2 comments about What's the Big Idea?: Activities and Adventures in Abstract Art (Art Explorers).

1. What's the Big Idea? Follows in the style of Joyce Raimondo's other books in this series. I teach art education on a college level and use her books as a way to help my students understand that when you are creating art with children it is not just the activity or experience of making art that is fundamental. It is the balance that comes from discussions of looking at art that provides open ended thinking and questioning that prepares students to be creative. It is a process that encourages risk taking and validates expression in art.



2. From a mixed-up green face to a mobile that changes, abstract art is explored for kids using a little under fifty pages of full color art blended with questions and ideas for children ages 5-12. From easy art projects supporting art examples to color pictures of works by famous artists, WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA? ACTIVITIES AND ADVENTURES IN ABSTRACT ART is a winning art survey.

3 comments about The Art of Portrait Drawing: Learn the Essential Techniques of the Masters.

1. The "Art of Portrait Drawing", a hard cover beautifully printed book, is a fine addition to any beginning or intermediate artists library. Joy Thomas is a highly skilled artist and the book is filled with "hands on" demonstrations and practical tips on approaching this subject. Personally
   I find portrait drawing/painting to be an extremely challenging and intimidating task. Indeed there are many "celebrity" artists in the top galleries who couldn't paint a good portrait if their life depended on it.
   While this book may not be the definative work on Portrait Drawing, it is very well done and well worth the investment.



2. The author works from life and covers most the kinds of things you'd want to know about successful portraiture. The step-by-step was most interesting to read as she takes you through a process and how to resolve some issues you may run into. It doesn't offer a lot to beginners because she assumes you know how to see and do basic drawing and toning. I'd say this is a book for the intermediate artist who needs to reenforce existing knowledge with some very useful tips you probably never thought of, particularly for drawing from life.
   
   I only have a few small critical things to say here. Although she reviews some basics on composition such as the golden ratio, she doesn't actually seem to practice them much in her examples. For example, she shows you how to "center" the head and says the "full face" portrait is the most common. Well I've heard alot of arguments against centering and full face views so it seems a contradiction to talk composition then not practice it in reality. I believe the 3 quarter view is most common, and you do not want to center the head for reasons I can't give here because it is too detailed. But perhaps she didn't want to overload the reader with composition theory since that's a much more complex issue.
   
   But this is very worthwhile to read and she seems to have done a great job with the structure and language of the book.



3. I just watched the video that comes with this book. I would higly recommended both. As a beginner it was inspiring to watch an artist actually doing the technique described in the book. I can only imagine that if someone has more experience, it would be very usefull to see someone highly skilled perform their technique. I have read many books on this subject and find this to be the best.

4 comments about Let's See: Writings on Art from The New Yorker.

1. Peter Schjeldahl is simply the best. Not only is he extremely knowledgeable on art from A to Z but he is an inventive, creative thinker and writer with the gifts to make his essays works of art in themselves.
   
   This is to say that his readers come away inspired, educated and entertained, much like seeing art but with the best of all docents.
   
   As brilliant as Schjeldahl's essays are, they do not compete for attention with the subject at hand. They illuminate and provoke and add to one's understanding of particular artists and their works.
   
   Own this book. See art through a different and clear lens. Enjoy the inspiring journey essay to essay. Bravo Maestro.



2. Peter Schjeldahl was just awarded the 2008 Clark Prize for Excellence in Arts Writing, which recognizes one writer each year who promotes the public appreciation of the visual arts in a way that "is grounded in scholarship yet appeals to a wide audience."
   
   'Let's See,' Schjeldahl's new collection of his essays from the New Yorker, shows why he won this prestigious award and also shows how far he has come as an art critic.
   
   Years ago, when I used to live in Manhattan (in a studio big enough for me, my cat, and a hot-plate), I used to read Schjeldahl, who then wrote for the Village Voice, which even at that time was a pretty second-rate rag. I never really liked Schjeldahl's writing back then. He was really snarky, a kind of a hipster-poser smartypants type. But in reading 'Let's See,' or his New Yorker essays in general, you'll notice immediately that he has matured both in his attitude towards his job and in his writing style, which is consistently straightforward, to the point, and memorable. (Schjeldahl is also an award-winning poet, and his love of language shows in his criticism as well.)
   
   I can't say that I always agree with Schjeldahl's taste in art. John Currin seems to be one of his favorites (the cover image is a Currin painting) and despite Schjeldahl's frequent praise, I just can't see why this guy is good, much less great. But you don't need to agree with all of Schjeldahl's opinions to see that they are carefully reasoned and based on a deep love and understanding of art built up over a lifetime.
   
   Of course, some of the artists that Schjeldahl praises here are basically no-brainers: Velazquez, Vermeer, El Greco. Who doesn't like those painters? But Scheldahl brings a level of depth and insight to his discussion of their works that makes you see them in new and interesting ways.
   
   I also really like the fact that Schjeldahl, the former hipster-dude, had the courage to put in a good word (actually a really strong defense) of Norman Rockwell, an artist he probably would have dissed big time back in the Village Voice days.
   
   This is a really good book for people interested in art in all of its complexity. Schjeldahl makes you use all of your brain cells, but if you can follow his arguments, they're very rewarding. I enjoyed this book a lot.



3. A repackaged set of articles from The New Yorker. I liked the short form for each chapter of this book and many of the descriptive or explanatory insights, but think the individual articles probably had more impact when read closer to the event being described, normally a special art exhibit at some museum.
   
   The author, Peter Schjeldahl, certainly knows a lot about art and artists but comes across in this book as more interested in showing his erudition through a prose style that seems to be always in search of the obscure word or phrase towards the destination of a sweeping judgement.
   
   The back cover of the dust jacket shows a man who is as close to the "look" (beat up, buttoned-up rain coat with woolen scarf carelessly wrapped around a neck crowned by a head with wind-swept gray hair) of the stereotypical New York City intellectual as you might ever want to find. I also found the twenty questions (of course adoringly posed by famous art-world friends) format of the introduction annoying. My final minor annoyance is the fact that a one-paragraph only description of the author (located on the inside flap of the dust jacket) manages to shoehorn in the fact that he "has taught at Harvard University." How nice.



4. Schjeldahl's accumulation of reviews from the renaissance to recent contemporary art is a fun read once you get past the author's rather pedantic writing style. I don't think I have ever encountered "insouciance" more frequently in my life. His interview with gallerist Marian Goodman was better than some of the art reviews. He has strong opinions when it comes to contemporary art--and probably the experience to back them up.

2 comments about Watercolor Painting For Dummies (For Dummies (Sports & Hobbies)).

1. Wow! Most art books are like the ones you remember from college--sky high prices and nothing but print. Art books need pictures, and this one has plenty of them in color--no guessing as to the artist's tecnique. You can use it as a reference, or start from scratch. It gives you sources for everything you need. A must have for any artist's library.



2. Watercolor Painting for Dummies is a great book for both beginners and artist who just need to brush (no pun intended) up on the fundamentals of w/c painting. If you're looking for a book to give you all the information you need because you are just beginning, this is it. This book is chock full of everything you need to know and everything they teach in art class.
   Another good thing about this book is you don't have to start from the first chapter and read from there (unless you are a beginner).
   And there are several projects you can paint "along" with.
   This is a good book to have and refer back to again and again.

No comments about Publication Design Workbook.

5 comments about DK Art School: An Introduction to Art Techniques (DK Art School).

1. I have always wanted to paint & draw but never knew or learned the techniques. This book has everything. What brushes to use what kind of paper, what kind of pencils to use, how to make your own frames, how to use color pencils, etc. The book is paperback as indicated above, and it has great pictures and is enough depth for a beginner (like myself.) Highly recommended!



2. This book has great information on a lot of topics! I use it in a few ways. As a practicing and selling artist, and it's a good place for ideas, inspirations and technique brush-ups. I also teach community art classes and it's great when I need project ideas, or even need to refresh myself or teach myself techniques for a certain class. This would also be a great book for a budding artist looking for an area of concentration.



3. This book is a great book for children and adults who want a basic introduction to art mediums. DK always does a good job of describing and it is an enjoyable read.



4. DK books are always a "best buy" when it comes to bringing clear, concise information on how to do almost anything.



5. The book is in wonderful shape! My daughter needed it for a college class so the price helped her out a lot. I am an art teacher and was very impressed with it. I told her when she is finished with it she needn't pay me back...just give ME the book.

5 comments about Modeling the Figure in Clay (Practical Craft Books).

1. This excellent book teaches you accurate anatomy at the same time as providing quality instruction on figure sculpting.



2. I am an artist who love to make detailed art work in my drawing and sculpture. I love art, but it cannot become my life career. While unable to attend any art class but despreately want to learn I look in to books for answers. And I found this book. I find my answers to the detail I'm looking for in this book. The book shows you how the artist create a female body sculpture starting from bone to muscle, and from muscle to skin. This book is a good resource to me. As my own Christmas presents I bought it.



3. This book is more helpful than Lucchesi's other guides. There is a lot of practicle info here which will help you get familiar with figure sculpting. I would say that this book as actually about as helpful as taking a beginning figure sculpture class, and the techniques are very solid. I am actually a pretty tough critic, and a 4 star review for an art instruction book coming from me is pretty rare (check out my other reviews for art books if you don't believe me).



4. So appreciate that Bruno took the time to produce this book so that those of us who arent able to attend his workshops, have the opportunity to learn.A master of anatonomy who presents the process in pictorial stages we can clearly follow.A must have figure form book.



5. both this and 'Modeling the Head in Clay' are the best books I've seen on the subject.
   
   Highly recommended

5 comments about Dior.

1. It's a delightful experience to see every single page. A complete review of the Christian Dior Maison. Full of memorable pictures, I enjoyed a lot the pics taken to press articles of that time. It gives a great historical character to the brand and allows to readers to see the press comments exactly as they were published. critics? I had added a bit more of text with comments of people related to the brand throughout these 60 years: Models, executives & business men, celebrities, fashion journalists, workers and friends of the five designers (Dior, Saint Laurent, Bohan, Ferre and Galliano) . Huge, heavy, great pics and full of classic Dior moments, it's the classic coffee table book. Perfect to be enjoyed by people who love books and of course...fashion.



2. Hundred bucks?
   No Problem.
   No regret!
   
   Great acquisition.
   Feast for the eye.
   I had hours of enjoyment reading it.



3. Museum quality research book of a haute couture master designer. Completely satisfying. Beautifully detailed..well photographed, an enjoyment to read. A rich glorious heavy volumed coffee table book that you will actually read!



4. Dior! Quel nom! What a name. The master of the feminine sihouette. Just the right touch. Nothing more, nothing less. Simplicite fait beaute. Lovely book.



5. 
   This book is perfect tribute to the Master and to the house of Dior. IT is a soaring achievement of beauty and scholarship. It is breathtaking. DO your self a favor just buy it.

1 comments about Launching the Imagination.

1. the book was ok, i bought a brand new one, and it's looks absolutely fine,there's nothing wrong with it.
   and i got it on time, it wasn't too fast either, yeah, it was ok

4 comments about Structural Package Designs (Agile Rabbit Editions).

1. If you're a visual learner like I am, this book will be helpful in giving you an overview of packaging design but without any words. This book is all about packaging examples, you can either reproduce, modify, or simply find inspiration from. If you are interested in understanding the why, you will need a different book, but for the how, this in my mind was very helpful, especially when it came to drafting in 2D.



2. It is very useful, it have a CD with different files of model of package. You can use it how example and you can understand the structure of each one.



3. I like the original red structural package designs by Haresh Pathak.



4. I would recommend this book to everyone who enjoys crafts and modeling, or just to everybody who is curios about the making of things, because this book contains ready-to-use printable and editable (look for the cd-rom) patterns for the most used types of packaging on the market.
   Be aware that this book is just a collection, a dummy, with no explanations.
   But unfortunately, all the examples I have printed directly from the source files were somehow misfit and ended to be weird useless objects (stuff for 'The Design of Everyday Things' by Donald A. Norman, if you like).
   I am not sure if this problem is in my copy of the book (an 'errata corrige'?), I hope that you'll be more lucky than me.
   
   To all design students I would recommend this book, instead: 'The Packaging Designer's Book of Patterns' by Lazlo Roth, George L. Wybenga