1 comments about Bookplate Designs CD-ROM and Book (Dover Electronic Clip Art).

1. This bookplate design CD was highly anticipated as the release date was delayed several times. It's beautifully done and easy to use. Great product and worth the wait.

5 comments about Los Logos.

1. If you're a designer that needs inspiration in this synthetic world (just like me) look no further.
   Just go ahead and buy the 3 books of the series (just like me). Don't be afraid the logos don't are seppareted in themes so one book complements the other.
   
   It impress me because I acctually hate logo books, they are so corporate usually. But these stand up for the creative explorations over style, application and paradigm breaking.
   A huge collection of logos, I feel I don't need to buy other books in the genre, all I need is there (i am a designer not a agency director, so don't get me wrong)



2. The firs session of this alternative logo design is a great place to find new ways to do logos.



3. I do like this book. It is an interesting compilation of inspired work, innovative design, strange ideas that make sense. It's good for that kind of reference.
   
   Los Logos has a few flaws, however. First, let me state that I acknowledge that the author did not necessarily intend that this book was the ultimate reference of everything logos, but still. It's a 443 pages long book called LOS LOGOS, it could really bring diverse points of view on the subject. It says here they wanted to present new ideas. Good, there's plenty of that here, but it is packed with dozens of jobs from the same few design companies, which makes for a repetitive collection. If you pay attention, you'll see all works fom the same companies have a similar style, and you end up wanting more, even with so much to look at. That's the one thing that made me sad about Los Logos: why didn't the author look at works from many other styles? These all look the same, either new retro or futuristic. The team that compiled this works actually seems to have gone out of its way to find unusual art all over the world, but then why do all works look alike in a way? It lacks a bit of real-world works. These are mostly used in alternative brands that don't seem to target the majority of the population.
   
   It's good, but could have been so much better.



4. The book comes in a nice cover and all, but I was a bit dissapointed upon looking inside. There are some cool logos, but not as many as I thought their would be. Some of them suck and I don't know why they're even in there. I'd say out of 385 pages 100 were good. Not all of them are bad though, I have seen worse.
   This book is good if your venturing into new styles , or just for a good creative refreshment, yet it's also good for referencing too.



5. I don't think everyone is understanding the true intentions of this book. It's really not about the index, chapters or maturity of it. I feel this book should primarily (or only) be used for visual style inspiration. When you're designing a logo, have a concept in mind, but you're looking for a way to execute the visuals, this is THE book you pick up! No exceptions. If you think this book was a waste of money, then go work in a cubicle and layout some order forms.

1 comments about Calligraphy in the Copperplate Style.

1. This is a fabulous manual for beginners, explaining the 17th century calligraphy technique which imitates copper etchings of the same, using a fine nib. A great buy with nice detail.

3 comments about Stacked Decks: The Art and History of Erotic Playing Cards.

1. Interesting topic, interesting book. Good images, but resolution could be better. If you are into fine photography and a collector of cards this book is a good reference of this subject. Every card collector should consider getting a copy of this book. Emphasis is on the fine art and attractive models, and historic approach. A nice book worth the price.



2. Mark Rotenberg is the obvious choice to do a book on pin-up playing cards, the intro says the contents are from his 450 decks (the world's biggest collection? Probably!). There isn't too much to say about a product that has very few clues about the models, photographers, printers yet over the years the numbers manufactured must run into the millions of packs. Of the 452 cards in the book the majority show anonymous females in predictably unimaginative stock glamour poses that card printers could buy for next to nothing.
   
   I thought the illustrative cards much more interesting. There are a few showing the paintings of Heinz Villiger, Joyce Ballantyne, Al Moore and Gil Elvgren. Strangely no Petty or Vargas decks, were the reproduction rights too expensive? The best cards in the book are surely the two decks put out in 1955 by Parisian manufacturer Editions Philibert who commissioned artist Paul-Emile Becat to paint a series of miniatures showing erotic Florentine life during the Renaissance and another set about Casanova. When compared to these two decks the book's photo glamour material come across as the tacky cards they really are.
   
   It is unfortunate that the book's production is very dull. The cards are presented full on, with none angled or overlapping each other. The addition of a drop shadow would have given them a lift. As most of the cards are visually unimaginative perhaps a few still-life photos throughout the book would provide some interest: a poker hand on a card table with some chips, a scattered deck of cards as a background with four or five prominent. I thought it was particular annoying that so many cards are shown larger than the originals (and some really are too big) which only emphasizes their cheap subject matter and poor printing.
   
   If there had been more creative input in the way the contents had been presented I think this could have been a much more interesting book.
   
   ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.



3. Stacked Decks is fabulous! There are many, many pages of kitschy, campy 1940s through 70s "nudie" cards, featuring both photos and illustrations. Some are sweet in that girl-next-door way, some are sexy and sultry (or even a bit slutty), and some are just plain hilarious! There are also some really old cards dating back to the 1800s and some fascinating history. It's a perfect present for anyone who loves poker or is interested in pin-up art.

5 comments about The Doodle Formula: A Step-by-step Guide to Creating the Perfect Doodle.

1. This is one of those books that when I look inside a part of my artist side feels validated and some of my "weird" or "quarky" artwork/doodles seems to really have a place in the world.
   I know this is something that most aLL artist battle with - the critic within, but most times than not - my journals and doodles remain hidden away in journals and notebooks.
   I'm thrilled to see people with the courage to put their unique work out there for publishing and for people to judge. I'm also more than thrilled to see a book that incorporates doodling and scrapbooking but in not such a "cookie cutter" sort of fashion!
   I loved the book and her format had my attention from the first page!
   I wish there was a little more, but in many ways I was glad that she kept it simple and to the point!
   Sometimes you have to find that extra, extra from within yourself!
   LOVED IT!!!!!
   e.



2. I almost am reluctant to post this review. The book is all that previous reviewers have posted. I should have paid attention to the number of pages. For the money, I just thought it would provide more examples and more detailed step by step. I'm sort of in the beginning stages, and I would have liked to have seen more details. But, very creative artist.



3. Her 'formula' is pretty simple: pick a shape and embellish it. Out of this, she manages to get a whole book...ummm, somehow. She's a big fan of black and white markers, and I do have to say that her sample pages are really quite stylish, but as to ideas, well, I found it a little on the thin side. Yes, I supposed some *instruction* would take away some of the spontaneity one expects with the word 'doodle', but, well, even so, a FEW insights into how she developed her ideas would have been nice. On, I should say, stuff OTHER than how to do shadowed lettering, which I think I learned to do in like fifth grade? I know how to doodle, I was hoping to see a lot more of her style and her explanation of her vision of her style. I got a few nice pages, yes, but almost nothing I could use as a model for a creative process; which, with a title like this, I'd sort of expected.
   
   Her attempts at 'interactivity' (are you a messy doodler or a neat one?) are nigh useless. Pretty much, pick which of these two 'gs' you like best. Shazam! Your doodling destiny!
   
   And, alas, like most craft books, editing is more or less omitted. She misspells several words (porous?) and most humiliatingly for *her*, she uses 'your' instead of 'you're' in one of her own personal scrapbook pages--her illiteracy left for all posterity! OUCH!
   
   I learned more about how to incorporate new styles of doodling in my pages from a book on lace painting. I was VERY unimpressed with this title: her 'formula' is self-evident to anyone over the age of five.



4. Good ideas on how to go about creating your own doodles. Not a book to copy from but one that shows you the steps you need to do your own designs. Use simple shapes, outline and add patterns and textures to your drawings. Voila! You have your own doodles. Good for scrapbookers and journalers.



5. This is a great book, with tons of ideas for doodling. Better yet, the author gives you step by step instructions, and provides lots of ideas to spark your own creativity! This is THE book I turn to when I need inspiration.

5 comments about Lettering & Calligraphy Workbook.

1. Thank you very much for your excellent description of the item being sold and the speed of the delivery. I will watch for your items in the future.



2. I tried to take a course that would teach me the basics of Calligraphy and wasn't about to find one that fit in with my busy schedule. So, I attempted to learn on my own . . . and this book is a great place to start. With my starter Calligraphy pen set and this book, I am well on my way to learning the basics. The workbook even includes projects. For the price, it is a great deal.



3. I agree with other reviewers that this book is informative and will benefit those looking for a general book on the history of calligraphy and on various alphabets. If you are looking for a book that will let you practice individual letters on pre-lined sheets, however, this is not that type of book. I've given the book three stars so that folks may read this and consider what they really want from a calligraphy book. Personally, I would like to get better at calligraphy, but calligraphy books tend to insist that you buy a panoply of supplies, set up an ergonomically correct workspace with an adjustable drawing board, and line several sheets of paper--using a T-square and other such materials--before you practice a single letter. With limited free time, I would like to be able to sit and practice calligraphy casually for relaxation. This book is not the type of workbook I sought to facilitate that goal. To be fair, this book does emphasize that it takes time and dedication to perfect a craft; since I bought online, however, I did not know the book's approach until it arrived! If you are looking for a hobby rather than a craft, you already own a calligraphy set with basic instructions, and you are looking for a workbook of the type used to learn cursive in elementary school, you may want to just buy a practice paper pad.



4. Lettering & Calligraphy Workbook is the most thorough and well though out approach I've seen for both teaching and learning the art of calligraphy. Yes, it would make an excellent textbook and the reasons why are plenty; it's readable. It is straightforward in approach, the language is clear and direct. There are a plethora of illustrations; everything from compasses, brushes, writing tools and specific calligraphy instruments to setting up your workspace, studio layout and tips and tricks of the trade are drawn out through out the book. The Workbook is not overly scholarly, but it is professionally done; artistic principles are explained and the correct terminology is used throughout the book.

   Do you have a specific project like producing a poster, want to get help with greeting cards, or do you want to add some variety to the repertoire of alphabets you can already produce? Did you get a calligraphy book that doesn't tell you much about paper products and now you need more direction? Maybe another calligraphy book doesn't cover the general history of writing and development of alphabets and you want your students to be aware that writing is a part of the culture? This book has all of that, and MUCH, MUCH more.

   I find it surprising that others have not made this book the obvious choice for all levels of calligraphy practice. This book will be an excellent resource for anyone teaching, self-teaching, a student, a hobbyist, a beginner or advanced calligrapher. As you gain more experience of course you'll want to collect other books that are only about showing different type faces and nothing at all about how-to-do some things or investigate problem solving methods. A professional may have several books that are very artistic in scope, using watercolors and employing other very advanced techniques, but they may contain no information at all about how to make a quill pen.

   This book will teach you everything you need to know to get started, get practicing and get excited about calligraphy. While I also like and use other books, this is by far the most important and indispensable one on the subject that I own.




5. I teach calligraphy at the local community college, and I considered selecting this very excellent book as the text for the class. It covers all the basics and much more. After I showed it to some of my students along with the other book I was considering, most of them found the other book, Learn Calligraphy by Margaret Shepherd, which is totally written in calligraphy, more inviting, less intimidating. So I will use the Shepherd book for the beginner's class, and this book for the intermediate class. It is a good enough resource for even the advanced calligrapher, and offers a wealth of information on how to use calligraphy for fun and profit.

5 comments about 500 Fairy Motifs.

1. i am an official fairy art addict and this little book has soooooo many pics for me to admire. they are beautiful illustrations by a variety of talented artist. any fairy art addict will love this. even my 4 year old son loves looking at the pics.



2. 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.



3. 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



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



5. 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 comments about Calligraphic Ornaments CD-ROM and Book (Dover Electronic Clip Art Series).

1. Buyers shoud be aware that this book has the same content as an earlier Dover book,Ready-to-Use Calligraphic Ornaments by Kiyoshi Takahashi. This is better becuase it comes with a CD, but it is the same collection of images.
   
   The .eps format dissapointed me...like other reviewers, I was hoping vor vector based images. I did have good results with Illustrator CS2's live trace tool. I turned the images into plain linework, then added the thick/thin look of calligraphy by applying Illustrator's calligraphic brushes. A bit if work, but the results are nice.



2. I must say I am glad that I read the other reviews so that I was prepared when I purchased this item. It is a bit misleading that the CD contains files in EPS format because they act just like a placed image in Illustrator. HOWEVER, with a program like Adobe Streamline, the images are absolutely GORGEOUS. I highly recommend this item along with Streamline. In the end, the quality workmanship of a Dover book is found in this product.



3. When i first saw this book, i was very excited because it said that i had .eps files, which to me, mean vector, easy to use etc. These files are all raster, thus if you are seeking full vector, you might need to order a copy of Adobe Streamline and covert these. Big disappointment.

   joshua
   (...)




4. And unfortunately I was looking for true clip art! However, I must say that the ornaments presented are truly stunning, and can easily be used in paper crafting of any kind. I used this book to create labels for gifts and to address holiday envelopes. I am a novice desktop publisher and was not disappointed.

   Cris Cunningham




5. The ornamentation is very nice but something anyone buying any of the Dover Electronic Clip Art series books should take into account is that they are not actual clip art items. Dover has just scanned the art and put it on a CD, the items are not scalable or changeable in a usual clip art format. It is very helpful to have the images already scanned but if you want true clip art, this book is not for you.

3 comments about Art Students' Anatomy.

1. Couldn't agree more with the two previous posts about it being better
   than most of the $20.00 anatomy books. this cheap book gives you a more
   clear and concise view of human anatomy, perfect for beginners, and even
   professionals, restated save your money buying fancy anatomy books, i find
   it funny how i own majority of the top art anatomy books but yet i have this on my desk, and $400.00 worth of art anatomy books stored in the closet, interesting photos believe it or not this dull black and white 1935 edition with it's simplicity, and thorough lessons, your knowledge of anatomy will improve fast, BELIEVE ME THIS IS A MUST BUY...



2. Unless you're doing medical illustration or specializing in highly detailed figure drawing and/or you must invent the figures from scratch constantly,this little anatomy book is the only one you'll need .I've had others and I like this one the best.It's very well done and very clear.The price is right too!
   If you're beginning and unsure ,I would start with this, and if you need something else it will become obvious later.Better to have this one first than overspend on something else when you only needed this one.
   Have fun with your drawing!



3. This book is a Great value! Beats out most of the $20+ art anatomy books you see. Uses classical plates, photos, as well as well-rendered diagrams.

5 comments about Street Scene: How To Draw Graffiti-Style.

1. I'm not sure how this book could even be labeled graffiti anything. There is nothing graffiti about it. This is a book on how to draw cartoon characters, period. I have been a graffiti artist for over 15 years and the characters in this book aren't even remotely close to being graffiti characters. I bought this book for a nephew of mine who has always been into my graffiti work and I thought he would enjoy it. But, it's a HUGE disappointment.



2. Great book, an interactive, inspiring, fun and funky way to learn how to draw characters in this form. Easy to read & understand, gives detailed explanations on how to draw different parts and has clear diagrams to accompany. Great for all ages, not only the younger generations... Highly recommend.



3. I have no idea why this book is called graffiti style. It has almost NOTHING to do with graffiti. It is just a how-to-draw cartoons book LABELED graffiti style (not graffiti characters, just regular cartoons!). Seriously a pitiful book. Do not buy this book if you are looking for a graffiti book. This is a complete waste of time. As soon as I received the book and took a quick glance at it, I laughed and resealed it back into the box immediately for return. If you bought this book, return it!! Just look how many new&used versions of this book there are. That should give you a good idea of how many people DON'T like this book.



4. It should be pointed out that this is a unique book on drawing cartoon characters, not actually making graffiti. My young son particularly likes the skateboard stuff in this book, and he is able to follow along with the step-by-step demonstrations easily. Kids will like this.



5. Seriously? Is this serious? This has to be someones bad joke. If so, hilarious!