5 comments about Prepare to Board! Creating Story and Characters for Animated Features and Shorts.

1. Prepare to Board! Creating Story and Characters for Animated Features and Shorts - does what it says.
   This book will help you create a story and the characters within. I've read other books on storyboarding, but this book should be the one to start with. Then move on to Ron Bluth's - Art of Storyboard & Wendy Tumminello's - Exploring Storyboarding



2. Ms. Beiman's book is exceptional; it not only discusses storyboarding, but also the entire pre-production process, from character design to art direction to using cinematic lighting and camera angles. I'm never boarding without using tonal drawings again!
   
   I'm going to be the Teaching Assistant for the Storyboarding class at UCLA's MFA Animation Workshop in the fall, and I'm going to tell all the newbies to GET THIS BOOK!!!



3. This is a truly wonderful book filled with practical, concrete knowledge about how to plan for an animated production.
   
   In the past, I have seen a few somewhat superficial treatments of similar topics, and I was initially a little bit skeptical of this book. Suffice it to say that my expectations were vastly exceeded. Storyboarding is a central part of animated movie production, and it has finally gotten a definitive treatment in book form. This book is highly entertaining, beautifully illustrated, and really packed with information.
   
   Many readers of my own book Introducing Character Animation with Blender are interested in creating animated movies. I highly recommend that they take a look at this inspiring and informative book to ensure that they get off to a good start.



4. Well written and well organized, "Prepare to Board!" is a wonderful source for learning the ins' and outs of animation boarding.
   
   Nary a step in the process is glossed over or a stone left unturned. I'm quite impressed with the book all around, and have learned a lot about the inner workings of animation.
   
   A definite recommendation.



5. Initially I thought this was going to be a book only about storyboarding, but as the title suggests, it "Prepares" you for the story boarding process. It was great to have all the different aspects of character and story developement all in one book.

3 comments about Just Try It On: A Month-by-Month Guide to Shopping and Style.

1. I thought this book would be a good purchase after a quick glance through it. I am now about three-quarters of the way through and I have decided I think it is one of the best books on fashion out there, and I have read almost every single one. Redstone seriously knows her stuff. This book will teach you when all the best merchandise hits the stores, and Redstone counsels you on when to spend and when to hold off. For someone who generally is an impulse buyer and needs to control her spending, this book truly helps put together a fashion budget and timeline. There is so much detail in here, from what color sunglasses go with what hair color, to figuring out just how fancy you need to go for an occasion. If you are someone who loves pictures, there are none here for you; however, I highly recommend you make the purchase and read it.
   
   One trick I have already tried this week was the "two bag theory." I selected a smaller purse in which I put my essentials, and fit it inside a larger bag that holds everything else I need for work. It is so much easier and more stylish that carrying 2 bags all the time!



2. Redstone's objective it to help the reader determine the best time of year to shop for key items. She breaks down the merchandising schedule by month so shoppers know when the latest looks in certain items will hit stores. In addition, Redstone gives great tips on selecting pieces to cultivate one's personal style.
   
   If you're familiar with Tim Gunn, Redstone's catch phrase ("Just Try It On") sounds a bit contrived. But this book is a great complement to Gunn's Guide because Redstone goes in-depth with certain things that Tim Gunn only mentions. For example, Tim Gunn has a chapter about accessories, but Redstone has several, discussing jewelry (including a watch wardrobe), shoes, handbags, sunglasses.
   
   Overall, highly recommended.



3. Oooh-la la! Just what shopaholics and shopophobics need to make sense of the mall madness! Industry insider Susan Redstone offers a shopping plan and fashion formula that removes the guess-work and haphazard-ness of the shopping experience--and helps us guard against our dangerous impulses that only lead to shopper's remorse. The style is fun, down-to-earth and engaging. The first purchase every gal should make for 2008 is Ms. Redstone;s "Just Try It On!"

5 comments about The Private World of Tasha Tudor.

1. Beautiful book about a very interesting person and shows her lovely artwork. Love Vermont and the photographs were wonderful. Gave it as a gift to my daughter, who was very pleased.



2. I love this book. I saw her in Victoria magazine years ago, and then again in a bookstore, and finally ordered it on Amazon and read it from front to back in 2 days. I could not put this down. This amazing lady is living life as She wants to live it. This will transport you to a more gentler time, slower than today's crazy pace. You'll be inspired to live up to your own dreams. I love seasons, but I happen to live in a place where we don't have them, this book has enabled me to enjoy them when I need to. Her home and gardens are very inspiring and the photo's are great.



3. If we could all live in a fantasy world this book would probaly be more meaningful. Got this book as a garden/back to nature resource. Not for people who have to balance their families,work and of course money. Skip unless you are an absolute Tasha Tudor fan.



4. I bought a Tasha Tudor print for my daughter's birthday and ordered this book to go with it. It came just in time.



5. The book was a delight, and I enjoy reading it over and over. The gorgeous illustrations are a joy. Tasha has done exactly what she wanted to do in life...spend it simply, and creatively. She is such an inspiration, that I've bought several of her other books, as well as one of her videos, "Take Joy."

5 comments about Starting Your Career as a Freelance Illustrator or Graphic Designer.

1. so you want to go freelance... you really, REALLY want to go freelance? Tired of working for a boss? Want your own hours? Sleep late? Get this book, read it and then decide. It'll give you a well-rounded education of what they don't tell you in art school because what your professors were really interested in at that time wasn't your education, but getting a piece of co-ed you-know-what while they collected their paycheck.



2. This is simply one of the best books for starting a freelance art career that I've ever read. This book gives you very practical information about almost every detail of freelance illustration and graphic design. You'll find information on creating business and financial plans, setting up and managing a studio, billing procedures, creating a portfolio and marketing yourself to potential clients. I find a lot of books of this nature don't talk about the raw mechanics of business so much as they offer token inspiration and motivation. If you're interested in a book that will actually give you useful information about the business side of freelancing this is the one to buy.
   
   The only areas where it seemed to be a little on the thin side were dealing with taxes and the legal issues concerned with working for youself. Other than that it was wonderful.



3. I love this book! It's great for those just starting up and has covered each aspect of becoming a freelancer. Each time something has come up, I referenced this book and found the answers! Highly recommended!



4. 
   I really liked this book a lot. It was a very good first-hand book written by a small business owner about his experiences starting, managing, and prospering as a freelance illustrator and/or graphic designer. His writing style was not exactly stellar. But it certainly was clear. The 20 chapters included in the book fell into the following 4 topics:
   
   1. STARTING THE FIRM
   >>Where Do You Start?
   >>Off on the Right Foot
   >>Creating a Plan for Your Business
   >>Developing Your Financial Plans
   >>Forms, Charts & Templates
   >>Pricing Your Work and Getting Paid
   
   2. MANAGING THE FIRM
   >>Why Should You Freelance?
   >>Setting Up Shop
   >>Managing Your New Studio
   
   3. RAINMAKING FOR THE FIRM
   >>Bring in Clients
   >>How to Get Noticed
   >>What Goes in the Portfolio
   >>Marketing on the Web
   
   4. POSSIBLE MARKETS
   >>The Magazine Market
   >>Selling to the Newspapers
   >>Working with Advertising Agencies
   >>Selling to Book Publishers
   >>The Greeting Card Market
   >>Working with Art and Design Studios
   >>Selling to Small Business
   
   Since I am not an illustrator or a graphic designer I did not have much use for the fourth topic. But it was interesting to read about. I regularly counsel wanta-be entrepreneurs about how to start a small business; I'm a volunteer SCORE counselor. And the material covered in the first three topics above are exactly what I talk about with my SCORE clients. I highly recommend this book to anybody wanting to start their own small consulting practice. It does a wonderful job discussing the topics.
   
   My biggest complaint with the book is the tendency of the author to recommend outsourcing so many functions: accounting, taxes, and Web site design and construction. I think these things should be fully understood by the small business owner and probably done by the owner herself. When the business grows to have a few employees, then the employees can do those tasks if the owner wants to do that.
   
   I would have written the section on choice of business structure differently. Keep in mind that LLCs can be either single member or multi member. An LLC can elect to be taxed as a sole proprietorship (single member), a partnership (multi member), or a C Corporation. Also, a multi member LLC will have to file a partnership tax return. A good book on the subject that I recommend you read to supplement this book is Structuring Your Business (ISBN: 1593371772). I highly recommend forming an LLC and electing to have it taxed as a C Corporation. Just give yourself a bonus at year-end so the corporation retains no earnings. If your business is a corporation it is less likely to be audited by the IRS. 5 stars!



5. At first, I had heard that this author talks "down" to the illustrator when he is explaining things, but this book I actually found very helpful, true to life and there weren't any sugar coatings. I enjoyed how he wrote and he put things into perspective, he didn't talk down.

5 comments about Design Basics Index (Index Series).

1. This book was mis-listed for one of my classes, but after buying it, I found myself taking it everywhere with me and reading it anytime I had spare time. Every time you look through it, you learn something new. As most artistic people are, I'm very visual, and all the examples really enhance the book and help to cement the ideas and rules. Very colorful, helpful and ultimately FUN TO READ! I love this book and recommend it!!



2. If you bought this book your going to be extremely happy. I have 5+ years in design and I'm learning new things as I go through this book. It's teaching me things my teachers in COLLEGE did not even teach. This is hands down one of the strongest books I've ever read and the exercises inside provide so much great hands on experiments for you to play with.
   
   If you already spent the money to buy The non-designers graphic design book you need to buy this! This goes into so much great detail than I would've expected.
   
   All I can say is WOW. Great investment. I've totally changed the way I look at design.



3. This is the book that was missing in college. So what makes the difference between Wow and O.K. Read it, study it, do the excersizes... follow it. I wish every hobbist in the digital scrapbook world would discover this book.
   
   Jim Krause is one of THE BEST teachers of our time.



4. I had to buy this book for school, but I love the way it's laid out. It's very colorful, very informative, and it's small size with a strong plastic cover makes it easy to take with you everywhere or throw in your purse.
   
   I have learned a lot from this book so far.



5. This book covers the basics of graphic design and is great for a beginner. It's also worthwhile for any intermediate or advanced designer to have in their collection for review. It's a small book so it's easy to carry around and not daunting to read.

2 comments about Piecebook: The Secret Drawings of Graffiti Writers.

1. i myself grew up a graffiti writer and are quite familiar to all those who contributed art work to this book. it was well done the prologue written by sacha jenkins(another graffiti writer) was well spoken an hit home as we who grew up in the early days of this era of graffiti sub culture can relate to. the art was reproduced with colorful visages that brought it all to life again as if it was done a few hours before i bought the book. each page was a look back to yesteryear, reading the messages that were a staple of the times ''fresh,def,and many other phrases we used then bring memories of an earlier time when it was fun to do the graffiti and create styles of your imagining.special thanks to chino villorente (another graffiti writer) who took the time an the love to put this together!! i truly enjoyed this book tremendously and glad i bought it, any graffiti writer should have this book on the shelf next to all the other homage books of the street life growing up.



2. Piecebook: The Secret Drawings of Graffiti Writers has successfully compiled a who's who of writer's writers in a format that looks so legit, you'd swear you could feel the grooves in the pages left by pencils and pens... as authentic and realistic as possible, there are even a few blank sheets to get up yourself! I even tried to peel the sticker off the inside cover!

5 comments about Spectrum 14: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art (Spectrum (Underwood Books)).

1. You can't lose with Spectrum editions. They are all awesome and inspiring to anyone who loves art. Collect'em all and enjoy the art when ever your in the mood. I've browsed through each one several times and find something inspiring every time. Priceless...



2. I don't have the others nearby to judge from, but 14 seems thicker than previous installments. This one is paperback, and as usual, the color and print quality are good. Unfortunately, also as usual, cramming three or four pictures on a single page means that many are too small for you to really enjoy the details. Still, if you're a fan of fantasy and sci-fi art, I know of no better yearly collection of some of the best stuff out there.



3. I have purchased the last five issues of Spectrum and enjoyed this almost as much as Spectrum 12. I have just started puchasing the re-issued original issues and can say that Spectrum 1 may have fewer pages but still is well worth the money. I find myself looking online for the artists that impress me. I just wish there was more information supplied on the art shown. Overall, I would definitely recommend Spectrum 14.



4. This is my second purchase of spectrum books. 13 was the first one I brought. All I can say is this is one of the most stunning art books I have ever owned...that and after going through this one I may have to pick up all the other books. Every page is full of beautiful work from a wide arrange of different styles. I can't say how many times this book has saved me when It came down to me trying to complete a illustration. It constantly inspires me and makes me want to pick up a paintbrush or any drawing tool for that matter and create.
   
   Spectrum deserves all the praise in the world for the great effort that they put into all these books. To top that off most standard art books like this go for itleast double the cost. Love these books!



5. Like Santa Claus, Spectrum only comes around once per year and is always highly anticipated. This annual collection of the world's best contemporary fantasy and Sci-fi art is always a favorite not only due to its sheer size and beautiful production, but also because of its diversity in scope. Spectrum presents the best art from the fields of books, comics, advertising, editorial, concept, and even sculpture into each year's volume.
   
   As always, the book begins with a look at the year in review and the trends in contemporary fantasy art before getting into the opening category of advertising art and presenting the first of its gold and silver annual awards to the best in each category. This year's gold winner in the advertising category went to James Jean for his Retro-hip "Spacerace 2020" painting for Nike. This gorgeous pop-art piece is a tribute to Sci-Fi imagery of the `40s and `50s.
   
   I'm not sure how they could have picked a winner in the book category as there are so many outstanding pieces. While Jon Foster's winning painting for Night Shade books was very good, Luis Royo's offering for his graphic novel, "Dark Labyrinth". Adam Hughes took home the Gold Award in the Comics category for his depiction of the sleek and sexy Scarlet Witch from Upper Deck. As a long-time comic book fan I love seeing the industry's artists getting their just due as the outstanding artists that they are. Other standouts included Gary Giannni's standout art from the Prince Valiant comic strip that is in the best tradition of Hal Foster, and Charles Vess/Mike Kaluta's work from the Vertigo Comics series "1001 Nights of Snowfall".
   
   One of the categories I look forward to most each year is the dimensional chapter featuring the year's best sculptures and models and this year was certainly no disappointment. A. Brent Armstrongs mammoth 54" tall piece featuring King Kong atop the Empire State Building is simply breathtaking! The Alex Ross designed Superman resin sculpt by artist Karen Palinko features the distinctive look of Ross as Clark Kent rips open his shirt to reveal Superman's legendary logo. Shawn Nagle's "Tarzan and the Golden Lion" based on art by longtime Tarzan illustrator, J. Allen St. John, is another winner.
   
   Spectrum never fails to deliver a little something for everyone's taste and Spectrum volume 14 may be the best edition yet. Grade A.

5 comments about New Fashion Figure Templates: Over 250 Templates.

1. Probably OK for a beginner as quick template to try ideas out on. Stiff looking and one would have to change them alot to give them some style and attractiveness. Dated looking- seems like most of these books were written in the 80's and need updates, or should be more generic (if that possible in fashion).



2. I bought this book after reading the reviews of others. I am truly glad that I purchased it. It has been a great help. thanks for the reviews folks! :)



3. i love to draw and some times drawing figuers is time consuming and they have great templates for a fashion design and i love and body in fashion design and in collge for this its a great book a must buy



4. This book is ok. I agree with the other reviewer that it is best for entry level drawing. The croquis are decent minus the stringy hair, broad shoulders, and large, manly necks, but those are things you can fix. The color is horrible and many of the drawings just look downright strange and very much like strippers. I highly suggest to use this book as a starting point, no more.



5. This book has mostly everything I need. I can't draw male figures to save my life. And in this type of industry, I need to learn a lot more and do a lot more. This book gives me a lil boost up on different figure positions in a fashion design prospect. I recommend it to any level entry who wants to design or get into a fashion illustration field.

1 comments about Juxtapoz Tattoo (Juxtapoz) (Juxtapoz).

1. From the front cover to the back and everywhere in between, this book is well illustrated with many page size photo's of high quality. Even though in good tattoo magazines you might find some similar photos - and even better - this book offers an overview of today's tattoo art, in different styles, by some of the USA's more or even most talented tattoo artists.

3 comments about 79 Short Essays on Design.

1. But design is about everything. So do yourself a favor: be ready for anything."
   
   Many of Michael Bierut's 79 essays here appeared online or in other collections. The essays cover an enormous range of topics and touch on an incredible number of people.
   
   Each essay is set in a different typeface, ranging in age from Bembo, designed in 1495, to Flama, created in 2006. Every experienced reader is familiar with the colophones at the end of many books, and many of us recognize Helvetica, Bodoni, Arial, Roman and Times New Roman. At least one font stars in a movie; Helvetica "is a feature-length independent film about typography, graphic design and global visual culture," and has been well received by Amazon reviewers. (Virginia Postrel reviewed the book for "The Atlantic" focusing on fonts, and has a very interesting discussion with the director, Gary Hustwit, of "Helvetica" on the Atlantic website.)
   
   Bierut is a senior critic in graphic designs at the Yale School of Art. He is a co-founder of the Design Observer blog. He comments about graphic design in everyday life on the blog and on Public Radio International's "Studio 360." These stand alone essays aren't just about design. He muses on Betty Boop, the AT-T/SBC communications merger, Nabokov's "Pale Fire", the "National Lampoon", the redesigned Food Pyramid, the paper clip, the ClearRx pill bottle, how to become famous and how to deal with clients. Twyla Tharp and ITC Garamond. Massimo Vignelli and the cover of The Catcher in the Rye.
   
   Throughout these essays, Bierut's intelligence and experience in design shine through. Taken in small doses so that I could reflect on the richness here, I found these essays fascinating. Here's a short extract to illustrate my point:
   
   "It's not hard to see why innovation is becoming the design world's favorite euphemism. Design sounds cosmetic and ephemeral; innovation sounds energetic and essential. Design conjures images of androgynous figures in black turtlenecks wielding clove cigarettes; innovators are forthright fellows with their shirtsleeves rolled up, covering whiteboards with vigorous magicmarkered diagrams, arrows pointing to words like 'Results!' But best of all, the cult of innovation neatly sidesteps the problem that has befuddled the business case for design from the beginning. Thomas Watson, Jr.'s famous dictum 'good design is good business' implies that there's good design and there's bad design; what he doesn't reveal is how to reliably tell one from the other. Neither has anyone else. It's taken for granted that innovation, however, is always good."



2. These are basically posts from this guy's blog. It's fairly interesting, but I had a hard time reading it straight through.



3. Michael Beirut has collected many of the essays he has written for the Design Observer, a blog he founded with other designers with a focus on graphic design practice and process.
   
   Michael's seasoned perspective on the education of young designers, the events and experiences he turned to his advantage as a young person are enlightening and entertaining. He all but pleads to get young designers to recognize that design revolves around life, rather than the other way around. This book may present a challenge for someone not familiar with the personalities, and particularities of graphic design's inner workings. It is a fascinating and well written perspective on the professional's life, which is notable in that Michael is highly successful designer and a partner in the estimable multinatiional design firm, Pentagram.