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Sara Midda
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Sara Midda's South of France: A Sketchbook Hardcover – October 27, 2008

by Sara Midda (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars 147 ratings
A wondrous sketchbook from a year spent in the south of France—an artist's personal journal carried everywhere and crammed with drawings and notions and thoughts surprising and whimsical.

Delicate watercolors shine like jewels set into each page of this exquisite book. In tones of sea and morning sky, stucco and brick, olive leaf and apricot, rose and geranium, sara Midda captures the land, the people, the shimmering air—the whole feeling of Provence and the Côte d'azur, and the spell they cast over even those who haven't visited. Interspersed throughout are photographic collages and charming observations. The whole book is printed on uncoated stock to convey the feeling of an artist's sketchbook.
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  1. Print length
    144 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Workman Publishing Company
  4. Publication date
    October 27, 2008
  5. Dimensions
    5.31 x 0.75 x 7.31 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9780894807633
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0894807633
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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

From Sara Midda, whose first book evoked all the pleasures of an English garden, comes a wondrous sketchbook of a year's sojourn in the South of France. This is a very personal journal, crammed with images, notions and discoveries of the day-to-day. In tones of sea and morning sky, stucco and brick, olive leaf and apricot, rose and geranium, exquisite watercolors capture the landscape, the life, the shimmering air of a region beloved by all who have fallen under its spell.

Sara Midda's South of France is a place of ripening lemons and worn espadrilles, ochre walls and olive groves, and everything born of the sun. It lies between the Mediterranean and the Maritime Alps, and most of all in the artist's eye and passion.

About the Author

Sara Midda is an artist who lives in West Sussex, England, and previously lived in the south of France. Her most recent book is Artisan’s children’s activity book How to Build an A.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0894807633
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Workman Publishing Company; First Edition, First Printing (October 27, 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 144 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780894807633
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0894807633
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 0.75 x 7.31 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 147 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
147 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers praise the book's charming watercolors and thumb nail illustrations, with one noting how it captures the landscape. Moreover, the book serves as great inspiration for artists and designers, with one customer highlighting its unique descriptions of places and times. Additionally, customers appreciate its evocative content and cultural insights about the South of France. However, the print size is criticized for being too small, and customers find it somewhat difficult to read.

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29 customers mention "Illustrations"29 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the charming watercolors and lovely thumb nail illustrations in this sketchbook.

"...I looked through this gorgeous book because it is so whimsical, so beautiful so memorable, and It haunted me untill I finally broke down, saved my..." Read more

"...Sara Midda delivers an honest, travel sketchbook in watercolor that is interesting, vibrant and captures the landscape and culture of the South of..." Read more

"...It has all the light and colour of Provence - exquisite drawings and unique descriptions of places and times and important dates through the ages..." Read more

"...and beauty of Provence with her gorgeous watercolors and elegant calligraphy so perfectly. The book arrived so quickly and in perfect condition...." Read more

10 customers mention "Inspiration"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book inspirational, with one mentioning it serves as great inspiration for artists and designers, while another notes its unique descriptions of places and times.

"...coffee book that I love with my whole heart, I think It shaped my future as an artist and I think , as cheesy as it soudns, I tear up when I look at..." Read more

"...Midda delivers an honest, travel sketchbook in watercolor that is interesting, vibrant and captures the landscape and culture of the South of France...." Read more

"...light and colour of Provence - exquisite drawings and unique descriptions of places and times and important dates through the ages across one year..." Read more

"...There are so many charming details but why make it so difficult to enjoy?" Read more

3 customers mention "Culture"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the cultural insights in the book, with one review highlighting the charm and wit of Southern France.

"...is interesting, vibrant and captures the landscape and culture of the South of France. You will love page after page of rich illustrations...." Read more

"...Sara captures the colors, culture and beauty of Provence with her gorgeous watercolors and elegant calligraphy so perfectly...." Read more

"The Charm and Wit of Southern France..." Read more

3 customers mention "Evocative content"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book evocative, with one describing it as a balm for the soul.

"...As an artist this is a must have, but as a human, this is balm on your soul. Lovely!!!" Read more

"Sara Midda's work, as always, is a thing of beauty. She gives attention to the world. My one caveat is the miniscule size of the sketches...." Read more

"This is a lovely and inspiring book, full of evocative and quirky watercolor sketches...." Read more

3 customers mention "Joy to hold"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable to hold, with one mentioning it's a joy to flip through.

"This little book is a joy to hold in the hands...." Read more

"...The book itself is a great size; handy to hold and slip in a purse for later viewing...." Read more

"...Was an absolute joy to flip through. Lovely illustrations and beautiful color palettes." Read more

15 customers mention "Print size"4 positive11 negative

Customers find the print size of the book too small.

"...But why is it so small? As an artist myself I know Sarah's original work would have been larger than what is presented here...." Read more

"...Gorgeous on every level. The print is pretty tiny to read, so get out your magnifying glass if you try to read the text...." Read more

"...Basically this is a small size coffee book that I love with my whole heart, I think It shaped my future as an artist and I think , as cheesy as it..." Read more

"...Although the text is done with very small handwriting and somewhat difficult to read, this is a beautiful little artbook to savor." Read more

6 customers mention "Readability"0 positive6 negative

Customers find the book somewhat difficult to read.

"...Although the text is done with very small handwriting and somewhat difficult to read, this is a beautiful little artbook to savor." Read more

"...of France: A Sketchbook is a very cute book, but I found it difficult to read as the print is so small..." Read more

"...is the watercolor prints and handwriting is so small it is impossible to read and enjoy...." Read more

"...It becomes laborious to read too many pages in a row. A magnifier would come in handy." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Kasia S.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Years after seeing it I am still enchanted!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2006
    Verified Purchase
    In all honesty, I have been enchanted and in love with this book ever since I came here form Poland 12 years ago and saw this work of art in a bookstore.

    I didn't have enough money , so silly me, I "visited" the book whenever I took watercolor classes at the nearby art school on the weekends, and I looked through this gorgeous book because it is so whimsical, so beautiful so memorable, and It haunted me untill I finally broke down, saved my pennies and bought it.

    Sara Midda starts her book with some fresh watercolors and a journal type of a book, her first written page reads;

    - "4th Apri 1854 Death of Hippolyte Allibert de Berthisr, botanist from Marseilles, known for his work on the grenium

    -Asparagus season starts

    - April 1764; Smollet writes, "Beginning April, mulberry leaves begin to put forth;the eggs or grains that produce the silk-worm are hatched

    - Orange trees in flower"

    ,,,,

    And this glorious artist paints this book which is her diary, her soul and inner core with watercolors of houses, fruits, vegetables, eggs, postal stamps, cuisine, house street bumbers on the sign of the building, plates, gardening utensils, pots and pans and fancy doors when she is at the South of France, she gives us the visual of her daily life filled with luxuries to be able to record the sweet days of summer with wonderful watercolors paintings.

    She writes short and fresh phrases but she paints to the point where its love at first sight,

    Basically this is a small size coffee book that I love with my whole heart, I think It shaped my future as an artist and I think , as cheesy as it soudns, I tear up when I look at it, it's raw memories.

    This is a gorgeous book, and Sara is an exceptional artist, she prduced

    numerous books to which she paitns her darling little watercolor pieces of art.

    As an artist this is a must have, but as a human, this is balm on your soul.

    Lovely!!!
    25 people found this helpful
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  • Frances
    5.0 out of 5 stars Watercolor and Travel enthusiasts will love this classic.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I had purchased this book when it first came out years ago and lost it in a move. Never able to find it on a bookshelf, I turned to Amazon and found a new copy at a very reasonable price. I am happy to re-add it to my collection of watercolor resources. It is a delightful book and far ahead of its time. Sara Midda delivers an honest, travel sketchbook in watercolor that is interesting, vibrant and captures the landscape and culture of the South of France. You will love page after page of rich illustrations. Get a copy today and take a beautiful armchair journey today!
    One person found this helpful
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  • DJL
    4.0 out of 5 stars The tiniest sketchbook ever
    Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    This little book is a joy to hold in the hands. It has all the light and colour of Provence - exquisite drawings and unique descriptions of places and times and important dates through the ages across one year of living and sketching in the south of France.
    But why is it so small?
    As an artist myself I know Sarah's original work would have been larger than what is presented here.
    Even if you don't wear glasses, you'll probably ruin your eyesight trying to make out the oh, so tiny hand-written words. I used a magnifying glass, which doesn't make for a relaxing read.
    I don't know why the publishers didn't just increase the size - even just by 25% - instead they've put off people who would otherwise delight in such a fascinating artist's journey.
    What Sarah Midda has written and drawn is well worth persevering with if you are a dedicated francophile or artist, but in general the book is ruined by having to read it with a magnifier and eyes screwed up trying to make out the words.
    Such a disappointment.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • P. Farrell
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love This Book
    Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I had the book of days version of this from many years ago and so enjoyed it, that I was excited to find this book. Sara captures the colors, culture and beauty of Provence with her gorgeous watercolors and elegant calligraphy so perfectly. The book arrived so quickly and in perfect condition. I am happy to put this in my library of my favorite books. It's a treasure.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Everything's Going to Be Sew K!
    5.0 out of 5 stars Something I Often Gift to Friends
    Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I love this book. I continue to buy copies to give away to fellow artists; it's just so beautiful.
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  • Paul Bikes
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Journal with lovely thumb nail illustrations
    Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Beautifully reproduced and rendered little journal of the artist's year in France.
    Gorgeous on every level. The print is pretty tiny to read, so get out your magnifying glass if you try to read the text.
    But the illustrations are just exquisite and deftly painted. Would make a great gift for an art journaler or book artist.
    One person found this helpful
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  • D Smyth
    3.0 out of 5 stars Too small to be great...
    Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    If this book had been 9x12, or even 8x10, instead of 5x7, it would be marvelous. Midday's sketches are exquisite, her figures and watercolors awe-inspiring, and they deserve to be admired closely. Instead, what we get is just a sense of her talent. The art is shrunk down so far it becomes too "cute," too decorative and less artistic. A stocking-stuffer, not a book for your art shelf. I still find it inspirational, but it just feels like an opportunity for something greater was lost.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Annie
    5.0 out of 5 stars excellent condition
    Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Hard to find book with delightful illustrations. Although the text is done with very small handwriting and somewhat difficult to read, this is a beautiful little artbook to savor.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • peter flass
    5.0 out of 5 stars prima
    Reviewed in Germany on October 3, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    sehr schöne Aquarelle, es macht großen Spaß das Buch durchzublättern, immer wieder endeckt man neue Details,
    es ist sehr entspannend die einzelnen Zeichnungen zu betrachten
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  • Mrs L Usher Davis
    5.0 out of 5 stars Exquisite book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 20, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Sara Midda's South of France book is an exquisite reminder of all the things that delight when living or visiting the south if France. It is full of miniature sketches and handwritten notes of the markets, the buildings, fruit, vegetables and recipes, traditions and the people. An absolute delight that can be looked at again and again.
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  • lidia coronado
    5.0 out of 5 stars si te gusta la acuarela debes tener este libro
    Reviewed in Spain on July 5, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    es precioso, si te gusta viajar y te gusta la acuarela o tras estudiando acuarela, este libro es una obra de arte que debes tener, es delicado, sutil una obra de arte.
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  • S.D
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in India on November 6, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Beautiful and a very creative book. Every water color illustrators must have
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  • Shirley keen
    5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful & enchanting
    Reviewed in Canada on February 26, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This tiny book is art, carried in your pocket, everywhere..wonderful & enchanting...
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