5 comments about Picasso & Lump: A Dachshund's Odyssey.

1. I purchased "Picasso and Lump" for what turned out to be a most welcome gift for Dachshund lover/owners. Before giving it to them, my husband and I both read it and found it totally charming, as well as revealing of a side of Picasso's character that is little known. A delightful book for Picasso fans and dog--especially dachshund--lovers.



2. I ordered this for a friend, who has dachshunds and is an artist. Before I wrapped the book, though, I looked through it. It tells a visual story of their special relationship, which is clear in the pictures. I was captivated by the sentiment of the book and looked forward to hearing her response to the book. I recommend this to anyone who loves dogs. Very special!



3. I really like the pictures and the little tid bits of information about Picasso, Lump and their family



4. Rather than a book about the artist, or a story about a daschund, to me this was a story of love and companionship between a dog and his master. The simple story illustrates how we all feel about our pets. It is beautifully accented with private and candid photos inside Picasso's life in his older years. I think this book is great for all ages and Im glad to have discovered it.



5. This book is an unmitigated delight. The photographs are enchanting and the story they tell completely wonderful. I was sad to learn that Picasso "dumped" Lump when his back was injured, but he gave him to David Douglas Duncan (who originally brought him) and I must think that Lump lived out his days in great happiness. In any event, this is a real charmer and a great one to keep on the coffee table to look through again and again.

2 comments about Licensing Art 101, Third Edition: Publishing and Licensing Artwork for Profit (Licensing Art 101).

1. Now in a newly updated and expanded third edition, "Licensing Art 101: Publishing And Licensing Your Artwork For Profit" takes up where most art classes leave off -- how to make a living as an artist. Drawing upon his more than 31 years of experience and expertise in the licensing industry, Michael Woodward clearly covers such fundamental issues for aspiring artists as how to negotiate fees for their services, how to approach various markets with their artworks, targeting a presentation, exhibiting in trade shows, and protecting their rights as artists. "Licensing Art 101" is enhanced with some 300 contacts including calendar publishers, art licensing agents, greeting card publishers, fin are publishers, and book publishers. Taking a comprehensive, step-by-step, real-world approach to the subject of licensing art, this basic introduction is thoroughly 'user friendly' and should be considered essential, mandatory reading for anyone seeking to pursue a professional career as an artist regardless of the medium in which they work.



2. This is truly a superb book in every way. Not only is it comprehensive in terms of the steps one needs to take to market their art, but there's also a list of questions at the end of each chapter to help you develop an action plan, for which there's an empty column to write down your tasks.
   
   Personally, I respond very well to "to do" lists and deadlines, so using this book in combination of working with a life coach is bringing wonderful results.
   
   The book also tackles the publishing issue from two sides: one is finding someone to represent you (which is my preference), and the other is how to publish yourself. (I did the independent route in music, and believe me, it's rough. This time around, I'm willing to pay someone in percentages to do it for me and just let me make the art.)
   
   I give it a big thumbs-up.

3 comments about Art: A World History.

1. This is a good book for those who slept through high school or college art history and now wish they had a bit more background for enjoying their local museum of art. The book is VERY concise and provides relevant historical perspectives. The page size is small (it is really a very thick handbook) so the photos of the various pieces are hard to appreciate. I have enjoyed going through it, however, and it has provided the foundation I was looking for.



2. Art: A World History
   A great book for the price. It is not all inclusive but there is vast amounts of information here.
   I would recommend it!



3. This book was just what I had been searching for: a well-illustrated, thorough - yet concise - "all-encompassing" book of world art. This work covers individuals/creations from ancient times to present, and provides timelines and interesting facts like brief artist bios, the current locations of the featured masterpieces, and the official names of each artistic "period." Each artist gets his/her own few pages, describing his/her style/history, and there are tons of images, including one of the artist him/herself. It's quite substantial, and the pages have a high-quality shine. This is a great reference book and a jumping-off point for more in-depth exploration into art history and the people who shaped it.

4 comments about The View From The Studio Door: How Artists Find Their Way In An Uncertain World.

1. I liked this book, though I didn't think it was as meaningful (at least to me) as Art and Fear. I related quite well to some of the chapters, and thought others were just written for the sake of filling up the pages.



2. I'm just another artist with a day job, and while I may know, at some level, many of the ideas in this book, it is completely worth the time it took to read and the money it cost to buy. I read it twice right away, actually, and it will join Art & Fear in my flight carry-on because they're good books for times when you can't make your own art.
   
   I particularly relish the way Ted speaks to artists in all media; there's far too much "truth for every artist" that turns out to be for painters only.
   
   I come away strengthened, encouraged, set back on my path. I am doing the right thing and I don't have to know where this path leads. It did used to be different for artists but it's not that way now and make your art anyway.
   
   Heck, a therapist or a creativity coach will charge a lot more and take a lot longer to get you to the same place!
   
   If I were writing the book, I would devote much less space to art students, but perhaps my distaste for that chapter has its roots in major-envy, in that I want to believe life would be different if only I'd recognized a path earlier. And yet probably my life would have been much the same if I had, only with no insurance.
   
   Own the book. It's doesn't cost much, and it's worth it. Someone over in the Art & Fear reviews noted that all the used copies are completely covered in highlighting and margin notes. My copy of View is well on its way to the same end.



3. This book is a pretty good read in that it outlines some of the issues surrounding being an artist in today's society. It is more cursory than comprehensive. Basically it points out the issues but doesn't really delve into them very deeply. If you are already an artist it won't give you that much more insight than you probably already have, however it will serve to point you in thinking in the right direction.
   
   For the price I guess it's worth reading. I cannot recommend it as a 'must buy' but I also cannot say stay away from it.



4. This is a must read for any artist or aspiring artist. It will help you to understand yourself, your art, and your audience. The View From The Studio Door is part philosophy, part psychology, part history, and entirely authentic, entertaining and enlightening. The author is very articulate in a down-to-earth and entertaining way. Original insights are spread throughout the book and it's margins. On one page you will be in awe of the philosophical insights that are revealed and on the next page you will enjoy the author's delightful sense of humor. On the next page you may learn something about yourself and your art. Here is an excerpt from one of my favorite passages. " In 1927 a young Ansel Adams made one of his most famous photographs: Monolith-The Face of Half Dome. Or more accurately, he made a photograph that several of his friends thought was very nice....It appeared as a gritty halftone in a newsletter of the local chapter of the Sierra Club....Finally, a half-century after it's first appearance, Monolith appeared in a Time magazine cover story about Adams accompanied by the headline "Ansel Adams: GOD'S FIRST ART DIRECTOR.""
   
   The author, Ted Orland, is co-author of the book Art and Fear that is also a wonderful read for artists in all disciplines.
   Art and Fear is one of the top 4,209 best selling books on Amazon.com. Although we do not usually consider ranking #4,209 an badge of sucess, this is a remarkable accomplishment for a book that has artists as it's primary audience. The View From The Studio Door is a very worthy next read for any artist.

2 comments about Janson's History of Art 7th Ed..

1. "Janson's History of Art" contains a comprehensive story of the human effort to communicate in an aesthetic manner. Art is the communication of imagination and ideas. It is an effort at adorning self and environment. It is the expression of man's reality, whether realistic or symbolic. H.W. Janson and his successors show us this unfolding story in this 824 page volume.
   
   When I taught art history in a fine arts survey course at the high school level, this was my art bible--one of the best. Its use as instruction for me and pictures of art for the student made "History of Art" completely invaluable. This was my teaching tool, along with so many other art books.
   
   Highest recommendation!



2. I bought this to supplement my art history course. It has everything I need to know as someone just starting out in the study of the field. I really enjoy the layout and photos. Highly recommended by my art history professor and now myself!

5 comments about Process Color Manual, 24,000 CMYK Combinations for Design, Prepress, and Printing.

1. I owned a previous version of this book at my last job and plan to purchase this for my own use. As others have said, it contains an amazing number of combinations not available in most books. It takes a little bit of flipping through the book to understand how it is laid out, but the concept is very difficult anyway to put down on paper. I think that this book has accomplished making it as simple as it can get while still being very comprehensive.



2. Well, I've been using CorelDraw for a short time, and this book helped me a lot about printing preview colors.



3. The book contains many color swatches and its very useful when you want a specific shade printed. It's a pitty it doesn't have even the primitive index, that could help a lot when looking for most popular colors. This is the book every print designer should have on their desk. However I recommend having Pantone Color Bridge too for spot colors. Having these two references is surely enough to work easily on most prepress projects.



4. This book contains a nearly comprehensive set of color charts illustrating the appearance of numerous CMYK color formulas. I have found it invaluable in specifying CMYK equivalents to spot inks and to color in original, non-digital artwork.
   
   The one disappointment I have with the book is that the color formulas are not also printed on uncoated paper. Most readers will understand that inks appear differently on coated and uncoated papers. A second volume on uncoated paper would make this offering perfect.



5. A well intentioned book with deep flaws. First off, as other reviewers have noted, the way the colors are defined can easily lead to mistakes when noting their cmyk values. For one thing, black values (k) are often listed before cyan values (c). This is rediculous considering that all graphic designers have been trained to write down cmyk values in this order: c, m, y, k. Another tricky thing is that colors are displayed and defined using tables that have a horizontal and vertical axis, and even after using this book for several months I have a heck of a time figuring out which color label (horizontal vs. vertical) refers to which colors. These are deadly oversights on the part of the authors, especially when the book is being used by a designer who has been staring at colors for eight hours straight and needs to get a job to the printer in five minutes! Okay, but the WORST thing about this book is the terrible inconsistency in its printing! I just bought two copies of this book (one that I could cut up into swatches, and one that I would leave intact). It is horrifying to compare colors that are supposed to be identical between the two books!!!! Apparently the quality control at the printing company is severly lacking because there are HUGE shifts in color value, temperature and hue between the two books that I bought. How is this supposed to be used by a professional designer who needs to pick out colors accurately?! I would strongly recommend AGAINST using this book if you care about color or the quality of your work. I couldn't be more disappointed.

5 comments about Epileptic.

1. None of the individuals portrayed in this story emerge intact, including the author David B. I was left with the impression that either David B. is so fully aware of this that he purposely (and perhaps brilliantly) avoided communicating how messed up everyone in his family is, or that they are so messed up that he has no idea how messed up they are. Clearly he is angry at his family for spending his entire childhood revolving around his brother and his illness, but that's perfectly normal for someone who has grown up with a seriously ill family member. But David B's self awareness seems to end there. The damage is more extreme and disturbing because his family's approach to illness and guilt is more extreme and disturbing. This book is not "light reading" in any sense - There were times when I was only able to take in a page or two in a sitting. The art is so rich and complex and the story is so complicated, I needed to take breaks or I wouldn't know what I was reading anymore. The book is brilliant, beautifully translated from French, and like nothing I've ever read.



2. the only prior experience i brought to this reading of a graphic novel was 'jimmy corrigan: the smartest boy in the world,' which is why amazon recommended it to me. ultimately, i think that the genre is all that connects them. this book is much more intimate, personal, passionate, and chilling. all things 'smartest' wanted to be but only got 4/5's of the way there.
   
   i myself am an epileptic and there are fewer diseases that this book relates to than just ones that are 'out of control.' the effects of epilepsy are far more psychological than physical. where a cancer victim is at the mercy of the disease and body, the epileptic, like many schizophrenics is affronted by dark and sinister shadows, lurking demons. however, it's one thing for an epileptic to be able to voice this. i find it amazing that David B., the brother and author, found so many ways of accurately depicting the demons' influence and sympathetically already fighting in his own way to overcome them with the tools of a child. both graphically and through the course of the story you learn of the ways the family and David B. adapt to confront the shadow, though the epilepsy ultimately remains intractable.
   
   another thing about this book that opened my eyes, is that for the epileptic, the story is told in first, second, and third person. for the family member, where it may always seems superficially to be a disease to which the family remains a third party, one may realize the struggles endured that were ignored. if i were to ask my mother how it felt for her to go through many of the struggles faced in this book, she might not think much of them. but upon reading and seeing the struggles afresh, she might realize that she had much more at stake than anyone, even herself, gave her credit.
   
   this book is so moving and deep because of David B.s ability to so comprehensively annotate each of five family members struggle. the autobiographical aspect takes a backseat to the chronicling of a dark disease that is never cured, much like alcoholism, but only ever treated and hoped against. the ending is particularly potent on this point: it is a tenuous grasp that is held to consciousness, and a varying relationship any of us have to reality, but when we hold together we arent scattered below. .mfg



3. Deep inside, every creator wants to complete a single, definitive piece of work which encompasses all of his or her greatest skills - something by which he or she will be remembered. If they're lucky, they will manage this task and have the completed effort lauded and shown much support and respect. For L'Association's David B., Epileptic is doubtless the artist's coup de grace. The concept of the book stuck in Monsieur B.'s head for twenty years prior to its publication, and this incubatory period is quite evident in the reading.
   
   Epileptic is unapologetically autobiographical. Young David B. (née Pierre-Francois) grew up in France with a younger sister and an elder brother, the latter of whom was diagnosed with epilepsy from about the age of seven. During this time, very little was known about the disease outside of medical circles, so David's brother Jean-Christophe was doubly-cursed; He would fall down in the streets of Orleans (or Bourges, or Paris), and would face harassment from passers-by to police officers, who thought the child was simply "fou" (crazy) or on drugs. Eventually, he was abandoned by his friends and certain non-immediate family members.
   
   His immediate family, of course, held on to whatever hope was offered. Going beyond the traditional medical field of the time, Jean-Christophe's parents involved the children in a multitude of holistic healing approaches: Macrobiotics, acupuncture, massage... practically anything being offered in 1960s France held a glimmer of hope for the suffering child and his family. "It was the only thing we had left," says Mrs. B. "We soon realized that we had far fewer means than many to care for Jean-Christophe... I was blindly groping for an answer."
   
   However, Epileptic isn't merely 350+ pages of self-indulgent pity. It is the story of one child's management of the illness of a close friend - his brother. The book details the life of an entire family, inextricably infected by the illness of the eldest child. On display are the bouts of depression induced by helplessness, humiliation, and disappointment. Also shown are the small glories of life, the insights provided through introversion, and the rebirth of one boy's self-image time and time again. Though the book covers the artist's life from the year 1964 through 1994 (with the primary focus on his earliest years), the narrative flows in such a seamless manner that the passage of time does not become obvious until Jean-Christophe moves away from the family, his frequent seizures and psychotic impulses becoming too much for the family to handle, toward the book's conclusion.
   
   That said, it should be noted that - from time to time - the natural flow of the book is impeded by verbose descriptions of the various holistic treatments and theories surrounding the attempted cures of Jean-Christophe. Sometimes, such a descriptive passage will extend for several pages, only to have the actual "treatment" itself abandoned shortly thereafter. Was this a deliberate attempt by the author to frustrate the reader in order to trigger some inate ability to empathize with his own despondency? Perhaps, though the author is too subtle to admit it.
   
   As a whole, though, Monsieur B. allows symbolism to speak those things for which there are no words. The lingering sense of loss after the passing of his grandfather, for instance, is symbolized by the spectral appearance of a "goony bird" in the mind's eye of the author's childhood. The struggle of his family facing the ostracization of "polite" society is represented in the child's multitude of battle drawings, from the Algerian War back through the days of the Samurai. Jean-Christophe's epilepsy is seen on some pages as a mountain to be scaled, and as a wicked demon on others. The symbols can be as fluid as the impressionable mind from which they stemmed.
   
   Though not without its flaws, Epileptic is a shining point within the autobiographical graphic novel genre. This is one to be read over a period of several sittings because, just as the concept lay within the author's head for quite some time before it was made manifest, the material requires time to ferment within the readers' minds as well.



4. This is a great book, interesting, personal and I loved the artwork. My only problem is the book dragged on a little long without adding a lot and that's why it gets 4 stars instead of 5.



5. I have a daughter that has a seizure disorder, so I was interested in reading this memoir. Upon receiving it and reading it, however, I am somewhat disappointed.
   The book's strong points include the artwork and the raw honesty of the narrative. The art is designed to provoke your emotions, and it succeeds. I was saddened by some of the pictures, offended by others. The chaotic nature of the pictures help to portray the chaos that ensues with any chronic illness, epilepsy included.
   My disappointment was in the narrative itself. I was not so much interested in knowing all the details of the author's family tree. These I feel detract from the main point: how this family deals with epilepsy.
   I don't think this is a good glimpse of how a family generally deals with epilepsy, but one unique to this family. Thought-provoking, yes. This book is tragic, and left me feeling very sorry for this family and all they've been through. It makes me angry at all those who prey on people in desperate situations. Having dealt with this disease first-hand, I know how much one longs for that drug, treatment, diet, etc. that will be the miracle that takes away his loved one's suffering.
   I am not keeping this book, primarily because many of the pictures and language are offensive and inappropriate for children and teens.

5 comments about Signs and Symbols in Christian Art: With Illustrations from Paintings from the Renaissance (Galaxy Books).

1. When I bought this book, I needed a quick and dirty reference to religious symbolism in western art--I was pleased and surprised to find out that it's small, lightweight, and therefore portable when I visit museums. (Why don't more publishers consider weight and size when they print books for travelers? Lonely Planet and DK, I'm looking at you.)
   
   Its easy size belies the incredible amount of useful information it contains; there are fourteen sections covering everything from the significance of certain animals to religious garments to a brief hagiography for commonly portrayed saints. About one-third of the book is a set of reproductions (sadly b&w in this edition) of famous renaissance religious paintings. There's no discussion or explanation accompanying the paintings--which is the only thing I don't like about the book.
   
   And if you read one of the earlier reviews and are wondering about the chocolate mouse in Rosemary's Baby, it's a reference to mice as a symbol of evil because of their destructiveness.



2. I use this book frequently, especially when studying art books of Christian art as well as during a recent Bible study of the Book of Exodus. This was an invaluable guide to the symbolism used in art and the various meanings. For example, when studying the symbolic meaning of the priests robes of the Old Testament, the meaning of the pomegranate for the OT and NT is significant. In the OT, the pomegranate stood for the 613 Mosaic laws (the pomegranate was thought to contain 613 seeds). In the NT, the pomegranate is the symbol for the resurrection of Christ. The Hebrews believed following the law led them to God. For the Christian, belief in Jesus' death and resurrection leads to God! Enjoy this read.



3. Although not encyclopaedic, this book, first published in 1954, is indispensable to the art history, religious art, iconographic, and religious lives student. The essays are of significant depth without excessive volume, and the illustrations, although of a limited period (Medieval through Renaissance), are pungent enough from which to learn. Two limitation I will remark:
   There are no representations from Eastern- or Byzantine- iconography.
   The illustrations are all black and white.



4. I study Art history, and christian art. This book primarily focuses in on Renaissance paintings and thier symbols. I found it to be useful and detail orientated. A very good reference book.



5. If you are an art history student, this book is an absolute must. While there are many books that contradict one another when it comes to symbolism, this book is one that commonly agrees with others I have read or consulted.
   For as inexpensive as this book is, you cannot afford NOT to get this book!

5 comments about Bob Ross' New Joy of Painting.

1. The instructions are clear and easy to follow with beautiful results at the end of each project. I reccomend this to anyone interested in the wet on wet technique.



2. As I have said before with Bob's white cover book. Bob has a step by step approach. His books are wonderful. If you have never picked up a brush or know how to read. You can follow his book. The book gives you that little push to design & make your own master pieces. He was a great great guy.



3. I have started painting after seeing bob ross pbs episodes. All the books are good for learning and improving.
   
   Very happy.



4. I purchased used copy. It was in excellent shape.



5. As before,each book is full to bursting with ideas and instructions to complete images.All are individual and well thought out.An excellent book yet again...!!

2 comments about Arts and Culture, Combined Volume (2nd Edition).

1. I personally felt the best thing about this text book was its beautiful images--the pieces of art are from all over the world, with varied mediums, differing meanings, and from differing time periods. The book is detailed and lengthy--it is not only ideal for those who thrive in artistry, but also for those who are studying the given topic.



2. This is the sort of book that a student buys for a Humanities class and keeps the rest of their life. Children growing up with this in the home will immediately identify the worlds greatest art and buildings having already seen it here in this book. This book represents an investment in a cultured home and is one the whole family will appreciate for a lifetime. The pictures are beautiful. The organization is state of the art.