2 comments about Cowgirl Rising: The Art of Donna Howell-Sickles.

1. Intriguing - for the modern day cowgirl. Donna Howell-Sickles has captured the cowgirl in her work -- FASCINATING!



2. Cowgirl Rising is almost the right name for the coffee table/art book featuring the art work of Donna Howell-Sickles with text by Peg Streep.

   Done in bold primary colors of red, blue and white, Howell-Sickles cowgirls jump off the page. These graphic style cowgirls stand out against the uncomplicated backgrounds of natural browns and grays. The oil and charcoal works will appeal to even the most casual of glancers and keep them turning the pages to see more.

   The original inspiration of turn of century postcard is easily seen in Postcard Cowgirl VII where a smiling cowgirl with her horses sits astride a fence and waves to the viewer. A Family Tradition shows us three cowgirls, daughter, mother, grandmother, the traditional three phases of life.

   While Donna Howell-Sickle uses the icons and images of the American West and the cowgirl, to call this western art seems almost to confining. Even the causal observer, seeing the steer-riding cowgirl who holds the horns of a rather gentle looking bull, will see the Greek myth of Zeus and Europa (and in case you missed the message, the work is entitled Zeus and Europa). In Totem II a benign bear stands behind the cowgirl, who, along with ravens and dogs form a totem pole-like portrait.

   This a stand out book has just the right mix of art and text. Peg Streep commentary at the beginning of each chapter provides information on Howell-Sickles and on the art itself. Text also accompanies each picture directing attention to the symbols and details that gives the viewer a deeper understanding of the work.

   As the book progresses, the always smiling, vibrant, confident cowgirl becomes the more than a free spirited, unconfined westerner. She is Woman, pure and simple. The images of the smiling, confident and happy cowgirls will stay with you a long time.

   The cowgirls of Cowgirl Rising are not just rising, they have arisen.

3 comments about What Every Potter Should Know: Answers and Solutions to Common Pottery Problems.

1. A wealth of solid advice on how to prevent (or solve) a wide variety of ceramics problems. Well-written and easy to read. A unique collection of topics, but well-organized, making it easy to find what you're looking for. Includes details about clays and glazes, buying materials, firing, safety, and even business considerations. The title is accurate: you really should know what's in this book, and much of it you won't find elsewhere.



2. I am a self taught potter. This is one of the first books I bought on the subject and I still find it very valuable. It gets to the point and addresses practical problems in clear and specific ways. The glaze recipes that are given work, however it helps to have a bit of knowledge first. (I didn't understand about the thermal expansion of lithium and one of the base glazes give is overloaded with it. It broke my clay body apart completely, not surprising from its chemistry. On the proper clay body it would have been fine.) The solutions to the problems work well. I am using, with good results, a clay body that uses advise from this book. It doesn't have every solution to problems, but I haven't seen any book that does. It is interesting and covers a wide range of important issues for the potter, issues that are often left out of other books. I highly recommend it for anybody who works in clay, specifically those who mix their own clay and glazes.



3. As a beginner in the world of pottery, I found this book to be useful in a language that is easy to follow and understand.

No comments about Grand Scale: Monumental Prints in the Age of Durer and Titian (Davis Museum and Cultural Center, Wellesley College).

No comments about Depression Glass: Warman's Companion (Warman's Companion: Depression Glass).

1 comments about Throwing Pots (Ceramics Handbooks).

1. I first took this book out of the library, but after wearing out the pages, I decided to buy my own copy. It is logical in its progression of explanations from centering the clay to teapots. The pieces shown in color photography are delicious and gave me lots of ideas for developing my own pots etc. It is short but parallels the descriptions by the teacher in the course I am taking. You will not go wrong with this purchase. It is short which is great too, so it is not overwhelming.

1 comments about Glass Etching: 46 Full-Size Patterns with Complete Instructions.

1. If you are just beginning to learn glass etching, this book is a must. Wonderful and easy to follow instructions and great patterns. I made some beautiful pieces with this book.

4 comments about Batchelder Tilemaker.

1. Not the greatest tile reference, the detail in the photos is poor and hard to see. Most of the historical reference in this book is accurate, but poorly written. I would not purchase this book early in a library building journey, save it for when you have excess money to spend and are just trying to fill and round out your collection.



2. When the back cover of a book informs you that the author is reputable, rather than the subject is well written - take it as a warning.

   This sophomorically written book is not intended for Arts & Crafts devotes, it is meant for tour guides who wants to get an "Ooo!" or a giggle out of a bus load of little old ladies.

   While the photos are fair, I found myself wishing I could actually see what they were showing. I guess the little old ladies are use to not being allowed too close, but I'd like to zoom in, please.

   Throughout the book, the reader is assured that the author is highly praised by the Governor of California. Perhaps taxpayers should insist their Governor spend his time more selectively.




3. While specific to the works of Batchelder, the photo supplements leave much to be desired - they are too general (a photo of a tiled room is nice, but a few more detail photos would have been most welcome!) and there are simply not enough of them (especially when compared to works referred in text). Overall, I found the book too big (and expensive) for the content delivered.



4. Ernest Batchelder's ceramic enterprize grew from a home-based business to a nation-wide enterprize: Batchelder Tilemaker follows his life and works, starting with his 1908 venture into entrepreneurship and his establishment of the 1930s Batchelder-Wilson company showrooms. An outstanding, revealing title surveys his life and artistic achievements.

No comments about Timeless Beauty: In the Arts and Everyday Life.

5 comments about Collector's Encyclopedia of Nippon Porcelain w/ Price Guide : Updated, Series 1 (of 5 Series Set).

1. This book is well documented, thorough and the pictures are excellent. In addition, this book discusses the Nippon history, provides an excellent chapter on marks and backstamps with a short commentary on the different mark colors and their meanings.
   
   I particularly liked the glossary, and cross-referenced price guide index which is placed in the back of the book yet neatly references to pages and plate #'s. Because of the extensive patterns in the Nippon history, every pattern is not in the book but I was able to identify particular shapes of pieces which I could check against marks/backstamps and the price guide to get a reasonable value range.
   
   Any collector or dealer will suit their library well by having this book for education and reference to Nippon.



2. Joan Van Patten's Nippon Porcelain focuses on Japanese porcelain, from painted vases and stamps to plates and smoking pieces. Gorgeous color photos abound.



3. As part of the 5 series volume, this series contains some updates. From my previous reviews of the collection series, I've mentioned that if you are beginner, a keen buyer/seller, or an experienced collector/trader of Nippon items, then you need to have this book, along with the other series. Like the previous series, this book contains information on Nippon porcelains. It provides actual photos, and price ranges for each items featured. Nippon porcelains have their disctinctive mark, based on the year and place they were manufactured, so this book gives you what to look and watch out for, in order to identify the authencity of the item.



4. Like the series 2 book, this is part of the 5 series volume. If you are beginner, a keen buyer/seller, or an experienced collector/trader of Nippon items, then you ought to get this book, along with the other series. The book contains a lot of information on Nippon porcelain collections. It provides nice photos, and price ranges on each items featured. It also gives you the marks to look and watch out for, in order to identify the authencity of the item.



5. I bought this book as part of the 5 series volume. If you are beginner, a keen buyer/seller, or an experienced collector/trader of Nippon items, then you ought to get this book, along with the other series. The book contains a lot of information on Nippon porcelain collections. It provides nice photos, and price ranges on each items featured. It also gives you the marks to look and watch out for, in order to identify the authencity of the item.

1 comments about Daphne 01: Sketches by Daphne Yap.

1. The cover of this book does not do the interior justice. I'd seen it for sale on various websites, and really wasn't interested. I had the chance to thumb through a copy, and what's inside is spectacular. Daphne has some delightfully creative designs inside, and a profound attention to detail and line.
   
   The interior is entirely expertly rendered pencil line drawings. If I were to nitpick anything, I'd simply like to see more.