5 comments about Illuminated Manuscripts: Treasures of the Pierpont Morgan Library New York (Tiny Folios Series).

1. I am a great fan of William Voelkle, who is not only the expert on the Morgan's vast holdings, but one of the finest semiologists in the field. His expertise in these fields is evident, as this little book is a lovely peek at the Morgan's greatest illuminations. Much of the best is there, but a lot is not, such as the almost unbelievable series of choirbook fragments by Gherarducci, and the great unfinished Book of Hours, painted by Quarton and Barthelemy d'Eyck. These are personal favorites of many people, including Mr. Voelkle, and I for one lament their non-inclusion. The format of the book is an interesting way to group the pictures, and is a valid way to go, but from an art-history viewpoint, I think the groupings might have been better if chronologically placed. That said, this is the only book with a big chunk of the PML's treasures, all in color, and encompassing much at a really minimal cost... Makes a GREAT gift for people who are into medieval manuscript painting.



2. I was so pleased when this arrived. I had no idea that so much could be packed into so little space. Excellent quality photos, great detail, and the information on the original size of each manuscript is priceless! I'm in a historical recreation society and I can tell you this will go with me to every scribal and illumination event I go to.



3. This is one of my favorite illumination books. Being a practicing illuminator, I need photos much more than I need lengthy discussions, historical analyses, elaborate provenance notes, etc. They have to be color photos and they have to be large enough, and at a high enough resolution, that I can learn something from them--and maybe even copy an initial, a diapering pattern, a bit of the border, or more.

   This book satisfies all these criteria. In fact, the only thing I dislike about this book is the fact that it's so small, it's really hard to keep open while I paint from it. REALLY hard, because if you get large and heavy enough items to hold both sides down, inevitably the items obscure parts of the page you are painting from!

   Its size can be an advantage, though. I purchased this at the National Gallery in Washington, on a midday jaunt during a conference, then went back for the next conference presentation. When the speaker turned out to be droningly boring, I brought out this tiny book and paged through it inconspicuously under the table. Could I have done that with Janet Backhouse's monumental work? I think not...;)

   The selections are wonderful, and they're usefully broken down into sections based on content--excellent when you need to find a quick animal or floral image for a border, a rendering of a king or queen, or a picture of a dragon or other supernatural being. Not so excellent when you need to find an example of, say, a late 1400's eastern French book of hours (there are many, just not in any kind of chronological or geographical order). But then, there are other resources that do that. This book is interesting for its variety, its excellent reproductions, and its well-selected and unusual miniatures.




4. Excellent reproduction of a number of styles, with reasonable commentary. Very valuable for me as a newbie, to provide a sense of medieval style and composition. The size is at once very handy and very frustrating.



5. This book is good, not great. Its to small and many of the illistrations are too small,and hard to see. But for the money its worth it. They have many other books that are a bit better than this one. Here is one that is very good 'Masterpieces of the J.Paul Getty Museum Illuminated Manuscripts'. This book is awesome with easy to read text and wonderful pictures. Happy Reading.

2 comments about Six Years: The Dematerialization of the Art Object from 1966 to 1972.

1. I lived through this era and my original 1972 copy is well used and full of loose pages. If you want to find out how the tracking of turtles is art, or how Lawrence Weiner came to write phrases on walls as his art work or simply how the synergy of people working with ideas about process as an artmaking technique came to rule this is an valuable piece of first hand reporting. Looking to explain Sol Le Witt to my college students on his recent death this book gave me samples of his interactive drawings they could try.



2. I first read this book about twenty years ago. I am glad to see that there is a new edition. It had a major impact on my development as an artist. The author discusses the trend called "conceptual art" which flowered in the time period mentioned in the title (late 60's through early 70's). These artists rejected the craft of art and the creation of objects themselves seeking instead something more fundamental. Ms. Lippard calls this "resonance" and uses descriptions of various pieces to explore this concept. Though "conceptual art" has long since passed by, the analysis in this book is still current and applies more than ever in our "post-modernist" period.

5 comments about Collage Art: A Step-By-Step Guide & Showcase.

1. I like this book, along with Creative Collage Techniques by Nita Leland. As a beginner, I needed something that would give me the information I needed and to spark my creative juices.
   
   This book includes a Materials and Ingredients list for each project and Recipes throughout. There was cornstarch paste recipe, which may be something I try at a later date, but I want to keep it simple for now. The book has great photographs and text that show the steps needed to complete the project. It also includes a gallery of collage art by various artists. Collage Art covers paper, fabric, found object collage and collagraphy "the process of making a print from a collage plate".
   
   A very nice book to add to your collection.



2. I rate this book a 4-star only because it's several year old. The inspiration here is terrific. I question some of the "how to's" only because there are other methods available now(no need to make your own glue). Acrylic medium is the best adhesive available for collage art. It touches on fabric collage as well. The gallery of work is wonderful. You cannot (and should not) duplicate, but your are given enough inspiration to create your own work. I would say this book is big on "Look what you could do" and little light on the "How to". Still . . . a good keeper. Excellent and plentiful full-color photos.



3. I've had my share of disappointments with collage books. So much of the rubber stamping craft craze has moved into what we call "Collage".
   I was afraid this book would be hyping rubber stamp and craft company
   products. Never have I been so WRONG!

   This book is by and for artists who are working on original ideas. The "how to's" are not for cookie cutter projects but informative in recipes (wheat paste glue) and techniques. All work in this book is by serious,
   original artists.

   This book has me planning two days off to play around with some of my own ideas using the techniques of application of paint and materials in this book.

   You won't be sorry, buy the book!




4. I have long been interested in collage and recently decided to try my hand at it. To facilitate this, I got several books on the subject. This was one of the nicest and most complete.

   Atkinson's beautiful book was a great help. I liked the way collage artists showed, step by step, how they created their collages. The photgraphy of the pieces was excellent, making it a very visually appealing book.

   My only disappointment was that the book did not cover what materials to use, what glue to paste with, what different kinds of papers are available, and preservation of the finished work. This is not the fault of the author....she never claimed that the book was a beginner's guide.

   Overall, this was a great resource book.




5. This book is dedicated to those who already know the first steps of collage works: what materials to use, what glue to paste with, what elements to include... but it gives an amazing amount of ideas and new approaches that are awesome. You can't miss this publication if you are collage-prone. It's a delight for the eye and helps you understand how artists use their skills and imagination. Take a look!... Am I wrong?

3 comments about Heath Ceramics: The Complexity of Simplicity.

1. Definitely not a "coffee table" dust collector but a book that I have spent many pleasant hours enjoying. It gives the reader an appreciation of how the multi-faceted potter Edith Heath brought classic design into the home through her ceramics. This book is a wonderful addition to my library and it makes gift giving easy.



2. The book for anyone with a passion for Edith Heath's designs as well as people interested in ceramics from the 40s until today. What the book lacks is a catalog of Heath's ceramic designs. But this shortcoming is not a big deal. What this wonderfully designed and produced book boasts is the vision of a singular woman who will forever be a part of the design landscape. The book is an absolute steal at the amazon.com price. Dense editorials, fantastic photography. A beautiful tribute.



3. Finally, a respectable book on Edith Heath! Klausner's work really stands out in the small but discerning crowd of Heathophiles. The more I tuck into this extraordinary book the more I become fascinated by the miraculous and timeless techniques of the House of Heath. I recommend this book to anyone even remotely interested in ceramics.

1 comments about Uta Barth (Contemporary Artists).

1. This splendid monograph on the work of Uta Barth lays out in lavish detail how she deconstructs vision into a series of sensations and effects. She began making pictures of the backgrounds of snapshots, and then photos of the backgrounds of action film stills. Her aim was the periphery of conscious sight, and the results have been dazzlingly effective. She has progressed in this investigation of vision by adding the effects of the passage of time, and investigating the visual collapse that occurs from an extended stare. Her pictures are always rigorously composed and stunningly beautiful, and they are accurately illustrated in this superb book. The essays are smart and insightful, and the interviews are enlightening. Well worth the cost.

3 comments about Land & Environmental Art (Themes & Movements).

1. This Themes and Movements series of books is an excellent one for the neophyte as well as the
   expert.



2. Worth the price, a complete and well done editorial work. I recomend the entire series Themes & Movements.



3. This book should be a permanent reference for all artists including photographers and architects. The timelessness of the projects reflects the timelessness of the book itself. The diversity of projects and their ideas makes a remarkable statement about art and its boundaries.

2 comments about Maurizio Cattelan (Contemporary Artists).

1. Beware that this is a mini book, which makes looking at Cattelan's artwork almost impossible. Cattelan is an incredibly funny, satiric, conceptual sculptor. His work makes fun of the gallery system in an intelligent way but also moves beyond the criticism of art politics. Some of his work has recently earned the presitgious title of "controversial" (the images of himself hanging from a tree). I put Cattelan in the same category as Manzoni, Fontana...great book but I would order the bigger one.



2. This is a good series from Phaidon and Cattelan is a good choice for inclusion. There's lots of information here on his early work from the days before he became an 'art star.'

2 comments about Warman's Hull Pottery: Identification and Value Guide (Warman's Hull Pottery: Identification & Value Guide).

1. I just love Hull pottery so I was excited to receive my book. I couldn't wait to look up some pieces I had when it came. I received the book in a few days as promised. Excellent service!!!



2. Great addition to my resource library for Hull Pottery. Must have if you are thinking about collection Hull Pottery and a must have if you will be sell Hull Pottery.

3 comments about Ceramics.

1. The book itself is informative but not all that captivating. Other than that the item was brand new and arrived in fabulous condition in a short amount of time. I was very happy with the sender.



2. This book is not a glossy full-color presentation of the world's spectacular ceramic pieces. It does contain a hundred or so black and white illustrations of ceramics from almost all cultures; ancient and modern. Philip Rawson writes about the general concept of ceramics, the techniques, and the philosophy and symbolism. I found this book to be very helpful in that it gives an overview of all types of ceramics and allows the interested potter or sculptor to survey Rawson's intriguing perceptions. This book promotes ideas and facilitates their coming to the reader through discussions of his seemingly infinite observations. Rawson was a brilliant art professor and brings amazing viewpoints to his readers. Ideas, after all, are the most important factor in creating works of art.



3. Every potter and vessel maker, every student and teacher of ceramics, every person interested in ceramics should read CERAMICS by Philip Rawson. In fact, you will want to own a copy of this book so you can re-read it and loan it to other people. (I received no compensation for that statement.) CERAMICS is an exceptional source for expanding your knowledge of and vocabulary for critically viewing, appreciating, discussing, and writing about ceramics.

   In CERAMICS, Philip Rawson, a prolific writer and art critic, gives a fascinating and lucid examination of the evolution and aesthetics of ceramic form. He states, "One of the prime reasons why ceramics is such an interesting art is that it fills the gap which now yawns between art and life as most people understand their relationship."(6) Rawson then introduces ideas critical to looking at and fully understanding ceramics such as the relationship of function to the origins of most ceramic forms and how that relationship affects our experience of ceramic objects. He also addresses the inherent attraction of a recognizable material transformed by the human hand into a new object with symbolic or metaphorical value.

   Following a comprehensive but concise overview of the techniques and processes involved in making ceramics, Rawson gives an in-depth discussion of how form, surface and design, combined with the ideas of transformation and forms' residual relationships to function, create meaning in pottery. Well-chosen photographs, illustrations, and vessel profiles accompany the text.

1 comments about California Pottery: From Missions to Modernism.

1. This colorful and enjoyable book makes a strong case for the importance of California's commercial potteries in drawing on the state's unique cultural heritage to introduce dramatic new colors and styles to the United States. The book is easy to read and filled with interesting facts, with beautiful color photos on almost every page. I was fascinated by pictures of pottery from the 30's, side-by-side with the handmade folk pottery on which the designs werte based. This is a must for any serious pottery collector! Note that the book parallels an exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. The author, Bill Stern, was the curator for that exhbition.