American Folk Art

For a full list of entries, contributors, and more, visit the Encyclopedia of American Folk Art web site. This is the first comprehensive, scholarly study of a most fascinating aspect of American history and culture. Generously illustrated with both black and white and full-color photos, this A-Z encyclopedia covers every aspect of American folk art, encompassing not only painting, but also sculpture, basketry, ceramics, quilts, furniture, toys, beadwork, and more, including both famous and lesser-known genres. Containing more than 600 articles, this unique reference considers individual artists, schools, artistic, ethnic, and religious traditions, and heroes who have inspired folk art. An incomparable resource for general readers, students, and specialists, it will become essential for anyone researching American art, culture, and social history.

Comprehensive encyclopedia of twentieth century American folk art and artists.

Handsome color illustrations of paintings and sculptures as well as useful wares such as trade signs, weather vanes and pottery, and nonutilitarian ones like toys and whirligigs are accompanied by a substantial text which places folk art in its social and historical context. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Fans of Charles Wysocki, Mary Engelbreit, Grandma Moses, and folk art in general will fall in love with this guide to painting, organized by seasons. Featuring projects that instruct artists of all skill levels how to draw and paint subjects that include quaint homes, pretty patterns, colorful gardens, picturesque farms, beautiful birds, and textured florals, this book features American-themed folk art infused with a modern twist. Beginning with an overview of what folk art is, followed by introductory topics like color, tools and materials, and drawing and painting techniques, Folk Art Fusion: Americana also includes sixteen simple step-by-step projects done in approachable and popular mediums. Rounding out the book is a gallery of folk-art pieces sure to inspire lovers of all things Americana. Simultaneously fresh and nostalgic, Folk Art Fusion: Americana draws on America’s rich artistic tradition and heritage and provides a fun, accessible take on creating beloved scenes from the heartland.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Beautiful Quilts! Beautiful antique quilts and a workbook of patterns come together in this lavish photography book for quilters. The more than 30 featured quilts from the Wisconsin State Historical Society collection are displayed in period rooms at Old World Wisconsin, the Society's outdoor museum of German and Scandinavian farmhouses. Patterns and block layouts are provided for replicating each of the original quilts, and after seeing each of them in a true historical context, home sewers will be inspired to create their own versions.

The carved and painted figures collected in this exceptional book are excellent examples of a wide-spread American folk art tradition that flourished from the middle of the 18th to the end of the 19th-century. 183 photographic illustrations, 4 reproduced in full-color on the covers. List of illustrations. Extensive bibliography.

Surveys paintings, sculptures, murals, needlework, carvings, signs, and other works created by American folk artists since 1900, with brief biographies of the one hundred and forty-five artists represented.

Hand-carved canes are a part of America's culture and art, speaking to our rich national heritage and capacity for self-expression. As vehicles of personal communication and group identity, American folk art canes display images ranging from King Kong to depression-era bathing beauties, from boxer "Gentleman Jim" Corbett to an anonymous shoemaker, and from Civil War soldiers to Dolly Parton. Symbols of fraternal and military organizations also occupy the miniature world on the cane, as do representations of nature, from snakes swallowing frogs to bee-filled gardens. American Folk Art Canes: Personal Sculpture is the first comprehensive, scholarly book focusing on American folk canes and will be a foundation for future research in the field. Reproduced in full color, more than three hundred canes dating from the early nineteenth century to today disclose the complex cultural meanings, obscure individual histories, and light-hearted social commentaries of folk art walking sticks. Detailed, comparative, and historical photographs show the diverse styles, techniques, and themes used by the generations of American carvers who have mastered this expressive and utilitarian art form. Each illustration eloquently demonstrates the carvers' artistry in transforming a simple functional object into a work of art. The introduction and eight original essays by noted scholars examine the methods of dating canes, their sculptural and symbolic qualities, and the aesthetic character and history of Native American, African-American, Civil War, fraternal, and contemporary canes. Details of the canes' imagery, origins, and composition are given in an extensive documentation section. Color plates of relatedfolk art carvings, a selected bibliography, and a thorough index supplement the book.