1 comments about Paint Along with Jerry Yarnell, Volume 8 - Capturing Color (Painting Along With Jerry Yarnell).

1. His artwork is good. It is helpful in learning techniques to eventually graduate in doing your own work by just looking a scene or picture. All of his books are great, predictable, but great.

5 comments about Stone Tears (Favole).

1. I bought this book impressed by the gorgeous drawings. But after reading it I found that the story was somewhat empty and well known, a mere excuse for each drawing.
   So, as an art book is great and stunningly beautiful, as for the story ... I'll keep looking at the illustrations and forget about it.



2. this book is wonderfully written and illustrated. the only downer with it, is how short it is. the book in length took a little less then ten minutes to read. but the art was amazing.



3. Ignore the first one-star comment, that should've been left as negative feedback for the re-seller of the book, NOT for the product and artist of it. (I've reported it to be removed).
   
   Onto the book: GORGEOUS, drool-worthy stuff! If you like Anne Rice, vampires, goth-art, even renn-art, you will LOVE it. They are very inspirational to writing stories and poetry to them.
   
   These would make great coffee table books for the dark-art lover, too.



4. About the book: Victoria is a very good artist (I do not vouch for her writing skills yet). The only flaw in her art is the lack of proper perspective, but when lost in the contemplation of it, you just forget about it. She could improve both perspective and architectural painting, but considering that she's only 25, she has good time to solve those little flaws.
   
   However, and despite those flaws (which are hard to notice unless you are a freak like me and pay great attention to every little detail), her art is amazing... Her women and characters take hold of the image and the backgrounds blur after them. The skins, hair and clothes are amazing, the general overall feeling impressive. It's a weird kind of gothic... It's melancholic, but not desperate. It's lonely, but not horribly so... It's sad and beautiful at the same time.
   
   I have reported the first review of this book as inappropriate: if the book arrived damp and spoiled, it is not the book's or Victoria's fault. It would be like labelling a job dangerous because you sprained your ankle on your way to it. Besides, to all customers: if one of amazon products arrives in bad state, you can send it back and they send you another one, with absolutely no trouble. Accidents happen, and if you are lazy enough not to send back spoiled merchandise, you can't blame the author or the editorial.
   
   This book by Victoria has gotten an one star rating only because the delivery service failed, and the book was broken. It is grossly unfair to the artist and to the editorial, who have created a good product. You don't rate Coca-cola as crappy when a bottle arrives broken: you just return it and demand a replacement.
   
   But back to Victoria: her women are beautiful, melancholic, somewhat scary too... Her backgrounds could improve, but they don't really matter, since they are there just to add to the feeling, and not to take your attention from the characters, which are the real protagonists.
   
   I do not like dark art, I don't like horror movies or things creepy, and the sight of blood in a drawing creeps me off. Still, I love Victoria's art. And that's the highest compliment I can pay her.



5. I love Victoria's work. If you like vampires, you will too. It is full of beautifully done art work that has a dark side. I can look at the book over and over again and see things I didn't notice before. Such fine detail!

5 comments about Art Class: A Complete Guide to Painting.

1. Okay book. If you're a beginner you may like it, but it lacks so much that is essential for the beginner. Being an art teacher, the flow of the book really makes sense. It works you from still life all the way up to portraiture. You do however need to know how to draw prior to purchasing this book and start painting. It does not provide you w/excersises for learning the elements of art (for example: form and how to create it through value, line, space, and being able to give the object spatial sense). Otherwise, it is a good beginner reference book in the sense that it'll give you direction if you're trepadatious.
   
   In the back there is a sort of art equipment index explaining types of materials and suggested ways to use them. There is also a small glossary of terms.
   
   At best though, it's a good reference manual for teachers and I'll tell you why. It has breif explinations on materials, just enough to jog your memory (if you haven't used the material in a while). Has a good chronology for a curriculum if you are teaching a full year or 2 consecutive years of a painting and drawing course.
   
   There is no history included, but it does show different approches for the same purpose. Example, people approach going to canvas in different ways: 1. carefully sketching in water soluble pencil, 2. sketching in charcoal, 3. Using a very light wash, 4. no pre-sketching at all. In other words, it gives you multiple methods to achieve the same end--how you work depends on which you'll chose.
   
   Not a bad buy, not a great one either.
   
   You're better off buying "The New Artist's Manual: The Complete Guide to Painting and Drawing Materials and Techniques" by this author. It is this book and "the artist's color manual: ..." rolled into one.



2. Art Class: A Complete Guide to Painting
   by Simon Jennings
   
   This book is one of those for which you could give more than 5 stars. It is one of the most profusely illustrated books on the subject of painting, and these are color illustrations. Nearly every single page has nearly half a dozen or more of the most vibrant, colorful, and well appointed illustrations that I have ever seen.
   
   So what's the downside of the book? There is no downside. This is 192 pages of the most wonderful instruction on the use of painting that I have ever seen. I discovered this while visiting the art galleries and shops in Taos, New Mexico.
   
   The book shows Simon Jennings to be the "general editor" and Sally Bulgin to be the "Consultant Editor" and several other names are included in advisory roles. I don't understand the identifications concerning "authorship" but certainly this is a book to stand out above and beyond the ordinary instruction on painting and the uses of color.
   
   In my reviews of drawing books, I've always warned people of the use of buzz words and gimmick phrases such as "complete-guide-to" as a marketing gimmick. That's because almost no books live up to the promise. "Art Class: A Complete Guide To Painting" is most certainly an exception to this.
   
   "Art Class" is one of those texts that stands so far above the other books on painting that it eclipses the entire field. It is one of those books that is so visually stunning that it is well worth the trip to a book shope to flip through its pages.
   
   I liked the opening paragraphs on page 14, Chapter One, titled "Where Do I Start" where "Art Class" says:
   
   "This book covers many levels of ability, but this page is amed at the absolute beginner rather than the painter whose interests have been focused and techniques honed through years of dedication and experience."
   
   Absolute Beginners! That's who gets the most benefit of this book. It shows all the materials you need to work in water color, oil, acrylic and what you need to work either indoors or out; but the text is so encyclopedic that you are not surprised to learn that the authors also were advised by technical experts from WINDSOR & NEWTON, which is the company that makes fine art paints. This is the most visually compelling art book I have ever seen.
   
   It's all about what you need to know to start working in color. More surprising still is the author's division of the book into three sections, instead of the typical ten to twelve chapters. Even the glossary is done in a unique manner. The page backgrounds are yellow, rather than white, and the outer edge of the glossary pages are trimmed in a beautiful red. This book is entirely designed by people who understand visual beauty and how to bring to life all things visually presented.
   
   "Art Class" lists the basics as these classifications:
   Color, Paints, Diluents, Mediums, Primers & Grounds, Varnish and size, Brushes, Knives and accessories, Palettes, Canvas, Boarrds and panels, Papers, Painting techniques, Pastels, Drawing Equipment. This book is so unlike everything else I have ever seen that it is one of my genuine treasures on the book shelf. If you get a copy, expect it to become "dog-eared" from constant use.
   
   I haven't been so utterly overwhelmed by an art book since I discovered Jack Hamm!



3. This a great book to get someone started painting or as a refresher course for those already painting. Good ideas for getting over the mental blocks artists sometimes encounter.



4. This is a very complete reference for what seems like all you need to know (and then some) about painting. I am not an experienced painter so I was almost a little intimidated at first with all the information presented here. The issue with me though was not the book (which is well organized) but putting the brush to the canvas...

   It's definitely worth the price, often I'll resell a book that I just wasn't "in to" but this is a great reference that covers so much I know I'll have it for a long time to come (I've only owned it for 3 weeks at this point...)




5. This is a remarkable resource -- comprehensive, well-organized and understandable.

   I am not blessed with artistic talent, though I love art and have always wanted to try painting for pleasure. This book is perfect. It is divided into three sections: Where Do I Start, What Should I Paint, and What are the Basics. It begins at the beginning, discussing the choice of medium and theme; the selection, acquisition and care of supplies; and the choice of subject. It then moves on to technique: how to render a three-dimensional object on paper; how to compose a study; how to paint color, pattern and texture; painting space, depth and distance. These instructions are augmented by lots of pictures. You will see the step-by-step way to paint a tree, a face, a still life, a landscape etc. The final section really covers the basics -- mixing colors, types of paints, brushes, accessories, palette layouts, preparing canvases, paper, correcting mistakes, pencils, inks .... Every page is interesting. I learned so much. A glossary and index complete this wonderful resource.

   The writing is clear and the many photos and illustrations are fabulous. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. If you are interested in teaching art or learning to paint, you cannot go wrong.

5 comments about Drawing: A Contemporary Approach.

1. This book was recommended to me by a professional artist. I am just beginning my journey through and delighted to see the exercises which will help me to master the difficult art of drawing.



2. Well written and containing up to date developments in this field. Illustrations are of a good quality. Altogether a valuable text for the teacher as well as the practitioner.



3. As a lecturer at a California University, I have yet to come across a book more resourceful than this.
   It is the best book on drawing, from an educational standpoint, yet written.
   Every college professor in the Arts the world over should have this book in their reference collection.
   Its that good.



4. There are many great books about drawing in print. This book has some of the greatest elements of them all. It includes no-nonsense instruction for drawing exercises that really help people learn to draw well. It includes a lot of examples of student work and work by masters. It has a special focus on the work of contemporary artists, and I think this is one of the things I find most compelling about the book. The appendices are very helpful, especially the one about keeping a sketchbook. A wide range of approaches and media are discussed.

   I used this lovely book as a text for a college-level beginning drawing course when it first came out about 20 years ago. I used it through the second edition of the text, and then switched to another book. After using two different texts and then no text for a while, I am returning to the Betti/Sale text. ...




5. As an educator I use theis book all the time. It's approch towards drawing is excellent to the classroom and for the artist. I tell everyone to make sure they have a copy on the shelf.

5 comments about The Judgment of Paris: The Revolutionary Decade That Gave the World Impressionism.

1. King chronicles the careers of two French artists, Ernest Meissonier and Edouard Manet, during the late 19th century. Meissonier, the darling of the Paris Salon (the organization that could make or break an artist's career during that time), was the most famous and highest paid painter of the day. In contrast, Manet, heralded as the father of the Impressionist movement, struggled with constant rejection by the Salon as well as the critics. Manet's popularity came later in his career and following his death while Meissonier's work has since faded into obscurity. King gives a fascinating look at the politics and history of the turbulent time period. My only criticism: while the book provided some illustrations of the paintings, there could have been more. King went into great detail about the minute details of many paintings, which was wonderful when the painting was illustrated in the book, but a bit frustrating when it was not. All in all, a good read.



2. I loved this book. I just got back from Paris and I am an artist so I felt right at home reading about the art world in Paris over 100 years ago. Nothing changes much in the art world. In 2008 there are exhibitions with so many restrictions and rules, the art is lost in the Museum/gallery politics. The book reads like fiction, it is a bit over researched, but I do feel completley at home visiting the M room. Good job!



3. My husband read this, and passed it along. While I finished the book, I found slightly infuriating: Chapters are short, occasionally the book reads like a guest list at a fancy party and nothing is treated in any kind of depth. To top it al off, there are too few reproductions of the art discussed. In all, a decent view into the rise of Impressionism but, not one with great soul.



4. Author Ross King's "The Judgment of Paris" is a painstaking look at an interesting period in French history when a new political system was born and, more interestingly for the rest of the world, a new approach to art was set before a skeptical public. Both events were accompanied by enormous turbulence and resistance, but both have endured to this day.
   The book's focus on two painters of the time--Ernest Meissonier and Edouard Manet--to chart the progress of change is arguably a little exclusive, but author Ross effectively argues that they are good choices as representatives of the spectrum of extremes present in the decade covered by the story. What was particularly interesting to me about this book were the details of the annual or biennial salons that were make or break for art and artists in the 19th Century. Ross has amassed some amazing details that clarify that process, but also make clear why impressionism finally flowered and flourished in such an important way.
   "The Judgment of Paris" takes a bit of slogging through because of the denseness of its details, however the author's skill in pushing his story along makes for very interesting reading for anyone interested in art or 19th Century European history.



5. This is good book on its own, but a great reference for those who wish to know more about the area. The is so much emphesis on the Impressionist Movement itself that there is very little information about the times and events that made the movement such a revolution. Art historians talk of the Salon, but a laimen may not grasp its importance, which King does. The only regret I have about the book is how little King speaks of The Commune. It was a devestation to the people and city of Paris and again very little is known. King addresses it, but fails to deliever with respect as to how the artists responded to the disaster.

2 comments about Come Look With Me: Exploring Landscape Art With Children (Come Look With Me Series) (Come Look With Me Series).

1. All types of art and artists with questions to start conversation about the piece. Great for the elementary age.



2. I am a docent at an art museum and the goal is to get children develop a love of art. This book is exactly what will assist a child to enjoy art.

5 comments about The Gashlycrumb Tinies.

1. I bought three of these books as gifts for three retiring teachers -- they are so funny. An ABC book of odd outcomes for students. Love them.



2. This book has made me cry with laughter. I work with kids and THEY think it's funny.



3. The Gashleycrumb Tinies is macabre yet hilarious. It's about children meeting untimely absurd demise but with a sense of dark humor. it needs to be taken the way it is meant. It really is quite clever with the wording and causes of death It is done by alphabetical names. examples are S in for Susan who perished of fits, L is for Leo who swallowed some tacks and N is for Neville who died of ennui(boredome). See very clever. By the way I am a 38 year old mother of two and find this hilarious. My kids don't really get it though. Oh well I geuss their sense of humor is not as developed as mine:)



4. Hahahha I actually read this online because its so short... if you want to take a break from the stress of life for 10 minutes its great fun. The illustrations are very well done and the rhymes are genuis! i think my favorite kid is Basil who was assaulted by bears.. \hahhahhahha... that makes me burst into laughter again! seriously, if you like macabre hilarity, take a few minutes off and ENJOY THIS BOOK! (There is no graphic or adult images but the ideas would be very frightening for young children. I say 11+ because theres a girl with an axe in her head and some blood thats cartoonish but gross.)



5. This book is great! No matter how many people tell you how horribly sick it is. Read this book.They only say that because they dont have a sense of humor. So any way read this book! Its both sickining,funny, and tasteful.

2 comments about Savannah Squares A Keepsake Tour of Gardens, Architecture, and Monuments.

1. Although you would think this more of a coffee table book, it is a good read and has some beautiful pictures.



2. Savannah has always been a "southern-charm" city. Some of it's beauty and history has been preserved by the renewal of interest in it's squares, small parks and cemeteries. This book is a perfect companion depicting the charm of this city-so unique in the busy world of today. Not only is the photography superb, but the accompanying writing is great. A great memory boost for someone who has been to Savannah or a precursor for someone preparing to tour the city. I visited in the mid 1960s and was delighted to see it again! Thanks!

No comments about Exiles, Diasporas & Strangers (Annotating Art's Histories: Cross-Cultural Perspectives in the Visual Arts).

No comments about Tile Designs from Portugal/Desenhos Em Azulejos De Portugal.