5 comments about Oil Painting Secrets from a Master: 25th Anniversary Edition.

1. This book is good for the artists who has been painting for quite a time.Its a lot of technical gargon to grapple with and only experience of what the book is recommending will make any sense.



2. This book is brilliant. Few book are as helpful, but not until you're ready for this one! This book is not for beginners, but for artists comfortable enough with the oil medium and the basics of painting. If you are that artist, David helps you learn to THINK the way an artist needs to think. I have been reading and re-reading this book for 25 years now. (One note: I agree that some of the reproductions are blurry and unacceptable. Maybe the publisher did something about this for the 25th anniversary edition.)



3. ....or anyone who doesn't want to be Rembrandt. This author is perhaps a Master, but the title implies an Old Master. His technique of painting appears skillful, yes, but didn't appeal to me because they were all in the Rembrandt mode of painting.
   I'm sure the prose, though disjointed and sometimes contradictory, may be helpful to Intermediate/Advanced artists or Art Teachers, but way too much combing through of the book is required than should be necessary. The info is not organized in a useful way. Sorry....



4. This book isn't a "How to Paint" book. It assumes you already know how to do that. This book tells you how to create good paintings using light, space and color. It reminds you of all the things you learned in art school but have forgotten along the way.



5. This book is extraordinarily helpful for artists who already have some experience. It appears to be a collection of class notes with many illustrations and helpful tips, rather than a mapped out "method". I discovered in it many missing links of information, "ahas", so to speak.

5 comments about Design Research: Methods and Perspectives.

1. Creative approaches to research. Well-written. ...even has lots of pictures. Best "methods and ideas" book I've ever seen.



2. A primer for all designers - this book contains many useful case studies that underpin the quintessential need for research before beginning any design process.



3. I enjoy some of her earlier work but this one is misleading, in particular for those wishing to study (methods of) design research. Laurel neither relates nor contributes to the discipline of design research in this book in a direct way. Design postgraduates looking for a good book on design research are better advised looking at Design Research by Peter Downton, which is more difficult to get but worth it and newer.



4. This book is an excellent, comprehensive collection of design-related essays and research studies. It is inspirational and practical (and doesn't hurt that it is well designed)!



5. Brenda's collection is still the most comprehensive collection of diverse design research methods I can find. I use her book to inspire, intrigue, and sometimes perplex students, exposing them to lots of new ideas. I use the book in combination with Kuniavsky's more practical how-to information in Observing the User Experience. He provides too much detail and not enough high concept. The combination ends up working very well.
   
   If I could choose only a single text, I would choose Brenda's design research book. I can fill in specifics about different techniques drawn from many books and web sites, but the creativity of methods and the clear belief in the power of design research conveyed in the book needs to come from real world writers, not just from the professor claiming it is so. Her book makes the case!

5 comments about Graphic Design School, Third Edition.

1. I really enjoyed this book, but I wouldn't say that it actually teaches you the 'how to's' of graphic design. On the other hand the book is fantastic at showing real-life examples as well as all of the many applications of graphic design which assists one to decide which path to focus on.



2. Graphic Design School has some useful tools for beginners, but more than half of the book is outdated. Graphic Design School has a few sections on design theory, and more than half the book are tutorials in photoshop, illustrator, etc.
   
   The book boasts a bit how today you cannot talk about or teach graphic desing without addressing technology, This is where the book faulters. Technology tchanges so quickly now that this book's many tutorials end up being very obsolete (pre adobe CS). It would have been nice if this came with a CD that could get updates for tutorials, etc. A book like this needs to make a new edition atleast every 2 years to keep up.



3. Loaded with illustrations, graphics and layouts, this intoduction to graphic design covers basics that will "charge" your creative batteries.



4. Yes the book is visual. Yes it has examples of other student's work. Yes there is helpful information in it.

   HOWEVER, having worked in the field for more than 10 years, I find this book simplistic, and frankly the samples of work included are not very good.

   Why would I want to emulate design I don't like?

   I found the examples to be dated, and I found the book lacking in teaching skills that designers really need to know.

   If this is a fair representation of what is being taught in design school, we are in a very sad place.

   There are so many other GOOD books out there. Buy one of those.




5. I have met many web designers who have never learned the basic skills of graphic design. "Graphic design School" is the best book out there today on learning the techniques and tools for basic graphic design practices. Swann covers the 'Language of Design,' 'Principles and Techniques' and 'Commercial Practice.' Short, concise and beautifully illustrated to relay the importance of knowing this craft for a solid design foundation.

   Web colors are not mentioned, nor do you see anything about browser selection nor any debate over screen size. What you do see are the brief introductions to corporate design, logos, editorial design and packaging. All basics to build on for a graphic design career, including web design.

5 comments about Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook.

1. This book is not just its companion volume in workbook form. This was written four years after publishing Writing The Breakout Novel, and after extensive workshop tours. You get the addition of all the exercises from his workshops. If you liked Writing The Breakout Novel, or if you're considering buying it, go ahead and add this volume to your cart. It is well worth the purchase.
   
   The only dissapointment I had in this book was that after many steps in the exercises, he orders us emphatically, in italics, to "Write that down now. Write those down. Start writing now. Note them. Make notes. Note it now. Make notes, starting now."
   He insults his reader by assuming that we are procrastinators who can't finish what we



2. I have both workbook and book. I use this when I'm plotting or replotting a book. I find the exercises make me think hard about my stories and bring out my creativity. I'd definitely recommend it.



3. I finally bought this book after rechecking it from the library several times. I love the challanges presented and the advice given. This book has helped me dig deeper and develop my own novel.



4. Since he published Writing the Breakout Novel in 2001, Maass has taught a seminar of the same name at many writers conferences, and naturally learned from these experiences. The original book is here expanded by nearly three dozen exercises, which seem quite sensible, not hokey as are some by other teachers I've read.
   
   I own the Breakout book and just now am comparing the workbook that I checked out of the local library. They're not the same, not by a long shot, despite what one reviewer here says. Though many sections have identical headers (such as Inner Conflict), they are completely rewritten, using different examples. The original book is 259 pages of 6x9, the workbook is 230 pp. of 8-1/2x11 format, thus it is by no means a condensation as TheCafeWriter asserts, and the original book is not necessarily more "in-depth." Some sections are, some aren't. The structure is substantially rearranged. Yet the concepts and the really fundamental points -- keep your story charged with tension, and so on -- do remain identical. These are essentially two complementary treatments of the same material by the same author
   
   Maass asks his seminar participants to bring their in-process novels to perform exercises on, so the workbook is particularly useful if you are well into writing a novel already. With the discipline of the exercises, Maass teaches you to be your own draft doctor.
   
   For me, there appear to be easily enough new perspectives and ideas here to warrant buying the workbook even though I have read the original and have it on my bookshelf.



5. This book is most beneficial to writers who have already completed the first drafts of their manuscripts. The exercises made me review some of my characters' attributes and turn offs as well as making sure my secondary plots tied into my main plot. Mr. Maass' suggestions caused me to re-think my villians a little bit and show a side to them that could be somewhat empathetic. Also, adding tension on every page for me was tough, but I found creative ways to do it. I do believe my completed novel is better now after making suggested changes. I stuck to my own gut on some of the things he suggested I change, but overall I did use a lot of his advice. This is a good purchase but you must do the written exercises not just skim over them.

5 comments about Starting Your Career as a Freelance Illustrator or Graphic Designer.

1. My interests are much more in illustration rather than graphic design, so I frequently had to scan past a lot of the material that a graphic designer could use. There is a lot of great information here on the real nuts and bolts of running a home business - especially an artistic one - but I think anyone who wants to run thier own business could use a lot of the information and tools in this book to manage their time, money, and goals in an effective way. I have benefitted greatly from the use of this book and would happily recommend it to others.



2. so you want to go freelance... you really, REALLY want to go freelance? Tired of working for a boss? Want your own hours? Sleep late? Get this book, read it and then decide. It'll give you a well-rounded education of what they don't tell you in art school because what your professors were really interested in at that time wasn't your education, but getting a piece of co-ed you-know-what while they collected their paycheck.



3. This is simply one of the best books for starting a freelance art career that I've ever read. This book gives you very practical information about almost every detail of freelance illustration and graphic design. You'll find information on creating business and financial plans, setting up and managing a studio, billing procedures, creating a portfolio and marketing yourself to potential clients. I find a lot of books of this nature don't talk about the raw mechanics of business so much as they offer token inspiration and motivation. If you're interested in a book that will actually give you useful information about the business side of freelancing this is the one to buy.
   
   The only areas where it seemed to be a little on the thin side were dealing with taxes and the legal issues concerned with working for youself. Other than that it was wonderful.



4. I love this book! It's great for those just starting up and has covered each aspect of becoming a freelancer. Each time something has come up, I referenced this book and found the answers! Highly recommended!



5. 
   I really liked this book a lot. It was a very good first-hand book written by a small business owner about his experiences starting, managing, and prospering as a freelance illustrator and/or graphic designer. His writing style was not exactly stellar. But it certainly was clear. The 20 chapters included in the book fell into the following 4 topics:
   
   1. STARTING THE FIRM
   >>Where Do You Start?
   >>Off on the Right Foot
   >>Creating a Plan for Your Business
   >>Developing Your Financial Plans
   >>Forms, Charts & Templates
   >>Pricing Your Work and Getting Paid
   
   2. MANAGING THE FIRM
   >>Why Should You Freelance?
   >>Setting Up Shop
   >>Managing Your New Studio
   
   3. RAINMAKING FOR THE FIRM
   >>Bring in Clients
   >>How to Get Noticed
   >>What Goes in the Portfolio
   >>Marketing on the Web
   
   4. POSSIBLE MARKETS
   >>The Magazine Market
   >>Selling to the Newspapers
   >>Working with Advertising Agencies
   >>Selling to Book Publishers
   >>The Greeting Card Market
   >>Working with Art and Design Studios
   >>Selling to Small Business
   
   Since I am not an illustrator or a graphic designer I did not have much use for the fourth topic. But it was interesting to read about. I regularly counsel wanta-be entrepreneurs about how to start a small business; I'm a volunteer SCORE counselor. And the material covered in the first three topics above are exactly what I talk about with my SCORE clients. I highly recommend this book to anybody wanting to start their own small consulting practice. It does a wonderful job discussing the topics.
   
   My biggest complaint with the book is the tendency of the author to recommend outsourcing so many functions: accounting, taxes, and Web site design and construction. I think these things should be fully understood by the small business owner and probably done by the owner herself. When the business grows to have a few employees, then the employees can do those tasks if the owner wants to do that.
   
   I would have written the section on choice of business structure differently. Keep in mind that LLCs can be either single member or multi member. An LLC can elect to be taxed as a sole proprietorship (single member), a partnership (multi member), or a C Corporation. Also, a multi member LLC will have to file a partnership tax return. A good book on the subject that I recommend you read to supplement this book is Structuring Your Business (ISBN: 1593371772). I highly recommend forming an LLC and electing to have it taxed as a C Corporation. Just give yourself a bonus at year-end so the corporation retains no earnings. If your business is a corporation it is less likely to be audited by the IRS. 5 stars!

5 comments about Kovels' New Dictionary of Marks: Pottery and Porcelain, 1850 to the Present.

1. If you collect this type of pottery, you will have to get this book sooner or later as it provides an outstanding reference to marks found on these items and so permits you to assess the age of the item. But the lack of any real advice, wisdom, guidance, explanations, etc. about the subject of collecting these pieces, knowing when marks are real or fake, and assessing the quality of the pieces is essentially nil. So you will have to learn pretty much everything you need to know from other sources. A real disappointment given that the authors are almost certainly know a lot more about the subject matter than they put into these books. M Pezim



2. This is a good resource book. It has it's limitations, but I use it almost daily. I look up alot of ceramics marks, and I find the large majority of them in this Kovels book. It is great if you are looking for a specific makers mark, or decoratoras mark. The limitation is that there is no way to comprehensively view all marks from one particular maker. If you have a few treasures that you want to accurately identify, then it is very good. Don't get me wrong, I haven't found every mark I look for. But I haven't found a Marks reference that I do. This book provides a good clean and easy format to locate the mark I need, and quickly.
   
   Also, if you are looking for back ground info on the company, this isn't the book for you. While the Kovel's do an excellent job of showing literal thousands of easy to find marks, thats all they show. All in all a highly recommended resource. Any serious ceramics collector, dealer, or dedicated flea market/yard saler should have a copy.



3. Bought this as a gift for my daughter and she has really enjoyed it's contents. Now she can see if the "Junk and/or Antiques" she has purchased has any real value!!



4. I haven't been happy with this book since I purchased it. Haven't found one mark from any of the pottery or china I have from this book. Only one or maybe two examples of the companies which made the pottery but not the marks. For example I can't even find the simple "Anchor" from Anchor Hawking Co.(There are plenty of other anchors). I have a very nice Blue "Old Fashion"/juice glass fron A.H. but I have never seen one in blue. Looked it up and could not find MARK in this book. I was very surprised. I've been thinking about purchasing the Second Edition of Kovels' book, but been holding back... Can anyone tell me if it is better or if it's just me, I hope..Mary, techmom@usamedia.tv (No Solicitors Please! Only those wanting to talk about this book please reply. NO SPAMMERS!!)



5. Marks on pottery have always been of interest to me. Some are obvious and well-known and others obscure. Couldn't find all the marks I was looking for. Still a good book to have.

5 comments about Oil Painter's Solution Book Landscapes: XX Answers to Your Oil Painting Questions.

1. Well written, illustrated and bound work on the art of landscape painting in oil. One of the best available for landscape artists of all levels.



2. Elizabeth Tolley's "Oil Painter's Solution Book" was particularily helpful with information on the use of resin mediums and odorless mineral spirits. As an "old fashioned painter" using the traditional stand oil, damar varnish, and turpentine medium, this was an easy-to-understand and useful source.
   
   The sprial bound book was so much better than the usual paper back or standard bound books. It opens flat for easier use when painting.
   
   I would recommend this book for painters that are somewhat better than beginners or for "holiday painters" looking for information to help improve their work.
   
   Seasoned painters may not find the book very useful, unless they are looking for specific information or the lovely images of Tolley's work.



3. Excellent and comprehensive. The author covers all of the basics you need to know as an artist and explains things in wonderful detail with illustrations. I can see that I will continue to use this book as a resource when I am trying to resolve an issue or just learn new ways of doing things. I would highly recommend for beginning painters. Experienced painters woould also treasure this book.



4. I started painting with oils only a few months ago and have aquired several books regardihg oil painting in an effort to examine several points of view on the subject. This book, while it may not be the most helpful to me at this stage in my development, it is simply an excellent source of information for old and new artists alike. I would recommend adding this to any library of anyone just beginning a very complex hobby.



5. I was very pleased with this oil painter's solution book. It gave very clear and helpful answers to many of my questions about landscape painting, and the paintings themselves were quite beautiful.

5 comments about Photography: A Cultural History (2nd Edition).

1. 
   
   great condition thanks
   
   Photography: A Cultural History



2. I found photography a Cultural History a very hard to read book. The author seems to jump from subject to subject and from photographer to photographer without any cohesive meaning. The chapters get harder to read as you move towards the later chapters, unfortunately. I don't see what is the sense to mentioning what a photogrpher did or said in a 2 or 3 sentence paragraph, then jump to another photographer and do the same, then jump to another one and do the same and so on and so on. Also, why is the photographers years of existence printed next to each photographers name in parenthesis ? This only makes the book even harder to read. I bought the book because I'm a photography student and the book is mandatory for one of the required courses, but if it was up to me, I would rather use and purchase "The History of Photography" written By Beaumont Newhall even though it is out of date. This was the book originally used in the past, but a few years ago allot of schools decided to switch to the Warner Marien book which I think was a big mistake.



3. An exellent source. The price was unbeatable. At school a smaller version of this book was over $100 and I paid less than $50for a more complete book!



4. i had to buy this for class, and for once it isn't a "textbook" ! finally an art textbook that doubles as a coffee table book, and one you can read. very good text - easy, and not too "academic." highly recommend.



5. This text was hardcover and gorgeous.. and over 1/2 off what the bookstore at my school was selling it for.. Thank you

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

1. For a book of only 32 pages it is full of illustrated instructions on fabulous collage techniques for paper and fabric. A great addition to an inspiration library for any collage creative.



2. I was disappointed to find that this book really wasn't very substantial in the number of pages as her other books are. The ideas weren't anything new for me, but might be exciting for others. The photos in the book are AWESOME, as always.



3. I have purchased Sherrill Kahn's books previously and been very well satisfied with them and thus, thought this one would be a good addition. I'm not even sure new photographs were made for this book. It is a rehash of her other work. As though she said, "Lets just cut things that have to do with sewing out of the other books and call it new." A major disappointment! Unfortunately, I did not read the other reviews before ordering. Only if you've never seen work by Sherrill Kahn should you order this book! I will give mine away or send it back!



4. Stitched Collage is a beautifully written and illustrated book. It contains a great deal of information and has been a great resource for me. I own all of Ms. Kahn's books and refer to them frequently. Her techniques have enhanced my collages. I hope she publishes more soon.



5. 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.

5 comments about How to Draw and Paint Fairies: From Finding Inspiration to Capturing Diaphanous Detail, a Step-by-Step Guide to Fairy Art.

1. This book was certainly helpful. I especially liked the easy to draw faces. This book is great for people with intermediate drawing skills. If you only have very basic drawing skills, you will probably find it challenging, but with a bit of practice you should master drawing fairies.



2. This little book offers a surprising amount of material, not only to a new artist wanting to learn how to get started but also to artists with more experience seeking to refresh their knowledge of the basics and to expand their imaginations. Even non-artists would enjoy the illustrations, especially the collection of fairy paintings by a variety of fantasy artists at the end of the book. Beginners can follow the step-by-step instructions, and everyone can enjoy the Linda Ravenscroft illustrations throughout the book.



3. I was looking for a drawing guide for my daughter's 11th birthday and was hoping this book would be the key. We flipped through it at the craft store and it looked like a great instructional guide. The only hesitation I have and reason I did not purchase the book is the last few pages. There are some ill-clad fairies exposing more than I want my daughter to be drawing or her younger brothers to be seeing. I know it is common to have fairies naked even, so I was grateful there was only a few pages of what I would consider suggestive fairies. But, I wanted to share this review for other "carefully modest" parents who would rather not expose their children.



4. The best How to draw Fairies book for beginners available.
   Filled with valuable drawing and paint tips, along with beautiful fairy prints for inspiration.



5. This book was not only wonderful to look at, it was very instructive also. A fantastic way to spend a rainy day!