5 comments about Airbrush: The Complete Studio Handbook (Practical Art Books).

1. This book is great for beginers and good for someone a little further along. It gives you most airbrush tricks that you'l need to paint whatever you want to paint.



2. I hate to gush but this is, imho, the single best book on airbrushing that I've seen. It covers technique from beginner to advanced. The instructions are straight forward. I suppose they could seem boring if you're an advanced artist. Since I learn from even a rehash of what I already new, I wasn't bored.
   
   Unlike other reviewers, I wasn't disappointed because it doesn't cover painting motorcycles or helmets. The title is fairly straightforward and a good clue to what the book covers. If you're only interested in painting motorcycles, try How to Custom Paint Graphics here on Amazon.
   
   If on the other hand, you see an airbrush as another tool in expressing yourself through art, get this book. Vero is a master at solidifying visualization. He introduced the use of shields and the book contains a template for his design for one of the most versatile shields around.
   
   When you aren't using it for reference, I recommend putting it on the coffee table. People who drop by my apartment are instantly drawn to the cover which features an illustration of Vero's "Study of a Girl". Instant conversation starter!
   
   Rado Vero is recognized as one of the greatest illustrators who ever lived. Reading his thoughts on airbrush and different ways to create are as invaluable as reading Da Vinci's ideas on creating perspective. It didn't bother me that it was first printed in 1983. Nothing in this book has been outmoded. In fact, many of his ideas, such as use of shields, are now the standard in art schools. I expect it to be equally as valid in 2083.
   
   I have bought multiple copies of this book and given them to friends who are just getting into airbrushing. I expect that I will buy quite a few more before it's over.



3. ... this is the one.
   
   Covers the mechanical stuff more briefly than many, and has a nice section on fixing problems, including straightening a bent needle. Gets briskly on to the =use= of the thing, and runs a series of exercises to help you get the hang of techniques, including learning how to draw freehand. This guy is not hung up on anal-compulsive frisket cutting, but recommends a "universal mask" you can make out of a styrene or metal sheet that will do for a lot of work.



4. Excellent book however as the title states relates mainly to studio applications and technical details. Not really applicable to air brush enthusiasts wanting to style cars or helmets etc.



5. Service was great and the book was awesome. Answered every question I had and taught me things I never thought of.

5 comments about Step-By-Step Guide to Painting Realistic Watercolors.

1. This author is not only an artist, but more importantly a WRITER and a TEACHER! She assumes no knowledge on the part of her reader, to make sure that her instructions cannot be misunderstood. It's possibly the most readable art instruction book I've ever owned. I sit and read it, like a novel, and can't put it down! The descriptions and illustrations are so thoroughly detailed, orderly and accurate, that I feel like I'm there doing it. I haven't even tried any of them yet, but I'm so impressed with the writing of the book, I must commend the author on THAT! Also, the subjects chosen as paintings to demontrate may very possibly be the most appealing examples of beautiful watercolors at their finest that I've ever seen in a book like this. They make me WANT to learn the medium! Unlike other books, where I may buy it, only for one or two pictures in it that I'd like to paint...this book is loaded with pictures that I want to paint ALL OF! I've gone through every page of the book, to check the paint color list of each painting, and have already ordered them, exactly as described and recommended. I can't wait to get my art studio properly lit, and my paper ordered to produce the paintings that are in this book! I can't even pick a favorite!



2. I have been circling around watercolour painting for some time now and had gone so far as to buy some paints, brushes and paper, but was at a complete loss as to how to actually start.
   I bought this book sight unseen on the basis of reviews, and I think it is the best possible book I could have bought. (I have several other 'beginners' watercolour books which have left me more, rather than less, inhibited about starting.)
   This book concentrates on teaching specific watercolour techniques in a step-by-step manner, with very precise and detailed instructions on how to load your brush, how to use it, how to mix each colour, and how to do specific techniques such as laying a wash (best description I've read, by a country mile, and it worked - a perfect wash second time), softening edges, lifting out colour, adjusting your work if it isn't right first time, and so on. She takes the guesswork out by providing a series of interesting drawings to copy and step by step instructions on how to paint each, and by specifying exact paints and (cheap but good) brushes, which I bought. The exercises are graded - before I started each one I was sure I would make a total mess, but each time the results were very good (would have been excellent if I'd had the patience to do a quick trial of each technique on a scrap piece of paper before going for it).
   This is not a fast-and-free approach, but an interesting and fun book which teaches you the basic techniques you will need even if the fast approach suits your personality better. I wholeheartedly recommend it.



3. Not for the beginner. Choices of projects weak.



4. --------------
   As a young chap, I visited my local Art Gallery here in Bolton (UK) and although I had virtually no interest in art, I found myself mesmerised by the watercolour paintings of Thomas and Paul Sandby (c1700's). Twenty five years later and I still haven't taken a brush to paper - well, not until recently.

   Browsing through a bookshop a short while ago, I thumbed through scores of watercolour books and made mental note of how simple the paintings seemed to be. Can't be that difficult can it?

   And then....I picked up Dawn's book and was simply amazed by the fine paintings contained therein. Wow! The "Strawberries & Lace" knocked me sideways! I figured that even if I couldn't follow the lessons, my money wouldn't be wasted, because I'd cut out these fine pictures and frame them! :-)

   Seriously though, I'd agree with one of the other reviewers and say that this book is perhaps not the ideal beginner's choice. Having said that, this book does serve to inspire you and that's worth more than any amount of "basics".

   Don't hesitate....buy it now!

   ...




5. This was one of the first watercolor books I ever bought when I first wanted to learn how to paint. First of all I'd like to list some of it's stronger points.

   1. The projects are beautiful with the subjects being mostly still-life (although there is one animal project of baby ducklings
   2. The author lists exactly the colors and brands she used in each project, the specific mixes of each colors and step-by-step directions for you to follow at each stage. Each project has stage-by-stage photos so you can see what your painting-in-progress should look like at the end of each stage.
   3. The "Critique Your Work" tip section. She lists some questions to ask yourself as you examine the finished painting to see what you did well and what can be improved.
   4. The "how moist is moist?" examination of loading a brush with color. This is one technique most other watercolor books either don't mention at all or if they do they don't explain it. The author gives photos and a detailed description of exactly what she means by a phrase such as "loaded brush", "moistened brush" etc.
   5. The section on values and painting a controlled wash. There is a page devoted to common problems that beginners can run into when trying to paint washes - complete with examples of some of these problems (streaky wash, backruns, etc.) and how to correct them or avoid them.

   It helps to buy the paints she recommends because it will eliminate one variarable that might make it harder to lead to a satisfying result. It is possible to use other brands (I did) but I recommend at least try to use the same pigment, if possible, as she lists in the book. For some people who are on a limited budget or don't want to invest in a lot of paint to be used only for this book's projects they might consider this a drawback. Also, this book doesn't cover painting portraits, wildlife, landscapes, seascapes, etc. It will be of most interest to fans of still-life subjects. Overall, I'm glad I own it as it is a big help to further development of techniques with watercolor.

3 comments about Color Mixing for Artists: Minimum colors for maximum effect, using watercolors, acrylics, and oils.

1. It looked great in the store. But It showed paint colors on the side that pointed to colors in real photos that occationally mismatched??? That's pretty much it! I did not learn anything? I exchanged the book.



2. Perhaps the bad review was because this book is simple, easy and uncomplicated, but that's why I like it. I have many books on color theory, color mixing, and color swatches, however I keep coming back to this little book with it's simple explanations for getting various color combinations. I don't have to read an encyclopedia on primary, secondary, tertiary colors or understand everything there is know about color theory to get what I want, I like the still life photos showing various color combinations described on the accompanying pages. I like the color names and the various colors I get if I mix color A and color B, simple and easy. The color may not be a perfect match but it's always close and makes it easy for me to adjust to achieve what I want. Perhaps it isn't a text for a college course on color theory, charts and wheels but when I'm looking for a particular color or family of colors, I always find it here. This book has saved me lots of time and paint. Hope I never lose my copy but I'd buy it again if I was so unfortunate to do so.



3. Not enough information given. Vary basic, needs more work. I got this book to help me teach a college basic painting course and found that I could hardly use any of it.

1 comments about Color Your Own Book of Kells (Coloring Books).

1. Most of this coloring book is as wonderful as I expected it to be. I like the selections from the Book of Kells that were chosen to be included, and there's a good variety. The subject matter can't be beat, but I have two small complaints. One, some of the smaller knotwork details are indistinct, even missing. I realize they may be missing in the original, but for a coloring book I really feel they should have been extrapolated for completeness' sake. Second, the Latin script pages aren't translated, and the old calligraphy is hard enough to read that I can't translate them myself.
   
   Aside from these picky details, though, this is a gorgeous, fun coloring book, perfectly appropriate for the collector, either of coloring books or Celtophilia:)

2 comments about Artists' Techniques and Materials (Guide to Imagery Series).

1. This is a great book for either the artist or art historian who wants to know more about any art medium. I used it primarily to review mediums that I have not worked with , but that I reference in the college art history course I teach. I recommend it for the new art student who wants to know more about any medium including some they have probably never heard of before.



2. This is a beautifully done reference book. A must have in any secondary classroom.

2 comments about Fifty Years of Fashion: New Look to Now.

1. This book takes us from decade to decade from the 50's to now with an examination of social, cultural, economic, and historical factors both setting the backdrop to and influencing changing fashions. This is an intermediate book in fashion, if you compare it to picture-only books to the other end of the spectrum where text dominates (often no pictures), and we see a treatise on aesthetic theory, anthropological roots, feminist writings, and studies on human sexuality and psychology.
   
   This book is a very light introduction to the type of questions you see in more advanced texts, but will not alienate the dilettante fashionista or costumer. The pictures provide exemplary examples of the styles discussed, and the chapters summarize everything quickly enough to have a solid overview of our recent fashion history. Again, I am sure this book will gain lots of interest, whether for browsing or seriously perusing an interest in a compelling aspect of human history and society. Check Steele's other books as well--she writes with insight, but doesn't overdo it with the dry academic stuff; she also has excellent taste with her picture selection.



2. This book has both beautiful photographs and informative text. The only reason I took off one star is that I think more photographs from each designer should have been included. I especially would have liked to have seen a few more photos of clothes from American designers from the 1990s. Throughout the book, the author mostly displays clothes made by European designers. I would not have expected much attention to be focused upon American designers before 1980s or 1990s. Arguably, it was not until the 1990s that American fashion really started to influence Europe, instead of the other way around. Because this reversal of influence was such a change, I would have expected more attention to be paid to it visually. Therefore, the lack of representation in this era makes me think that American designers were somewhat shortchanged in this book. However, I agree that all the designers selected, both European and American, did heavily influence their own time periods.

   This book covers Post War 1940s through 1990s. In each era the author focused on a few key designers. The author chose Balenciaga, Balmain, and Dior to represent the 1940s and 1950s. The author primarily showcased Correges, Yves Saint Laurent, and Quant to represent the 1960s. Halston and Yves Saint Laurent were the focus of the 1970s era. More designers are represented in the 1980s. The book has one or two photos from Chanel, Lacroix, Blass, Herrera, Azzedine Alaia, Armani, Gaultier, Comme des Garcon, and Issey Miyake, among a few others. The 1990s are represented by a photo or two of designs from Versace, Anna Sui, Chanel, Tom Ford for Gucci, Galliano, Donna Karen, Westwood, Calvin Klein, and Prada.

   Just as it is the maxim for fashion in general, so is it for this book in particular...less is more. The photos in this book capture the essence of each era and the text details the stylistic atmosphere to which each designer contributed. I highly reccommend this book. Despite having access to it at the library, I plan on buying it.

3 comments about Creative Perspective for Artists and Illustrators.

1. This book shows how perspective is being used for creative purposes not too simplified and not too technical either. It's rare to find an Artist who does it naturally but even when I was one of those this book made me aware of it!



2. I had read this book before purchasing it. I bought it to re-read and absorb the points made in the book. It will definitely get you thinking about how to "modify" the perspective in your picture to get the view right.



3. A more technical approach to perspective than other books on perspective that I have read. Waston uses analysis of illustrators to demonstrate the points of perspective. I found this most entertaining and interesting.

   I try to read this periodically to re-enforce and re-learn the principles of perspective.

5 comments about 10 X 10.

1. this is awesome! lots of examples with some comments of each single work and all colors. I wanna check next 10 x 10 series.



2. I paged through this book literally twice after removing it from its packaging before the binding entirely separated from the pages. The cover of mine is now completely off the book, the "glue" that Phaidon used having completely failed to keep it together. This isn't an isolated incident either; several of my friends in possession of the same book have had the exact same problems. Even the copy on special reserve in my school's architecture library is experiancing problems of this sort. Above and beyond the binding issues, the actual design of the pages is very poorly thought out. As a previous reviewer mentioned, the captions of the pictures are oriented vertically within pages so chock-full of pictures it is hard to discern what one is looking at or for. The book's final offense is the essays in the back, which are printed on orange paper with black lettering, making them almost impossible to read. This book, while the content may be ok, is so poorly thought out that it warrants a second thought before purchase.



3. Im an architecture student at the University of Florida and this book, including 10x10_2 are a must have. They help to see many different types/styles of Architecture and also help in learning Arch. photography and how to capture that perfect shot, along with how to compose images/drawings of projects for presentation purposes. The book definetly puts you in the mood to design, even after many sleepless nights in studio, working on projects. Its also a good convo. starter if sitting on a coffee table.



4. This is an interesting book with plenty of visual information. However, as soon as you start paging through it, the binding will fall apart. The book is too thick to be held together with that crappy glue. Get a hardback edition if possible.



5. The book itself is great; full of inspiration for an architecture student like myself. Great glossy photos, short bits of writing for each architect, basically just what I was looking for. However. And this is a big However. The binding will literally become completely detached after looking at half a dozen pages. I just took the binding right off, cut off the front and back pages, and glued them to the adjacent pages, and its somewhat been working by being held together with the binding string. Seriously, come up with a better binding for this great book.

No comments about Looking at Pictures (Cambridge Introduction to the History of Art).

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!