5 comments about Art Models 2: Life Nude Photos for the Visual Arts (Book & CD-ROM).

1. This book is full of great reference. But don't do what I did...there are two versions, one that comes with the extra cd of poses, and one without. Double check and make sure you know which one you are ordering, I didn't realize that I ordered the book without the companion disk until it arrived.



2. This Book/CD combo is excellent. The interactive web site is also excellent, and greatly extends the book/CD. The poses in this package are from, "classic inspiration." This package is as close to having an actual model in your studio as you could ever hope to achieve. Using the photos on the CD has some advantages over a live model: you won't get slapped for getting too close.
   
   The quality of the book is good. It is thin, hardbound, and lays flat. The pages are gloss stock and hold the ink well. The photos in the book are large enough to use from the book, but the primary purpose of the book is to index the photo sets on the CD. Only four angles of each pose are included in the book. The printed photos are somewhat darker than the photos on the CD. All of the photos on the CD are in standard JFIF (JPG) format, 400 - 600 MB each. The CD includes a copy of the book, with lower resolution photos, in Portable Document Format (PDF). The book includes a proportional reference grid for two of the models, for use by digital artists.
   
   The photography is very good. The photos are sharp, high resolution, highly detailed, well lighted, from the standard 10 o'clock position. The lighting and detail is consistent throughout all of the camera angles. In one photo set, a strong shadow is cast to the model's right, which is somewhat distracting. The shadow doesn't diminish the detail clarity of the photos, however.
   
   The photo sets of each pose on the CD, (24 photos each), are taken at 15 degree intervals, throughout 360 degrees. Kudos to the models for being able to hold some of those difficult poses so consistently! And kudos to the authors for choosing not to airbrush or blur any of these wonderful photographs.
   
   The models are attractive, well groomed, relaxed, and comfortable. Only the elder gentleman has slightly imperfect extremities, consistent with his age.
   
   A lot of thought and effort went into the creation of this package to make it as useful to an artist as possible, and it very well implemented. I am VERY impressed with this package!



3. There are so few worthy art model books out there. Every-time a new one appears, it is destined to be purchased through shear lack of competition. Unfortunately, that will be the primary reason to buy this one.
   
   Good art modeling is not limited to being willing to remove your clothing. Good art models are students of body language and motion, no less than a great dancer or actor. Unfortunately, what we have here is a series of static naked people.
   
   On the positive side, the photography is well done which sets this above the dreadful "Pose File" books with their tiny, toneless snapshots.



4. I purchased this for my partner who is an artist. The book has a lot of clear photographs that are very helpful. Good lighting and clarity in the photos. Many different positions and types of bodies. I purchased the book with the CD ROM which shows even more angles of the different poses.



5. Since getting this book, I've done several charcoal drawings and it seems to be working out really well. The poses are varied, and easy to mask only a portion of a model (head, upper body, hands, etc). My only suggestion for future books would be to use a spiral binding.

No comments about Conversation Pieces: Community and Communication in Modern Art.

5 comments about Robert Wade's Watercolor Workshop Handbook.

1. I was very impressed with this book. The side tabs make it easy to go directly to the section you want. Advice was excellent and well presented.



2. A beautifully printed hard cover book by an extraordinary watercolor artist. The book is filled with outstanding examples of landscapes, cityscapes from all over the world. In addition to being an inspired World class watercolor artist, Robert Wade is also a great teacher, the book is filled with practical advise and hands on lessons on color mixing, painting people,skies,glazing,location painting and many other subjects.Just to be able to look at his outstanding paintings would easily justify buying this book.



3. Excellent handbook for the serious watercolorist. Robert Wade has a great approach to some of the more difficult aspects of painting with watercolor. He is brief, to the point, yet his explanations make sense! Enjoyable reading and a great reference tool.



4. What a wonderful book with terrific instructions and insights. Replaces 20 books in my collection which don't come close to the wisdom this book provides.



5. I have a library of over 60 watercolor books, and this is by far my favorite. I also own all of Wades's tapes, and his new CD. I find them to be an extension of the book. I took a workshop from a famous watercolor teacher who had us doing wash on top of wash. She must have gotten the idea from Wade as he has a section on just that topic. He covers washes on top of finished paintings that changes the character of the painting completely. A fasinating book that I return to over and over again.

5 comments about Thomas Jefferson's Monticello.

1. After visiting Monticello and being awestruck, I could hardly wait to visit again. This book makes me feel as if I am there again. The photography is superb and the text so engaging. I am in love with this book as much as I am Monticello itself. I highly recommend it!!



2. Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, an essay in architecture, takes readers on a historical tour of the third U.S. president's cherished home near Charlottesville, Virginia, through well-written text and gorgeous, full-color photography. The book includes floor plans and photographs of Jefferson's original architectual elevations, as well as drawings of the finished building that we are most familiar with today. It describes Jefferson as art collector and plantation life on Monticello's farms, and it explores the four seasons in Monticello's gardens. Published in 2002 by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Inc.



3. This work successfully links the many unique qualities of Thomas Jefferson's personality to the unique qualities of the home that he designed and spent most of his life building and rebuilding. All of the intriguing features of this home are covered.
   Anyone interested in this remarkable man and his home who is unable to visit Monticello in person should strongly consider this work.



4. This is a highly informative, well documented book covering all aspects of the design and building of Thomas Jefferson's home, plus insights into why things were done the way they were done, through Jefferson's own notes, sketches and correspondence. Plus,the photographs are exquisite.



5. One of the clichés about Monticello is that few houses do so good a job revealing the personality of its builder. But clichés get to be such generally because there's truth to them, and that's definitely the case here. If Thomas Jefferson was one of the most interesting figures in American history (and I think that's unquestionably true), then Monticello may well be one of America's most interesting houses. And for this colorful book produced by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, we are guided through the house and grounds by people who know their stuff.

   Specifically, the chapters of this title are written by Monticello's director of restoration, the curator, the director of gardens and grounds, and other experts associated with the Foundation. Large, colorful photos are accompanied by informed commentary and all the requisite history, as well as documentation of the decades of restoration work it has taken to get the house and grounds to its current condition. A book doesn't make up for a visit in person -- if anything, I wished for more photos of the interior, especially of the book room and "cabinet." But for a general overview of the house, grounds, and collection, and an insight into the man himself, this book is hard to beat. I recommend it as a souvenir, as well as a nice companion to a Jefferson biography.

5 comments about Signs and Symbols in Christian Art: With Illustrations from Paintings from the Renaissance (Galaxy Books).

1. This is just an awesome book. We are using it for homeschool art class. It is full of interesting facts about different symbols in Christian art and more. I find this book very interesting.



2. Arrived two days AHEAD of schedule, was packaged neatly and securly.
   Although it was used, it had very little wear and tear on it. I got this for a art history report on the Byzantine mosaics (Christian) and a lot of the symbols in the art work have been defined in this book. Overall well worth the price and just plain interesting.



3. When I bought this book, I needed a quick and dirty reference to religious symbolism in western art--I was pleased and surprised to find out that it's small, lightweight, and therefore portable when I visit museums. (Why don't more publishers consider weight and size when they print books for travelers? Lonely Planet and DK, I'm looking at you.)
   
   Its easy size belies the incredible amount of useful information it contains; there are fourteen sections covering everything from the significance of certain animals to religious garments to a brief hagiography for commonly portrayed saints. About one-third of the book is a set of reproductions (sadly b&w in this edition) of famous renaissance religious paintings. There's no discussion or explanation accompanying the paintings--which is the only thing I don't like about the book.
   
   And if you read one of the earlier reviews and are wondering about the chocolate mouse in Rosemary's Baby, it's a reference to mice as a symbol of evil because of their destructiveness.



4. I use this book frequently, especially when studying art books of Christian art as well as during a recent Bible study of the Book of Exodus. This was an invaluable guide to the symbolism used in art and the various meanings. For example, when studying the symbolic meaning of the priests robes of the Old Testament, the meaning of the pomegranate for the OT and NT is significant. In the OT, the pomegranate stood for the 613 Mosaic laws (the pomegranate was thought to contain 613 seeds). In the NT, the pomegranate is the symbol for the resurrection of Christ. The Hebrews believed following the law led them to God. For the Christian, belief in Jesus' death and resurrection leads to God! Enjoy this read.



5. Although not encyclopaedic, this book, first published in 1954, is indispensable to the art history, religious art, iconographic, and religious lives student. The essays are of significant depth without excessive volume, and the illustrations, although of a limited period (Medieval through Renaissance), are pungent enough from which to learn. Two limitation I will remark:
   There are no representations from Eastern- or Byzantine- iconography.
   The illustrations are all black and white.

5 comments about Artforms (8th Edition).

1. Would recommend buying from seller. Prompt and easy delivery. Books comes in exact condition as stated.



2. This book is the best that I have seen yet! Artforms goes into great details about each piece and form of art, for which gives a lttile more insight about the artist. Throughout the book there are profiles on different artists. This book is a keeper,a great source for research and a perfect collected item for your art library. Artforms is an artform in itself and illustrated very well with colored pictures from all types of artists from different eras. You will enjoy this book!!!



3. I bought this book, and the accompanying ArtNotes, as a textbook. It is, however, an old edition of the book that has been superseded. The new edition - the one assigned for the course - is the 9th edition, not the 8th. If you're buying this book for your personal use, fine, but if it is for coursework, don't. I am quite disappointed in Amazon. Next time, I buy at the college bookstore. A rating is required. My rating is not of the book, but of Amazon's performance.



4. I was impressed with the book. It was in good condition and arrived on time. I would do business with Woody's Books again.



5. This is a great book especially the abstrat things. Colors and Ancient Cave paintings. Not only was the class fun (for me) because I like van gogh, and The first abstract colored painting whoms which name i forgot. The text book gave very good information into the class and art. Then afterwards I had a dream of me and that Flower painting woman. So this class was an eye-opener into the spiritual relms of art for me, since that is who I am. Hence; Theren lies Art as a religion. Godbless everyone and you and yours...
   
   One love.
   
   Peter.

5 comments about Sleepwalk: and Other Stories.

1. An interesting collection of short stories in graphic novella form, with a particular emphasis on relationships and lesbians (not nescessarily at the same time), and interactions during the time of and around sleep and dreaming. Tomine's drawing style is aesthetically pleasing, and he is creative in developing his characters and their distinctive traits in a short space (about a page or two each). My absolute favorite in this one is on page 26, "Lunch Break." It's so concise, yet wonderfully emotional and layered.



2. Tomine captures social isolation and the pointless life so perfectly that this book is probably one of the most depressing things ever written. It's amazingly well-accomplished in being what it is, however. Just don't read this if the ability to create several days of melancholy is NOT one of the things you appreciate in a book...
   
   I'd also recommend Summer Blonde, though I personally think Sleepwalk is somewhat better. Tomine has a tendency to make stories that end abruptly without conclusions of any sort, so the shorter format is a little more suiting.



3. I wish there were more comics out there like Adrian Tomine's. The characters in the stories collected here could almost be characters in a Belle and Sebastian song and those are some of my favorite kinds of characters. There are only a handful of artists doing thoughtful, literary work in comics and Tomine is one of them. In a medium with limitless possibilities Tomine is among the few trying to explore them.



4. "Disparate" is really the only word one could use to describe Tomine's writing style. His depictions of the inner pains that many of us know, especially from our late teens and early twenties, are almost painful to read with all of the insecurities that they bring flooding back. This angst ridden collection of stories is the collected works of his first eight editions of the comic book "Optic Nerve" which Tomine produces yearly.

   Sleepwalker is an excellent introduction to his work, where as his other trade paper back "32 stories" is a collection of his earliest work and while some of the stories are very amusing, it's also very raw, and out of the normal vein of work Tomine is known for.




5. Black and white drawings, mature cartoons, short snippets of people's lives?....are you sure this is literature???
   
   YES! Don't let people tell you this isn't literature. It's a perfect example of how graphic art and comics can still be literature. I was ushered into all of this on the superhero wave (and I still read superhero comics), and when I discovered artists like Tomine and Clowes, I was amazed.
   
   The stories are very realistic and told in short story fashion. It's not a graphic novel, and it isn't exactly a collection of comic strips.
   
   I would recommend this to someone who is well read. Check out "Pink Frosting."

5 comments about Historic Texas Courthouses.

1. "Historic Texas Courthouses" is a visual treat, even for non-Texans. Very few states have iconic reminders of their heritage as Texas does in its architectural beauties, the Texas courthouses. They stand strong, permanent, and frequently constructed of the materials that tie the buildings and the peoples to the land on which they are built. The histories are interesting and informative. Pleased that this book is now part of our personal library.



2. I purchased this book for my husband who is an attorney. He proudly displays it in his office. The photography is gorgeous and paper is high quality thick gloss. Price is excellent here- I originally saw this book in another store for $50! Would recommend for anyone who is interested in architecture or historical Texas building.



3. What a beautiful book to look at and an interesting book to read. It truly covers the courthouse treasures of Texas. I particularly like the way it divides up the buildings by their architectural style, not their geographical locations. Great addition to our library.



4. Simply the defintive book on Texas Courthouses...the images are superb and the text enlightening. I have always loved the majestic courthouse, expecially when they are in the town square. Texas is blessed with many great historic Courthouses and this book displays them in their best light. I expecially appreciate the Tarrant, Bexar, and Jefferson County Courthouse, these are so grand in their own distinct way. If you have any interest in this subject, dont hesitate to order this book. Mr. Andrews should be proud of this work, it's a perfect tribute to these quitenticential Texas courthouse.



5. Finally, a serious book about courthouses. The photographs are breathtaking, and the author brings a unique perspective on the history of these magnificent buildings. BRAVO!

5 comments about Leonardo Da Vinci: 1452-1519: The Complete Paintings and Drawings (Taschen 25th Anniversary).

1. Taschen seems to be forging ahead in the publishing world with their off-beat, sometimes extreme, always interesting and esoteric attractively priced books. Leonardo is one of them. A large book, this is no bedside table read. The print quality is very good, and the larger than life pictures of Leonardo's paintings and drawings give you a real sense of the intricacy that went into his work, and lets you get a lot closer than you could today to his work if you wanted to see it live. The Mona Lisa is behind bullet proof glass, most of his notebooks in temperature controlled libraries far from prying hands and eyes.. so if you really want to get close, to see the brush-strokes and minute scrawls in his ink drawings, then this book is it.
   For who is it? Anyone interested in beauty, in art and painting, as well as anyone interested in genius and the multifaceted Renaissance man. You'll need a sturdy coffee table or a large library to house it, but you won't be sorry you bought it.
   I only gave it 4 stars because I really dislike the 25th anniversary badge that is going on all Taschen books of late.. Good for you that you've reached that milestone Taschen, but don't expect me to want to advertise it in my bookshelf. The book comes in a slip-case, and just as well because the Amazon.com packaging was really atrocious and the box arrived quite banged around. Their cost-cutting in packaging means that my slip case is totally destroyed on the top, but thankfully the book has managed to survive (mostly) unscathed. Amazon will be getting a stern letter from me about this..



2. I've got it for a gift, fast and prompt service helped to make it very special experience.
   Thank you.



3. I'm going to buy shares in Taschen, I think...
   
   I was pretty darn happy from the moment I pulled this book out of its slipcase. So many well-reproduced illustrations of Leonardo's paintings and drawings and really interesting text too. It's one of my favourite art books in my collection.



4. After a recent trip to Italy I scoured the museums there for some good books on the famous paintings I had just seen. All were much too expensive, given the value of the Euro versus the dollar. So I made a list of the books I liked and vowed to purchase them on Amazon when I returned home. This was one of those purchases.
   
   The book is big (over a foot long, three thumbs thick) and heavy. You won't be taking this to the park to read. Great for a coffee table. There are a good mix of close-ups and detailed shots of Da Vinci's work. The text includes some good history of the works (why they were commissioned, some info about the subjects, etc.). It also showcases some of Leonardo's student's work, which they more or less copied from their teacher.
   
   The book does include some detail about the work themselves and how the time in history impacted the works. My only regret (and why I didn't give it five stars) is that the book doesn't include more text about the details of the works themselves, ala "Da Vinci Code". For example, I'd love more explanation of the symmetry between certain figures or other curious features of Leonardo's work (why is that angelic figure holding its hand like a knife where John the Baptist's head should be in "Madonna of the Rocks"?)
   
   Overall, worth the money for those that enjoy contemplating the works of this Master.



5. My coffe table looks good with this on it and people do pick it up when they come over. There are alot of good works of Da Vinci in here though not all of his art is covered. I do like the fact that some of the paintings are broken down, showing the undersketches and practice drawings. I have tried my hand at replicating a few of the drawings and am overwelmed at the quality of the paintings done centuries ago. The skin is luminouse!Hey, come on, it's cheap & fun. Buy it!

No comments about Illustration: A Visual History.