5 comments about Color Design Workbook: A Real-World Guide to Using Color in Graphic Design.

1. I own dozens of graphic design books and the Color Design Workbook is one of the most useful books I own. I highly recommend it. It not only breaks down the theory of color and how it applies to design, it also gives examples of how color has hindered or helped in real world design projects. The page design is also fabulous...glossy pages with interesting design, yet readable information. Using color incorrectly is one of the most common blunders in graphic design so understanding it is crucial. Note: This book discusses color theory and relationships, not color management. A good color management book is: Practical Color Management: Eddie Tapp on Digital Photography (Eddie Tapp on Digital Photogra)
   
   This book is part of a TERRIFIC series of graphic design books by Rockport. (The series also visually looks great together since the publishers shrewdly designed all the bindings to match and line up together on the shelf.)
   So far there are only 5 (including the Color Design Workbook), but hopefully they will add more books to the very useful series:
   Logo Design Workbook: A Hands-On Guide to Creating Logos
   
   Typography Workbook: A Real-World Guide to Using Type in Graphic Design
   
   Publication Design Workbook
   
   Layout Workbook: A Real-World Guide to Building Pages in Graphic Design



2. I found this book to be extremely helpful in understanding colours and their relationship with design. It's easy to read and has some great examples.



3. Has lots of ideas for color use. Loved the section on the cultural meanings of color. So many interesting things to consider. Has some basic color theory, how to convey your message with color, etc. Very helpful for the graphic designer or visual artist.



4. This book was a good basic book on color. I feel that there are better books out there that go more into color theory and I'm in the process of looking for those. Overall this book is great for beginning graphic design professionals.



5. I bought this book expecting to find guidance on how colors work and how to use them. The book provides this, but not in the way I expected.
   
   If you are looking for:
   - A deep discussion of color theory with specific examples of what works and what does not or
   - Insights from industry about how the choice of colors can affect production costs, choice of material, etc or
   - Information about tools that can help with color selection, matching or proofing,
   DON'T buy this book.
   
   This book is about color palettes only and its approach is to give you lots of examples from the real world, from which *you* must build your own understanding of color. As a survey of the use of color by many well-known designers for clients of all kinds, this book excels. The most valuable parts are not the examples themselves, but the text accompanying them where the designers outline the reasons for their choices. All this is perhaps clear from the title, but I didn't think so.
   
   A severe shortcoming of this book is it provides no examples where a choice of colors failed--for whatever reason.
   
   Since readers have consistently criticized Rockport's use of the word "Workbook" for books in this series, let me suggest a way of looking at it that justifies it. The way I used this book was to go through an example, look at every line, fill, shading or photograph and use the color palette in several ways in some designs I cooked up-- constantly experimenting--until I felt I understood how those colors interacted and changed their overall feel. That's the workbook aspect that totally worked for me so I have no problems with this book being called a "Workbook".
   
   If you regularly read graphic design sites/blogs, you won't find anything new in this book. But if you are starting on the path to understanding color in graphic design, this is a great resource.

5 comments about Vitamin D: New Perspectives in Drawing (Themes).

1. As an artist myself, I have to first be aesthetically attracted to a book before I can look further, and the Vitamin series are truly stunning. In this edition, each of the numerous artists chosen get a two page spread, sometimes four. This spread included a lengthy blurb on the artist and images of their work. All I can do is highly recommend that you look at this book in person before buying it, and I think it will be nearly impossible to turn down after that. Great book to have in your collection!



2. Anyone who would call this art is either lacking an objective sensibility or has some measure of vested interest in the sales of this book. The "drawings" (lol) in this book are fine examples of why mainstream Americans no longer care about the fine arts.
   
   One reviewer actually used the word "refreshing" in describing the contents. Are you kidding me? Refreshing, perhaps, if I had only been exposed to blank pages my entire life.
   
   This is not art. This is the Emperor's New Clothes.



3. Vitamin D is an outstanding publication of drawings from contemporary artists which shows great depth in both subjectivity and theme, the one overwhelming issue seems to be the quality of the reproductions within. Context gives us the reason for this.. in that these are works by CONTEMPORARY artists and as such have not been digitized as throughly as say the often if not OVER reproduced imagery of Leonardo or Michelangelo, so yes some of the reproductions are less stunning however they are more than adequate and what is more important, they are reproduced well enough to spark interest in seeing the original. Artwork can never truly be reproduced, you must experience the original to truly appreciate the pieces. However Vitamin D does what it was designed to, as did it's predecessor Vitamin P, giving a contemporary overview of works and the artists who create them which have yet to be studied. These books are history in the making and that alone gives them more merit than most art publications. This series is more than worth owning and will prove to be volumes you will return to again and again.



4. If you are interested in a wide range of edgy drawings..this book is terrific. It is inspiring, informative and current...not a "how-to" but a survey of all the wonderful and strange drawings being done today.



5. Vitamin D, is complete inside and out. The binding is terrific, the type, the torn paper edges, the layout, everything that went into designing this book was well thought out. Its not only fabulous, but a pleasure to look through. The artists chosen are all exceptionally talented, and each with a unique edge. Nevertheless, all work presented will be a definite point of reference for many many years to come, including the work by my own mentor,and teacher.

4 comments about Drawing for Designers.

1. This book shows ways things are drawn, sculpted, and rendered. It even shows a little about how some things are made. I recommend this book if you want to do in the Industrial Design area.



2. Got this as a text book for one of my daughter's Visual Communications classes, sophomore year in college. She really enjoys it and says that it is one that she will not sell back because it has many things that she will be able to refer back to. A good one for her professional library.



3. A good book of value to budding designers as well as those more advanced. a great reference, well worth a look. tom p.



4. The reason for the 4 stars instead of the 5, is because it's a nice overview book on the process designers go through when creating new designs, but it doesn't really go in depth in terms of sketching techniques or the "how to", in the way I expected it when looking at the title: "Drawing for Designers".
   
   I think this book is great for people new to the design process, first year students for example or people looking to make a career change and want to know more about industrial design, but people with more experience will be left wanting to see more.

5 comments about Vanishing Point: Perspective for Comics from the Ground Up.

1. I thought I had a fairly good handle on perspective drawing, but this book goes into significantly more depth. (Pun intended.) It provides exciting options for approaching a piece of art beyond the ordinary, and many little tips and tricks on solving perspective problems. Even though it is themed towards comic and fantasy art, I would recommend it to any artist who wants to have a greater understanding of perspective, and more tricks up their sleeve for producing believable and emotionally impactful scenes.



2. This book is good and clear for beginners and the more advanced. It touches some topics I haven't learned at art school. Definitely a book I will be using frequently. All other books talk about the same vanishing points.
   The practical examples in this book will help the student grasp the subject quickly. Love it!



3. I highly recommend this book. It is a simple read with simple diagrams and explanations on how to draw in perspective. i have recommended its title in other reviews i wrote. I think you will be very pleased with this book if you want to see, read and practice from a book.



4. I'm an artist by hobby and have read 8 books on perspective but this one is exceptional. It's not just a book for comic artists but a great book for learning perspective. I was surprised when I received it. It covers topics that I have not seen covered in any other perspective book I've read. Such as, curvilinear perspective. It covers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 point perspective. I never saw any other coverage of 4 and 5 pt perspective before. Great book for any artist, comic or not and great illustrations. A+



5. When I was able to understand a couple techniques just by LOOKING at the illustrations in this book I knew this perspective book was a keeper! Most of the written examples is concise and clear. Another book I would recommend is How To Draw MANGA: Putting Things in Perspective.

2 comments about Art History, Vol. 1, 3rd Edition.

1. This textbook was so well written and put together, that I'm going to take the course that deals with the second volume. The pictures of artwork were amazing.



2. Good book with a lot of images and art knowledge. Good for reading to understanding more about art.

5 comments about Drawing for Dummies.

1. Drawing for Dummies was a gift for my nephew, who likes to draw comic chacters.As you might expect, they are all out of proportion and child-like.He is a teenager now and is looking for some guidance to improve his drawing. When I first received this book, I thumbed through it and read the chapter headings. I'm sure he will profit from this book. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.
   A.R.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   



2. Well, I really wanted to learn how to draw well, so I picked this up. The first few chapters really help, but then it became was to hard for a beginning artist. Some of the stuff she wants you to draw is insane, and I just gave up on this book. If you want a good drawing book for beginners, don't look at this one.



3. I like this book on some levels. On other levels...erm...there are problems. I agree that there are a lot of cartoony drawings, as well as some more realistic ones where she seemed to go through a looong period of giving people strange looking round clown type noses. The effect is off putting...not charming as I think was hoped.
   She also uses what I think is a lot of inappropriate hatching..making her subjects sometimes seem kind of...hairy looking.
   But these are all style issues...I really can't find fault with her technical ability. In fact, many drawings are beautiful.
   As for blending, she feels it is more difficult to do well , and that's why she doesn't really approach it here. On her website she states more or less that to blend or not should be up to the individual artist and gives a reasonable tutorial on blending correctly.
   Her examples are often not illustrated enough...and written instructions seem hurried, without details on how to do what she is talking about.
   Also the pics in the examples are far too small...
   But this is a good book as far as being approachable goes.
   It gives good solid info, and does cover many subjects.
   One book is rarely definitive in any endeavor one tries to learn...and often you can't cover everything in one book.
   Publishers sometimes have to think about the larger market and what it will pay for.As far as we know she may have a limit on how many words and images she can use!
   These books are designed to be inexpensive and general.
   Given that fact, I think this particular "Dummie" book, does pretty well.



4. This is a nice basic drawing book. This book teaches you how to do tonal drawings by crosshatching. She doesn't smudge her drawings to save time and you can tell by the finished piece. This would be good practice for someone interested in printmaking.



5. this is a good book for starting to learn to draw. it has the basic thing you need to know. not very pretty just the facts.

5 comments about Wabi-Sabi: for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers.

1. It was not as good as I expected. I would not pay full price for it again, in fact, it did not stay in my collection but was bought by a used bookstore. If you are interested in a philosophical or spiritual aspect of art or writing, look elsewhere. While it is a lovely looking book, the information could have been found online for free. I would have been happier with a small book of Haiku.



2. This book has been very important for me in its ability to explain something that is hardly explainable - more to suggest the essence of Wabi Sabi and let the reader take it the rest of the way. Particularly in the second half of this slender book does the nature of Wabi Sabi come to life. It is a book I will continue to read on occasion, and it sits next to my Tao te Ching ready to be accessed at any time.



3. A good introduction to the history and basic concepts of Wabi-Sabi. It has good examples that are relevant to our culture and lifestyle. I wish it had better photos. But overall I recommend it.



4. This was a great intro to the ideas of wabi sabi. the use of modern art as a reference point is a very constructive way to describe "what is" and "what is not" wabi sabi. I definitely recommend this book for any artist or creative mind.



5. This is a small book, but takes awhile to appreciate and process. I am therefore still reading it, but am glad I bought it. It was highly recommended by a photography instructor - with specific recommendations on this author since there are many books out with this title.

2 comments about Mechanika: Creating the Art of Science Fiction with Doug Chiang.

1. This is a rare example of a production design book that doesn't disappoint. It has a "how to" focus that is actually useful as well. Now the reader will know some important details about how Doug Chiang achieves his unique artistic style. For those of us who run to the store to buy various "Art of" books about futuristic production design, this one is a treat.



2. I've just finished reading this book, and I can confidently state that it is one of the best books available pertaining to the subject of creating science fiction art.
   
   The author does an excellent job explaining both the technical aspects of the drawings, but also how he goes about the design process. There are dozens of designs explored, each emphasizing either a different approach or a different subject in a step-by-step manner.
   
   There are other books of this nature available, but they are generally not as well thought out or organized as Mechanika. It seems like there was a real effort put into this book towards covering a wide variety of subjects in a detailed manner, and it really shows. The little tips sprinkled throughout the book make it invaluable.
   
   This book should age well with the viewer, and long after all of the tips and techniques have been absorbed I imagine it will still be an excellent source of inspiration to thumb through from time to time.

5 comments about Spectrum Presents: Frank Frazetta: Rough Work (Spectrum Presents).

1. If you already have Frazzeta Journals this is more of the same, but for a new addition it is a nice compilation



2. I like this book for a reference but wish there was a little more to it as far as steps and processes.



3. This is mostly a book for die-hard fans of the genre and artist, I think. It is small in dimension, but very much something you will study over and over. It makes you understand the genius of Frazetta and his creative process. While intimidating, it feels somehow more approachable to do what you do as an artist. I regret that they canceled publication of the other Frazetta book expected last year.
   
   This is a fantastic value for the price. A great tribute to the process and body of work. There is a sense of "cleaning out the attic" to the recent push of Frazetta, admittedly, as if to continue the legacy after his retirement. This is, however, only what it needs to be, and doesn't seem like the selling of fingernail clippings [snort] that will follow the passing of great influences like him historically in writting, music and art. I at least hope we'll not get a collection of cocktail napkin doodles at some point.



4. There's not much to add to the positive reviews here. The insights this book offers into the creative process are considerable: glimpsing the underpinnings of some of Frazetta's great works is nothing short of a revelation.



5. A selection of rarely seen rough paintings and sketches from the "Master" Frazetta.
   The book isn't large, but it's a nice little one to have if you are interested into a new approach at Frazetta's art.

5 comments about Secrets to Drawing Realistic Faces.

1. Wonderful instructional book on teaching how to draw. Beautiful photos, and great illustrations. I would HIGHLY reccomend this book to those trying to learn to draw!



2. Not recommended if you are inexperienced at drawing 101. It will lead to total frustration! I am not finding what there is to substantiate saying this is a great book. Fortunately I have another instructional book that teaches about proper proportion from the beginning. I am planning to take a drawing course and had hopes of getting a head start (no pun intended), but this book does nothing to clarify issues about the basics. The drawings in the book are all extremely professional, well-executed and very un-basic. So I recommend it for people who are already drawing extremely well and are maybe even semi-professionals. However, since I am not that far along and am no judge of that, maybe it doesn't go that far. I'm sitting here right now feeling extremely discouraged.



3. This book (as all the books by Carrie) are hands down my favorite drawing books! I am a self-taught artist. Well, almost. I took ONE course at a Community College and it was a complete waste of time, as you're pretty much on your own there. Carrie taught me far more in her book and at a much more reasonable cost!!! She simplifies things without making them boring in the least and has a great sense of humor to boot! I'd give this more stars if I could. Thanks Carrie!



4. I purchased this book about three years ago, and in two nights I was drawing faces like a pro. It reads so simple and gives easy tips on how to's. it tells you the tools you need to measure for proper proportions and of course sample before and after drawings made from everyday people from young children to adults. the results were amazing. If I remember correctly the author was a sketch artist for the police stations. Just by a verbal description you will learn how to draw.



5. Carry Stewart Parks is a professional in the field of instruction and forensic illustration. She manages to come down to the level of her audience to explain how to create an interpretable likeness of the face. Whether you're a beginner or a professional, the tips she conveys within this book are a great for any age.