5 comments about Kustom Graphics: Hot Rods, Burlesque and Rock 'n' Roll.

1. An amazing collection of Kustom Graphic artists from all around the globe! Some you will recognise, and some a little more obscure.
   Hot rods, hot chicks, lots of gore and over the top testosterone fill the pages in this book.
   The quality of the artwork in all its mediums; air brush to screen prints, pen and ink to computers, is all high quality no matter what the subject matter.
   Definitely nor for the feint hearted or feminist minded readers, but that was not what this era was about. Kustom Graphics makes a great talking piece in the book case or brave coffee tables.
   Definitely a must for all those people reliving the retro years!



2. I ordered this book along with 2 other books from amazon.com, the books are great...but i ordered them NEW and when they arrived they were all 3 damaged, there was little or no packing in the shipping container, so they were tossed around in the container and all the cover corners were all bent or smashed and the Kustom Graphics book (which is my favorite of the three) had a torn hard-cover. I'm not happy about it...but I will live. (please use more packing in shipping containers Amazon.) Thank you



3. Where do I start? This book is a certified treasure!
   
   Okay, as a two-decade-long book collector, let me tell you up front the quality of manufacture here is first-rate. The paper and printing is as good as there is. The cover is a CLOTH-COVERED HARDBACK!!! (Yes, it has paper sleeve cover also.) Most hardbacks today have compromised shiny-paper outer layers which drive me nuts because they don't hold up well over time. (Read my other reviews, cheap covers are a big issue for me.) This book, by contrast, is built to last for decades. It is as solid as a brick. My hearty thanks to everyone who collaborated to build this amazing edifice.
   
   The art inside the book: Do you like any of the following subject matter?:
   
   >Beautiful, shapely, scantily-clad ladies;
   
   >Hot rods and muscle cars emitting ample volumes of smoke and flame;
   
   >Motorcycles emitting smoke, sparks and flame and often being ridden by grinning skeletons or skulls;
   
   >Tiki figures dancing and generally being mishcievous;
   
   >Pistons, gears, engine cyclinder covers and other engine components being embraced by the aforementioned ladies, skulls and skeletons;
   
   >Guitars, typically electric with an accompanying amplifier stack;
   
   >Wild animated creatures who are partying or playing poker (and probably cheating);
   
   >Exotic Freemason-type symbols and other arcane and irreverant nonsense;
   
   >Crazy monsters driving recklessly and DUI (probably with priors);
   
   >More lingerie tributes than a Victoria's Secret catalogue;
   
   >Samurai swords, handguns, LP's, water bongs, and more guitars, all being brandished by tattooed Bettie Page look-alikes and lovely girls in genie or belly-dancer outfits.
   
   The previous listings were part of a question. Do you like any of those things? If so, you will love this book as there are numerous crazed representations of all of these things, most of which are life's greatest delights, in my opinion. The images are playfully sinister and sinisterously happy. This is a book that both both children and ex-cons can appreciate!
   
   Buy this book now, as once it goes out of print is is certain to become a collector's item and the price will go stratospheric. This is simply a wonderful selection of top-drawer stuff, arranged by artist, most of which I had never seen before. This is definitely not just for the tattoo lovers, but they obviously will be first in line here.
   
   The only downside is that I'm going to be spending a good deal of time online this beautiful Saturday, trying to find out where I can buy some of these astonishing prints!!!



4. I think this book is absolutely great. Tons and tons of pictures. All high quality art for this type of genre. I purchased this book because I really dig Rockin' Jelly Bean's work but there are lots of great artists represented in this book. I highly recommend this book whether or not you're into hotrods, tattoos, and rock & roll type stuff. It's well put together and a great book to add to your book collection.



5. I can whole-heartedly recommend this book to anyone who's into Kustom Kulture Art; Without a doubt the best book in this genre yet. Here's a complete list of all the artists who have contributed; Should be pretty convincing...
   
   Johnny Ace and Kali Verra; Jorge "Dr." Alderete; Paul Barrow; John Bell; Tom "Big Toe" Laura; Michel Casarramona; Keith "Keiffer" Ciaramello; Johnny Crap; "Dirty Donny" Gillies; Etienne "Empire32"; Marcus "Dang! Industries" Evans; Daisuke "Fudemae" Maeda; Minoru "Mr. G." Goto; Grimb; Peter "PG" Gustafsson; Hiro "Wildman" Ishii; Jim "Too Bad Jim" Johnstone; Ken The Flattop; "KRNPX" Kurono; Felix La Flamme; Michael Leonhard; Makoto Kobayashi; Alex "So-Cal" Maldonado; Tyson Mcadoo; Jan Meininghaus; Mitch O'Connell; Sergio "Palami" Palamidessi; Ger "Dutch Courage" Peters; The Pizz; Vince Ray; Rockin' Jellybean; Rob Schwager; Chaz Royal; Sol Rac; Theo Terror; Märt "Ultra Bazar" Infanger; David Vicente; Mark Wasyl; Keith Weesner; Derek Yaniger.
   
   This is really a must-have book!

5 comments about Absolut Book.: The Absolut Vodka Advertising Story.

1. I love Absolut ad's and have always wanted to get one. They are expensive new , so I got an used copy from an amazon seller. It came quickly and I flipped through the book for about 20 min when it arrived 2 days later. I love all the ads and they are all so clever. I might not get some of the modern art ones, but I love the city ones in particular. Anyway, I got this book for my new house and new coffee table book, I think it is one of the best hardcover coffee table book (marketing story book) ever.



2. If you like the Absolut ads, this is a good book for you. It's what you'd expect - big pictures of the Absolut ads with explanations from the ad agency guys who made it happen. A fun coffeetable book.



3. Compulsory addition to the coffee table library. An excellent example of a clever, consistent, cutting edge branding campaign helping to position a generic product at the top of consumer mind. Absolut genius.



4. Absolut is one of the best selling vodkas in the world and the advertsing for it is second to none. In this fabulous book were are told the inside story behind the marketing and selling of this tasty treat. The paper is first grade and the pictures are outstanding to say the least. Absolut original with a bottle looking like a Roman ruin is probably my favorite one but there are so many nice advertising ideas that have become stupendous posters. Absolute Enivironment is also a nice one. This is a good coffee table book and a nice gift for the person that likes vodka and to read.



5. This is a wonderful, informative, and beautiful book.
   This book is about the Absolut Vodka advertising campaign. How it began, and what it is about. There are many beautiful, and breath taking images which makes you see the entire light of the campaign which looks so simple from the outside. Now, you get the inside looks and it isn't simple at all but an amazing experience.
   WOW!!

No comments about Fashion Inside Out: Daniel V's Guide to How Style Happens from Inspiration to Runway and Beyond.

5 comments about Dance Me to the End of Love (Art & Poetry).

1. A perfect match. A favourite painter and poet/performer in one volume. A complete delight and looks so good on the coffee table.



2. and well worth the read: That's How the Light Gets In: Memoir of a Psychiatrist by Susan Rako, M.D. Fans of Cohen will recognize "There is a crack, a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." Rako, a near-contemporary of Leonard Cohen, has given us a remarkably candid and fascinating memoir -- notably well-written and a great read. The writing just flows.



3. Dance Me to the End of Love (Art & Poetry)
   
   this is a beautiful book which joins Leonard Cohen's poem/song with Henri Matisse's paintings - a fabulous gift for someone you love, whether or not they are a Leonard Cohen fan



4. This edition of Leonard Cohen's song/poem with the artwork of Matisse is beautiful and the perfect gift for any engaged couple. If a man were to give this to me, I would have to melt before him. It could only be improved if a CD of L. Cohen was included with his deep, rich, smoky and phenomenally sexy voice bringing to life the dance.



5. It's hard to believe Matisse did not collaborate on this book. The perfect symbiosis of the poetry and illustrations truly dance you through to the end. I bought this book as a gift. I'm keeping it.

5 comments about The Best of Brochure Design 8 (Best of Brochure Design).

1. This book has great photography, layouts and ideas. It's cleary defined by brochure type with author comments that includes the best examples of great brochure design. I used this for ideas on a company newsletter. It's a great value for the money. I highly recommend this book.



2. This was a good buy; inspirational design--good resource for leading the brainstorming process. Recommended.



3. Great range of designs and pretty decent selections



4. The Best of Brochure Design 8 is a collection of creative and contemporary brochure designs from around the world.
   
   The book is divided by categories such as corporate, annual reports, products/services, arts and self-promotional. It offers a varied group of design ideas and examples along with the tools and softwares used for creating those examples.
   
   Graphic designers as well as novices in the field will get a jolt of creativity from the many designs in this book. In my opinion, it makes a great reference guide for anyone in the design field.



5. yes was quite disappointed in this book, did not live up to review in dynamic graphics magazine. has some good ideas but not always useful unless you have a large budget or a fantastic client who wants to go the extra mile!

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.

4 comments about Patterns: New Surface Design.

1. The cover is fun. It's a great size, but the content leaves a lot to be desired. The reproductions are poor. Many of the images are so small I can barely make out what they are. Some are not even patterns, just pictures. Although the book is full of images, there are only a few artists represented and their work is shown over and over (not the kind of pattern I was seeking). And the commentary is useless at best. This is not a book of the great work that is being done out there in the design world. Having said all that, there are some lovely patterns and interesting ideas here. I just wish I didn't have to work so hard to find them and learn from them.



2. This book has few words and many patterns. There are five sections, each devoted to a different type of pattern. Although I found I only really consistently liked the conversational, retro and organic patterns, I thought the range of different patterns and different mediums (digital, textile, hand-drawn, etc) was great. It would have been nice to have a little more information on how each subset of patterns has been developing, what the patterns themselves are used for, who some of the major players are and other relevant information.
   
   The physical package itself is very attractive, compact, has a good weight and feel and lovely paper stock.



3. This is a fantastic book full of wonderful pattern designs in many different styles... very inspirational! Great for textile or surface designers, or anyone interested in design. Also love the textured cover!



4. Loved this book! Tons of images and references for inspiration! Every time I see it, I discover something new!!!

5 comments about Shoes: A Celebration of Pumps, Sandals, Slippers & More.

1. I bought this as a gift for someone else but had to wait and give it to her after I read it. I originally bought it as a gag gift because the recipient loves shoes, but the book is really very informative and has some great pictures. It was interesting to see what some women will endure in the name of fashion.



2. What a cute little book. I received it as a gift and it was full of informative details and beautiful photographs of shoes from the old to the new. I loved this book.



3. I bought the book for my mother-in-law, but as I flipped through it, I wished I had gotten a copy for myself. Now I'm actually looking forward to visiting my mother-in-law so I can flip through the book. (heh heh)



4. very fun gift for the shoe -lover. Some content, some varying photos that are fun to look at and browse through.



5. Got my shoe junkie wife a picture book fix. Saving me money? Not sure yet!
   
   The book seems nice though; take that with a grain of salt. This is a husband who owns 4 pairs of shoes.

1 comments about Cath Kidston Book of Labels and Stickers.

1. A really lovely assortment of beautiful and useful stickers in all the classic Cath colors and patterns.

5 comments about The Monster Book of Manga: Fairies and Magical Creatures: Draw Like the Experts.

1. You're not going to be a master artist by reading this book, but here's what you can expect to learn.
   
   The book has lots of great examples of all types of fantasy characters in different poses. The book walks you through a 6 step process for the characters:
   
   Stick Figure - Work on the pose and proportions
   Basic Shapes - Block out your character
   Anatomy - Draw in the muscles
   Clothing or Detail - Add accessories, clothing, or details
   Shading - Pick a light source and add your shadows / reflective light
   Color - Bring it to life
   
   On each step, there is some text that points out some of the details and explains why the artist drew them that way and what it does for your characters.
   
   You can follow the examples in the book and you'll get good at this process. It will help you become a better character artist. If you need help on a particular step, the practice will help you out as well.
   With this book and some discipline, you can become a better artist.
   
   I've had the book for a month and I've gotten a bit better at proportions, anatomy, and shading. I also draw about 25% faster.



2. I own all three books in this series and I was pleased with every one of them.
   
   I must stress however that if you are seeking to learn how to draw then this isn't really a book you should purchase. They do go through various stages of each drawing with one or two comments but overall it isn't an instruction on how to draw manga.



3. This is the third in a series and the first the producers have concentrated on a specific genre, which is fantasy and magic. I own all three and I love all three. However, I don't use these to learn anything.
   
   The art in this book is outstanding. I find this book and the other two to be very inspirational. I look through these books to find ideas and even to draw what they have in the books.
   
   The downside is you will not learn anything from this book, especially if you are a beginner. They try to give you some tips and some progression pictures of each piece of art, but it doesn't help to teach you anything.
   
   Buy this book simply for the appreciation of the art that is in it. Look somewhere else for "how to draw" instructions.



4. I had really high expectations from this book....
   I you are thinking
   - it will teach you how to draw or colour
   - give you step by step instructions
   - teach you how to you media
   
   well then your wrong... its just like a cool coffee book with lots good illustrations.



5. The illustrations are beautifully done and there are step-by-step instructions on how to draw each model. The only problem with this manual is that it only shows one model for each character type, a bit of a disappointment since the ones that I usually get 3 to 4 four each type, and that some of the costumes are a bit raunchy. Otherwise, very good resource for anyone starting out.