I really enjoyed this book. I love art and I love scripture and this tied everything together. Thank you Mr. Ramsey for writing such a beautiful book!

I knew next to nothing about the great works of art and the artists who created them, and I thoroughly enjoyed Russ Ramsey's book. This is such an accessible book for anyone who wants a look into the world of art and would love to know the answer to the question, "Why art?"

The hard cover edition of this book is lovely, and the spread of color photos in the middle of the book makes this a perfect addition to your coffee table and your library.

Russ Ramsey has written an engaging and insightful book about nine famous painters: their lives, works, and relationships. As he engages with each, he helpfully guides his readers in 'reading' those paintings so that they may better understand a painting's significance.

At first glance, many of these painters and their lives could be quickly read and summarized as successful, famous, and skillful in their craft, but Ramsey reminds us that there is so much more --not only in the paintings but in the artists’ own lives. He reminds us that it is not a blessing to 'be seeing but never perceiving.' Ramsey wants his readers to see the beauty and the stories of ‘friends’ for whom he obviously has an affection. In opening up the works and worlds of each painter, Ramsey shows us that there is more -- more beauty, depth, brokenness and redemption. His skillful guiding draws the reader into considering the world around and their own lives as well. In so doing, Ramsey invites us to consider our own heart's story as we pursue that for which we long and the beauty which is ever-present, but sadly too often missed or overlooked.
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What are we trying to say when we create?  What do we want people to see? Feel? Learn? Where do we want to take them through our creations? What do we want them to discover? Whether we are creating through painting, sculpting, sewing, drawing, acting or other ways these are questions we ask.
Russ Ramsey's book Rembrandt is in the Wind is a book that explores these questions. This book is part art History, biography, art exploration, and looking at art through eyes of faith. I was not sure what to expect when I saw this book but I was taken on a journey on how to look at and appreciate art. How to discover lessons of faith through viewing art. Rembrandt is in the Wind is a unique book which needs to be read slower and savored. It needs to be pondered over. Russ Ramsey uses the lives of master painters such as Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, and others to illustrate Biblical themes, such as community, loneliness, beauty from brokenness, and more. I found this book interesting and informative. It was a little harder to read as I am not as familiar with art, art terms, and artists. I did however expect more content on faith or the Bible as this sometimes got lost to me in the book in the midst of the artists life stories. I think I was expecting the book to examine paintings of Biblical scenes and relate them to Scriptures and examine the Bible stories behind the paintings. Instead Russ Ramsey relates the artists life, experiences, paintings and more to Biblical themes and concepts. This book was enjoyable to read and opened my eyes to a new way of viewing art and other creative works. The author includes appendixes that further go into art exploration and the eras of art. I was introduced to new artists by reading this book and a new way of viewing art. I recommend this book to artists and non artists alike as it gives an overview of some master painters and their paintings; the different art eras such as impressionism, renaissance, and more; and art appreciation and exploration.
I received an advanced copy of this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.