5 comments about The Craft of the Japanese Sword.

1. An excellent book, getting a bit old now but still extremely relevant.
   
   Well written with excellent descriptions and photos.
   
   Good to see Yoshindo Yoshihara is still alive, but he looks a bit older than the book photo!
   
   I throughly recommend this book to anyone starting out in Japanese swords.
   
   Steve



2. An excellent book. It has all you need to know to either understand the craft of the sword or to begin your own explorations into the craft. Or both.Craft of the Japanese Sword is well written and illustrated, with an emphasis on the artisanship and detail of each step in creating these beautiful works. Ken wa hito nari.



3. It's a good book, good information!
   Photos should be color, that's the only thing I don't like!
   But anyway, I like it!



4. This book is an excellent introduction to Japanese swordmaking by looking at modern masters and how they make swords. If you are just beginning an interest in Japanese swords and how they are made, this is the book for you. The book takes you through the process of forging the blade, polishing, making the habaki and finally the scabard. This book is highly recommended!



5. This book shows how a sword is made following the traditional metods. I loved it!

5 comments about Magic Eye, Vol. 2.

1. I purchased this item for my children, since in reading about this type of viewing exercises-that vewing these 3D stereograms is great to strenthen your eyes-and since the computer is often being used for so many different things. I thought if we had a book of these they could be used in any of our free time when doing them on the computer is not an option. This has worked out well. The kids love the book. The only reason I did not give this rating a five is because the drawings seem so much harder to view than the ones on the computer. My kids have been able to do it alright, but I get too impatient. Perhaps. it is an even better eye exercise done from the book Vs. the computer, but to me they are slighly frustrating.



2. I really love these books. I am fascinated by the technique used to get the 3-d affect. I have everyone out.



3. What I love most about these books (I have Magic Eye I as well) is how I can practice 'receiving' an image. In order to see the image, you have to be very focused yet very open. You stare at it with soft eyes and readiness, then when your eyes are in the right position and the 3-D image starts to appear, you can't start 'grabbing' it with your eyes or it disappears. You have to be very still and wait and then it's as if someone turns a nob and this crisp picture shows up with amazing depth. It is a mindset that we don't practice much in our busy lives of doing and accomplishing things. A great lesson to be reminded of, showing how easy it is to let the most precious things come to us, if we can be still and present enough to receive and perceive. I look at the pictures at night before I go to sleep, or when I want to 'download' information from my subconscious mind. I know that practicing this 'receiving' muscle helps my intuition. These books are worth every penny!



4. I love ALL these Magic Eye books! After a while, all you have to do is glance at the picture and you can immediately see the hidden object. You never know what will pop up!



5. This book has been around since 1994 and is still a lot of fun.These 3-D images seem to have reached their peak in the early 90's ;as far as I know anyway.I particularly enjoyed the Forward.Tom Baccei talks about their resident wizard."Some say that although his bulb seems good,his filament is short a few twists." In the words of Wizzy "Life is like a single beautiful butterfly in a gentle swirling snowstorm.When you find your own center,you'll find the butterfly.Then you can hop on and go on a ride forever."
   When you've found all the 3-D images,try looking for that butterfly in the snowstorm and enjoy life.

5 comments about The Sierra Club Guide to Sketching in Nature, Revised Edition.

1. I was looking for a book to go through all aspects of nature sketching and journaling. This is the book! I have lended the book out to other sketch artists and they found it very useful as well. Lots of pointers on different types of sketching and FANTASTIC illustrations. It it worth purchasing just for the illustrations alone. I would recommend this book to ANYONE who is interested in sketching nature.



2. I loved this book. I am a beginner and it was an excellent resource.



3. I am a novice artist and need all the tips and help I can get. This book is a big help and I refer to it frequently.



4. This book provides a tremendous amount of information on sketching in nature but don't let the title fool you- this is a terrific general sketching and drawing book. Johnson covers topics that are rarely covered in other books. The use of pens, watercolors, pencils and colored pencils (both water soluble and not) are covered. This is an invaluable book and is an asset to both the beginner and more advanced student. I'm on Amazon right now trying to find other books by Cathy Johnson- I'm that impressed.



5. This is a very refreshing book. Cathy Johnson not only makes it look easy to draw and paint loose, yet accurate, watercolor sketches outdoors, but she tells you everything you need to know. This book will actually teach you how to draw and paint what you see, without making things overly complicated. Best of all, her supply list is well within the means of most people. I really enjoyed this book, and learned a great deal from it. This summer, I caught Lyme disease. It's nasty. For months, I could hardly walk, let alone hike and garden and do stuff I used to love. But Cathy's book has helped draw me back outside, and I'm learning to love nature all over again, one leaf, flower, and bug at a time. This book would make a great gift.

5 comments about Japanese Bookbinding: Instructions From A Master Craftsman.

1. Good book for Japanese style bindings. Done the old way and using your hands and feet without alot of tools this is the book to have



2. I was interested in bookbinding, and loved the simplicity and elegance of japanese books. When I got the book, was easy to read and very simple instructions; In less of two weeks already made a Yotsume toji, a kikko-toji and a flutter bindings.
   It is a very useful book for people never attempt BB before, because japanese books have less pages and require less steps than traditional western books. No mention the creative ways of the different types of books can be made.



3. I bought this book hoping for a new spin on Bookbinding lit. It turned out to be more of the same: lots more stab bindings. The explanations are vague as well. The chapter on Scroll-making was interesting, but overall, this book is not worth the price. If you have other bookbinding books, there's nothing new here.



4. As an amatuer bookbinder with varying levels of attention span, I found this book really useful. The illustrations and directions are very clear and can be followed very closely or used as a jumping off point. It covers many styles of binding, tools and paper. I especially enjoyed the pictures where the bookbinder's foot is used to to hold something down leaving the hands free to work. Ever read a craft how-to book and thought...well I could do that if I had 3 hands?



5. This is an excellent introduction to the varied forms of Japanese bookbinding. As with so many other crafts in Japan, it is both like and very unlike matching Western craft.
   
   First, there is the wide variety of different binding styles. Some are very distinctive. In the accordion and 'flutter' books, the first and last pages are bound to the covers. The rest of the pages are fan-folded, either one long strip or sheets pasted together. Other bindings, whether Chinese, Korean, or uniquely Japanese in style, tie or glue the pages into a more Western stack. The end of this book shows traditional outer covers for books, partial or complete boxes. The are made uniquely for each volume or set, to give it additional protection.
   
   The tools, materials, and techniques are laid out clearly. The authors show first show the traditional craft, as it has been practiced since the Heian era (ca. 1000 AD). They also show how modern materials can be used instead of or in addition to the older ones. The technique for each binding or box is spelled out in clear pictures and text.
   
   Clear technique is what makes this book. It gives the scholar a good understanding of how a master artisan would prepare or repair each artifact. It also gives the home crafter the ability to adapt classic techniques to modern uses, from keepsake albums to collections of a child's art. The structure of most Japanese books is simple enough for a child to imitate with some kind of success, even though the book's examples approach museum quality. With a little thought, the techniques can be adapted to almost any level of skill.
   
   This is book is very enjoyable, even if you just read it. If you go ahead and try some of the techniques shown, you'll enjoy it even more. You may even get results that you'll enjoy for years to come.
   
   //wiredweird

2 comments about What Happened to Art Criticism? (Prickly Paradigm).

1. James Elkins took the trouble to reflect on how art critics are doing their job or rather not doing it. Finally someone is saying that a lot of art critics are no different from news reporters among others: they either have no opinion, or they do not have the guts to express an opinion or it is not in their interest to express and/or have an opinion. Since James Elkins describes in detail how an art critic earns a living we suspect the latter is true. He explains very well how art critics prefer description to opinion because it does not ruffle any feathers. Though a sad one a very good book that makes us realize how in art criticism, as in other fields, thinking for oneself is either dangerous and/or passe and/or not worth the trouble. In short art criticism has lost a lot of its former excitement: could it be like the art it describes one wonders...



2. Without going into superlatives or hyperbole, the strength of this book lays within its insightful examination of the breadth of critical writings as they pertain to art in the last 50 (or so) years. It was interesting enough that I did not want to put it down, and it was a quick-enough read to keep on the shelf for future review.

5 comments about Cartoon Cool: How to Draw New Retro-Style Characters.

1. If you are looking to change your cartooning style or just want to learn how to draw "retro" styled cartoons, this is your book! Christopher Hart teaches you how to draw retro-styled cartoons by comparing the classic style and the retro style so you can pinpoint where you need to draw differently to achieve that retro look.
   
   As always, a great learning guide for the beginner or the experienced cartoon artist.



2. This is another great title from Christopher Hart. In this book, he takes a look of some of the cartoons and animation that is popular today. This seems to be an era of the "retro" look and feel and Mr. Hart uses this book as a resouce to explore and teach these cool cartooning techniques!
   
   Gift this book to yourself or the retro cartoon fan in your life!



3. You can't go wrong with this book. It really covers the subject matter completely.
   
   Christoper Hart you did good!



4. Like all of Chris Hart's books, Cartoon Cool is filled with hack drawings and bad drawing advice.
   If you really want to draw in the Retro style, here's a tip: Go look at the cartoons and the artists that inspired the retro style in the first place. Ed Benedict, Mary Blair, M. Sasek, 50's era Hank Ketcham, Gene Dietch.
   These are the people that Craig McKracken and Genndy Tartokovsky and Lynne Naylor are inspired by.
   Google the names. You'll have a wealth of material at your finger tips.
   Here's another tip: REALLY learn how to draw things the way they really look.
   You can't abstract something unless you know what it looks like.



5. Great for 8-15 age range. Artwork is fun and isn't intimidating to novice drawers. I'm a little out of the target age range and target skill set in my opinion, but even still I did pick up some clear, concise, and insightful tidbits on the style. If anyone is looking for drawing books for their kids, I'd keep Christopher Hart's name in mind.

5 comments about Albinus on Anatomy.

1. This book is a wonderful visual aid to anyone who needs to see the particulars of bones, muscles and whatnot in the body. Whether it be an anatomy class or kinesiology this book is an excellent addition to add to your studies of the body.



2. Albinus on Anatomy is one of my favorite resources as a body worker and movement specialist. There are not many places where we have such wonderful pictures of the entire skeleton that are not in "anatomical position". The opening pages are not only works of art but give us visions of the inner workings of human anatomy as it lives and breaths and moves in everyday life. I highly recommend this book as a front line resource for anyone who teaches movement or coaches sports or works with the body in any healing art.



3. I've used Albinus' plates for years in teaching Artistic Anatomy, and this is the best resource. They are remarkable achievements, astonishingly accurate, but compared with the many and multiple views of the figure available today, they are a bit less complete than you might want. The best reason for buying this version is that Robert Beverly Hale's introduction is as full of wisdom for learning artistic anatomy as any paragraphs I've ever read.



4. I bought this book as a study guide for an anatomy class that I'm taking for a yoga training. I am usually put off by more scientific books, and was worried I would be bored, so I got his book, designed I think for humanties types rather than science types. He has these crazy backgrounds to keep you interested I guess. The human body against the backdrop of ... a rhinoceros. So I really had fun with the crazy pictures. But the anatomy drawings are beautiful, They're very clear, and the style is intriguing to an artsy type like myself. I liked the way they make a copy of each illustration on the facing page to list out the different body parts. It made studying very very easy. If you need to learn anatomy and don't require an in-depth study, this book is a great little guide, and is very interesting even if you don't have to study anatomy.



5. The illustration of bone and muscle that this artist provided the world is still the best! The one thing that I appreciate the most is the correct proportions and clear definition. It is limited in the actual use for artists beyond pure illustration but is a keeper to go along with all of the material it seems to take to put a complete reference together. The reason for this is ACCURACY and CORRECT PROPORTION!

3 comments about Art and Design of Gama-Go (Gama Go).

1. I was dissapointed in the size of the book. It's only a little over 6x6. It does have alot of pages tho. If you like their tee shirt art then this book is for you. That is all that's in it.



2. purchased as a gift and was so entertaining almost kept it for myself. disigns incredable.



3. The art of Gama go is super cool, i have bought it because of the tim biskup art work which i knew more about, but the design studio has lots of other cool stuff, a must see!

5 comments about How To Draw Manga Volume 28: Couples (How to Draw Manga).

1. When I bought this book I was a little unsure if it would be helpful or not, but I'm relly glad I got it! It has tons of helpful poses and some I probaly wouldnt have thought of! It has some nudity so be wary of that, and it also has some bedroom scenes at the end. Not for young children, but other than that very good book.



2. This book is an execellent tool for intermediate to advanced artists. It contains some sexual content.



3. This is gonna be a simple review. This book is the best book HTDM haves ^^ i own about 10 or 13 HTDM books and this one is by far my favorite one, i use this one alot so it well deserves its 5 stars



4. 
   I received this book as a gift recently. It is a very helpful addition to my "arsenal" of "How to Draw Manga" books. This book covers many things, including holding hands, embracing, and kissing. There is also a bit about love making, but it is by no means graphic.
   I was also quite happy to find that the book covers same sex couples in addition to male-female couples.
   
   I highly recommend this book to any aspiring manga artist!



5. I use it all the time for my couples and such. This shows great ways to draw kissing to intimate to marriage scene. It's reocmmended if you do this a lot and you love it. The illustrations are out of this world on how they show things popular with couple drawings. ^^

5 comments about Visual Journaling: Going Deeper Than Words.

1. I strongly disagree with TheCafeWriter's critique of this book. Firstly, it should be pointed out that the authors suggest experimenting with different media (pastels OR crayons OR thick markers) to find one that best suits you. They suggest these media because they assert that such media allow for freer expression (with broad, sweeping strokes) than something carefully drawn with thin pencils and pens, for example. There is no mention in the book of any "smelly fixatives" needed. If chalk pastels don't work for you, perhaps try one of the other media? Hello?!
   
   There is no need for the reader to understand what other journal-makers have drawn/painted and how that symbolizes what they were feeling. It is emphasized several times that no-one but the producer of the art can interpret what the symbol means. Each person's art is unique and different people will produce different symbols for different feelings and the body's feeling of different life situations. The reason for the exercises of getting you into your body, is that the body is where the symbols originate. You go inside your body to feel what is there, how your body is holding a life situation. After sitting with the body for a while with interested curiosity, you notice if there is a symbol that would express how/what you feel. It is also stated that this symbol may not be a picture - it may perhaps be a word, for example.
   
   It should be pointed out that the title of the book is "Visual Journaling", so of course the emphasis is on visualizing, seeing in your mind's eye what your body is experiencing. Forgive me, but isn't drawn and painted art necessarily visual? And so sorry if your particular questions and needs weren't met - it's a book, so of course it's going to be general information! Go get private instruction if you need specific questions answered. Sheesh!



2. This book provides step-by-step processes to obtain visual messages from your soul, for whatever topic you choose to explore. This is an excellent and straightforward approach for "knowing thyself."



3. I tried twice to get into this book, but just couldn't. As others have said, there's a lot of steps to creating a journal image presented here, but even after all that, I came up empty.
   
   The process is certainly a messy one. The author suggests using chalk pastels which - as a non-artist - I found very messy and difficult to use, with chalk blending into places where I didn't want it to go. When done, you have to spray it with a smelly fixative to keep it from smearing or getting everywhere.
   
   I also didn't connect with the book's examples at all. Many are in black and white, which didn't help. I didn't understand how the examples had anything to do with what they were supposed to symbolize. It's not that I was looking to get it "right," but how is this big blob of green and yellow any more meaningful than this big blob of red and orange? It seemed like a bunch of random splotches meant to articulate a mood or feeling, and I just couldn't grasp the connection.
   
   It struck me as a one-size-fits-all approach, and I think that's where it came up short for me. I would've liked to see more than one method of getting to "what does this feeling look like" than the overly-simplistic "visualize it." If it were that easy, why would I need this book?



4. I think this book is a jewel for those who might want to "discover" themselves. I have used it many times to stimulate myself to write.



5. It is a journey to the deepest region of your soul. Easy to follow and very motivating to continue. Sets the innerself free.