5 comments about The Art of Embroidery: Inspirational Stitches, Textures, and Surfaces.

1. The Art of Embroidery: Inspirational Stitches, Textures, and Surfaces
   I took this book out of a library for a couple of weeks and needed to extend the time because I loved it so much. The thought process and fiber manipulation taken from nature and developed into many different types of product, are fab. I am continually looking at this book again and again and always find it inspiring and motivating. If you love to design and create using your own ideas this is a must have. Not a "how to" book with little in the way of instructions. You need to have a sound understanding of embroidery, both hand and machine to help you nut out what they have done to achieve the results shown. An amazing book of photos, ideas and exploration to take you where you may not have thought to go.



2. I adore this book! It is really and truly inspirational. As someone else said, it is NOT a how to book - and it is not meant to be. It is what it says - inspiration. If you are a creative stitcher you will love this book and it will be like mine, a constant companion, even in your dreams.
   The stunning photographs of the natural world and their translation into stitch is excellent, informative and again, inspiring. The ideas are innovative, modern and lead you into your own creative pathways. The photography is excellent and if stitch instruction are sparse you can see what to do from the pictures. Colour use is great and again, you can learn a lot just from the pictures.
   
   Highly RecommendedThe Art of Embroidery: Inspirational Stitches, Textures, and Surfaces



3. As a new hand to embroidery I bought several books with stitches and then got stuck with what next? Not being prone to use kits and wanting to explore nature with texture and stitches, The Art of Embroidery seemed the perfect choice. The photos of nature and of her designs reproducing nature with stitches on fabric are incredible! My sewing background helped when it came to filling in the details of the instructions from time to time. I have already made several things inspired by this book AND I have preordered her next book on felt!



4. This is not a "how to" book. No patterns here. It's a wonderful exploration of breaking boundries, and moving away from rules. A great book for those seeking inspiration to look beyond the norm. Love it, but not for everyone. Lucious photography in the 'artsy' mode. A great companion the the 'The Art of Knitting' book by the same author.



5. If an artsy representation of nature in embroidered forms is your thing, and you have every other possible embroidery publication, buy this one--but only if you want a complete literature on the subject. It is not a 'how-to' and not particularly inspirational unless you are a student of textile arts.

2 comments about Sempe: A Little Bit of France.

1. I am acquiring quite a collection of Sempe books, and this one really showcases his versatility. Color or black-and-white, utterly simple or nearly requiring a magnifying glass, each drawing is a little vignette of French life (traditional or modern) in which the artist's genuine fondness for his subjects really shines through. His economy of line, excellent use of white space, wealth of detail and sense of humor make these pictures that repay careful attention and give great pleasure to the viewer. You will enjoy this book if you have ever been to France or just wish to go, and if you enjoy detailed but light-hearted art.



2. 
   Great Book!!!!Wonderful pictures!!!!Sempe is a wonderful artist!!!For all ages!!!

5 comments about The Art of Cars.

1. From John Lasseter's foreword:
   It also became a journey with its own reward, one we wanted to share with you in this book. -end-
   
   With that, the book brings you onto a fantastic journey on the creative process of creating Cars, the movie close to John Lasseter's heart.
   
   The few pages of stories separating the art let you understand how research was done, what the artists learn and ideas they want to bring across to the audience.
   
   This book is filled with plenty of concept art drawings. Pixar artists draw hundreds of drawings each day but only selected ones were included into the book due to the limited number of pages. Every page is packed with art.
   
   Also included are storyboards, architectural drawings, landscape drawings, lighting studies, car decor sketches, photos from their road trips.
   
   This is a wonderful selection of drawings pulled off directly from the drawing board.
   
   There are some pictures of the book on my blog. Just do a search on "parka blogs cars art"



2. I was pleased to have this book be in prime condition when it arrived. The price was excellent. The order came in a timely fashion.
   
   The Art of books by Pixar are wonderful. For the artist these books give a great background into how the art brought the story alive.
   
   I highly recommend these books, especially for those who love Pixar.



3. If you enjoy learning the behind the scenes process that goes into many of the animated and computer animated films of today, you will love this book.
   
   It shows step by step the drawings and thoughts that went into each character in Radiator Springs and also the creation of all the backdrops. From the smallest signs and orange cones to the racetrack and beyond, you can see how it all evolved.
   
   It's nicely bound with a great jacket cover. Definitely a nice coffee table book your guests will enjoy leafing through or the perfect addition to the library of any art and animation lover.



4. I purchased this art of book recently and found it one of the best art of books I now own. The illustrations are very helpful to my concept art assignments. Great reading



5. Pixar's most recent animation is fully revealed in this wonderful art book. All the research, ideas, and concepts are printed gorgeously in this book. You see how the ideas are captured on paper to guide the production teams to make one of the best animation in years. Conceptual ideas of characters from the beginning to the final rendered CGI model on screen are all there. The landscape is captured in with colorful pastel paintings. Even all the details from neon signs to the Southwest vegetation are drawn out for you to see. Everything in the book is traditional artwork techniques from pastels, blue pencil, to gray scale markers. Only a few pages have any 3D images for you to see, but in an age where everything is computerized... its really nice to see that old fashioned techniques being used.
   
   Its a quality book I highly recommend for the Pixar fan, 3D animation enthusiast, and art students.

2 comments about Creative Batik (Beginner's Guide to).

1. I have purchased several books on batik, this is the best of the lot. Book has very clear, step by step instructions and includes simple projects such as paper, pillow case, and works up to more complex projects. Each project is accompanied with photographs, so its pretty easy to follow and understand the process. Also nice color photo of each finished project.



2. I've started doing batik just a couple of months ago, and this is the third book I have bought from Amazon on this subject. I think this is the best of them three because it has very very clear instructions on every project the author suggests, great photos of each step, she shows very clearly a lot of techniques to use on different things (check out the lamp shade it's great)and I think most important of all she is very generous about her knowledge of batik, explaining everything that could happen if you do this or that, and with every day words, not all the technical-chemical mumbo jumbo i've found in other books.

   One last thing, check out her galley in the book: it's really beautiful!

3 comments about Zen Brushwork: Focusing the Mind with Calligraphy and Painting.

1. After studying Calligraphy here in Switzerland for a couple of years, I was looking for information beond the "technical" side of the calligraphie. In the book of Tanchu Terayama, I found importand and excellent explantions about the ZEN line, detailled and step by step instructions for the warming up. All informations are written in a clear way, so I was able to enjoy every single page and got a lot of inspirations.



2. Excellent book about Shodo, japanese art of calligraphy. Antique and Terayama sensei's pictures are superb, great election.
   Excelente libro sobre Shodo, el arte de la caligrafía japonesa. Las pinturas, tanto las antiguas como las del propio maestro Terayama, son increibles, una gran elección.



3. Ably translated into English by Thomas F. Judge and John Stevens, Zen Brushwork: Focusing The Mind With Calligraphy And Painting by Tanchu Terayama (Nishogakusha University) uses black-and-white photography to illustrate simple exercises and practices that one can follow to expand one's mind and meditation skills through the arts of calligraphy and painting -- especially as they have been practiced in Asian nations for thousands of years. Showcasing works of art as well as advice and practical instructions, Zen Brushwork is a thoughtfully written and an easy-to-follow guide that especially recommended to students of meditation, Zen Buddhism, and the contemplative aspects of the martial arts.

3 comments about All Over Coffee.

1. I love this book! Madonna is superb illustrator with a mischievous wit and Zen spirit. A native San Franciscan, the Victorian and other architectural details of the old neighborhoods are familar to me, and it is fun to determine locations of his panels. He forces us to be aware of similar details of our lives, of the juxtapositions of form and space, and in but a few words, like a haiku, he captures relationships, moods, and the human condition. Even if you are not rooted in The City, this book deserves study, whether you are an artist or a philosopher. I look forward to a second collection, for Paul Madonna continues his work at the SF Chronicle. What joy!



2. I ended up buying this one essentially sight unseen, after seeing a couple of excerpts on the Comics Journal blog. And excerpted is probably not the best way to comprehend this - Madonna's art is stunning from the get-go, and any individual page has a really satisfying (and very 1970's-ish) feel. But as comics, it doesn't ever come together, particularly when read grouped.
   
   Madonna's vibe seems to be a captured moment, and having 200 or so captured moments in a row doesn't do anything to increase their impact - if anything, it dilutes the strength of whatever standout strips there are.
   
   I give it a four-star review because as a reprint volume, the standards are some of the highest I've ever seen. The sepia washes are rich and nuanced, the color is sharp and vibrant, the paper stock is top notch, etc. If you are already a fan of the strip, or really have a yen for moody yet celebratory renderings of San Francisco, this is quite a gem. If you're unfamiliar, I would recommend finding more than a few of Madonna's strips to read over and then decide if you're on his wavelength or if you want to fork over the cash for what amounts to a nice urban sketchbook with some random dialogue thrown in for effect.



3. I have been a big fan of Paul Madonna's exquisite drawings and thought-provoking captions since All Over Coffee debuted in the SF Chronicle. I left SF nearly 3 years ago and his strip on the web kept me connected to home. The book was very enjoyable because it documents the evolution of the strip, and has forever put to rest the question: "but what does it really mean?"
   
   Do you love San Francisco? Do you appreciate finely rendered drawings of unique architecture or everyday things most people overlook? Ever wonder how much work a working artist really does? Do you like to eavesdrop on strangers' conversations and try to put the fragments of what you hear into context? If you answered yes to any one of the above, you will enjoy "All Over Coffee."
   
   Thank you, Paul for giving your fans something tangible to linger over, with a good cup of coffee.

5 comments about Painting Houses, Cottages and Towns on Rocks.

1. I was enchanted by the ideas in this helpful and instructive guide to painting gnome houses from rocks you can find in your yard. I showed the book to my crafty ladies group and I had to order 3 more. There are such darling villages and imaginative scenes that are shown in this book,that your imagine just explodes with new ideas of your own. I hightly recommend this book for making something out of nothing!



2. Lots of great ideas of rock to houses. Cute & warm samples.



3. I'm very satisfied with the books i've bought.
   They are very instructive and complete.
   They teach the reader to paint rocks step by step, allowing consisting apprenticeship.



4. This is a well written and very specific guide to painting houses on rocks. It is beautifully illustrated and offers very specific, understandable and do-able instructions. It is not possible to read this book without feeling encouraged and motivated to get going.



5. I love the book. It is filled with ideas that will keep me busy for a long time. We enjoy our yard and garden so making these little houses, cottages, and towns will be fun to add to our stepables garden. So thanks Lin for being so creative and for sharing your ideas with others like me.

5 comments about Notes on Graphic Design and Visual Communication.

1. This was a required book for college Art Class. Quite surprised to find that it is a very thin book and is in photocopied handwriting! Item did arrive on time & good condition hopefully it will serve well for this class.



2. The only reason I gave this a four out of five stars is because the author wrote in all caps which is incredibly hard to read page after page. It also goes against the graphic design rule of not writing in all caps unless it's a short headline. Other than that, this book is great for all levels of designers. For beginners it tells all the principles and walks through how to go about projects. For intermediate and advanced it's good to have by your computer to refresh yourself every now and then on the principles of good design. Great book... would recommend to anyone in the design field.



3. This book is a great reference and reminder of the basic elements that make graphic design and visual communication effective! Every student in any graphic design program should buy this book!
   Gregg Berryman knows what he is writing about!



4. I got this book during my junior year in high school for an intro to graphic design class...and still refer to it every so often. I would recommend it for any graphic designer, especially students, as it has a wealth of knowledge-from basic design principles to the grid, typogrpahy, etc.- contained in it's small amount of pages.
   A must have for any graphic designer!



5. Notes on Graphic Design and Visual Communication is the most essential graphic design book written. Despite being very thin in quantity of pages, this book holds an enormous amount of graphic knowledge. I am currently studying Industrial Design and was refered to this book by a professor to help me with my graphic design knowledge. It opened the world of graphics up to me in an easy to read, fun package. The only complaint I`ve heard of this book is the font used for text. This book has a hand written font which can sometimes be hard to read. I have had no problems with the font however.

5 comments about Elements of Writing Fiction - Scene & Structure (Elements of Fiction Writing).

1. Another reviewer said reading this book was "a slog." I had to think whether I wanted to agree with that description or not. I've read four other "Elements of Fiction Writing" and two "Write Great Fictions" within three months (I'm not a fast reader.) Scene & Structure, however, could not keep my attention. I have moved on to another book in the series because I can't stay focus on it to finish it anytime soon. Unless I find another book on the subject, I will go back to complete it though.
   
   I give a rating of a 4 because the boredom maybe in my lack of interest in the author's writing style.



2. This book is an absolute must.
   
   The first book that you should read is Swain's Techniques of the Selling Writer.
   
   The second book is this one.
   
   Both of these books demonstrate fundamental dramatic technique: scene and sequel. Scene is comprised of goal, conflict, disaster and in which the conflict is worked out via stimulus-internal reaction-response. After a scene comes the sequel in which the character emotionally and rationally selects a new goal.
   
   Other reviewers notwithstanding, this is not a write by the numbers book. You are free to vary the pattern as much as you please -- after all, it's your book, and your vision. But for anyone who has written numerous chapters and realizes that something is wrong, this book will give much needed understanding.



3. Bickham was Dwight Swain's student at Oklahoma and went on to write a lot of (I think) pot boilers using what he learned, then wrote Scene & Structure. If you're a working writer (or want to be), the book to read, study and memorize is Dwight Swains "Techniques of the Selling Writer." It's got everything you need to kick start your education in writing fiction. I've published one short story, won several literary prizes for both fiction and non-fiction, and I'm deep into writing my first novel. Swain is the only one I've ever read who really knows how fiction works and can explain it so others can do it, too. Bickham's book is 168 pages, including index. By page 168, Swain is telling the student how the "end of the beginning" needs to be structured to generate suspense. Which one sounds more valuable to you?



4. I just finished reading this book. I read the whole book carefully, then went back and re-read several chapters. I believe I understand what Mr. Bickham is trying to get across.
   
   I agree with the reviewers who accuse the author of presenting a formulaic, by-the-numbers prescription for writing, because that's exactly what he does. The idea that every scene must begin with a clear statement of goal and must end in a disaster is simply ludicrous. Even if by "disaster" Bickham means "setback," his poor choice of word is symptomatic of his own prose style, which is simply dreadful. I thought Dan Brown was a poor wordsmith, but Bickham makes him seem like Shakespeare! Unfortunately 90% of his examples come from his own wretched novels, which makes for some very unpalatable reading.
   
   Still, the idea of scene plus sequel as a basic pattern in a genre novel is probably on the mark. Clearly many variants and deviations from this pattern are possible, and Bickham admits this, even offers some examples. But I think his book might be more useful as a tool for analyzing genre novels than as a blueprint for writing them. The author who follows Bickham's prescriptive formulae is bound to produce a stilted piece of work that very few would want to read. On the other hand, using Bickham's ideas for fine-tuning a scene or sequel might bear fruit. But beware pronouncements such as avoiding narrative summary or extended internalization within a scene.
   
   I am much more in tune with Stephen King's method of writing, in which the plot or structure of the novel evolves organically as it's written. Those who feel otherwise and are looking for a method of plotting a novel may turn to a book like this. But I would caution against plotting out every scene and sequel in advance, as Bickham advocates. If you know in advance every twist and turn the story is going to take, then where's the fun in writing it?



5. I have used this book to teach plotting to creative writing students, so my review is based on how well absolute novice writers respond to the ideas he puts forth in this book. On the whole, they respond positively. Once they grasp the standard three-act structure of a plot, they find his scene-sequel formula to be IMMENSELY helpful figuring out how to work out options for rising action. A few students complain that they don't like being taught a *formula*, and it seems a few reviewers have that gripe as well.
   
   I'll say here what I say in class. First, if a formula happens to have been successful (as you can see if you break down almost any movie or popular novel), eh, maybe just this once it might be worth your time to learn it. Just file it away somewhere or something. Second, just because Bickham advocates a linear tic-tock scene-sequel way of composing your plot, that does not mean, nor does Bickham anywhere say, that you have to TELL the story in simple lockstep straightforward chronology. Once you have the basic idea of what's going to happen and why, you can start the story whenever you darn well please. You can start just at the climax, if you want, and tell the story through disconnected flashbacks, so that readers have to piece together the shards into the picture of the story arc. You can tell the story as an epistolary novel. You can tell it by varied protagonists. The only limit is imagination of the author. If you hate this book because you can't figure out new and creative ways to apply his basic formula, that doesn't necessarily equate with the *book* being worthless.
   
   My students are grateful because (and remember they're all fledgling writers) this book's ideas give them handles to grasp when they sit down to write. I don't advocate the whole 'scene goal clearly stated to the reader' thing Bickham states, but if you as the WRITER have no idea what the scene goal is, or how things are going to wind up worse for the protagonist, chances are pretty high there will be a high Flounder Quotient in your plotting. All in all, it's worth your time and money as long as you are willing to view it as a plotting aid device and not the Magic Potion of Writing. It's a skeleton upon which one can reliably hang decent stories: my students are invariably impressed at the end of the semester both at their own ingenuity in storytelling and how they managed to create a story that *moves* and unfolds logically.

4 comments about PulpHope: The Art Of Paul Pope.

1. Having this book out where people can see it will likely get you laid, by people way better looking than you are.



2. 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.



3. 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.)



4. 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...