5 comments about Monotype: Mediums and Methods for Painterly Printmaking.

1. This book gives a thorough overview of Monotype printing. It starts out with materials needed, then goes on to talk about hand transfers, press transfers and doing monotypes in acrylic, watercolor, oil and printmaking inks. It covers mixed media and stencils, masks, etc. It has much practical/useful information in each section on both techniques and materials. There are examples of each type of work covered, athough I would have liked to see a larger "gallery" of work by different artist. A very good book if you are interested in monotypes.



2. This book answered many questions that other artists and I were asking regarding monotype. It gives you permission to proceed in any direction, using any materials you choose.



3. I'm so glad I bought this book. It is one of those I take down regularly. The author thoroughly understands monotype in many mediums. A previous reviewer mentioned how well the toxicity issue was dealt with. Lots of good color illustration.



4. I agree with the previous reviews - if you're creating monoprints, and particularly if you're looking for non-toxic methods, this is a great book. It's full color with many inspiring illustrations, and full of useful, practical information written in a friendly, down-to-earth manner.
   
   Re. recommended paints: I recently had the pleasure of taking a monoprinting class with Julia Ayres and her daughter Gail Ayres (at the Art Methods & Materials Show in Pasadena, CA, Oct 2004). The Ayres now recommend using the new Akua-Kolor waterbased inks by Rostow & Jung (www.waterbasedinks.com) which I assume were not invented at the time this book was originally printed. The advantage is that these inks are non-toxic, clean up easily, and they stay moist for days. You then print to DRY printmaking paper, and the inks dry instantly once they hit the paper. Now you don't have to worry about the inks drying on the plate, or handling fragile, wet paper. (I shoved my Createx paints in a bottom drawer after the workshop!)
   
   (If you get the opportunity, take a class with the Ayres if you're just getting started, as there's nothing quite like seeing the process in action and the book will make even more sense! They also teach using the PinPress Roller for making monoprints by hand; very useful if you don't have access to an expensive printing press.)



5. There seems to be very limited information available on the technique of monotype. This book fills that void by demonstrating the incredible variety of effects possible using the monotype method. There are no projects, per se, rather it teaches techniques that help you create your own masterpieces. Many pieces of example artwork are found throughout the book.

   A monotype is a one-of-a-kind print made by transferring a painted image to paper. The book starts out with an introduction to materials including plates, mediums, solvents, panting tools and paper as well as hand and press transfer equipment. It also covers studio safety and finding workshop facilities.

   Techniques are next including working into a light or dark field and both hand and press transfer.
   These include step-by-step instructions accompanied by demonstration photos. Working in specific mediums including watercolor, acrylics, water-soluble writing instruments, monoprint paints (Createx), oil paints, water-based oils and alkyds follows. A section discussing special oil-based printing inks for lithography, etching, printing and serigraphy is also here. There is even a chapter on special techniques including using masks & stencils, embossing and creating collages.

   The final chapter gives an overview of monoprints, which combine monotype with other print making processes, and mixed-media monotypes. This includes intaglio, drypoint and engraving, as well as linocut and collagraphic monoprints.

   There is a nice list of suppliers as well as interesting biographical notes on the artists featured in the back. This is a great book that displays the great diversity in mediums and results available with monotype.

No comments about No More Rules: Graphic Design and Postmodernism.

5 comments about Drawing the Living Figure.

1. As someone else mentioned, this goes in with my George Bridgman books. The terminology is simple, and doesn't get too medical. I really loved the variety of figures used, though I'd love to see more plus sized models in the male side and a more plump female figure.
   
   Sheppard lays out key points in observing how muscles and bones affect the surface anatomy of a figure. It shows you how for example the pelvis shows up and how muscle and fat distribution affects the legs, hips etc.
   
   Sheppard is rather concise and to the point, where many other anatomy books become too technical and you end up getting lost in the details.
   
   The other thing to mention is the price. Bridgman and Sheppard's books are rather inexpensive compared to many other anatomy and figure drawing books out there. This is a definite selling point!



2. Between the simplified cartoon anatomy books, popular today, and the detailed treatments inspired by medical textbooks, is this fine work. This book is built from the ground up for artists. By focusing on surface anatomy, showing its relation to underlying muscle and bone structure, and then presenting it all with a multitude of useful and expertly done drawings, Sheppard has produced what may be the finest anatomical artist reference.
   
   Most professional artists recommend Bridgeman's works. I don't doubt the usefulness of Bridgeman to a true working professional, but for me, and maybe other amateurs, the concepts in Bridgeman never seem to reveal themselves. Sheppard will be useful the first time you open the book and will certainly clear much of the confusion in figure drawing.



3. Excellent book.Draving are fantastic and informative.I just bought the book and would recommend it to everyone who needs help in drawing a human figure.



4. THIS BOOK IS A "MUST HAVE". It is not the only drawing book that you need in your personal library, but it is one of the most essential.
   
   The book includes about seventy well-drawn male and female nude drawings, grouped by type of pose (standing, crouching, twisting, etc.). Each of the seventy poses is drawn three times --
   (1) as an annotated finished drawing,
   (2) as an annotated (identically sized) skeleton in the same pose, and
   (3) as an annotated (identically sized) muscle diagram in the same pose.
   
   The anatomy is at a level of detail designed for the figure-drawing artist, not for the medical illustrator. As such, only those muscles and bones that are significant to a particular pose are labeled, and are described with simplified nomenclature.
   
   I remember complaining to my instructor that I could discern the rib cage in our male model, but not in this rounded-back posed female model. This book is the ideal reference for seeing the support infrastructure in such situations.
   
   Although there are many approaches to figure drawing, understanding the effects that underlying anatomical infrastructure have on surface anatomy is essential to realistic drawing. In addition to this book, you should also have other books in your figure drawing library, that cover croquis, circles & guidelines, tonal masses, planes, gestures, cylinders, lighting, proportions, contours, and other techniques. But Joseph Sheppard's "Drawing the Living Figure" will be your primary anatomical reference.



5. This book is both useful and economical. It covers male and female nudes in different positions and angles (3/4, side, frontal).

5 comments about Oil Painting Techniques and Materials.

1. Art instruction of this nature are hard to come by. This book should be entirely redone - different format, larger illustrations in color, a little updating - not too much. Speed is so interesting and helpful. He organizes what you already know, introduces you approaches you never thought of, shares his artistic philosophy and generally fills in the gaps in one's education. Glad I bought it.



2. Harold Speed has in this book explained everything an oilpainter needs to know. Very informative, and a great learning tool.



3. I enjoyed this book very much, in spite of the writing style of the day. The author knew his subject and was able to convey it to the reader. I've been painting for forty years and he had pointers and tips I have never seen or read anywhere else. I have put some of those into practice, and feel that my paintings are better for it. Even with the run on sentences and the not so humble opinions interwoven into it, this book is a valuable addition to anyone seriously studying representational painting, and I don't think it any more biased than many books written about painting which favor modern or non representational art.



4. This book is one of the best books out there for painting, it offers a wontderful insight to the craft of painting the classical way. I read it multiple times and I keep learning from it. The drawing book by the same author is just as awesome.



5. As a professional artist I have been a long time admirer of Harold Speed's books. If you are interested in learning the craft of painting the human figure in oil, then there is really no better primer than Oil Painting Techniques by Harold Speed. From my own experience in painting I have come to find that Speed's approach is the most intelligent and manageable of any I've studied. It's a method that applies to any subject, not just figure painting. No cheap gimmicks or "tricks," just good common sense and a clear explanation how to break down the spectrum of visual data into the most important components.

5 comments about Mexican Muralists: Orozco, Rivera, Siqueiros.

1. I am gald I was able to get this book and it fit with my budget perfectly and I am glad that I got it.



2. After having this on my wish list for a couple of years, and I finally purchased it after another trip to the Detroit Institute of Arts. If you're interested in Diego and his contemporaries, this book is a must-have!



3. Read the editorial reviews first and if you are still not convinced that this book does a good job covering the Big Three than get individual books on each. The text is outstanding and puts the works of art into a political context of the time period. The author is analytical, insightful and definitely well versed in the subject matter.There is an exhaustive bibliography, extensive endnotes on each chapter and spectacular reproductions on thick quality paper stock. There are historical photographs of public works in progress and a varity of camera angles of individual murals to show the enormity of the works. I have seen many of these murals on location and this book does an excellent job of portraying them as they are. When you see a Rivera fresco on a wall at the National Palace live or in this case from a pulled out camera angle and see the railing leading to the next floor being dwarfed by the images it is truly impressive. Looking at the details within the murals is the ultimate visual experience where you can get lost in the picture and the meaning. The closeups and details of individual segments are superior. This is art for the peoples public viewing brought directly to you from Mexico to hold in your hands and examine at your leisure. There are several good books out there on Mexican Murals but this one for the money is outstanding. The three artists each had a distictive style but each brought a unifying nationalistic approach to the walls of public buildings. Is one artist better than the other? You be the judge, everyone has their own favorite. If you are unfamiliar with the works of the Big Three than check it out, you are in for a treat.



4. This is definitely one of the best books out there for anyone interested in Mexican art. Few books can inspire as much as this one, especially for people from Zapotlanejo, Jalisco. It's loaded with many pictures and chronicles the lives of these three muralistas and has in depth coverage of specific murals, i especially enjoyed the coverage on "History of Mexico" mural by Diego Rivera. This book is definitely worth the price and a great addition to any collection. Orale!



5. Shows a great variety of each artists pieces and movements through out their career.

5 comments about Simplified Anatomy for the Comic Book Artist: How to Draw the New Streamlined Look of Action-Adventure Comics! (How to Draw).

1. This is by far my favorite of the series of drawing books produced by Chris Hart. It teaches exactly what the title says, except that I'd be tempted to say "for the cartoon artist" more than "comic artist." In response to some of the criticism I see in the reviews about this book... yes, if you lack a basic ability to draw, then this is a bad starting point. However, nothing about the book suggests that it is a good starting point. This is about drawing in a specific style, not drawing in general.



2. As an animation student, I have struggled with drawing the human figure for years! I recently discovered this book and I am amazed at how well Christopher Hart has presented a complicated subject in a way that is easy to read and understand. Hart has an amazing way of showing you how easy it is to apply human anatomy into a streamlined look without losing individuality in facial features or body builds. The book is filled with side-by-side comparisons of traditional styles and the more simplified look so the reader can take the important elements of human anatomy and apply them to the cartoon world.
   
   I previewed this book prior to purchasing it and I was originally skeptical. I worried that it might be too simple or geared towards a younger audience. After seeing an actual copy, my fears disappeared quickly! Although kids with an interest in cartooning can learn from this book, the adult crowd can too. Hart doesn't talk down to his audience and his sense of humor will make the adult audience chuckle.
   
   I can't recommend this book enough. Whether you're a cartoonist, animator, or hobbyist, this is the book that can really add life into your art.



3. If you're into drawing animated cartoons or comics, this is the book for you. It teaches on how to draw heroes & heroines with simple tutorials,and sample artworks. Basically only 35% teaches on how to draw, the rest are explaining the concepts,body structures,postures & angles.
   Overall,this book Rocks! I've learnt alot in this simplified books, rather than those how to draw Manga books. This book is the best!



4. If you have never drawn comics and are not much of an artist then this book is not for you. Being someone that does not draw very well this book did not help me much. After consulting with someone who is a beginning comic artist this book is very helpful. They were able to gain new perspective in anatomy and body stylization that they were not aware of before. So if you have been drawing a little while and want to advance your style technique then this book could be for you.



5. This is a GOOD solid book that addresses surface anatomy.
   I recommend this book for seasoned artists having a rough time
   transitioning from fine art to comic art. Plus this is a good reference
   for budding and intermediate artists as well.
   I think artists that want to explore making web-comics
   and desire to create clean, crisp, deleniated fiures/ faces
   will benefit from a book like this.
   
   This one of the BETTER books by Hart.

5 comments about Painting the Impressionist Landscape: Lessons in Interpreting Light and Color.

1. I found this book a valuable addition to my library. As an Artist it proved to be a wonderful learning tool, with detailed explainations, examples, and a number of practical step by step learning project. It has added great depth to my paintings. I would recommend it to both experienced artist and beginners. Beautiful colour photos!!!



2. This is an excellent book for learning color theory. You can tell she loves teaching because she doesn't hold back. She is really trying to help you learn the concepts. She paints in an impressionist style, but her methods would work no matter what your style is.



3. It just didn't motivate me like I wanted it to.... so I sold it. But, it does have some good steps to getting that impressionistic look. I suggest trying out the book by Susan Sarback, Capturing Radiant Color in Oils (Paperback)
   ISBN: 1581800614. I've been on her website, and she has some remarkable paintings as well.



4. This discussed painting in a way I needed to hear. It was easy to work with and inspired ideas for me to try. Great book



5. I learned so much from this book. I started painting about 3 years ago and I just painted a little bit more realistically and now I can actually paint in a more impressionist way! Very informing... satisfied + customer

5 comments about Graphic Design: A Concise History, Second Edition (World of Art).

1. Unless you are interested in the opinions of the author, the book is not worth the purchase price. Why? Illustrations. There are but a handful of color illustrations and the majority of all the illustrations are smaller than 1" x 1.5". Save the pennies and buy a history with illustrations that are in color and can be seen.



2. First: it is great book full of a lot of examples and connections. And I love it and I can recomend it for everyone who wants to know something about graphic design.
   But sometimes it lost connection between graphic and polictic, which is important in 1920s and 1930s.



3. The type (copy) and the book itself are really small and hard to read. It's more like a pocket size handbook. I should have done more research before I purchased; I made the inaccurate assumption that art/design books are usually larger in scale. I can't comment on the content of the book because the size of it was such an impediment I stopped reading after a few chapters.



4. for design students. The book gives a complete analysis of the graphic design's history.



5. insightful, full of samples (about 800 though largely black & white) a great guide to graphic styles, and the key movers & shakers in the history of graphic design right through from the 1890s to the 1990s.

   a huge resource for such a little book, definately worth reading if not just to look at the pictures...

5 comments about Complete Guide to Self Publishing: Everything You Need to Know to Write, Publish, Promote, and Sell Your Own Book (Self-Publishing 4th Edition).

1. This is it folks. If you are trying to decide which books to buy for the independently publishing path, GET THIS ONE! It is a jewel, please ignore the haters saying its overrated (there are always haters). It's a great book!



2. When I decided to start my own small press, I bought perhaps a dozen books about publishing. The Complete Guide to Self Publishing was the best of them all. It is somewhat outdated (2002 edition) but the information is very solid, practical and well-organized. I carried it around until it became stained and dog-eared.



3. I have always used mainstream publishers, so I cannot attest the the accuracy of the content. The book gave me ideas for marketing, however, and I appreciated some of the beginning, concrete information.
   
   Seems logical and up-to-date, so I added it to my recommended books list for a graduate communication projects course.



4. Having met the Ross's at Colorado Independent Publishers Assn and purchased their book, I felt ready to complete my manuscript. I found I was using it almost hourly. Lots of straight from the shoulder opinions as to what not to use or do. As well as sure fire suggestions in what to watch out for. They even have forms and phone numbers that can be used. I found out what there was to know about ISBN numbers and how to get them. I keep it handy and still use it to remind me of points that I find have slipped my recall. No other publication is needed in this area of information, that I can imagine. A keeper. Not a loaner.
   Randall Shelton, author of "Life on Earth The Game."



5. Well, "YES," but only if you intend to hire professionals to do a lot of your technical self-publishing work. But if you want really to do it ALL yourself, Tom and Marilyn's instructions do not include the step-by-step, bottom-line, technical details on how to create formatted computer files that POD presses will accept.
   
   You will not learn how to use a computer to setup and format your pages, to insert section breaks and page numbers, to insert 300 dpi photos, or to format a cover for your book. And, this book tells you nothing at all about how to convert your book block and cover files to PDF, the format required by POD presses. (Amazon offers other books that will teach you these skills.)
   
   However, if you really don't want to do all this yourself, The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing is THE book you surely should buy. This book is geared primarily to teach you how to set-up your own, full-blown publishing business, and how to sell your books, once you have published them. Virtually all aspects of these two main topics are covered in great detail. To a lesser extent (in 53 of the book's 521 pages), suggestions and instructions concerning book and cover design are helpful as far as they go. But to convert their ideas to computer files, Tom and Marilyn suggest repeatedly that you should hire professionals to do these technical tasks.
   
   Even so, because of its overall, valuable content, I have given this book a five-star rating.
   
   Edwin Scroggins is author of HOW TO SELF-PUBLISH YOUR BOOK WITH BOOKSURGE FOR LESS $$$: A Step-by-Step Guide for Designing & Formatting Your Microsoft Word Book to POD & PDF Press Specifications

5 comments about Cartooning the Head and Figure.

1. Exhaustive variations, small printing and illustrations, pages jam-packed with examples. Good for the price; some readers will probably prefer a more modern volume. Talented author. Worth a look.



2. This the best cartooning book around. A classic. A must for entry level cartoonist or professional.



3. I'm always looking for the perfect book of whatever variety, & speaking as a former library employee, a cartoonist & art teacher, Jack Hamm has written THE book on cartooning. It is so packed with examples & not so much text, as it should be, it has tips & then TONS of examples. The style ranges from early American cartooning style to 50s/60s modern style. Fantastic examples of different expressions, hand positions, walking positions, drawing women, all of it. All good. If you want a great guide for old fashioned American cartooning, this is the one to get. Then get the Preston Blair book from Walter Foster.



4. This book is full of great ideas and tips. There's plenty for the beginner, like little tutorials on highly-stylized eyes or noses or mouths, or straightforward examples on common poses, but it's not just a book for beginners. There are a lot of highly-finished drawings as well, and examples of moving from simple to more complex drawings. Plus tips on various penciling and inking techniques, and various cartoon genres. All in all, there are literally thousands of examples and sketches, enough material to keep anybody busy for a long time. I've pulled this book down from the shelf more often than any of my other numerous drawing books, and I've filled page after page with exercises based on the material. A classic and worth far more than its price.



5. If you're a cartoonist this is a book you have to have. It has been in publication for quite a while but nothing better has been created in the way of a great, all-purpose reference book. I've gone through a couple copies of this book and no matter how many times I looked at it I was still able to come up with ideas. Whether you're just starting out or have been doing cartoons for years you should have a copy of this book.