5 comments about Drawing & Painting Fantasy Beasts: Bring to Life the Creatures and Monsters of Other Realms.

1. This is an very good book if you need reference material to draw upon. I would not recommend it for a beginner. Someone who has some drawing experience it is an excellent addition for his or her fantasy reference Libary.
   
   I found it interesting reading and gave very good tips on how to increase creativity but not the best how to draw book for the novice. The more advance artist will find it more helpful.



2. This is a good book for basic ideas. Great for the beginning artist, but not recommended for someone a bit more advanced.



3. Unlike other books I bought this one is not only showing you finish artwork, but it shows you how to do it with clear instructions. There's a lot of creatures also to get inspiration. The techniques demonstrated goes from traditional to digital.



4. I really enjoy this book for its more professional, polished, artwork. (For some reason there is a stigma among booksellers and teachers that all dragon and fairy how to books have to be for children and young adults. This is definitely not the case.) Not all the creatures are perfect and not all the creatures are favorites of mine but overall this is a nice book for the more advanced artist, or even a nice coffe table book for those just intrested in the subject.



5. Really Kool! I loved the art work. It was a little beyond my immature status for drawing pics but if I continue to practice I'll get better.
   Whoever created these drawings has a gift for fantasy.

5 comments about Painting with Watercolor, Pen & Ink.

1. In combination with other books by Claudia Nice, an artist will learn new techniques for pen and ink. I have started drawing again since I retired and this has been a real help. Great book!!!



2. If you've never considered highlighting your watercolor painting with Mircron pen, this book will show you the possibilities. Good illustrations. Has some basic watercolor techniques. Painting and drawing is all about practice, practice, practice. No book will paint or draw for you. If you practice the techniques here you will learn something.
   
   I've not seen any of her other books so read the other reviews about duplication of material and consider that if you already have other titles by this author.



3. I admit that i bought this book primarily for the attractive illustrations fillings its pages...these inspired me a lot. Before reading this book i used to think watercolour as a boring medium -unable to achieve the strong effects I always for in my paintings. However now I have changed my mind and really am keen to try my hand in this medium -following Ms Nice illustrations one can get a very clear idea of what one can achieve using watercolour, pen and ink. However it does not really give you step by step instructions on how to achieve certain effects - i feel that one needs to be already a bit good in watercolour to try these exercises.However it is useful for those who would like to try innovative ways to achieve effective watercolour images. The pen and ink illustrations with watercolour washes are delightful. This book covers textures, transparency, wood grain, skies, trees, flowers, still life and more. Anyone who would like to add to their visual encyclopedia of fine illustraions should buy this book just for them alone! Highly recommeneded!!



4. The illustrations are nice. The instruction consists mostly of showing a drawing with a few general comments thrown in. I learned very little from this book.



5. I really like this book because it gives so many ideas and specific instructions on how to achieve the many effects. It introduced me to technical pens, which I was not aware of eons ago when I worked with pen & ink. I think Ms. Nice is a very gifted instructor.

5 comments about Icon.

1. The ilustrations in this book portray you to another book that perfectly capture the original paints.



2. When people think of fantasy artwork, they might think first of those Conan and Edgar Rice Burroughs paperback covers, or a berserker warrior on horseback, corpses of foes beneath him and dripping weapon above him. People think of Frazetta first, whether or not they know it's him they're thinking of. He's also done recognizable work for Mad magazine, Little Annie Fanny for Playboy, posters for Peter Sellers movies, and lots more.
   
   Frazetta has done plenty of work in ink, especially for a range of comics, but his oil paintings are best known and most heavily represented here. It's easy to see how he became the inspiration for an entire generation of fantasy artists, and probably well into a second generation, too. No one captures the rippling sinews of barbarian warriors like Frazetta does, or beasts, half-men, dungeons, jungles, and every other fantasy-scape that he's rendered. Above all, no one comes close to the lush, rounded figures of his female characters. They can be warriors and wizards in their own right, or eldritch spirits, or even savable maidens. Some, as in "Moon's Rapture" or the standing figure in "Rogue Roman", show a rich and womanly figure at rest, but somehow promising as much raw physical power as any man.
   
   I recommend this collection to anyone passionate about illustration or fantasy art. Any one of his paintings can be an entire course of study for a budding artist. They can also be seen as powerful narratives in imagery, or as a jumping-off point for dreams of far-away worlds and heroic adventures.
   
   -- wiredweird



3. I read Edgar Rice Burroughs novels as a teen and will never forget the impact of the Frazetta covers. His heros, the settings and the creatures were so wild and vivid; plus I think he definitely set my ideals of feminine beauty for life. This collection is a must for anyone who wants a good biography of F.F. along with some great reproductions of his best work.



4. Frazetta is great and this book is swell... however (as one other reviewer also experienced) the cover came off my book after I had it for only one week! I couldn't believe it! To credit of the publisher they did send me a replacement. I think I will buy the sequel now. Too bad it's only available in hardcover, but at least that way the cover is much less likely to fall off. As for the third book, it seems to be completely unavailable except to those who are willing to pay over a hundred dollars for it!



5. Words cannot describe the beauty and passion in Frazetta's work; This book is filled with amazing art, from the original sketches to the final product; Lots of personal photographs and insightful narratives help to make this a satisfying package, but the artwork alone makes this book a must have. From his early career doing comic books and movie posters, to the grand scale of his fantasy art, this is a book that is sure to excite any and all who have a shred of creativity within them. Totally inspiring book!!!

5 comments about Painting Animals.

1. I ENJOYED THE ARTWORK VERY MUCH BUT REALLY HOPED THAT THE DEMONSTRATIONS WERE MORE INVOLVED. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE ARTIST IS ONE OF THE MOST ACCOMPISHED IN THE WORLD AND HAS A VERY GIFTED EYE WITH WHICH HE VIEWS NATURE. THE UNUSUAL POSES, USE OF COLOR AND DELICACY OF BRUSHWORK CREATES
   AN ANGELIC EFFECT OF HIS SUBJECTS. HOWEVER, AS FAR AS THE BOOK GOES, ITS A FORUM FOR HIS ART AND STYLE BUT HE DOES NOT GIVE AWAY AS MUCH ABOUT HOW HE ACHEIVES THESE FANTASTIC EFFECTS. WHAT WE WHO BUY THESE BOOKS NEED IS A MORE INVOLVED "HOW DID YOU DO THAT" APPROACH. SHOW ME MORE STEPS. SHOW ME HOW YOU HANDLE THE INTRICATE DETAILS. REMEMBER THAT IMITATION IS THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY. OTHER STRUGGLING ARTIST WILL IMITATE YOU FOR A TIME AND THEN THEY ARE OFF TO DO THERE OWN THING. IN THESE TYPES OF BOOKS WE LOOK FOR MORE DETAIL. I FOUND THAT TO BE SOMEWHAT LACKING IN THIS BOOK.



2. This is an exceptional wildlife artist, however I bought this book specifically for the purpose of learning to paint animals in detail. There's not a whole lot here to explain how to get certain effects. One thing that bothered me was how it was written. Not that it was poorly written, but that it was from the viewpoint of someone other than the artist. I want to read what the artist thinks, how they came up with the idea & how they acheived their results. Not from the viewpoint of someone who interviewed them.



3. This book is exceptionally well done and an inspiration to anyone interested in wildlife and art.



4. This is not a book for the beginning artist but perhaps another reference for wildlife artists, especially acrylic and oil painters. Full of lovely paintings by Christophe Drochon but I found the instructive aspect to be somewhat thin on specific detail. Discussions of technique and composition were very general and although I agree with the author's comments, I felt that a lot more could have been said that would have made this a more instructive book.



5. If you aim to paint ultra-real, exciting wildlife art, Christophe Drochon's work can't help but inspire you. His rendering of lambent cat eyes, fur glowing in the sun and dramatic scenes are some of the best.
   
   This book is aimed to the oil and acrylic artist or anyone working in opaque mediums as opposed to the more expressive and loose styles of watercolor and pastel. You can get ideas for colored pencil and sharpened pastel as well as gouache but this is really primarily for oil painters.
   
   There are sufficient demos to give good instruction for the more advanced artist, but you need some grounding in your medium before you attempt work such as this. In other words, not for beginners except as inspiration and simply to admire an exceptional artist's work.

5 comments about J.W. Waterhouse.

1. Was absolutely delighted when we received this book. This is an artist who is so ripe for a reappraisal! Waterhouse managed to pull off a genuine and moving romantic vision. The writing is thoughtful and spirited. The reproductions are first rate. Can't imagine anyone would fail to love this one.
   
   Philip Koch
   Professor of Fine Art
   Maryland Institute College of Art



2. 
   This is the best book I have found on J.W. Waterhouse. Not only does this book talk about the painter's life, but more importantly, each of J.W .Waterhouse's paintings are described in very full detail (eg: OPHELIA).
   
   I was so intrigued by reading about Waterhouses' pictures, because the author of this wonderful book (ie: PETER TRIPPI) elaborated in great detail about each work of Art, by contrasting and comparing Waterhouses' paintings to other famous paintings and sculptures (eg: Bourne Jones from the 1800's, and also many famous Italian 1400-th Century Artists) .
   
   The author has attempted, (& with great success, I may add), to show how Waterhouse was influenced by past Rapheaelite Artists and also by some of the other famous first-phase Pre-Raheaelite English Artists.
   
   Each synopsis, of each Waterhouse painting is quite amazing and like no other interpretation that I have read on this famous late-Pre-Raphaelite Artist.
   
   The repro-photos of Waterhouse's works are amazing, -----showing such wonderful details and colors.



3. If you are an art lover of paintings that can take your breath away, and pulling you int it than John Waterhouse is a must for your collection. He is such a great artist and this book is so incredible you want to devour it. He is one of the greatest artists of his time that I would recommend this book because it is affordable and wonderful.
   
   I received this book quickly and with no delays.



4. Would love to have ordered the hardcover for a coffee table book but this one does just fine for the cost and over-seas shipping it would have taken for the hardcover. Lots of information on J W Waterhouse and great pictures. It even has some of his less known works and pictures that you can't find prints for. A true keep sake and treasure for those who are interested in this artist and his time. Oh, and a few of the house guests, students, have even asked to borrow the book. First table book to have created some interesting conversations.



5. Peter Trippi's monograph has done what I would assume had to be very difficult to do: he has a good feel for the quiet,quiet man behind the paintings. The depth of his study helped me to verify a number of pieces of information that led me into my own research, and has continued to be my main reference as I continue my work. I recommend that this is the book to begin with if you are going to enter any serious study of John William Waterhouse; however, don't let that make you think it is only a scholar's read: it is well written, beautifully illustrated, and simply a joy to behold.

5 comments about Odd Nerdrum: Themes.

1. I am a russian, so I am not enogh good in english.
   But this book contain a little of words and a lot of beautiful images
   This is one of the bect books in my library. Ullustration are wery good and blow-ups show all art kinetics of Nerdrum.
   By the way - book is very cheap. Similar books in Russia cost at last two times more!



2. Warning: If you already have the 2001 book by Richard Vine on Odd Nerdrum this book will mostly just be redundant. And if you don't have either i would recommend getting the 2001 book first, and only .
   I was highly disappointed when i finally got the chance to look through this book. I was expecting a collection of new and never before seen paintings but instead found that it was mostly just full of paintings shown in the Richard Vine book, and the reproductions are far inferior and include far fewer closeups. The main disappointment was that it contained only a handful of new or recent paintings, though it did contain some old paintings that i hadn't seen before. It also contains fewer drawings than the previous book. It also misleadingly lists 'Sculptures' in the title when only containing 3 or 4 tiny sculptures of faces and cacoon-like babies.
   One good thing about this book however is that it includes a lot of thumbnails and quick sketches of ideas for his paintings, giving an insight into his working process.
   
   This is not a bad book, just a little disappointing and not as good as it should have been. And again, if you have the 2001 book, you won't find much new here.



3. Odd Nerdrum is the most talented artist alive today -- though he feels he's been ostracized by the art community to the point he rejects his work to be called art. His work is kitsch he says (which I find rather silly). I must warn those that this book can be rather graphic. Nerdrum is not shy about painting the male body, disfigured bodies, and people defecating. These are not my favorite works by him and they are all not like this.
   
   For those who want to see the paintings of a master, this should probably be sitting in your art collection. The failure with this book is the lack of commentary. Nerdrum says his work hides nothing, his paintings therefore need no explanation, and so he doesn't explain them. Once again, I find this to be a silly claim by the artist. For example, few would recognize that in the painting of a dead man on the side of the road -- disfigured with guts spilling out -- was actually Nerdrum painting Andy Warhol and his rejection of the modern art movement. There are other paintings representing Nerdrum finding his father who left him as a child. The others I am still wondering what he is trying to say... overall though I could not give this master anything less than 5 stars especially with a book so very reasonably priced!



4. Ok, so now there are two great huge books on Nerdrum. One by Richard Vine and now this one. If you are a Nerdrum freak you might as well buy both, but if you have to choose one, here's the facts. The 'Themes' book has more paintings than Vine's book as there are about 100 pages more in it. And though both books have good close ups, 'Themes' has more and better details for those artist who wish to torture themselves drooling over Nerdrum brushwork. However, Vine's book has the better quality reproductions. The color has more lustre, and the colors in 'Themes" seems just a bit too dark at times, plus a couple of the close ups are slightly out of focus. Both books are great in that they consist almost entirely of pictures only. But though the article by Richard Vine is insightful and informative, the article in 'Themes' sucks, being a kind of attempt at lashing back at the narrow critics who have been biting at Nerdrums heels since the day he invited them to do so. I don't see why Nerdrum, given that he is the greatest painter of today and possibly equal to any of the past, should give a damn about their existence.
   
   So pick your choice and celebrate the fact that modern art is dying, while true painting lives on.



5. This book is definitely for those who not only love Odd Nerdrum's paintings but are interested in seeing the brushstrokes that create his magnificent creations.
   
   The whole book is photos with many detail shots. This is a must see book for the modern painter.

2 comments about Robert Warren's Guide to Painting Water Scenes.

1. Very good instructions but I searched for acrylic books and did not check close enough as acrylics are mentioned but this book is strictly for oil painters. Also, no templates.



2. Robert Warren has outdone himself in composing this wonderful instructional book on oil painting-it is very well explained-this book is for intermediate to advance skill level.

No comments about Fabric Painting with Donna Dewberry: 40 Stylish Projects for Your Home & Wardrobe.

1 comments about Dali (Taschen 25th Anniversary).

1. If you love art books but are not willing to spend a fortune in them or don't have as much space, THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU. Taschen makes great, concise volumes of the best painters. Amazing images from Salvador Dali. Great book to have, especially as a set with others from the same collection!

5 comments about Landscape Meditations.

1. This book is so well done I can't do it justice. It is a treasure and valuable reference for any paselist beginner to advanced. Elizabeth Mowry
   is indeed a Master,her work is breathtaking!!



2. I am absolutely in awe over this book. It has to be the most beautifully written and illustrated art book on the market. Ms. Mowry lives her paintings and her descriptive narrative transports you inside of her paintings. I will refer to this book again and again. Outstanding!



3. I found this a very inspiring book. The paintings are really nice whether you are into pastels or oils.



4. Every artist of every level and every art lover should read this book,for the artist the writings and paintings are inspirationalshe not only can she paint but she can write as well.



5. Excellent reference material in this volume, Mowry is a well practiced artist and shares her views always in a positive light. Suggestions are specific and clear.