5 comments about Perspective Drawing.

1. The book arrive in great time and in near perfect condition for a used book!



2. The book came in a timely fashion along with its "Creative Drawing" counterpart and has been exactly what I needed for my art class at school.



3. Unfortunately, I would too often come out the other end of a chapter realizing that I had only really learned a small handful of facts that I could universally use. The convoluted drawing descriptions tended to leave me a bit cross-eyed and I found the illustration captions did a better job of explaining what the entire page just did. Still, it does offer enough useful information overall, but despite all the drawing technique, does not really offer many basic solid rules of perspective. Leans a bit more on memorizing techniques in an array of possible circumstances rather than understanding the basics which can then be applied to any circumstance. The book is worth reading however, particularly since it is so short that you will hardly lose anything by doing so, and will likely gain some useful knowledge along the way.



4. I have to differ with the positive review of this book. I have a little experience drawing, and had some specific questions about perspective, such as how to draw a receding row of arches. This book answered none of my questions. The first several chapters focus on conceptual basics, often drifting toward common sense rather than solid technique. (I don't need to be told that tall buildings seem smaller at the top stories; I need to know how to use that realistically in a drawing). Complicated (and practical) applications of perspective, like portraying rooms full of furniture, are given short shrift. There are exceptions - the chapter dealing with cast shadows, especially the detailed treatment of light on complicated surfaces like stairs, is well-done and potentially very useful - it's the only reason I have not thrown this book out. I don't know of a good practical overview of perspective drawing for all levels, but I have gotten a lot more useful instruction out of the amusingly dated (and cheaper) "Perspective for Artists" by Rex Vicat Cole.



5. Perspective drawing is one of the skills many people see as neccessary repertoir for an artist to have. Particularly for subjects such as architecture or some types of still life. The subjects covered in this book include everything from 1,2 and 3 point perspective to circles, ovals, cylinders, squares, rectangles, inclined planes and an entire chapter on cast shadows during different points throughout the day, shadows on overcast days or from artificial light.

   The author explains everything in a clear manner without talking down to the reader. He says this book grew out of his 30+ years teaching perspective to art students at San Jose State University. Each concept is shown with plenty of examples and details and the author assumes the reader will practice each of them. One of the last chapters is on Visualization - basically drawing a picture in perspective using the rules and concepts as test that you truly asorbed all the preceding lessons. While I am sure there are other good books on perspective available, I was quite pleased with this one. A lot of beginning How-To Draw type books never give more than a cursory mention of one or maybe two-point perspective. For the majority of artists this book will be all they'll ever need on the subject. There is enough material here that it will probably take at least 6 months to really get a good feel for everything it covers. The book contains a glossary and index. For the amount of information given it is very affordable.

5 comments about The War Within: One More Step at a Time (Doonesbury Books (Andrews & McMeel)).

1. My wife Kathy is a counselor with a specialty in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) applied to war veterans. The internship in her master's program was at the local vet's center and she still maintains contact with the people who work there. I had reviewed another Doonesbury book and another counselor who works with vets contacted me and said that she used this book in her treatment programs. She asked me if I knew of any follow up to the story told here.
   The premise is that B. D. has lost a leg in Iraq and while he now has a prosthesis and his physical wounds have healed, there are deeper, subtler wounds that are opening over time. This is a chronicle of his actions, denial, his and other's disbelief regarding his problems and his halting journey to treatment. At my request, Kathy also read this book and she has been emphatic that this description is exactly the way it usually goes for veterans with PTSD.
   As you read the cartoons, you emphasize with B. D. as he struggles to come to grips with the fact that he has a problem. The people around him find it hard to cope, as they have no understanding of the source of his odd behavior. Finally, he makes contact with a counselor at a vet's center and you are relieved when it appears that he will be able to deal with the problems and live a reasonably normal life.
   Once you understand that these problems are real, it makes you all the more shameful when you read and see stories about the lack of long-term care veterans are receiving as they come back from Iraq and Afghanistan. It takes time for PTSD to emerge as a condition; many times it appears nearly a year after the soldiers have been passed through the initial treatment they receive immediately after returning.



2. Doonesbury has always been cutting edge and great social and political satire. But Trudeau's work has always had a serious, important edge to it. The War Within shows that. It shows the struggle of returning vets.



3. connecting veterans and those who share their lives with the reality of their struggles, in this easily understandable format, is a great service. "If we cannot learn our history, we are doomed to repeat it."



4. Featuring a foreword by General Richard B. Myers (USAF, Ret., Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) The War Within: One More Step At A Time is a unique collection of G. B. Trudeau's Doonesbury newspaper comics that is not only humorous, but also cutting-edge relevant . The strips follow the daily life Vietnam, Gulf War, and Iraq War veteran B.D., whose tour of duty was cut short by a near-death experience, the loss of his leg, and perhaps most shockingly, the loss of his iconic helmet. Far more life-altering than the physical damage is the post-traumatic stress disorder that leaves him increasingly disoriented, hostile, withdrawn, and turning to alcohol to self-medicate. When B.D. is on the verge of mistaking friends and family for mortal enemies, the turning point comes when he overhears his own daughter say that she has become afraid of him. Help comes in the form of the local Vet Center, and the skillful aid of counselor and fellow Vietnam vet Elias. The War Within brims with classic Trudeau wit, yet also reveals the author's resolve to accurately portray the harrowing pressures America's armed forces are subject to during and after risking their lives in the service. Highly recommended. Proceeds from "The War Within" are to benefit Fisher House, a "home away from home" for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers.



5. Received and read "The War Within" last week but find it hard to characterize this one. While BD was the central figure in "The Long Road Home" I think this one has a cast of figures with equally important stories to tell. BD continues his journey but one gets a much deeper understanding of his pain and struggles as well as those of his family.
   
   Adding to the story are his counselor Elias, as skillful and intuitive as any of us could hope to ever be and the ever clever Celeste... an equally skillful counselor in secretarial clothing! "The War Within" will be required reading in one of the classes I teach Spring semester.

1 comments about Design Fundamentals for New Media.

1. Was not happy with at all, did not even get product because problems before it was supposed to be shipped. Canceled order. Only good thing was I got my refund right away. If you need the product fast, don't order from this person.

5 comments about Color Mixing the Van Wyk Way: A Manual for Oil Painters.

1. This book is an excellent book. I have just started art lessons and need a little help in knowing how to mix colors.
   Helen Van Wyk books have all been excellent book. Easy to understand with great information and instructions.



2. This is a great book specially for beginner. Excellent reference book. I'll certainly read it several times.



3. All the theory in this book is dead wrong. There is little by way of practical advice. The book is mainly a collection of amateurish paintings by Ms. Van Wyk that are supposed to illustrate how to use various tubed colors. You should aspire to paint much better than Van Wyk ever did.
   
   To date, there appears to be no good book on mixing color. Instead, see www.handprint.com. It's about watercolor, but the color theory and mixing sections apply equally to oil paint. Also give a look to www.wetcanvas.com



4. I just received this book for Christmas 2002 and I have read it and re-read it! It has a wealth of information and is even a good reminder for those who might not have painted in a while. It helps you attain effects that you want and gives some step-by-step descriptions to help you understand what the author is talking about. I find that the information on casting shadows and the information on focal points most helpful. Helen Van Wyk also helps you to dimensionalize your art. Once you have read this book you will not look at colors in the same way. "The 4 Questions" will have you looking at art completely different. Don't paint without it!



5. This is a great manual for beginning and intermediate painters. It is arranged in a rather unusual way: by paint color. Within each chapter there are step-by-step paintings showing the color's usage. While I found the the organization odd at first, I quickly grew to appreciate it. There are colors I never would have thought to put in my palate, but seeing them in action was very valuable. Likewise, having a blended value scale for each paint was wonderful!

   What I found most valuable as an beginner/ interm. painter was being able to see a variety of paintings in stages. And not just "one, two, three, boom its done" like many books, but really layer by layer. She touches on a couple of different styles, discussing glazing as well as her painterly approach.

   This book also has valuable reference pages discussing (and displaying) color scales, color temperatures, earth tones, blending tricks, etc. It touches on portraits, backgrounds, and a variety of other related topics. I have read a number of other basic painting books, and this is my favorite. I have also seen (and own) other of Helen van Wyk's books, and while they are nice, this is by far the most valuable (and it includes some paintings and sections repeated in other books, i.e. portrait painting and color mixing bits).

4 comments about The Practice of Tempera Painting.

1. Uno de los mejores manuales existentes, con consejos y ejemplos sobre la practica de la pintura al Temple, comodo de leer y directo al grano...pequeno de tamano, pero con las bases tecnicas de dicha practica.



2. This is, as the title promises, a very good foundation for any artist interested doing traditional egg tempera painting, or for any art lover who wants to know more about the medium itself. It covers everything from mixing gesso accoording to traditional recipes, to framing and care of the finished work. For me, though, that's the least of it.
   
   First, it's an incredible reference on the tools and techniques of water gilding. It limits itself to gilding as it works with tempera painting and frames, but is exhaustive within that scope. It discusses everything from the laying the bole ground to burnishing, then tinting the finish. Although this emphasizes traditional tools and materials, the author isn't afraid to use modern aids, like rubber cement masks. By the way, anyone who wants to use scrapers to smooth the gesso ground, as this author suggests, should consult a woodworker's guide for directions on sharpening the scraper. A little extra effort up front makes a world of difference in the scraper's performance.
   
   Second, it's a fascinating historical document. Although the book was written in the early 20th century, most of its recipes go back to medieval times, maybe earlier. Therein lies a potential problem, though. Back then people were a bit less careful about pigments like lead white and mercury-based vermilion. Since egg tempera doesn't keep well in wet form, the artist must use many pigments in their hazardous dry form. The practitioner should review the safety of pigments and techniques very carefully before trying the directions in this book.
   
   Still, it's interesting to read about the daily practice of art, including the artist's relationship to a pigment supplier, from a time so different from our own. The recipes, too, have an antiquated sound. I'm not sure I've ever seen sandarac, for example, let alone the range of colors all identified as "vermilion."
   
   This isn't just history, though. It needs some adjustment for modern safety and materials, but it's a very practical guide to everything there is to know about the many techniques in tempera painting.
   
   //wiredweird



3. There are not many books available on tempera painting mainly because few artists these days have either the time or the patience to grind their own pigments and mix them into a binder. For anyone who does have such an interest egg tempera is a fascinating and beautiful medium to learn. Anyone who has ever tried to scrape off dried egg yolk from a plate will soon realize how incredibly durable a binder it makes for a painting medium. The Practice of Tempera Painting covers a lot of subjects in-depth. Everything from preparing the surface, pigment to egg to water ratios, discussions of various pigments to actual instructions for the traditional hatching and cross-hatching brushstroke technique is shown.

   The only section readers today might want to supplement is reading up on a more up-to-date book on pigments. Many of the pigments discussed in Thompson's book, while still available, are now known to present health risks. Modern pigments that are safer and just as lightfast (in some cases even more lightfast) are now available that Thompson and painters of the 1930's didn't have. Other than that one caveat this book is a great introduction to egg tempera painting.




4. This excellent introduction to egg tempera is invaluable to oil painters as well. Thompson's writing is filled with humor and wit, making the book very readable.

   I was delighted to discover that, unlike so many books about painting techniques, Thompson's is clear and thorough without being a condescending "how to" manual. It also avoids being mired in footnotes and tedious tangential detail. It is obvious that he speaks from the perspectives of both painter and scholar. The only drawback is that the reproductions are in black and white, but as this was standard when the volume was written it is forgivable.

   This book will prove informative for artists, teachers, and museum professionals (I am all three) who are in search of solid information on tempera painting. Look no further and enjoy the read!

No comments about Designer Faux Finishing: Ideas and Inspiration for Sophisticated Surfaces.

5 comments about Artist's Color Manual: The Complete Guide to Working with Color.

1. Great basic book on color for any new artist or person who buys gifts for an artist.



2. For those of us who actually want to learn something new, something you probably didn't learn in undergrad. Excellent refrence book for specific pigments and the results when mixed with others. For example, I forgot that when mixing Cadmium Red w/a blue results in a "brownish" viloet hue. Instead using Alizeran Crimson creates a much more desireble violet.
   
   Not only does this book dispell myths, include historical birthings of pigments, give acurate detailed information about each color (including variations w/in each family)...it also has a chapter on "Creative Directions". This is a really great chapter giving inspiration for branching out w/your work.
   
   I'm an art teacher, and artist myself. I don't have to the time I'd like to keep my own journals of pigments and mixed colors...it just isn't practical for me...too much to do, too little time. This book is amazing, perfect for the 3 second memory I have and much better than leafing through an ENORMOUS reference book just to remember which red to use when making violet (was it Alizeran Crimson or Cadmium Red)...
   
   However, if you're just starting out in painting or you're looking for a sequence for a "curriculum" get the "New Artist's Manual...". It is basically this book and "Art Class" combined. Wish I had bought that one first.



3. Excellent! Well organized with great side comments, this book is really a journal for color. From its significance, invention and evolution into what we know today, this book is full of color information that is fun to learn. Jennings gives you a true education in color appreciation complete with nuance, historical facts and lots of pictures. Easy to reference, it is a great addition to any library. I have been looking for a book like this for a long time. Much thanks to the author.



4. Wow - what a great guide to color! Plus insights into how artists with various styles work and some historical artists, too. Extremely well organized for quick reference. Whatever kind of art you do, including jewelry, fabric and needlework, you'll find tons of inspiration in this book.



5. WOW - what a great guide to color! Info about how paint is made, mixing, history, how artists work - it's just great. Whatever kind of art you do, including jewelry, fabric, needlework, you'll be heavily inspried by the visual and printed information here.

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2 comments about Human Anatomy: From the Renaissance to the Digital Age.

1. obviously this book is not for everyone, but for those interested in anatomy art, the illustrations are amazing



2. This is a very good overview of anatomy in art. Great reproductions. It has proven a very good source for images, and the writing is astute and informative.

No comments about Little Landscapes.