1 comments about Come Look With Me: Animals in Art.

1. These "Come Look With Me" books are just awesome for getting my 4 yea old daughter to sit down and really look at a picture. It helps her to form and express her opinions in a very non-judgemental way and also introduces her to many mediums and styles of art. Very valuable in my opinion.

5 comments about Mad Man's Drum: A Novel in Woodcuts.

1. I first saw this book when a friend of mine bought a first edition for two dimes and a nickel thirty years ago. I almost stole it from him! This is one of the most fascinating novels ever made. Lynd Ward was an absolute genius. He helped pioneer the graphic novel. The wood cuts are sublime and filled with detail. What wonderful compositions! What a story! I've read and reread this novel many a time and I seem to see something different in it (and myself) every time. I was delighted to see Mr. Ward's works republished in a paperback format that decently represents the original. Since the original hardback version can cost a fortune, it's nice to have this so I can give it to others and let them experience this magical thing. Check out his other woodcut novels too!



2. Lynd Ward's Mad Man's Drum is a graphic novel in the truest sense of the word; told through the use of 128 woodcut prints, and using no written text, Ward tells a story of obsession and the tragedy that can be a result of succumbing to that obsession.
   
   Given that there is no text, the reader must rely on the imagery and symbolism that is presented in each woodcut; therefore, I believe that each reader may take something different from the story. Perhaps I am not the person for this story, but it took me several "readings" to feel that I was beginning to come to an understanding of what was happening, and I still don't believe that I have a true grasp on all of the nuances of the story. This is why that I feel a true review of the story would almost be impossible for me to write.
   
   Mad Man's Drum was Lynd Ward's second graphic novel, and is an amazing piece of art; however, given that the drawings are all in black and white and limited with the amount of detail woodcut prints can offer, I found it difficult to follow the characters and what was happening in each frame. While the basic principle is easy to understand, I felt the subtle nuances of the story are lost somewhere in the telling. I give it three stars for the complexity of the project alone. Perhaps someone with a better understanding of the psychological symbolism and imagery would be better suited to this book.



3. the progression of the story was excellent, and it is great to see the origins of the popular graphic novel today!



4. "God's Man" (1929) was Ward's first wordless, illustrated novel. It was a hard act to follow: masterfully illustrated, articulate, and thought provoking. "Mad Man's Drum" (1930) tops that remarkable achievement. In it, Ward shows even finer skills in his demanding medium, more evocative imagery, and more baffling turns of narration. The result isn't just a pointless puzzle, but a starting point for an exploration in thought, the kind that rewards the reader no matter where it leads.
   
   The format is stark: one black and white image per page, for over 140 pages. The nature of woodcut, in the style used here, is that there are no greys. The black-and-white blacks are truly black, and whites blank white. Ward overcomes that with mastery of fine line, and with "gray" carefully modulated in their alternation. One scene, an optical effect of light streaming though a cathedral window, is simply mind-boggling.
   
   Dover has printed these images beautifully in dense darks on heavy, opaque paper. Part of the reason that this book has been so long out of print may be that the technology for doing justice to Ward's images has only just matured enough to make books like this affordable. Don't assume that low price means inferior reproduction - Dover has created (or recreated) a book truly worth having.
   
   //wiredweird



5. This is a novel in wood cuts. It is a history of a family in the slave trade. You will be captivated by this story (remember,there are no printed words) each time you carefully go thru it again and again, page by page.

5 comments about The New Artist's Manual: The Complete Guide to Painting and Drawing Materials and Techniques.

1. This is a great book for beginning artists. It takes you through all the steps of painting using very logical and well thought out methods.



2. This book is excellent if you want to learn everything about painitng. It does not really cover drawing technique, be forewarned. This is his best book, do not buy "art class" or the "artist's color manual" if you chose to buy this book. Basically, he's complied both books into one.
   
   This book really does cover all materials:
   -paper and it's practical uses in concerns to specific mediums
   -brushes and their practical uses in concerns to mediums
   -Mediums: oil, gouche, egg tempra, watercolor, acrylic, chroma, pastels, charcol, conte crayon, ink (both traditional and modern), etc...
   -Mixing media [not to be confused w/color mediums]: linseed oil, turpentine, acrylic mediums (matte, gel, etc.), watercolor mediums, etc...
   
   It does have the same sections in "Art Class" like "where do I start?" etc. It takes you through starting from still life up to portraiture and beyond in this book. It has an additional area of subject matter which is about imagined subject matter.
   
   Overall, it's an excellent reference book, contains good advice on how to go about starting a new medium, and allows for creativity in using mediums by explaining how they work, advantages & disadvantages, starter pallet colors, and permanance.
   
   I would have given it 5 stars if it hadn't claimed to be a drawing technique book...you need a foundation in drawing before attempting this book.



3. This book covers just about everything, but is more informative on mediums other than oil painting. But it does give helpful tips that I had used previously, without realizing it was a standard technique used by fellow artists, but now I see why I've used them! For somebody that wants to do everything from the ground up, including making their own oil paint, then this is the book to own! Provides more instructional guidance than most other books I've seen/bought. Better artist's examples and more professional results with more advanced instructions than most other publications.



4. If you're an artist seeking the basics of how to set up a studio and use professional methods in a range of media, THE NEW ARTIST'S MANUAL: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO PAINTING AND DRAWING MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES is for you. There are so many new materials on the market today that there's an ever-present need for a comprehensive coverage of them: THE NEW ARTIST'S MANUAL provides such depth in surveying paper and paint choices, pros and cons of controlling output under different conditions, experimenting with materials and textures, and much more. An outstanding guide aspiring artists will want to look it - and it's packed with color examples on every page.



5. This is truly a useful and helpful book in explaining not just techniques, but materials: their pros, cons, and inherent challenges in use. But the binding should be much better. Chronicle Books has a history of putting out decent books with cheap and/or non-durable binding, which does not hold up well with repeated use. The spine cracks easily and then you have to be careful from then on to make certain that sections don't become loose. This is not good for a book designed for repeated reference and study. I would have given the book five stars, but for this serious flaw that Chronicle Books has.

3 comments about Medieval Illuminators and Their Methods of Work.

1. Medieval Illuminators has been invaluable to my own studies and construction of illuminated manuscripts. The author presents a timeline of the history of illuminated manuscripts, their layout, methods of construction and their purpose, couched within a socio-cultural context of the eras in which the manuscripts were constructed. I found the large reproductions of key manuscripts extremely helpful in identifying the minute brush strokes of the white work, which is often difficult to discern in smaller reproductions. The enlargements also provided lovely details of designs and images that are not easily observed in non-enlarged reproductions. Lastly, I appreciated the author's discussion of the monastic book lending tradition for the purposes of copying manuscripts to expand a library's holdings on a particular subject and the inclusion of illustrations to demonstrate this practice. This is a must have for anyone pursuing the study of this literary and artistic tradition.



2. This book introduces the reader to the people and processes involved in the production of manuscripts, and is interesting as a resource for methods of book production as much as it is for the insight it gives into the lives of the very real people whose efforts and whose lives went into the production of books by hand. With more than enough information to interest the scholar, this book is at the same time extremely accesible to the average reader interested in the subject. I would reccomend this as a textbook and as a good read, but would suggest that a reader have a good guide, such as Michelle Brown's Understanding Illuminated Manuscripts on hand, in order to best understand every facet of the material being presented. The book is clear and well-written, but a deeper understanding of the finished product adds greatly to the value of reading about their creators. This is a book I am proud to have on my bookshelf, for its readability, its attractiveness, and its value as a source for interesting historical information.



3. whether you are interested in the typical lives, education, training, as well as social status of the people whose work became immortal or in the techniques and tools used to create the magnificent pages.. this is a well written and interesting read. beautiful photographs of works in various levels of completion, numerous countries, schools and eras combined with well researched documentation and critiques makes this book an excellent resource. focusing mainly on the creation of illumination and explaining the lives of those creating the page, covering multiple aspects of training, techniques and changing social status throughout the decades leads to an overall thorough understanding. you will walk away not only being able to understand the illuminated page, its signifigance and constructuion but also those who toiled to creatre it. whether an art history lover, in love with the illuminated page or interested in the lives of people who lived centuries ago this book is a wonderful addition to you personal library. i wish my art history books were this well written.

5 comments about Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. This book is an invaluable resource for any business or collector dealing in silver (coin, silverplate, or sterling). This was a gift I purchased for a collector's library and the third reprint I've purchased over the years. A must-have book for the silver research library.



2. I got this book through inter-library loan on the advice of an online silver seller and hobbyist? expert? We are restoring an 1800s farmhouse in New York state, and have found various bits of silver and pottery and other things. Everything is quite worn and dirty from being underground for decades. I did a number of online searches but it was this book which enabled me to identify, just in the course of one afternoon, two pieces of cutlery -- one old silver, one less old silverplate, and be fairly secure in the ID because this book tells a bit about some of the marks, such as their locale.
   
   No resource is infinite. This book shows many, many marks, and the text tells of the history and relationships among many of the manufacturers. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone else doing research. Don't forget your loupe or other strong magnifier!



3. This is a good book for American Hallmarks BUT, it is extremely out-of-date. Also, many entries do not have a picture of the mark, making identification difficult. There must be a better book out there somewhere!



4. This is a "must have" for anyone who collects, sells or loves sterling silver.



5. this is the book to have if you are an antique silver collector. Wonderful addition to my silver library

5 comments about More Alive With Color: Personal Colors - Personal Style (Capital Lifestyles) (Capital Lifestyles).

1. As advertised, "More Alive With Color" makes it easy to find your, um, time of day. Of course it's easy: Eiseman's basic advice is, "If you're not a Sunrise or a Sunset, you're a Sunlight." This slap-dash, half-baked method makes sure you can categorize yourself, as long as you don't mind wearing colors that look hideous on you. Eiseman's method is just as limited as that of her primary target, Carole Jackson, the author of the original, "seasonal" color system, "Color Me Beautiful".
   
   While some of us may look gorgeous in some warm and some cool colors, that is not true for all of us. When I wear the "fruit" colors (with the correspondingly toned makeup) that Eiseman claims will look so great on me, people (usually men) ask me if I'm feeling ill. Follow the advice in this book, and you may make some costly fashion blunders.
   
   Many reviewers have mentioned the gorgeous photos in this book, and they're absolutely right; the book itself is stunning. But, if you want more than pretty pictures, look elsewhere. For the best advice on color, I'd suggest "Color Me Beautiful's Looking Your Best" by Mary Spillane and Christine Sherlock. The pictures may be outdated, the swatches unhelpful. But as long as you have the name of your expanded season, you can do an Internet search, and find places to buy fabric swatches from the expanded CMB system.
   
   Leave "More Alive With Color" on the coffee table!



2. Leatrice Eiseman's color concept is the best system for personal coloring I have ever used. Her theory can also be used for home decor as well. Great book!



3. I rate this book high, because I found it to be a refreshing change from the cookie-cutter "Color Me Beautiful" formula. It's not only fun, but accurate!!!! So, if you're sick and tired of someone demanding that you're a "Winter" and better not color your hair red -- but you LOVE being a redhead - this book is for you. Not only does it show you how to look your best through color, but teaches how to safely cross those old fashioned seasonal boundaries of the 80's "Color Me Beautiful" rules.



4. Disappointing book. I think I expected to read something new that I do not find in all the ladies magazines that I get at the grocery store. I didn't find it here.



5. I purchased this book because I "love" color. I devoured the old Color Me Beautiful books years ago and hoped this would be an updated look at colors.
   
   I was disappointed in every way. There is no "meat" to this book at all. The criteria for choosing your colors are pedestrian at best. The first three questions are: Which colors do you like best - stated in three different ways. There are no examples of people in your color family and by their criteria I could easily fit into two of the groups and with very little stretch...the third.
   
   It's a very short book and the ideas are never fully supported. It could have been expanded and made much better. Save your money on this one. I'm keeping it...so I guess that says something, but there's better stuff available.
   
   The only plus is they reference Pantone colors for each of the swatches so that you can get an actual, correct color (IF you own a color fan, which I do BUT unless you are in a job that utilizes it, the average person would not have access to nor choose to purchase this pricey piece of goods.)
   
   If you are buying this to help you with a new wardrobe, save your money and go for the old CMB.

1 comments about The Madonna of the Future: Essays in a Pluralistic Art World.

1. This book is a collection of articles and essays, most of which must have been published in The Nation, for which Danto is an art critic. They cannot and will not reveal any structured and clearly defined approach of art. They are an impressionistic progress through Danto's own writings. But Danto ignores anything that does not go his way. He ignores Bosch who is the negation of his « beauty » definition of Renaissance art. He ignores all those who deal with « ugly » subjects, even Goya and his drawings about the horror of war and many other subjects. He ignores television and video art, directly on these media (there is one instance in this book of the use of video art in a museum presentation : that is not television and video art, that is the use of video and television technology within the museum). He even relegates video and television art in the « demotic » field, that is to say art for the people, and this approach, borrowed from Hegel, is absolutely condescendent towards the people : people can only suck on the television pacifier because they are not able to understand and enter the sphere of real art. Danto is an aristocrat, like all art critics. He thus ignores the audience of art, the people who are bombarded with artistic forms everyday in the supermarkets, in films, on TV, and in all kinds of mediatic channels. Danto is a typical university professor turned into an art critic and who advocates and illustrates the dominant vision that art is IN the artist, IN the official art circulating system, IN the critic's analysis of it. I dream of a real republic of arts, arts FOR the people, WITH the people and BY the people. Not a submission of artists to the « uneducated » people but a constant permanent intercourse (and this implies exchange, and personal - even sexually and emotionally motivated - connection) between the artists and the wide audience that is bombarded with artistic productions. When I read Danto I think of what Spiro Agnew said about « ephete intellectuals ». Agnew was not a very kosher and clean character but he definitely had one point here : what is important in art is the effect it has on the widest audience possible through the various media that use artistic concepts and constructs to be effective. What I am interested in is not the self-satisfied belly-button titillation of artists or art critics but the real effect art forms have on people in general through channels that Danto does not even know, because he is totally locked up in his artistic ghetto. It's a shame because some of his ideas are interesting, orginal and even explosive. But he does not even know about it.

   Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

2 comments about Writing About Art, 5th Edition.

1. It's beyond cliché to say that a book has changed your life, but this little handbook - a supplemental art history text, of all things - ranks with scripture and great literature as one of the most personally beneficial books I've ever read. This may say more about me than the book, of course, but if you are the sort of person who finds it difficult to think about art, let alone talk or write about it, then perhaps this will give you hope.

   Professor Sayre starts this handbook with a simple thesis: everyone could write about art, if only they knew where to start. To prove his point, Sayre chooses pieces that most laypeople would consider indescribable (like the abstractions of Jackson Pollock) and teaches the reader, slowly but surely, how to really look at the work. With subsequent lessons on choice, composition, and color, even the most "non-artistic" thinkers will begin to see things in a different light... and then Professor Sayre will then teach you how to put those thoughts into words.

   If you are privileged enough to attend a school where the humanities are still actively taught, you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy of this book - your papers and grades will doubtlessly improve. But even if your chances of ever taking an art appreciation class are slim, if you have any interest in the subject at all, then I highly recommend this book.




2. Although I am not an Art History Major, I found this book to be very helpful when writing a paper about particular artwork!

5 comments about Perspective (Artist's Library series #13).

1. This book is a good for beginner artist and people who want to learn more about how to correctly draw perspective. For the price of the book you are getting a great deal of information about 2 point, 3 point perspective. I ordered this book for my college level class just to better understand perspective and it has taught me a lot that I have forgotten. I recommend this book to any artist who has had trouble with perspective and wants a inexpensive book to teach them that.



2. This was the first perspective book I went through where I actually "got" perspective. It clearly illustrates the principles in a concise and easy-to-read manner.



3. This book was ok if you have taken a perspective class then is really just a review and not really needed.



4. I had to use this book in one of my first drawing classes for college. The ease and depth which the topic of perspective is presented is easy enough to understand but, very useful for learning the proper art of perspective. I would recommend this book to anyone wishing to learn this fundamental principle that is perspective.



5. I really like this little book. I'm a nut about perspective, and this cheap little paperback clearly teaches you everything you need to know about perspective for most uses. It's definitely not very in-depth, but if you just want to quickly learn the basics, this is the book you want.

No comments about Town of Mirrors: The Reassembled Imagery of Robert Pollard.