No comments about Fashion Wonderland - Uncover the Power of Illustration in Fashion.

5 comments about Complete Printmaker.

1. A very intense book on print making. A must have book for serious artists, who want to expand in their field. Lots and lots of contacts in back of book maiking it easy to find anyone you need for print making! A+



2. I am taking a class at the local community college. The professor of my printmaking class recommended this book highly and said it was the best on the market, so I purchased it and am totally happy and satisfied. It explains the different processes very well and the illustrations accompanying the text help visualize the different methods of printmaking. I am totally satisfied and will use it as a reference book throughout my printmaking activities.
   Susy Moesch



3. Very lengthy but i did learn from it



4. Delivery time was as promised. The book came securely packaged and the book itself was in pristine condition. I save $25 under the cost as charged in my college bookstore.



5. This book is almost a catalog of every printmaking process around. It covers all the basics: intaglio, relief, screen prints, litho, and monoprint. It covers related technique, including embossed "dimensional" prints (aka "blind" prints), molded paper, and more. It devotes special attention to collographs, prints from textured or collage surface, and much too much more to describe.
   
   Best, the tools, materials, and how-to of every process are described in a fair bit of detail. Because so many processes are listed, each one gets just a short section, nowhere near what a printmaker would need in practice. Still, the descriptions serve at least two purposes. First, they may entice an artist into learning more about a process.
   
   Second, and more importantly for me, is that you don't have to be a printmaker to read this book and benefit from it. I'm a fan of fine prints, even though I don't make prints myself. I like to know what I'm looking at. I like to see a mark in a print and understand where it came from, how the artist's hand created it. By explaining each process, this book helps me understand the result of the process, and understand its effect on the finished product. Not everyone sees art that way, but it makes me feel somehow closer to the creator.
   
   I recommend this to anyone who loves fine prints. Perhaps it's helpful to the printmaker looking for new techniques to try. It is certainly useful for the viewer, in understanding how the artist makes a vision come alive on paper.
   
   //wiredweird

5 comments about Ed Emberley's Picture Pie Two.

1. I was not familiar with this book before I bought it; however, it was recommended by the teachers of the students for which this and several other Ed Emberley books were purchased. From the thank yous I have received, this book was a real hit! It is used in a Native American Mission School with great enthusiasm and even better results. What more could you ask for?



2. I keep having to order copies of this book! My grandchildren enjoy it so much that I end up sending my current copy home with one them. The many animal pictures keep them busy for hours. Now that they all have a copy I can order one to use in my classroom. The clear directions for preparing materials present excellent oportunities for me to teach fractions. The sequenced step-by-step pictures allow for exact duplication, but munipulation of the pieces encourages creativity. The original PICTURE PIE is good too, but I found this book to be more popular with the little people.



3. Within minites of receiving this book, my son(6)was cutting out shapes & gluing them together.... with enthusiasm! I always thought all kids love art, but it took this book to get my son interested. The only reason it didn't get 5 stars is the book binding was very poor. The binding (very loosely with only 4 strings) was falling apart after only one use. This is a book for kids, but I was the one using the stencils (I drew the shapes & kids cut them out). I shudder to think what shape the book would be in if I had turned them loose on it! Also, the book would probably hold up better if the stencil detatched from the book (a little pocket for storage in the flap would have been a good idea).



4. I bought this book a few weeks ago and have really ejoyed it. I just cut out a lot of the shapes, grab a couple of glue sticks, get my kids and they have hours of fun. The shapes and directions make it so easy for my kids (ages 4 & 6) to be successful in their art endevors. This is a good book to have in your collection if you work with kids at school, in your church or just have a child/children in your home.



5. Picture Pie 2 is a wonderful book that is fun for children and adults. While children make incredibly bright, fun and professional looking animals (bears, butterflies, cats, birds etc.) out of construction paper, they are learning all about fractions and geometry. Simply a must for every home and classroom.

No comments about Publication Design Workbook.

3 comments about People of Paradox: A History of Mormon Culture.

1. I found this to be a very valuable book. Terryl Givens taught me aspects of LDS history that I did not know or simply hadn't dawned on me. As a small example, in talking about building the Nauvoo temple, he mentions the extremely small population that took on the building of the Kirtland Temple. "Instead of the 100 or so members who populated the Ohio town when that temple was announced in 1832, Nauvoo in 1841 was the center of a burgeoning Illinois Mormon population in excess of some 12,000." - pg 109. Every time I think about such a small band of people taking on the building of the Kirtland Temple I get dizzy. And when I consider the amazing growth of the church in only a few years amid all the difficulties they also endured I am still amazed even though I have known the story since my childhood.
   
   However, this isn't another telling of the history of the church. Givens examines the culture of the church and the various strains within that culture that had their roots in the revelations received by Joseph Smith, the strains of culture brought in by the various groups of immigrant converts, the impact of the various migrations due to persecution, the temporary isolation in the West, and the growing pains of becoming a global church in modernity.
   
   This is an ambitious book that accomplishes the author's aims amazingly well. Givens admits that he has left out material on popular culture and folk expressions that deserve treatment. He also recognizes that some of the Western cultural distinctions of high culture and serious art will have less meaning to an increasing membership outside that cultural heritage.
   
   Givens presents his material in sixteen chapters divided into three parts. Part 1 establishes the "Foundations and Paradoxes in Mormon Cultural Origins". The four chapters lay out the cultural dichotomies of authority and radical freedom, the idea of searching and certainty, the very practical (banal) aspects of everyday life that are also tied up with Mormon ideas of the sacred, and the sense of being the chosen people versus the effects on our culture from persecution, migration, and isolation.
   
   Part 2 is "The Dancing Puritans" and covers the period from 1830-1890. The six chapters examine the idea among Mormons that the "Glory of God is Intelligence", along with architecture, music, dance, theater, literature, and the visual arts. The author's emphasis is how the seeming conflicts of the Part 1 play themselves out in the circumstances and means of expression by the artists during this period.
   
   Part 3 is "A Moveable Zion - Pioneer Nostalgia and Beyond the American Religion" and covers the years from 1890 to the present. Givens again takes us through the way thinkers fit into and don't fit into Church culture. He also takes us through the realities of church correlation. The topics of architecture, music, dance, theater, literature, and the visual arts are examined regarding their developments. Film is also added to the chapter of theater. Givens also talks about the implications of the majority of the church not only being outside Utah and the Western states, but also outside the United States.
   
   Since I have lived all my life in the church, but here in Michigan, I learned a great deal about the life of the Saints in the West that I did not know and it was all most interesting. However, I have also lived my life deeply involved in music (my undergraduate degree is in music theory and I have studied piano since I was a child), and I found some of Givens' analyses and conclusions a bit exasperating. Some of what he and the some of the artists in the book claim are difficulties with Church culture have more to do with the life of artist everywhere and in all places. On page 337 we read this sentence: "No wonder, as Southey noted despondently, a survey of responses to the Mormon Arts Festival revealed that `more than one-third or all patrons believed that art was basically irrelevant to the church.'' Talk about missing a glass two-thirds full!
   
   My guess is that more than a third of the population at large sees the fine arts as irrelevant to their life in any way. Having been a classical musician all my life, I can't tell you how few people care about this music as anything more than a kind of muzak. For the life of me, I can't understand people who tell me they like to listen to Mozart to relax. How can you be listening to that music with anything but amazement and excitement is beyond me.
   
   Yes, there are cultural aspects to the church that can be exasperating to any of us; even with a full, strong, and burning testimony. However, I found the emphasis on the exasperations of "intellectuals", academics, artists, and so forth to be quite provincial. A plumber or a farmer can be frustrated by aspects of the church as easily as a painter, writer, or a pianist. I grew up in a working class home and worked on an assembly line for a couple of years when I was very young and found that people from any background could find all kinds of things to get worked up over. Some of them were even legitimate and meaningful hurts rather than a frustration that the church won't re-fashion itself into what any given individual thinks it should or could be. I have seen people shaken to the core over the way sugar beets and potatoes were being farmed, commodities were being canned, the way the church facilities were being maintained, and the endless list goes on. The artist's problem is the same the problem everyone else has. The church is about active belief and engagement at that level. The rest, including being a "cultural Mormon", is pretty much incidental.
   
   Not long after I began piano lessons I became a deacon and was soon called to be the pianist for priesthood meeting. Over the decades of playing in various wards and branches around the world I have learned about people and their preference for the familiar and the way "everyone" (meaning their congregation) does things. I can't tell you how many times I have been told "we don't sing that hymn here" and I always respond, "Well, now we do". But this is a people issue, not an LDS issue. It has also happened when I have played for non-LDS congregations and even for non-religious groups.
   
   Being an artist is about making your art. You can't worry about what others think about you. You will likely have to work hard for quite awhile to bring others around to your point of view. You also can't worry about being a `great artist' because you almost certainly are not (I certainly am not). That does not mean that you shouldn't be an artist or make your art. At any level you are helping to build a base for the arts and developing the kind of environment we all need for art to flourish. If all there were in the world was, to use the clichés of this book, Beethoven and Shakespeare, there would have been no audience for them, no artisans to provide their instruments or theaters, no performers, and consequently no Beethoven of Shakespeare. If you are an artist, or lover of the arts, or even if you can only give place in heart to think about the arts, do so and we will all be more greatly blessed.
   
   Another issue is the aspect of creating art specifically for Mormons. That can be a good thing, but it can also be limiting (not because of the subject, but because of the size of the audience). We are only twelve or thirteen million people in a world of billions. My advice is to make and participate in great art and spread it to the world. Some of it can be specifically Mormon, but why not increase your chances for success by creating for a bigger audience. This doesn't mean you have to pander or turn your back on the church or its principles. It does mean you have to be strong and spend time presenting your art and your point of view rather than passively condemning the world for not recognizing your talent.
   
   I recommend this book to everyone interested in Mormon culture, whether you are a member or not. Of course you don't have to agree with the author on anything or everything to learn some new things and get a lot of food for thought. And that is all you can ask of a book. Well, that and larger print. To whomever chose the font size and type for this book: please provide darker and bigger type in the future. My eyes aren't as young as they used to be and I found the act of reading this book more of a chore than it needed to be. I also wish Givens had a website for the book that pointed us to images of the artworks, sound clips, and video so we could experience the arts more fully. The black and white images provided are very helpful, but an additional website would have been that much more helpful.
   
   With a few small quibbles aside, this is a great resource and an important contribution to any of us who care about our culture. I am grateful.
   
   Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI



2. The print is so small in this book I simply put it away without reading. Will try to locate my magnifying glass and maybe I can make some sense of it.



3. The thesis of the book is that the four primary paradoxes with which Latter-day Saints encounter the world have influenced the cultural and artistic history of the religion. I found it interesting from the historical aspect but purchased the book mainly to understand the paradoxes that Givens describes. (Don't worry - they are not deal breakers!) This book should be in the collection of everyone who has an interest in the development of art and culture in Mormonism.

5 comments about Palestine.

1. Palestine puts a very human face on the ongoing tragedy of the people living in their own country, specifically those areas that have not been claimed by Israel. It's not about who's right or wrong, it's about how to deal with the challenge of simply living under very difficult, often fatal, circumstances. There's a sad parallel with the situation faced by native Americans, where even self-imposed exile failed to accommodate the intrusive settlements.



2. Joe Sacco, as usual, brings an almost documentary style of storytelling to his real-life description of the hardships faced by Palestinians in the Occupied Territories. I think his efforts should be recognized as a public service, as the point of view of the Palestinians is a seldom shown and unpopular view. Nonetheless, in today's climate, it is important to remember that the vast majority of Palestinians have dreams, lives, and difficulties that aren't represented by the stereotypical suicide bomber's farewell video.
   
   I don't pretend to represent that this one perspective is the only book you should read to fully understand the complex realities, plural, of the Middle East. The tale is told with a certain point of view. However, every story has a point of view, whether explicit or implicit. Joe Sacco merely makes his explicit.
   
   In addition to being an important story, it is also well told. As mere entertainment or as education, "Palestine" is an important and fascinating work.



3. Joe Sacco lived in Palestine for 2 months, living and conversing with Palestinians about the horrors of Israeli occupation. He shows visually what Human Rights reports can only give in statistics: the shame and inhumanity of arbitrary checkpoints, the immense grief of losing a son or daughter to blatant Israelis aggression and Chauvinism, the deadening effect of a life fully controlled by a racist occupying force in one's own country, and the stoic resolve with which innocent Palestinians (women, children, men) are tortured by Israeli Shin Bet.
   
   Israeli apologists and closet bigots will ironically (and predictably) call this book "propaganda" and "lies". Unfortunately for them, truth does not conform to the subjective imaginings of a flawed and hypocritical ideology. Zionism is founded on the exploitation and suffering of the Palestinians, and no amount of prevarication, sophistry, and lies can change this fact.
   
   Sacco's artwork is unique and eye-catching, meticulous and quirky. The images are worth the price alone. A must-read.



4. This is probably the best book out there that'll make you understand what you never understood before , A true Graphic novel that captured what other artists haven't .. 10\10 You can't live without reading this, Just give it a chance .. You wont be the same .



5. I'd just like to echo what so many other reviewers have said - such as how people will gain a deeper understanding of the Palestinian's struggle, and that we should buy two copies of "Palestine" and give one away. I actually bought an additional copy that's in Spanish and sent it to a library in Mexico.
   The way Joe Sacco describes life and his own experience in the Occupied Territories is captivating, and the drawings are fantastic.
   When he came out with this graphic novel, there were very few voices who would dare to say something sympathetic toward Palestinians. Now, with books like Jimmy Carter's "Palestine: Peace not Apartheid" and the work of Noam Chomsky reaching a global audience, Sacco's compassion is more mainstream.
   
   For analysis of how the Palestinian's struggle was mischaracterized for so long, I'd suggest the DVD "Peace, Propaganda, and the Promised Land."
   And for people who are interested in the "graphic" novel format, I'd also highly recommend "Wobblies!: A Graphic History of the Industrial Workers of the World" edited by Paul Buhle and Nicole Schulman.

2 comments about Art Deco Textiles: The French Designers.

1. I'm a textile and clothing designer and have a large collection of print reference books. Since I first purchased this book it has been the first book I pull out when I want inspiration. Because of that I have also given it as a gift to several other designers, and it has become one of their favorites too. The collection is inspired and diverse and the printing shows beautiful detail. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves great contemporary design, as well as those interested in vintage textile design.



2. Art Deco Textiles is an informed and informative survey of art deco fabrics which packs in color examples drawn from a diverse range of designers in the field, from Marrot and Benedictus to Chanel. Alain-Rene Hardy's research through museum holdings, manufacturer's archives and private collections alike produces an unparalleled reference 'Bible' of both hand made and machine-made textiles, creating an outstanding textile oriented history and survey of the entire field.

4 comments about Business And Legal Forms for Fine Artists (3rd Edition).

1. By using this resource, an artist can protect themselves and their financial condition through legal means. Most artist just want to do the art and by using this resource, forms that apply to specific events to promote that art give the artist tools to protect themselves. Very good resource - have already put it to use.



2. Extremely useful and informative book. This is the second edition I've bought - 1st edition was 18 years ago & out-dated.



3. Tad Crawford has written a whole series of books out of his expertise in the law and creative arts, with a special focus on photography. I'd suggest looking at Tad's other books, too, since this one is more action-focused without extensive explanations of the whys and wherefores of it.
   
   "Business and Legal Forms" has the documents you'll need, such as copyright transer forms, publishing contracts and stock listing forms for your creative work. His descriptions are very helpful. Of greatest practical use, though, is the included DVD containing MS Word documents of all of the forms.
   
   If you're just getting started in fine arts, or even if you have been working a while, you need this book!



4. Very well organized and comprehensive. DVD provided makes printing a breeze.

5 comments about The Soul of a Tree: A Master Woodworkers Reflections.

1. i'm an electrician, but i really like wood... george nakashima on the other hand loved wood... his views make his work even more valuable and amazing...



2. Able to tug at you in so many ways. A privilege to be able to buy his product.



3. Alot of philosphy, mostly biographical, has a few quotes that stick:
   "Man has the audacity to try to improve the tree...."
   
   This is a MUST read for a woodworker.



4. Like the books of James Krenov, "The Soul of a Tree" is as much a book about philosophy as it is about wood. And it's a good philosophy: slow down, take your time, play with the wood, and enjoy it. The book is really about the soul of Nakashima. He outlines some of his own personal history and how he developed his ideas about craft. There's not really much on technique here - you can certainly find better books for that - but you won't find many more inspiring.
   
   On a personal note I had a lady call me years ago to fix up `some old furniture' she and her husband had bought years ago (in the `50's I believe.) Seems when they were young college professors they found this young oriental guy down the road who made furniture in his garage. When I looked at the furniture I told her that her young oriental friend had become quite famous and showed her this book. She was flabbergasted. What she wanted me to do was to nail up some chairs that had worked loose over time. I refused, of course, and explained to her that these were valuable pieces that should be cared for properly. I also encouraged her to contact Nakashima's Conoid Studio (if it still existed) to let them catalogue the pieces. Even after years of use by a family with kids living in the sticks the pieces were obviously crafted with meticulous care and held up surprisingly well. It was a real joy to bring them back to daily use.



5. The author omit needless wood and carve great pieces of furniture. It is like zen on wood. You will not regret the money you spent on this title.

5 comments about Conan: The Ultimate Guide to the World's Most Savage Barbarian.

1. This book is excellent because it pertains to comics by writer Roy Thomas and artist John Buscema. It also contains Dark Horse Comics. You'll really enjoy this book. Back during the Seventies Roy Thomas at Marvel obtain the rights of Conan. Barry Windsor Smith drew the first Conan comic. Now it's currently done by Dark Horse and it's even better! Also during the seventies Marvel printed up Black & White magazines on Conan, Soloman Kane, Kull & more about 68 pages. There's a lot of neat stories, articles, and information about REH = Soul & Inspiration.
   
   Also recommended: Two Gun Bob, One Who Walked Alone, Blood & Thunder,The Life&Art of REH, The Last of the Trunk, Black Stranger Lord of Samarcand, Selected Letters, Kull, Bran Mak Morn, Soloman Kane (Vampire killer), Cormac Mac Art, Crimson Shadows I & II The Best of REH, The Black Stranger that has a story scarier than Poe, Hitchcock, & Lovecraft entitled Pigeons From Hell, Conan - Dark Horse Comics which is superb and on the last page they have sayins of REH called Two Gun Bob.



2. First of all id like to say that the delivery of this product was on time and in perfect condition. Having that said, now about the book.
   I have been a Conan enthusiast and lover since i was a little boy when i first saw "Conan The Barbarian". Since then i have picked up numerous "new" conan stories written by numerous authors, every Conan DarkHorse comic up to date, and the McFarlane toys that were released. I must say that the new release paperbacks of Robert E. Howards original Conan stories are utterly amazing and should be read by all lovers of this fantastic Barbarian. As i was browsing through Amazons book section i stumbled across this, encyclopedia if you will, and HAD to have it. As of now I cant put the book down. This book has everything ever mentioned in the books, comics and lore of Conan as well as pictures and descriptions of gods that have been talked about in his stories. If you want a serious inside look of the Age of Conan then you MUST pick up this book.



3. This book is fantastic! The detail and artistry make this a must have for any serious Conan collector.



4. Very nice illustrations from all the Conan's greatest authors of all time. The text is good and Thomas puts order on the multiple Characters and adventures of the cimmerian.But we miss Red Sonja, never mentioned on the book (maybe for questions of copyrights).



5. A very nice, bigarse square book, by Roy Thomas of Conan comics fame. It goes chronologically through Conan's adventures in the comics format, and is profusely illustrated throughout as it details his history, as well as the history and geography of the lands of the Hyborian Age.
   
   Fans of Conan comics will dig it, but Conan fans in general should be happy to have a look at this.