4 comments about Botanical Illustration Course: With the Eden Project.

1. This book emphasizes how to produce botanical paintings, and it really succeeds there, with a profusion of color illustrations and explanations of color handling. There are also about 20 pages on pencil drawing.
   One thing I do object to is the total absence of pen and ink techniques. This book is described as the best and most complete course in botanical illustration ever produced, and yet this cannot be true without pen and ink techniques. The vast majority of botanical illustration - as opposed to botanical art - is published as black and white. (I am a published botanical illustrator, all of the publishers I worked with wanted ink illustrations, not pencil). If someone is hoping to use this book to help start their career, it is lacking. But if you are looking to start painting botanicals as I am, it is great.



2. Everything the first 2 reviewers stated is so very, very true. The only comments I can add are superlatives to what has already been written.Garden Eden : Masterpieces of Botanical Book Illustration



3. This book is a wonderous compilation of educational guidelines on producing artwork and properly representing the beauty and complexity of plants using pencil and watercolor media. It also could pass as a coffee table book as the images are incredible. I was immediately struck at the techniques covered as every art book should - recommendation on watercolor/paper/pencils to use, other tools needed, shading & highlighting, importance of representing the tiniest details, color development (e.g. how to make the right green - I loved that part), depth and so much more. In many ways I was reminded of my university art classes I took many years ago, but this book covers so much more than I garnered through formal education. Those that purchase the book for learning how to bring plants to life on paper or canvas should follow the educational component of the book from the beginning to the end in order to gain the most on how to illustrate plants. By following this method, each artist will definitely get what this book offers - and makes one wish they could take part of the art classes taught at the Eden Project in Cornwall, UK. I definitely wish I could do so!



4. This is an in depth clear book about the process of botanical illustration. Well written and great pictures. Recommend highly!

5 comments about The New Acrylics: Complete Guide to the New Generation of Acrylic Paints.

1. This book is a top-pro product. Its pictures inside are well enough to be a piece of art. Very useful, helpful, and instructive.



2. I LOVE THIS BOOK! I've already used many of the new techniques and loved the results. Some of the products needed for the techniques in this book can be hard to come by in stores, so I'm having to order online. It is a very new approach to acrylics that open up a new world! I think this is a must have. It also teaches you things about new products that are really great that I cant wait to use. It is worth every penny. And the book isn't one of those art books that is dry and or thinks you are stupid. It covers what you need to know quickly and with interesting information. It has many many many pictures. Covers techniques, new materials, and much more. again get this book!



3. This is an easy to follow guide to acrylic paints, mediums and techniques. It cleared up so much confusion I had about mediums, gels, pastes, glazes and finishes. And it's beautifully illustrated with great color photos that I found to be extremely inspirational. I can't wait to get started practicing some of these techniques in my paintings and mixed media pieces.



4. This is comprehensive - and beautiful to look at. The best acrylics book I have found. I also have "Acrylic Revolution", (also fabulous). But this book has the edge in as much as it is not focused on a particular brand of acrylics. That said I would recommend owning both!



5. I borrowed this book at library thinking it would tell me how to mix my acrylic colors, how to do underpainting, etc. However it is totally a technical book on how acrylic paints are made and such, not useful to a person wanting to just learn to paint pictures! I also tried the book "Acrylic Revolution" which was interesting if I wanted dozens of different ways to use acrylics other than painting a picture--returned that book. Still looking, am open to suggestions.

5 comments about Stitched Collage: Creative Effects on Paper and Fabric.

1. This is the first of Sherrill's books that has left me wanting more. What's there is great there just isn't enough... I have 3 of her books now and this is the first one to disappoint me.



2. What a disappointment!!!!... nothing really new or innovative. I am avid Sherrill fan and have all her books but I will think twice before just running off to buy her next book. I really felt this was a great waste of my money.



3. I am, first of all, stunned at the vitriolic attitudes of some of the reviewers. I am relativly new to collage and fabric, but have been a painter and sculptor for many years. All of her books have a place in my library and have always been the first "go to" references for me. Having not embroidered for a while, her simple, approaches were instant reminders for me. She is always so clear and exciting at the same time and gets me going for it without fear. She is so resoursful with her tools and has expanded my imagination and helped me overcome my fear of the sewing machine! Kudos to a talented spirit with a joyfull attitude!!!! Just listen to your very special self.



4. I hoped Sherrill would give us another book..and it was worth the wait. As always...her work is drenched in gorgeous color!!! It is very concise...which is helpful for someone like me who doesn't have enough extra time to use a larger format instruction book. The Gallery portion was very inspiring...that's what I need to get motivated...lots of smaller project ideas that I could actually complete! Enjoy!!!



5. Upon reading the reviews for Sherrill Kahn's latest book Stitched Collage ,I strongly disagree with the negative reviews. This book joyfully showcases Sherrill's signature style and color sense. There was a lot of very useful information that I as a long-time fiber/mixed media artist haven't seen in such a comprehensive way as this book offers. Since when does a book have to be more than 32 pages? If the material and info is succinct as it is in Sherrill's book, you don't need more pages. Most of the books out there have way too much information that is "fill" and quite confusing. So to those of you who were unecessarily negative,,,,get into another art form , and to those of us that are praising the book,,,,,,,,,congratulations to us for having "great taste", Sincerely,
   Lynne Sward,,,,,,,,,,Virginia Beach, Virginia

3 comments about 79 Short Essays on Design.

1. But design is about everything. So do yourself a favor: be ready for anything."
   
   Many of Michael Bierut's 79 essays here appeared online or in other collections. The essays cover an enormous range of topics and touch on an incredible number of people.
   
   Each essay is set in a different typeface, ranging in age from Bembo, designed in 1495, to Flama, created in 2006. Every experienced reader is familiar with the colophones at the end of many books, and many of us recognize Helvetica, Bodoni, Arial, Roman and Times New Roman. At least one font stars in a movie; Helvetica "is a feature-length independent film about typography, graphic design and global visual culture," and has been well received by Amazon reviewers. (Virginia Postrel reviewed the book for "The Atlantic" focusing on fonts, and has a very interesting discussion with the director, Gary Hustwit, of "Helvetica" on the Atlantic website.)
   
   Bierut is a senior critic in graphic designs at the Yale School of Art. He is a co-founder of the Design Observer blog. He comments about graphic design in everyday life on the blog and on Public Radio International's "Studio 360." These stand alone essays aren't just about design. He muses on Betty Boop, the AT-T/SBC communications merger, Nabokov's "Pale Fire", the "National Lampoon", the redesigned Food Pyramid, the paper clip, the ClearRx pill bottle, how to become famous and how to deal with clients. Twyla Tharp and ITC Garamond. Massimo Vignelli and the cover of The Catcher in the Rye.
   
   Throughout these essays, Bierut's intelligence and experience in design shine through. Taken in small doses so that I could reflect on the richness here, I found these essays fascinating. Here's a short extract to illustrate my point:
   
   "It's not hard to see why innovation is becoming the design world's favorite euphemism. Design sounds cosmetic and ephemeral; innovation sounds energetic and essential. Design conjures images of androgynous figures in black turtlenecks wielding clove cigarettes; innovators are forthright fellows with their shirtsleeves rolled up, covering whiteboards with vigorous magicmarkered diagrams, arrows pointing to words like 'Results!' But best of all, the cult of innovation neatly sidesteps the problem that has befuddled the business case for design from the beginning. Thomas Watson, Jr.'s famous dictum 'good design is good business' implies that there's good design and there's bad design; what he doesn't reveal is how to reliably tell one from the other. Neither has anyone else. It's taken for granted that innovation, however, is always good."



2. These are basically posts from this guy's blog. It's fairly interesting, but I had a hard time reading it straight through.



3. Michael Beirut has collected many of the essays he has written for the Design Observer, a blog he founded with other designers with a focus on graphic design practice and process.
   
   Michael's seasoned perspective on the education of young designers, the events and experiences he turned to his advantage as a young person are enlightening and entertaining. He all but pleads to get young designers to recognize that design revolves around life, rather than the other way around. This book may present a challenge for someone not familiar with the personalities, and particularities of graphic design's inner workings. It is a fascinating and well written perspective on the professional's life, which is notable in that Michael is highly successful designer and a partner in the estimable multinatiional design firm, Pentagram.

5 comments about Traditional Oil Painting: Advanced Techniques and Concepts from the Renaissance to the Present.

1. I can't say enough good things about this book. It goes into great detail about so many important things. This book should be in every artists library.



2. My impression is based on looking at the pictures on the author's web site. They are wooden and uninspired. He is technically adept in some respects, but altogether is work is not better than that of many art school students. Technique does not make a picture speak. Why even bother with the book?



3. This is not a "how-to" book; it is an excellent reference book to keep within reach when you are working. The older books are so obscure, so difficult to try to understand (I am thinking of the Doerner book in particular) and based on speculation about the techniques and materials used by the masters of the past. Mr. Elliott has kept abreast of discoveries by conservators in the major museums using the most up to date, sophisticated technology; as well as the continuous testing of other experts in various fields (Paint manufacturers) and the ASTM. That is why he can warn about using zinc white; how and when to use the umbers; how to organize your pigments and use them according to their innate characteristics; the safe support to use for your painting; why some paintings from the '70s are falling off the canvas, etc. Again, it is an invaluable reference tool. I think other reviewers have been thinking of it more in terms of a how-to book, rather than as nuts-and-bolts information to bring to your own artwork.



4. The book is quite well written with several excellent tips for advanced oil painters and superb illustrations. The author is modest and knowledgeable, sharing insights about the mysteries of painting as well as several practical solutions to composition questions and palette references.



5. I, have been wanting to purchase Virgil Elliott's Traditional Oil Painting for some time... and I must say,,,it is one of the finest teaching books that I have ever read..Starting to paint later on in my life,,,words cannot express how glad I am that I bought it...It is helping me sooo very much,,,What a Master teacher he is...I highly recomend it to anyone even to those who have been painting for many many years...
   Betty Jane Covington

5 comments about The Urban Treasure Hunter: A Practical Handbook for Beginners.

1. No matter what your treasure, be it coins, bottles, or somethisg else, this book has great tips on where and how to find it. I originally bought a copy for my son and was so impressed that I bought another copy for myself.



2. I am just beginning my hobby with a metal detector. I purchased several books on treasure hunting and this is by far the best. It has a broad range of extremely useful information. By all means start with this book if you too are a beginner. Most of the other books I bought had a lot of fluff. This book has a ton of useful information and guidance.



3. This book is an invaluable resource for the beginner and even the intermediate detectorist. It has filled me with new ideas of where and how to search for lost valuables and coins. The tidbits on history and archeology were most interesting.



4. This book has a lot of information about treasures all over the country. Tells you where to look, how to go about hunting and what equipment you need and what to do when you find your treasures.



5. I was looking for a book on using a metal detector. This was not it.

5 comments about Spectrum 14: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art (Spectrum (Underwood Books)).

1. You can't lose with Spectrum editions. They are all awesome and inspiring to anyone who loves art. Collect'em all and enjoy the art when ever your in the mood. I've browsed through each one several times and find something inspiring every time. Priceless...



2. I don't have the others nearby to judge from, but 14 seems thicker than previous installments. This one is paperback, and as usual, the color and print quality are good. Unfortunately, also as usual, cramming three or four pictures on a single page means that many are too small for you to really enjoy the details. Still, if you're a fan of fantasy and sci-fi art, I know of no better yearly collection of some of the best stuff out there.



3. I have purchased the last five issues of Spectrum and enjoyed this almost as much as Spectrum 12. I have just started puchasing the re-issued original issues and can say that Spectrum 1 may have fewer pages but still is well worth the money. I find myself looking online for the artists that impress me. I just wish there was more information supplied on the art shown. Overall, I would definitely recommend Spectrum 14.



4. This is my second purchase of spectrum books. 13 was the first one I brought. All I can say is this is one of the most stunning art books I have ever owned...that and after going through this one I may have to pick up all the other books. Every page is full of beautiful work from a wide arrange of different styles. I can't say how many times this book has saved me when It came down to me trying to complete a illustration. It constantly inspires me and makes me want to pick up a paintbrush or any drawing tool for that matter and create.
   
   Spectrum deserves all the praise in the world for the great effort that they put into all these books. To top that off most standard art books like this go for itleast double the cost. Love these books!



5. Like Santa Claus, Spectrum only comes around once per year and is always highly anticipated. This annual collection of the world's best contemporary fantasy and Sci-fi art is always a favorite not only due to its sheer size and beautiful production, but also because of its diversity in scope. Spectrum presents the best art from the fields of books, comics, advertising, editorial, concept, and even sculpture into each year's volume.
   
   As always, the book begins with a look at the year in review and the trends in contemporary fantasy art before getting into the opening category of advertising art and presenting the first of its gold and silver annual awards to the best in each category. This year's gold winner in the advertising category went to James Jean for his Retro-hip "Spacerace 2020" painting for Nike. This gorgeous pop-art piece is a tribute to Sci-Fi imagery of the `40s and `50s.
   
   I'm not sure how they could have picked a winner in the book category as there are so many outstanding pieces. While Jon Foster's winning painting for Night Shade books was very good, Luis Royo's offering for his graphic novel, "Dark Labyrinth". Adam Hughes took home the Gold Award in the Comics category for his depiction of the sleek and sexy Scarlet Witch from Upper Deck. As a long-time comic book fan I love seeing the industry's artists getting their just due as the outstanding artists that they are. Other standouts included Gary Giannni's standout art from the Prince Valiant comic strip that is in the best tradition of Hal Foster, and Charles Vess/Mike Kaluta's work from the Vertigo Comics series "1001 Nights of Snowfall".
   
   One of the categories I look forward to most each year is the dimensional chapter featuring the year's best sculptures and models and this year was certainly no disappointment. A. Brent Armstrongs mammoth 54" tall piece featuring King Kong atop the Empire State Building is simply breathtaking! The Alex Ross designed Superman resin sculpt by artist Karen Palinko features the distinctive look of Ross as Clark Kent rips open his shirt to reveal Superman's legendary logo. Shawn Nagle's "Tarzan and the Golden Lion" based on art by longtime Tarzan illustrator, J. Allen St. John, is another winner.
   
   Spectrum never fails to deliver a little something for everyone's taste and Spectrum volume 14 may be the best edition yet. Grade A.

5 comments about Idea Index: Graphic Effects and Typographic Treatments.

1. 
   
   You may be a design superstar, but you need this. If not now, you will eventually and it will be at 2am in the morning and 4 Red Bulls shy of an 8am deadline when you realize you should have had it, while all the local bookstores are closed and the one person awake that you know owns it lives one hour away, but your car is out of gas due to the money you're not making from the ideas you're not creating from the Idea Index you don't own and anyone else you think may own it is sleeping or competing for the same work and laughing at your naivety because they know they are going to win the job and raise their arms in ecstatic passion, kissing the boss's butt and laughing with an evil smiling scowl in a moment of unfair glory you are not a part of. Invest in saving your tail from that moment.
   
   The greatest designers and artists will tell you they don't always just "make it appear", but go to other sources for inspiration. Even if you don't think you need it, you need it just to give you a fresh perspective at times.
   
   I can't tell you the number of times this little idea factory will save your tail during a mind block! It has saved me many times and probably has resulted in thousands of dollars worth of design work won due to the ideas generated from it during a blank out. Just that alone should be enough to convince you to get it.
   
   This durable, vinyl covered gemlette is geared toward graphic design folks and is divided into two sections:
   
   1. Graphic Effects:
   2. Typographic Treatments
   
   What I really like about the Idea Index is that amongst its 300+ ideas, you will find multiple versions of each individual idea per page, not just one little instance. Also, the ideas use varying techniques, not just what the author may be predisposed to. The ideas are indeed simple in many cases and that is enough to spark that one little idea that will build and build, compounding the ideas until you have just thrown your hands over your head in ecstatic excitement over the design award you just won, after making all that money from that job you wrested from the hands of the other guy 4 Red Bulls shy of an 8am meeting at 2am who doesn't own this book. Uhh . . .
   
   Save yourself the drama. Just get it, my brain hurts . . . from all the ideas this book creates.



2. This is a great little source of ideas to keep in your back pocket. It is good to flip through when you need to work past a creative blcok.



3. I was happy to find this little book. It has two main sections, one for graphics and one for type treatments. In each section are several ideas explained in both words and visuals. There isn't anything ground breaking here. But it's awesome because there are so many ideas and approaches tightly packed in a small book. So when my brain is dead and and I need to pull out of my tunnel vision...it's there for me.



4. Sometimes I find myself a little stuck on projects but flipping through this book always gets me back on track. Just as he says it is useful tool to "get ideas stirring or later on, expand a page or two of thumbnail sketches." The graphical examples used in the book aren't finished, polished pieces but they are great illustrations of how to expand your ideas and speed the creative process.



5. Another book that is definately a "must buy", especially if you're a logo designer.Funny thing is, the publisher has released another book that is especially focused on logos named "logo index" but i find this "idea index" to be a hundred times more useful when it comes to logos.
   
   So what kind of book exactly is it ?
   
   It's a book about design principles.In other words, the book consists of hundreds of instructions, guides and examples of ways to apply certain design principles.Every principle is illustrated with one or more examples, most of them being logos.While many of the principles do not reinvent the wheel, it's *the* book to have handy when having a "designer's block" staring at a white sheet of paper not knowing where to begin or just when you're looking for ideas to start.
   
   What makes this book so much more valuable than any of these logo collection books is that its focus is on principles, not nice logo examples only.In other words, this book helps you to develop your *own* ideas instead of seduce you into copying a logo you found in one of the collection books.
   
   It also does apply for not only logos but anything where good graphic design principles are asked for.It's a real workbook just as Cabarga's book "Logo Font & Lettering Bible" is (which i highly recommend as well) and i would not want to be without it.

3 comments about Megaman Zero Official Complete Works.

1. I am a fan of the Megaman Zero series. I love the hardcore gameplay and rating system and when I read about this book last year and saw it was sold out I was sadden but I kept checking to see if it restocked. Now after such a long, LONG time it is back and my goodness, I wasn't going to miss out a second time. This is a great book for the fans of the series. The art is what took me into the game as well, and there is TON of that in here. I love the reflective cover of the book and the interviews as well inside. If your a fan of the series, don't pass this up, a great buy!



2. This is a great book filled with tons of art, a nice amount of concept art never seen before(like phantom's second form which wasn't used in-game). My only complaint is the way the last sentence on Pg. 169 is left off "Since we had left the first game with such an open ending, I think we managed to pull of the...", I assume he was going to say sequel so I left it at that. Aside from that small flaw, which might not actually be a flaw and might just be what he had exactly said considering it's a translated interview, the book is great. I'd recommend it to anyone who loves Megaman Zero or great art.



3. After so many moons of waiting and waiting for this book to come out it is finally here! To put into perspective how long I've been waiting for this book to come out I believe that the first pre-order I put with Amazon.com was on February 20th, 2007. That's over a year ago! I can safely say that this book delivers on all fronts and is well worth the wait.
   
   This book is 176 pages of filled with great art and information about the Megaman Zero Series. It provides inside information on the characters of the series as well as how some came about and more information about them that might not necessarily have been included in the games. It even provides great insight into characters that were cut from the final product of said series. Great art, great insight into the series and it's creators, what more could you ask for?
   
   There are actually two things that I could ask for and those come in the forms of errors. On page 169 leading into page 170 there is a sentence that seems to have been cut off. "Since we had left the first game with such an open ending, I think we manage to pull of the..." Pull what off? Pull of the correct way to open the second game? Pull of the best way to start the second game? What is it? As soon as you hit page 170 a new question is asked and the previous sentence is never finished.
   
   The second error comes in on page 153; there is a picture that was reused from page 152. The picture in question fits perfectly in 152 but not in 153 which a different scene is playing out entirely. You're reading scene after scene then you stop abruptly at this scene that doesn't even belong there!
   
   These two errors make me feel a bit disappointed in the book. For a book that was often delayed as this I feel like the book should have no errors in it what-so-ever. Very disappointing indeed.
   
   Still this book makes a great accompaniment to the video game series overall with beautiful artwork and a better insight into the creation and the things that were created in the game. If you love the Megaman Zero series then you'll love this book.

5 comments about Altered Curiosities: Assemblage Techniques and Projects.

1. Altered Curiosities: Assemblage Techniques and Projects
   
   I have this book on my coffee table so that I am reminded to look at it many times a week. I am now collecting the odd pieces I come across in a day and am enjoying seeking out that "special object" at garage sales for my new art project(s). The book provides great ideas and direction to give you that creative push into found art work.



2. A good book if you are interested in making jewellery, not so much for the artist really, but some beautiful images. The techniques are quite complicated and you'll need a lot of things to buy to achieve what the book shows you, but hey, if you're into that type of thing, go for it.... I guess the title isn't really that clear, perhaps should really have referred to jewellery making...........



3. "Creepy cover" was mentioned by one reviewer and yet I found the cover the major reason for my interest in the book. I have had this book for some time and consider it a favorite in many ways. I love the charm of how each project is layed out on the page (e.g. the SECRET INGREDIENTS design marker for each project), GREAT step-by-step images following the descriptions on how to proceed for each project, the use of many objects already laying around the house that are given a "new" life through various applications and transformations of the various projects or techniques described, and the best reason are the numerous artist's descriptions for each project and sections elaborating reasoning behind her design process. I particularly enjoy the "Adorn Yourself: Jewelry with a Story" commentary. These sections are true motivators for me and often crack my periods of artist blahs when I don't feel an ounce of creativity flowing through me. When I read a few of these sections in Wynn's book, my mind begins to whir! The techniques are great in gaining confidence for creating your own designs; however, I do have to say that I absolutely love the octopus necklace design. I made my own, quite a bit different than the author's but with enough flair to see where I got my idea from. I think others will enjoy this book for a variety of reasons - the quaintness of many projects, the bizarreness of others, the sound techniques (with a few minor quirks that may be remedied by an revised edition down the road, I've heard), and most importantly, the motivation provided by the author in a multitude of ways throughout the book. Use this book for many reasons - reference, guide, motivation, resource, etc. It is definitely in my top five of multi-media artwork books available. Enjoy!



4. I am a working artist and am currently exploring collage and assemblage as an alternate form of expression. I bought this book based on the cover. I found the doll's head intriguing and hoped to find other projects in that same vein. While the book includes detailed instructions for a variety of assemblage projects, I found it bordered on being a "craft" book. Many of the projects include instructions for metal work, which I am not interested in. The author also has several projects that are shrine-like in character. And sadly, there were no other "doll" projects, except if you count using doll arms to make jewelry. I ended up giving this book to a friend of mine who teaches assemblage at art school.



5. I bought this book along with another book on collage assemblage. I read the other book first and found this one not as interesting a read but it does have some good assemblage details that the other book did not have.