5 comments about Collage Techniques: A Guide for Artists and Illustrators.

1. I was very disapointed in this book. I was under the impression that it would not only be instructive but that all of the work in it would be Gerald Brommer's. It was neither.



2. This is a good book for beginner and intermediate collage artists. It contains basic historical and theoretical information, as well as basic application techniques. You may also consider Nita Leland and Virginia Lee Williams' book CREATIVE COLLAGE TECHNIQUES. The techniques are challenging and open ended, so they truly encourage you to be creative.



3. This is the best reference available as at this date on collage. It is also one of the most inspiring art books I have read. I cannot recommend it more highly. The artworks provided as examples are of the highest quaility. Thank you, Gerald Brommer.



4. What I particularly liked was that all the illustrations were of first rate work.So many different approaches. An excellent text and motivational advice on materials and the object of collage as a genuine artistc outlet.



5. Brommer approaches collage from an fine art point of view. Most other books I have looked at tend more toward the scrapbook and/or kitchy altered art genre. He has an excellent section on art paper preparations and basic design.

1 comments about Art Forms From The Ocean: The Radiolarian Atlas Of 1862.

1. Radiolarians are a total blank to the majority of people, yet these remarkable builders of glass houses (microscopic to be sure) abound in the world's oceans. Ernst Haeckel, the Nineteenth Century German biologist and supporter of Darwin, wrote the most comprehensive monograph on the group in his Radiolarian Atlas of 1862, which is still in use today. The illustrations have never been surpassed and so it is certainly a boon for microscopists that the plates have now been republished in all their glory as "Art Forms from the Ocean: The Radiolarian Atlas of 1862". In many ways I wish that the text would have included descriptions of the radiolarians illustrated and their distributions, but that probably would have been of little interest to the general public. Instead there is a discussion of Haeckel's life and work, especially of his involvement with radiolarians and other microscopic marine life.
   
   Still, for the price this is a real bargain, and I thus recommend this book just for the plates to any amateur or professional biologist who is interested in the micro planktonic organisms of the ocean.

5 comments about How Fiction Works.

1. I love this book. I am not a writer and I don't intend to be one, however, this book has totally changed how I read and how I perceive my books. I now know why I prefer certain authors more than others. It's always easy to recognize a beautiful phrase, but now, I know what it is about the composition of that particular phrase or sentence that makes it work so well.
   This book is also easy to read; not too text bookish.



2. I bought the book after reading a library copy. I'm impressed with Hall's contribution. The book is a useful addition to your library if you collect books about how-to-write. It's useful because it contains plenty of stuff all the better books ought to contain...and dont. Hall, for example, handles examples much better than most writing instructors. That is; the examples are good and relevant to the point Hall is making.



3. I can see how this book might really help out a beginning writer. It contains fine insights and addresses topics not usually covered in a writers manual (such as use of negative space on the page, myth and models in storytelling, serendipity for the writer). It also covers a lot of the basics, such as the use of adverbs, verbs, nouns, modifiers etc, as well as assonance, alliteration and rhythm, although if one is interested in learning about the latter three items, I think Mary Oliver does a much better job. Still, there's enough here to recommend it for the beginning writer.



4. In his instructional book on writing fiction, Oakley Hall combines good, solid advice with self-congratulatory passages about his own writing. The book is divided into two major parts: "The Dramatic Method" and "Forms of Fiction", the last of which discusses the short story and the novel. Most beginning writers will find the first part--and the bulk of the book--much more helpful than the last, although Hall's discussion of forms is worth reading for the distinctions it makes.
   
   Within the first part, Hall breaks down his "secrets" into eight chapters: Specification; The Senses; Words; Symbol and Indirection; Dialogue; Authority/Point of View; Characterization; Plot. For every topic and sub-topic, he offers concrete, reliable advice followed by examples that illustrate his point. His list of abstract sentences and their transformation to active, concrete ones is helpful in teaching the beginner the difference between bland sentences and the much more vivid demands of good fiction. To his enormous credit, Hall includes nineteen pages on words and word choice, the foundation of writing but a topic often overlooked by amateurs. His chapter on characterization is also strong. Unfortunately, Hall bogs down at the end of chapters when he gives examples; too often, he includes his own writing and, even when he doesn't, he supplies little analysis to aid the reader in understanding the techniques. The strength of this book lies in Hall's knowledge of his topics. He provides small doses of real insight that his readers will be able to apply to their own writing.
   
   As a professor of writing, I have been looking for years for a good fiction textbook that is more affordable than Burroway's On Writing Fiction, and have yet to find one. Hall's work, like many others, falls short. Still, it offers some good lessons that aspiring fiction writers should read, even if the rest of the text is weak.



5. Thank you, Mr. Hall. Your words are to the point! I like that...I need that...I have time for little else.

   I appreciated the "get to it" instruction. Even though I've already written three novels (in the process of the third)I know--like Hall--that I've a lot to learn. Needless to say, novel three is under some serious reconstruction! :)

   This book will be highly recommended by me in the future!

3 comments about Exploring Watercolor: Creative Exercises and Techniques for Watercolor and Mixed Media.

1. This is a great book , easy to read and follow...she does go into design,focal point,composition, etc., but does it in a very descriptive way that doesn't get bogged down and boring.
   She also introduces quite a lot of different textures, which a lot of people like, bubble wrap, stamps, modeling clay, sponges, but it is not my thing....but at least her explainations and pictures make it easy to understand.
   She has a few step by step demonstations, simple, easy to follow, but my favourite is her pages of colour combinations.
   A book worth buying even if you are a beginner like me, and of course the more advanced artists should love this book.



2. I was drawn to this book because of the colorful pictures. I couldn't believe it was possible for watercolor paintings to be this vibrant. I was really motivated to dust off my paintbrushes and paint along with the many demonstrations. This book goes into the usual detail about how to design your painting, playing with color, and of course techniques of wet-in-wet, dry brush, glazing, etc., but unlike a lot of watercolor books the finished demonstrations look like something I would want to frame and hang on my walls. The best part of the book, for me, was the chapter on color. I have a pretty good grasp already of the color wheel and mixing colors, but it never occurred to me that there were so many ways to mix different greens, for example, or grays. I consider myself an advanced-beginner at watercolor and would definitely recommend this to other beginners, but surely someone with more experience would find techniques/hints here that would inspire them.



3. I thoroughly enjoyed "exploring warercolor". I found that the book covered a lot of territory in the watercolor field and that the explanations given were very clear. I have been painting watercolors for many years now and still learnt quite a lot from this book. In conclusion I would reall recommend it to anybody who is interested in watercolors.

1 comments about Force: Character Design from Life Drawing.

1. There's only a couple character design books out there. Most notably Creating Characters with Personality: For Film, TV, Animation, Video Games, and Graphic Novels. This new volume of Force takes on design from a more exploratory standpoint. One that can also lead to a foundation of more informed choices when working with Bancroft's methods later on.
   
   The text starts off with a review of the drawing techniques Mattesi laid out in the original Force. Not only the concepts of drawing with forceful lines and shapes, but also ensuring every aspect of your drawing make a statement about the subject. It's that thought process that leads to interesting designs.
   
   This book has no shortage of examples of experimental designs based off of posed models. Not only from the author, but also from several noted artists including Stephen Silver, Dean Yeagle & Ragnar. Each example includes explainations for the artistic choices made.
   
   Flipping through the pages of this book you, you won't find many of the tight, nailed down drawings you might expect from a character design book, but the principles Mattesi teaches build a strong foundation to create better, more interesting designs.

5 comments about Crumble, Crackle, Burn: 120 Stunning Textures for Design & Illustration.

1. Not only is the book a great source of inspiration, Von gives you the tools to make it work for yourself. The files included on DVD are nice and big and there are sample files included so you can see how he applies them. Awesome book--I'm hoping there will be a volume 2...



2. I attended Von Glitschka's "Illustrative Design" session at the 2008 HOW Design conference in Boston and was so inspired by his presentation and work that I decided to purchase his book of textures.
   
   The textures provided are manipulated from actual photos that he has taken almost daily. While it is true that he does not provide detailed instruction on how to use the textures in the book, he does provide links to his website where you can find tutorials. The textures are grayscale and not "clip art", but are intended to be incorporated into your own work to create your own illustrations and designs, which is why I suspect he has not provided specific instructions for their use. The 60 sample illustrations included in the book cover a wide range of application and showcase each texture. You also get 60 bonus textures included on the DVD that are not highlighted in the book.
   
   Get this book, get inspired, get creative, and have fun!



3. I ordered this book thinking it was a paper back and probably not very big. It turned out to be a large hardcover with 60 full page images of projects various artists created using Von's textures, which by the way, are shown on the opposite page in black and white so you really get an idea of how versatile the texture can be. At first I wasn't sure how to use them and wondered how the color was added, but if you just use your noggin it is pretty simple to figure out. (I am a beginning designer/student and believe me if I can do it anyone can...)
   
   I love the book, love the textures and have many ideas of how I am going to use them in future projects. I also think the title is very fitting, I would highly recommend this book because any worthwhile artist/designer is going to appreciate the many creative opportunities the textures provide. Way to go Von !!



4. An excellent resource for designers - graphic to photographic. The other reviewers have the details. This is my personal thank you to Von for creating an excellent resource for creativity.



5. Can't say enough about the prepped textures ready to use and the included DVD with all the textures plus more is invaluable. Only downside of the book was the repetitive and elementary examples. Too many vector style examples. Would have enjoyed more photographic to graphic design applications as examples. But, nonetheless, very pleased with the book and DVD. Great buy and timesaver!

No comments about Rapunzel's Supermarket: All about Young Children and Their Art.

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 Creative Drawing.

1. I didn't like this book. It was waaayyy too dry of reading material for me, and I also didn't get alot out of the class although I received a B- for the class.

2 comments about Design Writing Research.

1. This is a great find for anyone interested in the more theoretical underpinnings of graphic design and typography. From Foucault to Derrida, the authors sample a number of approaches towards the "why" behind the design of printed materials. Graphic designers will find great introductory resources on topics such as deconstructivism and the intellectual archaeology of design, whereas more politically minded souls will enjoy essays on race and sexuality in graphic design and advertising. A nicely done, eclectic reader.



2. Ever wonder why those little airport symbols for men's and women's restrooms look the way they do? Shouldn't the female symbol be sitting down? This book helps explain how those supposedly universal symbols evolved, along with many other elements of design that we encounter everyday as we negotiate society. This is a rather unique compilation of articles related to the history, practice and science of design in myriad forms and media. Why do printed words look the way they do? Many of us have never really thought about it much, I'm sure. But Lupton and Miller reveal in readable and entertaining prose that design choices are integral to the content in visual media, from newspaper columns to advertising billboards. The book is worth the price just for the guided tour through legendary examples of subliminal eroticism in advertising. Sex on the Rocks -- who'd a thunk it?