5 comments about Kana de Manga (Manga University Presents).

1. first than anything i must tell that this book is just good. I have other japanese learning books at home and non of them are as good as it is this one. to be honest i like this book. i just got the book today and i started to study and i tell u the true. as much as i love anime this tool is just enough and amazing if u want to learn the hiragana and katakana.



2. Even people with an avid interest in the Japanese language and culture might turn away from the idea of learning the hiragana and katakana (collectively called kana). Both are syllabaries; sound-based scripts that Japanese children learn before 1st grade. Hiragana are used to write any native Japanese word (sakura, sushi, etc.) and katakana are used to write words that are "foreign" to the Japanese language (for example, America would be written with the katakana for "Amerika") as well as sound-effect words (like "para-para" for falling rain).
   Manga fans, Japanese language-learners, as well as those with a passing interest in Japanese culture will find this book an entertaining and refreshing change from the tedious textbook-like approaches to the kana I've seen in the past. Each character is accompanied with a Japanese word containing it, an illustration, and a description with relavance to the word. One could easily learn the hiragana and katakana using this book, with practice and perhaps using on-line flash card tools. Pages for written practice are included in the back, as well as a handy green reference card showing all the hiragana and katakana.



3. Have you ever wanted or needed to learn Japanese? Kana De Manga, by Glenn Kardy, allows you to do just that. By helping you learn the ABC's of Japanese you can, after mastering it, learn to read and write to write other more complex characters. The book gives both the cursive and print versions of each character, and allows space to practice each of them. I would recommend Kana De Manga because it has enough information to spur someone's thirst to learn to read and write Japanese.
   The content in this book is factual and consistent in a way to optimize the rate at which you learn the basic Japanese characters. For consistency, the cursive form of the word is always on the left side, while the printed version is on the right. When words are made up of two or more derivatives, the book tells the reader those words and what they mean. The quotes coincide with the pictures on that page such "the odds of being struck by lightning are 700,000 to 1" as a quote about lightning. There are also pictures associated with every word, sort of like apple for "A" in the English language. There are also easy to learn definitions so you can remember all 72 of the definitions in this book.
   Instead of the paragraphs being unemotional and boring, the author adds small tidbits of humor. For instance, one of the characters was part of the word "crybaby" in Japanese so there was a picture of a crybaby on the page. The author stated that usually people think these kinds of characters are cute, but he thinks "they are pathetic." While the book is humorous, it keeps you informed. While you are laughing at some of the jokes, you are not as bored while reading. The pictures themselves are also hilarious, such as a boy trying to smash a suika, or watermelon or one where a boy is squeamish at his own chi, or blood.
   The author tries to appeal to teenage readers who do not know Japanese in various ways. He uses somewhat complex vocabulary but nothing teenagers should not know by now. He gives encouragement such as "the odds of you memorizing all the Kana in this book are 3 to 1" or "you are halfway there!" This makes the reader feel like the author is actually a real person, not just some text on a page.
   This intriguing book will enrapture even people who are only remotely interested in Japanese characters because it is not filled from top to bottom with words. The facts and organization come together to make a superb read. After reading this book, you can even go into advance characters such as Japanese kanji!



4. I was looking around for a book that would teach me to read and write Katakana and Hiragana, and I stumpled across this book. Kana de manga really isn't lying when they say the little pictures in the book help you to learn. The overall layout of the book was great, and the practice section was really well done. If you need to learn katakana and hiragana, then this is the book for you.



5. I think the pictures portrayed are best, but its easy to understand , I recommend this book to anyone willing to learn.

5 comments about Celtic and Old Norse Designs (Dover Pictorial Archive Series).

1. I bought this book looking for inspiration for a Celtic or Viking tattoo design. Hearing what a revered artist Courtney Davis was, I thought I couldn't go wrong with this book. Unfortunately, all the drawings were incredibly unsophisticated and they remind me more of an amateur's work (perhaps at copying Courtney Davis). All of the designs were in black and white and many of them were just plain - and I *do* mean plain - knotwork patterns better suited to tablecloths than tattoos. There is none of the beautiful intricacy you find in real Celtic art - almost all of the patterns have huge unfilled or "blackened" spaces.
   
   If you're looking for inspiration in Celtic design, buy a reproduction of the Book of Kells. I know that will put the shoddiness of this work to light. I suspect this was just a cheap attempt at making money and that Courtney himself does not prize this work.
   
   The good news is - it's cheap, so it wasn't a total waste.



2. I purchased this book as an artistic tool. In the process of ultimately developing my own designs in this stylistic vein, I wanted to be able to refer to line art renderings of actual ancient Celtic, Anglo-Saxon, and Nordic designs. This book has proved to be an excellent resource. The representations featured here make up a top-notch selection, and I appreciate the basic geographic and chronological labels for each piece. The renderings are nicely detailed, but they're not so intricate as to prove impossible to mimic in a sketch book.



3. Most of the designs in CELTIC AND OLD NORSE DESIGNS by Courtney Davis appear to have been copied from items found in and around archelogical sites that date from around 1,000 B.C.E. to about 1,000 C.E., now housed in museums. Davis does not inform the reader of the specific aspects of these pieces. In fact, her text is almost non-existent.

   Some of the items shown appear to match items that precede Roman times, others seem to coincide with Roman and early Christian times, and others are very similar to items discoved in Anglo-Saxon tombs like Sutton Hoo, or Viking sites in Scandanavia and are thus contemporary with the early Middle Ages. Some designs are found on spoons, horse collars, or weather vanes, while others are taken from church sculpture or graveyard crosses.

   As the elements shown are not categoried by historical period, or referenced or sourced, this is not the scholarly work that I hoped it might be. However, if you don't care it does not matter. I will be using the book for children's artwork projects this summer (i.e. coloring books).




4. This is a great resourse for those looking for charted scrollwork, knotwork and other Celtic or Norse motifs.



5. STRONGLY recommend this book as THE best source for Norse type designs! Bold and true, this book is highly usable to impart the Nordic of Old flavor to your work!

5 comments about Graphic Design That Works: Secrets for Successful Logo, Magazine, Brochure, Promotion, and Identity Design (That Works).

1. Really inspiring!!! QUality of pages, beautiful design (of course!) and great insights! With this book (and others from ROckport), we can learn from the best and successful creative minds in a non-academic and pratical way!



2. Gives a fresh new look at add placement in print media along with logo development. There are a lot of ideas in this book utilizing innovative design from brochures, magazines, and powerful marketing tools. Shows conceptual designs and rough drafts to the finished product. Use of photos in bold ways. You can't have too many of these books laying around to spark new ideas. A must have for a graphic designers library.



3. I recommend this publication for all Graphic Artist/Designers. I also use this book as as a teaching aid for my graphic design students. Very educational and the historical data is so simple but yet detail.



4. I love books from Rockport as they are always concise, informative and well illustrated, and the most affordable design books I've come across. I regularly refer to this book for devine inspiration to clear the brain fog I sometimes get when developing ideas - especially late at night :-)



5. very complete and well explained, with interesting comments. It gives you ideas and opens your mind if you are a not-so-expert person on the subject

5 comments about Drawing the Draped Figure.

1. Maybe I was looking for too much from an instructional book that only had 60+ pages. Maybe there just isn't THAT much to be said about draped figures. I think the illustrations were ok from a learning perspective but the descriptions of could have used some work. Maybe it was just me...



2. This is a basic, intermediate-level effort on wrinkles & drapery- parts of which can be clearly seen in the popular title by Burne Hogarth: Dynamic Wrinkles & Drapery. The 7 laws of draped figure folds listed here: -pipe folds, -zigzag folds, -spiral folds, -half-lock folds, -diaper pattern folds, -drop folds, and -inert folds. Burne Hogarth basically takes all of Bridgman's ideas and tries to improve on them. Critics still debate the effectiveness of Hogarth vs. Bridgman- but I believe Hogarth's work, in this particular case, has far exceeded that of Bridgman. Which book to get? The price of Bridgman's book is very attractive- But is it effective? Maybe. I think it depends on how you use it. In conjunction with photographs, Bridgman's book *can* be effective. Still, I have to admit: Bridgman's drawings here are not exactly clear. It takes a real concerted effort to figure out exactly what he's trying to teach. Also worth considering is that the best parts of this book were eventually included in what is now called Bridgman's Complete Guide to Drawing from Life. If you're trying to decide between his Complete Guide and this, I recommend the Complete Guide by far.
   P.S. There's a brief, excellent section on wrinkles & drapery for *beginners* in Jack Hamm's Drawing the Head and Figure- check it out!
   *A better book worth considering*- Barbara Bradley's Drawing People: How to Portray the Clothed Figure, available here on Amazon(!).



3. This book offers some basics as to types of fabric folds and falls that one would encounter in trying to draw a draped figure. While the writing is lucid though incomplete, this book suffers from a serious flaw of terrible prints of drawings of such folds which do little to elucidate the writing in a substantial manner. More illustrations would have been helpful, as would have been covering close focus photographs of the draped figure as painted by some of the masters excelling in the same. It would not be possible to master or even come close to mastering the aspect of drawing fabric folds on the basis of this book



4. Unfortunately this book is a poor representation of the original, a hardcover that was printed in 1942 and has better representations of the drawings.
   If you are an artist or art student, it's worth it (even if more expensive), to find the older, 1942 hardcover version for the finely detailed drawings that are shown clearly and full sized.
   Save your money by not buying this cheap paperback....! :)



5. Bridgeman is an indispensable teacher of human anatomy (even though he worked in the early 20th century), but this isn't the best book out there. The drawings are too loose and sketchy to see clearly what he is describing. He goes through the seven typs of folds all right, but they need to be illustrated more three dimensionally. I'd choose this over Hogarth's book, though, because Bridgeman's written descriptions are to the point, and at least the drawings aren't overdone. And it's [inexpensive]. The world cries out for the definitive book on drapery: one that is concise, accurate, and with good drawings. I saw one once on a guy's desk in an animation studio, it looked like it was written in the '50s, but I can't remember the name; it had superbly elegant drawings and lean, no-nonsense explanations of the 7 folds. I made some copies, but not of the title. Oh well, Bridgeman will have to do.

5 comments about The Art of Warhammer 40,000 (Warhammer 40,000 Novels).

1. I have been interested in the world of Warhammer 40,000 since the mid 90's. There is a band called Bolt Thrower which uses Warhammer in their songs and covers. From them I became interested in the world of WarHammer 40,000 I also use to buy White Dwarf magazine just for the artwork inside. I don't play the tabletop games but I have played the computer games. This book is amazing. It has rich artwork on every page. It covers all the major races in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. I gave it four stars because like some other people stated it does focus more on the Space Marines and Imperial Guard. I believe the Necrons only have a few pages of artwork. I would like to assume there is not that much artwork on Necrons, Tyranids, Tau, Orks and Eldar. they should cover these races as much as the Space Marines and Imperial Guard. They are just as diverse and amazing. I recommend this book to fans of Warhammer 40,000. It's a great book and it's a lot cheaper from Amazon. One more thing.... when reading this book you should play some Bolt Thrower music. It makes it more entertaining.



2. This isn't a bad book to have if you like the Warhammer 40K universe. I gave this book Three stars only because it's artwork was more towards the Space Marines and Imperial Guard. Don't get me wrong I like the Space Marines and The Guard but I think I would have enjoyed a bit more work about the other species.Plus some of the artwork I have seen often in my local GAMESWORKSHOP and other hobby shops and also the book maybe a few years old but still it's a good buy! I have just started collecting Warhammer 40K books and novels and this book is a nice start! I hope more books like this pop up soon! I'd love to see art books of every chapter and race in the Warhammer 40K universe!!!



3. The first book, "Art of Warhammer" was certainly excellent, covering the more fantasy-based of the two miniatures games. In "The Art of Warhammer 40,000" (hereafter, 40,000) we find even more impressive and, indeed, frightening art that will render this book a classic for fantasy art fans for years to come.
   
   While I am unfamiliar with the 40,000 universe, and the game and other products upon which it is based, simply by pagins through the book one gets an idea of the world of 40,000 - a time of war and upheval, of madness and chaos, in which humans, zombies, goblins and others wage war in a futuristic universe of space travel and laserguns, a world on the very edge of barbarism, decay, and revolution. These are anxious images, offering a frightening vision of a pre- (or is it post-?) apocalyptic civilization. This work puts the "Art of Warhammer" safely in its shadow in terms of quality and brilliance.
   
   Additional treats are a two-page spread featuring the color schemes of the different factions and units in the 40,000 universe (I found this particularly interesting), as well as a section on the different chevrons used. One drawback to the book is the lack of flavor text for the illustrations - whereas the Warhammer book included accompanying text that explained the images on the Warhammer universe's own terms, this book's accompanying blurbs are mostly explanatory and, unfortunately, add little to the actual viewing experience. This is a small quibble, however, and does not ultimately wreck the book in any way.
   
   Highly recommended for the fantasy art afficianado.



4. If you're a Warhammer 40k fan this book is a must. This book includes great 40k art in rich deep color with several two page layout pictures. This is the highest quality Black Library book I've seen and for $30 it's a steal. The art is mainly of Space Marines but there are sections for Orks, Imperium, Tyrinaids, Eldar ect. The art covers from the very first Rouge Trader publication to the recent Codex's and many great Black Library novel covers. They labeled each piece of art with the creators name and where it came from.



5. Owning a lot of the Black Library's art books already (pretty much everything except the horus heresy collection), I think that makes my opinion here somewhat valid. Being a writer too (don't expect too much proof reading here though), that makes me appreciate the work that has been done here.
   
   This is without doubt the best collection that the Black Library has put out. The quality is astonishing. The paper quality, excellent. Exceptionaly well bound, and just an altogether great collection. This book makes the ownership of adrian smith's art book (though this is still worth grabbing - brilliantly done), the dave gallagher art book, the inquisitor sketchbook, and inquis exterminatus a waste. I say this because much of it is duplicated and in better quality in this book.
   
   That said, there are plenty of new pieces in this. For the price, I don't think you will be able to do better. I own many art books, and this is the best put together by far. I imagine that the Warhammer book coming in June might trump this (as it should ahve more diversity with the array of fantasy species covered (skaven, skinks, etc.), but for 40k, this is excellent.
   
   I should mention that I also own some anime art books (trigun, kingdom hearts, etc) as well as some games art-books (monster hunter mainly) and this blows them out of the water. I'm still looking for some art from confrontation, but this book really is impressive. Until I find something better for value and presentation, which I don't think will be soon, I think I will remain more than satisfied with this one.

5 comments about The Drawing Breakthrough Book: A Shortcut to Artistic Excellence.

1. The author is not a professional artist, but is in electronics and technical communication, and the book reads like it. Laborious and confusing descriptions of "visualized" and "implied" lines and rectangles and "points" seem like an engineering text. There is no "breakthrough" here; you can find these subjects better and more lucidly discussed in many other books on how to draw. The book seems padded out with unnecessary drawings that don't really tell you anything new or helpful, e.g., pgs. 54-56 (I don't think looking at subjects through a drinking glass helps you), and pgs. 94-97(if a person can't tell whether or not a line is straight or curved, they should go to an optometrist to be checked for astigmatism). This book isn't worth the money and would only confuse a beginner.



2. I've been drawing forever, mostly little cartoons, but wanted to move into nature sketching. It was frustrating that my mushrooms, chipmunks and trees didn't resemble the vision I had in my head. Luckily for me, I discovered the Drawing Breakthrough Book.
   Right away, the sections on measuring angles, working with guidelines, and seeing shapes showed me some areas where I was going wrong. Sometimes people say, "I can't even draw a straight line." Well, it isn't all that easy, so the author devotes a whole chapter to mastering straight lines. At last, something to help me understand perspective. After he breaks down a topic and helps the reader visualize how it works, then there are exercises to put the technique to work. For the chapter on straight lines, the exercise involves drawing boxes stacked haphazardly with plenty of angles to challenge the art student.
   The next chapter tackles Mastering Circular Lines. There's also a chapter on elliptic lines, and one on composition.
   The book includes plenty of visuals and step-by-step instructions and examples. Here's to better drawing in the future.



3. I posted a lengthy review some time ago and it must have gotten lost in the web...so, here's a copy of my "blog" entry for my digital art classes at lvsonline.com:
   
   I seldom recommend books, other than Betty Edwards, "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain", because they all appear to be variations on a theme. Even when using search engines, the answers are hard to come by. I recently had a student who really could have used this book! I will be recommending other books in the future if I am particularly impressed by them or if students can profit by another's words.
   
   John Hastings asked that I take a look at his book "The Drawing Breakthrough Book (A Shortcut to Artistic Excellence)" some time ago. I was flattered by his request and intrigued by his humbleness. He just happens to be one heck of a nice guy to deal with. Due to time constraints, I procrastinated until I could actually "read" the book. In more years than I want to admit, I've read and also own a lot of "how-to" draw/paint/sketch, etc. books.
   
   I have finally found one that I can unequivocally recommend. (Perhaps it was the delicious cover that got me, or maybe the title or maybe the fact that he was an ex-frustrated student.) No matter! John has discovered yet another "missing link" in the usual approach to drawing.
   
   As an instructor in both digital and real-life art, I've had the occasional student who couldn't seem to grasp the "traditional" ways to understand and apply even simple theory. I've figuratively torn my hair out in trying to explain a simple theory. This is where John's book is the answer!
   
   With great pleasure, I can tell you that he has managed to address his words to those who fit into what I call the "stuck in the left side of the brain" students/artists. They need logic in order to do the illogical without becoming intoxicated with my fermented coconut milk and with a minimum of confusion and a maximum of efficiency.
   
   To paraphrase his news release): His premise is that the key within every drawn picture has three types of simple "building-block" lines, which can be utilized to draw anything from the simple to the complex, from the primitive to the elegant. His book offers the results of John's years of experience and research in the form of step-by-step, "student-friendly" instructions and exercises that anyone can employ in order to quickly achieve competence in their own artwork.
   
   To put it simply, you get more "bang for the buck" packed into 100 pages of wonderful illustrations, simple explanations and great tips. It's unique, just as John is -- someone who isn't afraid to profess his frustration with the traditional and is willing to share his knowledge!
   
   Don't just purchase it and add it to your library! Take some time and really try out his technique(s). I've posted the link in my list of recommended books!
   
   :) Hillary
   P.S. John has given me permission to post some of his tips, so I shall be tantalizing you with them in the future...LOL



4. This is a very basic, step-by-step introduction to pencil line drawing. It's folio size is deceiving as it consists of about 100 pages with 3 diagrams per page. So, it has relatively few words--yet it uses them very efficiently indeed. It is divided into 3 sections (Starting to Draw, Mastering the Building-Block Lines, & Expanding Your Drawing Skills) consisting of 8 chapters. The author's basic approach is to create visualized reference points for the object being drawn which are transferred to the drawing via standard lines, arcs, etc. He uses household items (e.g. a glass, tissue box) to illustrate this as well as perspective. His teaching method is very analytical--breaking objects down into their component "parts"--i.e. points & lines.
   
   Indeed, he emphasizes observation & visualization which are useful far beyond drawing--he quotes p. 57 Bill Harvey: "If you are familiar with an object that's very similar to the object you're viewing, your mind projects its stored image & you won't truly see what's actually in front of you." This is rather profound IMHO. He also includes some lovely art quotes such as p. 82 Georgia O'Keefe's "Art is filling space in a beautiful way."
   
   While most of the book is more science than art, chapter 7's description of drawing composition enters the world of creativity--more art than science. I found some of his observations here highly useful for photography & art appreciation as well as for drawing. Thus, this book has value even for those not interested in developing drawing skills. Of course, to really use these skills one must practice, practice, practice until the methods become automatic--and a little natural artistic ability wouldn't hurt either!



5. John Hastings has released a complete drawing course in one deceptively slim volume. I am not an artist nor have I ever aspired to draw anything more than geometric doodles, but I was intrigued by the story of John Hastings, a man so frustrated with traditional art lessons that he applied his professional electronics background to writing a manual about the process of learning to draw. Hastings has written a how-to book like no other, one that breaks drawing down into manageable, digestible pieces.
   
   Lessons are presented in a two-column format, with sketch samples or black and white photographs running down one side, and explanations on the other. The firm organization of the book was appealing to me, as is the fact that I can repeat lessons as necessary as I work at my own pace through the course. The only supplies needed for following Hastings's course are a pencil, eraser, and paper. He doesn't even require that you have an arsenal of pencils - this book is focused solely on line drawings.
   
   After finishing the exercises prescribed by Hastings, which range from seeing to measuring to drawing, the reader will view the world differently. He or see will see new shapes, appreciate composition, and having the confidence to translate a real-world image into a paper drawing.

4 comments about Prints and Drawings of Kathe Kollwitz.

1. This book is a great teaching aid for drawing and the transition from drawing to print processes. Great examples of the simplicity of marks necessary to create a form or mood recognisable to all. It is as much about what is left out as it is about marks made. Very dark subject matter delt with in a sensite way, a must for all for teaching and inspiration.



2. This large-scale volume does a very nice job of covering many of Kollwitz's finest works...and at a very nice price, thanks to Dover Publications.



3. Kollwitz was hated and persecuted by Hitler for taking the underside of humanity. She presents the real effects of modern warfare upon our defenseless civilians women and children. She presents the weary face of defenseless despair under relentless attack. She is the face which must be seen, like the courageous and proud Frida Kahlo, yet hers too weary for pride and fierce resistance.
   
   Get this book and LOOK . . .



4. Kathe Kollwitz shows real people dealing with the real problem of the Second World War. Her drawings are poignant reminders of the love and humanity that can exist in the midst of madness. She is also not afraid to show the horror of the war and the tolls it takes on its victims.

5 comments about You Can Write Childrens Books (You Can Write).

1. Everyone wants to write a children's book! THis is the manual that tells you how.



2. Very well written book - also very upbeat - simple to understand the work up of plots, themes etc. A very encouraging book if you have a genuine interest in writing childrens. It made my writing much easier and clearer to write.



3. I found this book very helpful in outlining the begining to end steps of writing, as well as submitting, stories for children. It is written in a layman's easy-to-absorb manner & lays everything out for the reader step by step. It is also very encouraging along the way!



4. The book has some really well thought-out entries and some excellent resource material. Of course, as with any reference book, this book will be out-dated in a year or so.



5. The book has some really well thought-out entries and some excellent resource material. Of course, as with any reference book, this book will be out-dated in a year or so.

5 comments about Essential Fashion Illustration.

1. Pros: Great illustrations for the artist learning to draw the human body.
   Cons: Only one body type and covers only one age group. So that's a pro for fashion folks, a con for Artists.



2. this one is really good for over all fashion illustration. a must have for rising designers!



3. This is a great book for all those fashion illustration enthusiasts! Whether you are contemplating a professional career or are exercizing your creative talent, this is a great book to start with. It is well executed - the illustrations break down into phases so you can sketch with some clarity. I highly recommend this book. I was so excited when I bought it that I immediately ran out to buy sketch materials and get started right away!



4. The images in this book are unreal.
   
   If you want to learn how to draw figures which look natural and have a realistic flow with posture and movement - this is the book for you.
   
   I got it for my old girl for Xmas and she LOVES it.
   Money well spent.



5. Highly recommended! This book offers step by step instructions on drawing the figure and its proportions. If you want to learn how to draw, better yet, illustrate fashion, this is the book for you. Perfect for beginners!

No comments about Giorgio Morandi: Works, Writings, Interviews (Ediciones Poligrafa).