5 comments about Ways of Seeing: Based on the BBC Television Series.

1. Book was in great condition, just as described. A very interesting book; still up-to-date concepts even though it was written forty years ago. Thank you!



2. I haven't finished the book yet, but it is great so far! The thoroughness on the ways of viewing art/ourselves/photos/etc is amazing. I have never read something this in depth on perspective and so thorough on every angle. I recommend this book to anyone so likes to view every angle of a situation.



3. What a farce! As a photography instructor, just a quick glance through this book shows me the author either did too many drugs in the 60s or was overdosed by 70's Soviet propaganda or both. It teaches nothing concerning "seeing" except seeing through anti-capitalistic eyes--the same system that provides for crazy art and fortunately keeps the good quality art floating to the top like cream on milk. I was amazed that after the first couple of incoherent chapters, the samples are almost entirely comprised of seductive naked women. I think the author would revel in the artistic freedom now available now on www.youporn.com. This book teaches nothing concerning seeing, art or aesthetics. My copy goes in the trash. Why do people praise this work. It reminds me of the writings of Timothy Leary, who was irrelevant then and always.



4. Philosopher Mario Bunge once told the story of a muslim physicist who affirmed, nonchalantly, that "Quantum Mechanics can be inferred from The Holy Coran -conveniently interpreted." Such is the way of interpretation: once you know where you want to get at, you can start anywhere.
   So does Mr Berger. Obedient to the article of faith that everything in the Western World during the last centuries has one way or the other to do with Capitalism, he set out to prove that Oil Painting and like manifestations are unconscious epiphenomenons of class struggle and property relations.
   To this end he doesn't bother to investigate the true motivation of painters and patrons. It would anyway be futile because he shares Freud's irrefutability that "Every man suffers from Oedipus complex. If it doesn't show it is surely being repressed." So for him this couple standing in their garden must necessarily be interested in property. How could it be otherwise? The same can be said about this cow: we are informed that it's not the representation of an animal but of a "piece of furniture with four legs". He quotes, and dismisses by an argument of "unconscious resistance", the position of another critic that only sees in the painting of the couple "enjoyment of nature." Of course both are unsubstantiated interpretations. What is untenable is playing down the rival as someone possessed by unconscious class prejudices.
   The author condemns the European exploitation of the rest of the world yet his vision remains profoundly eurocentric. He doesn't stop for a moment to think that cows, or people or myths or whatever the subject of the capitalistic paintings he interprets, have been pictured elsewhere for a long time. Is it that Capitalism already existed 4000 years ago to inspire the representation of Egyptian furniture-cows? Marx himself would be astonished.
   But the author's methods are not just questionable, they are also partly dishonest. The last chapter pretends to be a proof that Publicity as a whole is a contemporary form of that same Capitalistic Unconscious. Right now I'm watching a TV commercial trying to convince me that this gel cleaner is a better product for my kitchen and bathroom than the old abrasive type. How can the author fit this into his theory of Publicity as something that "makes me envious of myself in the future?" The trick lies in isolating very specific products, such as those related to beauty or fashion. Trying to sell a cream might be a questionable activity, but how else if not by promising beauty or the advantages of it? So it is not about "Publicity" in general. The selection bias is well smuggled and in any case, his chain of reasoning runs backwards.
   Well, maybe I'm also resisting, or acting as an unconscious agent of the Bourgeoisie. But I'm not alone: I've been told that Walt Disney did worse with Donald Duck.



5. Sure, it was written in the 1970's, sure it's full of Marxist theory, sure it's over-confident in its theorizing. But so what? This is a great book! I use it in my high school Theory of Knowledge class and in Art History too. The kids "get" Berger's ideas (outdated though they've been called) and it's always a great discussion starter!

5 comments about Drawing Lab for Mixed-Media Artists: 52 Creative Exercises to Make Drawing Fun (Lab Series).

1. Carla Sonheim is an artist and creativity workshop instructor known for her fun and innovative projects and techniques designed to help adult students recover a more spontaneous, playful approach to creating. Her innovative ideas are now collected and elaborated on in this unique volume.
   
   Carla offers a year's worth of assignments, projects, ideas, and techniques that will introduce more creativity and nonsense into your art and life. Drawing Lab for Mixed-Media Artists offers readers a fun way to learn and gain expertise in drawing through experimentation and play. There is no right or wrong result, yet, the readers gain new skills and confidence, allowing them to take their work to a new level.
   
   Review: This book is by far one of my most favorite inspirational books ever! I will be telling every librarian and teacher I know about this awesome collection of super fun and creative lessons. I love the fact that most of these labs can be done by a wide variety of ages and that there is really no right or wrong way to do it.
   
   A few of my favorite lessons include:
   
   Picasso Dogs...very easy to follow instructions that will result in each participant ending up with there own version of a Picasso Dog...AWESOME!
   
   Sidewalk Crack Drawing...can you look at a crack in a sidewalk and imagine all the different shapes of animals you see? This fun lab will show you all the steps to create fun imaginative creatures that will end up good enough to frame!
   
   Ugh, those are only two of many, many! Through out the book the author also has pages where she features various artists and their own unique styles...my favorite? Gustavo Aimar...
   
   *Fresh and imaginative ideas
   *Clear instructions with room for your twist
   * Lots of pictures and inspiration
   *plus a whole lot more!!!
   
   I can't recommend this book enough for people who love to be creative, who want to be creative or anyone who is looking for creative inspiration!
   
   Ummmm can you tell I like it??? YES!



2. I bought this book on a whim and took it on vacation to the mountains where I proceeded to be COMPLETELY enthralled! I am a graphic designer and over the past 7 or 8 years I have lost touch with my pencil and have been feeling its absence so I decided to purchase this book. Occasionally I doodle or draw with my children, but rarely am able to find enough time to sit down and enjoy a project the way I used to in art school or before. This book made it possible for me! I sat by the creek with this book and was able to do some of the simple, but useful (and FUN!) exercises with nothing but my sketch pad and a set of Micron Sakura pens. It was HEAVENLY. And did I say fun? Even though the exercises seemed simple, I came out with some really beautiful and meaningful pieces of work (some silly ones, too- I drew a monster for maybe the first time ever). For example, I did some blind drawings (you draw without looking at your paper so they come out loose and wonderfully weird) of my family members, which I love and capture a surprising likeness even though it took me less than a minute to draw them. This book takes me back to the part of art school I loved and offers a fun, inspiring environment to draw and create. This book also gave me some ideas I can do with my 8 year old daughter who loves to draw which are refreshingly different from your average craft projects and really focus on drawing (she especially enjoyed the blind drawings- lots of giggling). The exercises are simple and encourage you not to be intimidated by the empty paper- THEY GIVE YOU A PLACE TO START with room for interpretation. It was also great realizing I didn't need lots of art supplies to make something important or fulfilling to me - however, I look forward to exploring some of the more in-depth suggestions, such as collage work. I LOVE this book and plan to buy it for my artist friends. Perfect for a wide range of ages, abilities, and time constraints.



3. Drawing Lab for Mixed-Media Artists is a must for any artist. It's fun and inspirational. So if you feel like you've hit a creative block or wall, this book is for you. It has great ideas, photos, and artists which will make you want to pick up your pens and brushes and create something!



4. This book is chalk FULL of ideas. I, too, am an artist that gets freaked out about serious drawings and, hence, SELDOM if EVER sketch. Then I bought this delightful book, brought it on vacation and I cannot STOP doodling and drawing. I see these new lines appearing in my large scale paintings. I am enjoying my style of lines (where before I was just embarrassed that I could not make a nose look like a "nose") and organically my style of noses is emerging. Carla has revolutionized sketching, expanding possibilities and creating a multitude of inviting, intriguing and always playful entry points that call out the inner artist in everybody! Thanks Carla!



5. It's easy to do one lab a day, and see the improvement. It's fun, and it's thorough. Out of all the drawing books I'd recommend for mixed media artists, this one would come first.

5 comments about The LEGO Book.

1. Very good book for LEGO fans. Gives a good overview of history and different types of LEGO. My son loved it and he wants to be a LEGO-master.



2. Great book, or books rather. Its highly worth the money would recommend picking it up if your really a lego freak.



3. My wife and I are both big fans of Legos, and I bought these books for her, in the hopes of seeing the typically nice job DK does of displaying something's visual history.
   
   Both of these books devote a very small amount of pages to Lego's history, showing woefully few photographs of older Lego sets, Lego sculptures, and related items. The majority of the books is devoted to multiple page spreads of JUST the products which Lego has currently on the market. The photographs of these products are not even very interesting, and could have been lifted directly from Lego's own marketing material, for all I know.
   
   Its a dull work which almost reads like a product brochure, rather than what it purports to be, a tribute to a very fun toy with a long and interesting history.
   
   When my wife looked at the book, she politely asked me to return it, which I did.
   
   VERY DISAPPOINTED



4. I have really enjoyed these books. It is a two book set and one book is all about the mini figures and how they have evolved over there years. See how your favorite little guys have changed over the years. The pictures are big and crisp so you see lots of detail.
   
   The other book is all about the history of lego. See how it has evolved. Also it offers great pictures and lots interesting nuggets of information



5. Great info, incredible pics. While not exhaustive or completely comprehensive, the two books combined give a great history of the Lego toy and minifigure.

5 comments about Digital Expressions: Creating Digital Art with Adobe Photoshop Elements.

1. This book came up in one of my recommendations. WOW! Perfect fit. If you've wanted to know how to do things like textures and brushes and collages and montages in PhotoShop, this is the book for you. Simply and logically written, it provides great instructions while whetting your creativity with superb examples.



2. I'd been wanting to get into digital collage for awhile, but I had no idea where to start - particularly with Photoshop (Elements.) I knew some basics like crop, resize, and contrast adjustment, but felt overwhelmed about learning the trickier things. Well, this book was exactly what I needed to get started!
   
   Each section of the book has a beautiful artwork, and then the complete step-by-step instructions for recreating it, using Photoshop Elements. This method may not work for everyone, but I've found it to be a great starting point and a springboard for inspiration. I refer to it often. Susan Tuttle also includes a disc of resources, and links to online sources for free and premium stock photos, brushes, and other useful tools.
   
   The book does assume that you have some basic knowledge of digital photo editing, so don't buy it if you are expecting to learn the program from scratch. But if you have played around with Photoshop and you're looking to build on your digital collage skills, this book is for you.
   
   Also worth noting - though the book specifically refers to Adobe Photoshop Elements, I've also found that the instructions can easily be translated for use with Gimp, a free open source photo editor that's similarly powerful.



3. Susan Tuttle's latest book is a treasure trove of inspiration and instruction. The book is beautifully designed - it is a joy just browsing through the pages - and there are clear, easy to understand lessons in unlocking and de-mystifying the secrets of digital art.
   
   The artist/author imparts her wealth of knowledge of the field, sharing the many techniques involved in creating works of art using digital media. The inclusion of other artists' works enhances the book, and the learning process. Tuttle is a great teacher: if you have not yet had the opportunity to learn from her in her Visual Poetry workshops, I highly recommend it.
   
   This book will be a wonderful addition to your art library, enabling ongoing learning of the many amazing ways to be creative using Photoshop, irrespective of your level of experience.



4. This book illustrates a myriad of photoshop elements processes through 25 projects. Each project has screen captures of the most important steps and the settings that the author and artists used to get their particular effects. Most of them have manipulated images superimposed on at least one, but usually 2 or 3, textured layers. These could be used for any kind of art where you want to develop individual surfaces. It is definitely a book to work through over a period of weeks to get the most out of it. Though there are some basics at the beginning, it is not really for total novices.



5. I'm a traditional (glued) collage artist, but have been trying to teach myself PhotoshopElements6 for use in my family scrapbooking projects. This book has moved me light years ahead. It's detailed and uses precise technical language, but it is also warm and encouraging. I particularly like that the instruction is project-based, which is totally compatible with the "click around" nature of computer programs. This book is all about learning by doing and it's perfect for me, because I've read one too many books where techniques are presented in a vacuum and forgotten the minute you turn the page. Definitely not the case with this book. Obviously, once you get the hang of a technique on the practice project, you can take it wherever you want. I will be spending lots of time with this book close at hand! Thanks, Susan Tuttle!

5 comments about Image Transfer Workshop: Mixed-Media Techniques for Successful Transfers.

1. This is a book full of ideas and instructions about transferring - it is very clearly laid out. Most informative. And in excellent order.



2. If you need to know how to make a transfer FROM almost any medium TO almost any medium, this book is the one to get!
   
   I was able to purchase most materials listed in the book in local craft stores, and the rest were readily available online. The authors are most thorough in their explanations, and even include "troubleshooting" tips along the way.
   
   I had encountered a few of these techniques in other books and magazines, but this book really covers a LOT, if not MOST of the techniques available at this time.
   
   One of the best investments, as a mixed-media/assemblage/collage artist that I have made in a long time!



3. Very informative and easy to understand. Highly recommended for acrylic and mixed media artists.



4. I can't get the method on page 15 of this book to work. But I was just now contacted back by one of the authors, Sandra Duran Wilson, who is a very helpful and nice person. There can be a lot of hiccups with the transfer method on page 15 but a lot of details and reasons why were not there in the book. For me, the more warnings and advice the better ! But I can at least say that Sandra wrote back to me same day and answered questions that the other author must have been too busy at the time to answer {I sent my question to the other co-author, but Sandra was the one who answered as it was forwarded to her}. Sandra did say that the method on page 15 was not the easiest one and not her own preference. I just wish they had explained all of what could go wrong, why it might not work and what else you can try to see if you can make it work {as I found out in Sandra's helpful letter}. I will post the advice that Sandra gave so it can help anyone else with this problem, but I will need a few days to get back here and do that---
   Also, I started this review before I tried most of the methods in the entire book. But boy was I fried when page 15 did not work, because how disappointing is that ? It should work if its in the book. But I will be back to review and edit this further. Sandra gave some advice in an email and I will try that to see how it goes, {she gave trouble-shooting info that was not really in the book}.
   All the same it appears to be a nice book, and I'm sure the other transfer methods will work.



5. Although the book is photographed well, I think the written directions could have been more detailed. There is a nice trouble shooting section following each and every project. I doubt I will ever use more than one idea out of the entire book. Seems like a cut and paste collage would work just as well and be more archival. Several ideas on how to transfer a magazine photo that would ruin the clipping, so why not just use the clipping? Maybe down the road I will try more projects out.

5 comments about Collage Lab: Experiments, Investigations, and Exploratory Projects (Lab Series).

1. I have found the book no use at all. Maybe if you're brand new to any kind of collage or mixed media you might find some inspiration so that you could go on and find out how to implement your ideas on your own. I usually consider a book worth having if I can find at least two projects that get me excited. I didn't find any here. I've been working professionally with mixed media and collage for 7 years, and I was looking forward to receiving such a well reviewed book.
   
   There's not much "how to", just a lot of generalities, and the only images that got my attention and thinking, "Hey, now this is more like it", when I turned the page, the instructions are for entirely different pieces.
   
   Here's one example of the instructions:
   
   Page 78 "Handmade"
   "Learning Objective: To investigate handmade papers.
   Materials * Papermaking kit which should include a deckle, mold, and pulp materials as well as instructions.
   or
   * Plan a field trip to a paper store and purchase at least five different sheets of handmade paper.
   
   Step 1. If the option to make paper was chosen, follow the kit instructions and make paper."
   
   I'm only slightly irritated about having purchased the book, and I'll keep it till I clean out my shelves and donate it, but when a book just doesn't cut it, I wish reviewers would review the negatives as well. This system fails when all we do is write glowing reports about everything because those are the only ones that get chosen as "helpful".



2. I read this book cover to cover and plan to go through some of the workshops. I found some new techniques as well as some experiments to do with old techniques. The process given to work through makes you ask yourself some questions like whether you liked the technique, whether you thought you could change it etc. A different approach to learning something. More like experiments to perform and learn from.



3. This series has been great for me in terms of being able to do an exercise every day, know that I'm improving, but not completely stressing out! Instructions are clear, the labs don't take more than an hour, the results are fantastic, everything is usable. Great value.



4. I'm enjoying this book a lot - very inspiring. I've only tried a couple of things but am looking forward to doing a lot more. Wait til summer vacation!



5. I would recommend this book for artists just getting started and needing to know the basics. There is a lot of techniques that I was already familiar with. It has amazing inspiration though. Still, a great reference book.

1 comments about The Hare with Amber Eyes: A Family's Century of Art and Loss.

1. Imagine you are the descendant of one of those families of 19th-century Jewish financiers who spread around the major capitals of Europe to forge a continental empire. Along the way, the family comes to feature an art collector who served as a patron for the Impressionists and inspired Proust's Swann. A later generation includes one of the first women to attend university in the early twentieth century; she graduates as a lawyer, becomes a writer and corresponds with Rilke. Imagine that the family's wealth disappears in the blink of an eye when Germany annexes Austria. That is in a nutshell the story of the Ephrussi clan, which Edmund De Waal chronicles in "The Hare with Amber Eyes." That is only a peek at the material that the author had at his disposal, which should have made the work relatively simple to write. But the author set himself a challenge. He refused to produce a straightforward history: "It could write itself, I think, this kind of story. A few stitched-together wistful anecdotes, more about the Orient-Express, of course, a bit of wandering around Prague or somewhere equally photogenic, some clippings from Google on ballrooms in the Belle Epoque. It would come out as nostalgic. And thin."
   
   Instead of a predictable tale from Mitteleuropa about lost grandeur, the author takes a (slightly Proustian) shortcut that leads to unexpected and sometimes deeply moving places. One of the illustrious ancestors collected tiny but incredibly intricate Japanese carvings called netsuke used in early modern Japan as toggles for purse strings. The book traces the story of these sculptures as they are passed down from one generation of Ephrussi to the next. Along the way, the author interrogates subtle ways in which the netsuke's meaning shifts when they move from Third Republic Paris to Harry Lime's Vienna and beyond. Through this device, De Waal manages to both narrate the story of the rise and fall of the Ephrussi and also sketch the myriad objects they owned and collected during their century and a half of eminence. The book manages to write an elegant history not just of people but also of the places they inhabited and the things they loved and touched. Nothing thin about that.

5 comments about Steampunkery: Polymer Clay and Mixed Media Projects.

1. Steampunk is a design that is the result of an imagined time line where technology and engineering took a different turn instead of the one we currently live in. It is a look and feel brought about from mixing science fiction and fantasy with a little history.
   
   I like the idea of trying to use polymer clay with the other physical elements of steampunk but simply throwing a watch gear and some leather on clay does not make it steampunk. The designs in this book fall short of the aesthetics of steampunk and instead should have been included in a general book about mixed media.
   
   If you want to see something that is steampunk then take a look at some of the stuff that Richard Nagy has done:
   [...]
   
   This book is just a bad attempt to cash in on a genre that has been around since the 80's at least.



2. This is a great how to book. The instructions were clear. It was my first attempt at making beads and they turned out great.



3. the closest thing i've ever come to working with 'clay' was when my kids were young and i cleaned up Play Dough from every surface in the house. so, feeling a bit adventurous, i thought 'why not?'. the first natural step was to get a book from someone who obviously knows what she's talking about, so i bought Ms. Friesen's "Steampumkery Polymer Clay And Mixed Media Projects". i am well and truly smitten.
   
   the most intimidating part of getting started (for me anyway) isn't making the projects, it's getting all the materials necessary without having to hock my car to pay for everything i want. LOL to help with this, Ms Friesen lists her favorite places to buy the clay and other items used in this book, along with the URL to the website. well, that was easy, huh? not so much, because i wanted to buy everything i could from every website listed. i finally had to sit down and make a list, putting them in order of priority.
   
   for me to feel sure i can make something that will actually resemble the original is a real miracle. however, Ms. Friesen's directions are crystal clear, with photos for every step included. her sense of humor also goes a long way in defusing any hesitations i had about getting started.
   
   if you're new to steampunk/steampunkery, you really do need to have this book in your arsenal. i'm also going to be buying her 6 book series along with her book "Polymer Clay And Mixed Media Together At Last". I can't help myself! LOL



4. I don't think I have ever written a review on Amazon for anything I have purchased. Had to write something on this book. It came in the mail today! I did a quick scan through it. Didn't do a line by line read on the projects, but I am amazed at the work in this book. Interesting and fun. My mind is running with all sorts of ideas for my own creations. I am impressed with what I see in this book by Christi Friesen. I have bookmarked her site so I can learn more and hopefully improve on my own skills with polymer clay and adding it to the pieces I am creating.
   I put this as a 4 star for now. Once I have done a project and can tell if it is pretty easy to follow, then I will upgrade to a 5. Looks pretty darn simple though. =)



5. Every heard of Steampunk? I knew little or none of the techniques, and they were all with metal and such. This caught my interest and you know, I made every single offering from this little book. Put them on my Etsy shop and like lightening they were gone. I will again when I get a goodly supply of clay do it again.
   
   Fun and very easy, a delight for children and especially Steampunkers! Ah to be young again! We did not have steampunk but retro ... not the same. (BG)

5 comments about Masters: Collage: Major Works by Leading Artists.

1. I really enjoyed this book. The writing was interesting and improved your understanding of the artists work. I appreciate the fact that this was not a how to book. It is a wonderful survey of college artists, whose work is relevant today.
   High quality pictures, many images of each artist's work and nicely laid out.



2. Any arts and crafts collection will find Masters: Collage a powerful pick, presenting a strong survey of collages form leading modern international artists working in the medium. Each page holds one or two several good-sized color photos of the collage, brief descriptions of medium, and makes for a fine portfolio of varied techniques and examples. A wonderfully varied pick of techniques!



3. My book has drool marks on it! It is soooo inspiring. The quality and photos are great, the artists cutting edge. I carried it around everywhere for a week, stopping to look at it every spare moment. Need I say more? I hope Lark Books expands to painting, mixed media, etc. I'd buy them all.



4. If you have any interest in collage as an art form, this is a beautiful book of inspiration. There are no how-to's, just examples of each artist's work spread over 8 pages for each, a brief description of the artist and their work and a few comments by the artist. Styles cover the gamut and I was happy to see two artists who were strongly influenced by Romare Bearden, the greatest and possibly, the most prolific, collage artist of the 20th century. Some of it may be stuff that leaves you cold, other that truly inspires, something for everyone here.



5. As a collage artist, I eagerly awaited the release of this lavish book. I enjoyed the works presented over a number of mornings with my cup of coffee in the bright June sunlight. I didn't want to come to the end!
   The variety of artists represented is impressive. The brief insights shared by them are personal and revealing. The color reproductions are truly lovely. So, that said, get this book, grab your coffee and relish! Thanks to Randall Plowman for his efforts and vision.

5 comments about My Secret: A PostSecret Book.

1. This book makes a great addition to your library. Leave it on your coffee table and let all of your friends enjoy it too. It is a great addition of the Post Secret collection.



2. I got these as a gift for my mother, she loved them, and they make a fantastic coffie table or bathroom book



3. You really cannot judge people's secrets. I mean it's a little cruel to say, "oh your inner most secrets aren't morbid and horrific enough to keep my interest". I honestly don't feel that way. I think I prefer the more reflection type secrets, like the grandmother post card ones, to the "I think I am gay" secrets anyway. It's from the perspective of teenagers, I believe. I picked it up and read through it, will probably give it a second read, but I doubt I would want to read through it again. That's pretty much a three star rating in my book.
   
   I cannot really say what makes it good to me without giving away too much. Good for a young teen to read as far as intellectual abilities, however, probably something discerning parents would like to review first.



4. Very fast shipping, got it a few days after I ordered it.
   I would recommend.



5. everyone must read and own at least one post secrets book!!! it's food for the soul.