5 comments about Urgent 2nd Class: Creating Curious Collage, Dubious Documents, and Other Art from Ephemera.

1. I'm a Nick Bantock fan, through and through, so I enjoy any book that gives me insight into his creativity. If you have any urge to make epistolary art, this book will inspire and delight you. Even if you don't want to make your own postcards, you will enjoy reading what makes him tick.
   
   Another HIGHLY recommended Bantock book (even better than this one, in my opinion) is The Artful Dodger.



2. Bantock is probably best known for his "Griffin & Sabine" saga, consisting of slightly warped three-dimensional collections of fictional correspondence, and it's the sort of art he incorporated into those works that he discusses here. I'm a stamp collector myself with a special interest in heavily engraved 19th century stamps from countries and colonies most people have never heard often featuring obscure subjects. Likewise, as a professional archivist, I also have a fondness for old letters and their postmarked covers, old bureaucratic documents with seals, rubber stamps, and arcane endorsements, and antique maps of places that may no longer exist. All of this is grist to Bantock's mill and the imaginative ways in which he incorporates such elements (sometimes into collages, but not always) are perfectly fascinating. Since this isn't a manual on how to draw or paint with oils, the actual instructions are few; he simply shows you intriguing examples and says, in effect, "Here's one way you can do it." It's more a source for inspiration than a manual. But it's a neat book.



3. I love Nick Bantock. In my eyes he can do no wrong. His art is simply brilliant but like others have mentioned, this is not a real "how to" book. It does give you some things to think about and there are ideas afoot but you won't come away lots of new and exciting skills. That's ok...if you are a NB fan. His creations are worth the price of admission.



4. This book wasn't what I was hoping for in that the ideas and examples are all too similar in final product. I believe that because I am not looking for altered books genre per se, this book is not for me. I would reallly like to sell it back, otherwise I am stuck with it.



5. I enjoyed Urgent 2nd Class because it was put together by Nick Bantock, who charmed me with the Sabine series and the Artful Dodger and others too numerous to mention. His images are multilayered and artful. He does talk about how some images were made (ephemera, Bantock-designed rubber stamps) but he does not show you step by step how to accomplish any particular image. And his ephemera may not be available to the average person. He does by from dealers in Vancouver BC, giving him an advantage over those in small towns.
   This is not a shortcoming, however, if you have other books that show you the construction and layering of stuff. The beauty of Bantock lies in his imagination, his imagination. He does encourage the reader to use their own, and that's a gift.

5 comments about Art Models: Life Nudes for Drawing Painting and Sculpting.

1. I am a sculpter. The idea of getting a DVD with all the angles to the poses on it made me very enthausiastic about this book. The moment I first opened it I knew I'd never use it. I am not sure what is wrong with it but it doesn't work for me. Not a shred of inspiration anywhere.
   
   It's not that the models are too ugly or not ugly enough. It's just all so "ordinary". The poses don't work either. No suspense, no strong lines, no nudes, just a book/DVD full of naked people.



2. I bought this book months ago.
   
   When I first opened it I was quite disappointed because, as previously mentioned, some of the models do not have inspiring bodies at all. I do not expect nor want skinny models - those are useless. I wish for "plush" female bodies NOT michelin waist, or doughy types. Also, I am interested only in female figurative sculpture and the book has males and couples. I thought the poses were not very inspiring either and I agree with someone's comment about the weird poses with corny props (totally useless)
   
   However, now that I am a tiny bit more advanced in my sculpture program I think I am finally getting a return on my investment. The CD-ROm is really extremely useful as there are many pictures (360 degree plus from above) of the same pose. So, I use the CD to simulate a real session with a life model. I use my Mac Notebook to go throug the pictures as we do when we move a life model on the "lazy susan." I zoom when I work on some specific area. This works really well and I am extremely pleased. As to the poses, use it as a starter and then make some modifications of course.
   
   Give it a try, it is worth it if one use it appropiately.



3. The photographs are high-resolution and well-lit. The models show a variety of poses and each pose is shot from multiple angles. It's also nice to have different body types represented. However, the photos are too small to see much detail of hand, foot, or muscle tone. Also, some of the poses are ridiculous. Maybe you can get an idea from their titles. For example, "country boy" (complete with wheat sprig sticking out between the man's teeth), "super surfer", "razzle dazzle". There are silly props too. For example, one nude half-reclining in a chair is reaching for a bowl of chips. Adding to the cheap effect, the book is arranged not by theme, but by model (first names only).
   
   A much better reference is The Figure in Motion by Thomas Earley. The photos are black-and-white and somewhat grainy, but they are full-page, graceful and dynamic, and much more thoughtfully chosen for use in studying anatomy or for incorporating into compositions.



4. I was surprised by how many photos they could fit in a 160 page book. They're on just about every page and they fill the page. And since the book is 8.5x11, the photos are really big.
   
   Other pose books I've seen put the photos in little frames. Maybe little photos and lots of white space looks nice, but it's a bad idea if you really want to see the models. Would you rather work from big color photos or little ones that you can't really see?
   
   The quality, size of the photos, and the sheer number of them is stunning. Definitely the best bang for the buck of any pose book out there.



5. About the models,
   If you buy the book expecting to get airbrushed ultra skinny fashion models, you might be disappointed. But, if you want naturally beautiful models photographed in clear lighting so you can see every bit of them, then this book is great. And there's a nice range, from Susan who is slim and athletic and has a classic Greek-sculpture face to someone like Jen with her amazing natural figure and more modern look.
   
   The previews above give a good idea of the range of models but it's kind of hard to see how beautiful they are. And a couple of my favorites, Jessica and Jennifer (who have pin-up style figures) are missing.
   
   So, if you want supermodels, go buy a fashion magazine, or if you want erotic models airbrushed to look like plastic, go buy a men's magazine, but if you're looking for attractive naturally beautiful models, this is the book to get.
   
   The poses are good too.

5 comments about Understanding Illuminated Manuscripts: A Guide to Technical Terms (Looking At...).

1. Explains in lay terms the processes used in illuminated medieval manuscripts. Still a bit complicated, but a good resource.



2. This publication using a lexiconary form lavishly displays an art form too long ignored. Extraordinary effort and expense has created a book that shows and explains the accomplishments of a lost art. Any bibliophile, any artist will devour this book.



3. I used this book and the Christopher De Hamel book while I was taking a graduate course on Illuminated Manuscripts. The information was indispensable for the entirety of the course, but it also helped me in future courses I took. It is wonderful to find an academic book that is fun to read! I would heartily recommend it to anyone, and especially to students who are studying manuscripts or merely the art history of the period! It is a most worthwhile investment!



4. This slim volume by Michelle Brown is an excellent resource for anyone who is interested in the study of books and manuscripts (codicology). In a succinct dictionary format, Brown gives definitions of all of the major terms that may give trouble to someone visiting a museum or reading a work by such major writers in the field as Chris DeHamel. Suitable as both a textbook and a companion to books on manuscripts, this book is nearly indispensible to the beginner and the intermediate in allowing some understanding into the complex technical and art-historical vocabulary used in the field.



5. This little volume provides brief definitions of all the important phrases and terms used in the study of illuminated manuscripts including forms, techniques, themes, and periods.

   Great for understanding the differences between an historiated initial and an inhabited initial - or between an antiphonal and a gradual.

   Most of the representative images are in color and are well chosen to illustrate the definitions. Perhaps their only drawback is their small size due to the size limitations of the book itself.

   A great companion while reading to "Medieval Illuminators & their Methods of Work" by Jonathan J.G. ALexander or "A History of Illuminated Manuscripts" by Christopher De Hamel.

5 comments about Kana de Manga (Manga University Presents).

1. first than anything i must tell that this book is just good. I have other japanese learning books at home and non of them are as good as it is this one. to be honest i like this book. i just got the book today and i started to study and i tell u the true. as much as i love anime this tool is just enough and amazing if u want to learn the hiragana and katakana.



2. Even people with an avid interest in the Japanese language and culture might turn away from the idea of learning the hiragana and katakana (collectively called kana). Both are syllabaries; sound-based scripts that Japanese children learn before 1st grade. Hiragana are used to write any native Japanese word (sakura, sushi, etc.) and katakana are used to write words that are "foreign" to the Japanese language (for example, America would be written with the katakana for "Amerika") as well as sound-effect words (like "para-para" for falling rain).
   Manga fans, Japanese language-learners, as well as those with a passing interest in Japanese culture will find this book an entertaining and refreshing change from the tedious textbook-like approaches to the kana I've seen in the past. Each character is accompanied with a Japanese word containing it, an illustration, and a description with relavance to the word. One could easily learn the hiragana and katakana using this book, with practice and perhaps using on-line flash card tools. Pages for written practice are included in the back, as well as a handy green reference card showing all the hiragana and katakana.



3. Have you ever wanted or needed to learn Japanese? Kana De Manga, by Glenn Kardy, allows you to do just that. By helping you learn the ABC's of Japanese you can, after mastering it, learn to read and write to write other more complex characters. The book gives both the cursive and print versions of each character, and allows space to practice each of them. I would recommend Kana De Manga because it has enough information to spur someone's thirst to learn to read and write Japanese.
   The content in this book is factual and consistent in a way to optimize the rate at which you learn the basic Japanese characters. For consistency, the cursive form of the word is always on the left side, while the printed version is on the right. When words are made up of two or more derivatives, the book tells the reader those words and what they mean. The quotes coincide with the pictures on that page such "the odds of being struck by lightning are 700,000 to 1" as a quote about lightning. There are also pictures associated with every word, sort of like apple for "A" in the English language. There are also easy to learn definitions so you can remember all 72 of the definitions in this book.
   Instead of the paragraphs being unemotional and boring, the author adds small tidbits of humor. For instance, one of the characters was part of the word "crybaby" in Japanese so there was a picture of a crybaby on the page. The author stated that usually people think these kinds of characters are cute, but he thinks "they are pathetic." While the book is humorous, it keeps you informed. While you are laughing at some of the jokes, you are not as bored while reading. The pictures themselves are also hilarious, such as a boy trying to smash a suika, or watermelon or one where a boy is squeamish at his own chi, or blood.
   The author tries to appeal to teenage readers who do not know Japanese in various ways. He uses somewhat complex vocabulary but nothing teenagers should not know by now. He gives encouragement such as "the odds of you memorizing all the Kana in this book are 3 to 1" or "you are halfway there!" This makes the reader feel like the author is actually a real person, not just some text on a page.
   This intriguing book will enrapture even people who are only remotely interested in Japanese characters because it is not filled from top to bottom with words. The facts and organization come together to make a superb read. After reading this book, you can even go into advance characters such as Japanese kanji!



4. I was looking around for a book that would teach me to read and write Katakana and Hiragana, and I stumpled across this book. Kana de manga really isn't lying when they say the little pictures in the book help you to learn. The overall layout of the book was great, and the practice section was really well done. If you need to learn katakana and hiragana, then this is the book for you.



5. I think the pictures portrayed are best, but its easy to understand , I recommend this book to anyone willing to learn.

5 comments about Web Design Index by Content 3 (Web Design Index).

1. Unlike most "great web design examples" that can only be achieved by abusing Flash, this book also provides several examples of great looking web design that can be applied to almost any content management system. Although some of the websites portrayed will become outdated very quickly, I consider this book, for now, a "must see" for our interns and designers.



2. I agree with the reviewer who said most the content categories run a little thin. Each page is dedicated to one site with two screen captures from that site on the page. The largest section in this book by far is "design and illustration" which seems to focus on portfolio sites and comes in at 200 pages of examples. No other section has more than 40 pages and most have under 20. There are a ton of international sites in this book and not a single "major" web site. Which is good because that means the majority of the content in this book should be new to most readers. There is also very little text; there is no discussion of the designs, just large colorful screen captures and then credits at the bottom for the designer/agency and a url.
   
   If you need inspiration for edgy or artistic sites, then this is a good resource. If you're looking for more corporate site design, you won't find much of that in here. Personally all my design falls in the later, but I do think this will be a good resource for when I decide to revamp my portfolio site or if I want to experiment with more non-standard design. Since all my work is corporate, I find the more whimsical and creative side of my brain has shut down a bit. And it did have a good selection of sites with a black/dark color scheme which is nice; that style tends to be a challenge for me so having this many examples is handy.
   
   I gave this 3 stars instead of 4 because I would have liked to see a more balanced representation of web design styles.



3. I found this book in my local bookstore, cased in shrinkwrap, and debated whether to risk buying it without seeing the contents first. In the end, I took a chance and am glad that I did. As a beginning designer, I found several designs that gave me some ideas for my own site. Ironically, the biggest section in this book is devoted to graphic designers.
   
   Web Design Index by Content 3 covers a wide spectrum of industries. However, I felt that the majority of the industry sections ran a little on the thin side. That said, the publisher of this book (Pepin Press) accepts submissions and recommendations at [...].



4. As a professional within the area, this is a terrific book, since it provides an insight to what is currently being done, all over the globe. The author doesn't just focus in one particular country, the focus is worldwide and strongly reflects what is done in web design these days. Highly recommended.



5. This is my second Web Index Book from this publisher and they have been great books for inspiration in my freelance work. Filled with great websites and large images to really see the detail and craftsmanship of each website. One cool thing was when I ordered this book and chose 3-5 day shipping I actually got it within 2 days which was a nice surprise. If you only need to get inspired this book is for you.

5 comments about You Can Write Childrens Books (You Can Write).

1. Everyone wants to write a children's book! THis is the manual that tells you how.



2. Very well written book - also very upbeat - simple to understand the work up of plots, themes etc. A very encouraging book if you have a genuine interest in writing childrens. It made my writing much easier and clearer to write.



3. I found this book very helpful in outlining the begining to end steps of writing, as well as submitting, stories for children. It is written in a layman's easy-to-absorb manner & lays everything out for the reader step by step. It is also very encouraging along the way!



4. The book has some really well thought-out entries and some excellent resource material. Of course, as with any reference book, this book will be out-dated in a year or so.



5. The book has some really well thought-out entries and some excellent resource material. Of course, as with any reference book, this book will be out-dated in a year or so.

2 comments about 1,000 Icons, Symbols, and Pictograms: Visual Communications for Every Language (1000 Series).

1. The 1000 series is good pictorial reference however if you're looking for
   written content this is not the book for you. There are two opening paragraphs and
   that is it. I expected more informed content.



2. Typically, I'm very hard to impress when it comes to books. However, this book really made me raise my eyebrows (in a good way) and gave me a lot of inspiration as it relates to visual queues and labeling. I think this book, and really, any book published by Rockport Publishers is decent to look into purchasing. In addition to this book, I highly recommend reviewing the RockPort book entitled "Universal Principles of Design" by William Tidwell.

5 comments about Draw Real Animals! (Discover Drawing Series).

1. This book gives not only the basic shapes of animals but also the way to illustrate the fur and feathers found on most animals. A good reference book as well as instruction book.



2. This book really lifted my animal-drawings several levels.
   I think it has very well-explained step-by-step lessons. Both on seperate parts of animals leading to a whole animal-drawing. Lee Hammond has a certain way of leading you, so you feel comfortable and yet challenged all the way.



3. I read Lee Hammond's book, "Draw Real Animals" and I think it was really really worth my money. She discovered a blending technique that makes drawings look real. What's nice about this book is that she presents before and after drawings of kids (and they look real). When I first tried her technique, I got INSTANT RESULTS! Before when I used to look at a paper and try to draw, I thought, "no, this won't work" But now, every drawing I finish looks like a masterpiece! Buy this book, it will inspire you to draw more!



4. Lee Hammond's books stand out above the rest and this one is no exception. I'm staring at my drawing of a tiger she presents in the book. It is so good that I can't believe I did it. If you want to learn to draw realistic animals get her book.



5. Oh My Gosh! This book is amazing! When I had tried to draw animals in the past, I always turned up with bunches of rough, uneven lines that had a sketchy appearence. After studying this book and practicing the techniques within it, I created this beautiful drawing of a horse which I have now framed. I always get lots of great comments about it and a lot of my friends ask who I bought it from, since they can't believe that I did it! I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to improve their drawing skills, or to anyone interested in bringing out their artisticside that want a place to start.

5 comments about John Singer Sargent: Portraits of the 1890s.

1. I think we cannot be deceived by a book on Sargent. This is a so so good painter! This book is packed with beautiful big well chosen pictures and great text on Sargent's work. I was really happy to have this one!



2. complete and lots of colour pics. good price: at the sargent exhibition in paris more than twice as expensive! very happy with my purchase.



3. I own the entire series, and I wouldn't part with any one of them. For Sargent fans, this series is a dream come true. I hope they would publish some "poster books" with large reproductions eventually, as that would really complete the series.



4. This is the second in a series of three and it is just as quality as the other two. I read the review of the reader who was disappointed in this book and thus did not order the other two with shear amazement. I really recommend that she look at another copy, all I can figure is that she got a poor copy, which unfortunitely does happen even at the best publishing houses. I am highly discriminatory about poor quality pictures and overall book quality and I can assure you this book is top shelf. I highly recommend it to anyone who has an appreciation for great portrature.



5. I have purchased "Portraits of the 1890s" primarily for the images and I have to say that I am dissapointed. Sargent definitely deserves a monograph with better reproductions. I lost my initial desire to order remaining two books in this series (fortunately, I haven't ordered all three as I intended).
   
   The reproductions never do justice to the originals, but this is too much. The lighter colors are washed out (for instance, one of Sargent's most famous works - portrait of Lady Agnew) and many reproductions have yellowish or reddish cast. There are even images (as in case of portrait of Helen Sears) who are washed out and, in addition, have a yellowish cast.
   
   The values on some other reproductions (portrait of W. Graham Robertson, for instance) are compressed to the point of absurd.
   There are lot of preparatory sketches and drawings in this book, but they are very small - barely larger than a postage stamps. If you're interested in that part of Sargent's oeuvre, I can recommend Dover's book "Sargent Portrait Drawings".
   For truth's sake, I have to say that not all reproductions in this book are bad - half of them are tolerable (I didn't see any who is superb, though).
   Being both - a painter and art history professor my standards on this particular issue may be a bit higher than those of the non artists but, generally speaking, I just don't see the point of printing poor quality reproductions in an artbook or monograph.

1 comments about Lino Tagliapietra in Retrospect: A Modern Renaissance in Italian Glass.

1. Having seen the exhibit of Tagliapietra's work at the Tacoma Glass Museum I was impressed enough to get the book which is very well done. A bonus is the CD that comes with it which shows the artist at work. Excellent biography and amazing insights into the glass blowing process as well as stunning photos from is body of work.