5 comments about How to Draw Anime & Game Characters, Vol. 4: Mastering Battle and Action Moves.

1. What I like about this book is that it has many angles for a fight style. It offers hints on small details that would make your characters look alive. I recommend that you go checking out this book first at your local library before you buy it because you might not like it. This book only shows fight moves not actual battles between two characters. It is a book for intermediate artist who has mastered some drawing skills. This book is a good reference book because if you drew a character and it look "weird" there are hints in this book that will help you fix the "weirdness."



2. If you view this book as just a drawing book, then I can understand some of the negative reviews.
   
   For example, one of the reviewers complained that the author spent too much time on the drawings for a side kick. And that reviewer was absolutely right.
   
   The reason is: this is really an ANIMATION book. And all those "redundant" drawings that the author is spending time on are the Key Frames and Passing Frames that are ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL for creating great animations.
   
   For example, take Macromedia Flash, draw in those key and passing frames. Then draw in the inbetweens, and you have FANTASTIC animated action sequences. I know, because I've done it!
   
   Viewed as an animation book, this is THE DEFINITVE BOOK for martial-arts, anime animation.
   
   Buy the Animator's Survival Kit by Richard Williams, along with this book and you will have a complete course on anime animation.



3. If you've gotten Ozawa's other books, then you already know how detailed his books get! This volume is no different and goes a step further by showing you actions in progress such as showing you each movement of a person walking. Then he shows you how to do the same action but at different angles and foreshortening. There's so much info in here that it'll take you awhile to digest all the information in it. It's stacked full of drawings and side notes!
   
   There are quite a lot of action moves in this book, specifically hand-to-hand combat. No instructions on drawing weapons even though the cover shows them.
   
   Quite unlike Martials Arts & Combat Sports and Illustrating Battles editions, this book prep you to think in 3 dimensions and animation-type movement. If you're set on making animations and video games in the future, this book is the best way to learn spatial relations and seeing your characters more than just one or two-dimensionally.
   
   If you're into making manga, getting this book won't hurt at all but you're probably better off getting the Illustrating Battles or Martials Arts & Combat Sports book initially.
   
   Like his other editions, this book is young-reader friendly and covers nudity well using block, wire, and wooden model figures.



4. When I first got this book it looked like it would help me with martial arts and japanese moves. Boy was I wrong. The very fact that this is japanese animation would make the reader ASSUME this was japanese Battling. Instead, I got HUGE Bozos, throwing punches and absolutely no martial arts. In this book, Tadashi was so busy showing the angles of just one kick, that he has absolutely NO variety WHATSOEVER! I'm serious, just one move takes him up to four pages to get his point across. Do yourself a favor and skip Volume 4 MASTERING BATTLE AND ACTION MOVES in Tadashi's work.



5. after getting the first three volumes of this series i admit to being a bit over-expectant of this volume. not to mention i am also guilty of judging it by its cover. as usual it starts off with some useful information about movement or anything it could be covering in this book, which i like very much and has very useful tips. however towards the part of the book where it begins to have illustrations of kicks and punches and stuff, i was utterly disapointed. the cover suggests that the book contains something on sword fighting or knife-fighting, or graceful battles, but was completly off. the battles in this book are like street fights, something i was totally not interested in. All it has is overly-masculine people throwing elbow jabs and drop kicks. there is an even distribution of girls and boys in this book, but none of them seem to be at all related to the kind of battles on the cover or back page. i suggest before buying this book you understand it will NOT give that many battle moves. it never even touches upon knives or swords. and pretty much the only action moves are people going from a walk to a run.

No comments about Art of the Avant-Gardes (Art of the Twentieth Century).

1 comments about Make It in Clay: A Beginner's Guide to Ceramics.

1. When your professor comes over the first day of class and leafs through your brand new book and says, "Where did you get this...it's a great introduction to this class!" then proceeds to tell you he knows some of the potters and works pictured...you know it's a GREAT book. From learning where clay comes from and the techniques from pinching and coiling to the wheel and sculpture, I found great tips and photos to help me along and inspire my "creations." Then came texturing, coloring and glazing and firing techniques. I've actually bought the book as a gift for Mr. Pace (from amazon.com, naturally) and his future students because I found it SO helpful.

1 comments about Dutch Paintings in The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Metropolitan Museum of Art Publications).

1. I purchased this two volume set for my daughter [which she had specifically requested] and had it shipped directly to her. She is a doctoral candidate in Art History at a major university and was absolutely astounded at not only how beautiful the set was, but that it was a very comprehensive representation of the subject matter in one convenient location. The photographic renderings of the paintings were also impressive. A "must-have" for any serious art lover or student of Dutch paintings.

3 comments about I Live In Music.

1. What a beautiful book! The poem is moving and the illustrations fit perfectly. It can be used with many age groups. I would highly recommend this book to parents and teachers.



2. Someone read this book to me when I was young. Ever since then I've been inspired to write. I love this book. The word use by Ntozake is refreshing. Her poetry is very original. She has accomplished a lot, because it's suitable for all age groups.



3. Ntozake Shange's poem, "i live in music", along with Romare Bearden's collages are presented together in this appealing book. The text and the visuals are skillfully paired and they feed each other's expressions.

   "i got 15 trumpets where other women got hips

   & a upright bass for both sides of my heart"

   Shange's words are in turn playful, soulful, artful. The music she describes is encompassing and tangible - a real thing to be felt and true part of our beings.

   Bearden's collages and paintings are vivid, engaging images of African American life and culture. The images are expressive and rich illustrations of musicians and singers. "Show Time" and "Fancy Sticks" are nearly audible - one can see the rhythm and song.

   Shange and Bearden's talents complement each other so well one would think this had been a concurrent, collaborative effort rather than subsequent assemblage.

   Along with i live in music, I highly recommend all the books in this series by Stewart, Tabori & Chang's Art and Poetry series:

   "Life Doesn't Frighten Me", poem by Maya Angelou, paintings by Jean-Michel Basquiat..... "may i feel said he", poem by e. e. cummings, paintings by Marc Chagall...... "Dance Me to the End of Love", poem by Leonard Cohen, paintings by Henri Matisse

   Each one would be a wonderful gift for a teacher, art lover, musician, poet,.... or anyone seeking inspiration. Treat yourself to one - or all.

   For all ages.

2 comments about User's Guide to the View Camera, A (3rd Edition).

1. In doing some research for a project I was working on, I acquired this book. I found it had all of the information I needed on using a view camera. The author covered the swings and tilts well and showed the advantages of using these cameras.



2. What IS there, IS good- But, For the price, @ $45. to $55. I had hoped it was going to be much more in depth. More information on equipment; e.g.: Lenses, cameras, & accessories such as tripods, light meters, etc. I also would have liked much more information on films, printing paper, chemicals, processing techniques, etc. I suppose this does get away from the general title of the book somewhat, however, being new to the processing Large Format film, I needed much more information on that topic, as it is quite a bit different than working with roll film.
   What I did like about it is that it did give a very good overview of the View Camera; and has especially good section on the techniques for using one. Not sorry I bought it, just wished for it to be a bit more than it turned out to be.

5 comments about The Joy Of Photography.

1. there are two negative reviews for this book. two negative reviews from reviewers who havent a clue about photography. the concepts covered in this book are just as beneficial to the photographer now as they were to the daguerotype user. technology doesnt change the fact that a large F stop narrows your depth of field, that a longer focal length narrrows your field of view, that filters effect the outcome, how flash works, etc.
   
   if you are a beginner, amateur, advanced amateur, or professional, you will find this book very helpful and informative. it covers the vast majority of technique the average photographer will ever use.



2. I know this was written in the 1970s, but the application of this book is still current with today's photography industry. Most pros have this book in their library, including me. The Joy of Photography is a remarkable book with great information to use and practice. I recommend this to anyone interested in photography at any level with any type of photography equipment.



3. Affordable book that is a great benefit to those learning about Photography.
   
   Pro: In depth information, Filter explanation, Development information
   
   Con: outdated, Film only



4. This book was written at the second half of the 80's when autofocus was pretty new in the market, but it contains some useful advices, mainly if you are a very beginner.
   
   Unfortunately I had discovered all books from Kodak have almost exactly the same contents - just some changes in the text, some different pictures, and, oh yes - a different title!
   
   If you read any book from Kodak, or have some experience in Photography, forget this book.



5. This book may be fine if you are using film, but it came out in 1991. Things have changed since then, especially technology. Nothing referencing digital. If digital is your thing, find another book.

2 comments about Principles of Art History.

1. There is really no way to rate this book. It would be like rating Freud or Marx. Wolfflin is one of the cornerstones of art history. This is essential reading for any student of the subject. Although one might see limitations in his theory today, his ideas were revolutionary when first proposed. His theory goes beyond the famous 5 categories to include views on cycles in history and insights on the artist's control of his practice. Related readings are Reigl and Panofsky.



2. Wolfflin contrasts the styles of the High Renaissance and the Baroque by setting up them up as a system of oppositions. He compares the two time periods according to five sets of categories. He claims that this is what art history should do. In other words, style and not meaning is the criteria according to which art history should be written. A lot is to be learned from this book. However, there are a lot of limitations to Wolfflin's approach. Consequently, it should be read critically or "against the grain" in order to expose some of Wolfflin's biases. Its also a very difficult read. But, its worth it if you get through it.

1 comments about How to Draw Robots And Aliens (Young Artist).

1. This is a good book. It is not a cheep book that you trace out of. You have to learn how to draw them. thick bold lines are easy to see, and there are very good directions.

1 comments about Walter Niedermayr, Kazuyo Sejima & RyueNishizawa (SANAA).

1. This is one of the most pleasant books to look at. This is not really a monograph of SANAA. The purpose of the book is not to cover their projects exhaustively. The drawings are printed in very small scale, and the photos do not try to tell the whole stories either. El Croquis or GA Architect is what you would like to purchase in that case. This book is atmospheric phantasmagoria. Some views are shot twice from slightly different angles and placed side by side... to reveal truth and deception. According to Niedermayr, "...One sees the breaks in the system of perception, but also in the landscape. It is a deception. This is why the main thing is to break away from the nature of the single image..." I do not completely understand what truth means from images yet, but the photos are amazing in this project. It is said that this book is not a true collaboration, meaning that the photographer was not hired by the architects; rather, he followed the firm's works for his own aesthetic reasons. However, they connect like a tally stick. 'Ephemeral' as some people describe SANAA's works is captured more fantastically here. I would grab it while it is still available.