2 comments about Prints and Visual Communication.

1. Book recommended by art instructor. Author is very erudite in words used and concepts presented. Much of what was presented was of little value to me. I did learn that there were different styles of engraving developed in different countries. Author's major concern seemed to be to have a consistently, accurately presentation of an idea or technique, which in his view was performed by photography. In terms of making my own prints, I learned very little.



2. This is one of those wonderful books. It's written by a contrary, crotchety old man, full of opinions you won't hear anywhere else, and incredibly well-informed. The author was retired from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where he had been curator of prints. I listen when he talks on the topic of prints, and I think I hear why he waited until retirement to write this book.
   
   It starts with a diatribe against classical Roman culture as derivative from Greek, and against classical Greece as `predatory'. He argues that much of the Western classical period was powered by a steady stream of slave labor. As a result, the captors shunned practical arts as demeaning to free men (slave owners). Printed replication of text was well within their technology and would have suited their needs as a reading intelligentsia. The problem was that the presence of slave labor had weakened the slave-owners so much that they couldn't be bothered to carve a printing block. As a result, they created a weakened intellectual heritage, founded on what sounded good instead of what replicated the features of nature. Ivins ties the history of technological innovation to the history of the printed images that educate the innovators. Pictorial information, he argues, enabled the scientific and engineering efflorescence that started in the Renaissance.
   
   Ivins supports that premise with a brilliant tour of the history of pictures on paper. He treats the hand-copied and re-copied manuscripts as the prehistory of true image capture. He traces that history forward through the many technologies of image-making, including woodcut, wood engraving, and intaglio print, on up through photos distributed by machine printing. He offers a number of historical anecdotes, some from traditional sources and some from his personal knowledge of the early 20th century.
   
   Along the way, he thoroughly debunks the mystique of printmaking. It has, overwhelmingly, been a practical art. Much too much has been made of the artificially limited edition, of the false mystique around specific processes and practices. Back in the 1950s, when this was written, that may have been an especially important message. It's still true, to some extent, but I think it undercuts the modern printers who choose printmaking because of its unique expressive capabilities.
   
   Still, it's a clear, well-directed discussion, and illustrated with a rich assortment of demonstrative prints. This book is a treat for anyone interested in the history of prints and pictorial communication; it's a confection for everyone who likes their sacred cows cooked well done.
   
   //wiredweird

1 comments about Joseph Cornell's Dreams.

1. In general I feel about dream journals rather the way that Edmund Wilson did about Agatha Christie, for what is more boring than reading the dreams of another? Even one's own dreams are notable only for their evanescence and mind-boggling vapidity--and they're long, like life. Therefore I turned to this volume with trepidation, but as it happens it's become one of my favorite little books.
   
   It's not as though the boxkunstler Joseph Cornell decided to pen a dream journal. Instead it fell to editor Catherine Corman to come up with the sharp idea of mining Cornell's voluminous diaries, and finding the parts where he describes his dreams--and perhaps the most telling ones, for this is a "selected" book on two counts. Corman has a winning, sincere way of expressing her thoughts on Cornell; she is not as ambitious as Deborah Solomon, who wrote the much-praised biography UTOPIA PARKWAY, or "How I Proved That Cornell Might Have Been Heterosexually Inclined," and yet Corman has a few gaucheries of her own, like that guide to the themes of Cornell's dreams that serves as an afterword, filled with such crushingly banal wisdom as "Water inspires images of sinking and floating." Well really, what else is there? But even this catalogue has its own virtues, for Corman is unexpectedly poetic and terse, and something of Cornell's own eccentricity seems to have rubbed off on her like wet gilt. The book itself is lovely as only the people at Exact Change know how, though I might have skipped the idea to print every word of the text in the indigo Linda Darnell wore playing the Virgin Mary in THE SONG OF BERNADETTE. What's nice on a star sometimes proves hard to read on slick white paper.
   
   Cornell's assistants used to speak of witnessing him waking from a nap and rising from his day bed, eyes still closed, hands reaching out like the zombies of the living dead, towards his works in progress, new inspiration from his dreams focussing his unconscious energies. The diary entries seem sometimes rushed as though he were hurrying to write it all down before he forgot--nouns and adjectives speed-jotted into abbreviations ("presum." for "presumable," "y'day" for "yesterday," "bks" for "books"). One doesn't often get a glimpse of Cornell at top speed, for his projects always seem so considered, meditative. It's rather thrilling to see him up and down on a roller coaster ride.

3 comments about The Weekend Crafter: Mosaics: Inspirational Ideas and Practical Projects for the Weekend.

1. I got this book for my birthday nearly three years ago. I was so inspired I wanted to do everything in it. I love it. It is fabulous for the beginner with step by step instructions and great photos. And the best part is that it is so simple. Once you've tracked down the tiles, etc - hard to find in New Zealand, it took me two years. And you don't need all the fancy tools the book give handy hints to get around without them. The book features not only the authors work so it appeals to many tastes. This isn't just a great starter it's good even when you know what you're doing - you can refer back to it all the time or just look at if for insipration. Another book by Martin Cheek, MAKING MOSAICS - with a fish on the front is great too. It also has step by step details and more great photos of more great projects. Get them both it's worth it.



2. I have had this book for about 2 years now (from UK)& since my first attempts at mosaic, have found it invaluable. The author gives clear & full instructions from start to finish on all of the projects, which are well illustrated in phototgraphic sequences. Other mosaic books like this seem to be in the same format but lacking such clear instructions which a beginner would have no problems with. I would recommend it to total beginners & more experienced mosaicists alike, perhaps even to someone with an artistic mind who has never considered mosaic would be inspired by this book. Mosaic is becoming ever more popular & this book will allow anyone to create their own designs at home at a fraction of the cost of a professional (& much more satisfying !) I don't think you'll be disappointed............. Have fun !



3. Martin Cheek is the finest mosaicist on the planet, and his books are a testament to that. (Professional mosaicists will especially love this book because the materials lists are so daunting that beginners are likely to shy away from the craft!) Cheek's work is an inspiration for the already-are and elegant poetry for the wanna-be mosaicists.

3 comments about The Art of Al Rio Volume 2.

1. The Art of Al Rio Volume 2
   Great book! Covers are fantastic! The black and white art inside has a sharpness and clean lines that are beautiful very detailed well thought out
   design and execution.



2. Volume one was great, this is even better, Al's art is stunning, he draws sexy women, sexy, hot and very nice, clean art too. Great lines and curves, if you like good girl art and sexy gals, buy this book.



3. This second collection of Al Rio's artwork is a fine companion to volume one. Al draws strong, beautiful women and this is an excellent introduction to his artwork. Like volume one, these are all black and white drawings. Well worth the price.

5 comments about Stripped Naked.

1. There's no doubt that Mr. Gorman is a talented photographer. I liked the sponteinity with which he used the camera and the concept. However, many of the models are a turn off. They are so skinny that you can see their ribs. Not the kind of book that I would recommend.



2. If you're a Peter Gorman fan, I recommend getting this book. I enjoyed his two previous books, but with this one you get a larger format and more intimate feel. The photos are candid and the girls are natural looking and not overly made up (which I very much like). From the cover shot it looks like it could be called "Messy Rooms"!



3. Very bad.... Nothing good inside. All are below average photos. Don't waste your money.



4. Received book expecting "david hamilton-others" material-- instead found "Hustler etc" typical approach--very dissapointed-returned book same day--(would be great if ALL photo books this subject could show some example of material,including whether bw or color)-have returned several others since trying amazon for similar/same reason. great service,tho--thanks,hondaspl.



5. This book is about one of the most beautiful subjects for a photography essay - pretty naked young women. Gorman's work is very natural as all of the women were photographed in their own homes where they could feel the most relaxed and comfortable. Another plus for the work is that the women are not professional models. They are all comfortable with their sexuality and the work is a gift to all persons.

No comments about Firing: Philosophies Within Contemporary Ceramic Practice.

2 comments about The Art of Baron von Lind.

1. Baron von Lind's painting technique is good, but he has some problems with anatomy and proportion of the human figure. I wonder if he constructs a skeleton before building the figure. Basically I liked the book and its illustrations, but I found the anatomy problems a bit of a disappointment. My background is that I am an industrial designer, and I attended art school.



2. SQP never ceases to surprise or amaze me whenever I have a chance to check out one of their new pin-up art books and they've done so again with The Art of Baron Von Lind. Lind is clearly from the "old school" of pinup art, capturing that 40's and 50's look of masters like Elvgren and Rolf Armstrong but with his own naughty charm. This full color collection features 48 pages of Von Lind's gorgeous women of all makes and models. The celebrated Von Lind has painted a portrait of former President Reagan that hung in the White House and his painting of Babe Ruth was used by the U.S. Post Office as a commemorative stamp. That resume is pretty hard to top but pin-up lovers are certain to think that his is his best work.
   
   Von Lind paints real women with real curves, not the waif thin, exaggerated breast subjects of so many modern artists. These women are natural, yet exquisitely beautiful and alluring. One of my favorite pieces isn't one of his nudes but the portrait of a woman, maybe a Hollywood starlet, in a powder blue gown. This piece also serves as the book's back cover.
   
   Von Lind's painting of a nude Jean Harlow sitting in a director's chair is another favorite as he captures the platinum blond icon in all her glory. Again, that 40's sensibility is evident throughout as soldiers or sailors are in the background of various paintings and ogling the lovely models. Lovers of redheads will be happy to know that Von Lind seems to like them, too, and there are several fantastic pieces featuring those earthy vixens.
   
   Von Lind gives us cowgirls, Indian maidens, southern belles, Bond girls, and even Barbara Eden in her most famous role as Jeannie in a way we WISH we could have seen her! A great collection that pin-up fans will love!
   
   Reviewed by Tim Janson

5 comments about The Crafter's Complete Guide to Collage.

1. I've been wanting to get serious about mixed-media. No scrapbooking. No journals. No trading cards. I'm talking about 5 foot wall pieces hanging on plywood. Mixed-media on my ceiling. Items that can be hung in a gallery.
   
   After looking through several "collage" books, which were really just personal journal books in a "how-to" disguise, I was frustrated and then found this.
   
   Explaining everything from supports, to tools and materials, this is an essential book for other artists venturing into mixed-media.
   
   As well, I read this along with Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Art Materials by Ian Sidaway, and came away knowing a lot more than I ever did, and I have a background in acrylic painting.
   
   I gave it 4 stars because some of the material was redundant and the pictures didn't match the text, but this was few and far between.
   
   Bottom-line: Serious potential collage and mixed-media artists start here.



2. As a collage artist, I found this book to be great for a beginner or a expert. The photos and precise instructions are excellent. The creative inspiration is remarkable. This a very nice "starter" the curious and a great reference for the practicing artist. This book really runs the gamut: paper collage, mixed-media w/found objects, fabric collage and digital. It's a an all-around sampler for someone trying to use collage as a creative outlet but not yet settled on the "how" of it. Check out Claudine Hellmuth as well. Enjoy . . . I sure did.



3. this book got my muse back where it belongs, in my heart. not only are the techniques shared simple yet sophisticated, the examples bring out the "experimenter" in you and you can't help but want to grab your glue, brushes and colors and play again.



4. This is a fantastic book on creating a wide variety of great collage projects. It covers numerous collage techniques including using paper, mixed-media, fabric, decoupage, photomontage, computer art, found and three-dimensional objects. The beautiful galleries after each collage type are sure to inspire you.

   In addition to the collage techniques you also get the basics of papermaking, papier mache, marbling and batik as well as painting and dyeing fabric. There are step-by-step instructions accompanied by demonstrating photos for all the techniques and projects. Don't expect to make exact replicas of the projects since your sources and materials will vary. Rather, the author expects you will follow her assembling directions to create a unique masterpiece of your own.

   Some of the sixteen projects include a gorgeous butterfly lampshade, a painted paper fruit bowl collage, a clock decorated with magazine scraps and nature objects, and a sewn fabric book cover. Another great project is an easy to make yet sophisticated looking Japanese box covered with scraps of yuzen or chiyogami papers.

   This book filled with fresh and interesting ideas is sure to help you create gorgeous collage artwork.




5. I wanted to explore collage as an aspect of other paper crafts I'm trying to learn. I picked this one first and I really like it. Many other collage books are meant for people narrowly focused on collage who see beauty in their collages ..... that is truly not obvious to other people - so esoteric it appeals to a very narrow audience. The Crafter's Complete Guide to Collage is different. It's visually attractive. The samples of collages have much broader appeal. The excellent how-to photographs are tremendously helpful and NOT intimidating. It opened my mind up to more than paper possibilities - it discusses collages of paper, found objects, mixed media, fabric, multi-dimensional, decoupage, photomontage, even computer collage. Its a treat - I think you'd enjoy this book!

1 comments about Barnett Newman.

1. Apart from the Catalogue Raisonné, this is the best contribution to the understanding of Newman's work in recent years. It is the catalogue for an exhibition held at the National Gallery in London and, therefore, carries no surprise: All the masterpieces are there, arranged in a chronological order, beautifully illustrated and accompanied by an enlightening text.

2 comments about A Collectors Guide to Royal Copenhagen Porcelain (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. I ordered this book because of the fact it dealt with figurines. There are a lot of Royal Copenhagen figurine pictures with only a small amount of information, but pretty comprehensive on backstamps used and dates of figurines. Also discusses several of the more famous artists that work on these items. I found it quite interesting and a must have if you are an ardent collector.



2. This book is really only about figurines, with a little history of the company markings. It does not cover any dishes or accent pieces for the china collector. The product description may lead you to think it covers it all, but it doesn't.