3 comments about Stacked Decks: The Art and History of Erotic Playing Cards.

1. Interesting topic, interesting book. Good images, but resolution could be better. If you are into fine photography and a collector of cards this book is a good reference of this subject. Every card collector should consider getting a copy of this book. Emphasis is on the fine art and attractive models, and historic approach. A nice book worth the price.



2. Mark Rotenberg is the obvious choice to do a book on pin-up playing cards, the intro says the contents are from his 450 decks (the world's biggest collection? Probably!). There isn't too much to say about a product that has very few clues about the models, photographers, printers yet over the years the numbers manufactured must run into the millions of packs. Of the 452 cards in the book the majority show anonymous females in predictably unimaginative stock glamour poses that card printers could buy for next to nothing.
   
   I thought the illustrative cards much more interesting. There are a few showing the paintings of Heinz Villiger, Joyce Ballantyne, Al Moore and Gil Elvgren. Strangely no Petty or Vargas decks, were the reproduction rights too expensive? The best cards in the book are surely the two decks put out in 1955 by Parisian manufacturer Editions Philibert who commissioned artist Paul-Emile Becat to paint a series of miniatures showing erotic Florentine life during the Renaissance and another set about Casanova. When compared to these two decks the book's photo glamour material come across as the tacky cards they really are.
   
   It is unfortunate that the book's production is very dull. The cards are presented full on, with none angled or overlapping each other. The addition of a drop shadow would have given them a lift. As most of the cards are visually unimaginative perhaps a few still-life photos throughout the book would provide some interest: a poker hand on a card table with some chips, a scattered deck of cards as a background with four or five prominent. I thought it was particular annoying that so many cards are shown larger than the originals (and some really are too big) which only emphasizes their cheap subject matter and poor printing.
   
   If there had been more creative input in the way the contents had been presented I think this could have been a much more interesting book.
   
   ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.



3. Stacked Decks is fabulous! There are many, many pages of kitschy, campy 1940s through 70s "nudie" cards, featuring both photos and illustrations. Some are sweet in that girl-next-door way, some are sexy and sultry (or even a bit slutty), and some are just plain hilarious! There are also some really old cards dating back to the 1800s and some fascinating history. It's a perfect present for anyone who loves poker or is interested in pin-up art.

No comments about Vintage Feed Sacks: Fabric from the Farm (Schiffer Book).

5 comments about Electric Kiln Ceramics: A Guide to Clays and Glazes.

1. The paperback is not just a paper version of the hardback, which Amazon makes it sound like it is, but a whole different, and much better, book. The hardback (edition 2) has poor black and white photos and treats many subjects in very cursory way. The paperback has wonderfully original art in color, and is very thorough on ways of marking and glazing. I was not careful and now have a crummy 2nd edition hardback which I don't know quite what to do with.
   My 5 stars are for the paperback. I would only give 2 stars to the 2nd edition hardback.



2. For someone new to firing and glazes, this book is an excellent place to start. It explains things in simple terms, provides pictures and demystifies the process. While it doesn't provide an in-depth discussion of chemical changes and formulas or more than some basic recipes, it provided the basics I was looking for.



3. I'm still not sure we're going to invest in a ceramics kiln, but this was a very interesting book about the craft. Too much biography of famous contemporary ceramic artists (totally uninteresting - these are not names that mean anything to me, so, bleah), but otherwise interesting explanations of different types and techniques. A very worthwhile book - it will probably either galvanize you into investing in the kiln and materials, or turn you away from it, saving your money!



4. The images in this book are amazing! Every significant ceramic artists is represented. This is a must have for anyone who wants a complete guide to ceramic artists who use electric kilns. One of the best ceramic books available.



5. Contains a wealth of detailed info about electric kiln construction and usage, and about how to mix and use clays and glazes. The editor should have done a better job, because the wording is sometimes awkward and tedious, but it's still a good reference book containing very valuable information. Also has many excellent photos of finished work, as well as side essays about individual ceramists.

4 comments about Humanities through The Arts.

1. This book provides a thorough survey of pretty much all the arts (not just visual arts) using plenty of well-chosen examples, many examined in some depth.
   
   The organization of the book generally has a chapter for each art form, with each chapter mostly organized into various themes. This complements other books organized according to an historical approach.
   
   By the time one has progressed through the journey of the entire book, the diligent reader should come away enriched with new perspectives on life and reality.
   
   The one downside of the book, which isn't minor, is that I found much of the writing to be unnecessarily complicated and tedious. I'm not saying that the authors needed to "dumb it down," but I do think they could have conveyed their message much more clearly without compromising its substance. It's as though they just adopted a clunky, somewhat highbrow style at the outset, got used to it, and than ran with it all the way through the book, forgetting the needs and wants of their audience in the process. Lest one think I'm being too critical, consider the book The Annotated Mona Lisa: A Crash Course in Art History from Prehistoric to Post-Modern, which is both enlightening and a joy to read.
   
   The above issue brings my rating down to 4 stars, but I still certainly recommend the book because of the considerable value it brings to the reader. Just be prepared to be genuinely attentive as you read it. Your investment of time and effort will be well rewarded.



2. I love to buy my books on this web site because i never had any problems with orders.



3. I ordered using ISBN number as given by my university. What I received was not the same ISBN. It was the same title of the book, just the incorrect revision. I am doing an accelerated course, so the seller's offer of just return it for a full refund was not very helpful to me. I don't know if the problem was with the seller or Amazon. I am quite dissapointed that I got the wrong book. There are discrepancies.



4. Speedy and as ordered. If you are ordering this book for a class, make sure you get the correct ISBN number. There is a 2008 edition of this book!

5 comments about Drawing in 3-D Wacky Workbook.

1. As an adult, I purchased this book for myself. Yes, I know that it was intended for a "children's audience", but it also happens to be one of the *best* drawing books that I have ever come across!! In the past, I've purchased a variety of other drawing books, but my experience with such books really has been quite frustrating, as most of them are usually written by artists who are clueless how to teach...
   
   However, this is NOT the case with Mark Kistler's book! Mark not only knows how to teach well, but he also vividly understands how to make drawing fun, educational and best of all -- a true delight. For the first time, I find myself coming home and during my spare time, wanting to pull out a new sheet of paper and let my imagination go wild... In other words, have fun drawing all kinds of cool stuff!
   
   If you truly want a fun experience that will teach you to draw well, this is a must buy. I have been absolutely amazed, along with my family and friends, what I could draw. For the first time, I can make artwork that I'm proud to show others... and that's a great feeling!
   
   Take my advice -- BUY THIS BOOK!!! (I'm so glad that I did.)
   
   P.S. - This is the workbook. Make sure you get the regular book that this workbook was designed to go along with. :-)



2. I think Marks books are wonderful, hands down! My daughter did the Draw Squad book when she was 10 and now she's 14 and draws like a pro. She gets better every day, thanks to these books!



3. Mark Kistler has created a series of drawing books, videos and T.V. shows that teach and encourage children to draw in 3-D. His Draw Squad and Imagination Station books are full of fun, interesting and challenging drawing lessons. In this book, 'Mark Kistler's Drawing In 3-D Wacky Workbook', he provides a convenient and easy way to practice drawing and keep a drawing journal. The lessons in this book accompany another book, 'Drawing in 3-D with Mark Kistler.' This workbook provides space to practice the lessons found in the drawing book. I found the book to be a good way to encourage daily drawing practice. The lessons are compelling enough to keep children motivated. The characters are fun and friendly, and still challenging enough to keep children stretching in their artistic endeavors. The only downfall of this workbook is that it is directly dependent on the 'Drawing In 3-D' book and does not stand well on its own. Otherwise, as a practice and art journalling tool, it is helpful. I recommend this and all of Mark Kistler's books to teach children about art concepts and how to draw, draw, draw in 3-D.



4. Mark Kistler has created a series of drawing books, videos and T.V. shows that teach and encourage children to draw in 3-D. His Draw Squad and Imagination Station books are full of fun, interesting and challenging drawing lessons. In this book, 'Mark Kistler's Drawing In 3-D Wacky Workbook', he provides a convenient and easy way to practice drawing and keep a drawing journal. The lessons in this book accompany another book, 'Drawing in 3-D with Mark Kistler.' This workbook provides space to practice the lessons found in the drawing book. I found the book to be a good way to encourage daily drawing practice. The lessons are compelling enough to keep children motivated. The characters are fun and friendly, and still challenging enough to keep children stretching in their artistic endeavors. The only downfall of this workbook is that it is directly dependent on the 'Drawing In 3-D' book and does not stand well on its own. Otherwise, as a practice and art journalling tool, it is helpful. I recommend this and all of Mark Kistler's books to teach children about art concepts and how to draw, draw, draw in 3-D.



5. Mark Kistler has created fun, exciting, and challenging drawing lessons in his Draw Squad and Imagination Station books. Using a few simple rules, he teaches how to draw 3-D scenes, objects and characters. This book, "Drawing In 3-D Wacky Workbook", is a companion to Mark Kistler's "Drawing In 3-D." When used with "Drawing In 3-D", the Wacky Workbook becomes a place to practice the skills and characters taught. I like the fresh, fun drawings he teaches. When used thoughtfully,the book becomes an art journal, showing how you are improving as you go through the book. The skills learned can be applied in many and various ways. The only objection I would have is that it does not stand well on its own, but depends on the "Drawing In 3-D" book for it to make sense. Otherwise, it is a fine tool to help children practice their drawing and record their progress.

2 comments about Vincent Van Gogh: A Self-Portrait in Art and Letters.

1. It is a pleasure to see Van Gogh's original handwriting in his letters, accompanied by drawings and skecthes. Highly recommended.



2. I was so pleased to find this book in the library and after readint it I had to own it. I have many Van Gogh books. This one is espeically interesting since the editor minimized her words on the first page of every chapter. The words after that are Van Gogh's words taken from his letters to Theo and various others. I find it extremelly intersting to read what he wrote about his works as he did them. This is a terrific book.

5 comments about Brush with Acrylics: Painting the Easy Way.

1. Easy step by step information to follow along with. Great info on brushes and how to use for different techniques. I am a beginning painter and I am able to learn from this book better that any of the other books I have. You learn what basic tools you need to get started without buying out the art store.



2. I am a beginning artist who started off using the Bob Ross method of oil painting. I enjoyed the fairly simple ways that Bob had for making landscape effects. The only problem for me was in the wet on wet method, you pick up the wet paint from below. I worked through his methods to create some convincing mountains and tress and lakes, but then I wanted to try acrylic painting since acrylic paint dries faster. I researched quite a few books to find one or two that gave step by step beginner instructions and were close to the Bob Ross style of creating illusions of effects - as opposed to highly detailed or photographic style of painting. This book covers all of the basics and shows how to do things in a simple manner. The beginning talks about specific effects and then ends with putting these effects together in an entire painting. For what is there I would give it 5 stars. The reason I gave it 4 stars was the description of brushes are the author's own creations - i.e. for some of the affects you must buy his brushes. Most of the effects can be made with other brushes, but I would have appreciated the author using standard brushes that anyone can find. I have only been able to find his brushes from internet sites from the UK. If you look at this author's style and the style of those similar to his, you will get a lot of good information from this book. I bought this with the first in the series of the Jerry Yarnell books. Yarnell is slightly more detail oriented than Harrison or Ross for that matter, but still has some good techniques.



3. Terry Harrison has provided easy-to-follow instructions for creating acrylic paintings. This is the best how-to book I have purchased for working with acrylics. I especially enjoy how he supports the craft of acrylic painting rather than relegating it to a less than professional status as some art books do. Being able to preview some of the pages enticed me to make the purchase, but the book is well worth the investment



4. I am a beginner and found the book very helpful.
   There are very useful color mixing 'demos', which I find myself referring to often; also a good section on how to use various brushes to get the desired effect with step by step photos on how it is done.
   The paintings shown are beautiful - lots of inspiration!
   It is a how-to, reference and also just a book to browse through all at once.



5. Is inspirational but much like the watercolor book

5 comments about The Best of Brochure Design .07.

1. I bought this book to keep for myself, after borrowing a copy from my local library and exhausting my renewal opportunties. It is basically a gallery of highly professional brochure designs, beautifully presented with a strong emphasis on layout. Of particular value, from my perspective, was the inclusion of software used in producing most of the brochure designs. It is an excellent resource for any one interested in graphic art and digital design and a great book to keep for inspiration and frequent reference.



2. This is an extremely useful design reference for art directors/graphic designers. Although I do have to admit that it isn't as well rounded as I thought it would be. I have to agree with one of the other reviewers about designs that are more organic or traditional being omitted. However, for all those who are need reference for modern and contemporary design for brochures, you need look no further.



3. very good book about graphic design and in particulary about brochure.
   You can find very good and inspiring ideas.



4. This book features virtually no organic styles or traditional layouts. I felt the designs were very corporate, cold and modern Euro-looking, which I find has limited application for inspiring the type of design work I do (luxury goods branding and design). I did go through the book very thoroughly.
   
   If you're looking for a broad range of styles (traditional and organic styles included) this isn't the book for you.
   
   In general, Wilson Harvey books are great, but usually follow the above pattern.



5. If you're expecting the equivalent of a text book telling you how to be a graphic designer, you bought the wrong book. And truthfully, I doubt that book exists. This book is the gorgeous and features the best informative graphic design (brochures) in the world. A must-have for every graphic designer.

5 comments about Complete Letters of Vincent Van Gogh.

1. The value of Van Gogh's letters is not disputed. More the pity that the publisher of THIS edition chose to put these three volumes together the same as a mass market paperback, pages just glued in. There are no longer any color illustrations. All the many drawings are reproduced in poor quality, worse than a Xerox machine. Buy a used 1st edition instead.



2. I first read this set back in the late 1980s while in college, and I've long wanted to own a set for myself. With the recent discovery of a possible actual portrait photograph of him, I happily purchased a set to refresh my knowledge of van Gogh, who has long been my favorite artist. This collection is unique in the art world, starting when he was about 17 -- well before he started on his career as a painter -- and continues on until his death. It offers an infinitely fascinating peek into his motivations and his thought process.
   
   It is also infinitely heartbreaking to read, since, as all personal letters, van Gogh never conceived of having such fame that all his personal thoughts to his beloved brother would be seen and read by people all over the world. Reading such things as Vincent asking Theo for some money so he can buy some new underwear, because his current set is falling apart, makes me feel like an eavesdropper -- how hard it must have been for him to write it, and how embarassed he would feel to know others can read it so easily. Such inimate things happen over and over again in this collection.
   
   If you are fascinated by the creative process, by van Gogh, or are a student of art history, this collection is for you. It is a testament to Theo's belief in his brother that he saved all these letters, and that he helped fund his brother's passion for painting for ten years. This collection is beautiful, and well worth the price.



3. These are "THE" books to read by anyone who truly wants to know Vincent. He writes about his life and the people in it in great detail, and writes about his thoughts and desires on almost every imaginable subject. These books are a treasure to own.



4. Other Amazon reviewers have related to the three volume complete letters, with introduction and memoir. I will relate only to the letters of Van Gogh themselves , and that portion of them which I have read. They are surely one of the great documents for anyone interested in the connection between literary and artistic creation. They certainly too are a moving and frightening document of the inner life of a tremendously tormented soul and great artist. There is aside from this focus on Vincent the feeling given in the correspondance of what a considerate, helpful, wonderful brother he had . Just to listen to the rantings of a madman genius which often tend to repeat themselves and which however brilliant must often upset and throw one off one's equilibrium, is a great act of kindness. The friendship of the brothers is a great theme of this work. As for Van Gogh how tormented his soul how rich his creation.Those wavy lines those deeply clear eyes seem to express a kind of horror and fear no other artist can match.



5. This beautiful set of Van Gogh's letters starts with an introduction by his nephew (Theo's son) and a biography of Vincent Van Gogh by his sister-in-law , Theo's widow. It is a special set of books. The boxed set is very beautiful and I have it on display in my living room. I was fortunate enough to have seen the Van Gogh exhibit in Amsterdam ..., (and to have seen the Van Gogh exhibit when it came to the U.S. over 30 years ago. ...). I feel the artist's extraordinary family did so much to bring his art and writing to us, including this lovely book set. I thought the ... price was most reasonable considering what I got, and it made my trip to Holland even more special!

1 comments about 200 Projects to Strengthen Your Art Skills: For Aspiring Art Students (Aspire).

1. I purchased this book a month ago looking for inspiration to fuel my painting need and that is exactly what I found.
   
   I wanted to dive into the book before I gave any feedback on it, so right now I've finished over 20 projects and I have to admit, without the recommendations from this book I wouldn't have gotten as far as I have in my portfolio for this upcoming school year. Even just getting started on this book I can see my art has take on a new, modern, poppy form while still holding onto the fundamentals that I've learned over the years.
   
   "200 Projects..." wasn't intended to show you in detail exactly how to accomplish a project with each brush stroke laid out for you. It gives you a colorful yet challenging idea with practical tips and techniques and lets you just tackle the project in your own way to help you develop your own style. This is very helpful in the modern art world since fresh new perspectives are always needed.
   
   The book covers a incredible range of mediums to use from conventional watercolor, acrylic and oil paints to fabrics, mosaic materials, and even touches on photography; letting pallet blossom with new flavors to enjoy.
   
   If your and aspiring artist working on building a portfolio, looking for new inspirations, experimenting with different mediums and techniques, or just want to take your work to the next level I would suggest this getting this book right now! I wish i had this book years ago.