5 comments about Artful Ways with Polymer Clay.

1. This is, by far, the best book on Polymer Clay I have read. I have read dozens and been disappointed many times. This book is so good about showing you exactly how to do beautiful, unexpected things with polymer clay. Thanks for such a great guide!
   I recommend this to beginners and experienced alike.



2. This book is written by a lady who is very well known in the polymer clay community. She is extremely talented in many aspects of the clay world. This book is extremely wonderful to follow. It contains so many great ideas and inspirations for the seasoned clayer as well as the beginner. You definately will want to add this book to your clay library. I just love it. So glad I got it, but wish I would have purchased it a long time ago. Would definately been a big help when I was a newbie to claying.



3. This book, which I was waiting for, certainly is living up to its redommedation among clayers. My interest in clay was flagging and this wonderfully illustrated manual revived me.
   Newbies to clay and the experienced will treasure it.



4. This book covers many techniques including molds, stamping, image transfers, silk screening, skinner blends, mokume gane, various canes, antiquing, crackling, gilding, faux materials, punch cutters, inclusions, inks and paints and suface techniques. I especially liked the advice about how to make your own stamps and cutters. The projects were varied and interesting (very adaptable) including knobs, a sun catcher, egg, boxes, purse, photo book, clock and a mask. There were eight jewelry projects and one very interesting project where a mini-kaleidoscope was covered and made into a pendant. This book would satisfy beginners and experts alike.



5. I bought this book yesterday at a local craft store after just glancing at it for a few quick moments. I am so happy that I bought it. It has lots of ideas and projects that I haven't seen before and some that I have seen but done in a different way. Everything is kept fairly simple so even novice clayers can enjoy and use the book. As to the review that states you can't find the items that are needed in the book, there is only one project that you would need to do some work to find the items needed and that is for a kaleidoscope pendant, which while interesting is not something that I will be making anytime soon. As for the cyanoacrylate glue, if you look at most super glues you will see that is what they are made from.

No comments about Slag & Marble Glass: The Prominent Years 1959-1985, Imperial, Westmoreland, L. G. Wright, and Fenton.

1 comments about Nantucket Style.

1. Wonderful book, except after the initial 24 pages of landscape pictures, half the photographs were in black and white. The ones in color were beautiful. My opinion, if you're going to do a decorating book, do it in color photography, or just make the book smaller. It was such a disappointment to turn the page and see a B&W interior photo of a lovely home, but have no idea of the color of the fabrics, carpet, walls, decoration. You just felt, well, deprived, and there were so many of these B&W pages. A decorating books should make you feel full of possibilities of what you can create and design. Save black and white photos for Time & Life pictures or Ansel Adams where they are terrific, not in a decorating book.

1 comments about Mosaic (Stylish & Simple).

1. I have been interested in doing mosaic projects but did not know anything about how to get started. This book is very understandable, it tells exactly what tools are needed for each project. It also has a variety patterns to follow outside of the pictures. I highly recommend this book for the beginner or the experienced. There are a lot of great ideas!

1 comments about CyberArts 2007.

1. The Ars Electronica foundation in Linz (Austria) hosts a famous festival every year, focusing on electronic media and its social, cultural, and political repercussions.
   
   This book + DVD set contains descriptions of many of the pieces submitted, and as such, is an invaluable sourcebook for anyone working in this field.
   
   The 2007 edition is slightly disappointing in that much of the work is commercial, and seems more focused on technical than artistic (or critical) accomplishment.

2 comments about Icons Of Erotic Art.

1. True to the promise of its title, this collection presents a cross section of erotically-themed art. Most sections span one or two 2-page spreads, with gorgeous samples of the art movement or artist under discussion.
   
   After a few introductory pages, the survey starts with in classical Greece and Rome, and moves forward in mostly-chronological order. Two works represent Greek classics: the beautifully hammered Warren cup and a ceramic in the familiar black-and-orang glazing, both depicting love between men. Pompeiian frescoes represent Rome, a mixed couple and a threesome. Clearly, no two or three pieces can represent a culture and an era in its entirety. Instead, Hurd selects a few pieces that demonstrate interesting points of style, and fills in with a few paragraphs of historical and biographical notes.
   
   Because each section is so brief, Hurd covers a lot of territory in this book. Sixteenth century Europe comes next, with separate discussions of Micehlangelo, Titian, and other painters and printmakers. Lushly physical renderings from the 17th follow. I had to wonder whether the gorgeous images of St. Sebastians martyrdom really qualify as homoerotic - but eroticism lies in the eye of the beholder, and that's what Hurd beholds. Goya, Manet, Ingres, and others appear later in the book, including Courbet's reverential "Origin of the World." Skipping ahead, we see more modern visions from Rodin, Klimt, Picasso, Lempicka and others, followed by Hopper, Hockney, and even Crepax, represented by his graphic-novel version of Reage's "Story of O."
   
   Non-Western traditions get attention as well. Hurd displays selections from China's Ming era and a brief selection of Japanese shunga. India's tradition of sacred sexuality receives its due, in a painting on Krishna and his lover, and in awe-inspiring carvings from the Kajuraho temples. There's always reason to want more of everything, but this touches on my one real disappointment in this book. It under-serves the non-Western and primitive traditions. Where are the Venus of Willendorf, works from the ancient Egyptians, African statuary, new world examples, and art from all the other peoples of the world?
   
   Despite omissions, Hurd's survey informs and entertains. It certainly made me aware of artists and movements I had not known about, and gave me deeper appreciation of the ones I had known. Rich binding and lush printing make this a real treasure.
   
   -- wiredweird



2. Prestel Publishers have once again produced a relative short, 135 page book that explores erotic art both in images from the past as well as a terse running commentary by author Pippa Hurd that seeks to focus on the importance of erotic images in the history of art as statements of passion and power more than simply titillating pictures.
   
   Included in this well illustrated book are paintings (with details) by Rubens, Gericault, et al and covering nearly every period of art history such as Roman and Greek anonymous painters and potters, works from Medieval, Renaissance, and Western painting all the way up to Pop culture, and, gratefully, Eastern works form Japan, India and China that, according to Hurd, demonstrate that depicting lust is at the core of these works for strong reasons!
   
   The color reproductions are, as is usually the case from Prestel, amazingly fine, and the balance between the images and text favors the former. This is a worthy addition to the art library and yes, it is suitable for the coffee table! Grady Harp, September 06

1 comments about Touch of Magic : The Douglas Shuler Sketchbook.

1. Dough Shuler is an enormously talented artist...just pick-up this book and see for yourself! SQP presents this book of Shuler's work featuring both sketches and finished pieces. Shuler has made quite a name for himself in recent years working in the gaming industry and providing art for companies such as Steve Jackson Games, Game Designer's Workshop, Iron Crown Enterprises, FASA, TSR, Mayfair Games, White Wolf, West End Games, and Wizards of the Coast (including many pieces for Magic: The Gathering) and more recently doing art for video and computer games. This 64 page book highlights many extraordinary examples of his work, complete with capsule commentary by the artist himself that gives valuable insight into his creative process.
   
   One of his earliest pieces is also one of his own favorites, and mine as well, which is a drawing of the warrior maiden Cerridwyn. "Trick or Treat" is another favorite of mine, a newer piece showing off a woman in a provocative bat costume. Then there is "Dragon Wyne" showing a beautiful women lying in comfort on the tail of her dragon partner, both with sly, knowing grins on their faces. "Leslie" is a departure from the fantasy motif that shows off an exotic blonde in leather boots, black fishnet stockings, and an outfit made of criss-crossing leather straps. In the same vein is "Hell's Angel", depicting a gorgeous nude angel riding a motor cycle. Another favorite is "The Beach" which is a parody of the old Coppertone sun tan lotion ads, but this one has a cute little dragon tugging on the bikini bottom of a hot sun goddess. And I would be remiss if I did not mention "The Sheriff" that features a buxom peace officer in lace stockings and bustier.
   
   Another thing I like about the book is that there is a photo gallery of several of the models who posed for Shuler's pieces. I think it's a great touch to give the models their due as well as many times they are overlooked. Nice touch from Shuler and SQP! It's a great book for lovers of fantasy art. Check out Doug's website for even more great art.
   
   Reviewed by Tim Janson

2 comments about Made in Japan Ceramics 1921-1941: With Price Guide (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. 
   I collect older (collectible) MADE IN JAPAN items and therefore I have quite a few books on the subject. This book is not complete but quite helpful. Photos are nice.
   
   Many different volumes have been written on this subject. Infact, I own 3 other books on this subject.
   
   When "Made in Japan" collectibles were issued there were sooooo many different items sold, that it would be impossible to include all of them in just one book. The author tried and did a good job though.



2. I thought this book was great, it helped me to spot just what I was looking for in the antique shop.

5 comments about Collector's Encyclopedia of Nippon Porcelain w/ Price Guide : Updated, Series 3 (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 Hiroshige Prints: 24 Art Cards (Card Books).

1. I bought this book of postcards years ago. I liked them so much, I put 6 of the cards into frames in my dining room. While all of the cards did not seem as lovely to me as the 6 I chose, those 6 were worth the price of the book. These are wonderful reproductions of the work of Ando Hiroshige. If you're a fan of Japanese painting, you're going to love this book of postcards.