2 comments about The Materials and Techniques of Medieval Painting.

1. Very interesting read if you are interested in how medieval painting was done and what methods and techniques were used. Written in a conversational format, making it a quick read.



2. The book covers a history of carriers and grounds, binding methods and vehicles, their viscosity and transparency effects, pros and cons of different binding media, glazes and varnishes. It then gives a classification of medieval pigments and details the main pigments used to produce colours on the page, wall and panel. Mixing, reaction and permanence problems with pigments, confusion of identification, and history are described. Metals are also discussed, including types of gold media and gilding methods. This is an absolutely essential book for anyone (and especially SCAdian illuminators) interested in the building blocks of medieval painting. It will give you a good grounding in the basics and help you understand the resources, techniques and mindset of medieval artists. I cannot recommend it enough. It is also an entertaining read(if occasionally unintentionally).

3 comments about New Civic Art : Elements of Town Planning.

1. The New Civic Art is simply the best reference book available on the art and science of urban planning. Its encyclopedic nature provides an invaluable reference for those practicing in the field or those simply interested in the underlying principles and their application to communities and cities across the country. While providing minimal "textbook" style narrative, the book is arranged in a series of 2,000+ entries illustrating the core theories of new urbanism and its historical predecessors. Each entry is accompanied by a concise description and context upon which to view the example. Needless to say, one could spend a lifetime working through and analyzing the content of this massive volume. And on the other hand, it's a very pleasurable book to simply flip through and enjoy the tremendous variety of perspectives represented.



2. This book beautifully builds upon the foundation of Hegeman & Peets' Civic Art. Andres Duany is a master at organizing elements of urban design and town planning into this sort of encyclopedia that is easily understood and usable by planners and designers.



3. If you don't have the first Civic Art, originally published in the twenties, you ought to buy it immediately. Having said that, this book is reiterates many of the same ideas, principles, and messages of the first Civc Art, but from a perspective including all of the developements (and learning from all of the problems) introduced into urban design in the last 80 years. It should be in the library of every architect and of those interested in architecture and urban design. I couldn't recommend it more highly.

2 comments about Larry Rivers: Art and the Artist.

1. Following an extended foreword by David C Levy are two essays: Larry Rivers - Painter of the Modern Life by Barbara Rose; and Larry Rivers and His "Smorgasbord of the Recognizable" by Jacquelyn Days Sewer. These are followed by the plates which run from pages 89 to 171; the book concludes with a Chronology, list of One-Man Exhibitions and finally Public Exhibitions.
   
   The interesting essays provide quite personalised accounts of the artist, his life and his work, and both follow a chronological progression. They are illustrated throughout with photographs of Rivers and his friends and family as well as examples of his work. The plates are mostly produced to full page size, some occupying a double page; the concluding biography is illustrated with personal black and white photographs. About ninety full colour reproductions along with over fifty black and white images, mainly photographs, illustrate the book. The colour plates are very well produced, and a few of the black and white photos are reproduced full page or even double page size and are striking. This is altogether a most attractive generously sized volume, well designed and produced and with illuminating text; a very worth while book.



2. I think,feel this book is vivid in its art and recollections of the man as i knew him....my mother was married to larry for years and he was a wild character which needs to be seperated from the wild artists he was...his works are incredible as the book well depicts and my grandmother, Birdie,looks beautiful as featured in his paintings of her within these colorful pages of a colorful if not flawed genuis....but it is to be seen, read and left to the viewer for a final assertation.

1 comments about Leonardo da Vinci: The Marvellous Works of Nature and Man.

1. Kemp's book is exceedingly different from many accounts of the life of Leonardo da Vinci. It does not try to explain his entire life or place him on secret missions for the Church, nor does it find hidden meanings in his paintings. Leonardo da Vinci is a straight-forward text, and coupled with Kemp's easy-to-read writing style, is quite enjoyable. At times, Kemp becomes carried away with descriptions of Leonardo's work, but although it becomes tedious at times, this is done for a reason: he is following in the writing style of Leonardo himself. Kemp's narrative alludes to much, and while this works well in fiction, scholarly texts' facts should be clear when the point being made elevates the subject above others. This does not detract from the benefit all readers of this book would obtain from reading it, however, as it is insightful and thought-provoking. The sketches, illustrations, and paintings shown along with the corresponding text are not mentioned only once as just an example, but integrated extremely well into Kemp's vision of Leonardo and provides evidence for his thesis that the whole of his accomplishments could produce a clear understanding of Leonardo's "intellectual foundations."

2 comments about Webb on Watercolor.

1. Webb is a natural teacher who is easy to follow from basic concepts to complex compositions. He has an innate ability to take painting beyond capturing likeness to how the subject is structured or feels. His book would be helped by more step-by-step sequences for technique or process analysis. Thanks Frank for a great reference book. Two thumbs up from Totino and Busby.



2. If you're looking for a general purpose, intelligent and informed book on watercolor, this is it. Webb -- formerly an illustrator/graphic artist -- has designed chapters on motivation, materials, setup, color and values, techniques, composition, design, all illustrated by examples painted by other top painters as well as himself. This is accompanied by pithy, appropriate one-liners quoted from philosophers, artists -- whoever his incredible memory finds the most apt. He encourages painters to experiment, take risks -- after learning the necessary first. As a watercolor instructor, and author of a book on outdoor landscape painting in watercolor, I recommend Frank Webb's two books, Nita Leland's book on color, and David Lewis' "Watercolour Painting Techniques." That's all you need for starters.

No comments about Terry Harrison's Sea & Sky in Watercolour.

4 comments about The Little Book of Drawing: A Friendly Approach.

1. I, too, am an adult beginner at drawing. At least at taking classes, for I have been doodling all of my life. I have purchased many books about different aspects of drawing and painting, but this is the one to which I refer most often. It covers the basics clearly and is easy to tote around. Some of the other books I've bought go into too much detail and therefore just end up gathering dust on a shelf.



2. The one poor review shows, in blatant fashion, that you just can't please everyone. This book is perfect for the beginning artist that hasn't yet taken any classes or read other books relating to learning to draw. In her own way the author attempts to get people that are interested in drawing to relax and understand that improved drawing is possible, if the steps in this book are taken, as a person becomes confident as their skill improves. If the book was larger or filled with fluff, I'm sure the author could candy coat the nomenclature and use words other than right and wrong. But since this is a book for adults, a concise version at that, the author clearly points out the right and wrong way to progress as a drawing artist. What's wrong with this? She isn't being critical at all, but just simply indicating that if you want to improve your drawing (isn't that why you bought the book) here is a way to get better or worse at it. I wish the author taught locally so I could take one of her classes.
   
   Here a woman takes her experience, talent and knowledge, and attempts to write a book that is helpful to all and some idiot gives it a one star rating because there are directions that clearly show how to improve or get worse. Go figure. (I'm glad I don't know this person.)
   
   BUY THIS BOOK IF YOU WANT TO LEARN TO DRAW. IT IS AWESOME.



3. Exactly what it promises - a friendly approach. Brief, clear suggestions accompanied by a compelling range of artwork. Like having your own personal tutor gently encouraging you every stroke of the way.



4. I am a new student to art, and being middle-aged, I feel like I have a lot of catching up to do. So, I've been reading and using many different art instruction books. The Little Book of Drawing is perhaps the most disappointing book I have read. Besides the fact that the book itself is small and the font is really really small, it's almost funny how the author says one thing and does another. For example, in the introduction, we read about how drawing is natural, and that all kids draw, implying that we, as adults, should not be afraid to draw. So far so good. Then, the very first exercise, we get a sample page of, literally, "This is RIGHT" and a sample page of "This is WRONG". And these pronouncements of the examples are for pure contour drawings, where we never even look at the page!! So we are scared into thinking there is a right or wrong way to draw something we can't even have the benefit of looking at while we draw. Talk about scaring people into never drawing again! These "Right" and "Wrong" samples continue throughout the book.
   
   If you want to free yourself up to start drawing, please read something like Creative License, by Danny Gregory, and if you're really trying to learn the "proper" way to draw, read Keys to Drawing and How to Draw What You See. Save your money for books that will empower you to draw and improve your skills.

No comments about Hi-res!: Amantes - Sunt - Amentes.

4 comments about Loire Valley Sketchbook.

1. Another great book in the sketchbook series wandering through the Loire. High quality paper and printing, great art work and relaxed prose make for a fabulous book - highly recommended



2. I purchased this book because I had seen other books with paintings by Fabrice Maireau, and really liked them. I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed this even more than I thought I would, before I purchased. I hadn't realized the area has been classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and the sketchbook helps provide an insite to the area.



3. thank you very much!!!!!not only the book arrived in a reasonably short time, but it was in perfect conditions, really as new!I'll buy again from this seller.



4. we were in the Loire valley May-2005, we took a lot of pictures, but the drawing in this book are even more close to the images left in mind.

3 comments about Portrait Drawing: A Step-by-Step Art Instruction Book (Artist's Painting Library).

1. This book is by far the biggest waste of money and time I've encountered recently. It covers none of the basics of drawing human portraits - no proportions, no placement of features. It's simply a narrative of what "the artist" is doing at the moment. I was bored silly by the book, didn't get anything out of it, and the cover isn't even pretty enough for a coffee table book. I would not recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn portrait drawing. However, if you are troubled with insomnia, this may be a good choice.



2. "Portrait Drawing" by Wendon Blake (drawings by John Lawn),
   Watson-Guptill Publications List Price $9.95

   Wendon Blake shows himself to be a very good instructor, but as is true of most of his works, his books generally are too brief, too short treatments of drawing, whether figure, portraiture or painting. This book, for example, contains only 175 illustrations. When other books offer much more illustration, it becomes difficult to rate "Portrait Drawing" higher. What is there though, is quite good.




3. I recieved a copy of your book through my art teacher, Mr. David Autry, at Fort Myers High School. Normally I only work with clay, but last year I drew a picture of an evil looking skull with three swords going through the top of its head. The color drawing of that won third place at an art show in town. I had also made a full sculpture of the skull out of clay, but I put brains on the top of its head, and veins at the side of its face. It turned out quite well and took second place at a state level Anyway, I decided that I wanted to go back to learning how to draw real looking portraits. I tried to draw a picture of my girlfriend, but I got stuck on the nose, so my art teacher gave me a few tips and let me borrow his copy of the book. I am glad he did, cause I personally think that for my first time doing portrait art, I did pretty good. Even my girlfriend, boss, and taecher were all impressed. If there are more books on the same things, that are just as good, I would be interested in hearing about them. I am very excited about my new talent that I have found, and like to be able to improve and better my skills that I have achieved. Shane E. Jones