3 comments about The Art of Richard Powers (Paper Tiger).

1. The best cover artist of all time. No exaggeration. Some of the later work becomes, unfortunately, exceedingly literal--it's as if someone forced Powers to put Boris-Vallejo-like human figures into his abstract scenes in order to satisfy some PR/marketing goal. They don't make 'em like this anymore.



2. This highly recommended introduction covering the life of the artist Richard Power opens to a full-page color-embellished survey of 120 of the artist's fantasy images and contributions to the world of paperback illustrative art. An outstanding survey of images is created in an excellent keepsake edition for fans of science fiction and fantasy art.



3. Finally, a book dedicated solely to the works of the late Richard Powers... a dream come true. I was tired of always seeing him presented as one of many entries in books of sci-fi artists, shoved between others who were obviously not as talented as he. This is a true deal.... page after page of his beautiful/haunting/otherworldly art (yes, all 3 adjectives, and more, exist in each painting!). The reproductions are of a very high quality and clarity, some taking up 2 pages, allowing you to see the textures within the images. The text gives some very good insight on Powers' inspirations and personality, with some very funny stories. My only objections are - 1. There are a number of works produced in a fairly small format (4" x 4" or less) , and I would've gladly paid more if the publisher had enlarged them and expanded the page count. 2. No photos of Powers at work, just two self-portraits. 3. The text tends to ramble a bit, especially the first chapter, and I would have loved to see more art in place of it.

1 comments about Barnett Newman.

1. Apart from the Catalogue Raisonné, this is the best contribution to the understanding of Newman's work in recent years. It is the catalogue for an exhibition held at the National Gallery in London and, therefore, carries no surprise: All the masterpieces are there, arranged in a chronological order, beautifully illustrated and accompanied by an enlightening text.

2 comments about Meggs: Making Graphic Design History.

1. I had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to go through the Communication Arts & Design program at VCU with Phil as illustration instructor, and student advisor.
   
   This book, about the life and times of Phil Meggs is essential reading for all graphic designers and artists whether you knew Phil or not. It follows a time line up to his death, showing sketch books, projects and designs by Phil, giving a glimpse of this truly gifted designer -- while providing any creative visual communicator a recipe for gathering, digesting and interpreting visuals -- a creative shot in the arm to say the least.
   
   The rememberances of those last months, written by Libby Meggs (Phil's wife) noted illustrator in her own right, brought tears to my eyes.
   
   Bottom line: the graphic designer, illustrator or visual communicator now has a detailed map on how to get where they want to go -- creatively. And for me, when faced with difficult design projects, I finally have the answer to the question: "What would Phil Meggs do"
   
   This book is in the number ONE spot for nomination for "BOOK OF THE YEAR" at www.Design-Bookshelf.com and DTG Magazine. And that recommendation says it all.
   
   Just buy it.



2. If you were fortunate enough to have been taught by Phil Meggs or perhaps you had a professor that used A History of Graphic Design in class, then you must own this book.
   
   It's beautiful and touching. I will treasure it always with my fond memories of Professor Meggs.

1 comments about Six Monet Cards (Small-Format Card Books).

1. One of a series from Dover that includes Cassatt, Dali, Degas, Gauguin, Homer, Kahlo...you get the idea. Ridiculously inexpensive, you should collect them all. Once you have them, you'll resist ripping them out of the cute little booklet & mailing them. Maybe, like me, you'll keep them in a drawer by your computer as handy fine art stress relievers.
   
   Bob Rixon

1 comments about Monet's Landscapes.

1. Monet's evocative landscapes with their lush and subtle colors, thrilling use of light from various times of the day and the seasons, and varied locations of vantage have rarely been so beautifully presented as in this small but elegant book by Vivian Russell.
   
   Russell has visited many of the sites Monet painted and took photographs not only of the particular subject of his paintings, but also of the surrounding countryside, a fact that adds flavor of place to what must have inspired Monet. Not only does she include the coasts of France and Giverny, Monet's home and famous gardens, but she also traveled to Venice (some of Monet's most ethereal works are from this special haven), Norway, the flower fields of Holland, and the majesty of London.
   
   The photographs are superb and offer interesting information on what Monet decided to edit or to enrich with the impressionist's eye. Russell is a fine writer and her comments and sensitivity to include much information from Monet's letters makes this book not only a perfect coffee table tome, but also a fine adjunct to art students and collectors alike. Highly Recommended! Grady Harp, August 05

1 comments about Mirror Images: Women, Surrealism, and Self-Representation.

1. Although the publication of "Women and Surrealism" by Whitney Chadwick in the 1980s brought about a larger appreciation of women involved in the movement, there is still a surprising shortage of material published about surrealist artists such as Leonora Carrington and Remedios Varo. "Mirror Images: Women, Surrealism, and Self Representation" offers a series of insightful essays on these and other artists' images and ideas of self. Most interestingly, many of the essays discuss the work of Surrealist "descendents," including Cindy Sherman and Louise Bourgeois. Overall, very well constructed and written, with essays by the leading scholars in this still under-appreciated area.

5 comments about The Critical Reading Inventory: Assessing Students Reading and Thinking & Readers Passages (2nd Edition).

1. The April 2008 of THE READING TEACHER, published by the International Reading Association gives high ratings to the Critical Reading Inventory-2 for use with students in this NCLB and Reading First era. Eight IRIs were analyzed, and this inventory rated very positively.



2. The CRI II is a wonderful reading tool to assess students reading and thinking. Most IRI's are text based. The CRI II takes reading inventories to the next level, it assesses students critical and inferential thinking. We know reading is not just spitting back text based information yet it involves a deeper understanding of the text. The CRI II helps educators identify what students are not "thinking" while reading. The data gathered from the inventory helps teachers and specialists design lessons and programs that fit the needs of their students. Unlike other inventories, the CRI II passages are interesting and engaging. The students actually enjoy reading the passages!! I would have to say it is by far the best reading inventory I have used.



3. I am a huge fan of the CRI-2. As a reading specialist, it is a fantastic tool to identify strengths and weaknesses within a reader. I especially like the differentiation of the critical reasoning skills. The CRI-2 identifies areas of strength and weakness that the other inventories do not focus on. The CRI-2 is user friendly, parent friendly and an all around great tool.



4. It is hard to believe that Gluckman was talking about the same inventory that I used. The CRI is a breeze to learn; the instructions are crystal clear and there is a DVD in case you need visual learning. The 2nd edition includes a subset of words that are included in both the word lists and the passages so if you want to explore the relationship between isolation and context, it is a no brainer. Why the CRI would take longer to find appropriate levels is a mystery to me. Just read the manual--they explain all kinds of variations and short cuts for using the test. As far as the kids hating it goes, does anyone out there know of a reading test that kids love? For my money, the CRI has infinitely better stories and passages than the other inventories, and I've used many of them!
   The big advantage of the CRI over the others is that it tests the kids' ability to think about as well as remember what they read. I'll grant you that thought-provoking questions are tougher to score, but the web-based tutorials included with CRI 2 make it simple for even novices to score. The retelling rubrics are unique and I'll admit that they are a bit complicated but there is a downloadable program that will calculate those scores automatically. It will also calculate all kinds of word recognition and comprehension percentages automatically and that makes analysis and reporting really simple. The program will even print out a professional looking recapitulation record. As far as I'm concerned, the CRI is way ahead of the curve in assessment and technology. I've been down the road with the other inventories and I'm not going back.



5. I think the CRI is an excellent tool for reading assessment. I've had a great deal of success finding student levels quickly and effectively through the use of this program. It is easy to use and the testing results are much more accurate and clear than the IRI. I would highly recommend this program.

1 comments about Mexico and Modern Printmaking: A Revolution in the Graphic Arts, 1920 to 1950 (Philadelphia Museum of Art).

1. The book is an important scholarly contribution documenting an important art movement that reflected the revolutionary spirit that made the Mexican revolution possible.

1 comments about The Pennsylvania Barn: Its Origin, Evolution, and Distribution in North America (Creating the North American Landscape).

1. Now in a revised and expanded second edition, The Pennsylvania Barn: Its Origin, Evolution, And Distribution In North America by Robert F. Ensminger (Professor of Geography, Emeritus, Jutztown University) offers the reader an informative and in-depth study on a characteristic piece of American vernacular architecture - the forebay bank barn, which is also known as the Pennsylvania barn or the Pennsylvania German barn. Black-and-white photographs, diagrams, and a study of the evolution, uses, diffusion, folklore and future of this unique architectural work combine to make The Pennsylvania Barn a distinctive and aptly researched study which is especially recommended to students of American Architectural History.

2 comments about Art and Life in Renaissance Venice (Perspectives).

1. This little paperback is packed with great information and great pictures. A must have for anyone interested in Renaissance Venice, it's well-organized and very easy to read.



2. This book is a great introdcution to Venetian art of the Renaissance, through its views of the major artists of the time (the Bellinis, Titian, Pollaiuolo, Veronese, etc.), but it incorporates enough social, religious, and political history that one not only gets a more-well rounded view of the Venice of the Renaissance, but also is not bogged down in excessive stylistic analysis. This makes Brown's work a wonderful introduction to the Venetian novice, which many amateur art-historians caught up with Florence and Rome (myself included) tend to be.