Review: OFF THE WALLS by Getty Publications

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

This fun art book wouldn't have happened if not for COVID-19. Getty Publications wanted to see how art would be "a tonic for people through these uncertain times," so they put out a challenge: recreate your favorite art piece using materials from around your house. 

There are seven different sections of art:

—Home, Sweet Home, which features portraits of people in and around their house.

—Life Holds Still, which features paintings of scenes and objects without people.

—Strike a Pose, which features people in different poses.

—Creature Comfort, which features pictures of animals or recreations using animals.

—Culinary Arts, which features pictures of food or recreations of art using food.

—High Drama, which is an eclectic section with some abstract art, some famous art, and dramatic reinterpretations of them all.

—Child’s Play, which features art recreations using children or children's toys.

I loved seeing a wide variety of art in this book. We see recreations of some of the most famous paintings, but we also see recreations of many lesser-known paintings, some I had never even heard of before. Some recreations were more faithful than others. Some were very detailed and serious, while others were simplistic and humorous. Some even incorporated the spirit of quarantine in there, communicating how all of us have felt these past few months. It was interesting to see how people around the world interpreted different artworks and what focal points they chose to make stand out. 

My personal favorite piece of art in this book was a recreation of Van Gogh's The Starry Night using spaghetti. So creative. I also really enjoyed the COVID reinterpretation of Michaelangelo Buonarroti's The Creation of Adam. 

One issue I had with this book was that the original artwork was not always presented first. On some pages, the original artwork would be printed after the recreation, and I found this confusing at times because I kept expecting the original to be first and then I was taken aback when it wasn't. Just something to be mindful of when you read the book. 

This exciting art book, created while everyone has been in quarantine, can remind us all that even when we’re faced with uncertain times and stress in our lives, we are still able to create happy moments at home and find joy and peace in art. I recommend Off the Walls for anyone who even remotely appreciates art and creativity, or for anyone who simply needs to enjoy a happy and relaxing afternoon.