3 comments about Stef de Klerk: Abafana (Zulu Boys).

1. Nubian gods in situtaions and poses that will appeal to the most salacious aspects of human sexuality. VERY HOT STUFF.



2. This is art. These are incredible pictures of black african males in their context. The complement of the African scenery with their luscious bodies made me discover an entire new perspective on african male nude.
   If you love art and photography this is your book. If you love black males, this is for you.



3. In his book, "Abafana", Stef de Klerk has created the perfect blend of artistry and erotica by coupling his physically attractive models with the lush land and seascapes of the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

   The photographs are well-composed and the colors are faithfully reproduced by the printer who beautifully captures the interaction of the setting sun and the warm skin of the chosen model(s).

   The attractive young men of the Xhosa tribe are featured with and without various props, at all times in good taste and proud of their heritage.

   I enthusiastically recommend this book to anyone who appreciates the physical beauty of the nude black male and encourage you to add it to your own personal library.

5 comments about Erotica Universalis: From Pompeii to Picasso (Taschen 25).

1. Anyone who is familiar with and looking for the larger approx. 6" x 5" x 2" tome (like I was) and is not aware that a smaller abridged version exists, is going to be sorely disappointed! Even though the Amazon description says "756 pages, 719 illustrations" IT DOES NOT CONTAIN NEARLY THAT!! That is the description of the derivative material that appears in the back of this TINY (32 pages, 4" x 3 1/4" x 1/4") booklet! It would seem that since there is no traditional frontspiece with publisher's info for this booklet, and careless listings allow this derivative bibliography to stand for what this book has- and that is INACCURATE. It is charming as a small "amusement", but use caution before ordering to make sure you are getting what you are seeking.



2. This book has fantastic erotic sketches and paintings. The history of the artwork is interesting if brief. Highly recommend.



3. I was tricked by Indoobestsellers. Indoobestsellers sent me worthless advertising booklett 10-15 pages, the size of the postcard instead of the real book that has about 760 pages of illustrations. Please make sure what you are going to get before you order this title, avoid being taken for a few dollars and waisted time. Booklett I received is just advertisement of the real book and should be send free of charge. I was taken but having sense of humor I have to admitt that billing and delivery was very fast.



4. I thougt the book was the big one, the pictures show an index and it indexes more than 700 pages. But the one I received was shorter than my hand, and only contains a few pics from the big book.
   
   There should be some warning that this is not the hardcover book. That's why I'm disappointed.



5. I found this book at Barnes and Noble a few years back. I was amazed at how far back much of the artwork was dated. Many of the great masters of the arts have produced works that only so few in the world have seen. It's a shame that people censor stuff like this. If you find a copy somewhere anywhere buy it!!! You can learn much about mans sexuality by looking at the art found in this book.

2 comments about The Bedford Hours (Medieval Manuscripts in the British Libr Series).

1. I am very pleased with the illuminations in this book. A good source for my work.



2. Like most of Janet Backhouse's work, this is an excellent, concise study of a particular manuscript in the collection of the British Library.

   This particular manuscript is a 15th c. book of hours, commissioned from a Parisian workshop by John, Duke of Bedford.

   The text reads easily. Ms. Backhouse covers a short history of the Duke, to place the book in context, and follows with a modestly comprehensive study of the book as an art object.

   The book contains around 60 plates, some in black and white, some in color. There are about as many full page illustrations as there are text pages, so the book makes a very suitable visual reference for book artists wanting to illuminate in the style of the Bedford Master.

   All in all, a very nice, short study of a justifiably famous medieval manuscript.

No comments about The Complete Guide to Home Mosaics: Ready-To-Use Templates Included.

3 comments about Landscape: A Comprehensive Guide to Drawing and Painting Nature.

1. I have painted "plein air" for a number of years, first in pastel and now moving into oils. I was very glad to find this book of Richard McDaniels, which I have been voraciously reading over the last couple of weeks. His palette and brush strokes really speak to me, and his colors SING with clarity and beauty. I appreciate the many samples of his work included in the book, which inspire me to delve deeper into my own compositions and experiment with varying colors. He writes with a knowledgeable, carefully-thought-out and well-articulated manner, and is often surprisingly humorous in his prose. I have learned much by coming across this book - for example, being reminded how to approach the laying out of values in beginning a painting. This is essential, and something many people do not grasp! His many samples showing the various stages of a painting are informational and helpful.
   I have read the important "Carlsen's Guide to Landscape Painting" and Richard's book is a modern version of a classic- destined to become the Bible of Landscape Painting. We pay a modest sum for what we would've paid several hundred dollars for in a workshop, just by purchasing and reading this book. It is a must for any painter's personal library. Painting is a lifelong learning , and this book is many breaths of fresh air to help us along our way.



2. The best things about this book are the cover and frontis images. It covers everything about the rules of making art, but doesn't really inspire. Nothing in the text sings "Nature" to me, instead I felt that it had all been said before.



3. There is no doubt about it. This book is definetely comprehensive. It is also extremely well-organized and quite readible. I like the fact that the book can be used equally by a complete beginner or by an advanced painter. There is material to help a novice get started, yet the author (McDaniel) provides insightful guidance that will even help the experts.

   The demonstrations of different techniques are direct and easily understood, with clear examples and superb artwork. It is enlightening to follow the process of creating paintings and seeing the artist use such a wide variety of materials and techniques.

   The sections on composition and color are particularly informative, as is the discussion and helpful hints for painting on location and in the studio. He showed me a new way to see all the variety of shapes and color to be found in nature. The book is fun to read and has an easy, conversational style of writing that is relaxed, funnny and quite informative.

   If you are interested in fine art in general, or landscape painting in particular, this book should be on your shelf.

3 comments about Gifts of the Nile: Ancient Egyptian Faience.

1. A superb book, very informative and with wonderfdul and some greatly enlarged photographs.
   There is a fair amount of information about faience production technology though the very best work on Egyptian faience and
   frit is "Vitreous Materials at Amarna - The production of Glass and faience in 18th Dynasty Egypt" by Andrew J Shortland, this is available from Oxbow books if not avaalable on amazon. Also worth trying to get hold of is "Faiences", the catalogue (in French only) for the recent wonderful exhibition at the Louvre. Unfortunately, this is not available online from the Louvre bookshop. (...)



2. I waited for some time to get my hands on this work. If you're interested in AE faience artistry - the pictures alone are worth it. A fine addition to the Egyptophile's library.



3. A well illustrated book , numerous examples of what is known in pottery as " Egyptian Paste ". Ornaments , tiles ,cups, figurines and the ever present ,beads. More than enough colour photographs to satisfy the thirst . The 3 different processes of manufacturing Egyptian Paste objects are explained technically. Plus ,the many variations in the paste through the centuries. My only reason for not giving another star , not enough goblets .

5 comments about Fiesta, Harlequin, & Kitchen Kraft Dinnerwares: The Homer Laughlin China Collectors Association Guide (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. This is the definitive text on Fiestaware®, Harlequin® and Kitchen Kraft. It was written for collectors by collectors (the combined efforts of the Homer Laughlin China Collectors Association.)

   The book has insightful, smart and readable text that was reviewed by experts for accuracy. Each piece is illustrated with gorgeous, professional full-color photos, scale line drawings and details on its manufacture.

   Homer Laughlin gave the authors unprecedented access to the original journals of Franklin Rhead, the original designer behind Fiestaware® and Harlequin®, and it shows.

   This is more of a textbook than a guide. I find myself using it constantly. For Fiesta and Harlequin® collectors there is no equal.




2. This book, by far and away, is THE BEST for the collector of Homer Laughlin colourware. It has an amazing amount of detail and answers almost every question a person could ask about the dishes named in the title. Measured line drawings are an invaluable help for both the novice and seasoned collector. And it is quite a treat to see photos of nearly every piece in all glaze colours. I found the price guide to be a major improvement over most, as each piece is priced individually by colour.

   Readers are treated to a wonderfully accurate history of the dishes. Several rumours that have circulated among the collecting community over the years are laid to rest. The fact that the authors had access to both Frederick Rhead's journals and the HLC modeling logs resulted in a book that is sure to become "The Fiesta Bible".

   It is quite refreshing to be able to consult a reference for information, and know that it is factual and free of some author's prejudice and innuendo. This particular book sets a new standard for what collectors' books should be. A MUST BUY!!!




3. This is a fine quality coffee table type book, with heavy paper and nice color reproduction. If you are an advanced collector who owns every book about Fiesta as well as every piece of Fiesta, you will want this book.

   If you are a new collector who has absolutely no idea what any thing is, have no assortment of Fiesta to look at as you read and have no spatial visualization skills, you will want this book because it very pedantically gives every measurement every which way so that you can figure out that your plate that measures 9 5/8 inches is ... surprise commonly called the 9" luncheon plate, and not some "rare, unknown, experimental" due to that extra 5/8". In fact, if you are given to such flights of imagination, especially when pricing your items for sale, please buy this book.

   If you are the average collector who falls in the middle, who has seen a set or two of Fiesta, or owns some already, who knows the difference between a bowl and a cup, the tried and true Huxford book, also out at this time in a new edition at about ... and in stock at ..., is the more standardly used alternative, and the one that all but the most novice collector would probably find the better value.




4. Given all the hype that has been sounded off about this book, I guess my expectations were far too high. I expected something that would make me throw away my Snyder book for the pictures, stop constantly using my Huxford for the information and become enraptured with this one... sorry folks. I found the "one item to a page" thing a little too overdone and self important. Really, MORE information on LESS pages at a LOWER cost would have been much preferred. At 39.95, it is unlikely that I will buy the next (inevitible) edition...- I mean, just how many photos of a single item, followed by a line drawing of the same item, do you need to see?... Huxfords have always kept prices at around $20 per each edition update.... at $40 I would rather buy a piece of Fiesta than (a second edition of) this book. If you can, buy it used or borrow it.



5. If you are a beginning collector of Fiesta, Harlequin or Kitchen Kraft, this book will be an excellent source of information, particularly with regard to colors, dimensions and marks, the most commomly asked questions. If you are a more advaned collector, there is still a wealth of information to be found in this reference. The inclusion of dimensions for each piece is a subtantial improvement over most collectors guides to dinnerware. An absolute must own for the Fiesta or Harlequin collector!

2 comments about Real Men.

1. The title says it all. Majorly hot stuff here. The men, the situations, the poses, the imagery is stunning. BUY THIS BOOK.



2. Ray Dragon describes the models in this collection as "real men, naturally sexy, rugged and masculine." Many of them may be hairy, tattooed, muscular, buffed, moustached, bearded and with a piercing or two. Some of them are wearing jeans, underwear, jock straps, undershirts, jerseys, boots, etc., once again demonstrating that men are often sexier partially clothed than nude. The photographer has included in the book Caucasians, African Americans and an Asian American or two.
   
   Mr. Dragon, according to his biography included here, began his career on the other side of the camera as a model for Jim French. There are several shots of him included here as he joins the ranks of other photographers who began as models, Bruce Weber and Kristen Bjorn, for example, and others whose faces and bodies are always included in their work, notably Tom Bianchi and Robert Mapplethorpe.
   
   Some of my favorites in these 70 or so shots (the pages are not numbered) are the cover shot of course ("Franky Motorcycle"), the photo of Dragon wearing a coat and tie ("Ray Dragon Suited"), the photo opposite that one of the naked man standing on a rooftop ("Jake Standing"), the photo entitled "Long Underwear" for all the obvious reasons and "Ryan." Some day in the future he may enter the land of bears, but he is just right right now.
   
   If I had one criticism of this most inviting book, it would be that while body parts are certainly interesting, sometimes they are more interesting if you get to see more of the body to which they are attached. Mr. Dragon says that these shots were digitally photographed. They are extremely well lit and beautifully printed.
   
   If you are tired of pretty boy shots and the Adonis syndrome and like the work of the Austrian photographer Paul Freeman and Tom Bianchi, you will love this volume.

No comments about Signs of Psyche in Modern and Postmodern Art (Contemporary Artists and their Critics).

1 comments about Eye Magic: Visual Trickery in Art.

1. This title includes some very fine examples of illusion and optical pattern art. There are also some separate pieces that are stored within the book that can be manipulated or moved to create illusions. Some of the pieces and movable parts of the book I find too fragile to allow on the bookshelf in my elementary classroom, but for individual children, it is a fascinating study.