1 comments about Erte's Theatrical Costumes in Full Color.

1. The Russian born fashion and costume designer Romaine de Tirtoff was known as Erte for the simple reason that was the French pronunciation of his initials "R.T." Erte was one of the most prodigious designers of the twentieth century, known for his colorful and audacious Art Deco designs. Even if you do not recall his name, I bet your remember having seen his work before. "Erte's Theatrical Costumes in Full Color" offers 49 plates from 1911 to 1975, with captions, of the work Erte did for theatrical productions, where his imagination was most unfettered and where his popularity lasted considerably longer than it did in the real world of high fashion. Erte was designing costumes for Mata Hari way back in 1913 and was still designing costumes and sets for a production of the opera "Der Rosenkavalier" in 1980. From a worshipper of Horus and the wife of Russian boyar to Aladdin and Faust, Erte displayed a wide array of exotic and historical styles in his dazzling costumes. The only real complaint with this collection is that there are only 49 gorgeous plates of some of his most stunning creations.

No comments about Maya Lin: Systematic Landscapes.

5 comments about The Acme Novelty Datebook.

1. beautiful drawings...no matter how self critical mr. ware was back in the day. the book really allows the reader into the head of a master illustrator. if you're looking more for a graphic novel, don't start with this one (try his first real freshman work jimmy c, or his ACME novelty library, probably my favorite - you get a real sense of what ware is all about - clean lines, insane, or better put, anal details). anyway, back to this one...great book, if you're a fan of ware, there's no reason not to get this one, and if you're not yet convinced, this is a nice piece just to have - these same drawings and doodles that once inspired ware himself, now get me thinking. love it.



2. I didn't think I would like this one. But after owning everything else the man ever made, I asked for this one for x-mas. Wow! I love it! There are spontaneous portraits of people on the bus, views from friend's rooftops, the rudiments of strips like: God, Jimmy the robot etc...
   If you are a Chris Ware fan YOU WILL LOVE THIS BOOK! If you are not familiar with Chris, best to start somewhere else.



3. The book is a record of an absolute monster drawing talent!
   It collects tentative investigations, as a scrapbook of ideas and odds and ends. The amazing thing about it is its vitality.
   Anything and everything becomes a source of inspiration and investigation into the nature of drawing. A coffee cup, a telephone in a waiting room, a washing machine, such mundane things seem to begin as notations but are transformed by Ware's observation of line and tone into their inner vitality - much like Van Gogh's peasant shoes. There are beautiful portraits. And beyond the observed notes, the book is positively brimming with characters, mutations, and cartoons from his eccentric imagination. The fantastical musings and the observed notations blend, merge together, separate like DNA strands through the book, adding up to a rich record of creativity



4. I just finished reading this, and it's a real treat. Fans of Jimmy Corrigan or Acme Novelty Library will enjoy drafts of these but expect differences in style. This gives a better look at Chris Ware than his other publications that I've read. You can really feel his frustrations in this work. I reccommend this to both fans and non-fans.



5. If you want to see inside Chris Ware's head, this is the book. There's next to no Jimmy Corrigan or Acme Novelty, just raw sketches of inspiration and internal struggle spanning 9 years of Ware's life (1986-1995). As an illustrator/designer, I found this book to be the most inspirational book I own, and I own many inspirational books. I definately recommend it.

1 comments about Fun with Rock Painting Kit (Art Start!).

1. Grandkids absolutely love it - bought one first and had to immediately order three more. Plan to get more to have on hand for birthday party gifts. (grandkids are 7 to 13)

1 comments about The Art of Placemaking: Interpreting Community Through Public Art and Urban Design.

1. THE ART OF PLACEMAKING: INTERPRETING COMMUNITY THROUGH PUBLIC ART AND URBAN DESIGN is a pick for any college-level art or urban issues library and for professionals interested in public art and urban affairs. It's an exploration of works within the public imagination and explores trends in public art, from 'mural towns' and street furniture to public areas arts, documenting two decades of public arts projects from around the country. Color photos throughout feature the projects while descriptions survey interactions with public agencies, officials, and decision-makers in the process of bringing art into the public eye and making design choices.

2 comments about Mermaid Song Volume One.

1. What a great book! excellent paints in a full color quality; I had all the mermaids books collection and this is the first volume in color. I enjoyed all the pages and I hope the second part will be as beautiful like this one. Many of the illustrations are like some of the first four mermaids books (but now in color) and this has new ones. Thank you amazon, I made a very good purchase.



2. Mermaid Song: Desires of the Deep is one of the latest, hot new releases from Sal Quartuccio Productions. 64 pages in full color of the most beautiful creatures of the sea that you have ever feasted your eyes on, brought to you by some of the hottest fantasy and pin-up artists in the business today. Mermaids are not a new subject for the guys over at SQP. They've already have given us four volumes in the Gallery Girls Mermaids series. Those were black & white volumes and color truly allows these talented artists to show their stuff.
   
   Leading things off with a mesmerizing cover is perhaps my favorite SQP regular, Arantza. I'm honestly not sure if there is a finer artist working today in this medium or any other than her...plus she's a hell of a nice person to boot. That cover is absolutely riveting. The softness of her work is what always catches my eye.
   
   Joining Arantza in this volume is Fastner & Larson, Bruce Colero, Pelaez, James Hottinger, David Dunstan, Malachi Maloney, Ken Barr, Maxx Marshall, Daniel Horne, and many more. If you're an SQP fanatic like myself, you know from this list of names that you are in for a treat with many eclectic styles of work.
   
   Bruce Colero is one of the most stunning digital artists I've ever seen. Colero's "Living the Fantasy" shows a lovely woman wearing a makeshift mermaid bottom torso and lying on a beach. Arantza's "Midnight Surf" is a hauntingly beautiful piece as a mermaid soaks up the rough seas underneath a full moon.
   
   Daniel Horne's "The jersey Mermaid" gives us an enticing blonde mermaid posing on the Jersey shore. Fastner & Larson's "Catch & Release" features their trademark playful humor as a mermaid has captured an impish fisherman. Dave Dunstan's "Hook, Line, and Swinger" is another playful piece as a mermaid is tempted by a fishing lure.
   
   I absolutely loved this new book from SQP. The art is some of the best I've seen from them!
   
   REVIEWED BY TIM JANSON

5 comments about Art of the Boot.

1. This book is a boot lovers dream come true! The quality of photography is excellent and the historical discussion brings the art of bootmaking to life. There are so many styles of boots represented here as well as bootmakers past and present from all over the United States. The art of the boot is a love affair that covers the world and this book gives ample voice and photographic interpretation to that subject.



2. Big rich photo detail (that many baby-boomers will appreciate.) The cowoby boots in this book are the closest you'll ever find to life-size.
   
   Tyler Beard asked America's finest bootmakers to send him their most spectacular boots...and they did, many remarkable pairs were made especially for this book. These new and vintage cowboy boots range from wowzie-zowie to "museum-quality." No pair could be counted as plain, or the least bit ordinary.
   
   This book is a must for every collector. Tyler gives an unmatched, detailed history of cowboy boots and portrays the life and lore of America's top bootmakers. (A few who have since retired or passed on.) This book is one of my favorites.



3. Cowboy boots aren't just your functional black or brown work boot; but can be works of art in themselves: just take a look at Tyler Beard's ART OF THE BOOT for evidence! In 1992 THE COWBOY BOOT BOOK was published to celebrate this fact; since then the number of boot-makers around the country has nearly doubled. ART OF THE BOOT combines Jim Arndt's lovely color photos throughout with in-depth surveys of the companies and bootmakers involved. Highly recommended for any with an interest in cowboy culture or boots.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



4. This book is worth more than it's monetary cost. Simply by the historical content so hard to find. I enjoyed reading it. The pictures are great and the fine examples are totally mindblowing. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning of "boots".



5. Howdy, For all of you boot fanatics around the world, Jim and I will be serving up a new helping of bodacious beauties in the form of "photographed boots" in an upcoming book, which will complete our boot trilogy. Start hollerin' and stompin' and callin' 1-800-748-5439 to demand what is rightfully yours!!!! The book will be published by Gibbs-Smith Books in 2005.

5 comments about The Curtain Sketchbook 2.

1. This is a valuable resource for any designer or person that sews. I have used sketches from the book for many projects. It provides a wonderful reference for clients to look through as well in order to get a sense of their style.



2. This book of only sketches is a great resource to jumpstart the creative process. I believe it is intentionally black and white so as not to distract with color and pattern. There are a wealth of ideas categorized so that you can mix and match within a particular category. It is a good inspiration piece from which you can proceed to either commission or design and create your own personal window treatment.



3. This book will not teach you how to sew curtains but it will give you loads of ideas for your window treatment.However, it is only ideal for those looking for classical designs since no modern styles are shown.

   It also lacks new creative designs, I always felt that each design is familiar to me.




4. The book contains line drawings of styles for all the various elements of a window treatment as well as ideas for dealing with different kinds of windows. The book decomposes window treatments into pelmets, valences, etc., etc., etc., with pages of line drawings of styles for each element. Then, it pulls the various elements together into a total look.

   I was leant this book, but I found it so helpful I bought my own. It has drawbacks. If you want something simple and/or you plan to make them yourself, this probably isn't the book for you. There are no instructions or measurements of any kind, just the drawings. But if you're working with a decorator who knows a professional, or are a decorator yourself, then this book will help your imagination run wild.




5. This book is really great for any windows. Mostly if you are a interior designer. It gaves you lot of good examples which curtains will good in what rooms with different types of furnitures. This book gaves you something that no one esle has. You will be the first one to have that design in your room before someone esle does

No comments about The Cambridge Companion to Velázquez (Cambridge Companions to the History of Art).

2 comments about China Modern.

1. This book is at the cutting-edge of today's modern Chinese interior design. The selection of the featured projects covers a wide range of style. Generally speaking, the majority of these projects are great works (except for one HK house). I have personally been to several of the places featured in this book. The text and the pictures captured the beauty of these places and provided rich information about the cultural values behind decoration and designing. Simply put, this is a high quality book. I can feel that the authors are really serious about the content and have done a lot of research. If you like Chinese style and modern decoration, this is definitely an excellent source.



2. written by obviously one of the region's foremost authorities on Chinese design and interiors having been in Hongkong with Elle Decor and other excellent publications for many years, Sharon Leece knows her way around the traditional feng shui and new leanings of the China elite as well as the western expat with a home and heart in Asia. Creative and informative text and fabulous photos take the reader on a trip into another world of China Decor uptil now unseen but sure to be come a trend worldwide. Check out her other China interior books for even more wonderful shots of lush and lavish spaces.