5 comments about Neubau Welt.

1. this book is the most accessible, easy-to-use and inspiring graphic art book that I've ever opened. the low price simply does not do justice to the huge quantity of varied and high quality material that it offers the reader/user. it provides an open, inviting tool-kit for designers on every level, offering something for everyone. excellent!



2. I got this book as a designer to be able to have a wealth of extra clip art in vector format on hand. When I started getting into the book it was more then just images at my disposal. I've used and manipulated so much in the book that it far surpasses what I paid for it. Combining images, forming new one's with what's available. It's all there at the tip of your fingers. I always find myself looking inside this book when I have a project I'm working on for a source of inspiration.
   
   There are a few limited subjects in which I was hoping there would be more of a variety, but what is offered is worth the price.I would recommend this book to anyone that needs a quick common image fix and especially for the person who just loves playing around with pre-made vector images



3. No es el típico libro de clip arts, me gusta mucho la interpretación fotográfica y la definición en siluetas de elementos comunes y cotidianos. Obviamente indispensable para todos los que trabajamos en gráfica e imagen



4. Creo que esta colección de imágenes es una excelente selección y aunque creo que pudo ser un poco más variada, también entiendo que sería casi imposible abarcar todos los temas, el libro de por sí está muy bien armado y cre que es una excelente compra...



5. Every Graphic designer should acquire this book, can't wait for the 2nd edition to come out.

1 comments about Watercolor in Bloom: Painting the Spring and Summer Garden.

1. I have a lot of watercolor flower painting books, but this fills a spot that is different from the rest. The flower paintings and demonstrations are almost surreal in some ways--very vivid colors--also very beautiful and uplifting. There are 15 beautiful and well-written and illustrated demonstrations with step-by-step instructions. The beginning chapters explain a lot about "The Basics" such as tools, composition & design, techniques, color basics. I love the vivid colorfulness of both the flowers and the backgrounds of Mary Backer's flowers. This book is a keeper.

5 comments about Splendid Slippers: A Thousand Years of an Erotic Tradition.

1. This book was absolutely wonderful. Before reading this book my knowledge of the ancient tradition of footbinding was very limited. In fact, what I thought I knew about the subject was woefully wrong. The pictures along with the literature were truly educational and now I feel I have a good understanding of the subject. I also bought a book (novel) called Snowflower and The Secret Fan. This novel was an excellent book that complimented the Splendid Slipper book. Thanks for recommending it!



2. This beautiful book was a delight to the eye. The workmanship and imagination used to create these slippers was amazing. Stories and explanations helped to further enlighten me on the origins of the practice of footbinding. More a work of art than a book, this is sure to be revisited often.



3. I bought this book after reading Snowflower and the Secret Fan, having been so intrigued by the history of Chinese women. Slippers is wonderfully informative and visually exciting. As a narrative, you follow the life of one young girl through her preparations for marriage and her adult life. These events are presented visually as well. The slippers are made by the adult women, embroidered intricatly and is their main occupation, as they are unable to do much else having had their feet bound. A wonderful addition to your library.



4. After reading Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, I had to learn more about foot binding and the slippers...wonderful book and the pictures are amazing.



5. Like most Westerners, I am both horrified and fascinated by the Chinese tradition of footbinding. I found this book to be an excellent source of images and history, and cultural context of this rite of passage for Chinese girls. I appreciated that this book is written in a neutral voice, allowing the reader to explore the many meanings of footbinding, rather than simply condemning it as an abhorrant practice.

5 comments about Make It Bigger.

1. I ordered this book late November in 2006. It was not in stock, so expected to ship sometime in February. Every 3 weeks I received another email notifying that the expected ship and delivery dates were pushed back another month or two.
   There's NO reason that this should happen - so I googled the book and eventually found a publisher's site to order from.
   
   Great book, but BOO amazon.



2. A great read for anyone who is ready to make the jump from art school to working clients. Scher goes into excellent detail about working with illustrators, the structure (and politics) of agency work, her strategies/approach to design. She also shares good insight on how to work most effectively with clients who may not know a whole lot about design. I found this very practical, and a very easy read. I am also a big fan of her work, which spans several decades.



3. Paul Scher hit me. No, literally. On a student tour of the Koppel/Scher offices, I was standing by a closet--Paula flung the door open and I provided the rubber stop. Though it's been a struggle, the last 12 years have softened my emotional pain. Make It Bigger provided some very necessary closure.
   Also, trust whatever Randy Silverman (a previous reviewer) says about anything, especially anything concerning design. Frighteningly insightful.



4. I have to say I'm not a big "fan" of Paula Scher's visual style, it's far too "horsey" and "big-boned" for my taste, but I am a fan of what she has to say about the design profession and her experience in it.

   This book is an excellent reference/story book on the frustrations of dealing with clients (which are many, as I can relate) who have poor taste or are just clueless. I agree with everything Paula says here and enjoyed the grain of salt with all that's said. I can feel the frustration and exasperation Paula speaks of as anyone worth their blood has designed something great, only to have a client with tunnel vision ruin it. Sigh.

   Any serious designer should read this book, or already has. I would have no problem calling anyone who hasn't read it a poseur in this profession!




5. Too often designers see their own result(s) and design solutions without the knowledge of the 'client process' . . . a truly remarkable reality in this business. ALL design students should be made aware of this aspect of the profession, possibly even before seriously considering if one wants to be a designer. There is so much more to it than having an 'AHA' on one's own. Ms. Scher has presented this in a manner both pictorially and honestly with examples and explanations . . . and, of course, with much experience in the real world of design (which must also include some humor). I have been a designer for thirty years and would recommend this as part of required reading from the start for future "wannabes" and for all of us who need that reassurance that this is indeed how it works.

No comments about National Standards for Arts Education: What Every Young American Should Know and Be Able to Do in the Arts.

1 comments about Art in Latin America: The Modern Era, 1820-1980.

1. Great book, I use it in my art Grad class, great seller, everything went smooth and clear. AAA+

1 comments about How To Draw Manga: Sketching Manga-Style Volume 3: Unforgettable Characteristics (How to Draw Manga).

1. I cant believe Amazon does not have this voWhlume in stock. I own the first volume of the Sketching series and I can tell you I use Volume 3 more than the former.
   Where Volume 1 gives you a general feel of the central styles and themes of Manga sketching and its basic concepts and methods, volume 3 goes into one central direction and never looks back.
   What makes this so different than its counterparts? Well to begin - over 90 percent of the examples/sketches are of female characters. Just a word to those looking for an action oriented book - you are not gonna find it in this volume.
   Now with that being said - you can learn so much from this book because it can help you draw characters that are bursting with life, or conveying peace and serenity.
   This is a great book for those who want to show a character's inner self without having to resort to another action or drama scene.
   The main focus on this volume is posing your character and techniques for projecting emotions. Heavy emphasis is placed on joint movement and importance, perspective of the character vs. scene. A lot of the examples have the sketches in every day movements; waiting, sitting, standing for effect, kneeling laying down etc. etc. The early section also contains different facial views for the scene, close ups versus total view, and also a small section on coloring.
   Id like to say again that most of the book is focused on the female form, because like so many art and media teachers have taught me - men are easy to draw, but to capture a woman's spirit on paper is another matter entirely.
   Add the techniques from this book and I guarantee you that you will never be the same artist again. Highly recommended if you want to take the next leap.

5 comments about John Singer Sargent : The Early Portraits (Volume One).

1. By all means, buy this book! This is one of the most engrossing art books that I have come across. Each reproduction has crystalline clarity and the accompanying information makes for very interesting reading. You find yourself really interested in all the people depicted.
   This is an excellent combination of art and text, without the book becoming a glorified textbook, but still being useful for research. I purchased the book mainly for the art and I am not disappointed! It's not one of those 'trick' art books that promise lush full color reproductions and actually consist of mostly black and white images. The only black and white included here depicts paintings that are lost. If you love J. S. Sargent's work, this is a great introduction to his earlier work and he only gets better!



2. This book is such a treasure, it is such a wonderful tribute to an American icon. The pictures are just amazing and the text highly informative. It is truly an amazing compelation of his early work. It is the first in a series of three and they are all consistantly good. If you are a fan of Sargent you will definitely what to possess all three. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an appreciation of great art from a one of the masters.



3. This book is for Sargent lovers. His incredible talent oozes in these pages. I can't wait for Vol 2 of this beautiful production of Yale University Press. I got me a magnifying glass and have spent hours looking at the unbelievably grand flesh tones that Sargent commanded. You'll love reading the background data of these portrait commissions during Sargent's career. I would give it six stars if I could. See it to believe it.....if I could only paint like he did or anything barely close. One of my best of collection. Hurry up Yale and give us Vol 2.



4. i bought this book after seeing the sargent show at the met in new york. i have been studing it ever since. mr ormand, ms. kilmurray please hurry. you have brought the works of this great american master to life as no one has done before and i look forward in anticipation to vol 2.



5. i bought this book after seeing the sargent show at the met in new york. i have been studing it ever since. mr ormand, ms. kilmurray please hurry. you have brought the works of this great american master to life as no one has done before and i look forward in anticipation to vol 2.

5 comments about Icon.

1. The ilustrations in this book portray you to another book that perfectly capture the original paints.



2. When people think of fantasy artwork, they might think first of those Conan and Edgar Rice Burroughs paperback covers, or a berserker warrior on horseback, corpses of foes beneath him and dripping weapon above him. People think of Frazetta first, whether or not they know it's him they're thinking of. He's also done recognizable work for Mad magazine, Little Annie Fanny for Playboy, posters for Peter Sellers movies, and lots more.
   
   Frazetta has done plenty of work in ink, especially for a range of comics, but his oil paintings are best known and most heavily represented here. It's easy to see how he became the inspiration for an entire generation of fantasy artists, and probably well into a second generation, too. No one captures the rippling sinews of barbarian warriors like Frazetta does, or beasts, half-men, dungeons, jungles, and every other fantasy-scape that he's rendered. Above all, no one comes close to the lush, rounded figures of his female characters. They can be warriors and wizards in their own right, or eldritch spirits, or even savable maidens. Some, as in "Moon's Rapture" or the standing figure in "Rogue Roman", show a rich and womanly figure at rest, but somehow promising as much raw physical power as any man.
   
   I recommend this collection to anyone passionate about illustration or fantasy art. Any one of his paintings can be an entire course of study for a budding artist. They can also be seen as powerful narratives in imagery, or as a jumping-off point for dreams of far-away worlds and heroic adventures.
   
   -- wiredweird



3. I read Edgar Rice Burroughs novels as a teen and will never forget the impact of the Frazetta covers. His heros, the settings and the creatures were so wild and vivid; plus I think he definitely set my ideals of feminine beauty for life. This collection is a must for anyone who wants a good biography of F.F. along with some great reproductions of his best work.



4. Frazetta is great and this book is swell... however (as one other reviewer also experienced) the cover came off my book after I had it for only one week! I couldn't believe it! To credit of the publisher they did send me a replacement. I think I will buy the sequel now. Too bad it's only available in hardcover, but at least that way the cover is much less likely to fall off. As for the third book, it seems to be completely unavailable except to those who are willing to pay over a hundred dollars for it!



5. Words cannot describe the beauty and passion in Frazetta's work; This book is filled with amazing art, from the original sketches to the final product; Lots of personal photographs and insightful narratives help to make this a satisfying package, but the artwork alone makes this book a must have. From his early career doing comic books and movie posters, to the grand scale of his fantasy art, this is a book that is sure to excite any and all who have a shred of creativity within them. Totally inspiring book!!!

5 comments about Salvador Dali 2v.

1. I don't know much about art, but this set of two books that contain every Dali painting created over his long life makes me feel like an expert on his many styles! Along with the fantastic full color pictures is a complete biography of his life and explanation of his styles. The set weighs in at nearly 8 lbs! It is well worth the money!



2. In order to rightfully qualify as a "definitive" type art book it must posses certain features. (1) - Quality 4 color reproductions true to the original artwork. With a high volume of reprints spanning the course of the artists productivity. (2) - Exemplary narrative text by qualified authorship. Indeed this comprehensive large edition triumphs in these requirements. . . . . . . Robert Descharnes' (the principle author) intimate knowledge stems from his 40 year personal relationship with Dali. Plus his own renouned contributions to art journals make this an interesting read. The reproductions are first-rate. This exact same book had previously been printed (1994) in a smaller format. And contrary to the above amazon stats; this is an 2006 edition. The colors are more accurate in this new edition. This is especially noted in the reproduced paper drawings. And 'Sfumato' was executed using a candle flame to scorch/smoke the paper. Beautifully reproduced here while it was blue in the previous edition. In 'Invention of the Monsters' you can make out the fine marblized grain of the sarcophagus table. In no other text in my Dali collection (#8) is this evident. Yet in 'The Cosmic Athletes' the intracranial contents of one figure is pitch black where it should have tea brown striations. These nuances may be too subtle to nitpick, but worth mentioning. . . . In 1984 Descharnes put out a gigantic sized $$$$ volume. The colors duller. The text good, but scattered. It did include some rare poster projects. None the less this 2006 edition proves to be a wonderful art book. Quoting Dali I'm sure he would agree; "Dali lovers could have sat down at table to feast on me!".



3. If you ever saw a painting from Dali and want to have a source to go and look, dig and be surprised, then this is the book.
   I am very happy with this book. I made some research before buying this, and this is far the best.
   Maybe you are not an arts fan but you like Dali paintings, then this is the book you want.
   Highly recommendable



4. Well, at nearly 6kg, a whap in the head with this thing would certainly loosen some screws. That's not what I meant, though.
   
   It's huge, beautiful, and encyclopedic. It covers Dalí's entire career, with all of the different stages he went through in creating his art and himself. There's just too much to try to summarize here - the book takes over 1600 photos to illustrate his life. Most of them depict Dalí's art or Dalí himself (I still suspect that he lived his entire life as a work of performance art). Others depict influences on his art. Some show work by other artists, for contrast or as part of Dalí's heritage. A few show features of the natural world, a rock formation, for example, that the alchemy of Dalí's magic transmuted into new visual elements.
   
   And, throughout, there is Gala - Dalí's wife, agent, manager, muse, model, and tour guide for his visit to planet Earth. I hate the phrase that would call Gala his "better half," but I'm sure that Dalí would have been incomplete in many ways without her. Certainly, his finished works owe much to the way she inspired him.
   
   I fault this wonderful work for only one thing, but one that I find maddening: there is no index. In partial compensation, end matter lists each photo or work of art, in numerical order as they appeared in the book, with provenance and other information about any art shown. A bibliogrpahy would have been nice, too - but no index! With a book like this, it almost feels as if the last twenty pages had been ripped out.
   
   Don't let that bit of pedantry get in the way of enjoying this marvelous collection, though. You might want to supplement this book with some of Dalí's own writing, such as The unspeakable confessions of Salvador Dali or Diary of a Genius, to name only a few. I can't imagine that you'll want another display of his artwork, except maybe the lithos.
   
   -- wiredweird



5. I have many books on Dali and his artwork. Some I have bought, some others have bought for me, but I was given this book as a gift, and I love it. I have decided that I do not need any of the other books on him, this one has all the famous pieces and more, some of the pictures I never even knew that he had created. Plus it is very informative. This is an amazing book, I would recommend anyone interested in surrealism to buy this book, for its price, it is a steal!