5 comments about Book Arts: Beautiful Bindings for Handmade Books.

1. Ever since I turned from journal connoisseur to journal maker, I've been trying to find those rare books that teach me how to make interesting styles of books without the technical jargon and confusing stereo instructions written in some language requiring babel fish to decode.
   
   I prefer reading instructional art books that contain numeric step-by-step instructions and lots of pictures. After reading a few books in the stores on the subject and finding that most of them seemed to be written in that stuffy, old, college text book style with vary little pictures to reference, I was glad to find this little gem.
   
   Book Arts follows a project structure, meaning that it doesn't spend too much time on the history or rhetoric of bookbinding. Seckler drops you right into the process by quickly going over a few common terms (in list format, similar to my first introduction article) and giving you a general overview of common tools used in the process. After these 3 brief pages of introduction, she starts right on on the first project. There are a total of 12 different book projects, utilizing a few different types of binding techniques, ranging from easy (the first project is a no sew) to hard (two needle Coptic stitch binding). By name, these books are:
   
   * Memories of Paris (no sew)
   * Atlas' Secret Pages
   * Tag Flag Book
   * Chinese Star Book
   * Asian Serenity Book
   * Sewing Over Tapes
   * Long Tail Sally
   * Raven's Foot Binding
   * Geisha's Hideaway
   * Serengeti Piano Hinge
   * Two-needle Coptic Stitch Book
   * French Tunnel Vision Book
   
   So what makes this book so much better than many others? Well, for starters, it meets my top 2 criteria for instructional art books. The book is printed on glossy, full color paper and includes more than ample pictures and samples of hand made art books using the instructions within. Each project gives a complete materials list as well as easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions (some numeric and others not) that help you create the featured book from scratch. She also includes any corresponding templates for many of the binding projects. Seckler wrote the book in plain, friendly English and she offers many friendly suggestions while you attempt the projects. Depending on what my mood is, I can create a simple project and be done within a few hours or spent a lot more time on a more complex project.
   
   My favorite projects in Book Arts include the Asian Serenity and the Piano Hinge Books. I also enjoy the no sew book as it's one of the nicer hard-bound book projects that doesn't require sewing with needles and a steady hand. On a side note, a great thing to do and use for the piano hinge books are chopsticks. They make perfect binding sticks! I'll frequently go to Chinese restaurants and horde everyone's chopsticks so that I can use them as the sticks that get bound into the piano hinge books.
   
   Another big benefit to this book is its reasonable price. At $16.95 USD, it gives you a broad and artistic look at how to make several different styles of books with minimum knowledge and tools. Doug and I were talking the other day about how some books out there are written in such a way that they expect you to have nothing but the best tools and the most expensive leathers or materials to put into your books, not to mention the time and dedication needed to make such a tome. With Book Arts, you can start creating your own books with tools and materials that fit within your own budget.
   
   I will admit that this book is geared to the art crowd, so many of the projects may look and feel a bit more artistic or "different" than your average everyday journal. But don't let that turn you away from looking at the book for what it is, an instructional device that gives you a quick overview of all the different types of books you can make and how personalized creating these books has become. The projects are standard enough that you can select the materials that you want to use to make each of your books personalized; you can either tone it down or spice it up, however you desire.
   
   [...]



2. This book is not the one that will teach you how to bind a book. It is more like a photo album of "artistic" book designs, but they are too artistic to be really used as a binding for a book you'd actually like to read.
   The designs presented can be used to create decorative book objects, that's if you manage to get how to do it, as the instructions are very scarce.
   
   I also have Hand Bookbinding: A Manual of Instruction (Paperback) by Aldren A. Watson, and this one I can recommend, it's very instructive.



3. Of the several titles on this subject I've recently acquired, this one might be my favorite. It's a little warmer in tone than some I could cite, it covers a wide range of books and binding techniques, it's very well-illustrated, and it's approachable and yet never condescending. If I had to recommend single source, it would probably be this one, because it is broad and the potential for everyday applicability seems highest here.



4. This book is rather thin for the price, although there are full color photos on nearly every page. The bindings were neat, if you're into the style suggested by the picture on the book cover. I am not, so "beautiful" is too strong a word. I was expecting something broader in scope and less kitschy.



5. Perfect for Artists book class, a bit more advanced than the scrapbooking fad/craze. Would encourage all true artists studio and student to buy!

5 comments about Audubon's Birds Of America (The Audubon Society Baby Elephant Folio).

1. I bought this book as a gift for my parents, who are elderly and who enjoy watching birds and looking at pictures of birds.
   
   But when I later went to visit them I got an unpleasant surprise: this book is HUGE. Ridiculously huge.
   
   It's the biggest book I've ever seen. It's about the size of a computer tower laid on its side. Bigger than any unabridged dictionary.
   
   As a result my parents never use it: it's simply too heavy for them to lift. I'm not joking around here. They're afraid of getting a hernia or hurting their back if they lift it.
   
   So it just sits on the shelf gathering dust.
   
   Actually, not on the shelf, since this book won't fit on any normal bookshelf. So they just stand it on the floor.
   
   If you buy this, make sure the person you're getting it for is in excellent shape.
   
   You've been warned.



2. This "baby elephant folio" is indeed a tiny but complete book of Audubon's "Birds of America." It is a perfect edition to give as a gift to friends and family who are Audubon aficionados. It is great quality and the price can't be beat; I purchased several.



3. Having recently read the biography of Audubon, I was very interested in seeing the actual drawings. The book I read had a few of them in black and white, but I wanted to see a larger sample in color. I decided to see if Amazon had anything and was very surprised to see that they offered all of the original drawings in color for a very small price. I realized the book would be smaller than the original life size drawings, but was a little surprised to find that the book was so small. That is my main problem with the book. Otherwise - WOW. To see these birds in all their glory in full color is just breathtaking. Furthermore, when you consider the original size, to have shrunk them down and still maintain the detail and the beauty is quite impressive. One can appreciate the drawings without having read about Audobon's struggle to create and then publish them, but I would suggest this book as a companion to a good biography of Audobon. Once you have both, his accomplishment can be fully appreciated.



4. This book is spectacular. The images are breathtaking, and the quality of their presentation is nothing short of superb. Wow!!!



5. Let me qualify my remarks by first saying that I have not even seen this version. I have no doubt that the printing is of the highest quality, but I have a serious reservation about the organization of this book. Audubon deliberately mixed his birds in a non-taxonomic order to maintain a freshness and an element of suprise. I recently acquired a large format copy published by Welcome Rain, which follows Audubon's original order. The effect is a delightful romp through nature, full of suprises, drama and movement. He never intended it to be a catalog with all his ducks in a row, it was to be an experience. I have seen an abridged, small format edition of his paintings arranged in the standard, dull taxonomic order of a typical field guide and the effect is nothing like seeing them in the order Audubon intended. Rearranging the plates for convenience of listers diminishes this work, and to a certain extent, is a disservice to the artist. While I am happy to see that his work remains in print and is being reproduced at very high standards, I would hope that it would be viewed as a symphony, not as a random collection of notes needing to be organized alphabetically.

5 comments about 250 Stencil Designs from India (Dover Design Library).

1. this book has nice Indian inspired stencil designs. These are designs meant to use for making stencils, as the title indicates.



2. i thought i was getting stencils not stuff printed on paper! oh well its fine for that price and i think i can figure out how to use it with my henna stuff.



3. This book consists of small motifs and patterns. While the patterns are nice they are just black and white pictures. I wanted precut stencils which I could use to decorate. This book is for those who can use these patterns to perhaps make their own stencils. Not what I expected or wanted.



4. This book has many beautiful stencil designs in it. It is definitely useful for any artist looking for India designs.



5. Actually this book is not a stencil book but it's very inspiring if you're intrested in Indian motifs.I used some of the designs in my authentic graphics.

5 comments about Things a Woman Should Know About Style (Things A Woman Should Know Series).

1. I picked this up at a local shop and I have to admit I found the author's English attitude and dry sense of humour quite whimsical.
   
   However, as other reviewers have pointed out, it's an explanatory magazine essay in book form, though interspersed with quite wonderful quotes, such as « Une robe n'a de sens que si un homme a envie de vous l'enlever, je dis bien l'enlever pas l'arracher en hurlant d'horreur. » (Trans: A dress makes no sense unless a man wants to take it off -- that is, to remove it, not tear it off howling in horror.) And there are a few deliciously dishy tips, such as how to have a signature scent no one else has -- go to a cheap chop in France and buy their (invariably cheap) house scent, and then sadly tell those who compliment you on it that "it's not available in this country".
   
   In sum, I cannot frankly recommend it to anyone, but not because of a flaw of the book itself per se, it's because it's written both at an advanced level (making it insuitable for those ladies who are still looking desperately for style à la Audrey Hepburn at Top Shop) and at an elementary level (making it insuitable for those ladies who are looking for a way to seem a touch more soignée, rather than staying too safe and Sloane-y).
   
   However, this is coming from an American, and for all I know, British women are actually listening to Susannah and Trinny, so perhaps it suits in the home market?



2. This terrific little guide should be on every woman's shelf - especially those who want to transform their ultra trendy wardrobe into one that may be still "on trend" but kicked up a notch, sophisticated and chic. In others words, grown up.



3. I really enjoyed this book. It contains many quotes from fashion icons as well as helpful hits. You will be able to learn what is appropriate to wear and when it is appropriate to wear it. I read through the whole book and loved every page. Every woman should read this book and they will always be in style.



4. This book is full of many things we instinctively know... but it helps to hear them spelled out in plain English.
   
   So if you have a tendancy to splurge on purple bell bottoms on sale and green fluo platform sandals (that spend 3 years in the back of your closet never worn until you chuck them), this book is for you.
   
   I find it a good reference every now and then, to help keep my fashion priorities in place. And when I encounter a fashion victim hottie, it helps me to keep perspective and not go out and buy those pink suede cowboy boots.



5. this is not a terrible choice of a style guide for those looking for a classic movie star icon sort of style. it is excellent for bathroom decor and can serve as a beginning for someone looking to cutivate a style similiar to audrey hepburn, grace kelley, jackie o, or marilyn monroe. a word of caution, it is written in a very brittish vernacular.

No comments about The Artist's Guide to Public Art: How to Find and Win Commissions.

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

1. 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.



2. 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 Process Color Manual, 24,000 CMYK Combinations for Design, Prepress, and Printing.

1. This is an old book but it is still relevant to anyone who is designing for print. The book has every color combination of the four-color press process, in steps of 5% (i.e. 15% magenta, 75% cyan, 10% black and 25% yellow) in a grid format. You'll be able to accurately pick any color you are looking for.
   
   It doesn't have different paper stock, so that is the only part missing, but it uses the most common bright white coated paper.
   
   A cheap alternative to a Pantone Color book.



2. 20-odd years in the design industry and I have no idea why I haven't had a book like this yet. I've been mentally mixing colors for a long time now, and yet it's a fantastic thing to be able to see what that subtle difference is between 25c+100y and 30c+100y looks like in print. OK, it only approximates based on one press and coated paper, but at the end of the day, it's better than your monitor. So get the book and dispense with a good bit of guesswork. It takes a minute to get used to how to find exactly what you're looking for, but it's there!



3. I owned a previous version of this book at my last job and plan to purchase this for my own use. As others have said, it contains an amazing number of combinations not available in most books. It takes a little bit of flipping through the book to understand how it is laid out, but the concept is very difficult anyway to put down on paper. I think that this book has accomplished making it as simple as it can get while still being very comprehensive.



4. Buy this. Discover what you have been missing on this exceptionally complicated subject.
   Learn how to match the use of color(s) to your project.
   Take your usage of color to a level well beyond your experience with the easy to understand non-techno language.
   Excellent investment.



5. Well, I've been using CorelDraw for a short time, and this book helped me a lot about printing preview colors.

4 comments about Principles of Color Design.

1. I haven't got any formal art background and have found this book to be extremely useful. However, it may or may not get much higher - I can't tell since I'm a newbie, but I keep in mind my experience with some other books on other subjects: while I was a beginner I found them great; now I think they're just fine for beginners.



2. This is not the best book out there. The first section of the 5 section book goes into form and shape theory, which although useful in design, is just filler to give the book more pages. The color theory sections are fairly basic. I think there are better books out there, especially for the price.



3. It explains very well the color principle and some design techniques. It is a good book for beginning graphic artists with no formal art background (those who never studied art/GD in school). There are 5 parts to this book. Part one establishes desing principles, part 2 examines common color principles related to the use of color pigments, part 3 helps the beginner develop systematic color thinking with the aid of excercises, part 4 introduces priciples and techniques for generating colors on the computer and part 5 presents color sets and guides for attaining color harmony.

   Note, however, that this book is a bit outdated. It showed when trying to explain certain design techniques using old version Photoshop tool bar.




4. I actually perchased this book two years ago in college for an art class and have used it in almost every assignment and project I have completed there after.

1 comments about Arabic Art in Color (Dover Pictorial Archive Series).

1. The pictures are wonderful examples of patterns. I was looking for something with more depth explaining the structure and construction of the art.

2 comments about SustainAble: A Handbook of Materials and Applications for Graphic Designers and Their Clients (Design Field Guide).

1. This book is a masterpiece in both design and content. It is timely and applicable to all designers, but especially those studying in a university and/or art school environment. Each spread is a gem as is the cover. All aspects of the book are visually intriguing and the book teaches visually about good design while the content combines the need for quality design to be integrated with environmental ethics. It is a must read for all designers, or those who hope to enlist in the field in the years ahead. I will be recommending it to all of my students.



2. very important book on a crucial topic. while this is a very worthwhile contribution to any library, it is essential reading for anyone in the field of design or advertising.