5 comments about 30-Minute Rubber Stamp Workshop.

1. if you are looking for specific project to make and have a certain type of aesthetic, then mccall's 30 minute rubber stamp workshop is for you. mccall's book has 27 projects, from decorative push-pins to bookends to a clock to wearables like pins, bracelets, and barrettes. the several pages of lists of tools and supplies was a bit daunting (but very very practical and useful); if you don't have most of these things already you will have to lay out some money. however, you would need most of these supplies to make any kinds of nice-looking projects using rubber stamping; once you have them, you can use them for projects other than the ones in mccall's book.
   
   i have to say that for the most part i don't share mccall's aesthetic. a number of these projects look fairly "crafty" to me and a few are even a bit crude-looking to my eye, although i also think that some of these same projects are also conceptually quite inventive. for instance, the clock project in the book is largely made from cardboard that just gets stamped on, and it never looks like anything other than a cardboard clock. however, an artist with some imagination could find a way to elaborate on mccall's great concept and use her directions to make something that looks more "finished."
   
   besides the clock concept, in this book my favorite projects (many of which i would use my own aesthetic to make, something that i think mccall fully intends) include the "art-a-tacs" that are pushpins with a flat ended marble attached. i really like what people are doing with the flat-ended marbles these days, making anything from these push-pins to jewelry with them. the tacks themselves are great, but again, i'm not particularly fond of the cardboard "utilitarian" look mccall incorporated with the pushpin holder. i also like the small book project, the leather spiral notebook (she shows you how to make your own wire spiral! nice.), the shade pull, and the shrink plastic button. mccall's examples with these projects are also the most visually appealing to me, and seem to have the most potential for people to build on based on their own color sense and stamp collections.
   
   i am building a library of books about bookmaking, papermaking, and rubber stamping, and at the moment i probably won't buy mccall's book. i checked out a copy from the library to evaluate it, and in the end i decided that given my limited book-buying budget, i won't get the kinds of instruction and the number of widely-applicable ideas that i'm looking for (the most bang for _my_ buck is what i guess i'm saying). nevertheless, i do think the book will be best for people who want to make the specific projects in the book--mccall's instructions are terrific, clearly laid out step-by-step with good photos to follow along as you go. and, later on, after i've bought what seems to me to be the most "foundational" books i need for my library, i probably will add on mccall's book.



2. I received this book promptly and in great shape. So far,I am enjoying the book and the new projects to try. Definitely was not disappointed.



3. What a fun, idea filled book! The step-by-step- photos and instructions are easy to follow and beautifully printed. I bought this book for my niece who is a new stamper because I thought the title referred to a rubberstamp workshop where you learn how to do all the basics in 30 minutes. Boy! How wrong was I? As soon as I saw the book I had to have one for myself too. There is so much information on both product and technique. There are also lots of time saving hints for those of us who need them. The whole book is written in an informal, entertaining style that is irresitable. I read it cover to cover and I RARELY do that with an instructional book. You will definitely get your moneys worth with this book. This artsy book is on "making gifts" and not "stationary" although there are some excellent stationary ides in the book. I've used several of McCall's ideas as a jump off point- tweaked them to make them my own and they have since become best sellers at my craft shows! Thanks McCall!



4. Unfortunately I read the reviews and very excitely order the "30 minute stamp workshop" and while the style is definitely artsy, the proposed projects are very goofy. Sorry, I just don't know anyone that is going to wear the stamped barette I make them or use the cardboard stamped clock. I really was looking for a book showing "non-cute" greeting card, stationary and journal designs that I can whip out in 30 minutes or less thanks to step-by-step instructions. Yes, many of todays paper art magazine like Inspiration do show artwork and list supplies but I wanted more than that, like this book, but in stationary form.



5. This book is somewhat mistitled. There are detailed projects but even better it is full of well spoken product descriptions and objecive recommendations.Tools are included as projects are carried out. A refreshing change from most stamp project books.

1 comments about Fantastic Creatures: 122 Bizarre Beings (Dover Pictorial Archive Series).

1. If you are looking for a book of cute little critters then this one is not for you. The figures are rather odd but very expressive. Most are neither person or animal; many with armour, cloaks, single socks and scabbards. It is a truly bizarre collection but for someone looking for something very different, this book is a gem.
   
   The drawings are line drawings with a little 'texture'. They would be great for altered books, collage or card art. I've taken to painting mine with twinkling H20s for a vibrant watercolour which suits these unusual creations.
   
   As with many Dover books - you can use up to ten images in your art copyright free. These are so delectable that one is all you need to make a statement.

2 comments about 42nd Publication Design Annual.

1. If yo work on a magazine yoy must know what the best are doing. This is the "Academy Awards" of magazine design. There are other competitions, but this is THE ONE.



2. Its an awesome book which inspires in a lot many ways.
   Its selected pieces of work so its less time consuming and v v spiffy
   Cheers

3 comments about Egyptian Designs CD-ROM and Book (Dover Electronic Clip Art).

1. As a long-time Egyptian fan I like this package as it comes with a CD ROM making use of the images within easier. It needs to be mentioned however, that this book is a re-issue of the older Dover publication "Ready-to-Use Egyptian Motifs" by Maggie Kate. What Dover has done is clever and inventive in re-issuing older documents while including CD ROMs and re-naming the book, but it is only mentioned inside the cover of "Egyptian Designs" that it came from "Egyptian Motifs". I accidentally bought "Motifs" online not knowing that its image contents were exactly the same as "Designs", which I previously owned. Other publications by Dover in their Electronic Clip Art series is very likely to have been treated the same way. Both books are good quality books and fun, I wish they had more images inside, but be aware if you do not wish to have near-duplicate copies.
   
   Note that the comparison above to "Egyptian Designs" here is NOT the "Egyptian Designs" by Carol Belanger Grafton (also a Dover publication). Her designs are unique and different from either of the books mentioned in this review.



2. I have owned this book and CD-ROM for several years. As a web designer, and someone specializing in Ancient Egypt, I have used this book so many times I have lost count! Filled with many images from turn of the 20th century resources and those from antiquity, it is something I have given to friends and has been met with lots of excited "Oohs!" and "Ahh's!" The copyright free art definitely can add alot to any article, website or project you are doing.



3. Great fun, you find a use. Many illustrations from 19th C. sources. Sphinx, mummies, mourners, chariots, gods, this book's got 'em all! As with the other Dover clip art books/CD-ROMs you can pull them off the CD-ROM without actually importing them onto your HD. This collection is among my favorites, along with Dover's books & reading, food & drink and animals software sets.

No comments about Essential Fashion Illustration: Details (Essential Fashion Illustrations).

No comments about Dore's Knights and Medieval Adventure.

2 comments about Illustrators 48 (Illustrators).

1. I guess I'm just a "Spectrum" kind of girl. Plus the publisher/edidtor or whatever person's idea of international is to feature mainly american and british artists. while that does meet the criteria of international, to compile the vast majority of the works from two countries whoes art history is so intertwined is laughable. also there aren't that many women involved in the book, both in judging/scouting field and in actual artist, which i find a bit disappointing.



2. This book is absolutely amazing. It has something for everyone: oil, acrylic, Illustrator, Photoshop, sketch, crayon, and so much more. I was hard-pressed to find much that made me wonder how it got in there.
   
   It is printed on high-grade paper that looks like it will withstand the yellowing of time.
   
   I can't begin to tell you how inspiring this book has been when I am blocked for ideas on a project. I have 5 books sitting on my desk that i have been pouring through over the past few months, and this one book managed to open the flood gates of inspiration for me to finish 3 projects in record time! Now that's worth it's weight in iPods.

3 comments about Black Magic, White Noise.

1. The editorial review of this book at the top of the page is accurate. The artwork is not for everyone, as it is quite bizarre. The publisher, Die Gestalten Verlag has sample images from the book online if you want to be sure the style is one you'll like.



2. The cover was beautiful and I expected the interior art to be beautiful as well. The book has 5 pictures of worth and rest is just garbage. I am very disspointed with this purchase.



3. Este libro de imagenes es realmente sorprendente, las imagenes te transmiten mucha emoción, mucha tristeza, mucha alegría. Excelente libro de imagenes!

2 comments about Mucha's Figures Decoratives.

1. This book is a reproduction of Alphonse Mucha's second commissioned portfolio that was published in 1905. It's main use was and continues to be to help artists with composing the body within unusual and interesting shapes. The bulk of the drawings are, as would be expected with Mucha, of women in various dress or in the nude. There are also a few examples of younger children. I found this book to be useful for practice as copying the various figures has helped me gain a better grasp of anatomy. My only complaint would be that there are no studies of men in the plates.



2. Mucha I love. His art is still very unique even today. It never seems old. This book is a good Dover book to see 40 plates by Mucha. They are presented in their original color. But I wouldn't recommend buying it because Dover has another book on Mucha which has 70 plates in original color. The 70 plates book is excellent and I recommend highly on getting it before it goes out of print.

   The works presented in this book aren't too diverse. They are mostly tinted in either red or blue.

1 comments about Dragons / Drawing: Learn to Draw Step by Step (How to Draw and Paint).

1. This book is the section about drawing dragons of the excellent book The Art of Drawing Dragons, Mythological Beasts, and Fantasy Creatures: Discover Simple Step-by-Step Techniques for Drawing Fantastic Creatures of Folklore and Legendin the larger version of the how to draw series of Walter Foster books. This also has the step by step
   instructions and outstanding artwork of the author Micheael Dobrzycki.
   If this book is of intrest to you I would also recommend these other excellent books about drawing dragons.Dragonart: How to Draw Fantastic Dragons and Fantasy CreaturesGreat Book of Dragon Patterns: The Ultimate Design Sourcebook for Artists and CraftspeopleHow to Draw Dragons (Drawing Fantasy Art)Drawing Dragons and Those Who Hunt Them