5 comments about Perspective Made Easy.

1. Even though it does not appeat to the eye at first, the content is very, very good and teaches a lot.
   I keep it close and refer to it every time I have some difficulty while drawing in perspective.



2. This book just wasn't for me. Maybe I expected too much after reading all the praise for this book. But I found the explanations insufficient, most of the time I had to look at the little drawings and try to figure it out myself.
   
   There's not much in terms of interior design, which is what I would like to sharpen my drawing skills for. At one point, Norling gives a drawing of a box, and then he tells you to turn it, so it becomes a room and you can place furniture in it. But how??
   
   In my opinion, the book lacks clear instructions and step-by-step drawings.
   
   I expected more, maybe I'll find it in Pile's book.



3. This book is extremely elementary; it's truly for somebody who has no art experience at all. If you are an Interior Designer looking for a book on perspective drawings chances are you already know way more than this book has to offer. I would recommend Perspective for Interior Designers by John Pile, it's extensive yet very clear and concise.



4. Wonderfull and easy book to understand the principles of Perspective.
   Easy explained and NO MORE PAIN ABOUT PERSPECTIVE



5. This book would be a good reference to have around if you've managed to paint yourself into a corner where your perspective doesn't work. Flipping through the pages, you'll probably discover why. The author gives simple exercises for those trying to figure out the principles of perspective in a very easy to understand manner. He covers things you might not think of such as where to space vanishing points, perspective up and down hill, false eye levels, reflections, shades, and shadows. There are many examples, all drawn, in each chapter.

5 comments about Watercolor in Motion: How to Create Powerful Paintings, Step by Step (Book & DVD).

1. I bought this book and DVD for a friend and myself. I always say you can learn something from anything you read or watch.
   I learned a lot about using more water with my watercolors and how to layer things a little easier. The DVD was too short for me, so I guess it was good enough to leave me wanting more.



2. Although I am a beginner this book taught me a few tricks that I have not learned from any other art books that I have purchased.
   I think as I progress this is the one book on flowers that I will be refering to more than any other, and making it an extra added bonus to the excellent price is it includes a 51 minute demonstration on DVD
   An excellent buy and highly recommended.



3. Explaining and demonstrating takes precious time away from painting. In my adult class I can simply refer to a page or a technique and move to another student. I would say that it is a must for a beginner and a reference guide for the acomplished. The DVD allows further instruction and another teacher at home.



4. Be sure to buy this book/dvd. It is great. The beginning is fairly typical of this kind of book and good for a beginner. Then Birgit gets into the instruction portion and she does a great job. Lots of good info, well written, good photos to go along with the text portions. Great colors. Really like her wet into wet techniques. Really enjoy the dvd also. Be sure to buy it! Hopefully she is working on her next book and dvd.



5. Although this book mainly concentrates on florals, it addresses many common issues that newby watercolorists face. I've take a couple of classes but Ms. O'Conner makes her instruction clear and fun! I certainly have a better understanding of what effects water and wet vs. dry paper has. Thanks very a wonderful book and the DVD is a fab bonus!

5 comments about Creating Characters with Personality: For Film, TV, Animation, Video Games, and Graphic Novels.

1. As an aspiring cartoonist with my own cast of characters on my Captain Cockle website I found this book an excellent and yet simple guide to creating characters that leap out of the page. The inclusion of guest cartoonists, many of them very famous in their own fields, is a great idea and adds depth to the book. If you have a limited budget and are confused by the huge variety of "how to" books on cartooning, I would strongly recommend this one as an essential starting point.



2. I am a student studying animation, and I purchased this book for my character design class. I really love this book, it is quite usefull, and my two roommates reference it as well! One is an illustrator, and one is a video game designer. Useful to anyone and everyone...



3. This a great book for the beginning character artist. I often have a hard time drawing cartoon characters but this book always helps me out. Covers everything from personality to color, from exaggerated to semi-realistic. Highly recommend!



4. Nice book , a lot of ideas , examples. Very good choice for beginners. My students loved it.



5. This is a great book to take your drawings to the next step. I've been frustrated that my characters lacked that certain special 'something' to make them pop from regular ol' dry drawings to likable, engaging characters. This book illustrates simple examples of a line here, a curve there, to push it up a notch. I really enjoyed the suggestions, and this book has been very helpful. myspace/kris10cartoons

5 comments about How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way.

1. I bought this for my 11 year old son for his birthday. He's been trying to draw superheroes lately. When I began flipping through it, I recognized many of the images. I then remembered I had this book when I was a boy. I checked the original publish date and found it to be 1978. Yep, this was it. It's a very good book for those who need some structure with regards to their pencil drawing. The concepts of human form, perspective, dimension etc. are easy to understand with many, many examples. Step by step instructions make it easy. Even those with limited artistic abilities will be able to draw well using this book. I recommend it highly!



2. How to draw comics the Marvel Way is a good book but it's very old information. I think that Marvel comics and the comic book industry has changed since this book was published in 1978 and 1984. Don't get me wrong! I like this How to draw comics the Marvel Way! book written by Stan Lee with artwork by John Buseama, but the books information is too old. I think comic book artists today use better materials besides paint brushes and india ink. You buy Markers with india ink in them at an artsupply store. there are other things in this book that do not appy to comic books in 2008 as well. If your a begining artist, I will recommend this book but It's not for advance artist. B+



3. Some of you folks writing reviews are, like me, graphic designers. And, yes, I too have owned this wonderful book. I even laughed at the publication date at the top of the page because mine is from 1978!
   
   Lee and Buscema are two of the foundation blocks of Marvel Comics and I wouldn't expect anything less from this wonderful work. If you are a beginning or almost intermediate comic book artist, I can't think of a better place to start than this book. I still refer to it, sometimes, for reference tips.
   
   I won't bore you with a diatribe of what can be learned here... just buy the book. I think you'll be surprised that, in 30 years, you'll still own your dog-eared, yellowed, frayed-out copy. I've still got mine.
   
   Oh, and when you're done with it, do yourself a favor and take a look at some Burne Hogarth books.
   
   Enjoy!



4. I am a professional artist, fine art not comics, and bought this for my son who wants to be an artist working for marvel one day. Don't get me wrong I am oldschool, I grew up on heavy metal, epic (marvel's answer), ec, 2000 A.D. (rogue trooper, and the man himself, Judge Dredd), the watchmen, etc, etc... so once it showed up in the mail, I read it myself and came to the conclusion that it is a perfect book for my son.
   
   What better source to get an idea of what marvel wants than from stan the man himself? And John Buscema, a veteran of Marvel really added to this book. He has always been one of my favorite artists (especially liked his savage sword work when I was a kid.)
   
   This is the place to begin for anyone who wants to break into the comics industry or maybe submit a portfolio to Marvel. I believe (could be wrong) they are still one of the few houses which still accept inquiries and portfolios whereas DC asks people to go to conventions to network.....kinda hard when you are a starving artist or living abroad.



5. An entertaining look at how the comic work was approached at Marvel way back when. I can't draw, and have no real desire too, so basically got this out of interest.
   
   As far as that goes, it was a reasonable read. For actual artistic types it is probably a bit more useful.

5 comments about Fashion Artist (Fashion Design Series).

1. I wore holes in piles of paper trying to work up to the basic points so magnificently outlined in this book! It's like having an art teacher with you (without the snide remarks) to bring your abilities to the top.
   
   If you are planning on studying fashion, or just doing it for fun, you need this book.
   
   Highly recommended!



2. This book is a great start for beginners who want to work in the fashion industry or for those who consider fashion designing a hobby and want to improve on their illustration skills, like myself. Burke starts with the basics, like learning how to draw the female figure in different poses and drawing some examples of clothes, but she also touches upon fabric rendering and ideas on how to make a presentation. There's even a section on designing for men, childeren, and costumes. Overall a very informative, clear and consise book to get started and to encourage and inspire amateurs to want to learn more.



3. I haven't really had a chance to play a lot with this book since I got it a month ago, but so far, I like it. There are very colorful designs, croquis', and many illustrations. It seems like it gives a lot of information in a short amount of time.



4. I'm wanting to become a fashion designer and i bought this book and i was amazed. it really teaches you how to draw fashion models (and people in general) in all different poses. it shows you so many different poses both with an actual person modeling the pose and then a block figure showing you how to draw it. after the structure is learned, it teaches you in a really easy way how to flesh it out, and then how to draw the clothes and how the clothes are supposed to look at folds and creases. if you like this book, i recommend Draw Fashion Models! by Lee Hammond, a great book that goes in depth into more poses and how you should draw the clothes and how they look when the arms are raised, when you're leaning on one hip, etc.
   
   i really recommend buying this amazing book, it's straightforward and very helpful!



5. I bought this book for my 16 yr old daughter who is an aspiring fashion designer. To get into design school & possibly qualify for a scholarship, she must prepare a portfolio. She expressed concern that her sketching skills would look amateurish so she asked for a book to help her.
   
   This book shows in picture and text detail the supplies needed to do a project & an easy format to follow. She loved it and was so excited to have a guide to help her. This book not only helps in this regard, but has several sections that gives pointers on design elements and much more pertinent information.
   
   If you or someone you know is an aspiring fashion designer, do not hesitate to get this book. It will be a valuable tool that will be put t good use.

5 comments about Fill Your Oil Paintings with Light & Color.

1. Really terrific book! I highly recommend it for anyone beginning in oil paintings as well as seasoned painters. It is down to earth, great instruction and his paintings are beautiful! You can definitely see his growth in his painting in his second book - also terrific, however the second book - Painting Inside and Out - reads in places like an advertisement for a couple of companies and products - didn't appreciate that much, but otherwise - also a fantastic book - even for the photos alone -



2. I have been painting and studying art for many decades - this is a really great book! I keep re reading!



3. Great book, was told about this from an art instructor, saying this was one of the best you can buy and have in your library.



4. I purchased this book because of all the great reviews it received. I was not impressed. Everything was way too simplistic. If you're an intermediate or professional painter, you will not learn anything from this book that you don't already know.
   
   Also, where was the light and color? I must've missed those pages.



5. AWESOME book packed to the full with inspiring paintings & photos, really practical tips for the would be painter, and help over all those overwhelming and sometimes insurmountable difficulties confronting the aspirant oil painter. Replaces mystery with method. I'm really thrilled to have discovered Kevin Macpherson's approach to painting "plein air" and am already seeing the fruits of applying it.

5 comments about The Calligrapher's Bible: 100 Complete Alphabets and How to Draw Them.

1. This is the one major item you need to have to be serious about calligraphy. The alphabets are the perfect size for copying or enlarging for illumination(in the old fashioned since, no copier here). The book has great instructions for writing the letters. A great buy!



2. I teach calligraphy and was looking for something to keep my beginner students going once they'd completed the course. This book is it. It gives samples of a hundred different fonts as well as clear instructions on how to create the letters. The spiral binding was a real plus as it lays flat on the work surface. If I get the chance to teach a Level II in Calligraphy this would be a book I could recommend.



3. This is an excellent reference book for the beginner or advanced calligrapher. The spiral binding is a wonderful feature allowing the book to stay open while you practice. The pages are heavy duty and full color. The samples are beautiful and the history of writing is fascinating. Even though this book is available at my local library, I will probably purchase a copy for my everyday use at home.



4. This is a great book for beginners. It has a great layout and is easy to understand.



5. I need already to be a calligrapher in order to enjoy this 100 alphabets. Only two pages are dedicated to each of them. It is not enough if youa have not practiced previously the art of writing.

5 comments about Color by Betty Edwards: A Course in Mastering the Art of Mixing Colors.

1. This is not an easy book for the beginner. However, with time and a little patience, one begins to see the brilliance of the work.



2. The Books of Betty Edwards are very informative for the beginning as well as for the more accomplished artist. It's like being in class.



3. This is a great book for those who are enterested in painting. Betty Edwards "Color" is a great resource in understanding color relations.



4. For a person who has never thought deeply about the nature of colours and pigments and the blending of such, this book is a revelation. Highly recommendable. Frank Visti, Denmark



5. I have been an artist/scientist for over 25 years. I have no problems absolutely in mixing paint and color theory. However, when it came to referring a book that would best explain color theory to a novice, I have to say that this one is it. It is colorful, easy to read and Dr. Edwards clearly defines the jargon used so that it is easy to follow. I have read the unfavorable comments, and all I have to say is that it is not meant to be a book on how to mix a particular color (hue, intensity, brightness,tint and so on). If that is what you are looking for,
   a " how to" mix specific colors, yes you will be dissapointed. However, that is not its purpose. She specifically points out that there does not exist a true "primary red, blue and yellow" in tubed paints. Your in better luck using inks. Every artist should know that you can buy a tube color in different brands and get different range of that color! I can't imagine why someone would want to match a swatch to a printed book in which what you see comes via the mixture of colored inks! Often no two tubes of the same brand are exactly alike. So in her defense, I truely give her kudos for making the complicated issue of color theory simple. I really believe this is a must in every young artist's library and even in seasoned artist's. I personally enjoyed reading it and reviewing the theory of color in a way I wish was availiable when I was starting out. It makes a great gift!

5 comments about Comic Artist's Photo Reference - People & Poses: Book/CD Set with 1000+ Color Images (Comic Artists Reference).

1. This book is great for getting proper perspective and foreshortening etc. into your action drawings. I'll take a whole lot more of them! Perfect for graphic novel or comic illustration where you don't have models available for reference shots, or you need an inspirational shot for a particular mood. Like I said, my only complaint is that I want more! It includes a CD also so you can reference that as well, but I haven't checked to see if that has different poses or not yet. Hopefully it does. As an accurate anatomical reference for drawing humans or heroes in action, it is great! It does what it sets out to do. Top Notch.



2. Do you ever get that perfect composition in your head but can't seem to work it out when sketching? I know I do. As a comic book artist and cover painter I have the usual reference library of cheesecake pin-ups, muscle magazines, and old comics laying about. A new addition to my reference library is People and Poses. This is a terrific resource and helps me nail the anatomy in my drawings and paintings the first time. People and Poses brings me real life, right now, awesome poses to help me turn my creative ideas into reality. A must for any artist's library.
   
   Brian Miller, Author: Hi-Fi Color For Comics: Digital Techniques for Professional Results



3. I'm surprised by all the positive reviews that this book/CD has been given. I bought it based on the feedback from other buyers and I was pretty disappointed.
   
   The lighting of most of the models is pretty good but the angle of too many of the photos is either straight-on or shot from above. This causes the models to look squatty and distorted. The choices for female models was pretty poor. I'm sure they are very beautiful in real life but their body types are not suited for this type of photography. I also discovered that there are photos featured in the book that are not included on the CD or website link. I was also disappointed to discover that the photos are not high resolution. They are only 72 dpi and not very good quality.
   
   There are very few books like this on the market and something like this is a nice alternative to the expense and time associated with shooting your own photos. Unfortunately, this book will not be the alternative I was looking for. Hopefully Scalera will release a future edition that will address these problems.



4. Fantastic reference book for action poses. Has great pictures at varied angles and perspectives. Very comprehensive. Comes with a disc that has even more images and features. Nice little addition of industry talent giving their approach to figure drawing/cartooning. A good book for artist's of all
   skill levels.



5. As a beginning professional comic book artist, I've had a lot of trouble nailing certain poses that have to deal with obscure angles and foreshortening. This book has made things a lot easier, as there are a ton of very helpful photos and tutorials in it. The bonus CD is also a great addition.
   
   A good comic book artist should always be prepared to know how to draw anything at any given time. One should also always draw what's right for the story and not take too many shortcuts. While this is hard to do, it it will help you grow as an artist and stand out in the competitive world of comics. And for the difficult aspects of human anatomy and poses, this book should serve as a great reference guide to artists of any level.

5 comments about Interaction of Color: Revised and Expanded Edition.

1. Key book (with color-aid colored papers) for learning the nuances of color for the artist.



2. This book came in perfect condition and without delay. Thanks for the great service.



3. A chance to read and learn about the early theories in Modern Art. An
   insight into Op art and Albers theories



4. A must have for the serious colorist by one of the great masters of abstraction.



5. Previous reviews have bemoaned a lack of color plates. I just wanted to clarify that the 2006 Revised & Expanded edition has many more than the 8 or 10 mentioned by other reviewers. In the version I purchased (2006), the back half, approx., of the book is devoted to color plates that refer back to the chapters where particular principles are discussed. The color plates are on the right leaf, and an explanation of said plate is on the left. In the margin of the left, a reference back to the chapter/section in the book is made so that further reading on each principle is easy to locate. This is perhaps a little more awkward than having the plates sprinkled within the chapter/sections themselves, but for the cost of the book, this is an entirely acceptable method of sharing both written information and visual reinforcement. I counted more than 35 plates in the book.