No comments about Teresa Hubbard/Alexander Birchler: House With Pool.

No comments about Tom Sachs: Logjam.

3 comments about The Art of Walter Girotto.

1. Con estas palabras describo a un gran maestro del arte que nos hace sentir un sabor a lo CLASICO Y HASTA MEDIEVAL; un verdadero artista de la pintura sobre MADERA, Girotto nos demuestra su perfecto dominio sobre las luces y sombras, el oleo, el acrilico y las pinceladas (nos recuerda mucho al IMPRESIONISMO de grandes como GOYA y VAN GOGH); no solo en la chica de la portada, que es grandiosa, TODO EL MATERIAL ES INIGUALABLE!!! muy hermosos los eskeches a lapiz sobre fondos amarillos y rosas, las figuras femeninas totalmente llenas de gracia y fragilidad, incluso se ven SOLEMNES... HASTA PARA REGALARLE UN EJEMPLAR A UN SER AMADO!!; TODO AMANTE DEL ARTE DEBE TENER ESTE MUY DIGNO EJEMPLAR!!



2. Looking at the cover to The Art of Walter Girotto, I knew I was in store for something that was very different that most of the fine material put out by SQP. This was something with a decidedly different look. Oh sure, there's a beautiful, nude woman on the cover, but upon opening up the book I was surprised at what I found there. Walter Girotto was a totally unknown artist to me until I got this book. Girotto is an Italian artist who came to the United States back in 1985. I hesitate to categorize him as a pin-up or erotic artists, although his work certainly has those qualities. But Girotto is something more. Working in oils, pastels, even crayon and colored pencil, his work produced on wood gives it an aged, textured, grainy look. He blends a Renaissance period look with 21st century eroticism to create a completely unique style. Going beyond traditional pin-up art, Girotto's work really classifies as fine art.
   
   His different methods and tools produce some startling work, and it's really unlike anything I've ever seen. Take the piece simply called "Nude 30" showing a radiant blonde that was finished with colored pencil on prepared paper. I don't think that paper was prepared for Girotto! "Shauna Wearing Red Boots" features the beautiful subject lying nude on a divan clad in only red boots. These pieces complement his smooth, soft style perfectly.
   
   I love a painting called "Unconcerned" in which Girotto combines oils and pastels on this seductive woman with full, pouty lips and eyes closed. "Love Temptation" seems derived right out of the 1500's with the nude blonde subject holding a bunch of pink roses while a cherub hovers over her shoulder. Julie Strain has never looked quite so refined as she does in "Julie Strain Portrait" showing the scream queen amidst of Renaissance Era sculptures with a cherub lying at her feet.
   
   Throughout the 100 plus page collection you'll find yourself mesmerized at this incredibly talented artists who has taken eroticism to a whole other level. The book is printed on slick, glossy stock. Fantastic!
   
   Reviewed by Tim Janson



3. good: different style of pin-up art mixing renaissance style and modern poses in high quality
   
   bad: this is a magazine and not a paperback; the cover and pages are very thin and crease with casual flipping; SQP publishing can do better; if you are a Girotto fan go on-line and seek out the hardback version though pricey

No comments about Get Real: Real-Time + Art + Theory + Practice + History (Book and DVD).

3 comments about Black Versatile.

1. At first I thought this book would be a glossy version of stereotypical Black erotica. Instead I found an unabashed celebration of the beauty of the Black male body in various dimensions, positions, moods, and ambiances. The book is worth the buy.
   
   ESKing



2. The photography is of a high level from a technical point of view. True, there is a lot of versatility, but that is not the same as creativty. I expected the book to represent the Black male figure in new ways: I was left with old, stereotypical view-points. To be truly versatile, a photographer needs the intelligent eye of an artist like Rotimi Fani-Kayode: an ability to present an erotic image that plays seriously with received cultural images, so as the result is connected to the roots of Eros: curiousity, playfulness and passion. Truly versatile, yes, but this book did not offer many versatile truths.



3. Let your imagination wander with this book and you can fully undertand the title...a real visual delight.

2 comments about The Ceramic Design Book: A Gallery of Contemporary Work (A Lark Ceramics Book).

1. Basically the subtitle says it all. This beautifully illustrated book consists entirely of photos and captions. But, oh my god, what an incredible collection of mind-expanding work. Each piece is perfectly crafted, fresh, and often whimsical. My eyes just got bigger and bigger with amazement as I flipped through this book for the first time. Covering the full range of the best in modern ceramics, this book has hundreds of full color photos to inspire beginners and professionals alike. There are large architectural pieces, thrown pots, handbuilt functional and decorative wares, low fired, pit fired, high fired and raku wonders - something to delight everyone.



2. This is a beautiful book with many unique & imaginative ceramic designs that will provide inspiration for ceramic artists of all levels. It also makes a great gift or a delightful coffee table book for any art lover

   The book is in full-color displaying one to three art pieces per page. Both handbuilt & wheel-thrown ceramics are shown. Captions provide the artist's name, date completed, & size as well as materials & techniques used.

   Some of my favorite pieces includes a raku crackle jar & carved tree tiles. I love both the plate with waves & a teapot, and another with egrets on it. I also enjoyed a hand-built multi-colored teapot.

   Several eclectic figures, a humorous bird sculpture, & a huge mosaic-style dragonfly screen also caught my eye. This is an indispensable reference tool packed with great ideas & a must-have book for any serious ceramic artist.

3 comments about In Our Own Image: The Coming Revolution in Photography (Aperture Writers & Artists on Photography).

1. I was in a class taught by Ritchin, and we discussed this book in class. His ideas of how digital alteration would change the world were for the most part, spot on.Additionally his newer ideas on the subject were excellent. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in the subject.



2. Fred Ritchin's In Our Own Image gathers Aperture writers and photographers who survey the past and future worlds of photography. This examines the history and results of photojournalism and the influence of computers and image editing on photographic achievement, providing black and white examples throughout.



3. An attempt at trying to warn publishers and the public about the uncertainty of digital manipulation as related to photojouranlism, but no one raised an eyebrow towards Ritchin's shouts of the new negativeless world.

No comments about Mosaic: Home Decorating With Mosaic (Inspirations).

No comments about Scandinavian Ceramics & Glass: 1940S to 1980s (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

No comments about A Guide to Collecting Contemporary Ceramics. Alistair Hawtin.