3 comments about Play Pen: New Children's Book Illustration.

1. A gorgeous and effortless read showcasing interesting and varied children's book illustrators from around the world. The layout is simple and clean, with biographical info about each illustrator and then three pages of their work (or in some cases, five pages). Despite a pithy (but short) introduction, this is far from an academic text. It will, however, get you thinking about the nature of illustration for children's books and may spur you onto further reading or research. Plus the visual stimulation is inspiring!



2. Beautifully illustrated, with several examples of each artist studied, this book is packed with original works. Biographical information of the artists is included. Very interesting, diverse and often whimsical, the book is well designed to introduce contemporary children's book illustration.



3. In the Introduction, Martin Salisbury has an important quote from Walter Herdeg that pinpoints why it's so important to expose children to good art: 'The smallest owner of books has his special, private art gallery and a unique relationship to it, for he pores over his favourites endlessly, staring at them with a fascination that guarantees indelible memories of scenes and subjects - French, Swedish, Swiss, English, and many others.'
   
   The book offers a varied selection of the best of contemporary children's illustrators from around the world, including Mexico, China and Iran, as well as the more accessible Western artists. There is some biographical information about each artist, and a selection of beautifully reprinted illustrations. In addition, we get a few quotes from the artists themselves where they talk about their inspiration and their style.
   
   I was surprised to learn how many work entirely in the digital medium, even though you couldn't tell the difference from looking at their output.
   
   Less surprising was the note about the more cautious and politically correct approach to illustration that American publishers have, versus, for example, their Italian counterparts, who are much more open to experimental work that is not necessarily obviously aimed at an audience of children.

5 comments about Storyboards: Motion in Art, Third Edition.

1. I enjoyed much of the information that was given in the book. It was helpful to see the type of renderings were being done and to see how other professionals have been able to accomplish given tasks.



2. First of all, since my work is represented in the book, this could be seen as a biased review. It is not though. What Mark has put together for the 3rd Edition is so diverse and advanced, and in such great quantity, that a comparison to his previous book isn't really fair. Full color printing, samples of art at all stages from scribble to digital rendering, and a wide variety of artists' styles with a fair amount of work from each really make this the most comprehensive book available on the subject. There isn't an area of application I can think of that isn't addressed. I was taken aback by the size of this edition, and very pleased to see all the effort that went into it. This book has a dual focus of art technique and business that stays on message throughout, just like Mark does. It's a great book.



3. I've never seen a book that covers half of what this book covers on storyboards. I had no idea there was this much to doing storyboards. The new 3rd edition is also beautiful with tons of great sample art.
   
   Plus, the information is well written and easy to understand. I've been struggling to find an easy way to color my digital boards and this book quickly showed me how.
   
   You won't believe how big this book is. I can't believe it costs less than the last edition, and this one is in full color. I've always been interested in storyboarding, and now I feel it's something I can tackle.
   
   This is my new bible on storyboarding.



4. I was impressed by the amount of information they were able to cram into this book. I don't think that there was one aspect of storyboarding that was left out. It covers the techniques, tools, and methods artistically as well as how to approach it from a business stand point. This book has an overwhelming amount of examples(most of which are full color) of storyboard panels, useable forms, and reference. The recource section is invaluable to anyone in the field. It covers literally every aspect that I had a question about. I highly recommend this book!



5. I thought Mark's second edition storyboard book was a great resource for every aspect of the storyboarding business, but the third edition is even more complete at 400+ pages and has hundreds of storyboard examples. The examples are instructional as well as an opportunity to appreciate really great art from numerous talented artists.
   
   Plus in the 3rd edition there is lots of instruction on how to draw and color storyboards. No other storyboard book comes close to what this book offers.

5 comments about Interior Design (3rd Edition).

1. I was asked to buy this book for class and did not want to spend the money at first. Now that I bought it I am very happy. It has alot of important and useful info.



2. very nice book, a bit big and awkward for a textbook, but overall nice, quick delivery too. Great experience, recommend amazon for all my purchases! :)



3. This book is one of the prerequesite books required to the students for my Intro To Design class. Pile is very informative, but sometimes over my head in his descriptions. We use this book along with Ching and I find Ching to be in much simpler wording. The pictures are beautiful in Pile....inspiring. A big investment ($80.00) for the serious design student....and worth it, in my opinion.



4. This is one of several of Mr. Pile's books that are on my bookshelf. He is my interior design Guru. He has guided me through many an interior student minefield and brought me out unscathed and with a good grade. Again, good quality binding, paper, presentation, crystal clear text, great colour photography, and tons of information. Whatever I needed to find, it was right there. What more can I say?



5. It is really a marvelous creation. Pile has put together the most basics of interior design and put it into a exciting format for an introduction to interior design survey course. All the in the pictures in the book are beautifully put together and the book contains continuous harmony with each page you turn.

2 comments about Visual Forces: An Introduction to Design (2nd Edition).

1. This book is good for beginners. It has the basic design principles to consider when creating art. It doesn't take the place of class, however. A good instructor is more helpful because they can look at your work and assist you hands on. The book is still pretty good but not very flashy.I've been looking for design books and haven't found very many good ones. I liked this one better than any of the others.



2. Circumstances are such that I've been forced into a crash course-type study of composition for the past two months. I've been buying many books and checking them out from the library as well. I find it amazing that there is so much original information in each book, given that they are all discussing approximately the same thing. My conclusion about this aspect is that composition is an extremely complex and rich subject. (That fact is probably supremely obvious to any seasoned artists reading this.)
   
   "Visual Forces" by Benjamin Martinez is one of the books that covers many design AND composition topics well and also has much that the other books I've read so far didn't cover. Or at least you don't have to dig to find the information. The payoff for time invested is high. With two pages per topic and excellent illustrations, the point is made and then you're ready to go on to the next point which is logically connected.
   
   One two-page topic that stands out is the one on using depth cues to control eye movement. It uses an illustration that shows how the eye rests briefly at each spot where a different level of depth occurs. With two pages per topic and 228 pages, Visual Forces is a great value and a vital addition to any collection of books on design and/or composition. The concepts it illuminates can be applied to many design disciplines, including furniture design, drawing, painting, sculpture, multimedia creations and so on.

2 comments about Stop Motion: Passion, Process and Performance.

1. When I first started animating, there were no books on stopmotion, only books on 2-D cartooning and filmmaking. Even so, they were dated.
   
   Since then, a few books about the craft came out, but this is the only book I've ever read that was written from the point of view of a professional stopmotion animator that covers the "why" more than the "how" aspect of putting a soul into a puppet and making it move in a way that removes all doubt in the viewer that it is, in fact, alive.
   
   I found the book to be inspiring and so full of useful information, that I've had it for more than a week already and still haven't finished reading it.
   
   A must-buy for anyone who is making their own stopmotion-animated film.



2. I've got pretty much all the stopmotion books in print, and this one is really something else entirely. It's not a text, not a beginner's lesson book and not just an appreciation for the art form (and, as Mr. Purves proves, it really IS an artform). Rather it's a very passionate reflection on the creative process of making stopmotion, and on the larger aspects of creativity in general. Barry is one of the best among animators.... and has frequently been writer and director of his own films, resulting in some of the most startling and original animation to date (such as his brilliant Achilles or my favorite Rigoletto). He expounds with great articulateness and intelligence on the strengths and weaknesses of the various forms of animation, revealing his obvious love for stopmotion above all the rest. And as he does, he reveals truths about animation that you had always felt but couldn't quite put into words.
   
   He also shares a wealth of his own hard-earned tips and techniques, some about animating, but more on the art of storytelling and on how best to utilize the special properties that stopmotion alone has. It's not a book about "how to animate" but rather Why.... and he stresses the importance of playing to the particular strengths of our quirky art. If it can be done in live action or CGI or drawn animation, then why use stopmo? As many, he feels the sheer potential of stopmotion has only begun to be tapped, and he expounds at great length on how that might be done. And reading his words, it's difficult not to feel the same inspiration he obviously does.
   
   Every animator should read this book.... even if you're just scooting Lego figures across the bedroom floor in front of your webcam (unless that's the extent of your ambition). He really illuminates the magic of stopmotion, what it does best and what it shouldn't be made to do. I just finished reading it for the first time, and I'm about to begin again.....

3 comments about Eye for Color, An.

1. This is one of the best books available to anyone interested in learning about the use and application of colour in design. Unlike many other books that deal with colour in a very theoretical sense, An Eye For Color takes a more practical approach - and in my opinion a more effective approach - towards understanding colour. It is essentially a book consisting of a large variety of artwork demonstrating colour application in multiple disciplines (examples include graphic, interior, products, fashion design, etc.). The selling point for me was the RGB and CMYK colour codes that accompanied each example. This allows me to view the colours used in an artwork side-by-side to further understand their interplay.
   
   This book ultimately encourages one to experiment with colours, so opposed to trying to understand a set of theories, An Eye For Color works to enhance your sensitivity towards colour by giving examples of their application.



2. The author has taken an extremely complex task
   and broken it down to its most basic steps.
   
   As a designer and a teacher I believe this book
   is an essential tool in every designer's hand.
   An eye for color will empower professionals
   and amateurs to take fear out of color.
   
   The science of color is presented as a wonderful
   statement of harmony so the user can enjoy
   the creative process. Treasures like this are
   hard to find.
   
   The book's layout is also brilliant.
   Bravo!



3. This book has no rules, theories, or much text at all for that matter -- just page after page of works of art and design, along with a color palette of two or more of the important colors in each of the works (given in RGB and CMYK). If you are trying to do a project where you can control your colors precisely (such as web design), you can simply choose a subset of the colors in one of the examples. In projects where you have less precise control (interior design for example) you can still get a lot of ideas by studying the examples in this book. If you have little experience with color selection and are looking for a fast path to finding a sophisticated color scheme for a design or to developing your color sense in general, this book is worth its weight in gold. This opinion comes from a person with no formal training and very little experience in visual design, but I suspect that, with more experience comes an even deeper appreciation for the subtleties of the examples in this book.

5 comments about Drawing Faeries: A Believer's Guide.

1. My niece loves to draw, especially anything having to do with faeries. This book starts out with a great story about the artist meeting a faerie and then goes in to detail about drawing them. The only thing I think is missing is detail on the wings.



2. I have no idea what prompted me to pick up this book, but I am so glad I did! I do a lot of portrait drawing and never thought about doing anything like this before, but the drawings are so beautiful and inspiring and the story is equally wonderful. However, this is not a beginners book. If you want a book that goes in depth about "how to draw" this is not it. If you have experiance drawing this is a fun book to work from. Even if you don't draw and just like faeries, this is a really great book to have. I'm going to get more of Mr. Hart's books because I think I just found a new passion!



3. The item that I requested came in a timely manner and was in excellent shape! Thanks!



4. I have owned a copy of this work for a couple of years now and I enjoy it now as much as the day I bought it. I am strictly an amature sketcher. I have had some formal training, but nothing to get up and shout about. My sketches would probably rate about a C+ from my old teachers, and truth be told, the + would be added simply because I never missed a class. Be that as it me, I have found this work to be useful. I love drawing insects, delicate flowers and plants, and yes, faeries! Now I will say that this book is probably not the best for the beginner as is is a bit beyond basic. Now that being said, kids sometimes surprise you and with a book like this can pick it up almost instantly. The author does cover detailed color, faces, body, life, customs and traditons of the fairy folk, friends and foes. The narrative is quite well done and easy to understand. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and very detailed. This is not a step by step book, but one of those books that I classify as "inspirational," i.e. if I practice long enough, maybe, just maybe, I can turn something like this out. I have dozens and dozens of art books in my library and use all of them. No single book can fill all of your needs but each book can add to your knowledge. This is one of those books. Now, as to the argument going on here whether or not faries are real....I have spent a large amount of my life living and working in various extremely isolated places around the world. Late in the evening, deep in the forest and in open glades....well, it may be that it is just wishful thinking on my part. Do recommend this work highly and recommend you add it to your own collection.



5. Nice enough drawing book, but NOT A FAERY BELIEVER'S GUIDE.
   This book is about fairytales drawings, NOT FAERIES!
   
   Again, a dissapointed purchase about misleading information on the description or title. The book is all about fairytale characters, not about Faery art, and certainly not for believers. It's only for childrens story books. And even then, just a small reference book with several drawings for each character, not a serious drawing learning book.

4 comments about Logo.

1. This is a great reference. Most of the designs are in black and white, which does emphasize the form. As designers, it's important for us to understand that shape might be the most distinctive aspect of a logo. This book includes backgrounds and cites the designer for nearly every of the 1300 logos featured.



2. This is a nicely conceived book but has a few problems. None of which stopped me from buying it!
   The design and typography used to differentiate sections of the book (groups and categories in the book or classifications of types of symbols, logotypes, signatures, etc.) is difficult to use. If the actual type and design to differentiate these sections had been more clearly done, the book would have been much more useful and leveraged one of its greatest assets. (So, whoever designed the book made that mistake!)
   The last section of the book is on multiple solutions used for one identity. This is in contrast to most identity design which uses only one logo or symbol (Apple, Nike, 99% of the book).
   This multiple identity solution (sorry, the author calls it something else but I don't have the book with me at home while I write this) is a trend that is emerging slowly over the past 10-15 years. But the coverage in this book is very thin. There are a number of other examples of this method which are not included. I wish there was more on this.
   One thing I would like to have seen more of is deeper historical context of identities. More text on, about, why, and who of each or most of the designs. Right now, it is just a picture collection.
   Not so much a flaw but something to consider - This book has the greats. Old and newer and very new. But it also has some real silly stinker examples. You wonder, why is that logo in here? For example: the ugly reworking of the UPS logotype shield. Why include this? (and I am not a fan of Paul Rands original although, it would have been far better to included for historical impact purposes)
   Indeed, this is the bible and shows the good, the bad, and the ugly but all on a level playing field.



3. I can't possibly explain the scope of the book briefly; therefore, I will explain some of the benefits, challenges and basic layout of Logo. First of all, the book covers over 1,300 different corporate brand marks currently in use around the world and categorises them by a similar characteristic shared by each logo such as a chapter featuring handwritten typefaces, a chapter on square logos, 3D logos, etc. The book is mostly in black and white with the use of colour being used sparingly, which is unfortunate as colour is an important element of some of these logos, if not the most important. Seeing the Pepsi logo in greyscale, without seeing how it uses its red and blue gradients, is disappointing.
   However, the book is satisfying by the sheer quantity of logos being printed and is a rich source for inspiration and reference. The editors reference every logo, so you know the year and the designer and most references include a little spiel about how a logo came to be, why it was accepted and why it works. A must have for graphic designers just because of its convenience.



4. As a design student, I have been looking for a book that has collection of logo to reference and analyze. This book is a great reference to see logos that are substantial and corporate. It contains logos that are well known to small. Also, most of all the logos are in black and white which I find it better to understand the form.

5 comments about The Art of Halo.

1. This book clearly shows just how much time, energy, passion & love went into creating the entire world of Halo. The creation of the art work is simply stunning, if you enjoy glorious colour & unbelievable creative spirits, you owe it to yourself to get a copy of this book. Then as a added treat, check out on-line some of the HD trailers which are available, if your able, try to get copies on DVD & watch them on a large screen TV in full HD mode ... check your heart rate before & after ... if you don't have goose bumps & want to run out & buy a Xbox 360 & Halo 2 or 3 ... you may want to check your pulse. 5 stars out of 5 stars ... easy.



2. I was expecting this book to primarily be for displaying conceptual drawings and paintings created during the designing process of the games. There is some of that, but the book is mostly filled with images of the 'in game' 3d models used for the characters and still shots of the 3d environments. The actual conceptual drawings take a back seat. The paintings that are there are great, but why aren't there more?! Overall, I think a 3d modeler would enjoy this book more than a 2d artist.



3. This book was ok. I used it as a reference for building a replica armor set. Its got nice details and some good concept art. It only contains however images from halo 1 and halo 2. There are no halo 3 pictures, screen shots or artwork.



4. This has great artwork from the Halo Game Series. Very crisp and detailed - all on glossy print paper.



5. The Art of Halo: Creating a Virtual World; text by Eric S. Trautmann, is a compilation of ideas, art and final products that came out of creators of the best game ever, Halo CE / Halo 2. I, definitely, enjoyed reading it. There is a large number of pictures, drawings and "in game" screen captures. The art, as would true Halo fan know, is outstanding. There were new and interesting facts about making of Halo in this book that made the experience of the game ever more fulfilling. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys video games and graphic arts. There is a lot to cherish in this book. Any true Halo fan must have it. For me, this is a book that lives on a coffee table, always there and never loosing the appeal! Something to go back to time after time! Great value for money!!!

5 comments about Occasions (New Series of Lifestyle Books).

1. This book has great ideas. I think anyone who thinks otherwise doesn't know how to throw a good party!



2. Looking for an in depth book on entertaining? This IS NOT IT!
   
   But who would think it would be? As usual ms. spade turns out a delightful book full of darling sketches and cute ideas. It is inspirational for gifts for a hostess (such as a wrapped up stack of towels at a bbq party) and setting a table (mix and match with different pieces of china). It reminds me of little thoughts and sketches I would keep in a journal: fun ideas and notes to bring out for parties, but nothing too serious or study worthy.



3. I had the opportunity to read Occasions about two months ago... and I'm still thinking about it! This book (as well as the others in the series) was a quick read with concise, sweet bites of information. More than finding any concrete information about throwing parties or dressing correctly, I found inspiration in the pages of these books. Instead of merely telling me HOW to throw a party, the vivid colors and witty drawings in this book made me WANT to throw a party. These books are succint, bright, and happy--just like the author's handbags.



4. I bought this book as a gag gift for a friend, assuming that it would be full of cutsie little ideas for parties... maybe a few recipes and quotes and bits of ettiquette.

   I read it on the way home, and was bored to tears. There's nothing I love more than entertaining and pretending to be sophisticated, but this book was niether. It told me almost nothing that even barely related to reality, and that which was complete common sense that any 5 year old could tell you about having friends over.

   I ended up returning the book. It wasn't even worth it as a gag gift.




5. Or she would have spared me (and other buyers) from paying for her advice, information, opinions, and knowledge on her version of "entertaining". Most of the information is irrelevant - unless you have your own caterer, florist, maid, bellman, limo driver, party organizer and an unlimited amount of cash. Dispensing advice on how to entertain using caterers and servers is hardly applicable to most of us who do not entertain in a posh Manhattan apartment. The section on "Weekend activities in the Country..." is perfect insight in to how contrived and artificial the life of Kate and Andy must be.

   Although one might try and find the book humorous - in order to justify its ridiculous overpricing. The real joke is on me the purchaser of the book as I was the one duped and the Spades are laughing all the way to the bank.