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.

5 comments about Abstract and ColourTechniques in Painting.

1. I really found this to be the most helpful book on creating abstract art that I've found yet. Plus, there are many vivid and inspiring examples.



2. As an 'emerging' artist and someone who is only starting to try more abstract and different ways of painting I found this book stimulated my thinking. I have found that looking at painting from a different perspective has improved my end results. This book is one I can read many times to push me to try something different.



3. This is not a 'how to' book so much as a 'make you want to' book. Packed with juicy, colourful images it's sure to make any artist feeling stuck or bored want to grab some paint and paper and get going again. I think this book is a useful addition to any artist's bookcase, whatever their preferred style or medium.



4. When I first viewed this book something within me leapt. I had not been artistically motivated for some time but reading this book has given me a direction. I have so enjoyed this book. It's informative and inspiring. I'm thrilled to have found it and very glad I purchased it.



5. I have to admit to being a fan of Claire Harrigan's work and also a frustrated artist. This book isn't a step by step copy your own 'semi-abstract'. There aren't chapters with lists of materials and colours like the bog standard how to books. The chapters are more like little essays and descriptions of how the artist works plus thoughts on colour, media abstraction etc. These are not dry pages however or difficult to get through as they are punctuated by numerous, glorious colour paintings to inspire any artist - just looking at the pictures makes me want to get out my tubes of paint. Take a look at some of the pages you won't be disappointed - I love the book so much I have two copies - however I am a colour junkie!

5 comments about The Philosophy of Andy Warhol : (From A to B and Back Again).

1. I recently had lunch at the Andy Warhol museum in Pittsburgh PA from where I purchased this book. With me was a very intellectual Indian guy who hadn't heard of Warhol nor was he familiar with his work. He wanted to understand who this person was and understand his significance.
   
   Without thinking much about it, I explained that Warhol was a central figure in the pop art scene who made the spirit of art--the ability to see everyday things in a different light and from multiple perspectives--available to the common man. How was it that I knew this? It wasn't any remarkable brilliance on my part, rather I would credit the ability of Andy Warhol to make a philosophical statement purely on the basis of his art. That an artistically untrained person such as myself could get this is a reflection of Andy Warhol's genius.
   
   Andy Warhol made the living essense of art available to the common man by showing him the beauty of popular culture.
   
   Warhol is an iconic American figure and we should really appreciate this fact. His appreciation of blue jeans, ballpark hot dogs, a Coke and yes obviously Campbells soup is revolutionary in that no one else at that time, save a happy go lucky American could appreciate that. In that vein, what is truly American about Warhol's art is that it is divorced from any specific tradition, thus apart from any cultural phenomenon and so it stands as an inspiration to see that commercialization as the American way has indeed an equalizing power unparalleled by any political or philosophical system. I do believe that Warhol appreciated this fact and there are many other unique insights to the American experience that support this point of view.
   
   The book itself is loosely based on categories of human interest...Love, Fame, Work, Time, Death etc. Within these chapters, Warhol observes from his experience and those of his acquaintences simple ideas that put the world into perspective for him. I find his approach to be existential in that he simply observes in journalistic fashion the effects of lifes experiences and the results to his thinking.
   
   The tone is conversational and you get the impression from the narrative that you are witnessing some spectacle and hearing Warhol's commentary and this makes the book very easy to read. It is not pretentious or pompous, rather there is an innocence and naivete to Warhol that comes through.
   
   There are more than a few gems, one the most important the paradoxical aspects of life in terms of success. I find it extraordinary that he felt that good business was an art as very few seem to appreciate this fact.It seems that Warhol's commercial motivations for art gave rise to the best work produced by him. Though I would not be quick to dismiss him as an artistic prostitute.
   
   A worthwhile read for anyone who is constantly on the lookout for evidence that the American experiment has noteworthy contributions towards social development.



2. Andy Warhol is known for throughing america back on its face. He's way of thinking is exuberant and unusual. The book made me see things from an angle i never thought to look from. As a fan of, not only the work, of Andy Warhol this book satisfied my wish to come a little closer from understanding his brilliant mind. One of my favorite books.



3. According to page 208 of the Warhol Biography 'Holy Terror; Andy Warhol Close Up' by Bob Colacello (1990), Warhol delegated the actual writing of the book to Colacello and Pat Hackett. Colacello wrote the first draft and Hackett wrote the version that was published. Warhol's contribution was to set up the deal, offer a few suggestions and one-liners, and read the finished pages before they were sent off to the publisher.
   
   If a silkscreen created by Warhol's assistants (carefully aping his art style) but signed by Warhol is still "authentic," does that mean an autobiography written by Warhol's assistants (carefully aping his speaking style) but credited to Warhol on the cover is still an "authentic" autobiography?



4. I used to think that Andy Warhol was not a real artist, only a great self promoter. This book, written in his own words, proved my prejudice to be completely wrong and uncalled for. Much of what we encounter today in popular culture was forecasted in this book by Warhol. If only the best economists could even be 10 percent as right about their forecasts!



5. I had a great buying experience. The book was in mint condition and came within a reasonable time.

2 comments about Self Portrait in a Velvet Dress: The Fashion of Frida Kahlo.

1. Magnífica obra que muestra con fotografías y lúcidos textos las obsesiones de una de las artistas más importantes del s. XX Frida Kahlo, quien a pesar de su atormentada vida supo con el color y la gracia de su indumentaria legarnos una alegría y pasión por la vida admirables. En las notables fotografías del fotógrafo Pablo Aguinaco descubrimos la inusitada faceta de una artista excepcional. Las imágenes logradas con un gusto y acierto exquisito, nos conducen por la Casa Azul, morada de Frida y despliegan colores, texturas y luces, para todos aquellos interesados en esta gran artista.



2. Apparently in 1954, the year Frida passed away, Diego Rivera had her dressing room and bathroom at the Casa Azul locked, with the stipulation that it could be opened 50 years later. In 2004 the day came to unlock the room, and discover its contents. This book explores those contents, which included many of Fridas clothes, hair ribbons, medical devices, linens, etc. Its an amazing archeological discovery of sorts. A time capsule that reveals much about the day to day life of what has become one of the most influential women artists in history. Lavish color photographs of her clothing, paired with photos and paintings in which they appear; a treasure for those passionate about the life, art and fashion of Frida Kahlo. Really destined to become a personal favorite.

5 comments about Designing Design.

1. This title is exactly what you expect from the cover, it is absolutely amazing inside. Clean, conceptual work that ranges from product design to printing techniques. Its very Japanese aesthetics, the interiors are well designed and beautiful. This is a book that will inspire even the quiet.



2. Not only a beautiful book but also a great collection of images and essays, a strong contribution to the field of design literature.



3. The Book has a different approach when it comes to design, and its not the mere use of the banal connotation that design has become, but the art of designing and undertaking projects with special sensibility which is explained in its pages. The author shows through different examples of his work, when designing how he engage his projects in a more significant way. Simplicity and common sense.
   The eastern perspective and its way of life is strongly reflected in a very palpable philosophy which is the guideline throughout the book. Truly special lecture.



4. DESIGNING DESIGN is quite possibly the most beautiful book on design ever published. Not only is the content illuminating and intelligent, allowing the world to gain an appreciation for one of the truly unique voices in the design field - that voice being the Japanese master Kenya Hara - but also in keeping with the subject, the book itself is a paramount of elegance, simplicity and superb creative force. This is a white book, a volume of information and illustration that embraces the purity of white as the matrix upon which everything blossoms and emerges.
   
   In an introductory essay by John Maeda the author states `Kenya Hara is a complex man. He views the world through his many lenses of seeing, tasting, smelling, erasing, evaporating, and all the forms of construction and deconstruction.' And after those appropriate words this pristine book opens into the genius that is Kenya Hara. `Verbalizing design is another act of design....To understand something is not to be able to define it or describe it. Instead, taking something that we think we already know and making it unknown thrills us afresh with its reality and deepens our understanding of it.' What follows on the pages are images of page design, paper, bowls of white cabbage leaves, signs, images of Swatch watches that come down through projected air onto any surface presented, unique signage for public spaces, soft ice cream shapes, furniture, spaces, lamps, posters - any object that requires rendering is treated and discussed in concept and philosophy by a man of great wisdom as well as endless creativity. The illustrations accompanying the text are clean and as well placed on the page as any creation by Hara. This is a seemingly endless array of fascinating subjects.
   
   For the non-designer reader, the reader fortunate enough to open this book without the prejudice of traditional design information, this text contains powerful philosophical concepts. `The human brain likes anything that entails a great deal of information. Its extensive capacity waits eagerly to perceive the world by completely exhausting its great receptive powers. That potential power, though, remains today in a state of extreme constriction and is a source of the information stress we're all under.' Hara approaches this conundrum by dividing his book into sections that approach answers to these problems: RE-DESIGN, HAPTIC (Awakening the Senses), SENSEWARE, WHITE, MUJI (Nothing, yet Everything), VIEWING THE WORLD FROM THE TIP OF ASIA, EXFORMATION (Rivers, Resorts), and finally WHAT IS DESIGN? This book is meant to be absorbed slowly, portion by portion, and then to be read again once the reader understands Hara's contributions - quiet yet majestic though they be. The text reads very well (thanks to the superb translation efforts by Maggie Kinser Hohle and Yukiko Naito) and while the information is complex, the writing style is comfortably conversational.
   
   This is an important book on many levels and should be required reading for all students of design, practitioners of design, and for everyone whose eyes are influenced by astute observation. Brilliant! Grady Harp, December 07



5. A plain white cover with some black text in Helvetica. That's the dust jacket cover of a design book? If I'd judged the book solely by the cover I would have missed what is actually a quite unique and wonderful book about design.
   
   The cloth-bound cover itself is also all type, but now white type embossed into a white cover--not the most readable (though you can read it) but in a way the essence of this book--minimal, elegant, playful, clever and thought-provoking.
   
   This understated and often witty approach is a refreshing antidote to the frantic overkill that constitutes much of the commercial design we're bombarded hundreds of times a day.
   
   Like the cover, the text can be mysterious. When I first read the preface I balked. But I was intrigued and read it again and this time, it was surprising and beautiful.
   
   "To understand something is not to be able to define it or describe it. Instead, taking something that we think we know already and making it unknown thrills us afresh with its reality and deepens our understanding." It's almost as if he's talking about a Claes Oldenburg sculpture which takes a common object and shows it to us in a gigantic size that makes us see it in a new light--yet the designs and ideas featured in the book give us this new perspective right on a printed page.
   
   You're not going to see innovative typography in this book (though the book itself is beautifully designed, typeset and produced). But you are going to see stunningly understated photography and a Japanese approach to design that can be an inspiration everywhere in the world.

5 comments about The Winston Effect: The Art & History of Stan Winston Studio.

1. With the recent death of Stan Winston I immediately set out to find this book seeing as how I had put off buying the book since it came out. No one seemed to carry it and thus Amazon came through, with the cheapest price, as well. Stan Winston was a genuis in character design and creation. I have idolized his work since I first saw his name on the end credits of Jurassic Park when I was in 2nd grade. One of my heroes, it is sad to see him go in a quiet whisper, but fitting to someone who always was behind the magic.



2. A must have. Detailed picts of some of the best sci-fi creatures put to film! A great addition to your star wars "art of books" Also great reference for comic artists as well.



3. This book has not arrived to date (1/20/08) from my 12/20/07 order. I've sent two e-mails to the seller through Amazon but have not received a response from the seller. My charge card statememt shows I have been charged. Not pleased.



4. Great to see an inside look at the Winston studio and the man behind it all.



5. This book offer's good ideas for indipendent fimmakers. Though the book's cover has poor CGI, the info given is incomparable. The behind the scenes views of Winston telling the animatronic Tyrannosaurus his stage directions and meeting a friend at the premiere of Congo are pictures of a welcome change (Serious prop work to humor). In closing, the book is great.

1 comments about Art of the Royal Court: Treasures in Pietre Dure from the Palaces of Europe (Metropolitan Museum of Art).

1. I've just returned from seeing the exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and now I can't wait to have the book. I saw the book while I was in the Met's Book Shop and it is absolutely great with so many pictures of the items on exhibit. If you can't get to the exhibit which is on thru Sept. 21st, this book is the next best thing!

5 comments about Pencil Magic.

1. If you are into pencil and Landscapes, this is the book for you. Very helpful



2. This is an excellent book for the beginner. It covers materials, perspective, techniques, and has excellent examples. I bought several different "learn to draw with pencil" books at the same time from different authors, because they all have different techniques. This is my favorite.



3. This book really help to learn drawing with pencil. HaS many examples on how to do it.



4. I love the more detailed drawings seen in this book. Alot of pencil drawing technique books look dark and smudged. Phil Metzger has used a wonderful talent to help others. I generally try to be more photorealistic in the pictures I draw in pencil or pen and ink and this book was one of the most helpful I have found. Buy it Buy it Buy it if you really enjoy drawing and want others to see what you were looking at when you drew it.



5. If your new to pencil drawing, you will learn more in the first 20 pages of this book than you will from most other books cover to cover.

5 comments about How to Draw Lifelike Portraits from Photographs.

1. This book is excellent if you've always been wanting to draw, especially if you thought you couldn't. It will prove that you can, and quickly. I literally went from stick figures to commissioned portraits in under a year. You will not be disappointed if you purchase this book!



2. i definetly would recommend this book,as well as another book by carol parks called secrets to realistic drawing both excellent tutorials and reading



3. If you want to learn how to draw pencil portraits from reference (photos), but you don't manage to do more than simple sketches almost always impossible of they be recognized (it was my case), this is your book. Suitable for beginners want to progress in days, what would usually take months for being reached, this book teaches step by step with 20 demonstrations, how you can draw portraits from photos.
   
   For me, good method is that that teaches you to draw better than you drew before, and this is with certainty this category. The method doesn't make you to lose time with theories that a lot of times only serve for thickening the book. It is focused from start to the end, in as to do a pencil portrait from photos. This was my objective when I decided to learn how to draw and in spite of me always be wanting to learn to draw better, today I can say that that objective was reached. For who wants to venture in learning how to draw pencil portraits, this with certainty should be the first method to invest.



4. I already had some drawing experience, but this book really helped refine my skills and give my portraits a professional quality.



5. Great book for building one's confidence in their drawing skills--young and old. The step by step excercises in Lee Hammond's book are simply amazing! It will make a believer out of you, "I can draw." I have never taken an art course but just had an interest, I checked one of Lee Hammonds books out at the library then knew I had to have one for my very own. For a begineer Lee's grid technique shows how to break down a photo into shapes and focus on one grid at a time.I am now able to render portrait proportions very easily. My friends are amazed (even my artist friends)and I sold one stetch so far and hope to sell more. I did one of a Mastiff dog and can hardly believe it myself, I started out by drawing what looked like a paint by number project then did the shading and blending. I definately recommend this book for anyone interested in teaching or learning (or, like in my case, drastically improving) how to draw.

4 comments about Illusive 2: Contemporary Illustration and Its Context.

1. This is what you would happily expect...a book filled with page after page of astounding work from talented artists from around the world. What you might not expect (if you had not bought the first volume as I have), is that it is organized by style...and covers the gamut of design aesthetics and mediums. (by organized I mean, that there is no section by section titles that I can recall or index of organizing, but as you flip the pages you will witness the ebb and flow of similarities in the art that is displayed and the differences as you continue through the book, on to another style/medium.) I find this book (as I did the last) unique because of (1) the exceeding quality of artists and perhaps more importantly, (2) the relative "Freshness" of th work on display. As is the case with any book of this nature, the work can quickly become dated. I find that the designs and artists on display in this book are ahead of the curve to be sure... In my work, I scour the internet, read many books, sketch and visit galleries to think of styles and design approaches and have found this book (and this short series) to be a good showcase of work from which to draw inspiration from time to time. Hopefully it can do the same for you...



2. I just hope they publish this every year. I know I'd purchase it annually.
   
   It's similar to its previous version. Hardcover book about 300+ pages.
   This isn't a "How To Illustrate" book. It's a "Get Inspired" book. As a broadcast motion graphics designer, this hits most current styles. Each page is like a different mood board to get inspiration from.
   
   It covers collage, vector, traditional and others. And when I say current styles, I don't mean your "mom&pop" small town coupon illustrations. This hits more to the "Out of the Box" big city illustrations. Think clients that might have money and able to risk big (Nike, MTV, Toyota Hybrid, Diesel, etc.)
   
   Awesome buy.



3. This book is totally amazing... Some of the best graphic design work out there today. But not only on paper. Mush of this work is showcased as instillations. Really a true treasure for the graphic design art enthusiast!



4. As the firs one, a must buy for sure, if your are into illustration or like to see illustration, ore are in search of new tendencies for your ad or related, you should buy this book!