1 comments about Drawing: Mastering the Language of Visual Expression (Abrams Studio).

1. Beautiful and inspiring instruction on becoming an artist of visual language.
   
   This instructional and inspirational book will enhance your creative power of expression. The volume is from the Abrams Studio Series published by the distinguished art and illustrated book publisher Harry N. Abrams. The oversized book has more than 150 images, beautiful full-color illustrations, drawings and diagrams; also included are a glossary, index and further reading suggestions.
   
   Drawing is fundamental to an artist or designer's ability to create and communicate his or her understanding of the world in the language of the visual. More than 20,000 years old, drawing is older than writing as a human activity for expression. Mickelwright , an artist whose work is in collections in several countries, skillfully teaches the artist how to transform his or her concept of reality into visual representation.

5 comments about Dirty Little Drawings: The Queer Men's Erotic Art Workshop.

1. Dirty Little Drawings is a wonderful book full of erotic drawings featuring the male body in every concievable way. The erotic poses are wonderful! If you are considering buying some books of illustrations, some of the artists have books of their own, so you can kind of preview their work to see if you want more.
   
   I would hardly call this a little book, as it weighs in at 322 pages! Also, as you turn the pages over a period of time, you seem to discover more and more little nasty things you missed the first time through...YUM!



2. When purchasing the book, I was not aware of the background of the process of how the artwork was created for a show. Turning the pages of the book is like walking through a gallery. A small portable gallery of Male Erotic Art.



3. Aficionados of male figurative art come in many shapes and sizes; Dirty Littly Drawings will appeal to all of them. For those tired of the same old insipid, slick, hackneyed photo spreads in the stroke mags, Dirty Little Drawings is a welcome departure: this little book will kick-start your libido like a juiced-up set of jumper cables. Even the looser, sketchier, more abstract pieces radiate an intense sexuality, the boldness of their lines and headiness of their colours imbuing the images with more sensuality than most photography can muster. Whether your fascination is for fine art in general, super-charged erotic imagery, or something to "hang over the sofa," this book has something for you.
   
   One of the greatest assets of this collection is its enormous variety of subject matter, styles, and media. In its 320 pages, Dirty Little Drawings houses a stable of 291 images, created by 72 artists, ranging from delicate, slender, coming-of-age youths to improbably muscled and impossibly endowed muscle gods to down-and-dirty leather daddies and their slaves. Dirty Little Drawings also pulls no punches in the action its images depict, with vivid representations of just about every scene imaginable (the only acts missing are those of the yellow- and brown-stripe variety). Providing a point of context, some of the drawings even depict the models in situ, giving the viewer a privileged glimpse into both the Queer Men's Erotic Art Workshop's clandestine, underground lair and the process itself.
   
   In terms of artistic styles, DLD contains a wide range: Max Ernst-ish pen-and-ink caricatures, Old Master-style charcoal and pencil studies, delicate French Academie/Prud'hon-like compositions, Fauvist crayon abstractions, Expressionist/Egon Schiele-inspired watercolours, and photorealistic coloured pencil pieces. Some funky images decorated with metallic ink scrawls even call to mind Keith Haring's work. Although very few of the pieces could be considered masterworks (limited primarily by their requisite small size), the general level of craftsmanship is high, and many of the artists are clearly at the top of their game here.
   
   The majority of the pieces are done on coloured armatures, from delicately hued pastel papers to Bristol board laden with op art-intense acrylics, but the black-and-white images are no less striking. Tai Lin, the artist whose work graces the cover, achieves an incredibly striking, luminescent effect with an extremely limited chromatic palette of pastels on black paper, while Enrico Gomez creates works of sublime sensuality and ethereal vagueness using lines of graphite and charcoal smudges nibbled away by kneaded eraser on cream-coloured Strathmore paper. Other artists, such as Chuck Nitzberg, achieve an extraordinary effect by combing the two methods, working for the most part monochromatically, with a few accents of colour - bright orange cock heads, blazing-red nipples, etc. - to highlight the points of interest. Although oil paint as a medium is absent (canvas loaded with oil paint being too heavy for the exhibition's hanging requirements), some of the pastel images do attain a painterly quality in their play and blending of colour and looseness of strokes.
   
   My only complaints would be that Tai Lin's hauntingly arresting portrait, which graces the cover, is not reproduced anywhere within the book - on the cover, it's obscured by the title and list of artists' names. It also would have been nice if the artists' names were reprinted in list form inside the book as well, along with contact information for purchasing and commissioning purposes - one can only get a complete listing of the artists by combing through the index pages in the back. Also, the lack of page numbers or artist names beneath the full-size images makes it difficult to find one's favourite pieces. While it is arguably preferable to have the reproductions cover the entire page as they do here, thereby increasing their immediacy, it does make it difficult to identify the pieces (an index at the back of the book reprints each as a thumbnail in the order it appears in the book, along with the artist's name, but since the pages are not numbered, the viewer can only approximate where in the book each piece appears based on its order in the index). Finally, while Dirty Little Drawings was clearly created with exceptionally high production values, with a heavy, rock-solid cover and thick, glossy paper stock, the slight sheen on the pages makes it a little difficult to get a clear view of the artwork - one has to tilt the book just so to minimize the glare.
   
   Despite these minor flaws, though, Dirty Little Drawings is an incredibly eye- (and zipper-) opening treasure trove of newcomers to and icons in the gay erotic art scene that perfectly captures the phenomenon that is the Queer Men's Erotic Art Workshop. In purely sensual terms, the book has a satisfying heft to it, the relatively small size makes it feel personal, private, even covetable, the cover and pages have a sumptuous texture (almost naughty, like satin sheets), and the quality of construction and artwork contained therein make it feel like it's worth a good deal more than Amazon is currently charging for it. It makes a great gift...just make sure you get an extra copy to keep for yourself!
   
   (Note: To keep this review short, I have appended it in the Comments section with detailed information about the physical aspects of the book, as well as a brief history of the Queer Men's Erotic Art Workshop and background information on the exhibit from which the book's images were drawn - hope it's of use!)



4. Don't let the compact dimensions of this erotic art book fool you. Inside, each individual page is filled with a stunning slice of erotic imagery. The whole concept of this book is wonderful and exciting in itself...when you look at this art, you can just imagine the atmosphere in the studio where real men posed in these explicit positions, surrounded by a group of artists who splashed across a page their own interpretations of the fantasies frozen before them.



5. The book DIRTY LITTLE DRAWINGS is an artwork in itself. Measuring about 6 1/2" by 6 1/2" it not only contains some superb art but it also serves as a catalogue for a project from a unique event that began in December 2000. Harvey Redding hired an adventuresome model and posed for a group of fourteen artists, each of whom sketched and drew from the model's input 'to expand the boundaries of academic nude figure drawing,' - 'full out, rock hard, unapologetic, sexual posing: nothing held back, nothing sacred.' The result was a collection of gay erotic art that became an exhibition of art works identically sized and priced. The exhibition and sale was so successful that there have been subsequent shows creating a collectors' dream and a new New York art scene.
   
   This book may be small in size, but the artworks are vigorous, erotically charged and visually stunning. They range from simple head portraits to S and M influenced scenes, sex acts, and coupling and solitary pleasures. The variety of art types ranges form the hastily sketched pencil or crayon outline to fastidiously detailed drawings. The quality of the works may vary in degree of craftsmanship, but this selection of richly colorful works has one thing in common: the works are full of sensual energy.
   
   The book and the concept are the work of Harvey Redding, Robert W. Richards, and Rob Hugh Rosen, the three directors of the Queer Men's Erotic Art Workshop in New York. The book is produced with finesse by Bruno Gmunder Verlag Gmbh. This is a fine art collection that started out to be a reaction to academic art. It is a superb little book! Grady Harp, December 07

2 comments about Scribes and Illuminators (Medieval Craftsmen).

1. Christopher De Hamel's, Scribes and Illuminators is a short book, replete with illustrations, that I read in a single session. It is strictly an introduction rather than a scholarly work. Some topics are covered in more detail than others - the technique of illumination has more coverage than the selection and creation of miniatures or marginalia. The illustrations, in the main, are from medieval manuscripts and depict both the scribe/illuminator at work and examples of finished, and unfinished, pages. The pictures of unfinished pages are particularly useful in illustrating how the scribes and illuminators worked. There are some photographs of the tools used in manuscript production, but a few more would have been nice - especially of the frame used to sew the quires together. Some interesting facts embedded in the text are: parchment tended to curl toward the hair-side of the page because it shrank more, there were a significant number of women scribes, scribes would write around holes made accidentally during the creation of the parchment. Despite the brevity De Hamel manages to cover nearly the whole of manuscript production. And in that light the book is worth reading. However, if you are interested in the minute details of binding, calligraphy, miniatures, marginalia, and/or the tools of the trade you would be better off reading a different book.



2. Like all this series, this book is a real gem. Clearly written, interesting, informative, with a fine selection of pictures (most in colour), it's truly amazing how much it covers in a small book. Particularly useful are the contemporary illustrations of scribes and painters at work, showing such details as a scribe's sloping desk with holes to hold his quills and inkhorn (cover illustration). The whole construction of a medieval book is explained, from makig the parchment to the final cover. Examples of unfinished manuscripts, not shown in facimile books, provide fascinating insight into the whole production process. The inclusion of charming pictures such as the self-portrait of a scribe and his apprentice, cursing a mouse running off with the the cheese from their lunch table, brings the lives of these workers into immediate and human detail.

   If you are only going to get one book about medieval scribes and illuminators, this is the one to buy.

No comments about Style School Volume 2 (Style School).

2 comments about Mike Giant: Muerte (36 Chambers) (36 Chambers).

1. If you are looking at this item you already know about Mike Giant & don't need to be told what his art looks like. Muerte like some Mike Giant books has images on one side of the page and the title on the other the images are the size of the whole page. No text just art. Like the Product states it has 96 pages and the dimensions are 9.3in. X 6.6 in. Soft Cover.



2. As expected, this highlights some of the more refined and detailed works from one of my favorite artists.
   PRO: Lots of images, one on each page. This is why you buy the book.
   CON: My copy feels like it was printed on near-newsprint paper that was cut with a dull scissors around the edges. Fingerprints show up on the porous cover indefinitely. Some of the work was created in black and white, but is in the book against a field of unattractive blue (basic cyan?), and the registration is a little off as well. Ink seems to have transfered a bit to blank facing pages, creating even more of a newsprint feel.
   
   This is certainly not a triumph of book design or physical quality, but I would still buy it, as I love Mike Giant's work and can now study his lines and motifs for hours.

5 comments about 500 Fairy Motifs.

1. Beautiful little book. Delightful collection from various artists - shame they cannot be copied.... some are 'way out' - CAT fairies?? but inspiring to the fairy devotee. Particularly liked designs from the author, Myrea Pettit also Erin Minks: but that is a personal choice - there are mny other contributions from a variety of artists displaying alternative styles and ideas (inc. a few elves). The author's passion for the subject, and inclusion of contact sites for all contributors is to be commended.



2. 500 Fairy Motifs is so much more than I expected. I want to thank the author for putting toegther such a great collections of artists and artwork. This is exactly what I was looking for --- a great reference for fairy lovers and believers-
   I am truely inspired thanks :)helene



3. This is an awesome collection of fairy artwork that takes your breath away with it's beauty. It arrived promptly and in beautiful condition.



4. There are so many wonderful images of Fairy for inspiration in this book along with websites where to contact the Artist. It's perfect.



5. I loved this book! I have been looking at so many books in bookstores and never found anything that I liked. This book was perfect for me because it has so many different styles. I have been trying to find my own style and truly needed to look at all different fairies. My experience with Amazon was a positive one and I received the book in no time!

1 comments about Painting with Brenda Harris, Volume 3 - Lovely Landscapes: 10 Step-by-Step Projects (Painting With Brenda Harris).

1. I enjoy working with her books. She explains everything out. Good for people just starting to paint, learning alot of the techniques.
   Great job !!!!!!

3 comments about Art Nouveau (Dover Pictura).

1. The images are nice, but the variety that I was hoping for was not there.



2. beautiful examples of art nouveau designs. the dover books are ideal since they offer the digital images on the included CD.



3. I generally love Dover publications. The images in this book are not what I expected (wanted). The print quality of the images is excellent, as one would expect from Dover. It is just that when I page through the book looking for an image I may want to use, I come up empty.

4 comments about Images 2: The Ultimate Coloring Experience.

1. Yes - another coloring book review by me, but necessary in regards to this one. I was excited to try this one out as I love geometric designs and was pleased at the price available from one of the sellers through Amazon. One I got it I decided to try a few out and was pleased with the results of my artwork...then I examined the book closer. I found that there were only 12 designs and four of each, thus making the 48 pages of the coloring book! I felt disappointed, even though I could easily vary each image with different colors and patterns. The paper was of better quality than many other coloring books so that was a plus. But I wish I had known that there were only 12 different designs as other reviewers didn't mention this nor in the description of the book. I do recommend using quality colored pencils in order to get the most of your work - you will be happier with what you produce if you do!



2. This is a great coloring book for kids of all ages. It is creative, fun, and a great present if you don't know what the child already has or wants. Any child will enjoy coloring the cool designs in this book. I usually include a nice set of markers with it too.



3. As an adult colorist, I find Burrow's books to be some of the best on the market. The designs can satisfy the meticulous detail person, while allowing the colorist to create their own designs using the grids supplied.
   On the whole, a satisfying coloring book! Buy them all!



4. My fourth grade daughter colors similar pictures in school and was so pleased to be able to do the same at home. She is amazed at the outcome of the images. Thank you.

3 comments about Cranach.

1. I was browsing through the book store and was attracted to a new book that accompanies an exhibition about the german painter Cranach, not so famous as Durer. The beautiful cover of the book invited me to pick it up and open it. I spent nearly an hour studying the gorgeous artwork and rich information about the artist, his times, and technique. I feel a little guilty buying the book from Amazon and not the store... This book is perfect for anyone whether you are an artist, a scientist, a lover or art, or just want to treat your eyes and mind to something beautiful.



2. A petite Germanic-looking angel visited me, and spake these words:
   
   "Lo, I bear a Prophecy for all Designers of Art Books! Those Designers who think it is Cool to leave Big White Margins on all the pages and reproduce the Beautiful Paintings the size of Postage Stamps shall not know Joy!
   
   Those mean Designers shall be Burned by the concentrated rays of all the disappointed book-buyers' Magnifying Lenses!
   
   But the Designer of this Cranach book shall enjoy a Paradise of dark foliage and strange small Germanic-looking animals, for this Designer hath reproduced the Paintings big and beautiful and it is a Joy to see!
   
   And since I am an Angel, I don't know if the text is any good or not, but the Pictures are a Joy to see!"
   
   Thus spake the Angel to me.



3. This is a visual treat for anyone interested in the work of Lucas Cranach, the great German painter of the Lutheran Reformation.