5 comments about Collecting Swarovski: Identification & Price Guide (Identification and Value Guides (Krause)).

1. While this book is very informative, with pictures and reviews, it needs updating to keep prices current and more pictures to distinguish varations would be helpful. Still, it is well written and an enjoyable read.



2. I was excited about receiving this book, as my aunt had given me her collection of Swarovski Crystal to sell on eBay for her. I thought it would at least identify all of the pieces in her collection and answer at least most of the questions posed by potential bidders. It did not. At least half of the pieces are not listed in the book, nor does the book answer what I feel are some pretty basic questions posed by bidders. Not a complete waste of money, but had I known in advance, I would have looked for a much more comprehensive book.



3. I had previously owned some Swarovski that I had received as gifts and decided I wanted to start actively collect them. I was buying a lot of the older pieces on the second market and wanted to make sure I was getting a fair deal. This book was exactly what I was looking for. It had the details that I needed to make sure I was getting authentic pieces at a fair price. Great for any starter collector.



4. This book which arrived in a timely manner and at a good price is very well put together incorporating a host of information for the Swarovski collector. The pictures and text are clear and well layed out.



5. Price guide has a complete listing of the Swarovski catalog of figurines, clear large photos of virtually every variation availble...a good reference for beginner to advanced collector.

3 comments about Wade Miniatures: An Unauthorized Guide to Whimsies, Premiums, Villages, & Characters.

1. The book 'Wade Miniatures' (2007) by Diane Baker is a wonderful first book to have if you are starting to collect Wade Miniature Figurines. The color photos are so true to life. Ms Baker includes some history of Wade of England and a current price guide for the figurines.
   Most of the figurines included in the book start in the 1950's and continue up to the present. The Wade factory in England however, started out making porcelain pieces in 1810.
   Everyone remembers the Red Rose Tea Miniatures that were included in the Red Rose Tea boxes. Those little Miniatures currently range in value from $5.00 to about $20.00 - $30.00. More exquisite pieces can range in value from $50.00 to over $400.00. There is a price range for every level of collector.
   I had an older copy of her book from the Library. However, when the 2007 edition came out, I just had to have it as a handy reference guide.
   As a novice collector, or for that matter, as an amateur collector, you will find this book to be an invaluable reference guide!
   Happy collecting!!



2. Just what I needed! I have a collection inherited from my mom. I wasn't sure of the value or which pieces belong to which set. This book is very clear. Has great pictures and pricing information. Highly recommended.



3. Wade miniatures #2 is the top book on wades red rose tea and miniatures!!!
   BEWARE = there is a wade miniatures #3 it is word for word - page for page - price for price THE SAME AS WADE #2 so save money and buy #2 instead of #3,
   I hate it when I get ripped off by someone who claims to be giving me an updated price guide on a book I depend on.
   this book in either copy is the BEST for miniatures,

3 comments about The Japanese Pottery Handbook.

1. This is an excellent book for the price! Simple and straight forward, it's a great learning tool and gives you some good basic info.



2. A very basic handbook if you are looking for pottery techniques, but invaluable for the English/ Japanese translations and terminology in hiragana, katakana and kanji for the Western potter who travels to Japan. Not many books around that gives one access to this terminology to enable one to discuss ceramics with the Japanese potter.The terminology regarding forms, descriptions, glazes, underglazes, etc are exellent, with helpfull maps on kiln sites and the different wares found in the different regions of Japan.



3. This informative and delightful book is a must for any potter. With charming and clear illustrations the authors provide information on tools, workshops, forming, decorations, kilns, etc. Even common problems are illustrated! Towards the end of the book, drawings of various forms will prove a valuable resource to many a potter. This book has become a constant reference in my own studio. Please note that two languages are used in the book, Japanese and English, accenting the visual delight of this well designed book.

No comments about Art After Conceptual Art (Generali Foundation Collection).

1 comments about A Night at the Motel.

1. What is sleazier than a hot tryst in a hot-sheet motel?..Virtually nothing...but this picture essay permits the sleaze to sizzle and stimulate, as well as, visually satisfy.

3 comments about Functional Pottery: Form and Aesthetic in Pots of Purpose.

1. Robin Hopper has written a definitive book for all potters, beginners and masters alike. The chosen work for photos offers an excellent range of contemporary and classic forms for study.



2. I found Functional Pottery to be a pleasant surprise for the most part, although I was mildly disappointed by the more practical sections of the book. Roughly the first half of the book provides an interesting historical and cultural review of functional pottery, which went beyond what I had anticipated from the title and general description. A portion of the second half of the book focused on the mechanics of particular forms of functional pottery. This portion, which was my particular interest in buying the book, was a little less thorough and extensive than I had hoped. For the beginner/intermediate potter specifically interested in practical advice and detail regarding the mechanics of functional pottery forms, the material in the book, while useful, may not go far enough. I recommend this book as a general overview, keeping in mind that the scope of the book covers a broader range of topics than implied by its title, and that only sixty pages of the book are dedicated to the practical considerations and mechanics of designing and creating functional pottery.



3. This book is an excellent addition to my collection of pottery books. This book deals with the more technical side of pottery. This book is for people who have accomplished throwing but want to take it to the next level. The book covers everyhting from history of pottery, to correct proportions, and also has artist bio's. Excellent book, i rate it 12 out of 10.

5 comments about Painting Country Gardens in Watercolor, Pen & Ink.

1. I love pen and ink painting as it looks delicate. It takes the same amount of time to do as an oil painting but has a different look. This book gives me more choices to pick from and adds more depth with the texture lessons.



2. Claudia Nice not only tells you how to use watercolor, but what colors she uses in the examples.



3. I find that this book explains procedures excellently and items are illustrated with good follow through steps making it very easy to follow. I have learnt some real shortcuts to problem areas I had.



4. I admit it: I am hooked on books by Claudia Nice. Pen & ink can be quite an intense media. Claudia Nice simplifies the techniques and conveys the instruction as only as master can, and does it in her trademark informal, friendly manner. Another aspect I love is her use of watercolor to bring her works to life. The reader gets the treat of two complimentary media in one book: pen & ink and watercolor.
   For the beginner, I might recommend starting with her other books before attempting the more advanced exercises and techniques in Painting Country Gardens. The perfect introduction is Sketching Your Favorite Subjects in Pen & Ink, followed by Painting with Watercolor, Pen & Ink, and then perhaps Creating Textures in Pen & Ink with Watercolor.
   There are more technical books on pen & ink technique for advanced students, some intimidatingly so; but for the beginning to intermediate artist, no series of books is as valuable for developing sound technique. And certainly no other books are as intimate, casual, and just plain fun as those by Claudia Nice.



5. This book is beautiful and gorgeous! If you enjoy nature and taking field trips to pretty gardens, fields or just plain nature, you'll love this book! It has gushing pictures just delicately drawn. You'll fantasize this book your own personal treasure.

5 comments about Ceramic Extruding: Inspiration & Technique.

1. A great book on the technical aspects of extruding. Lots of good photos for ideas and explanations. A good start for anyone into handbuilding or adding flair to their thrown work.



2. Ceramic Extruding: Inspiration & Technique by professional studio artists Tom and Jean Latka, is a thoroughly "user friendly" guide ideal for both aspiring ceramics workers and dedicated hobbyists to the use of a ceramic extruder or pugmill in new and wondrous ways to craft memorable and adventurous artworks in this challenging medium. More than 200 color photographs illustrate the easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions, as well as display possibilities for the finished product. Ceramic Extruding is a highly enjoyable how-to artbook and a strongly recommended addition to any personal, professional, or art school reference collection.



3. If you have been waiting for the best book on ceramic extrusion, it is
   available now Ceramic Extruding by Jean and Tom Latka successfully answers the question of, "Why are all of those clay extruders rusting on potter's walls?" Their answer is thus: Ceramists, like everyone else, have to be inspired to create beautiful work. This book acts as a magical muse for artists by showing over 300 quality photos of beautiful work by some of the finest international contemporary artists working in the medium today. This book's focus is on the recent emergence of extruded ceramic art as dynamic and surprisingly varied form of creative expression.

   "Though the words extrude and extrusion are not ones most people encounter in everyday conversation, we live in a world where we are surrounded by extruded objects. Our brick houses and their tile roofs are made from extruded clay. We shower on extruded tiles, send our smoke and fumes up extruded chimneys and our waste down extruded sewers. From the round O's in your breakfast cereal to the pasta on your dinner plate, extruded objects occupy every conceivable nook and cranny of our lives". Beginning with bricks, Ceramic Extruding details the history of the extruder then demonstrates the ease, as well as the necessity, of using an extruder in one's pottery. The book is organized in a logical manner in order to guide the reader by employing numerous step-by-step instructional methods.
   Essentially, Ceramic Extruding is a how-to book and the projects gradually become more advanced. Apart from the photos, another subject that distinguishes this book from other books on the market is its comprehensive theory of extrusion and was the only chapter I had to read twice. It is a difficult subject. The authors give detailed information on why extruders act in the manner in which they do. For instance, I didn't know that clay moves faster down the center of the barrel than clay closer to the walls. This information is useful for artists who want to design their own dies.

   Educators take note: As a teacher, I know how it feels to give students a
   blank canvas and ask them to be creative. In contrast Ceramic Extruding
   shows how to create a limitless supply of foundation material from the
   extruder for the student.

   The book truly has an international cast of artists, photos of ceramics
   spanning from Australia to Inge Pedersen in Norway. I became aware of
   several renowned European ceramicists. Antonio Cumella, Alessio Tasca, Elina
   Brandt-Hanson, Jim Robison. Other artist's work that impressed me was Ken Williams, Jutta Golas, and Jack Sures. Jean and Tom Latka have an excellent body of work apart from each other, but their collaborative work shines superior.

   Everyone has been waiting for the next thing in clay. Well Latka's Flying
   Hybrid Extruder and Michael Sherrill's novel extruder/wheel could lead to
   the new revolution in clay. The quick release system makes these extruders user friendly. The expansion box is larger than most other machines, and in the case of Flying Hybrid, it out performs slab machines by making slabs faster and more superior. Oddly enough, slab machines compress the clay from the center of the roller to the edges. This creates an unstable molecular structure and cracks result. The clay is evenly compressed in the Vertical Flying Hybrid. An 18"x24" slab is the result when an 8" cylindrical shape 18" long is extruded and sliced lengthwise.

   I would like to sum up with a quote from Michael Cohen. "It is important to find a well-made extruder that is adaptable to your needs. As for the
   wheel, once you learn how to use it, one question ultimately remains: What are you going to make? After mastering centrifugal force and friction, perhaps it's now time to use gravity and inertia to make a personal statement. Like throwing, it only looks easy."

   "Extruding clay takes on a wonderful new meaning when you use the extruder as you would any tool---as one step in the making process, not as an end in itself. The extruder's contribution to the studio can be as profound and influential as the potters wheel --- a slab for the imagination to leap off from". Jean Latka

   Two thumbs up! Burn the other extruder books; this is the only one you will ever need.
   I am an college art teacher at U.S.C. and find it the best book for my introduction course on the Extruder.
   ...




4. The book has an international cast of artists, photos of ceramics
   spanning from Australia to Inge Pedersen in Norway. I became aware of
   several renowned European ceramicists. Antonio Cumella, Alessio Tasca, Elina
   Brandt-Hanson, Jim Robison. Other artist's work that impressed me was Ken Williams, Jutta Golas, and Jack Sures. Jean and Tom Latka have an excellent body of work apart from each other, but their collaborative work shines superior.
   Peter Helm



5. This Krause Publication book, which means it is great, it is about the creative use of the extruder: its history, manufacture and
   production contributions and the creative uses being employed by studio clay artists.
   Over 300 color photos of creative work by a cast of international artists showing innovative uses for the extruder.
   The best book on extrusion.
   Andy Ganhal

5 comments about Universal (Kingdome).

1. The book wasn't the best I've purchased, but it was definately a good book. My friends and enjoyed the imagery. However, the photographs are mostly in sepia style.



2. As a photographer, I collect a wide variety of photo art books. Of all of the male figure study books I've collected, this would be my least favorite. To me, it seems far less about art and more about the photographer's obsession with very well-hung men and hangs closer to porn than art. I don't have a problem with porn, but it's not what I was shopping for and I probably won't be holding on to this book.
   
   That said, there are a handful of creative and intriguing photos in here. But not many.



3. If you like em big then you'll like this one! I was however not pleased with the clarity of the photos. I found that the black and white coupled with the somewhat distorted look of the photos was not all that appealing. Not sure I'd put this one on my coffee table though, I suppose it all depends on what you put/have on it! Definitely worth the sticker!



4. UNIVERSAL is a successful collaborative effort between Kingdome 19 (the well known carpenter/graphic artist turned photographer) and Henning von Berg (an equally well known architectural engineer turned photographer), both artists from Germany and both highly respected in Europe and now the USA. Their subject matter is the male nude and their similarities are their focus on non-studio settings and on their brave depiction of the aroused male.
   
   From von Berg's vast collection of photographs, Kingdome 19 re-worked many in his developing room, adding graphic details, works, markings, and other artistic elements, enhancing von Berg's sometimes static works immensely. But the book also shares many of Kingdome 19's own photographs, all presented in sepia toning, all with some degree of handcrafted manipulation to enhance the artistic aspect of the finished product, and all sensually beautiful in the casual manner in which he shares his models' willingness to be totally free with their posing.
   
   As the art world (since Mapplethorpe) has matured more and more to the point that male nudity, and even aroused male images, is becoming more accepted. Certainly at the top of the list of brave photographers is the always exciting work of Kingdome 19. This book contains nearly 150 images that are strong and challenging. Another fine book from Bruno Gmunder Verlag GmbH. Grady Harp, January 07



5. This book presents men in various settings that are sepia toned, many of whom are in an aroused state. That and good photography make this a must have for lovers of nude male.

No comments about On the Couch: Collection.