5 comments about Painting with Watercolor, Pen & Ink.

1. In combination with other books by Claudia Nice, an artist will learn new techniques for pen and ink. I have started drawing again since I retired and this has been a real help. Great book!!!



2. If you've never considered highlighting your watercolor painting with Mircron pen, this book will show you the possibilities. Good illustrations. Has some basic watercolor techniques. Painting and drawing is all about practice, practice, practice. No book will paint or draw for you. If you practice the techniques here you will learn something.
   
   I've not seen any of her other books so read the other reviews about duplication of material and consider that if you already have other titles by this author.



3. I admit that i bought this book primarily for the attractive illustrations fillings its pages...these inspired me a lot. Before reading this book i used to think watercolour as a boring medium -unable to achieve the strong effects I always for in my paintings. However now I have changed my mind and really am keen to try my hand in this medium -following Ms Nice illustrations one can get a very clear idea of what one can achieve using watercolour, pen and ink. However it does not really give you step by step instructions on how to achieve certain effects - i feel that one needs to be already a bit good in watercolour to try these exercises.However it is useful for those who would like to try innovative ways to achieve effective watercolour images. The pen and ink illustrations with watercolour washes are delightful. This book covers textures, transparency, wood grain, skies, trees, flowers, still life and more. Anyone who would like to add to their visual encyclopedia of fine illustraions should buy this book just for them alone! Highly recommeneded!!



4. The illustrations are nice. The instruction consists mostly of showing a drawing with a few general comments thrown in. I learned very little from this book.



5. I really like this book because it gives so many ideas and specific instructions on how to achieve the many effects. It introduced me to technical pens, which I was not aware of eons ago when I worked with pen & ink. I think Ms. Nice is a very gifted instructor.

5 comments about Icon.

1. The ilustrations in this book portray you to another book that perfectly capture the original paints.



2. When people think of fantasy artwork, they might think first of those Conan and Edgar Rice Burroughs paperback covers, or a berserker warrior on horseback, corpses of foes beneath him and dripping weapon above him. People think of Frazetta first, whether or not they know it's him they're thinking of. He's also done recognizable work for Mad magazine, Little Annie Fanny for Playboy, posters for Peter Sellers movies, and lots more.
   
   Frazetta has done plenty of work in ink, especially for a range of comics, but his oil paintings are best known and most heavily represented here. It's easy to see how he became the inspiration for an entire generation of fantasy artists, and probably well into a second generation, too. No one captures the rippling sinews of barbarian warriors like Frazetta does, or beasts, half-men, dungeons, jungles, and every other fantasy-scape that he's rendered. Above all, no one comes close to the lush, rounded figures of his female characters. They can be warriors and wizards in their own right, or eldritch spirits, or even savable maidens. Some, as in "Moon's Rapture" or the standing figure in "Rogue Roman", show a rich and womanly figure at rest, but somehow promising as much raw physical power as any man.
   
   I recommend this collection to anyone passionate about illustration or fantasy art. Any one of his paintings can be an entire course of study for a budding artist. They can also be seen as powerful narratives in imagery, or as a jumping-off point for dreams of far-away worlds and heroic adventures.
   
   -- wiredweird



3. I read Edgar Rice Burroughs novels as a teen and will never forget the impact of the Frazetta covers. His heros, the settings and the creatures were so wild and vivid; plus I think he definitely set my ideals of feminine beauty for life. This collection is a must for anyone who wants a good biography of F.F. along with some great reproductions of his best work.



4. Frazetta is great and this book is swell... however (as one other reviewer also experienced) the cover came off my book after I had it for only one week! I couldn't believe it! To credit of the publisher they did send me a replacement. I think I will buy the sequel now. Too bad it's only available in hardcover, but at least that way the cover is much less likely to fall off. As for the third book, it seems to be completely unavailable except to those who are willing to pay over a hundred dollars for it!



5. Words cannot describe the beauty and passion in Frazetta's work; This book is filled with amazing art, from the original sketches to the final product; Lots of personal photographs and insightful narratives help to make this a satisfying package, but the artwork alone makes this book a must have. From his early career doing comic books and movie posters, to the grand scale of his fantasy art, this is a book that is sure to excite any and all who have a shred of creativity within them. Totally inspiring book!!!

5 comments about Virtual Pose Duo: The Ultimate Visual Reference Series for Drawing the Human Figure.

1. Though I do wish these series provided more content [most Virtual Poser books and DVDs only have under about 12 poses], I have to say that the quality of the images, the books, the DVD and the models are great. I would buy the entire series. I would like to see varying body types in other editions, including obese/over weight models and people from different ethnic backgrounds though.



2. The photographs are in high quality and the quick time cd incredible. I find the models attractive and a good choice. As an artist who constantly requires new material this is a wonderful too. I think however that some of the poses are not suitable for painting classical works. I was hoping for poses that one could use for paintings and drawings that inspire a romantic / classical era with more of an' emotional' feel to it. Take for example the cover picture, although it is beautifully photographed and the models perfect, the pose itself is hard to place in the context of a painting. Obviously different artists have different needs and I suppose for the graphic artist it may be more helpful. Most the poses are vertical and some seated. There are no horizontal or lying postures of the couple to use for vertical paintings. Since I do not know the entire range of Virtual Pose books they may be found in one of the other editions. A good tool to use when wanting to practice perspective, user friendly on the whole.



3. can someone please make a figure drawing book with good lighting on the figures? i havent found one good source book for this yet. but in comparison to what ive bought so far, its better than most. still can not beat a live model i guess.



4. but i still like # 3 better..takes some getting use to.. works a little different than 3 with the controls



5. This is very helpful for me in my art classes. It is more than I expected.

2 comments about Robert Warren's Guide to Painting Water Scenes.

1. Very good instructions but I searched for acrylic books and did not check close enough as acrylics are mentioned but this book is strictly for oil painters. Also, no templates.



2. Robert Warren has outdone himself in composing this wonderful instructional book on oil painting-it is very well explained-this book is for intermediate to advance skill level.

3 comments about PulpHope: The Art Of Paul Pope.

1. I've been a fan of Paul Pope since reading his THB series years ago. There's one thing that really stands out about his work--the lines seem almost imbued with a sense of energy. You can almost see the inked lines jump and move on the page, and this give Pope's works a sense of being alive. The works in this collection don't disappoint. You'll be drawn into every page as you flip through the book. Another thing that some people may overlook is that Pope is an excellent writer. This book contains several essays about his work and himself. Pope writes about as good as he draws, so it is difficult to put down the book once you start reading. I highly recommend this book.
   
   A few warnings though: if you became a fan of Pope through his mainstream comic work, there is none of it in this book. There is a bit of THB featured (not as much as I would have liked), but most of the book consists of his private projects and illustration work. Another warning is that if you find erotic illustrations offensive, be warned that this book includes a few.



2. Pope's work is full of frantic, almost desperate energy. His art seems driven, and the essays in this book (I was surprised by the amount of text, but not unpleasantly, as it turned out) enhance this feeling. The book paints a picture of an artist with a great deal of passion for his work, and also a deeply thoughtful, philosophic side, and a strong respect for the history of his chosen art.
   
   The pictures are often raw-edged, a few of them appear to have been lifted from sketchbooks or diaries, sometimes with blocks of handwritten (and not always legible) text running off the edge of the page, or stamped with rubber stamps in Japanese ("Paul Pope" "Comics Destroyer" and so on). It is deliberate, of course, and it seems right that way. Each picture is full of texture and detail, and rewards a careful viewing.
   
   Don't just look at the pretty pictures, though. The book contains several autobiographical essays that are worth the price of admission by themselves. Pope talks about his inspirations and methods, discusses his thinking during the creation of some of the pieces in the book, and such topics as pornography as it relates to art and erotica. (Note to the prudish, a few of the pictures in this book are quite explicit. Although there are no sex acts shown, Pope is very frank about his appreciation for sex as a source of passion and inspiration, and he doesn't shy away from portraying all parts of human anatomy.) Reading the essays enhanced my appreciation for the art significantly.
   
   It's a fine book, especially if you like Paul Pope's style. Recommended.
   
   (As a side note, the version I received does not have the cover shown by Amazon, a drawing of a woman's face, but a black and white design based on an image of the author, I believe, and some abstract ink lines. It's not a bad cover, but I think I might have preferred the drawing.)



3. all in all a very cool book. being relatively new to pope (first through heavy liquid and batman 100, the best bat thing ever!) i find the book a very good intro to him, his ideas and thought process. he really seems to be on the path of re-creating / re-defining the "comic". the different essays throughout go from open self effacement to sadly comedic in his dealings with poss. employers and his tenure in japan. his knowledge of art history and his own desire to be a leader in his chosen area is very evident and well deserved.
   
   For being an artist's opus, i would have actually preferred a bit more art (the first and usu. obvious complaint any art geek would say regardless the amount given), there too is none of the Bat 100 art here, prob. for rights reasons, fair enough. Alot of the stuff here is blown to full bleed, possibly unnecessarily so, but if one sits and meditates on those pages you begin to see something, his art does seep in and soak a bit... one cannot argue with the overall design in any way, alot of the newer art books (ash wood's stuff, james jean's) push the boundaries of the medium and give the fan what they want, possibly b/c they are fans themselves and are giving what they want from those they admire.
   
   this one is going on the shelf between Malicious Resplendence and Lowlife Paradise...
   
   

5 comments about Lifelike Drawing with Lee Hammond.

1. This is a very good book to help one learn how to draw. I have found it immensely helpful and recommend it to anyone that wants to learn more about drawing and sketching.



2. i would recomend this book for those who want hints and tips on realistic drawing. it gives practice and techniques to help learn and you will learn if you are willing



3. I found a book at the library by this authur and then knew I had to have one of her books for keeps. I have always enjoyed drawing and checked out many books as a teenager on "how to draw" but this book was revolutionary for me. I learned what tools I needed and how to use them and my drawing improved drastically. I have made over $250.00 selling 8x10 photo's of my sketches ($25 each)people tell me I should charge way more, which I may someday, but I am just getting started. I used to only be comfortable drawing protraits, I am now confident that I can draw most anything I have a photo of (I did an eagle, some dogs, and a cat.) My advise: If you want to learn how to draw--buy this book!



4. This book starts out with some good basic principles of drawing - basic shapes in 3 dimensions; lighting and understanding value correlations on objects.
   Ms. Hammond's techniques and exercises are horrible. If you would like to develop bad drawing habits - this IS the book for you.
   Hammond's technique (using a 2B mechanical pencil) is to build up value (4 levels), then smudge and smear your way to success. Any artist - in regards to beginning drawing/ technique - knows that 'smudge/smear' is a drawing anathema. This technique deprives the striving student the opportunities to develop skills in building value; understanding contour of objects as revealed by the play of light and shadow; cross hatching to develop drawings with greater depth, etc. .
   Additionally, Ms. Hammond has absolutely no understanding of how to establish and use vanishing point/s in a drawing - a shortcoming she illustrates clearly.
   This technique renders drawings that are flat, 'dirty looking' (due to the smudge technique), and lacking in depth, contrast, and appeal.



5. This was my first Lee Hammond book and not likely to be the last. I have found that this book is very easy to follow, and a must have for any aspiring artist who loves to draw! It has helped me greatly in understanding how to use drawing tools and whenever I draw from it, I have loved ones peering over my shoulder to see what I'm drawing and the ohhhs' and awwws really put a smile on my face. Not to mention the finished product of my drawing. I didn't even know that I had that much talent but this book helps to bring it out of me and onto paper!

5 comments about Landscape Meditations.

1. This book is so well done I can't do it justice. It is a treasure and valuable reference for any paselist beginner to advanced. Elizabeth Mowry
   is indeed a Master,her work is breathtaking!!



2. I am absolutely in awe over this book. It has to be the most beautifully written and illustrated art book on the market. Ms. Mowry lives her paintings and her descriptive narrative transports you inside of her paintings. I will refer to this book again and again. Outstanding!



3. I found this a very inspiring book. The paintings are really nice whether you are into pastels or oils.



4. Every artist of every level and every art lover should read this book,for the artist the writings and paintings are inspirationalshe not only can she paint but she can write as well.



5. Excellent reference material in this volume, Mowry is a well practiced artist and shares her views always in a positive light. Suggestions are specific and clear.

5 comments about Anatomy for Fantasy Artists: An Illustrator's Guide to Creating Action Figures and Fantastical Forms.

1. This book is okay and has some good information, but some of the artwork isn't very awe inspiring. Not too bad though.



2. This is a good book if you want to learn how to draw action figures that are real life people not creatures



3. Thankfully, I was able to browse at this in my public library before buying it. The title doesn't reflect on the actual book. While the illustrations were clear and quiet a few were lovely the book failed to explain how the artists used anatomy and how they determined how to compose their figures. for an anatomy book, this falls horrible short. There about a handful (literally one handfull) of pages with live models. The images are of various sizes and almost on top of each other. More annoyingly for what few live model poses we are given the best are put inbetween two pages. You'll have an annoyign crease righti n the middle of the picture. It's not that hard to fill in the gaps, but certain details are lost from this type of placement.
   Also when going into skeletal structures he might have used a real model skeleton instead of sketches. You don't get an adequate understanding of dimension with a pencil depiction alone. Also, most of the book is dedicated to the common characters of comics (e.g. the barabarian, the female robot, Muu the fatman, Brutus the hulk). All these characters really show are sketches at different angles with bullets with brief common sense info.
   Plus the anatomy of most of the characters arenot really explored. It would have been nicer had they compared the exagerated features with realistic features.
   Overall , despite some talented artists' contributions, this book fails in teaching anything abotu anatomy.



4. This is not only a great book but a wonderful guide on drawing great action figures. There are many tips and tricks I recommend in here and it not only looks at just one detain but many perspectives in drawing fantasy characters.



5. Get Drawing and painting Fantasy Figures and/or Fantasy Worlds first. This book is good if you can't get enough of source/guide/inspirational material.
   
   Of Course, R. Crumb said "Wanna know how to draw better? Draw. Wishing won't make it happen!" and that's the first and best advice. Still, I have all these books I mentioned and do not regret my purchase!

5 comments about Complete Guide to Watercolor Painting.

1. This book was recommended by Tony Couch in his book, "Keys to Successful Painting". I find the material in Whitney's book to be the basis for Tony's book. They are both devoted to the principles of design, and the elements of design. Whitney's book has a more in depth approach and gives reasons why things work and some don't. I have read the book and find the information useful. A must read for those who want to beter understand the elements and principles of what makes a good painting eye catching and memorable.



2. Complete Guide to Watercolor Painting by Edgar A. Whitney is not a coffee table book, not "eye candy;" but the quick readability of the black and white reproductions of Whitney's watercolors shows that he knows what he's talking about when it comes to design and the importance of a good value pattern. This is a book for the serious student of watercolor painting who is willing to take instruction and work at his/her craft, and it is, in fact, an excellent instruction manual for any painter, as the design principles are universal.
   
   After studying dozens of art books over the years and taking university art classes and workshops from nationally known artists, this book is what finally helped me "get it" when it came to putting together an effective watercolor painting. The black and white reproductions do not detract from the soundness of the instruction. It may be helpful to have other books on color theory, various techniques, etc., but these are only peripherals to the sound design basics taught in this book.
   
   If you want a book that is similar to this older model in its instruction on design but with all pictures in color, Tony Couch's more recent Keys to Successful Painting, might suit you well. But note that Tony Couch, along with a long list of other well-known watercolorists, were disciples of Edgar A. Whitney.



3. This book is a great foundational book for anyone looking to know the fundamentals of watercolor. ALthough some of the book is in black and white, the principles are still very well described. If you can learn this book, you will be well on your way. It also goes over somewhat how to paint loosely. Well done.



4. This reissue of a classic is essential to the landscape artist concerned about composition and design. The text and principles are clearly outlined but for visual people it lacks examples in most instances. The black and white copies of paintings are difficult to analyze. It needs updating with color pictures that are examples of the rules of composition that the author puts forth.



5. I was disappointed that 90% of the examples by Whitney were in BLACK and WHITE. It would have been far more helpful had the pictures been in color.

5 comments about Painting Better Landscapes.

1. The best book I have bought. Goes into visualizing,planning,etc. Covers the guidelines for compositions as well as values and mood. Highly recommend.



2. I bought this book years ago and I continue to come back to this book years later. It's full of good and useful information. Kessler lays out the basics well and provides good solid information for constructing good landscape painting. Her book is a great reference for when I run into problems or am not sure of what I'm seeing when I'm painting. Kessler and John Carlson are the two best books on painting landscapes that I found.



3. On my feedback I had entered the feedback for the wrong book, my apologies, please. This book does have a lot of great information and gives details using great techniques.



4. Well written text, for advanced artist as well as the beginner. Kessler explains her topics very well. She uses a lot of earth tones in most of her paintings, but any artist can adjust the color range to suit their taste.



5. Este libro es estupendo para mejorar tu pintura, tanto seas novato como avanzado, pero especialmente es útil si llevas tiempo pintando, creo que está orientado especialmente para superarte en lo que ya haces. Te hace ver la técnica a seguir, desde que empiezas a inspirarte en una fotografía y su interpretación, la combinación de colores empleados, la mejor composición, profundidad, la forma de trazar con el pincel, y muchas recomendaciones más para superarte en lo ya llevas haciendo un tiempo atrás, como es mi caso. Recomendable para todos.
   AVISO PARA AMAZON.COM: Soy español y hecho de menos que tengais un apartado especial para saber las publicaciones en mi idioma. Todos los libros que he comprado los hubiera disfrutado más si estuvieran traducidos al español.
   
   This book is marvellous to improve your painting, so much be raw as(like) advanced, but specially it is useful if you go time doing(painting), I believe that it is orientated specially to excel yourself in what already you do. It makes you see the technology(skill) to continuing, since you start inspiring by a photography and its interpretation, the combination of used colors, the best composition, depth, the way of planning with the paintbrush, and many recommendations more rides to excel yourself in already doing a time behind, since it is my case. Advisable for all.
   
   I WARN FOR AMAZON.COM: I am Spanish and a fact of less than a special paragraph to know the publications in my language. All the books that I have bought had been enjoyed by me more if they were translated into the Spanish. THANKS.