5 comments about The Codex Borgia: A Full-Color Restoration of the Ancient Mexican Manuscript.

1. This Codex is remarkable at any price. The colors and reproductions are simply gorgeous and the text is helpful. Present are a bewildering number of religious pictograms, some calendric and other representing the mystical or dreamlike journey of the strange character 'one-eye.'
   
   The characters are, overwhelmingly, bloodsoaked and violent. There is decapitation, dismemberment and heart sacrifice. This document gives the lie to those anthropologists who claim that the mesoamerican societies are 'misunderstood' and were not human sacrificial--that tales of human sacrifice and cannibalism were tales perpetrated by the Conquistadores to justify their conquest and subjugation of gentle cultures.
   
   Well, not quite. Judging my this and other codices, as well as archaeologic revelations, suggest that these societies were just as bloodstained as advertised. This is not to justify the Spanish Conquest but just a simple fact.
   
   At the same time, many of the characters in this codex require major interpretation. Virtually everything is split, injured or vomits blood. Depictions of people [children?] being tortured and blinded are especially disturbing. Nevertheless, this is a document well worth owning.
   
   Ron Braithwaite author of novels--"Skull Rack" and "Hummingbird God"--on the Spanish Conquest of Mexic



2. Even if you, like me, don't have much of a knowledge base about ancient Mexican history, it's cool just to show people the book. I've flipped through it and gained a vague understanding of how it fits into history, and I appreciate that it brings to life an aspect of a culture that I really only know through mythology. The preface to explain the Codex is probably well-written, although, admittedly, I felt rather daunted by it. Skimming through it was still valuable, though. A good conversation piece!



3. I will not go over their 5 star comments except to say that I agree. The amazingly colourful and crisp art in this short book is rivetting. As much as one may credit the reknowned author, deep congratulations should also go to the publisher for a masterful print job.



4. Sin duda este es un título que no debe faltar en ningúna biblioteca personal, ya que la restauración de uno de los principales códices es perfecta, para aquellos interesados en la cultura y ciencia ancestral este códice es de gran ayuda.



5. This is a very strange and beautiful book in pictures. It reads like a dream if you tune in to it, and reveals very deep meanings about the relation between life and death, the human relation to the forces of nature, and time. Even though there are no words, it is possible to understand. If you get into it the symbols become more and more recognizable, and they begin to speak. the calendrical symbols and the spirit deities are completely recognizable. The sequences are all about times, and there is a big element about sacrifice. It has to do with the consequences of change; there is no life without death. The book has a very powerful image of life and death fused back to back that pretty much is the epitome of all the book is about. It's all about life and death in relation to time.

1 comments about Fully Booked: Cover Art and Design for Books.

1. This book is so full of brilliant ideas. I couldnt manage more than 5/6 pages before being flooded with inspiration. Very strong concepts very well executed.

3 comments about Patterns of Intention: On the Historical Explanation of Pictures.

1. This book is so conspicuosly intelligent, and its exercises in criticism so involving, that it is a great pleasure to read. Baxandall begins by developing a scheme for the explanation of concrete historical objects in general.

   He takes the Forth bridge in Scotland. Baxandall, more than it makes it beautiful, he shows you that it really is beautiful. But wait, there's more. He takes Picasso's Kahweiler and shows it to you as beautiful, and damn well you believe it.

   Baxandall shows us how to interpret art.

   But he claims modesty: he is a historian, he says, and is only offering one method of many to think about pictures. I think this is the only place where he has gone wrong. After going through his method of understanding art, you will know there are no others. All the other ones are wrong. Baxandall is right.

   If you want to be someone who talks about art intelligently, buy this book and you will be able to talk of art in the only way you should




2. This book is a genuinely informative and at times engrossing view into the making and understanding of pictures. However, it reads (not surprisingly) like a textbook; it is brilliant and thought-provoking in some parts but dryly monotonous in others. (The bridge-building bit stands out as particularly tedious.) The points Baxandall makes via this tediousness are no less brilliant, but their lustre is lost beneath layers of dull, yawn-worthy prose. Baxandall's stylistic shortcomings should not scare away anyone with a passionate interest in the study of Art and its interpretation. But for the layman in search of a clear and down-to-earth discussion of how to look at pictures, this is probably a book to avoid.



3. Through three well-chosen case studies, Baxandall examines the question of artistic intention: how the constraints of the culture, the artistic medium, and the intended use of a work of art shape the process of its creation. Particularly penetrating is his "excursus on influence", in which he argues that participants in an artistic tradition shape and change how their predecessors are understood. This is an ingenious and satisfying book: I read it twice for two different college classes, and expect to read it again and continue to profit from it.

5 comments about An Atlas of Animal Anatomy for Artists.

1. My daughter really liked this book but she wants to be a Veterinarian. Very involved. Excellent book if you want to capture all the nuances of the animals body. A must have for the serious animal artist. It helps to know the correct structure of the animal.



2. I bought this book after a classmate in my 3d organic modeling class brought it in to share. It is great as reference for 3d modeling in maya, zbrush, whatever you are using. That's because it has all kinds of view like side, top, front and even more detail drawings of paws or head. The price is affordable too and the softcover makes it easy to scan and flip.



3. This is an easy book to understand an animal anatomy for people leaning toward the creative side of life and missing some understanding of the scientific part.



4. Not worth the buy: Borrow it or get it at a flea market. First off, it looks like some biology book, nothing artistic about it. The book is filled with old drawings that are probably royalties free anyway. Maybe it's OK as a reference book.
   
   Get Jack Hamm's book instead: More tips and tricks on drawing animals.



5. This is exactly what I needed for doing horse sculptures. A+ Very happy with my purchase. Will also use it for the other animals!

5 comments about A Smile in the Mind.

1. This is a delicious book. I'd love to use it for a college design textbook.



2. This book effectively and clearly outlines different kinds of visual wit. People often say you cannot learn or study topics like this... "A Smile in the Mind" dispels this myth. For anyone who is interested in learning more about communication through wit.



3. I read the reviews, I like wit. I like deisign. thought that this wiuld be a good book for me to get. WRONG. The book is filled with lackluster designs using wit from the 80's and 70's. WIT is not an excuse for poor design. There are some good pieces, but most of them are out dated. Get this book if you want a history lesson about 80's design. The only good thing about the book are the interviews at the end and that is not worth the price of admission. Phaidon has done me wrong again. Will, no, can they put out a good book?



4. This is an exceptional book on the topic of visual wit. It does give more credit to a few pedestrian examples than is absolutely deserved, but it's an awesome read. That is, if you actually READ it, and not just look at the pretty pictures, it is interesting, inspiring, and invigorating. It's an excellent book to read when you are getting burned out by killjoy clients, the CEO's wife, or non-existant budgets.
   
   Especially useful are the interviews in the back. Realizing that even Saul Bass and Milton Glaser had/have issues with creativity and wit is inspiring.



5. I've read tens of design books, yet this is the one I'd recommend if you were lost on an island and only had access to one.
   
   It contains some of the wittiest designs and creations, and takes a good stab at explaining what made them witty in the first place.
   
   If you want to get your creative juices flowing and innovate to the extend the world has never seen, this is the book to pray to.
   
   A pleasure to read from start to finish.
   
   Plus I got my copy almost free using a coupon from UnderTag.com

4 comments about Patterns: New Surface Design.

1. The cover is fun. It's a great size, but the content leaves a lot to be desired. The reproductions are poor. Many of the images are so small I can barely make out what they are. Some are not even patterns, just pictures. Although the book is full of images, there are only a few artists represented and their work is shown over and over (not the kind of pattern I was seeking). And the commentary is useless at best. This is not a book of the great work that is being done out there in the design world. Having said all that, there are some lovely patterns and interesting ideas here. I just wish I didn't have to work so hard to find them and learn from them.



2. This book has few words and many patterns. There are five sections, each devoted to a different type of pattern. Although I found I only really consistently liked the conversational, retro and organic patterns, I thought the range of different patterns and different mediums (digital, textile, hand-drawn, etc) was great. It would have been nice to have a little more information on how each subset of patterns has been developing, what the patterns themselves are used for, who some of the major players are and other relevant information.
   
   The physical package itself is very attractive, compact, has a good weight and feel and lovely paper stock.



3. This is a fantastic book full of wonderful pattern designs in many different styles... very inspirational! Great for textile or surface designers, or anyone interested in design. Also love the textured cover!



4. Loved this book! Tons of images and references for inspiration! Every time I see it, I discover something new!!!

5 comments about The Impatient Beader.

1. This book has great ideas for necklace and bracelet designs. The only thing you need to be aware of is this: her list of what you need for each project is not accurate. For example, the grey scale necklace on page 48 calls for 74 pearls. You actually need about 74 for each of the four strings.



2. Almost everything I know about making jewelry I learned from Margot Potter's Impatient Beader book. Seriously. I bought this book because after a winter of being snowed in with nothing to do, I found myself obsessively shopping online auctions and buying piles of pretty beads. I had no idea what to do with them, so I needed to learn--quickly. Margot's book was exactly what I needed. It has excellent visuals (good for the person who is too lazy to read) and truly FUN projects. Most important if you're just learning: The book is set up so that the projects build sequentially in skills and complexity.
   
   Reading the text gives you the impression that Margot is looking over your shoulder (not in a creepy way) giving you good advice and cheering you on in your learning and creative expression. This is also the first craft book I've ever owned that is actually funny.
   
   When I started teaching non-English-speaking, nonliterate refugee women how to make jewelry, this was the first book they wanted to borrow and it's still making the rounds--I haven't seen my copy in months. Margot's work transcends cultures--and language.
   
   I only wish I, too, could get a little cartoon character representation of myself, then my Margot Potter-inspired beading joy would be complete. Buy the book--it will be money well spent!



3. From the cover to the very end, this is definitely a great starter book for the neophyte beader. Margot Potter takes you carefully, step-by-step, in how to use findings and how to attach them to your projects. Not usually shown in other bead primers is the use of a bead board and how to make your own jump rings. The projects are not quite as funky as in Margot's later Impatient Beader books but, after all, she's just preparing you for the uninhibited possibilities in her follow-on books. Her chapters lead you on increasingly more difficult, but still fairly simple, projects that won't serve to discourage a beginner. Get this book first and learn the basics then learn how to go crazy with these basics using Margot's later books.



4. This books is full of really fun projects which I cannot wait to do. However, it's also riddled with typos--especially on the quantity and colors of beads you need so pay attention!!!! I'm working on Mermaid's Bounty and if you follow the instructions, you'll have 120 beads left over.



5. This book is all that it is supposed to be...fun, fast, and funky! Margot Potter has a sparkling personality that shines through in her off the wall designs. She doesn't take herself nor jewelry making too seriously and that is why it is so much fun to read this book. Even if you don't make all the designs in the book you can't help but be inspired by her infectious style. It also helps you to see outside of the jewelry box and think about things that aren't meant for jewelry in a whole new light. Both this book and the follow up books are worth having in your personal library no matter what type of jewelry you like to design. Ms Potter brings a lot of fun to an age-old art and challenges us all to be inspired by the mundane ordinary things around us.

5 comments about Art from Intuition: Overcoming Your Fears and Obstacles to Making Art.

1. As an art teacher and an art book author, I'm always looking at the competition for additional insight and inspiration. This, along with David Friendly's "The Creative Way to Paint" and my own book, are among the best books on the subject. Worth every penny!



2. Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RQDTY7WE71WJB "Art from Intuition" book review by Big Puppet.



3. If you are an artist, want to be an artist, are interested in creativity, work with creative people, want to relax, enjoy making a mess or just want to live a fuller life...buy this book! It is full of ideas for helping you listen to what you need to hear, getting you unstuck and helping you enjoy yourself. It is destined to be the book on every artist's shelf.



4. This book is interesting to read and greatly motivating. I can see it being a great addition to any school curriculum, whether it be high school or college level. Or, just a great motivator to get you off the couch and get your mind flowing with great ideas. You don't have to be good at art, as these exercises can open your mind into a different way of thinking to help you in business decisions, calm stress, or just be happy. And, it's EASY to get started!



5. This book got me out of my creative block and completely jumpstarted my creative urges. Full of great ideas and assignments it helped me rediscover my own playful and artistic self! Thanks Dean Nimmer, you're the best!!

2 comments about Like Breath on Glass: Whistler, Inness, and the Art of Painting Softly (Sterling & Francine Clark Art Institute).

1. If you like Whistler you will like this book. After I got my Turner book I was more interested in it and didn't finish this book.



2. The often ignored "Tonalist" movement finally gets its due in this exquisite catalogue of what must be a remarkable exhibition. The reproductions are beautifully controlled (thank goodness for modern printing technology) and broadly selected. There are a few nice surprises (Crane, Steichen!!, and Carlsen stand out), along with the expected Whistler, Twachtman, and Inness. The inclusion of a section on American lyrical abstraction was also a nice linkage. For any serious collector of art books this tome is an essential.

5 comments about Sleepwalk: and Other Stories.

1. An interesting collection of short stories in graphic novella form, with a particular emphasis on relationships and lesbians (not nescessarily at the same time), and interactions during the time of and around sleep and dreaming. Tomine's drawing style is aesthetically pleasing, and he is creative in developing his characters and their distinctive traits in a short space (about a page or two each). My absolute favorite in this one is on page 26, "Lunch Break." It's so concise, yet wonderfully emotional and layered.



2. Tomine captures social isolation and the pointless life so perfectly that this book is probably one of the most depressing things ever written. It's amazingly well-accomplished in being what it is, however. Just don't read this if the ability to create several days of melancholy is NOT one of the things you appreciate in a book...
   
   I'd also recommend Summer Blonde, though I personally think Sleepwalk is somewhat better. Tomine has a tendency to make stories that end abruptly without conclusions of any sort, so the shorter format is a little more suiting.



3. I wish there were more comics out there like Adrian Tomine's. The characters in the stories collected here could almost be characters in a Belle and Sebastian song and those are some of my favorite kinds of characters. There are only a handful of artists doing thoughtful, literary work in comics and Tomine is one of them. In a medium with limitless possibilities Tomine is among the few trying to explore them.



4. "Disparate" is really the only word one could use to describe Tomine's writing style. His depictions of the inner pains that many of us know, especially from our late teens and early twenties, are almost painful to read with all of the insecurities that they bring flooding back. This angst ridden collection of stories is the collected works of his first eight editions of the comic book "Optic Nerve" which Tomine produces yearly.

   Sleepwalker is an excellent introduction to his work, where as his other trade paper back "32 stories" is a collection of his earliest work and while some of the stories are very amusing, it's also very raw, and out of the normal vein of work Tomine is known for.




5. Black and white drawings, mature cartoons, short snippets of people's lives?....are you sure this is literature???
   
   YES! Don't let people tell you this isn't literature. It's a perfect example of how graphic art and comics can still be literature. I was ushered into all of this on the superhero wave (and I still read superhero comics), and when I discovered artists like Tomine and Clowes, I was amazed.
   
   The stories are very realistic and told in short story fashion. It's not a graphic novel, and it isn't exactly a collection of comic strips.
   
   I would recommend this to someone who is well read. Check out "Pink Frosting."