Out of the Ordinary C

This 30-year retrospective of realist painter Milosevich's career features landscapes, people and everyday objects of the Southwest. Texas art teacher and freelance writer Sasser presents a trite but affectionate text that frequently quotes Milosevich as it traces his artistic growth. At their most pedestrian, the paintings here exhibit greeting-card sentimentality and predictable color schemes; at their best, they offer agreeably kitschy Americana. Milosevich's depictions of cowboys and Pueblo Indians as well as his paintings of Santa Fe are notable for their vivid colors, while his portraits of friends and country-western performers are skillful though devoid of background detail. This unpretentious, pragmatic collection extols leisurely living in Colorado, Texas and New Mexico. (July)