5 comments about Akiane: Her Life, Her Art, Her Poetry.

1. Exploring Akiane's young life through her incredible talents is a breath
   of fresh air flowing into my eyes, mind and heart. I enjoy this book over-
   and-over, each time I pick it up! It makes a wonderful gift for all ages!



2. Akiane is truly a girl that demonstrates God's miracle of life & love. I read the book in one afternoon as I couldn't put it down. This is an amazing real life story that leaves you wanting to know more about how you yourself can get closer to God our creator and experience what he has in store for you! The illustrations of Akiane's artwork in the book are gorgeous as well as the written pieces that accompany them. I have purchased this book several times and have given it as gifts to those who need some inspiration in their life.



3. This book is a great gift for anyone.
   It's beautiful poetry, art, and amazing story will inspire anyone.
   I have seen her interviews and her work is intriguing and her attitude is beautiful.
   The book is a must have!



4. Very inspirational and faith building book. Akiane has not chosen this path, she's only following where God leads her. There are always going to be nay sayers about anything, specially in this world of instant information. I choose to believe that she is what she says she is, and does what she says she does, because with God anything is possible.



5. The first time I saw this book, I was on a cross country plane ride and had the fortunate experience of sitting next to a kindred soul. She shared this book with me to pass the time. And the time passed quickly. After looking at the paintings of this young artist, Akiane, I had a kink in my neck because I couldn't turn away. But it was worth it. I ordered the book immediately and have enjoyed sharing it with my daughters and displaying it on our coffee table.
   
   Akiane is an artist and a poet and an inspiration. She believes she's been touched by God, and one look at her work will make you a believer as well.
   
   Michele Cozzens, Author of A Line Between Friends and The Things I Wish I'd Said.

5 comments about Art Models 2: Life Nude Photos for the Visual Arts (Book & CD-ROM).

1. This book is full of great reference. But don't do what I did...there are two versions, one that comes with the extra cd of poses, and one without. Double check and make sure you know which one you are ordering, I didn't realize that I ordered the book without the companion disk until it arrived.



2. This Book/CD combo is excellent. The interactive web site is also excellent, and greatly extends the book/CD. The poses in this package are from, "classic inspiration." This package is as close to having an actual model in your studio as you could ever hope to achieve. Using the photos on the CD has some advantages over a live model: you won't get slapped for getting too close.
   
   The quality of the book is good. It is thin, hardbound, and lays flat. The pages are gloss stock and hold the ink well. The photos in the book are large enough to use from the book, but the primary purpose of the book is to index the photo sets on the CD. Only four angles of each pose are included in the book. The printed photos are somewhat darker than the photos on the CD. All of the photos on the CD are in standard JFIF (JPG) format, 400 - 600 MB each. The CD includes a copy of the book, with lower resolution photos, in Portable Document Format (PDF). The book includes a proportional reference grid for two of the models, for use by digital artists.
   
   The photography is very good. The photos are sharp, high resolution, highly detailed, well lighted, from the standard 10 o'clock position. The lighting and detail is consistent throughout all of the camera angles. In one photo set, a strong shadow is cast to the model's right, which is somewhat distracting. The shadow doesn't diminish the detail clarity of the photos, however.
   
   The photo sets of each pose on the CD, (24 photos each), are taken at 15 degree intervals, throughout 360 degrees. Kudos to the models for being able to hold some of those difficult poses so consistently! And kudos to the authors for choosing not to airbrush or blur any of these wonderful photographs.
   
   The models are attractive, well groomed, relaxed, and comfortable. Only the elder gentleman has slightly imperfect extremities, consistent with his age.
   
   A lot of thought and effort went into the creation of this package to make it as useful to an artist as possible, and it very well implemented. I am VERY impressed with this package!



3. There are so few worthy art model books out there. Every-time a new one appears, it is destined to be purchased through shear lack of competition. Unfortunately, that will be the primary reason to buy this one.
   
   Good art modeling is not limited to being willing to remove your clothing. Good art models are students of body language and motion, no less than a great dancer or actor. Unfortunately, what we have here is a series of static naked people.
   
   On the positive side, the photography is well done which sets this above the dreadful "Pose File" books with their tiny, toneless snapshots.



4. I purchased this for my partner who is an artist. The book has a lot of clear photographs that are very helpful. Good lighting and clarity in the photos. Many different positions and types of bodies. I purchased the book with the CD ROM which shows even more angles of the different poses.



5. Since getting this book, I've done several charcoal drawings and it seems to be working out really well. The poses are varied, and easy to mask only a portion of a model (head, upper body, hands, etc). My only suggestion for future books would be to use a spiral binding.

5 comments about The Book as Art: Artists' Books from the National Museum of Women in the Arts.

1. Terrific book that is a keeper. If you can't get to see a portion of these works of art exhibited, at least you can enjoy what is being created out there by this wonderfully photographed and informative book. An added bonus was that it arrived sealed in plastic in mint condition!



2. This book is a wonderful review of the art of books as contemporary sculpture. As a fiber artist-bookmaker-handmade paper maker, I bought a copy for my own library, then gave another copy as a gift to a fellow artist who was interested in using books and book images in art. Inspirational as well as informative. I look forward to seeing the actual exhibition.



3. This is one of those products which is true to its theme from the moment you unwrap it.Being a book about the beauty and creativity of books it has itself to be worthy, which it certainly is. It is a pleasure to hold and to explore, as the design and concept have been carefuly considered.
   The examples chosen are rich and varied and are divided thematically.The problem is that so many of the books are enormously intriguing that one wants to handle them to discover their mysteries. However the descriptions are usually very good and do allow one to at least understand the concept of the creator.If you love books as art, this is a truly wonderful possession.



4. Turning the book making into an art can make a book more attractive and collectible. This book demonstrates a lot of outstanding examples. Readers are completely satisfied by the books in this book.



5. One of the best! This book should be on your bookshelf if you are interested in the books as an art form. I would suggest it for any school or college media center. I would not include it on a list for coffee table books but if you have a serious home library which leans toward the book arts,artist journals and sketchbooks; by all means, put this out on the reading table.
   The next best thing:Visiting the Museum in person!

1 comments about Latin American Graphic Design.

1. Fantastic book, it fills a much needed gap in the knowledge of Contemporary Latin American Graphic Design

4 comments about The Japanese Tattoo Design Handbook, Vol. I.

1. I ordered a view books regarding japanese tattoo's and this book was a big disappointment. The quality of the book is bad (pages stick) and there is little information in the book. I wanted to remove the 1 star, but it's not possible...



2. I was surprised by the thinness of the book, but it IS full of good photography. I'm always seeking good photo reference for "traditional" Japanese tattoos, so I consider this a good buy. Some of the photography needs work, but overall this is a book full of clear detailed photos of some nice "traditional" Japanese tattoos. I put "traditional" in quotes because some of the tattoos featured in this book have elements I don't think are considered strictly traditional, but stylistically many of them are still rendered in a traditional style. Nonetheless, if you are looking for a useful reference book of Japanese style tattoo work and are getting frustrated with not finding anything good at your local bookstore, this would be a satisfactory choice.



3. With "The Japanese Tattoo Design Handbook Vol. 1, Cocoro Books/DHP Publishing showcases the new generation of tattoo artists in Japan: Back in Black's Hiro, Hori Toshi Family's Hori no Suke, Sangenjaya's Hori Taku, 56 Tattoo Studio's Hori Masa and Tattoo Church's Carlos.
   
   With a two-page introduction by freelance writer Steven Walsh on Japanese tattoos, the book is filled with full page photos of tattoo design by these artists.
   
   The book doesn't try to be what the other Japanese tattoo design books out there by documenting the history or even detail procedures of an artist. Its primary goal is to show off the works of the artists showcasing traditional and modern design. It's straight-forward and for those wanting images, this book is primarily showcasing the tattoos from the upper half of the body, to some full body shots.
   
   The tattoo designs by these artists range from complex, intricate, dark, colorful and beautiful. I was very impressed by the talent of the five artists featured in this book
   
   "The Japanese Tattoo Design Handbook Vol. 1 is a perfect resource for those interested in Japanese tattoos and a solid resource for those who need inspiration for their own design through the many photos featured in this book.
   
   Similar to other books released by Cocoro/DHP, included is a cardboard slipcase where the book can be placed in.
   
   And for those seeking an inexpensive resource of high quality photography featuring Japanese tattoo design, you really can't go wrong with this book.



4. I purchased this book, along with volume II, and I am glad I did. Tho a smaller book physically, it holds an awesome trove of beautiful art, and a larger glimpse into the almost flawless work of some of the Japanese masters. A must for reference if you like Japaneze irezuma, tattoo or not!

2 comments about Digital Art Masters, Volume 3: Volume 3 (3d Total.Com) (3d Total.Com).

1. I bought volumes 2 and 3 of these, and found both excellent, I love studying the images to see how the people that can do it, well do it.
   
   The descriptions of thier work flow are short but i work alone doing renderings and i found it good to get the tips no matter how short and sweet



2. WOW! I just purchased Digital Art Masters Volume 2 & 3 from Amazon, let me start by saying these books are incredible, the amount of talent, the quality of the images and the overall look and print of the book make it a fantastic MUST HAVE for any aspiring artist or anyone involved in the creation of digital images.
   
   Bare in mind though, that these books will not go deep into technical explanation of any particular software but rather will detail each of the 60 selected artist's techniques and their methods for sketching, inventing and creating these extaordinary elements and taking them out of their heads and putting them on the screen.
   
   From characters to vehicles, backgrounds to robots, the masterpieces found in this book will inspire anyone who reaches its pages with an incentive for creation and a will to let your imagination take you places you thought you couldn't draw but after seeing what these people all around the world are doing, you just can't wait to give it a go.
   
   Great purchase!

5 comments about Putting People in Your Paintings.

1. This was exactly what I was looking for in a tutorial for painting people. The reader does need to know some fundamentals in watercolor though. Its well planed and explained. My work has improved 10 fold because of it.



2. Thought this was a wonderful book. Just what I was looking for ie. impressionistic images of figures in watercolour. The demos are clear and easy to follow. Her paintings are full of light and she sets everything out very clearly. More helpful than a DVD. Highly recommended.



3. After years of avoiding attempting to paint figures, I am now able to put people into my paintings successfully. Laurels book is beautifully written and well laid out, which makes it easy to use. She manages to communicate the techniques and instill confidence, so a big thank you!



4. This book is written by a professional portrait painter. She is fabulous in her approach to watercolor portraits but I believe not that helpful to the beginner like myself. The hardest thing to do is to put figures into a landscape or seascape and this book has the information but assumes you are comfortable painting faces and figures in the first place.
   Should you already feel comfortable drawing and painting faces and figures, by all means buy this book.
   The beginner should look elsewhere to realizing the concept and instruction of figure placement.
   There are many videos on the market like Don Andrews - "Painting Figurs in the Landscape" - and Tony Van Hasselt - "Fun with Figures" -that do the job for tyros like us.



5. This book is mainly about watercolor painting. There is a lot of focus on how to simplify the complex, and determining values. It is an absolutely wonderful book to develop skills at value sketches and seeing the light and shadows. It is filled to the brim with valuable information, and it is also filled with stunning artwork by the author.
   The teaching style and organization of the material taught is great.
   
   The author/ artist has a talent for simplifying complex information. She also teaches the reader/ student artist how to take a complex scene that you want to paint and learn the methods of simplifying it. Some of this simplicity is based on exercises of being trained to see light and shadow and values. It is a unique book--I highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning to paint. It is not a basic beginner's how-to book, but can be very helpful to all levels of painters--especially in developing better skills at value sketches, and emphasizing light and shadow in your work.
   
   The author's artwork is very inspiring. Her demonstrations are very clear and well-organized. The exercises are exceptionally well-taught, with illustrations that help you understand easily. She teaches you how to take black and white photos of a scene and make value sketches and interpret the light and shadow. The author explains that "figures are patterns of light and shadow". She demonstrates how this light and shadow is then used to put people in paintings, find a center of focus, set mood with color schemes, triads for fleshtones, etc..
   
   I love the author's methods of explaining the painting process: An example is:
   A demonstration on watercolor washes are taught in a simplified way called "watercolor laundry method"--basically, as in household laundry, learning to separate lights and darks, (i.e. painting lights first, letting it dry (hairdryer), then doing the darks. She then demonstrates how a series of washes over each other builds up the shadows and creates light.
   
   This book definitely deserves 5 stars--it is one of the best watercolor teaching books that I own! It simplifies the difficult.

2 comments about Garfield Fat Cat Three Pack Volume II (Garfield Fat Cat Three Pack).

1. This Book is perfect for old school Garfield fans.New school people don't understand.Its perfect for us 20+ readers who grew up with Garfield.A Good buy.



2. Lazy but lovable Garfield is at it again in this 3-pack of laughter, love, and lascivious locution. Master cartoonist Jim Davis pulls off this grand triumvirate with a chilling, icicle-like insight into the pathos of Everyman, invoking the spirit of Bil Keane in its depth and, dare I say, rivaling the Bible in its coded prophecies. The beauty of the Garfield series (excluding the movie) is Davis' ability to appeal to an 11-month-old's concrete operational brain while still stimulating even the most erudite of minds.
   
   My favorite part of the Garfield mythos is Davis' masterful retelling of the trinity metaphor, with John (the Baptist?) as the befuddled messenger, Odie as the insipid follower and unwitting vessel, and our hero Garfield, ever the gluttonous cynic, preacher and puller-of-strings. But the coup de tat is the role of Lasagna as a Faustian devil bent on the seduction and destruction of America if not all of mankind. Personally, I think the character of Lasagna is the most dynamic in the series, despite its outward appearance as a simple baked pasta dish (beautifully rendered by Davis and his team of Svengali ink artists). If only we could understand the complexities of its layers, perhaps we could all take a step toward fathoming why it is we gobble up the things that matter most. Jim Davis, you have my utter awe. Two thumbs up!

5 comments about Heads, Features and Faces.

1. This book is very helpful - there are basic instructions and rules to apply to drawing the head, specific features of the head and the face. The information contained within is very valuable, plus the visual images are exceptionally instructive to the student of portraiture.Heads, Features and Faces



2. For the price, I don't think you can get a better book on drawing human heads. Bridgman illustrates a structural approach to the head and its features. (I agree that his language it sometimes a bit difficult to follow, but the sketches show everything you need to know about his technique).
   
   The book covers basic proportions of the head, an introduction about how to approach the head as a series of planes, how to draw the eyes, nose, ears, and mouth in a structural way, a brief comparision of adult to child head proportions, and an introduction to how to draw the heads at different perspectives.
   
   Overall, it's a short book, but it's packed with valuable techniques that have definitely improved my portrait drawings.



3. to explore and capture some facial expressions when drawing pictures of people. I'm an artist and I want to take my artwork to a higher ground and this book would be the template for future drawings.



4. This really isn't an *in-depth* book- Very slim & brief, it's definitely great for a quick intro to the basics...
   Bridgman gets right into it: starting with the basic outline, he proceeds to planes and basic shading, then follows with a decent look at the various features we all need to be familiar with. Eyes, nose, mouth & ears are simply & accurately treated. Basic proportions are touched upon. This is actually great material for beginners (recommended!), in contrast to his usual intermediate-level stuff. With *very high* paper quality (thank you!!!), the drawings here seem to be a bit more clear than in his other books. Stylistically speaking, this is very different & interesting for Bridgman. He actually displays representations of various famous figures: Vermeer of Delft; Frans Hals; Sir Joshua Reynolds; Rembrandt Van Ryn; George Washington; Abraham Lincoln; and Louise Elisabeth LeBrun. This tends to be my least favorite aspect of the book, although the accompanying text is actually sometimes pretty interesting. Miscellaneous drawings here also include: men; women; children; a chef; a clown; a small Leonardo Da Vinci self-portrait sketch; and Jolly St. Nick a.k.a. Santa Claus. I kinda like these miscellaneous drawings! Like I said, this is all *very* different from his usual, uniquely-conceived, figure drawing efforts. Facial expressions are barely touched upon. This is a basic-level book in pretty much every single respect.
   He describes *introductory* methods of construction in the last few pages- perspective, cube-construction & oval construction. This book will *not* teach you to construct heads from every conceivable point of view from memory. For a more detailed look at constructing heads from memory, check out his truly excellent & more famous works: Constructive Anatomy and Bridgman's Complete Guide to Drawing From Life. Bridgman is famous for his cube-construction of the head, but we only get a little of it in these very brief pages. Great for beginners! Also great & more *in-depth*, 5-star works for beginners: Drawing the Head and Figure by Jack Hamm, and Andrew Loomis' Drawing: The Head. All currently available here on Amazon!



5. The art, in my person opinion, is rather ugly but it serves it's purpose. I did have a problem with the wording. It was often too technical and a bit awkward. The sentence structure was a bit odd. I guess the point of the writing style was to be different and not seem oversimplific. However it was not simple enough. A book like this should be simple and easy to understand. I also think there are some terms that should have been clarified or defined but they were not. I got the impression that this book was not aimed at beginners but more at intermediates who were familiar with some of the terminology. Don't get me wrong, the terminology was not that difficult to guess the meaning of, but it did detract from my enjoyment of the book. I am just not fond of this particular style of writing. Other people may like it. And the book has some valuable information.
   Mildly recommended.

4 comments about Drawing with Your Artist's Brain: Learn to Draw What You See, Not What You Think You See.

1. I am sold on this book. Betty Edwards' Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain is awesome, and its insights are foundational for a good artist, however, I think Carl's book is more hands on and simplifys the basic teachings with more exercises and less theory.
   
   I recommend buying, reading, and doing the exercises in both books, but if you only get one, I would go with this one.



2. I wanted to learn basic pencil sketching, so I went to a bookstore and browsed all the books they had on the subject. This one definitely stood out as the most practical for me as a beginner. I just want to be able to draw for fun, and the ideas of this author made a lot of sense. So I bought the book and brought it home. I skimmed the whole book quickly to get the main ideas, then I sat down, took off my shoe, and started to draw a picture of my shoe based on the ideas. It is definitely the best freehand drawing I have ever done in my life - by a mile. And that's only applying a fraction of the principles and tips in the book. I'm looking forward to digging in more.



3. If you think you can't draw, then Drawing With Your Artist's Brain is for you - and for any general-interest lending collection where how-to arts titles are popular. Here is a guide which offers step-by-step insights into how to create true-to-life renderings, overcoming personal angst and understanding how to define form, see values correctly, and use value patterns effectively. An observation-based approach covers landscapes, portraits and still life equally, applying important concepts and principles to the mix. A top pick from an artist whose PAINTING WITH YOUR ARTIST'S BRAIN has proven most popular.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



4. This is a good comprehensive book for beginners and covers most things of importance, but it has a few defects. The reference photos from which the drawings are done are too small, making it difficult to see what the author is talking about. The author leaves his sighting lines on his drawings, which is like leaving up the scaffolding after painting a house--it looks unsightly. He drones on for too long about values. Toward the end of the book, he runs out of things to say, and the book becomes a gallery to show off the author's drawings.