1 comments about Handpainting Porcelain.

1. I can't say enough good things about this delightful book. I love it. It is brimming with a wide variety of beautiful designs. From delicate roses to Christmas holly and alpine motifs to charming little mirrors, this book has something for everyone.

   The book is made up mostly of projects. The instructions are excellent, including step-by-step directions accompanied by large clear illustrations. Full-size templates for design transfer are included for all the designs in the book. There is also a small section in the back that gives details on color, materials and techniques.

   I especially liked the Arabian nights theme with wonderful images of people and architecture to be painted on plates, candlesticks and tea cups. Fanciful gourds with insects painted inside hors d'oeuvres dishes are another favorite. I also loved projects featuring an array of feathers and a large selection of seashells.

   Before I bought this book I didn't realize it used paints that required a special porcelain firing oven. I have only used the newer ones that work in a regular oven. However, I am certainly not sorry I bought it. The wonderful motifs can easily be painted on anything using the appropriate medium in similar colors. I know these lovely designs will make it into the many other crafts I do.

1 comments about Zillij: The Art of Morroccan Ceramics.

1. This is a scholarly book filled with history, technique, and current methods of producing the beautiful ceramic tiles, mosaics, and utilitarian items of Morrocco. To tell the truth, it would be worth having just for the photographs. From elaborate architectural installations to simple wares, the rich tradition of zillij is documented with artful photos. This book will enhance the library of any serious student of North African art or architecture. Eye candy with intellect.

3 comments about Mike Kelley.

1. This was one of the first and best monographs of this most important of West Coast artists who is now enjoying a slight rennaissance. For years this was the only book available on Mike Kelley, other than thin catalogues of european shows. Luckily, with the advent of more writing on Kelley, we have come to find that indeed it was and is the best introduction to his work. We are introduced to Kelley's work via tons of lovely color photos, b & w personal photos of kelleys, lengthy interviews, and essays. Nothing is to hard to understand and the psychological subtexts of his work easily filters into the writing without confusion. His earliest collegiate work recieves just as good attention as his later sonic youth-era works, although I would have appreciated more discussion of his side project the influential noise band Destroy All Monsters. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the west coast art scene, and should probably be recquired reading for anyone taking a class on the subject.



2. I have nothing but praise for Phaidon's publications. Each of their artist's books contain great documentations of the artwork, plus detailed writings by the artist and critics. If you are going to read a description of an artist's work, who better to explain it to you than the artist. This is especially true with Mike Kelley. He is well known for the writings he does for each of his works and he pulls no punches in his delivery.



3. Mike Kelley's excellent catalog from Phaidon may be the most definitive work to date concerning the merging of Elite and Popular culture. Kelley's use of his own astute observations about the world in which we live to "debunk belief systems" and deflate popular pretentions is nothing short of revelatory. His pathetic stance in sculpture, drawing, performance, sound, and banner-making constitute total war on austerity. All modes of his work are well-documented here with color photography of installations and descriptions and criticism by some of the best in their fields.

No comments about Jenny Holzer: Xenon For Duisburg.

3 comments about Old English Tile Designs for Artists and Craftspeople (Dover Pictorial Archive Series).

1. This is an informative book loaded with many, many nice, easy designs to replicate or gain ideas from. Some of the illustrations seem rudimentary and uneven, not professionally finished, but if you can overlook that fact and "crisp up" or perfect the drawings yourself it would be a great asset to your collection.
   Otherwise, I like this book and will refer to it many times in the future.



2. As the Master of the Saint Caitlin's Guild of Hairy Potters, I have been teaching classes in the crafts of the Middle Ages, including the making of the tiles in the retro Quire at Winchester. This handy little volume allows the copying of designs for everyone in the class, with a range of easy to difficult, and scaled to produce four inch tiles allowing for clay shrinkage.
   All my work is done for me. All I have to do now . . .is teach.



3. There are 150 floor tile designs from medieval cathedrals and monasteries rendered in black&white. Lots of animals, dragons, griffins, and fleur-de-lis. There are also face images of kings, jesters, etc.

   All designs are shown in decent (maybe actual?) tile size (around 4-5 inches square), as well as in groups of four (or more if required), to show how repeats would work. All designs are very bold and simple, but amazing when placed in repeat.

   Nice designs for beginning tile makers to use, since the designs can be easily worked in clay. Well worth the cost of the book.

No comments about Glass Blowing.

No comments about Shoji Hamada: A Potter's Way & Work.

No comments about Spanish Ceramic Designs (International Design Library).

No comments about The Emperor Akbar's Khamsa of Nizami (The British Library Manuscripts in Colour Series).

1 comments about Kiss of Death : The Art of Fastner & Larson.

1. The word genius is thrown around awfully lightly these days so I won't use it here. Instead I'll use brilliant to describe the art of Fastner & Larson, still going strong after more than 25 years. It's hard to nail down just what it is about the pair that I like so much...I think it's the humor they inject, often uproarious, and often quite subtly into their work.
   
   Kiss of Death is a collection of much of the duo's earlier works from the 1980's and early 1990's. It collects some magnificent pieces from many of their portfolios over the years such as "Daughters of the Disk" from 1988. You'll get a rare glimpse at a solo portfolio by Rich Larson called "Angels of Death" and it's interesting to see Larson's gorgeous pencils and inks without Fastner's trademark airbrush. "Petz" is a portfolio featuring sexy warrior women and their beasties, "Clan of the Claw" is a prehistoric set with scantily clad cave women battling Dinosaurs.
   
   In the "Seven of Swords" portfolio, a fantastic collection of Swordswomen, SQ productions gives us a chance to see the illustrations take shape from rough, preliminary sketches, to the final, completed piece, and all the steps in between, less you think it just came easy to these guys.
   
   While the bulk of the book is in (glorious) black & white, there is a color section in the middle including a dazzling, 1950's-style "B" movie alien menace painting with a woman running for her life from a blob-like creature. A holiday painting features a lovely swordswoman in Santa Miniskirt, hugging the literal North Pole, while razor-fanged reindeer battle to the death with pirate elves.
   
   For you spanking fans there are the usual giddily humorous corporal punishment pieces that the pair is so well known (and worshipped) for. One interesting thing I learned about from Kiss of Death is that SQP took over the art direction for Fleetway Comcis/Quality Comics. This led to Rich doing a number of covers for the hugely popular British Scf-Fi character, Judge Dredd. Many of these unbelievable covers are reprinted in this collection.
   
   Kiss of Death is a different collection than the more recent Little Black Book and other Fastner & Larson collections from SQP. It's more straight-up Sci-Fi and Fantasy than the more recent books which are more pin-up oriented. It's a great collection for their legions of fans who may be unfamiliar with their older work.
   
   Reviewed by Tim Janson