Soft cover, 11x8.5, 72 pages, full color. This book presents a 40-image sampling of watercolor artist Valerie Patterson's "Art To Start The Conversation" portfolio. With meticulous hyper-realism, these images combine intense emotion with an artist's attention to relevant detail. Patterson's images transcend the merely decorative, to illustrate the thoughts and ideas in personal, social and political realms that suggest stories and invite contemplation. Each image presented is paired with the artist's commentary covering such things as what the images suggests, how it was created, and what situation prompted the idea. It also includes and artist's biography and artist's statement. Introduction by Renee Phillips, Curator/Director Manhattan Arts International.