5 comments about Master Disaster: Five Ways to Rescue Desperate Watercolors.

1. This book looked like a good one to add to my growing collection of watercolor books. I got the book browsed through it and thought, well it is alright. Later I was reviewing some paintings for a show, found one that was "just so-so" and thought I would try some of the suggestions from Susan's book, thinking it couldn't hurt. So I scrubbed and cropped away at it. Now, instead of a painting I was ready to discard, I have two purely eye catching watercolors.
   Can't wait to frame and show them.
   This one correction has paid for the book twice over. Strongly suggest it as an addition to a painters book collection.
   Mary Schiros



2. I found the information in this book to be very helpful in figuring out ways to rescue a watercolor painting.



3. Sue Webb Tregay's book, "Master Disaster", is one of the best art instruction books to come along in a very long time! As a professional artist for a number of years now, I was simply blown away by this book. I have never seen, in any other art book, such a widely diverse selection of artwork by ONE artist before! There is something for everyone here. Her ability to paint in many styles with widely divergent subject matter makes this book so unique. Couple that with her lively writing style, and "just do it" attitude, you'll want to race off to your studio to create your own masterpieces!
   Simply put, a "must have!"



4. Susan Webb Tregay presents logical, methodical, and imaginative approaches to "fixing" disastrous watercolor paintings that would benefit painters utilizing all water-media from the amateur to the more experienced. Her book, "Master Disaster" is loaded with great illustrations and explanations that are easy to understand. I particularly like her flexible approach to fixing a painting, and I'm now using many of her suggestions. Additionally, unlike other painting instructors, Tregay's approach enables students to retain their individual style while incorporating her ideas for mastery. Many other instruction books are practically "paint by number" in approach, where you use the author's compositions, color pallette, technique, etc. That approach isn't particularly effective because it produces painting clones of the author. Tregay's approach eliminates that possibility. I think this is a GREAT watermedia instruction book and highly recommend it to others.



5. This book is so easy to follow. It makes so much sense and to think it's the only one if it's kind that I've found. I love it and have used it already to "Master a Disaster".
   Thanks Susan
   Elaine Bailey

5 comments about Inside the Business of Graphic Design: 60 Leaders Share Their Secrets of Success.

1. Book is full of real business stories, grouped in six different parts. Interesting thoughts and insights.



2. This book has inspirational stories from very well known designers. It would have been better if there were some examples of each designers work. It was an ok read. I don't regret buying it.



3. This book is great because it is a collection of stories from other graphic design business owners. The book allows you to get an idea of how others run their business on specific topics. It was a required text for a college course. After reading a section and getting an understanding of different methods we were required to choose which method we liked most. This helped us build a business model based on successful methods.



4. Some chapters I can apply to me. Most, I can't, although it is interesting reading material. (At least it's about graphic design!) Made for successful firms with partners and/or employees, which want to be even more successful, not for little tiny one-person companies like mine.



5. The Culture Advertising Design put'em on blast review. Don't sleep on this one. This book is packing! Chock full of guts might be one way to put it. The book is filled with the trials, tribulations and fables of the Demi-Gods of our industry. It reads like "designerati" pulp fiction, filled with slick tales of their heroics, be it hiring freshly caped side-kicks or wearing down seemingly villianous clients, they prevail not always unscathed but they did live to tell about it. This book could be helpful to most in-house and agency folk who want gain more perspective and a few less bruises in the advertising and design businesses.

3 comments about Gustav Klimt: The Ronald S. Lauder and Serge Sabarsky Collections.

1. Gustav Klimt (1862 - 1918), while popular and admired in his time, suffered a period of being regarded as the King of Kitsch for many years after his death. It has only been in the past half century (and especially now) that his contribution to the art world is being recognized and appreciated. His paintings are highly prized, are cause célèbre in their movement from collection to collection, and his influence on modern art and the birth of the decorative arts (especially Art Deco) is unchallenged.
   
   This extraordinary book GUSTAV KLIMT: THE RONALD S. LAUDER AND SERGE SABARSKY COLLECTIONS is now the definitive work on the strange man who introduced the Secession, a movement that hoped to create a new style that would depart from historical influence and stir in the influence of Sigmund Freud. Klimt, whose shimmering paintings incorporated gold leaf and sensuous nude women in 'scandalous poses', brought Vienna to its feet to recognize the works of the French Impressionists. The book is not only a compendium of lush illustrations of his photographs, drawings, and paintings, but it is also a fine history of all of the elements that Klimt incorporated into his work and his inevitable influence in history.
   
   The writings in the book are not dry pages of overused history: here are essays by some brilliant writers and historians such as Alessandra Comini, Ronald Lauder, Renee Price, Janis Staggs and others, each of whom takes a special aspect of Klimt's work and life and polishes the information with some first revelations of unknown notebooks and images. In this collection of drawings are little known works of nude women satisfying themselves that show the mutual influences of Klimt and Egon Schiele! But the final glory of the book is the very large collection of Klimt's output. It will be a while before any other volume can match this one for visual and intellectual interest. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, December 07



2. This is the catalogue for the current Klimt show at the Neue Galerie in NY. All the works belong to the two founding collections of the museum and most of them are drawings, which allows an irreplaceable insight into the artist's working method. The illustations are of a very high quality and the book is a treasure trove of information on Klimt's early Austrian collectors (mostly Jewish,which accounts for their tragic fate during WWII), and the subsequent "discovery" of Klimt by American collectors, thanks to some courageous dealers like Otto Kallir, owner of the gallery Saint-Etienne in New York. The book also dwells on the much commented recent acquisition of Klimt's famous painting "Adele Bloch-Bauer", which is the centerpiece of the exhibition, and on its importance in the artist's oeuvre. Without being a retrospective, this book, through its many top-quality illustrations and thorough studies of various aspects of Klimt's oeuvre, is a must-have for any art lover, even if some may wonder if the artist is really the top-tier painter that the Neue Galerie makes him out to be: isn't Klimt's art sometimes too decorative (especially when compared to Egon Schiele's)?



3. Although there are few paintings in the collection itself (mainly drawings), a large number of paintings are actually represented in the book to illustrate essays on Klimt's most important patrons and muses (some of which I had not seen in reproduction before) - these form about half the book, with interviews, contemporary documents, letters and photographs - I found this section the most interesting - there are also good essays on his background and his relationships to other artists, contemporary reception of his work, and his inspirations (especially fascinating were the visual comparisons of his drawings of nudes to the work of a contemporary erotic photographer, where the similarities are too many and complex to be put down to pure coincidence). Most poignant is the essay on three of the most prominent Jewish families of the period who were major collectors of Klimt's work - the Lederers, the Bloch-Bauers, and the Zuckerkandls, based on a mind-boggling 193 references. These families began the century at the pinnacle of contemporary society, and were at the centre of Vienna's cultural life; their stories make for harrowing reading - for example, Elizabeth Bachofen-Echt, the daughter of Adele Bloch-Bauer, survived the Third Reich by claiming that she was Klimt's illegitimate daughter and therefore of mixed race - and are worth the price of the book in themselves. Layout and reproductions are superb, as is the general quality of the book. A joy to the eye and definately one of the best art books on the market.

5 comments about Sketching Your Favorite Subjects in Pen & Ink.

1. I had a couple of books that covered the subject of Pen and Ink drawing, but none were as easy to follow and helpful as this one. The pictures in the book are simply to die for. She shows you exactly how she creates line, shape and form with ink. There is also an explanation of the tools you will need (not much and not expensive really) to do this kind of work. If you are looking for a good instructional book on drawing with pen and ink I highly recommend this book. However, beware, your paints may dry up in their tubes as you get addicted to doing pen and ink. Fun stuff, the author writes in a way that is easy for anyone to follow.



2. Claudia Nice always does a fine job with details and examples. In comparison to her pen & ink with watercolor books, this one is a little boring. If you are really interested in using pen & ink as a medium, then this is a good book. If you are looking for reference material and drawing examples with intructions, then I recommend a different Nice book.



3. I love the step by step instruction and the real life examples. With no formal training I can sketch the way I always wanted to.



4. Very thorough directions for various pen and ink techniques. Really breaks down the process into easily understandable steps.



5. This is an excellent book for anyone just starting to learn pen & ink drawing. This is not a step-by-step, draw what I draw, book. It is more a collection of tips & techniques for drawing almost any subject.

   The author starts out by explaining each kind of line and what it's used for. Next, she explains value. Ink washes, a dry brush, and a variety of different line types are then used to create contrast and texture.

   The design & composition section is great for showing you how to put everything together and what pitfalls to look out for. She also guides you through choosing a subject, finding a good photo to work from and achieving perspective.

   Finally, each kind of subject is explained in detail. Some include flowers, landscapes, all kinds of water, and buildings. She also covers many animals including dogs, horses & birds. Human faces & figures are detailed as well.

No comments about New Poster Art.

5 comments about Nature Form & Spirit: The Life and Legacy of George Nakashima.

1. A great book about a even greater designer,
   don't over look this one.



2. I just marvel at the grace and dignity of George and his work. The story of his life is just as interesting as his life's work. I do home remodeling and occasionally have the chance to make a piece of custom furniture for a client. I find his accomplishments truly amazing.



3. This is a superb book on George Nakashima, written by his daughter. It is a good complement to "Sould of a tree" written by Nakashima himself. While "Sould of a tree" looked at the furniture, "Nature form & Spirit" starts with the life of Nakashima and how he came to design all his furniture and the houses. It is not a technical book, but it gives an interesting insight on the philosophy and thinking process behind the designs. Much more than a coffe table book, an inspiration for all woodworking lovers



4. This was a gift to our son. He was thrilled to receive it and will continue to enjoy it for many years to come. He is a wood worker and is interested in all sorts of books about wood working and wood workers.



5. My husband has been wanting this book for a long time; it was recommended to us by an old friend of Nakashima. We've always loved his work, that which is at the Metropolitan Museum and also the arboretum library in Minneapolis, completely furnished with Nakashima's work. The book was no disappointment; we loved it. Truly he understood "the soul of a tree."

5 comments about The Art of Blacksmithing.

1. Ever since Mort Downey Jr. played a white guy who underwent surgery so he could convincingly play a black guy in that movie TROPIC THUNDER I have wanted to be a black guy sometimes too. So it's been a long time dream of mine. When I saw this book title "The Art of Blacksmithing" I thought my dreams were answered. "Here", I thought," is a book that will teach me to be like Will Smith JUST LIKE WILL SMITH, as in cool and black.
   And I thought they would detail the methods used to make Downey Jr. look so CONVINCINGLY BLACK so I could too. Sometimes it would be fun to be black especially when I want to wear certain clothes that I couldn't get away with as a white guy. And it might come in handy when I want to "hook up" with a "hot hammer" like Beyonce or Alicia Keyes or want to talk in a humorous high pitched voice like Chris Tucker. And it might be easier for me to get Jesse Jackson's autograph.
   
   But this book was about something else entirely. It was written ages ago when everything had to be made of wood or metal. Before they even had plastic or bonded ploymers. What a sad time that must have been! But the info here is interesting and seems useful especially if we have a nuclear war and have to go back to low tech for awhile. And it's also just plain fun to create things out of hot metal. After reading the book I went out and bought myself a hammer and advil. When i get really good I'd like to make sculptures out of metal, starting with a giant one of Will Smith, of course!:) P.S. I'll use the old garbage can lids as ears!



2. I'm still reading this book. The first few chapters are a bit dry, but do set the scene for the rest of the book. I had to laugh when the author said blacksmithing is on the rise.. around here any blacksmithing gear is bought up by yuppies who hang the tools on their wall and call it period art... it means the demand is high, but it doesn't mean the yuppies know which end of the hammer to hold, just that it suits the dining room better than the kitchen decor.
   The book... once in the real meat of the book (chapter 4 on) there is good instructional material, and more than adequate diagrams (single line and monochrome sketches) to assist the reader in learning the techniques and methods. There is a strong focus on the older techniques, but some mention of the newer technologies being used by modern hobbiests and adherents. There is enough diversity in the content to appeal to bladesmiths, farriers, armourers (SCA), and wrought iron workers, although the focus is definitely on wrought work, and general techniques.



3. This text is an excellent OVERVIEW of the history, context, and general techniques of blacksmithing. If you are looking for a general understanding of the art, this is the perfect text, and on that basis I recommend it very highly.
   
   I do NOT recommend this text for the serious student of the subject. The discussion is generally shallow and has a tendency toward casual errors. It also presents blacksmithing traditions as fact despite modern dispute (E.g., Edge packing, pp 168-169, is now generally considered nonsense by reputable blacksmiths). If you want to learn about practical blacksmithing techniques, Jack Andrew's "New Edge of the Anvil" is much, much better. If you want to learn to make weapons, Dr. Jim Hrisoulas' several books ("The Complete Bladesmith," "Master Bladesmith," etc.) are much better, but very specialized.
   
   Summary: highly recommended as a general overview. Insufficient depth for specialized study.



4. This is a very good book, it's my second favorite to learn from.
   
   This is my favorite:Blacksmithing Primer: A Course in Basic and Intermediate Blacksmithing (Paperback) by Randy McDaniel.
   
   If you are learning by yourself it's a much more complete set of lessons, including exactly how to position teh hammer to get each set of results. No other books teaches this.
   
   The DVD set is excellent too, but expensive.
   (Note, I know the guy who publishes the videos, but I didn't know he did until after I'd bought them, watched them, and recommended them to somone else...)



5. This is not so much a "how to" Book, but it would be great for anyone simply researching the subject.

3 comments about Tudor and Elizabethan Fashions (History of Fashion).

1. This is a coloring book of Tudor Fashions. I like the fact that I can copy and color in the way I want a costume to look. Fairly historically accurate.



2. I just purchased these Dover COloring Books for my mother and she loves them. The detail is out of this world and the variety of colors you can use are only limited by your inagination. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!



3. If you're an adult and you still love to color - the coloring books by Tom Tierney are WONDERFUL! I especially love the fashions in the Tudor and Elizabethan fashions. His descriptions of the fashions and clothing of the times make the books unique and fascinating. Make sure you have plenty of color pencils on hand, though, because the books are too detailed for crayons. I would not recommend this book for impatient people or children because the coloring of the drawings can be tedious (up to 1-2 hours for one drawing depending on the book and the outfit, but then again, I'm a perfectionist).

1 comments about Logo-Art: Innovation in Logo Design.

1. I had to write this review to let you know that the "Look Inside" feature for this book does it NO justice whatsoever. In fact, it hurts it, to be honest.
   
   The designs selected in this book are some of the most inspirational I have seen in one book. I'm one of those people that use this type of book to kick-start a project, inspire a brainstorming session, or even break through a block or problematic area in my designs.
   
   When I first flipped through this book, I found the simple designs the most intriguing. The selection of designs that use only one or two colors was where I spent most of my time. I feel that just about anyone can make a four-color poster and have it look okay, good, or great. But ask those same people to make a poster only using one color of ink and you are likely to get garbage, or something too obvious.
   
   The covers' corners and edges are not going to stand up to daily wear and tear or abusive readers. They are made of pressed cardboard with raw cut edges. Each are about 3/16 of an inch thick (.5 cm) and have no finishing on the edges, meaning they start to spread apart if dropped or if they get wet. Not meant to be a deterrent, for I like the raw look, but more of a note to those that are purchasing it for a library setting or abusive readers.
   
   I highly recommend this book for those of you that need an inspirational book for graphic design, be it print or web.

5 comments about Spectrum 13: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art (Spectrum (Underwood Books)).

1. Maybe Im kidding myself...but I bought this book on the basis that this book was supposed to represent the best in fantasy art. Unfortunately, what I'm seeing here is a lack of ideas. Strong technique in any work of art can only go so far. I bought this book because I wanted to be inspired. I didn't get that. What I got was a book where most of the pages are devoted to representing things like gnomes, elves, fairies, dragons, demons, psychopaths, robots, etc.--rather than representing worlds or ideas. This is really for artists working from a design standpoint rather than a creative one.



2. Staggering levels of talent in this arcane collection. Contains every imaginable fantasy style and sub-genre.



3. This is a high-quality volume with a wide variety of science fiction and fantasy art from many talented artists.



4. This book really does live up to expectations. Good quality images. If fantasy art is your thing would recomend this book.



5. Este libro es realmente una joya. Si estas estudiando ilustracion, arte, o si quieres ampliar tus horizontes, este libro te servira de ventana tanto para inspirarte como para observar como distintos profesionales del mundo aplican su metodologia y resuelven conflictos de composicion, tecnicas, etc. Son solo imagenes, no hay tutoriales de "como lo hizo", si buscas ese tipo de libros esta no es tu opcion... solo te sera util si tienes el deseo de analizar, y observar por cuenta propia. definitivamente una joya, un profesor en casa.