2 comments about Environmental ceramics.

1. If large scale ceramics are in your heart, this book will introduce you to a kindred spirit. Stan Bitters is one of the grand-daddys of the art who has been pushing clay around since the 50's. His enthusiasm shines through in the text and the photos will allow you to appreciate the scale at which he works.
   
   This book is a classic that any serious ceramics library should not be without!



2. There's no doubt author Stan Bitters is a world class master ceramicist as dozens of black and white and color photos in this book--from more than 30 years ago--make obvious. Giant clay murals, fountains, free-standing sculptures, walkways, pots and planters are pictured and discussed. He's an artist top-flight architects, interior designers and builders--both public sector and private--turn to to transform everyday building facades into unique and monumental works of art of earthy but handsome warmth and majesty. And his free-standing sculptures are equal to the rest of his commanding work.
   
   Bitters is a good writer, infusing his simple and straight-forward book with a beautiful mixture of artistic philosophy, approaches toward design, and technical know-how. Though you won't find any diagrammed how-to instructions here, there's enough plain old hard-earned practical information and technical tips to be invaluable to nearly any ceramacist who is thinking big. And Bitters conveys enough passion and enthusiasm, humbly but powerfully, to inspire artists working in nearly any medium.
   
   This could well be considered a classic book, one that ceramicists will only wish contained even more pages to more fully capture the artistic wisdom and technical know-how that obviously runs so deep and broad through Bitters life and soul.

5 comments about How to Fold.

1. Sets of ten of tips for packings with the projects of cut and assembly! Good and very practical. I recommend.



2. It is quite a good compilation of solutions that you can use to refresh your mind when creating something new in fact.
   And it can also be helpful when you don't want to spend much time creating something to your client.



3. I teach College and it is handy to get students outside of the letter sized frame of mind. But for a seasoned professional it isn't that jazzy. The box/container book in this series is really good.



4. I purchased this book because I understood from the description that it would be helpful in various kinds of folds, including boxes. The book is primarily a 2 dimensional folding exercise for pretty simple items. I returned it.



5. That pretty much sums it up. The book does have some care put into it. Just not as much as I was hoping for.
   
   It is designed to be universal. The short introduction is in several languages, the rest of the book is diagrams.
   
   I would have liked more information about logical uses for some of these folds. Some seem a bit excessive and almost inpractical.
   However, many of the folds in the book are quite nice.
   
   The way the book is setup, the folds are each on a spread. Left page the full sheet view to the right page of a final piece - all the steps inbetween across the spread.
   
   My only wish is that there was some small text helping to explain some of the folds. Also, maybe a photograph of a fold in a real world use.
   
   IF you use your imagination, you can put this book to GREAT use. If you need your hand held for everything, this is not the book for you.
   
   It certainly stays on my shelf.

No comments about Treasury of Satsuma.

5 comments about Artists At Work: Polymer Clay Comes of Age.

1. Lovely book of polymer clay art objects, very inspirtional to try new things--not a "how to" book, but viewing other artist's work! Great transaction, speedy shipping, would recommend seller! Thanks!



2. I have no need for a picture book. I am looking only for tutorial types of books, at this time. I want to learn and understand how to do this beautiful art form. It had nothing to help someone that is trying to learn. There were 4 things in the entire book that even caught my eye. Good for others that enjoy just seeing the works of other people, I guess. I totally loved the work by Laura Liska Oakes, hope she has another book showing us how to do some of her beautiful pieces!



3. After first purchasing a dud, I was skeptical that this book was all the reviews said it was. I was wrong! This book was exactly what I, as an experienced artist new to polymer clay, was looking for. I will wear this one out looking at the ideas and techniques.



4. This is an absolutely incredible book packed with unique artworkby over 50 different & highly talented artists. As an intermediatepolymer clay artist I look to this book when I need new ideas & inspiration.

   Background information is given on each artist including education, technique & style. One or more the artists' best works are then displayed with basic information on the how the artwork was created.

   Contact information for all the artists in located in the back along with a small dictionary & a list of reference books the artists' use. Several of the artists also answer questions about their working techniques.

   Some on my favorite pieces are a chess set, a mosaic sunflower, a mushroom fairie & a millefiori trade rattle made out of a gourd. I also enjoyed the numerous pieces of jewelry including butterfly, fan & African animal pins.




5. For any reader of Nan Roche's "The New Clay," this new book, "Artists At Work: Polymer Clay Comes of Age", is a refreshing addition to communicate the beauty, imagination, and intricacy of the polmer clay medium. Having personally seen the works of the the authors as well as contributing artists, this book demonstrates the limitless ways this medium allows artistic expression, from whimisical to serious. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in seeing the best of polymer clay artists "performing" today. Laura Darlington Washington, D.C. ldarlington@comsysinc.com

No comments about The Companion Guide to Roberts' Ultimate Encyclopedia of Hull Pottery/With Price Guide.

No comments about Classical myths in sculpture.

No comments about Bird Carving Basics: Special Painting Techniques (Bird Carving Basics).

1 comments about The Wood Carvers of Cordova, New Mexico: Social Dimensions of an Artistic "Revival".

1. If you are interested in the arts of New Mexico, specifically wood carving, than this is a book for your library. Orinally written in 1980, this is a study of the the revival of wood carving in New Mexico. The book is scholarly but yet easy to understand for the layman who is interested in wood carving. Although written by an anthropologist, and in essence is a case study of various families of wood carvers, the book is an easy read. The cultural portraits of the artists, as written by the author, is fascinating. The wood carvers covered are some of the best New Mexico has produced including a large section on Jose Dolores Lopez and his family. The Lopez family is detailed extensively, including a geneology table and various works by the different generations of wood carvers. Also included are Jose Mondragon, Patrocinio Barela, Jose Rafael Aragon and Luis Tapia, just to name a few. There are color plates that show the artists work but the majority of the plates are black and white. The book is a great reference source as it even has illustrations detailing the cuts neccesssary to achieve certain carvings. The carvings covered are bultos, polychromed retablos, chip carving, niches, sculptures and figurines used in altars and nativity scenes. The book also has information about the marketing and patrons of the artists works at the Spanish Market and other outlets like the Spanish Colonial Arts and Crafts Exhibition. Super photographs and an easy enough text to read make this a handy reference piece for anyone interested in wood carving.

1 comments about Spirit Transformed: A Journey from Tree to Totem.

1. Spirit Transformed: A Journey From Tree To Totem is another stunning portrayal of the work of First Nations artist Roy Henry Vickers. A series of beautiful colored photo essays are complemented by the chapters describing the emerging of a 30 foot totem pole of cedar crafted by the artist. Also included is the real-life story of the artist himself. No stranger to pain, Vickers has much to teach. In the end, he is a voice for many: "The winter of our discontent is gone. And, for me, the time of being a victim of wrongdoing is gone. It is not time to be a victim anymore. It is time to be a leader; it is time to be a supporter. It is time to show others that it is possible to come through everything we have endured, and, in the words of Chief Dan George, 'to build our race into the strongest, proudest segment of our society.' And so, with the birth of the Salmon Totem, a journey came to an end that had begun eight centuries ago when that cedar had first sprouted in the good earth of the Pacheenaht people. It was joyful and sad at the same time. When you think of living, if you are centered, if you have achieved that balance, you feel both joy and pain. It is a balance of life and death, red and black. I think that is where those tears of joy come from (p.77)." Not only will Spirit Transformed share great beauty of spirit with each reader, it shows the resources of unimaginable strength and faith to reanimate the generation to come. Recommended for general audiences.

   Nancy Lorraine, Reviewer

No comments about Gifts for the Gods: Images from Egyptian Temples (Metropolitan Museum of Art Publications).