No comments about Slipware in the Collection of the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery (Potteries Museum).

5 comments about Timeless.

1. this is a great book, the only problem was the seller didnt mention the outer cover wear and many of the inside pages were dog-eared.



2. The quality of the photos and the actual pictures are pretty good, BUT I would have to say that if your looking for erotic photos, you won't see many in here.
   
   The book is nice, the pics that are in it are good, but it's a PG-13 photo book basically.



3. This feast of pictoralesque men in their natural beauty (without body art, buzz cuts, studs, and other inventions)is always a joy to remind us of nature's artistic work perfected in the male animal.



4. There are 82 pictures in the book (and an additional 2 pictures on the cover).
   
   Of those 82 pictures 13 of them show full frontal nudity. In most pictures, however, the model covers his genitals with his hand.
   
   The models look good for the most part. Their age seems to be in the late twenties. They are well-worked with a lot of muscles. Whether that is beautiful or not, depends on the reader. In my opinion there are only few beautiful models in the book.
   
   If you prefer to look at naked males, who cover up their genitals then this book would be right for you. If you prefer to see it all in nude pictures then do not buy this book!



5. David Vance has produced a fine book of black and white photography of the male nude, the black and white format emphasizing his recreation of timeless attitudes and poses of athletic young men. The Kouros of Greek origin were statues of young athletes usually placed in courtyards or public spaces to either celebrate the glory of the male physique of prominent athletes, or to engender fertility!
   
   At first glance the poses in which Vance captures his models may seem theatrical to the extreme, but given the concept of the volume - that the male physique at its peak form has been a model of excellence since time began - the poses soon capture the imagination and the possible sculptural ideas begin to leap of the page.
   
   These models are beautifully muscled and developed athletes whose forms in the natural state before the camera vie for the best in the sculptures of the great artists of the past and present. Erotic, yes. Pushed to the extremes of definition, yes. Prettified at times, yes. But it all works. Vance has a keen eye for the juxtaposition of hard flesh with soft drape and soft light and his photographs are for the most part timeless in nature. A fine exhibition, this, and one that deserves attention as much as his famous celebrity photography ventures. Grady Harp, October 06

1 comments about Throwing Pots (Ceramics Handbooks).

1. I first took this book out of the library, but after wearing out the pages, I decided to buy my own copy. It is logical in its progression of explanations from centering the clay to teapots. The pieces shown in color photography are delicious and gave me lots of ideas for developing my own pots etc. It is short but parallels the descriptions by the teacher in the course I am taking. You will not go wrong with this purchase. It is short which is great too, so it is not overwhelming.

2 comments about Angel Lust 2 - A Gallery Girls Collection.

1. amazing art I was very happy with this book. I thought it might have some color in it but I was not that let down by it. The black and whites are great.



2. Angel Lust is one of the newer Gallery Girls series from SQP. The first volume premiered two years ago and fans have eagerly been awaiting the second volume. Well the wait is over as Angel Lust Vol. 2 is out with another 64 pages of the beautiful, winged creatures of men's dreams, presented with the usual array of artistic talent that all SQP books are known for. The book featured color front and back covers by Pelaez and Cesar Britez respectively.
   
   Now, not all these Angels are the stuff of dreams...some are the stuff of nightmares such as Luis Buci's horrific rendering of a dark angel crawling from the pit and surrounded a horde of demonic followers. German Ponce offers a mysterious blonde angels whose wings have been clipped as her feathers flutter all about her. Perla Perlucki can always be counted on to provide some comic relief to any Gallery Girls book, this time showing an angry cherub telling on an angel whom he caught reading dirty magazines.
   
   Gonzalo Flores gets the honor of doing a two-page centerfold showing a lovely nude angel lying on a pedestal, soaking in the days from Heaven. Danilo Guida provides a triumphant angel, holding a sword of flame and burning the demonic beasts who whither before her.
   
   The highlight for me is any Gallery Girls editions that feature the work of Spanish artist Arantza who is simply one of the best in the entire world. Her work is so beautiful and so detailed that is simply mesmerizes the reader. She has five outstanding pieces in the book, and each one becomes my new favorite after I see it. Her talent is simply unbelievable!
   
   You can never go wrong with any Gallery Girls book as the quality is always the very best. SQP just keeps harvesting the best pin-up artists in the business.
   
   Reviewed by Tim Janson

3 comments about The Playful Eye: An Album of Visual Delight.

1. The Playful Eye: An Album of Visual Delight
   by Julian Rothenstein
   
   If you love to play with optical illusions, & would like to enjoy further visual diversion off the beaten path, please get hold of this wonderful book & add it to your personal library.
   
   The Playful Eye is certainly a virtual feast of ingenious games & visual tricks gathered from around the world.
   
   The author has done an excellent job in putting this wonderful compendium together. Kudos!



2. It is rare when you come across a book on optical illusions that has something new to offer, but this is what sets The Playful Eye apart from many of the other optical illusion books currently on the market.

   The Playful Eye is a wonderful collection of classic illusions that were printed on obscure puzzle cards, postcards, trading cards, advertisements, and the like during the late 19th to mid 20th century. The editors have done a remarkable job in collecting these illusions from obscure source material and private collections. What is even more remarkable, and in my mind, one of the best aspects of this charming collection, is the amount of research that they put in labeling the sources for each image. This is a real reference tool for an illusion collector like myself.

   The illustrations are wonderful and you are bound to see images that are not seen elsewhere. Lots and lots of fun!




3. I love books that make you view things in ways that are unexpected--this book was a treat for my eyes and my brain. I enjoyed the compilation of vivid illustrations from various cultures and periods. I went through the book once to enjoy all of the wonderfully detailed illustrations, then I went back through the book again to tease my mind with the visual play in each one of those colorful pictures. This book is fun and can be enjoyed over and over again.

No comments about Dan Graham (Contemporary Artists).

1 comments about Woman & Dog: A Celebration of Their Unique Bond.

1. If you know a gal who loves dogs, this is the book. It is a sweet & touching volume with lovely illustrations. I bought several for gifts. I've never seen anything like it. It's a winner!

5 comments about Sorceress: Mike Hoffman Sketchbook Vol 2.

1. 
   
   
   But why are the rear ends on his depictions of women so huge?
   
   Some even appear to have cellulite on them.



2. Hoffman's work is just a pale imitation of Frazetta's talent. Being myself an artist I cannot understand why people that is already established in the art field keep trying to copy somebody else's work. It is probably fine when you star your career but after a while the logical path is to follow your own style. As an artist doesn't he fell ashamed? I certainly would. I recommend you to get a Frazetta's books first.



3. I have just a couple of quick notes to add to the criticisms below. Under no circumstances buy the work of Hoffman unless you are fully equipped with the work of Frank Frazetta. The price differential between this collection of mostly black and white pencil studies and the stunning pen and ink, watercolor, and oil work of Frazetta is insignificant compared to the vastness of the talent differential!
   
   Hoffman captures Frazetta's anatomy (including the occasional mistakes!) without capturing the spirit of the work - but it's more than that. Frazetta himself was influenced by other artists, including Al Capp. Some of Frazetta's equipment and vehicles have a silver-age corniness to them. Hoffman's weapons, terrain, even monsters! - are cheesy fill-ins - just enough to act as props for his bare-naked ladies.
   
   After seeing Frazetta, I found it hard to accept even 'imitators' like Jeff Jones, Boris Vallejo, Barry Winsor-Smith et al. However those artists may have started with Frazetta - but they found their own way forward. Once you've exhausted their work, and classic illustrators like Allen St John, Virgil Finlay, and Joseph Clement Coll, try Hoffman - for contrast!



4. I bought this book realizing that Mr. Hoffman was imitating Frank Frazetta. Such imitation is not a bad thing in and of itself; some fine illustrators began their careers by putting their personal spin on Frazetta. Jeff Jones to name one. Mr. Hoffman has no personal spin; he's just a copyist. Again, not necassarily a bad thing if the imitator has sufficient talent to bring it off. Hoffman doesn't possess such talent. To call these drawings derivative ennobles them because they are blatant, pale simulacra of Frazetta. I compared Hoffman's drawings to those in "Illustrations Arcanum" a book of Frazetta's drawings and here's how Hoffman stands up: Mr. Frazetta's drawings of buxom women, brawny men, battle scenes and monstrous creatures are sure handed, confident, dynamic and well rendered; Hoffman's drawings of similar subjects are anemic, hesitant, dull and mediocre. Where Frazetta's line work is vigorous and varied, Hoffman's is limp and monotonous; where Frazetta employs a large range of values and punches the darks effectively in his modeling to give a high contrast effect, Hoffman's value range is limited and lacks any darks and possesses negligible contrast; Frazetta's figures look as if they've been caught in movement, Hoffman's figures are stiff as mannequins; finally, Frazetta's depictions of women exude sensuality, Hoffman's women are, at best, timid and completely devoid of any erotic appeal. Hoffman may be well schooled in Frazetta's subject, but he sadly misses the master's skill and spirit. An illustrator at the beginning of his career might be forgiven for this, but Hoffman has been working in the this field for a long time. He's not a second rate Frazetta, he's tenth rate joke. His biographical sketch boasts that he has many commissions for his work, proving H. L. Mencken's dictum that no one ever went broke underestimating the intellegence (or taste) of the American public. Purchasing this book makes me wonder if I'm not as smart as I thought. Don't repeat my mistake by buying this book. If you appreciate Frank Frazetta's work, this book will be a disappointment.



5. From the moment you open this book you'll see this guy is truly a second rate Frank Frazetta. Everything from his short, wonderfully shaped women to his lush, organic backgrounds to his primate like creature design just screams " i wanna be Frazetta."
   I do however, somewhat agree with one of the other reviews that this book makes for a reasonable figure study. Although I have to say that i find some of his proportions to be a bit off. (particularly with his men)
   All in all though, it still is worth a look.

1 comments about A Potter's Book.

1. This is now perhaps no more a historical document. Very sadly many potters have taken the book to be the bible of pottery, accepting all that is written without question. However the observations and comments within it are one man's only, and this shows considerable prejudice. Take care as there are many approaches to ceramics and it is flawed to consider anyone is the correct path. More than any other document this book has distorted generations of potters to consider that the Japanese rural tradition is superior to anything else, and hence has led to almost the homogenisation of studio ceramics. Explore other ways!

No comments about Pottery for Life: A Guide for Beginning Potters and Those with Special Needs (Ceramics Handbooks).