5 comments about The Architecture of Delano & Aldrich.

1. Delano and Aldrich were remarkable architects whose achievements include the Dutch Reformed Church in Brookville, LI Oheka, the largest home in the country, Willard Straight Hall at Cornell and other buildings too numerous to mention which you probably count amont your favorites whether or not you know about architecture. The photos and text of this book show their range and informs about the kindly and sophisticated personalities of the men.



2. While I agree this is the best available source right now on Delano and Aldrich, the book has some major problems. I especially do not like the fact that you need to search three different parts of the book for photographs and images of any particular project: color photos grouped at the start of the book, then small images alongside the main text, and then larger black and white photographs grouped at the end of the book.



3. I wish all books on noted architects where this good. Mr. Sterns preface at the beginning of the book is astute. This book is a perfect combination of archival and current photos and the history of the buildings are well researched and thorough. The color photos are vivid and well executed and the archival photos are well chosen. So many of these books just give you archival photos and are not researched as well as one would hope. This book is a blueprint for how these type of books should be presented. This beautiful book is well worth the money and at these prices that's high praise indeed.



4. I highly recommend this definitive work on architects Delano & Aldrich. The book is amazingly well-researched and well-written as well as beautifully illustrated with both historic and contemporary photographs. It's a must for the library of anyone interested in architecture!



5. I have been interested in the work of Delano and Aldrich for a number of years, and this book provides the best information I have been able to get so far.

   The descriptions are deep and serious. I also liked the great pictures. The impact of their work is historic to say the least.

   This is a must read.

No comments about Freehand Sketching: An Introduction.

1 comments about Welcome to My Studio: Adventures in Oil Painting.

1. A great reference book to be read and re-read. She gives quick instruction for the problem areas of painting with lots of illustrations. Easy to use.

4 comments about The Seventy Wonders of the Modern World: 1500 Years of Extraordinary Feats of Engineering and Construction.

1. This book was a HUGE resource for me for my survey of architecture class. Combined with The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World provided me with enough information to ace the class. Strongly recommended.



2. The detailed information, with dimensions and plans included, along with magnificent photography make it a must, both for reference and normal reading purposes.



3. This well organized, informative and concise volume offers a clearly written collection of essays on the complete history of seventy of the world's greatest engineering and construction achievements from the year 1500 A. D. to the present.
   Each structure is carefully detailed in a well-researched, short entry of two to four pages long. Basic facts like who built it, where, when and why are covered, and additional information is also provided like its basic statistics, the politics associated with its construction, accounts of the project's development and other fascinating data. Moreover, for quick check-ups, each wonder is accurately placed in one of the seven categories into which the book is divided: Churches, Mosques, Temples & Shrines; Palaces & Castles; Public & State Buildings; Towers & Skyscrapers; Bridges, Railways & Tunnels; Canals & Dams; and Colossal Statues.
   This reference is handsomely presented in a sturdy binding, printed in top-quality paper, and beautifully illustrated with over 350 spectacular photos, explanatory diagrams, magnificent reconstructions and historical drawings.
   Featured among the showcased selection are The Statue of Liberty, The Panama Canal, The Eiffel Tower, The Taj Mahal, and The Forbidden City, and the rest of the masterpieces included are equal testimony of man's unending imagination and its application beyond mere aesthetic power, structural virtuosity or plain utility.
   As a bonus, the book includes an introduction that explains the criteria used to pick the selected structures. A comprehensive bibliography especially useful for further research and a thorough index, for specific consultations, are also included.
   This is a fact-filled compendium that readers of all ages will undoubtedly refer to again and again.
   --Reviewed by Maritza Volmar



4. Book has photos and information about seventy architectural wonders of the modern world: buildings, bridges, etc. Some I was unfamiliar with-for example, my favorite of the entire book, a very unusual cathedral (Unbelievable!) in progress in Barcelona. Would be a great gift for architects, engineers, and all inquisitive people.

5 comments about Incredible Light & Texture in Watercolor.

1. The author, James Toogood, has produced an excellent and concise course in capturing light when painting transparent watercolors. His instructive
   chapters are worthy of study by the experienced watercolorist. This is a worthwhile reference.



2. I own dozens of watercolor instruction books and this is one of the few I would not give up! It is geared toward an intermediate watercolorist, but has basic information on paints, brushes and paper. In particular, Toogood explains how the properties of watercolor pigment affect a painting and how you might use that color.
   Toogood's style is tight and almost photographic. Some people do not like watercolors painted this way, but the book is helpful even so. He goes into detail on how to create textures of different surfaces which is a universal skill. I personally find Toogood's style impressive and inspiring. I enjoy the book to look at his paintings more than anything else.
   P.S. You cannot tell from the cover, but the book includes a great section on portrait painting in watercolor.



3. This book is by far the best watercolor book for the intermediate artist.
   definately not a beginner book. Toogood is both informative and inspiring.



4. This is a good book for those who want to paint watercolour copies of photographs. Unfortunately, Mr Toogood doesn't show that part of his working method involved in tracing the photographs he copies. If you're looking for more expressive styles, study the work of Winslow Homer or John Singer Sargent. If you want a good instructional book on watercolour, check out Mastering Atmosphere and Mood in Watercolor by Joseph Zbukvic.



5. Initially I bought this book for its beautiful and inspiring watercolors. Is there nothing this man can't paint? Breathtaking clouds, the wettest water I've ever seen in paint. You wouldn't know it from the cover, but the book also contains a chapter on portrait painting, step by step. He is as proficient in portrait painting as he is in landscapes, cityscapes, seascapes. I teach a "portraits in watercolor" class and I recommend this book to every student of the medium who is searching for an artist they can admire, who is willing to part with his "secrets".

3 comments about Watercolor for the Fun of It: Painting Greeting Cards (Watercolor for the Fun of It).

1. One of the best things about this book, is that Ms. Black has a contagious sense of fun. She focuses on spontaneity rather than rigid outcome. She leads a reader through a series of techniques (sorry for the over-used word) that help discourage intellectual interference. Great book for doing, in addition to reading about, the craft. I go back to this book time and time again.



2. This book really gets me going. I'm a beginner in painting 'cause I use different art media. But this book made it really easy for me to start in painting. I like EJ Black's ideas and techniques. Really good for beginners and act like a pro. I highly recommend this book for children and beginning adults!



3. This book has been a truly wonderful find! I enjoy the creative process, but watercolor has never been my strong suit. I purchased this book just a few days ago, and have already created several pieces of art that amaze even me! My intention in buying this book was less to make cards (though that's something I've long done) but more to use Elizabeth Joan Black's techniques in hopes of finding a new creative outlet. I definitely got that and more. Her book gives wonderful details, with colorful pictures that would help anyone achieve results they would be pleased with. I highly recommend this book for the novice to the experienced. It really is inspiring!

5 comments about Architecture Counts (Preservation Press).

1. My son is a little over a year old and he really enjoys this book. We have it checked out from the library and I'm going to put it on his wish list for Christmas. He has always enjoyed looking at things to see how they work and looking at the working parts of toys and items around the house. As an adult I don't think the pictures are incredibly special, but they are photos of everyday type things shown in a way that you might not notice if you were just around town.



2. As an architect, I enjoy giving these books as gifts because they are different from your run of the mill children's books. I like how they use building pieces to teach about basic shapes and colors. It is not a book that highlights popular or historic architecture - its more about the components.



3. This book had been on display in the gift shop when I toured a Frank Lloyd Wright house....I didn't buy it then but checked on Amazon and sure enough it was here. It is defiinitely a different counting book exposing children early on to a little culture and something different besides 1 cow, 2 dogs, etc. The photographs are superb and interesting to the eye. Not only can you count but you can find interesting shapes as well.



4. We love this book. It's one of our favorite baby shower gifts. We first discovered it when our son was almost 2. It was especially fun because we were living in Cambridge, MA, at the time, and all the photos are from the Boston/Cambridge area. One of my favorite memories of his early childhood is the day we were driving in North Cambridge, and he suddenly called out (seemingly randomly) from his car seat in back, "Six Ducts!" Lo and behold, there atop the Alewife "T" station were the six red ducts from the book. Another is the time I happened onto him "reading" the book to himself; he had it open to the "six ducts" page and was saying, "quack, quack." (He is a teenager now, and I wish he were still so into books. I also hope he doesn't read this review!) It was our experience with baby board books that the ones we enjoyed "mysteriously" turned into his favorites too.



5. I was rather disapointed with this book. First the printing is mediocre and the photos are just boring. Only an architect could love this book. My kid just ignores it. It is a good concept I think but is in desperate need of better execution.

2 comments about 1000 Lights. 1000 Leuchten. 1000 Luminaires.

1. If you just want to see alot of lights with basic information, this is the way to go. Real pretty.



2. The Fiells previous effort covered the period 1878 to present in two volumes, each with 1000 lights. Charlotte Fiell is half of the original team. So this edition will be half as satisfying for detail lovers, and twice as good for those who want just the big hits. The text and captions are in English, French, and German. I wished for more complete details in a single language. 1000 Lights provides a great visual experience for design fans.

1 comments about Matisse: From Color to Architecture.

1. Primarily known for his luminous color paintings, the French artist Henri Matisse was also involved in designing stunningly beautiful stained glass windows and even ventured into the realm of architecture as well. Matisse: From Color To Architecture is a seminal work by Rene Percheron and Christian Brouder and the first to focus on these lesser known endeavors by one of France's most renowned painters. Offering an intimate portrait of the artist in work and life with a focus upon Matisse's work in his final years on the Chapel of the Rosary in Vence and the nursery school in his hometown of Le Cateayu-Cambresis (both of these buildings are located in the south of France), this 384 page compendium is enhanced with 396 illustrations (247 of which are in full color) and includes beautiful reproductions of Matisse's most famous paintings drawn from the collections of Centre Georges Pompidou, the Hermitage Museum, the Barnes Foundation, and the National Gallery of Art. These works are paired with documents and photographs culled from the archives of the Matisse estate. Included are first-hand accounts from the participants in the Vence and Le Cateau projects. Matisse: From Color To Architecture is an original and recommended contribution to personal, professional, academic, and community library Art History and Architectural Studies collections.

No comments about Community Participation Methods in Design and Planning.