1 comments about North Korean Posters: The David Heather Collection.

1. 
   
   To quote from Koen De Ceuster in the book's intro: 'Only if the poster appeals to the ideological and aesthetic sentiments of the people will it succeed in truly rousing the people'. The cynical might conclude because the people were not truly roused by these posters is a good enough reason to explain why the economy of the DPRK is in such a ramshackle state.
   
   The 250 reproduced are pretty lackluster in their creativity. This becomes apparent when compared to Soviet Posters (published by Prestel in 2007 and the same size and format) though admittedly they developed over several decades and had the benefit of talent like Lissitzky, Govorkov and Rodchenko to create political masterpieces. With a closed society like North Korea where creativity emanated from the two Kims should anyone expect anything better.
   
   Despite a sameness to many of the images some do stand out. A poster on page 233 is an interesting painting of four horsemen with flags, riding into the future (where else!). As with so many posters shown the groupings are the same: a soldier, woman farmer, steel worker and an intellectual. The painting style looks quite contemporary though. On page 251 has a diesel engine done in a very graphic style with the side of the unit incorporating bold type, the poster headline is in the same perspective as the engine. There are no dates or artists mentioned in any of the captions and looking through the pages I get the impression that maybe the bulk of the posters were created by a small group of artists and designers.
   
   There is a chapter called: Undeterred Defiance, with forty-five works hurling abuse and dire consequences at the US and some of these look several decades old. Covering the Korean war and later the capture of the USS Pueblo in 1968 and a US helicopter incident in 1994. These last two events, very minor in the scheme of things but as they are the only two things where the US directly affected North Korea their importance is exaggerated enormously.
   
   The book is identical to the Soviet Posters I've mentioned. The same 288 pages, color throughout, in 150 screen and also the same annoyance of having all the captions and page numbers sideways on each page (so four stars) but I thought the Soviet book's contents far more interesting. With two books covering the same subject I wonder if Prestel will extend the idea to Cuban, Polish and East German political posters?
   
   ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.

5 comments about Notan: The Dark-Light Principle of Design.

1. I bought this book on the recommendation of an artist I admire. Unless I am really missing something, this book is a major snooze. I got absolutely nothing out of it. It was a big disappointment.



2. Gives a very good idea of the relationships of dark & light in design.
   Took a class from Dorr many years ago. Glad to see her book back in print.
   I bought this book for my Grand Daughter.



3. This book teaches a basic principle that all artists/teachers should use when thinking/teaching composition whether you are working two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally. Notan is a simple design principle that focuses on positive and negative space. It uses six different exercises that could be used or adapted at any age level and should be a must for the art curriculum. It also offers great historical references. It is one of the best art books you could buy for under $10.



4. After reading this book and doing some of the suggested exercises, I became more sensitive to negative space and related design principles and better able to apply them to my art.



5. The Book Notan is a stimulating journey in to the World of design.Every aspiring designer should own this book. The excercises are sure to help in the devolopment of an understanding of the importance of "negative" space and it's relationship with good design. I would recommend this book to ages 12 and up, for those with an eye for art, or who would like to devolop their eye. I find myself returning to this book on a regular basis to refresh my Vision and kick start my creativity. An Exceptional Book!!

2 comments about The Japanese Tattoo Design Handbook, Vol. I.

1. With "The Japanese Tattoo Design Handbook Vol. 1, Cocoro Books/DHP Publishing showcases the new generation of tattoo artists in Japan: Back in Black's Hiro, Hori Toshi Family's Hori no Suke, Sangenjaya's Hori Taku, 56 Tattoo Studio's Hori Masa and Tattoo Church's Carlos.
   
   With a two-page introduction by freelance writer Steven Walsh on Japanese tattoos, the book is filled with full page photos of tattoo design by these artists.
   
   The book doesn't try to be what the other Japanese tattoo design books out there by documenting the history or even detail procedures of an artist. Its primary goal is to show off the works of the artists showcasing traditional and modern design. It's straight-forward and for those wanting images, this book is primarily showcasing the tattoos from the upper half of the body, to some full body shots.
   
   The tattoo designs by these artists range from complex, intricate, dark, colorful and beautiful. I was very impressed by the talent of the five artists featured in this book
   
   "The Japanese Tattoo Design Handbook Vol. 1 is a perfect resource for those interested in Japanese tattoos and a solid resource for those who need inspiration for their own design through the many photos featured in this book.
   
   Similar to other books released by Cocoro/DHP, included is a cardboard slipcase where the book can be placed in.
   
   And for those seeking an inexpensive resource of high quality photography featuring Japanese tattoo design, you really can't go wrong with this book.



2. I purchased this book, along with volume II, and I am glad I did. Tho a smaller book physically, it holds an awesome trove of beautiful art, and a larger glimpse into the almost flawless work of some of the Japanese masters. A must for reference if you like Japaneze irezuma, tattoo or not!

5 comments about The Complete Idiot's Guide to Creating a Graphic Novel (The Complete Idiot's Guide).

1. This had the usual "chock fulla" feel in the store but a closer reading indicates the author thinks too highly of his qualifications. The kind of people who latch onto this idea, then that, achieving nothing substantial, are the kind who like to tell others what to do and meddle in debates. I'd like to rate this book higher, but in the end it doesn't even reach the low level of the genre.



2. This book predominantly covers American stereotyped super hero comics. Although graphic novels, the best types, can be painted novels, or use mixed media or digital compositions, manga to realistic style - these aren't really covered in this book. The title is very misleading. The picture selection is extremely sparse and poor quality. The case study is silly. Overall ... uninspiring and dry.



3. Creating a graphic novel (or a comic book) is hard work. Getting someone to read it, other than friends or relatives, is an herculean task. This book is a good place to start, along with some fine books written by Scott McCloud.
   
   I gave it only four stars because of the shallow treatment of so many themes, but that's natural, because of the wide spectrum of subjets that the comic form implies. And I sustracted a star because the writing style... well, tries too hard to be funny, and it gets annoying at times (insert a joke here!- Ed.)



4. Very well thought out and organized presentatation. It guides the artisist/novelist to-be effortlessly through every phase of graphic novel creation.
   I truely enjoyed it and thought it was easy to understand even for those who are not familiar with comic book or printhouse jargon.
   I highly recommend this guide as one of the best I have seen.



5. Graphic novels seem to be quite the hot ticket. While most traditional English teachers would scoff at this genre as a serious direction for students, I find my at-risk pupils captivated by the entire process. Graphic novels help me keep their focus...I don't have them read too many, but I try to get them to write for me in graphic novel form. Some of them are unbelievably gifted, and I want them to see this as a viable avenue for themselves. I have a group of 4-5 who fight over this book regularly.

5 comments about The Dore Illustrations for Dante's Divine Comedy.

1. Book arrived in promised condition, and in a timely fashion. I would buy from this seller again.



2. This guy is pretty much in the same league as Jack Kirby. Whereas Kirby's all soft lines and images pancaked on the page, Dore looks like he's carving his cartoons into a tree. And all these scary demons and things look tired, like they've been running marathons all day. The victims kind of look like they're enjoying it, so I guess if you're into S&M, I could recommend it. Me, I prefer "Spawn" by Todd McFarlane. The Violator? Now that's a monster you can sink your eyeballs into. And I know it's like super-uber hip, but I don't know why these illustrators feel they are so special when they work exclusively in shades of black. Like my momma used to say, "A little rouge really accents the cheekbones."



3. The quality of this book - along with an amazingly affordable price tag - quickly persuaded me to pick up a copy. Its really everything you could ask for in an art book;
   
   The pictures are all very big, but not overwhelming; Its easy to see minute detail, and the overall scope of the image. I actually blew up some of the prints in photoshop and printed them on huge poster paper for my room, while not sacrificing a drop of detail.
   
   Also, I had to put quite a good deal of pressure onto the spine of the book in order to get a good scan from them, and im happy to say that doing so didn't even leave an annoying "bookmark" crease in the book, and the spine didn't even crease. Dover books really did produce a fine quality book, and the note on the back really is true: This book IS permanent.
   
   If you have read or are reading the divine comedy this book is a great reference to glance at every now and again to truly suck you into Dante's epic poem, and bring you to the Heights of Heaven, The Depths of Hell, or the pain of purgatory in a way you could never have imagened.
   
   The woodcuts done here by dore are so elaborate and vivid you could spend a good portion of a day just gazing into the faces of cursed souls writhing in hell, or the beauty of millions of angels soaring in the highest heaven. Dore illustrates every picture so full of movement and depth its the next best thing to a movie.



4. I have looked at a variety of Dante artists. Some well known and some are not. Suloni Robertson, John Flaxman, Willam Blake, Sandro Botticelli, Sandow Birk, Herb Roe. Do a google search to look at the works of some of these like Sandow Birk. There are some that are more obscure which in a way documents the Comedy, more specifically the Inferno. I'm not going to say who I don't like but Dore is the best. I am rather specific about artists. Dore makes the grade. He is good, really good and when you look at this book, you feel like you are in the terrible depths of hell. I like purgatorio too. I feel the religious prayer songs in my head as I see Beatrice's entrance. There is so much symbolism in these pictures, especially in Paradiso. Though I do disagree with the depiction of Muhammad in hell, the rest is fantastic. I mean that he looks more like he's British then Middle Eastern. I imagine him with blonde hair in the plate. The tortured look on Dante's face in the plate with Betrand de Born, (The cover pic) is extraordinary. I felt how he felt. That is why Dore is so good. I had also hoped for more detail with Ugolino because his story is fantastically horrifying.
   
   The book is a must for any Dante fan. I look at it a lot, even if I have seen the pictures hundreds of times. I really don't think that you can get bored with this. There is always something new to look at. Some detail you looked over. Buy this book because the scans online don't give the justice that this book has. Buy it, look it over, get inspired by it. Maybe we will see your work on Amazon in the near future.



5. The Illustrations from the 1st canto in the Inferno to the last of Paradiso are great because they help as a visual aid when reading the Divina Commedia. One can really see how and in which ways Dore, when he design the illustrations, followed the text very closely.

No comments about An Illustrated Life: Drawing Inspiration From The Private Sketchbooks Of Artists, Illustrators And Designers.

5 comments about Editing by Design: For Designers, Art Directors, and Editors--the Classic Guide to Winning Readers.

1. I like the book, but the hand drawn illustrations get a bit old about half way into the book. Great info though that I haven't seen in other books. Will be on my reference shelf for possible layout designs and tidbits of info. I would buy it again.



2. I use this book to teach my first year graphic design students. It has some excellent and simple illustrations. The layout of the book is very friendly and easy to follow.



3. First of all, if "Conflicted" found the book difficult to follow, so be it. Mileage varies from person to person. And I will agree, the cover is a disappointment.
   
   However, the part you couldn't read was a design element, not intended as text to be read; the **title** is printed in clear letters at the top of the cover. Second, this book is intended for beginners and - since we supposedly learn 90% of everything we *ever* learn by example - it tries to teach as much by example as by assertion. Hence, the informal style and wonderful profusion of examples. White **shows** as well as tells on almost every two-page spread - that's one of the major strengths of the book, in my opinion. Instead of distracting the reader by content-specific illustrations, he chose **very carefully** hand-drawn illustrations - and, by the way, mostly black and white to keep the book affordable. And for all that concrete terminology you couldn't find - try the Glossary that begins on p. 241.
   
   As I said, your mileage may vary. But to me, this book presents the basic concepts of page and type design for the beginner in a way that really worked for me. 30 years later, I still value it!



4. I have probably never learned more about any subject than I have with this book. Being the eternal student, I can be critical if a book doesn't teach me anything new, or pads itself out with extraneous rot. This book does neither of these things. It is concise, incredibly comprehensive, clear, honest and delivers much much MUCH. How I would love to get inside this man's brain and/or have him partner my business! The attention to detail and range of example is exhilarating. An exemplary work that could very well have delivered the bones of my entrepreneurial idea, or at the very least, given me the vim and knowledge to execute it. Thank you, Mr White.



5. The Good:
   The book contains an abundance of illustrations which can be very helpful. The author uses the text of the book itself as bad examples of design.
   The Bad:
   As a newbie to publication design, I approached this book as a student. I probably would have never even opened the cover of it if it weren't required for a class. The design of the cover (and most of the book) is horrible. I can't read the title and it does nothing to attract me visually. The illustrations are so sloppy they are unprofessional. Although sketches in real life should be messy, the sketches in the book should at least be interpretable. The author never uses any concrete terminology, so it is difficult categorize information as you absorb it.

No comments about Foundations of Art and Design.

4 comments about Costume Designer's Handbook: A Complete Guide for Amateur and Professional Costume Designers.

1. This book unfortunately was not what I wanted. However, this book is extremely detailed, and for somebody who is interested in stage or theatre costumes, very helpful in pointing the steps required to design the types of costumes for specific productions.
   
   I wanted a book to help me create costumes ie more of a pattern book.
   
   Amazon very difficult to deal with if not in Amercia



2. I bought this book because of the ratings and was disappointed. Yes it does give chronological information on planning and basics on drawing and a lot of info on working therater designs and with others. Great, but not what I needed. It also has a great reference section for doing the research you need to do but, I already had most of this info from other sources. I have a history and arts background and i needed inspiration. It did give me an inspiration to reorganize my art supplies!Don't waste your money if you are not theater oriented. AND I do mean theater.



3. I'd been assisting designers for quite some time, even designed some of my own shows, without an education in costume design. I have lots of great experience but I'm sure nothing can compete with a costume design education (mine is in fashion design), which I'd like to pursue when I have the time. I'm so glad I found out about this book! Every aspect of the process you need to know about is in here. It is essential! I can't believe I survived as long as I did without it.



4. This is a great resource for the design process. I especially use these guidelines for analysis of a play and characters whenever I design a show. A must have for anyone interested in designing shows!!

4 comments about Fairchild's Dictionary of Textiles.

1. I highly recommend this dictionary if you work in the fashion or textile industry. I refer to it very regularly and often use it as back-up when writing fabric descriptions in marketing material. The references are up to date and include many branded yarns, manufacturing techniques and fabric finishing terms.
   
   5 ***** Worth buying



2. We work in the fashion industry, and this dictionary is very useful w/ lots of words. A great help anytime! Great price, too, @ Amazon!



3. This book is great. I don't think I've ever gone to it and not found the word I was looking for. I wish it had a bit more pictures of some of the fabrics and such. But still, it is very good and there isn't one week that goes by that I don't reference it for one reason or another. I especially like that it offers origins of some textile words which is always interesting and helpful to know.



4. This is a great unique book for all textile related persons, it gives in details the perfect meaning of all the words used in todays textile field. I think this book is must for all textile related persons.