - I'm on my third reading."
John McIver, AWS, NWS, and Watercolor USA Honor Society, Artist and Art Instructor.
"I have been most enthusiastic about this book since my copy arrived and I welcome a chance to let you know.
"Now a book is available which thoroughly explores the complex subject of design and does this with a particularly attractive presentation. Most books on the market today have an array of colorful reproductions and demonstrations on how to paint by a particular method. They only hint at the subject of composition.
"' The Artist's Design: Probing the Hidden Order' is more than welcomed to the painters' world. I have strongly recommended it at every opportunity and will continue to do so."