5 comments about The Goblins of Labyrinth: 20th Anniversary Edition.

1. I bought this book for my girlfriend, that loved it when she was little, but lost the book in a moving.
   
   This book is really charming and very imaginative. The explanations and names of the creatures are very amusing, the illustrations are amazing, and the talent of the author shows.
   
   However, it is more a goblin catalog than a fantasy book or novel, so be sure of what you are buying. It is an artbook, not a tale or a novel. It can be enjoyed anyway by young and old, I think, but it is what it is.



2. Brian Froud, the creative genius behind Jim Henson's The Labyrinth, presents his concept illustrations for the film in this beautiful book. Written as a long-lost "archeological find," this book catalogues a variety of different goblins who allegedly lived 60 million years ago. It was a delight to see some of the original sketches that would eventually evolve into puppets from one of my favorite movies as a child. The best part was the afterward. There's not too much content, but I love the idea of a whimsical brainstorming session with Jim Henson in the back of a limo and the evolution of David Bowie into Jared the Goblin King. This is a great coffee table book for any fan of The Labyrinth.



3. I am very happy with my purchase. It was given as a Christmas present along with the World of the Dark Crystal. If you are or know a Jim Henson or Brian Froud fan than this is a must have.



4. I order 2 books from the vender. To my surprise they came as if they were worth gold. Of course to me they were. but they were bound in heavy plastic packed to protect them and shipped in heavy in cardboard. I will order from this vendor anytime I see their name on a book I want, even if they are not the least expensive,because these 2 books I ordered from them have absoultely no tell tail signs of being used.
   To see pictures of these books please go to laneiam@aol.com and see shared pictures dated 1/6/08



5. As always Brian Froud out did himself. He is so talented. The only thing I am not sure of is how long this book will last if viewed quite a bit. the stitching isn't uniformed through out the book.

5 comments about Andy Warhol: Giant Size.

1. Bought as a gift for a 21st birthday. Will be a memory that he can keep for a long time with a personal message on the inside front cover.
   
   Great gift idea! Would highly recommend



2. This is a real great (and large ;-) ) book with beatiful reproductions of Andy Warhol. My children love to go through it. It was also for sale on the Warhol exhibition in the "Stedelijk Museum" in Amsterdam last year.



3. My daughter is 24 years old and she is an aspiring artist. Andy Warhol is her very favorite. I got her this book for Christmas and it is her most favorite thing. She says that the detail that it has is facinating and compelling. One word of advice though...it is one HEAVY book so make sure that you are in a comfortable place to support it while you are reading.



4. Definitely worth the money!
   
   I've recently got into andy warhol and this is the second book i have by him. The book has stunning portraits/photographs/art thats what i love about andy warhol everything is unique and different.I wasn't sure what to expect with this book however i'm glad that I purchased it.
   
   You also might want to check out "Men - Andy Warhol"



5. Fantastic pictorial book...worth every penny. If you are a fan of Warhol, this is the book to own. Great prints of Andy's work from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s - including rare prints. You won't be disappointed - it is all here. The dimensions are impressive at 17" x 13" x 2 1/2", and it makes for a beautiful coffee table book that you will be proud to display. The pictures are sharp, both in color and b&w, and many are full-page, including pics of Andy and Edie. Outstanding!

4 comments about Painting with Acrylics (Acrylic Tips & Techniques).

1. This book is great, it shows in detail exactly how to do acrylic paintings using all kinds of subjects and mediums... as a newby to painting (I usually draw) I am having a lot of fun. I thoroughly recommend this book



2. After a short introduction about the materials, color, and tips on composition, Arnold Lowrey spends the bulk of this book giving instructions on how he created 6 paintings that use different techniques. These instructions really are step by step and never jump way ahead in the painting in one "step" leaving you thinking, "what, how did he do that?" He always lets you know exactly what colors and instruments he used to create each object in the painting. All in all, incredibly helpful.



3. "Painting With Acrylics" starts with an informative introduction which discusses the wide variety in styles and uses of acrylic paint. The sections on acrylic mediums, brush strokes, composition and using color were particularly interesting. The author then shows how to paint six scenes using a well-rounded variety of techniques. He shows how to use palette knives, sponges, sand paper, paper towels, razor blades, fingers and of course paint brushes to achieve the look of water color, scumbling, oil paint, and glazes. In addition, he teaches the reader how to use acrylic pastes and gels. I highly recommend this book.



4. I was unsure of buying this book because it was unreviewed and I had not heard of the author. I'm very glad I took the chance. I've been dabbling with acrylic painting for the last year or so (with no other painting or art experience), and I'm still a pretty rank beginner. I have several other books on acrylic painting. Some of them I like very well, but this is the one I was able to follow the most easily and wind up with something approximating "art."
   
   The strenght of the book is the detailed instruction for completing each project. Lowrey approaches things in a step by step manner. Some of my other books are step by step, but they seem like huge steps because I am left wondering, okay, how did you get from this step to that step? Not here. I think any beginner would be very pleased with this book.
   
   As for what the book covers - It has brief sections on materials, color theory, and composition. Most of the book, though, is split up into six projects:
   1. Watercolor technique
   2. Oil (impasto) technique
   3. mixed watercolor/oil technique
   4. glazing with white
   5. glasing with color
   6. using pastes & gels.
   
   Following each project is a number of paintings created with the same technique. And Mr. Lowrey's paintings are very attractive, I think. I very much like his use of color.
   
   At any rate, Mr. Lowrey's book was very helpful to this beginner. He maintains a website, so check out some of his art if you're curious. (an internet search on Arnold Lowrey and acrylic should be sure to turn it up.)

1 comments about SKULLS.

1. This book is a series of examples from the author's blog where he creates a skull a day out of various materials. He's incredibly creative using such items as computer keys, bubble wrap, petroleum jelly, army guys and more to create skulls. I bought the book two days ago and I've already gone through it three times, and it's inspired me to start a daily art project of my own.

5 comments about Perspective for Artists (Dover Art Instruction and Reference Books).

1. This book is like a little paper back novel so dont expect any big diagrams and its printed on butchers paper basically, but having said that it is cheap and a handy little reference pocket book for someone who needs to look up drawing in perspective its very old as well first published way back last cenury or the one before cant rember but it is an oldie ,I got something out of this book so i dont consider it a waste of money has things like drawing stairs in perspective inclined planes elipses , domes spires stuff like that there is a fair bit of info crammed into it . worth a go.



2. Yes the language can be a little hard, but with some logic and patience it's completely understandable. This is an incredibly thorough book and I highly reccommend it.
   
   I give it four stars because there will always be people who are irritated by old fashioned writing and if you are that sort of person, I'd say try another book.



3. I have read 7+ books on perspective and I believe the thouroughness of this book and its explanations make it the one book you could use above any other. It is comparable to G. A. Storey's book but is easier to understand and it fills in the gaps that other books take the reader's knowledge for granted. I would, however, suggest reading multiple books on perspective because many will explain certain things that others will take for granted and vis versa.



4. I purchased this book as a reference, but after getting it in my
   hands, I found it engrossing cover to cover. I would never have
   guessed that a book on a subject like perspective could draw the
   reader in like this one does. Mr. Cole had a nice way of including
   the reader in a way that makes you feel like he's present. I had
   no experience with perspective before this book, but now I can draw
   realistic arbitrary items with confidence. It has helped my
   portrait drawing as well. A must-have for any artists library.



5. Imaginary settings, like fantasy novels, sometimes need to be anchored by a lot of realism. While emphasising getting the perspective of what you're looking at right, there is a tremendous amount here for the artist drawing what only exists in his or her imagination. The last section, frighteningly called "Mechanical Perspective" (anything mechanical is evil, right?), merely deals with how to start with an overhead plan and wind up with a sketch of the building or ship, inside or out.

5 comments about The Fantasy Illustrator's Technique Book (Quarto Book).

1. This is a really cool book. Great for artist. filled with tons of great info, techniques and referrence materials.
   i would highly recommend this book to any one who likes to draw. you won't be disappointed.



2. This is one of the better art books I have found up to date. It does give some instruction on painting and drawing but I feel is meant more for an advance student of fantasy art than a beginner. Some one with some art experience will find it very helpful in many areas. It is definitely one of my favorite additions to my own reference library.



3. This book was helpful for determining things like color choices for skin tones, and was inspirational for trees, and different creatures. Their choices of finished artist's works were neat. However, this book did not give much information for techniques in acrylics, which is what I work in. For people who need help drawing fantasy characters, and fleshing them out, this book is great, but I do this naturally, so it wasn't a really big help for me.



4. This is a light-hearted, profusely illustrated book on the making of fantasy art, with a nice gallery of other artist's works in the back.
   It is, though, not necessarily a book for present illustrators looking to get into the fantasy market; it is really more for a young person just starting out. Artists who are further along with fundamental skills in drawing and painting would benefit more from John Howe Fantasy Art Workshop, a more in-depth and less elementary approach. But for lovers of fantasy art, either book is a pleasure to see.



5. I found this book, and a few others like it to be absolutely indespensable when it comes to building a library for the functional artist within this genre. Well written, informative, and lavishly illustrated with how to's as well as finished peices meant to inspire the aspiring and the pros alike. Recommended.
   John F Willis

4 comments about Fantastic Ornament: 110 Designs and Motifs (Dover Pictorial Archive Series).

1. A couple of reviews have mentioned that the designs in this book were too intricate and therefore they gave it less than stellar reviews. However, I believe that this is the books strength and not it weakness. I design websites and the images in this book worked perfectly, precisely because they were more detailed.



2. I don't agree with the previous 2 reviews of this book. I think it has plenty of great elements to incorporate into any design. Maybe they are right about being too complicated for crafts. I am a graphic artist, and the more complicated, the better. I especially like the details of the mystical creatures that are featured in this book. Lots of flourishes and victorian type ornamentation like most of Dover's books in this genre. I believe this book stands on it's own and worth having it as part of your clipart library.



3. Just received this book and although pretty, there is very little in it that I could use. Was looking for more design ideas for working ceramic tiles, and the items in this book were far too complicated to transfer or use in any simple fashion. This book would be more suited to someone designing wallpaper or historical features in home decor, and not so much for someone wanting practical design ideas.



4. This book is more for people who are looking for Designs and motifs for furniture, grave stones, or wall panals, the designs are too intricate to transfere, I'm not impressed with this book for designs & motifs for craft.

5 comments about The Greatest Album Covers of All Time.

1. What a great book. Could sit and look at it for hours. Makes a great gift.



2. My fiance and I spent over an hour in the book store looking through this book. We were so impressed by the collection that we actually decided to use this as the guest book at our wedding. There is something in this book for everyone and we intend to let our guest flip to their favorite cover and leave us a message. The great thing about music is that is spans cultures and generations, and we will be able to learn more about our wedding guests through their choices in this book. We highly recommend it for music lovers fanatic to casual listener.



3. My husband, John Berg, was the art director of many of the covers in this book. I looked in the index to find where they were and I was amazed that a book on the subject of the album COVERS would not have a listing for the people who created the album covers. Listing the albums by recording artist and listing by album name is fine but the subject of the book is the ART on the covers, and yet the art directors, while buried in the text under the pictures of the individual album covers within the body of the book, are not singled out in an index. A person researching the work of John Berg, or Bob Defrin or Paula Scher would have to KNOW the album title or the band in order to see the work. That's ok for a book about the bands, or the music or even the decade, but if it's about the cover art lets have it BE about the cover art- there should have been an index for the ART PEOPLE: the illustrators, the photographers and the art directors...so for someone interested in who did the covers rather than just what they look like this is not the best book, no matter how well it's printed.



4. I received this book for the holidays and wound up reading it cover to cover in 3 hours. The book does a great job of explaining the evolution of the album cover. It also gives great background into what the artist's was trying to portray with the cover. The book covers all genres, as well as, explains covers that were giving social commentary to covers that are just plain silly. Great purchase for anyone that loves not only the music but everything that goes into it.



5. If I had known, this would have been the last gift my husband opened. We could not get him away from this book on Christmas morning. It was fun to see him sit with our daughter and tell her about which titles he had and some of his memories to go along with the album covers. Neat book!

5 comments about History of Far Eastern Art (5th Edition).

1. It was in great condition when I received it. I have not read it yet, since it is for a college course, and it won't start until the 25th of August. I'm sure it is like any other textbook.



2. I'm reading this book for an Asian Art class, and I find it has both significant strengths and significant weaknesses.

   Its major strength is the integrated approach: Sherman Lee organizes the book chronologically and thematically, rather than geographically. Instead of writing a section on Chinese art and a section on Indian art, Lee organizes his material by stage of development (Stone Age pottery) or by cultural movement (Buddhism), for example tracing the development of Buddhist styles in India, the adoption of those styles in China, Japan, and S.E. Asia, and the eventual synthesis of the Indian influences into local styles incorporating indigenous themes. Lee writes eloquently and even passionately about his subject, letting us know which cultures, styles, and artworks he admires. He covers a vast amount of cultures and time periods, easily enough material for dozens of books.

   The book does have significant flaws, however. Most frustrating are the black and white photos (presumably a cost-saving measure). Roughly 90% of the images in the book are black and white, and they cannot do justice to most of the subject matter. A second weakness is Lee's writing style, which is sometimes more eloquent than comprehensible. At times I had to reread a section several times in order to figure out what Lee was trying to say. He sometimes seemes to be addressing himself to an audience of art critics who are already familiar with the material, rather than students encountering it for the first time. He will tell us that a particular art work is hieratic in style, or is an example of Daoist style, without explaining why. Also the thematic, rather than chronological, approach means that some topics are fragmented into parts of different chapters. The material on Korea, Southeast Asia, and the Tang Dynasty seemed especially disjointed. The sections on China in particular need more development: Lee provides only a single page of text on the historically pivotal Qin Dynasty, and does only a fair job explaining the influences of Confucianism and Daoism.

   One alternative text that deserves consideration is The Art of East Asia, edited by Gabriele Fahr-Becker. Almost of the photographs are in color, and the text is both more comprehensive and more comprehensible than Sherman Lee, in particular the section on China. The text is written by several different authors, one for each region, which has both advantages and disadvantages -- it avoids the fragmentation of Lee's approach, at the expense of integrating it all into one consistent framework. The key disadvantage of The Art of East Asia (compared to Sherman Lee's History of Far Eastern Art) is that it doesn't include India, which contributed some of Asia's most impressive sculptures, and whose religions had tremendous influence on the rest of Asia.





3. I was required to use this book as a secondary text for a class on early Asian Cultures at NYU. Along with the material presented in class, this book provided great insight into basics of the Asian culture.

   This rather heavy book is perfectly organized chronologically and geographically. It provides great graphical supplement to the study of early Asian art. Many artifacts are portrayed, most with detailed description of their history and origin.

   I enjoyed my class greatly and this book provided great help to understanding Asian art. If you are a person who prefers visual aids rather than tons of text and would like to learn the basics of Asian art, I highly recommend this book. The photographs are excellent, and more often then not, actually motivate you to reading the descriptions of the portrayed objects. This book will not make you an expert on Asian art, but you'll be able to schmooze your way through at pretentious cocktail parties without any effort.




4. I was required to purchase this book for an oriental art class at VCU. when I went to purchase it in person, most places wated $75 or better for it. Being a student, I am not rich. Amazon had it for the best price and for that I am very happy. points to amazon yet again for having the best price. THANKS!



5. Sherman Lee guides us through the ages and territories of the Far East in this study. A study of art following a wonderfully coordinated common theme - ritual and religion. Most noteable is the progress of Buddhism from its origins in India, through Southeast Asia, into China, Korea and finally Japan. Respectable discourse on other arts are included in the tour. Good reading and a great survey of the arts of the Far East.

5 comments about Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo.

1. This wonderful book tells the remarkable story of one of the most interesting women of all time. It is wonderful "read" and as colorful as Frida herself.



2. I read this book when it was first published and it changed my life, the way i looked at art and the way I approached my own art. Frida was an enigmatic personality, a genius of the surreal emotions we have. I adore her and her art. The book by Hayden Herrera was so thoroughly researched that if you end up visiting Coyocan, you will feel familiar with it and the cultures that surround it. Wonderful biography, well written, well researched and what a great service the author has done in educating us on an incredible artist that would have otherwise been hidden behind the shadows of her husband.



3. I bought this book after re-watching the movie taken largely from this exhaustive biography. As someone who has read many bios, let me say that this is a refreshing and encouraging alternative to the fawning and excessive grocery store drivel and/or the dull and fact-filled dissertations that describe most biographies. Hayden Herrera manages to combine a staggeringly comprehensive detailing of Kahlo's life with an easy prose that makes for an engaging read. I know far more about this artist than I could've imagined and it is largely first-hand accounts either from the pages of Frida's own diaries and numerous letters or the people who were there. Herrera keeps her personal opinions regarding the events to a minimum and allows the events to speak for themselves. The life of Frida Kahlo needs no additional padding or maudlin tricks to engender a connection to anyone with a heart and soul. When the author does speculate, it comes from someone who has clearly studied her subject thoroughly and backs up her theories with a wealth of compelling evidence and sensible arguments. While her appreciation for Kahlo is obvious, Herrera does not stop short of being critical, questioning Kahlo's motives, and revealing the stark humanity and insecurity that Kahlo tried to obscure with her public persona as the confident, outspoken, provocative enchantress sporting her exotic Tehuana finery.
   However, the best use of Herrera's research and the clear compassion and empathy she has for this incredible woman is when she analyses Frida's paintings. I found myself continuously turning back and forth from the detailed observations and interpretation to the paintings and trying to understand what the author is talking about. It was fascinating reading and a wonderful exploration that shed light into the depths of Frida's intensely personal art.
   Two last notes: First, the version I bought does not sport Salma Hayek on the cover but instead one of Frida's many self-portraits. Apparently the publishers corrected this unfortunate decision based on movie marketing. Second, I was fortunate enough to take in the amazing exhibit of Frida Kahlo at the Philadelphia Museum just a few weeks ago and it was a moving and special day. Seeing the actual frames dripping blood, the size and grandeur of some of the works juxtaposed with the smaller works, and the sheer emotionally gravity of her art was something I'll never forget. Having read much of this biography by that time, I was able to bring that much more to that exhilarating opportunity.
   Frida Kahlo was not just an extraordinary artist but was moreover an extraordinary person. Herrera's heartfelt, deeply researched, and brilliantly written biography allows those of us who never knew her to feel as if we have and to share in the universal quality of her painful work. That alone makes us better people for having experienced it.



4. This is a paintakingly detailed biography, yet rather than making for tedious reading, it flows smoothly from the pages...Hayden Herrera has done an incredible job with the story of Frida Kahlo, the most famous Mexican artist in history.
   
   Written in the late 1970s' (when many of Frida's friends and intimates were still alive to interview), this excellent book combines letters (to and from Kahlo), first person anecdotes and historical records (along with a decent selection of photos and paintings), to create a sweeping portrait of a very, very interesting life.
   
   Everything you ever wanted to know about Frida (and maybe some stuff you didn't), is in this book.
   
   "Frida" is highly recommended to anyone who enjoys Frida's work or just wants to know more about a very interesting, opinionated, talented, brutally honest (especially with herself), yet very vulnerable) woman.



5. I learned about Frida when I took art history in college. I always wanted to know more about her because of her art work. She was so passionate! Although she was considered an abstract artist. Her art was very REAL. You can feel what she feels by looking at her art. This book really helps you understand what happened in her life and attached the painting that went along with that specific period in her life. Very well written.