5 comments about Unjournaling: Daily Writing Exercises that Are NOT Personal, NOT Introspective, NOT Boring!.

1. I recently purchased this book and immediately put it to use. I teach 8th grade writing and was looking for a book with prompts that would help students develop skills in all types of writing. The prompts in this book cover narrative, descriptive, expository, and persuasive writing. My students have seemed eager to write and share their responses to prompts they have been assigned so far. I also like the fact that an example of a response to each prompt is given in the back.



2. The quality of the writing prompts is beyond what I expected. I just received the book from Amazon and have used the prompts on writing students with great success. Highly recommended.



3. Not every student knows that he/she can write, and many students are hesitant to share personal experiences. This books is perfect for bringing out the writer in every student while allowing them to express their creativity without revealing their innermost feelings. Perfect start to a journaling activity or as a base for a more drawn out composition.



4. Writing and reading came to me about as naturally as breathing. Even as a child I read books the way other people eat popcorn, and when I was about 8 a family friend had a tee-shirt made for me that said "I'd rather be writing my novel" (actually, I had the plots for THREE different novels going before I was 10).
   
   Therefore, I sometimes struggle to teach writing BECAUSE it came so natural to me. Want me to write somethin'? Sure! Like Ishmael I cry "Get me a condor's quill! Get me Vesuvius' crater for an inkwell! Friends, hold my arms!"
   
   Until I remember that there are a great deal of students at every level of education who struggle with writing for various reasons: it's boring, it's too tedious and confusing to create and then animate characters, English grammar is boring and difficult, or--as Ms. DiPrince and Ms. Thurston point out in the introduction to "UnJournaling"--it's too personal.
   
   Actually, I hadn't thought about that last one. Not everyone is comfortable sharing details about their lives with classmates or teachers, and yet that's one of the most popular writing genres out there: "tell me a story about a time when..."
   
   That's where UnJournaling comes in. With 200 different prompts, excercises and story starters, none of which are personal, even the most reluctant writers can be drawn out of their shell.
   
   What's more, these aren't all just some story starter ideas, most are downright challenging, starting right off with #1: "write a paragraph about a girl named Dot, but use no letters with dots (i, j)" and moving right into #49 "you can use 25 words--no more--for a billboard advertising a product called `Zebra Wink'. Sell your product with those 25 words."
   
   The authors are clever. Slipped in prompts teaching metaphor and simile (describe a car by comparing it to food), generating topics, finishing starters, language use (use the word "crumpled" in three different sentences and create a completely different feeling in each sentence) and describing things in great detail both by using and by NOT using certain words. Of course, there is the distinct possibility that any of the 200 excercises in this book could lead to a full-blown piece of polished writing; many schools here in FLA require students to have at least 5 polished pieces of writing in 4 different genres, and to have at least 10 published/polished pieces of writing by the end of the year.
   
   These really are interesting, un-boring topics and I found myself highlighting many of them right off as I plan for the beginning of the 07-08 school year. "ooh! I could USE that!" I think, especially considering our School Improvement Plan heavily emphasizes writing this year, and I'm excited about sharing this book with other teachers in my school. In fact, I'm SO excited, I can hardly wait for the year to begin just SO I can use some of these prompts!!
   
   ...well... maybe not THAT excited...
   
   Highly recommended for anyone who teaches any child of any age anything about the process of writing. Get this book, and it will quickly both have a place of honour on your bookshelf. In fact, you might need two copies--the first will probably get dog-eared and worn out right away.



5. This book is chock full of really good ideas that will get students writing. The "answers", or examples of written responses to each writing prompt, though, will either limit the follower-type, or encourage the creative writer to think "I can write better than that!" For teachers, a good book to use for writing prompts - just don't share the examples unless the class is really at a loss. The prompts are a lot of fun; definitely not your run of the mill classroom self-starters.

5 comments about Art Making, Collections, and Obsessions: An Intimate Exploration of the Mixed-Media Work and Collections of 35 Artists.

1. Anyone who has the collecting gene will love this book. I liked seeing the displays of these artists' collections with examples of how they incorporated their pieces from their collections into art. There are plenty of varieties of collections and beautiful pictures to peruse.



2. Art Making, Collections and Obsessions is a stunning book. The photography beautifully captures not only the work of some of America's best mixed media artists working today, but also the collected objects these same artists turn to again and again in their studios for inspiration.
   
   While I savored each page for its incredible eye candy, there were some images in the book that were so beautiful I had to make a color photocopy to hang on my inspiration board. Just seeing these images every day, catching sight of them out of the corner of my eye while I'm working, touches a creative place inside of me.
   
   The image that haunted me is a tattered 18th century wedding dress surrounded by a flowing tea-stained curtain, a basket of straw and twigs (pg 55). The display was created by artist Ellen Kochansky, and is reminiscent of an installation one would see while visiting the Museum of Modern Art.
   
   I also enjoy Carla Sonheim's sweet little illustrations and handmade fabric accordion books (pg 32), Cathy Rose's incredible figurative work made from found objects (pgs 45 & 102) and Nina Bagley's gorgeous altered book (pg 99) that's embellished with freeform wire wrapping, twigs and fork feet.
   
   The other thing I really enjoy about Lynne's latest book is that she featured fine art from the first page to the last page. Many of the works in this book are pieces the artists would sell in contemporary galleries to sophisticated art collectors or museum curators. Nothing is "pretty" and perfectly packaged for a retail (consumer) market.
   
   I truly believe Art Making, Collections & Obsessions sets a new bar for authors and publishers of "craft" books. Thanks to Lynne for having the artistic vision to see this through.



3. I'm a huge fan of Lynn Perella's books and I would have bought it anyway, as I always did. This time, it is a new Lynn Perella's style, who goes, I think, further in the Art, and a little less in the Craft, as it is more about collecting than making. There are beautiful and striking photos and so far, I just had the pleasure to watch the marvelous pictures which make dream any sensible artist. The colors are also more white-neutral and calm in the hues than usually, giving us the wish to touch the material as much as admiring the textures.
   Forgive-me if my English is not so good, but I think you understood that I love this book, and I widely recommend it if you want to see something new and amazing.
   Yael
   Author of "Une Nouvelle Vie Pour Vos Objets" by Yael Bolender and JP Delpech, Didier Carpentier Publisher, written in French and sold at Amazon Canada and France.



4. Although I knew before purchasing this book that it was focused on the collections of different artists, because the lead person is Lynne Perrella I guess I expected it to be more artful. Although it was lovely to look at and the various collections were interesting, this book really isn't more than eye candy -- expensive eye candy. I would recommend that you go into a bookstore or library and look it over before you make this purchase.



5. This is a fabulous collection of some of the most noted Mixed Media Artist around. I loved every page. I know you will all love it also

3 comments about Learning to Love You More.

1. I bought this book because I am a fan of Miranda July's. I loved her movie and her book of short stories, No One Belongs Here More Than You: Stories. This book has none of July's original artwork. It is a collection of work done by other people based on a list of assignments she wrote. The assignments range from the quirky (create an object from your youth using only construction paper and tape) to the profound (spend time with someone who is dying and then write about it). July's brilliance lies in her ability to bring out creativity using specific assignments and rules. As a teacher, I can really appreciate the value of a good assignment. I also love her on-going theme of "it's not about you". Her assignments often remind artists to stick to the rules instead of being creative. Still, this book is an inspiration to be more creative: to create more.



2. Miranda July is great! This book invites us to create more art, in ways that connect us more to each other. Her movie and short story collections are also really beatiful.



3. this book made an awesome valentines present ((compared to the typical cards and flower alternative!))....it's a very fun, sentimental and thought-provoking book that makes you wanna slow down and take notice of all the small beautiful and day-to-day thinks in life!

5 comments about Masters of Deception: Escher, Dali & the Artists of Optical Illusion.

1. This is a very good book, specially in my case because i'm not an expert in arts or design and i could know the most important authors in optical illusions. Beautiful.



2. I was more than pleased when I opened this book. The examples and discussion are extensive and some of the work awe-inspiring. Masters of Deception is literally an eye-opener and highly entertaining.



3. Never had so much fun reading a book about art! I've always been fascinated by optical illusions, and this book describes and gives great examples of the various types of illusions and how they are created, and showcases various artists, both living and past.



4. I knew exactly what I was looking for and you made it SO easy to find. Thanks!



5. My 8 year old is an outstanding artist and I purchased this book to stimulate that ability. The book has graphic images of both male and female naked bodies and body parts. Not what I was expecting.

5 comments about Vitamin D: New Perspectives in Drawing (Themes).

1. As an artist myself, I have to first be aesthetically attracted to a book before I can look further, and the Vitamin series are truly stunning. In this edition, each of the numerous artists chosen get a two page spread, sometimes four. This spread included a lengthy blurb on the artist and images of their work. All I can do is highly recommend that you look at this book in person before buying it, and I think it will be nearly impossible to turn down after that. Great book to have in your collection!



2. Anyone who would call this art is either lacking an objective sensibility or has some measure of vested interest in the sales of this book. The "drawings" (lol) in this book are fine examples of why mainstream Americans no longer care about the fine arts.
   
   One reviewer actually used the word "refreshing" in describing the contents. Are you kidding me? Refreshing, perhaps, if I had only been exposed to blank pages my entire life.
   
   This is not art. This is the Emperor's New Clothes.



3. Vitamin D is an outstanding publication of drawings from contemporary artists which shows great depth in both subjectivity and theme, the one overwhelming issue seems to be the quality of the reproductions within. Context gives us the reason for this.. in that these are works by CONTEMPORARY artists and as such have not been digitized as throughly as say the often if not OVER reproduced imagery of Leonardo or Michelangelo, so yes some of the reproductions are less stunning however they are more than adequate and what is more important, they are reproduced well enough to spark interest in seeing the original. Artwork can never truly be reproduced, you must experience the original to truly appreciate the pieces. However Vitamin D does what it was designed to, as did it's predecessor Vitamin P, giving a contemporary overview of works and the artists who create them which have yet to be studied. These books are history in the making and that alone gives them more merit than most art publications. This series is more than worth owning and will prove to be volumes you will return to again and again.



4. If you are interested in a wide range of edgy drawings..this book is terrific. It is inspiring, informative and current...not a "how-to" but a survey of all the wonderful and strange drawings being done today.



5. Vitamin D, is complete inside and out. The binding is terrific, the type, the torn paper edges, the layout, everything that went into designing this book was well thought out. Its not only fabulous, but a pleasure to look through. The artists chosen are all exceptionally talented, and each with a unique edge. Nevertheless, all work presented will be a definite point of reference for many many years to come, including the work by my own mentor,and teacher.

5 comments about Embroideries.

1. I enjoyed this novel, but felt it was more a snack compared to the meaty content of "Persepolis."



2. Funny, heart breaking, insightful look at women in Iran, but could be women anywhere. The author is very good at getting precise meaning and acute issues across with just the right words. My new favorite author.



3. I have read this book several times, it is the funniest Marja Satrapi wrote. If you are a female Middle-Easterner, you will laugh out loud at the stories these ladies share.



4. my purchase of this book was but an afterthought. i only wanted to avail of the free shipping having ordered the two persepolis books. and i was not disappointed. true enough, it gave me a better understanding and appreciation of iranian women. learning a thing or two in the process. yes, their travails are as universal as the other women's. thank you for the endorsement.



5. I was disappointed by Marjane Satrapi's follow up to the fantastic two volume "Persepolis".
   
   In "Embroideries", the setting is an after-dinner tea party between several women of different ages telling their stories abut love and sex. The potential is fantastic to really delve into the beliefs and traditions surrounding these topics. But rather than tell the complete stories with depth, she merely flits over them, so that you get a taste but little substance. She tells the stories of about 7 women in 144 pages, but not narrative pages, comic-book style pages - this, like "Persepolis", is a graphic novel.
   
   While the story left a lot to be desired, the drawings are wonderful. In this book, Satrapi didn't use the panel frames she uses in Persepolis and that are common in graphic novels, the drawings are all over the page, less constrained.
   
   I'll still read her other book about Iran, "Chicken with Plums" and hope that she's returned to her evocative story-telling.
   
   I would recommend the book only to Satrapi fans.

4 comments about Studio Thinking: The Real Benefits of Visual Arts Education.

1. This book is an aid not just for the teacher, but for the studio artist. As an educator, I benefit from its cogent analysis, but as a dedicated studio artist, I find the Eight Studio Habits of Mind the first tangible distillation of the process and thinking that happens in my studio. There are so many books about what artists do and how to access creativity. Hetland et al have shown that critical and creative thinking is not a matter of magic or divine inspiration, but rather the result of a mind set that can be used by students and artists alike. This book provides the connection between the teacher and the artist and the artist and her/his studio.



2. Lois Hetlund and her colleagues have written an important book that grounds academic research firmly in the real world of schools. It is readable, accessable, and yet contains profound truths. Documenting and describing the sorts of thinking that can take place in high quality arts programs, the authors remind us of what a true education should contain, despite the teach-to-the-standardized-test momentum in many public schools.
   Here is an article about the authors' work:
   [...]
   Highly recommend the book.



3. Lois Hetland and Ellen Winner (et al) make a strong case for arts education for every child based on solid research. Their initial analysis of arts education research sets the stage for their in-depth, immersive inquiry into the practices of highly-skilled, professional teaching artists. The blending of theoretical perspectives with 'in-the-trenches' data collection, analysis and synthesis surround the types of teaching and learning occuring in the visual arts studio classrooms. Selecting such qualified teachers who also have vibrant art practices strengthens the relationships between the ideal professional who is an artist, educator and researcher. The practical examples will motivate teachers and the thoughtfully built argument for the arts in education will provide a valuable source for any advocate and policy maker.
   
   As a former K-12 art educator and current teacher of art education at the college level, I find this book a major contribution to the field and invaluable for pre-service and practicing teaching artists.



4. I am planning on posting a VIDEO review here very soon, to make my thinking on Lois's amazing book visible to the world.
   
   Please do think about getting this book if you are a teacher, artist, instructional leader/principal, policy maker or interested citizen who is interested in developing quality arts education...

5 comments about Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Faces (REPACKAGED) (Ed Emberley Drawing Books).

1. I discovered Ed Emberley in 2nd grade. I had always loved to draw and had some reasonable ability (after all I ended up going to art school and getting an MFA and teaching art in college...). What these books by Ed Emberley have to offer is a way of seeing, of breaking down complicated shapes into simple objects, and being able to put simple shapes and lines together into a complex unit. Which is an important visual skill for anyone.
   
   Through simple and clear step by step instructions, he demonstrates how to create a wide variety of characters and personalities, which gives younger children access to a sense of satisfaction. I recall the real sense of pride having made some of these figures. He also shows (though I do not remember if it is in this, all or only some books of his) how to change up the figures and invent your won, which is very important. Yes, the names are hokey and it has its limits, but showing children success does really help. And to be honest, when my son wanted a pirate ship, MFA aside, I picked up the purple book (another of his books) to the pirates' page.



2. I had this book as a kid and LOVED it. Ed makes drawing so simple any child can understand and follow along. I think every child should have some Ed Emberley books!



3. My kids are too young for this, but I purchased it because I as a child, had 1 Ed Emberley book and I drew, and drew and drew! I can't wait till they can have as much fun as I did!



4. I love to play at drawing and I always had the hardest times with faces and expressions. This book is great and breaks down the process with simple lines and shapes. The subjects range from people to animals.
   
   This would be a great gift for yourself or the artists you know and love!



5. My 6 year old and I have a lot of fun with this book. I am no artist, so I really enjoy learning and these are fairly simple. We were on a family vacation and drew for several hours making monsters and adding backgrounds and bodies or Princess/Kings and castles. It was very entertaining. We even tried using the simple shapes to come up with our own faces. We also got the train/truck book for my sign, BUT it's a lot more complicated.

5 comments about Gardner's Art Through the Ages (with ArtStudy Student CD-ROM and InfoTrac ).

1. The book came as described by the seller and the CD that comes with the book is has great resources for studying the chapters but I have never waited so long for a book to arrive from amazon, I ordered on the first week of my class and I got it the third week into my class which wasn't very helpful to me



2. I had to buy this book for school and I have to tell you, it isn't easy forking out over $100 bucks for a textbook. I have no regrets now after finishing my course and exploring this amazing Art Histoty book. It is something you will have for a lifetime and be glad that you do!



3. I purchased this book for a class; Ancient Art history. This book really is beautiful. Most of my textbooks I would resale once my class ended, but I definitely plan on keeping this one. The authors did a great job of giving high level overviews and thorough descriptions for each work; both in artistic form and historical context. I would highly recommend this book for both art enthusiasts and students.



4. The main strength of this book are the pictures - most of them in colour and all of superb quality. To each picture corresponds a section in the text which describes the displayed work in a vivid and informative way, cultivating the reader's ability to look at art, understand and appreciate it. Another excellent feature are the "boxes", containing e.g. a description of an artistic technique or an excerpt from an original written source.
   
   However, questions arise when it comes to more general parts of the text, e.g. chapter introductions aimed at conveying a broad picture of art and society of the epoque. Simplifications are expected, but they shouldn't be misleading - here are just some examples of the contrary: it's not correct to include Merovigians among the barbarian tribes (Goths, Franks, ...) that invaded the Roman empire! This is absent in the 11th edition but present in the 12th. Or, one cannot say that the Treaty of Westphalia granted religious freedom in Europe: that freedom mostly applied only to the local sovereigns, while their subjects were forced, sometimes quite brutally, to follow the religion of their boss. The Centre Pompidou in Paris is not quite a place of "popular entertainment", etc.
   
   Conceptually, the book follows a certain point of view, emphasizing e.g. the question of gendre - the reader learns, for instance, that the communities in ancien Grece were dominated by "white males" ... The authors have also decided to include some works which are not generally accepted as art - but is an introductory textbook like this a good place to redefine the notion of art?
   
   In summary, if you want in the first place to enjoy splendid pictures described in revealing yet understandable terms, go for this book. If you are looking for a more solid and reliable information, look somewhere else.



5. Wonderful Art History textbook. Very comprehensive. CD-ROM quite useful. Used this text for Advanced Placement Art History course in high school for 2006-2007 school year. Liked the book so much I purchased one from Amazon in May. The copy I bought is bound upside down (the cover is upside down compared to the text inside).

5 comments about Gardner's Art Through the Ages, Volume II (Chapters 19-34).

1. This book is a good starting point for those trying to learn about art history. It's used in many colleges and is well written. - Noga Rosenthal



2. I bought this text for my art history class, and I must say that the parts of the book about European art are great, but it fails with regards to its treatment of Asian, African and Native American Art. If I were a member of any of the above-mentioned groups, I would be greatly offended, because it just flies through those chapters, with a very Western way of looking at things...sad! The other sections are amazing, but this way of looking non-european art is common and I should be used to it by now! Since my course is based around this text, I must say that I am disappointed by my course too!



3. The book came quick and in new condition with a supplement and DVD that I was not even expecting. Over all, this is and great book with amazing picture and descriptions.



4. Although the text covers quite a bit, I can't help but feel a bit annoyed in its arbitrary, and sometimes misleading use of chronology. For instance, Heironymus Bosch is covered in the 15th century nothern art chapter, when it seems to me he should be covered in the 16th century northern art chapter, along with Pieter Breugel and Dürer.
   
   Of course this might be somewhat arbitrary too, but I can't help but be annoyed.
   
   Still, despite this one little problem I have with the text, it is very comprehensive. The works are very well reproduced, and in color too, which is delightful.
   I know this isn't a helpful review, but I'll conclude saying despite some disagreements I have with the organization of the text, it is still an award winning text and well written. Unlike other textbooks I have, I have no problem reading the chapters without falling asleep. This is a big big plus.



5. It came pretty quick and was in good condition.