5 comments about The Big Book of Painting Nature in Watercolor (Practical Art Books).

1. This book is helpful in understanding how to develop a painting, but the author's color mixtures are surprisingly awful. Well over half the paintings in this book show us EXTREMELY dull and chalky skies and landscapes. The author appears to have no understanding that watercolor paints have different qualities--nonstaining, staining, and opaque. Mixing and glazing these colors without understanding these differences result in the mud paintings throughout most of this book. If you compare these paintings to other watercolor books, such as those by Dobie, Carbonnetti, Nechis, Speckman, and many others, you'll see a huge difference. Jim Kosvanec's "Transparent Watercolor Wheel" [this is a book, not just a color wheel] is extremely helful in bringing out the most in watercolor.



2. This book provided step by step progessions and explanations that were easy to follow. Great for beginner or intermediate painter.



3. Great book for learing to paint. Good examples and explanations for techniques. I recommend it.



4. By profession I am a scientist, but I have always had an interest in the visual arts. Only in the last few years have I had much time to devote to such endeavors and even then it has been rather catch as catch can. My main interest in art is in the capture of natural images (I took scientific illustration in college), but I appreciate the fact that art and stark realism may express somewhat different truths about the subject. As a rank amateur in watercolor art I also appreciate deeply such roadmap-like guide books as Ferdinand Petrie's "The Big Book of Painting Nature in Watercolor." At first the title turned me off, but in perusing a copy (and later acquiring it) I found it to be an excellent guide to capturing the essence of a natural scene in one of the most difficult of all media- watercolor (only pen and ink may be more demanding from my experience!)
   
   The coupling of Petrie's step by step paintings and the exquisite photographs of John Shaw has produced a book that is both visually beautiful and informative. Using the techniques described and with one's own reference photos in hand (or under an open sky direct from nature) a novice painter can slowly gain the knowledge and skill necessary to succeed in producing credible paintings.
   
   A while back a scientist colleague of mine asked me why make a painting or drawing when you can photograph any subject with clarity. As a person who takes my own reference photos and enjoys doing so I can say he has a point, but reality does not necessarily come only from an exact replication of a scene. In the process of painting from nature (or from a reference photograph) you often notice more complex details, even in apparently simple subjects, then you would ordinarily notice in a photograph by itself. Petrie has emphasized the observation of these complex details and their interpretation in watercolor. If nothing else the instructions that point the artist toward this close observation of complexity in nature are worth the price of the book.



5. This book is one to read through to learn -- not just do the practice paintings. Being a newbie to watercolor, this book has really helped me to view nature through a different set of eyes. He helps you see the "what do I want this picture to focus on" instead of microdetailing every possible detail in view. I am now finding myself looking at nature figuring out the details and what would I want to paint as the focus. I think this book goes very well with Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Watercolor by Marian Appellof -- good pair with minimal redundancy.

No comments about Mosaic Magic.

5 comments about Arteffects (Practical Art Books).

1. If anyone out there is even thinking about painting (or if you are already a painter) this is the book. It will show you examples of almost every kind of paint and then what will happen if you mixed it with something or layer something. This is a GREAT "example" book. Watch out thou you will want to go and try them all out......



2. Very well written, thought out and organized book demonstrating the different techniques that can be used with a variety of paint mediums and materials. I would recommend this for an introduction to use of materials, tools and grounds.



3. This is a wonderful book, if you are an artist, you can find different samples for many techniques, if you are an amateur, you can find a lot of fun.
   This is my precious!



4. This book is exactly as described. A "visual sampler" of step-by step, demonstrations, to achieve hundreds of different effects in your paintings. Wonderful, colorful illustrations, easy to understand instructions and desriptions as well. Also the layout of the book is very user friendly. There is 208 pages so you get your money's worth in this book. This book is full of ideas to get your creative hands moving. I am very happy to own this book.



5. I must disagree with the reviewer who said this book is not for the true artist. I am an artist and although I know some of the techniques or variations thereof, there are plenty more that I can't wait to try. I feel like a kid in a candy store, not knowing what to do first.
   
   Sure, this is not a book that teaches you how to draw or paint, or how to make good compositions. Its focus is on techniques to achieve certain effects. That's all it says it is and it does that admirably.

1 comments about Dragons (How to Draw).

1. I bought this book for my son and he is finding it very useful. It's easy to follow and gives good instructions.

5 comments about Shoes: What Every Woman Should Know.

1. It is said that a woman cannot have enough shoes or handbags. I heartily agree.
   
   This is a wonderful book that should prove of interest to almost all women and men too! Packed with informative and colorful illustrations, we are taken on a journey detailing the history of footwear from Ancient Egypt to the present day. And what an interesting journey it is.
   
   There is something for every shoe afficionado in this small but fun book. Perhaps the biggest lesson to be learned here is that if one waits long enough, any style of footwear will once again become popular and a "must have" piece of a woman's wardrobe.
   
   Which reminds me, a local shoe store is having a sale this weekend....



2. LOVE the fact that there is pop culture included. More content than most. I love the section on Sex and the City!



3. What is it about women and shoes??? Stephanie Pedersen's "Shoes: What Every Woman Should Know" is an awesome history of shoess from past to present. The photos are delicious, and I enjoyed reading about the history of shoes.
   
   One of my favorite sections in the book was "Red Shoes", which was all about the sexual power of scarlet pumps. The adage "red shoes, no knickers may or may not be true, but I ain't tellin'!
   
   If you have more than two pairs of shoes in your closet, you'll love this book!
   
   Carla
   www.CarlaLynneHall.com



4. I am enjoying Shoes: What Every Woman Should Know so much that I have decided to order a few copies for my more stylish girlfriends as a Christmas gift. The book effectively describes how a woman's image is often shaped by her own shoes. Shoes described range from sexy -- I love the chapter on the stiletto -- to elegant and graceful, such as the chapter on shoes of the silver screen in the 40s.
   
   The author, Stephanie Pedersen explains how shoes have been worn by women as a symbol of sensuality. Not only did I learn about the history of shoes from this stylish and reasonably priced book, but I learned about fashion, design and culture. Pedersen's artful descriptions coupled with the colorful images have really inspired me to consider my own shoe collection and what is says about me. After reading this book, I want to go on a little shoe shopping spree to add a few pairs to my own collection -- the book heps one to understand what shoes can say about one's image.
   
   Now that shoes from the 20s, 30s and 40s are making a comeback in modern fashion, it is even more fun and interesting to read about how those styles were influenced by the trends, attitudes, movie stars and even dances of those decades. My favorite sections are "1923: The Charleston," "1939: Red Shoes," from the chapter "The Jazz Years." Also, "Shoes of the Silver Screen" from the Chapter on the Hollywood Years, and the section on Sex and the City from the Chapter, "The Designer Years."
   
   The first chapter of the book is excellent, and fills you in on the fascinating history of shoes, with interesting bits of information such as the cultural attitudes in Asia and fashion trends in the late Middle ages, when Florence was the fashion capital of the world.
   
   This is a book you will read again and again, and want to keep handy to refer to often to inspire you to consider shoes as a part of your own style, and certainly to show to all your friends. You will learn something about yourself from this book because it helps you to understand what your shoes say about you! Whatever image you want to convey from sexy to confident, graceful to elegant - this book will help you understand which shoe styles could help you make the precise statement you want about yourself and your sense of style and originality!



5. You don't have to be Carrie Bradshaw to love this little book, beautiful and fascinating if you love shoes this book will give you lots of delightful insights into the way shoes have evolved. Lovely photographs and the writing is delicious. Make a wonderful stocking stuffer for the shoe-shopper in your life.

5 comments about Watercolor, You Can Do It!.

1. I can not believe that Amazon does not carry Tony Couch's books.
   He is an awesome teacher that gets his points across to the novice.
   His advise is easy to follow and he uses his colour in a pure and simple way



2. The early chapters on handling paint and the brush seems to really get to the point. The section on "moisture control" really is a must read for anyone still struggling with this aspect of watercolor painting. I recommend this book all the time to anyone who asks about good reading material. Too bad it is out of print. A must for the watercolorist library!



3. This is a great book that addresses problems that I haven't seen addressed in other books. He is also encouraging to the painter who may not feel they have a lot of talent but still want to paint. He feels that all people with the desire can do it. I got the book from the library, and loved it so much I purchased it. I've heard his videos are great too.



4. This is one of the best books teaching watercolor painting. I've bought many. He stresses that the journey (learning) is more important than the goal (being a great painter). He's an excellent teacher and his step by step illustrations are some of the best. A great help to me.



5. After reading at least 30 watercolor instructions books, this one goes to the top of my list. Couch covers everything from the basics (from equipment to how you actually get paint on to the paper) to the essential guidelines of design and composition. These (sometimes boring) subjects are covered in an easily-digestible, easily-usable manner, making it exciting to get to your next painting and apply what you have read. The book includes a really good description of how the painter is a "shape maker, symbol collector and entertainer" and numerous step-by-step examples of painting basic landscape components (trees, sky, rocks, water). The book is upbeat with a wonderful sense of play and humor running through it -- plus the reader is given dozens of examples of Tony Couch's own marvelous watercolor paintings, as well as examples from eight other superb watercolorists. The gallery of paintings alone is worth the price of the book (which, by the way, is about 30 pages longer than most watercolor instruction books -- so you really get your money's worth!)

5 comments about The Human Machine.

1. where is my book?,,, i never reviced.
   or Tell to me, where can i call or send a email, to ask about it.



2. I've been a fan of George Bridgman's books ever since I bought Constructive Anatomy, and followed it with the 100 hands book. I found the Human Machine and ordered it because I wanted to see more references in regards to how the body movies. I'm not severely disappointed but I suppose I was expecting a bit more. I was hoping for more full body references which would separate the book from Constructive Anatomy. Unfortunately it didn't deliver.
   
   I did find the information in this book highly useful, but I have to agree that the print quality of the illustrations can be frustrating for some people. I am not bothered by it because I want something that is loose and interpretive, but explanatory. The problem with many art books is that they get so detailed in anatomy an artist trying to learn life drawing isn't learning to interpret the information but simply copies it.
   
   You need illustrations like this to help your juices flow and act more creatively. If everything is drawn out for you in explicit detail how do you learn to fill in the gaps and experiment? That is why I found Bridgman's books more valuable to me than the super detailed anatomy books. His methods of construction have helped me out greatly in learning to flesh out my figures from stick forms.
   
   The other value of this book is it's price. Why waste 30 dollars or more when these books are usually 10 dollars or less? My other book is becoming worn from extreme use, but at least I know I can easily replace the book at a low cost!



3. In reality, this book didn't teach me anything I didn't know already. The illustrations may be handy for someone who hasn't had much experience with body-mechanics, bending, joints, etc. This book was neither outstanding nor worthless, thus my bland 3 star review...



4. Maybe 3-1/2 stars. (Idea & Layout= 5 stars. Drawing quality= 2 stars.)
   
   Bridgman's The Human Machine is *exceedingly* ambitious in its scope, and could have been exceedingly successful to match, were it not for its *one* pretty obviously glaring problem: these drawings are exceedingly sketchy!
   
   Originally published in 1939, Bridgman passed away in 1943. He was approximately 75 when he made this- possibly a factor in the lack of clarity throughout. If only he had made this at the height of his career(!)- This book is a perfect example of 'what could have been'.
   
   Many people revere this work in spite of all this. It may not compare at 1st glance with the slick, computer-aided & enhanced books of today, but if you're willing to get past the obvious sketchiness here you'll find a veritable gold mine of visual information. Take the overall layout & structure for example. In my opinion, this book's presentation easily rivals that of his more polished & refined work- Constructive Anatomy, which has a more awkward interplay between its words & pictures. The Human Machine moves rapidly & logically, building the figure with simple lines first, then showing how bones & muscles interact with eachother & with the figure's simplified outline, to give an impression of the whole figure & its parts, all at once in a few detailed pages. It's this *overall* conception of the human figure that appeals to the many who give this work a chance. Bridgman applies all this to the figure's actions & mechanisms as well- it's not just about bones & muscles here, like so many anatomy books tend to be. And Bridgman's lines, though sketchy here, still tend to be an accurate record of the figure, worthy of study. He *usually* chooses his lines with the precision & beauty we've come to expect. But the overall lack of visual clarity here hurts; leaving this genius idea still somewhat unrealized.
   
   Overall: The basic *point* of Bridgman's Human Machine is to help people to draw figures more convincingly, and from memory. To a great degree, at least in my opinion, this book still succeeds in a very effective way...
   
   P.S. This book is definitely *not* for beginners! Only *Intermediate-level* artists need apply.



5. I bought 16 different Anatomy Drawing books and this is the only one that I actually felt compelled to give away. When the other people say the drawings are faded and sketchy that is an understatement. This is not a good book to learn by and it was not very effective in the design approach. Your much better off with some Dynamic Figure Drawing, Dynamic Hands, Dynamic Wrinkles, Artistic Anatomy, Anatomy for Artists, An Atlas of Anatomy For Artists, etc etc etc. Some of the other books I listed are almost the same price and are 10 times better. Its night and day between this book and the other Anatomy Drawing books.

No comments about Jaime Hayon Works.

5 comments about Wolf Kahn Pastels.

1. Thank you for the prompt service in receiving my book. It was just what I ordered.



2. This book is a visual delight with clear crisp images. As a teacher, it is a very user friendly book
   with students able to see the intricate marks and the layering that Wolf Kahn has used in his work.
   For anyone interested in pastel techniques this is a great book.



3. The book itself is excellent. Wolf Kahn writes beautifully and I love to hear what he thinks about his art -- this is so helpful to me as an artist struggling with many of the same issues in my own work. However, this is the SECOND book I've purchased from Amazon recently that was clearly USED (pages bent, cover scuffed & torn)when I purchased what was supposed to be a NEW book. This is inexcusable. I don't have the time to repackage and return it, so I just accepted it, but I am so dissapointed in Amazon. Had I chosed to purchase a used book I would have saved a lot of money and it would have been in the same (or better) condition.



4. If you are a beginner or a experienced artist, you will greatly appreciate wolf kahn. His book is inspiring as all of his works. I would highly recommend this book.



5. If you are a fan of Wolf Khan, this is a must-have. Great book.

2 comments about The Intrepid Art Collector: The Beginner's Guide to Finding, Buying, and Appreciating Art on a Budget.

1. This is a great starter reference for the novice. The guidance is sound, and Lisa Hunter's enthusiasm is contagious. A few color photographs would have been nice, but wisely this book focuses on cultivating the reader's own intelligence and knowledge rather than dictating taste. If you have ever been interested in starting an art collection of your own, or buying that Kashmiri silk rug, a little research is a good thing. This is a grand place to start.



2. I love art but I've always felt nervous buying art. How do you know if you're getting the real thing? How do you know if you're overpaying? What's that rug really worth? Why is a photograph worth so much? What's the difference between a valuable vintage photograph and a copy of it that looks exactly the same? No one can tell you what a piece of art will be worth in ten years, but Ms. Hunter explains how to go about buying the real thing (and avoid buying fakes) -- and why you should buy the real thing. I feel much more confident about buying a few pretty things for the house now.