A Bigger Message: Conversations with David Hockney

Gayford writes so clearly and has, I guess, been friends with Hockney for so long, that he can channel Hockney's conversations into fascinating reading about art. I have heard Hockney speak on line and he tends to wander around his points. The points are generally fascinating, but he takes an age to get there. In this fascinating book, because Gayford is SUCH a good writer/interpreter/thinker about the subject of art, you GET IT! And it's fun to read about their shared interests. This one got me hooked. I'm now reading my way through the Gayford oeuvre and loving them all.

What a delightfully written book about an artist who is willing to share so much about himself with the reader. The dialogue is easy and enjoyable to read with the right balance of conversations along with informative facts and illustrations. It is easy to see why Hockney's personna is bigger than his art, no other contemporary artist has studied the science and art of making two dimensional art from the three dimensional world as much as Hockney and then been willing to answer questions about his philosophy and art and also be filmed numerous times while painting makes him perhaps the most revealed and beloved artist of our time. Any book on Hockney becomes dated quickly as he is constantly reinventing his art, this book adds some of his latest endeavors into technology and photography using 9 cameras at the same time to record a scene that earlier would have just used one camera. Wow, what a genius, let's hope he lives and produces for another 20 years!The reproductions of his work are numerous, but many are too small to be enjoy to their fullest, also the quality of the paper is below most standards for art reproductions but fine for the text and perhaps it is part of the balancing act between the text and images. The dialogue and author's note make for easy and enjoyable reading, the chapters are short making it easy to read several during a break. If you are a Hockney fan and want to see examples of his latest works and thoughts then buy this soon before it sells out like many of his other recent art books.

Martin Gayford's new book about David Hockney is not a biography, but rather a series of on-going conversations Gayford had with Hockney over a ten or so year period in many locations. Most were at Hockney's house in a secluded area in East Yorkshire, where he moved after having lived in Los Angeles for many years. The conversations, which make up the basis of the book, give full rein to Hockney's endless interest in almost every kind of creative endeavor.David Hockney is 74 years old and has been immersed in creativity of one sort or another since childhood. He's dabbled in photography, computer graphics, stage design, and many other forms in addition to his well-known paintings. He seems to be constantly asking questions about how and why both living things and art - in all its forms - come to life. The influences of past artists and designers on his work is readily acknowledged by Hockney. He's had a prodigious creative output in the past 55 years and until I read Gayford's book, I never realised how pervasive Hockney's influence has been on current artists. He seems to be an on-going link from past creativity to current and future creativity.Author Martin Gayford know what questions to ask David Hockney to get the best and most interesting answers. He's a long-time art critic in London and knows artists and their foibles and seems to work with those foibles to make fascinating articles and books. I've read his recent book on Lucien Freud, which was every bit as well-written as this one on David Hockney. For anyone wanting to know more about David Hockney, his genius and the work that flows from that genius, this is a good book to read. Gayford includes examples of most of the artwork being discussed - that work by Hockney as well as other artists - as well as a good timeline of Hockney's life. Reading this book is a wonderful experience.

Hockney is eloquent and generous about his thoughts and processes... he is a special teacher... and his love of inquiry and experiment is exciting...this is the best book on art I've ever read....

This is a really good book. I'm still reading some of it ,but it's explaining alot on what he's done etc. Just amazing so far.

The lengthy discussions with Hockney about his paintings and his view of art and artist help make sense of his artistic goals and the choices he makes to accomplish them. Beautiful illustrative color plates from works by Hockney and others.

This is a fantastic reading experience and it's interspersed with lovely artwork by Mr. Hockney. I love it so much that it will stay in my library as a reference of inspiration.

Maybe you don't like or "get" Hockney, but you have to love and respect him. He is a powerhouse of ideas, energy and enthusiasm.A working artist who has only gotten better, and BIGGER with time. Returning to roots at age 76, looking again at the landscape of his youth, first through tradition means such as charcoal, then using new technology, such as an iPad and video. His ability to "see" pattern and detail while remaining fresh in his application is enviable, and makes for inspirational viewing. This is a great conversation between old friends about new work.

Lovely book its as if you are in the room with Martin and David as they discuss artReally nice book to read

Bought as a present, it was everything expected. Good book with excellent quality pictures.

After visiting the Royal Academy exhibition, The Bigger Picture, this was the perfect follow up; but even if you missed the exhibition, this book is wonderfully enlightening, with 161 picures, most in full colour - through it I am now turned on to art and excited to learn more and look forward to the journey ahead - as someone who now counts art as one of my great interests

I have grown to like David Hockneys paintings over the years, was not keen at first, then as I followed his work, could understand him more. A Bigger Message is my third book of his and I love it, so easy to read in small sections being a conversation, and a real insight into his work.

Fantastic insight into Hockney's incredible mind. Martin Gayford really gets to the heart of the matter. Well done to him.