5 comments about The Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques: Fifth Edition, Revised and Updated (Artists' Handbook of Materials and Techniques).

1. I had this book in the 1980's. Some significant changes on grounds like masonite so it is best to revisit what you thought you knew. But still an excellent resource.



2. The book was useful, but it was a real hard slog to read it all; unlike other books on this subject.
   
   Probably the biggest problems I had with was that many of the materials mentioned... I had no idea what they were because they are called something different in the US, plus many other newer materials weren't mentioned. The book was quite dated, and it made me wish I'd sprung a few extra dollars to get the 5th edition.
   
   But still, this book (perhaps the 5th edition rather than the 4th) IS essential reading for any serious oil painter. (If you can understand all the very technical and long-winded information!)
   
   I wasn't taught MOST of the technical information on oil paints at all at art school! It is great to have a bit of information on how to make your paintings last for many years. (I hate the thought of putting all that work in only for them to warp or crumble or peel in time!)
   
   This book is not suitable however for beginners or amateurs who only want to know the basics about materials and so on. (This is a difficult read and very technical, in my opinion.)
   
   A great book that does that is Encyclopedia of Oil Painting Techniques by Jeremy Galton which is suitable for beginners and serious painters alike (and has a LOT of pictures in it as compared to this book which is all TEXT!).



3. Essential for teachers and anyone wanting to know those hard to answer technical questions. It is the Bible for painting materials and other archival mediums and techniques.
   The Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques: Fifth Edition, Revised and Updated (Artists' Handbook of Materials and Techniques)



4. If you are searching for a book that will explain materials and tools for the artist this is the first book you should turn to. I have been referencing this book for a decade now and still have a lot to learn from Ralph Mayer, a man who spent his life investigating various techniques of painting.
   
   If you open this book up, you will come across just about any question you might have. For instance, I recently used Mayer for egg tempra painting. In his book he has a few pages regarding the subject, not many, but enough to fully explain the basics and get you started properly. He covers brushes, pigments, paints, from the obscure to the most basic.
   
   One section of the book that I am keenly interested in is his break down of a massive number of pigments where he goes into more detail on each than any other source I have come across.
   
   This is not exactly a how to paint or draw book. This book is intended for those who want to make a serious study of process practices in the correct manner for archival purposes. This is a must have book that should be in any painters studio.
   
   One last item of note: If you have used this book before and found it of interest, I highly suggest that the next time you are around New Haven CT that you visit the Yale 'Ralph Mayer' center. Yale itself has many museums and buildings worth visiting and the Mayer center is just one small highlight. Its staff was very kind when I visited. When I showed an interest in Mayer, they were eager to share some of the more interesting aspects of the collection.



5. While I don't work in oils, the coverage of oils seemed exceptionally deep. Material on pigments also was relevant to watercolor (something in which I dabble) and pastels (one of my major areas). I was disappointed not to find any real discussion of charcoal, graphite, or colored pencils. It would have been nice to get a slight discussion of materials not "professional", such as wax crayons.

5 comments about The New Creative Artist.

1. This book was recommended reading while I was on amazon buying another book.
   I would highly recommend it. I could not put it down till I have overviewed it all. Now back to chapter one and still on chapter one. It is full of good hints. Not only are there hints on how to unleach your inner artist but also basic psychology and philosophy read many times before ... and now hitting home. Jackie



2. If you want more creative starter ideas then you can handle this is the book for you. You won't need another idea book for sometime it is packed with ideas.



3. The New Creative Artist: A Guide To Developing Your Creative Spirit
   
   Here is another WOW spiral-bound book!!! It is full of COLOR,a lifetime of ideas, activities, and opportunities to s-t-r-e-t-c-h. The coverage of the Design Element is full: Line, Shape, Value, Color, Size, Pattern, Movement, Harmony, Contrast, Rhythm, Repetition, Gradation, Balance, Dominance, Format Options, Compositional Choices, Design Strategies, and touches on when to give the rules a rest. If that isn't enough, there's lots more! I especially look forward to working through the section: The Realism-Abstraction Connection during my next artistic transition. A beautiful book!
   
   Patricia Eastman



4. This book wasn't as good as "celebrating your creative self."
   
   It was a little wordy with inspirational messages. Not as much about technique and new ideas as I was hoping.



5. This book will get any creative body with a block back into their creative hobby. She gives so many great ideas, like that you should write down all the great creative ideas you think of and put them in to a jar. That way, whenever you can't think of something to get your creative juices flowing, just grab your jar and do whatever the piece of paper says!
   
   On a sidenote: I also love that the binding is ring - so that you can fold the book flat and not worry about pages closing on you when you are trying out something new - but that it is also protected by a larger cover so the ring binder doesn't fall apart like they usually do - THANK YOU PUBLISHER!
   
   Anyhow, great buy for any artist or artists' library - a book I will forever reference...I only wish that Leland explained more of the techniques behind rare art forms (but that would add a whole other book!).

5 comments about Spectrum 14: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art (Spectrum (Underwood Books)).

1. You can't lose with Spectrum editions. They are all awesome and inspiring to anyone who loves art. Collect'em all and enjoy the art when ever your in the mood. I've browsed through each one several times and find something inspiring every time. Priceless...



2. I don't have the others nearby to judge from, but 14 seems thicker than previous installments. This one is paperback, and as usual, the color and print quality are good. Unfortunately, also as usual, cramming three or four pictures on a single page means that many are too small for you to really enjoy the details. Still, if you're a fan of fantasy and sci-fi art, I know of no better yearly collection of some of the best stuff out there.



3. I have purchased the last five issues of Spectrum and enjoyed this almost as much as Spectrum 12. I have just started puchasing the re-issued original issues and can say that Spectrum 1 may have fewer pages but still is well worth the money. I find myself looking online for the artists that impress me. I just wish there was more information supplied on the art shown. Overall, I would definitely recommend Spectrum 14.



4. This is my second purchase of spectrum books. 13 was the first one I brought. All I can say is this is one of the most stunning art books I have ever owned...that and after going through this one I may have to pick up all the other books. Every page is full of beautiful work from a wide arrange of different styles. I can't say how many times this book has saved me when It came down to me trying to complete a illustration. It constantly inspires me and makes me want to pick up a paintbrush or any drawing tool for that matter and create.
   
   Spectrum deserves all the praise in the world for the great effort that they put into all these books. To top that off most standard art books like this go for itleast double the cost. Love these books!



5. Like Santa Claus, Spectrum only comes around once per year and is always highly anticipated. This annual collection of the world's best contemporary fantasy and Sci-fi art is always a favorite not only due to its sheer size and beautiful production, but also because of its diversity in scope. Spectrum presents the best art from the fields of books, comics, advertising, editorial, concept, and even sculpture into each year's volume.
   
   As always, the book begins with a look at the year in review and the trends in contemporary fantasy art before getting into the opening category of advertising art and presenting the first of its gold and silver annual awards to the best in each category. This year's gold winner in the advertising category went to James Jean for his Retro-hip "Spacerace 2020" painting for Nike. This gorgeous pop-art piece is a tribute to Sci-Fi imagery of the `40s and `50s.
   
   I'm not sure how they could have picked a winner in the book category as there are so many outstanding pieces. While Jon Foster's winning painting for Night Shade books was very good, Luis Royo's offering for his graphic novel, "Dark Labyrinth". Adam Hughes took home the Gold Award in the Comics category for his depiction of the sleek and sexy Scarlet Witch from Upper Deck. As a long-time comic book fan I love seeing the industry's artists getting their just due as the outstanding artists that they are. Other standouts included Gary Giannni's standout art from the Prince Valiant comic strip that is in the best tradition of Hal Foster, and Charles Vess/Mike Kaluta's work from the Vertigo Comics series "1001 Nights of Snowfall".
   
   One of the categories I look forward to most each year is the dimensional chapter featuring the year's best sculptures and models and this year was certainly no disappointment. A. Brent Armstrongs mammoth 54" tall piece featuring King Kong atop the Empire State Building is simply breathtaking! The Alex Ross designed Superman resin sculpt by artist Karen Palinko features the distinctive look of Ross as Clark Kent rips open his shirt to reveal Superman's legendary logo. Shawn Nagle's "Tarzan and the Golden Lion" based on art by longtime Tarzan illustrator, J. Allen St. John, is another winner.
   
   Spectrum never fails to deliver a little something for everyone's taste and Spectrum volume 14 may be the best edition yet. Grade A.

5 comments about 20 Master Plots: And How to Build Them.

1. I was very pleased to find that this "how-to" guide is actually a very well written introduction to and analysis of the major plots found in all storytelling media in our culture.
   The writing is crisp, enjoyable, accessible, yet also deep with critical insights valuable to any writer or wannabe.
   I've already recommended it to several friends without hesitation! Read, learn, apply, enjoy!



2. There is a theory that states that every story ever told fits into one (or more) of a small number of plot structures. These "master plots" are usually something like the quest, love, rivalry, etc. I'm still not entirely convinced that this theory is true. However, looking through the 20 master plots listed in this book, I will admit that I find it difficult to think of a story that doesn't fit into one or more of these categories.
   
   "20 Master Plots" is not so much a writing manual, as the sort of book you would expect to be set if you were taking a university level writing or literature course. Although it does provide advice on how to write a novel which fits into one of these plot structures, most of the book is made up of analyses of existing books and movies that fit into one of these categories. Nevertheless, as an aspiring novelist, I have found this book to be of far more use to me than any of the writing manuals which I own. I find this book to be incredibly useful when I am starting a novel and trying to develop the plot. Although, I don't follow the prescribed plot structures religiously, I find that the plot structures provide me with useful suggestions as to elements that I might like to include in my story. If this book is even only half as useful to you as it is to me, it will be well worth your money.



3. I must thank the universe and Tobias for this incredibly clear and helpful book. I am a published novelist, and have turned to this book many times in order to improve and better organize my stories. Tobias is so right when he speaks of the importance in connecting events, the cause and effect spark that happens from scene to scene in a tight plot, and many helful reminders on how to ignite the fire that brings a good story its drama. People who believe that plots naturally write themselves may have their points, but its important not to misinterpret Tobias's approach to what it means to have structure. He teaches that PLOT is not a skeleton which you hang your story over, artificially and easily, but an organic FORCE that you must find within your protagonists---having to do with his path---that propells your story along in the most dynamic way possible. This book has been the most essential gift to my career so far and I pass it on to all aspiring writers as well as experienced writers who are still in the process of serious edits. I recently began reading it from cover to cover and wish this would have been required reading when I was in writing school. I attended a master's program at USC, and after all the how-to books I've read, this remains my bible.



4. This is a helpful book for the writer to own. However, imagination and courage is something that can not be learnt. But if you already have these attributes than this is a book is one you that you should read.



5. This book intrigued me when I saw it on the shelf at Barnes and Noble. I picked it up and have just recently started reading through it.
   
   At first it looks like a book that will give a solid basis for building a plot by finding the patterns each plot has. The reality is that this book shows how to give SOME basis to building your plot. Where the author isn't taking up paragraphs to say what could be said in a sentence (and usually what he is saying is painfully obvious) he has a clear bias against certain genres. He doesn't come out and say "commercial fiction is contrived, formulaic garbage and you're an idiot if you buy it - just read literally fiction instead, it's so much more refreshing!" but if you read the other reviews for this book you'll see that I'm not the only one who feels that he was trying to convey that message.
   
   Is it worth the money? That depends. Spending $10, $20, even $40 on a book that only has one concept that makes you think, puts what you know in a different perspective, or in any other way changes how you look at what you write is more than worth the money. Whether or not this book has that concept is up to the individual to decide.
   
   You could do a lot worse than "20 Master Plots And How to Build Them" but there are many better books too. And most of those don't talk down to you for enjoying a piece of fiction that's backed by a large label or producing studio.
   
   Edit August 5 2008 Instead of this, I would recommend the "Write Great Fiction" series and "Novelist's Boot Camp."

5 comments about Brushwork Essentials.

1. Interesting reading, the writer Mark Christopher Weber has a sense of humor, and writes it very well. Ilistrations are very good also. I'd recommend this book.



2. Beautiful reproductions...
   I enjoyed the information about water-soluble oils
   so much that I did more research on them and
   decided to give them a try.
   The information regarding brushes and the way
   to use them was thorough and met my expectations.
   I don't trust painters who don't establish their
   good credentials by showing examples of their work.
   Weber did this, with his "Realistic" and "Flemish"
   style paintings which showed his abilities
   to draw and paint at a high level.



3. I am an inexperienced beginner at oil painting who has never taken art lessons. So I read books. This book is exactly what I needed. It simply explains the different brushes, how to load them with paint and how to use them to get different effects. The text is clear and the graphics are great. I'll definitely be referring to this book again and again.



4. I'm fairly new to painting, but I have purchased a dozen books on oils, and this one has been the most helpful to me. It's pitched to the beginner or beginner-intermediate artist, not the expert.
   
   Weber mostly makes good on his promise to show you how to do things, not just finished results. He shows you a number of different ways to load a brush, for example "shovel loading, "chisel loading, "tip pull loading," "body loading," and others. The book includes helpful close-up photos of each of these techniques. He then shows you several different ways to apply each of these loaded brushes, again with close-up photos. Using the same kind of closeups, he shows you how to mix paint. I haven't seen this level of detail in any other painting book I've purchased.
   
   The book then goes on to demonstrate several techniques for blending, again using helpful series of photos depicting brushstrokes for blending, different stages in adding transitional colors, and thorough wet-into-wet blending. I really had no clue about blending until I read this material.
   
   The book didn't answer all my questions. I had hoped for some detailed instruction on how to paint water, but while there are "walkthroughs" for painting roses, a mountain landscape, and a human figure, and a couple of shots of water in photos, there wasn't a systematic treatment of water. Also, the book advocates using a "wash" to start a painting without thoroughly explaining why one would do this, although it does include an adequate description of how to go about it.
   
   But these are minor quibbles. I learned a lot from this book. I wish he'd make another, focusing on particular problems in painting, or providing more step-by-step walkthroughs, but this book will keep me busy for a while. I intend to try to reproduce his roses, for example, following his instructions.
   
   One final caveat. Weber happens to use the very same paints I do -- the DUO Aqua water-miscible (sometimes called water-soluble) oils. So for me the book was a perfect match, as he was actually talking about pigments that I'm already somewhat familiar with. Don't get me wrong; mostly his writing has a much broader application to "regular" oils, and he's quite clear about when his comments pertain only to water-miscibles. But part of my enthusiasm for the book is the happy coincidence that he uses "my" paints. For readers who use paints with very different handling characteristics, the book might be slightly less useful. But only slightly less.



5. Acknowledging that the reader may or may not have discovered some of their own techniques that render expressive painting, Mark Christopher Weber respectfully shares his vast knowledge without being preachy. This book contains beautiful, high quality reproductions of Weber's finished paintings and is a delightful read. With occasional subtle humor, and easily understandable similies (ex. "consistency of mayonnaise" and "jelly on top of peanut butter") Weber helps the reader relate painting to common everyday knowledge to get the point across. He meticulously shares different ways to "load the brush" and release the stroke to get the right effect.
   I found answers to many frustrating problems I was experiencing in my own foray into oil painting, even though I have been painting for several years now and had acquired and read a good collection of helpful books. If you are a good artist who struggles with just how to get that medium to do what you want, in other words, mastering it, this is a must-have reference for your artist's library, as well as a delightful read. Put it at the top on your art resource booklist.

5 comments about Pumping Nylon.

1. Very good and comprehensive instructions for excellent classical guitar tone production. Very useful are the examples for right and left hand training and coordination.The best teaching material I found on this subject.



2. Best overall technique book i've ever read, and i used to work at a music store for 2 years. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to straighten out their bad habits or learn new good habits in order to improve your coordination, speed, and reduce tension while playing all while improving your sound and of course, strengthening your fingers.



3. This is a great book for the beginner classical guitar player. It is worth every cent for the information within the book.



4. I'm sure I'll enjoy this book.I liked the fast shipping, and I would do business with this seller again.



5. This is not a method book about learning to play the classical guitar. It's aim is to refine and re-examine how one can approach a specific technical challenge, for example, tremelo. I find Scott Tenant's ability to view a particular technical challenge from an almost psychological perspective and understanding, to be a great aid in overcoming the mental barriers we place on ourselves. Many of the greatest guitarists have found methods to overcome these self-defeating attitudes and Scott Tenant is one of them. He is an absolutely amazing guitarist and musician for whom I have tremendous respect. He's also a very likable guy and very willing to share what worked for him with the rest of us.
   
   It is best to use this book in conjunction with a qualified classical guitar teacher if you are relatively new to classical guitar. I teach classical guitar and will refer to this book to improve my own playing skills. He doesn't include complete musical pieces but gives plenty of drills which when mastered will act as a catalyst in propelling the student to new level of guitar playing on whatever selections they choose. I also like that he included the 110 Giuliani right-hand studies that most other books omit.

5 comments about Images.

1. You may well wonder what the big attraction is for a coloring book with all these odd little images.
   
   Try it and you'll see. Once you experience the great relaxation to be found in one of these collections of odd images to color, you will wonder how you ever did without them before.
   
   Crazy cool book! Turn on some Grateful Dead music and color away!:)



2. Truly challenging desings...although they repeat like four times...because I really am into geometrical designs, it really was a mind boggling process to extract the structures I wanted from the overall design...also the coloring sessions (in my case) were long and tedious so you must have time and patience for them...



3. I found these designs difficult but challenging. Spaces are small so this might not be great for younger kids. Designs are somewhat monotonous.



4. I recieved this book, along with books 2-5 also, for christmas. My mom ordered them out of a magazine together though. but they are the same books. Anyway, I love these things!! I am 14, and they still Keep me busy. Also, I had several teachers who had us do these at school.....not exactly sure why, but they did. Anyway, I think older kids, maybe 3rd or 4th grade and up will like these better than any old coloring book. I even got my sister whos 24, doing one of these last night! lol so overall, its perfect! =)



5. I am an adult that loves to color and these Roger Burrows books are great. I find they work best with colored pencils in that the designs are very intricate, but fine tip markers work fine as well if you don't mind bleed through (the paper is fairly thin). Very good, cheap, relaxing therapy! Can't miss--these would be fine for older children as well that are very attentive to detail.

5 comments about 2008 Artist's & Graphic Designer's Market.

1. I'm very excited about the sources his book offers. The author did a great job explaining how the book works so that someone who was new to the book (like me) could use it easily. I'm excited to see if I can make extra money using it!



2. This book is a MUST read for anyone looking to earn money from their art. The information provided is invaluable and they answered questions I did not even know to ask! Will DEFINATELY purchase every year.



3. well, you get what you pay for. It's a good resource for someone starting out who isn't ready to dish out hundreds of dollars for a mailing list. But half the listings are obsolete, or old adresses, old art directors.
   
   Also it hasn't really kept up with the times... most illustrators these days aren't looking to design flower patterns for dixie cups. 3/4 of that book is irrelevant to me. Of course it's probably targeted at part time crafters, flower pattern designers, and the mid life crisis "Im going to write and illustrate a children's book" rather than professional illustrators.
   
   If somebody published a seriously updated & comprehensive illustrator's market book I would pay a lot more than $20 for it though.



4. This book is quickly becoming a source of information that I frequent. It is much easier to quickly find information in a combined source than weeding through thousands of websites and "googled" information to find the contact information that is relevant for my endeavors.



5. Every year these rip-off artists (i.e., people who specialize in the business of ripping off other people), publish an "updated" book. The updated books supposedly have been "completely revised" and feature new entries. I am here to tell you that not only are there very few new entries, but many are out of date, no longer pertinent and/or simply give inaccurate information. What is most frustrating is the author's insistence on marking several entries as "new" that have appeared in many previous editions. Perhaps they think if an entry has not appeared since 2002 they can throw it in the 2008 edition and call it new. Some of these places aren't even doing business anymore. Bottom line: I am extremely disappointed with this edition. I also must report that I have found no leads from these books, yet I have been successful finding leads on the Internet and through other forms of research. If you feel you need this book, go to a bookstore and take a pen and notebook with you. Just don't waste your money on buying it!

5 comments about Oil Painting Secrets from a Master: 25th Anniversary Edition.

1. This book is good for the artists who has been painting for quite a time.Its a lot of technical gargon to grapple with and only experience of what the book is recommending will make any sense.



2. This book is brilliant. Few book are as helpful, but not until you're ready for this one! This book is not for beginners, but for artists comfortable enough with the oil medium and the basics of painting. If you are that artist, David helps you learn to THINK the way an artist needs to think. I have been reading and re-reading this book for 25 years now. (One note: I agree that some of the reproductions are blurry and unacceptable. Maybe the publisher did something about this for the 25th anniversary edition.)



3. ....or anyone who doesn't want to be Rembrandt. This author is perhaps a Master, but the title implies an Old Master. His technique of painting appears skillful, yes, but didn't appeal to me because they were all in the Rembrandt mode of painting.
   I'm sure the prose, though disjointed and sometimes contradictory, may be helpful to Intermediate/Advanced artists or Art Teachers, but way too much combing through of the book is required than should be necessary. The info is not organized in a useful way. Sorry....



4. This book isn't a "How to Paint" book. It assumes you already know how to do that. This book tells you how to create good paintings using light, space and color. It reminds you of all the things you learned in art school but have forgotten along the way.



5. This book is extraordinarily helpful for artists who already have some experience. It appears to be a collection of class notes with many illustrations and helpful tips, rather than a mapped out "method". I discovered in it many missing links of information, "ahas", so to speak.

5 comments about Secrets to Drawing Realistic Faces.

1. Finally I found the book I've been looking for almost a year. I've been trying to learn how to draw photorealistic portraits for months. I've bought plenty of books on drawings, but sadly they were either full of dry theory, with pictures I didn't like, or had great pictures, without showing me exactly how to get there. This books is just what I needed. It shows you exactly how to get from a blank sheet of paper to a great looking portrait.



2. Secrets to Drawing Realistic Faces is one of the best instructional books on drawing faces that I've read thus far. It has some extremely useful tips that have improved my drawing after just the first read.
   Proper(realistic)shading and proportion were my weak areas; this book covered both in an easy to understand way. It also offers simple and great ways to implement these tasks properly.
   If you are a beginner or even intermediate artist this is a great book to have on your shelf. Although probably not meant for the advanced or established portrait artist.
   I'm sure I will be reading it several more times so that I can fine tune my skills.



3. I'm a novice and I found this book a very good start. Very easy language, the author discusses all facial features in good detail (although I found the hair topic inadequate, but hey you've got to practice.)



4. Wonderful instructional book on teaching how to draw. Beautiful photos, and great illustrations. I would HIGHLY reccomend this book to those trying to learn to draw!



5. Not recommended if you are inexperienced at drawing 101. It will lead to total frustration! I am not finding what there is to substantiate saying this is a great book. Fortunately I have another instructional book that teaches about proper proportion from the beginning. I am planning to take a drawing course and had hopes of getting a head start (no pun intended), but this book does nothing to clarify issues about the basics. The drawings in the book are all extremely professional, well-executed and very un-basic. So I recommend it for people who are already drawing extremely well and are maybe even semi-professionals. However, since I am not that far along and am no judge of that, maybe it doesn't go that far. I'm sitting here right now feeling extremely discouraged.