1 comments about Steel Canvas: The Art of American Arms.

1. Having been a serrious engraver for just over a year now, I have amassed several books on engraving: mainly the "standards" for engravers: several of the Dover series of patterns, James L. Meek, Nimschke, etc. This has some of the finest and sharpest photos of engraving I have seen. And this book is cheap compaired to many of the others. Just plain beautiful. And --- worth every penny

3 comments about Mythical Beings (Origami Today).

1. The patterns contained here are: Ouroboros, Wizard and Witch, Winged Dragon, Gargoyle, Daedalus, Pegasus, Flapping Dragon, Woodland Elf, Centaur, Rearing Dragon, Shiva, Unicorn, Long-tailed Dragon and Cererus.
   
   Each of these designs is a beautiful conversation piece. Each is also frustrating and difficult to fold. These are for advanced folders. Many of these designs are for animals that have four legs. If you have folded a four legged animal before then you know what I am talking about. Its tricky. If you have never attempted a four legged animal then you are probably not at the level to use this book. I thought that the difficulty I had folding these was because of the complexity of the pieces. Reading other comments here about the inaccurate diagrams has inspired me to try and reattempt some of these intuitively. Whatever my problem was it is likely to be a problem for you too, so be careful unless you are the origami champ.
   
   Throughout the book are full page color pictures of each creature you could fold. These made it clearer to see where I was going and help motivationally. Each is posed in a little mythical scene.
   
   I think that I was not at a level for this book. I am intermediate at origami and usually can work through more difficult patterns after a few attempts. This book is a wonderful book if you are advanced at origami, but not for beginner and barely for intermediate.



2. I kike this book very much. You can find in this books almost the most famous mythical beings. Althought the diagrams are not very clear, I think we can manage them. The models are excellent. they look lively and wonderfull. I especailly like the Cerberus, Pegasus and Shiva.These models are best folded ever. Have this books!



3. Well, this is a really tough one to rate: The models warrant 5 stars, while the presentation is more like 1 star... I've ended up giving it 3 stars because the models are really more important to me - even if I have to muddle through the diagrams for a long time.

   Here's what to expect before you try tracking this book down: First off, DON'T get this book if you're a beginner or if you're buying for a beginner! Anyone who's not a pretty advanced folder will only end up thoroughly frustrated, no matter how much he or she likes the topic of the book. That's not so much because of the complexity of the models (although some of them are definitely at a high-intermediate level) but because of the diagrams. Errors and inaccuracies abound, sometimes even stumping the most experienced of folders. On top of that, the photos are mostly pretty horrible, so much so that I've heard from others who haven't been inspired to fold from this book at all. And that's really too bad! The 15 models included are very nice, it's just hard to actually complete them using the diagrams provided... Just to give you a taste of the quality of the models: Among the authors who have contributed their models are Robert Lang, Gabriel Alvarez (featuring a great Daedalus!), Neal Elias, Robert Neal and Marc Kirschenbaum.

   So, if you're an advanced folder, by all means, try to track down a copy of this small book, but be prepared to be frustrated by the diagrams nonetheless. Otherwise, I'm sorry to say you'll be better off with a different book (say by John Montroll or Robert Lang).

No comments about Spirit of Mother Earth.

1 comments about James Surls: The Splendora Years, 1977-1997.

1. "Surl's creations exhibit dual and even triple natures. On one hand they exude a sense of the beneficence of nature...But there are darker currents--the jagged ends of spears and knives...." This multiple nature of the Texas artist Surls' art is seen by the wood sculpture titled "To Have - To Hold" on the jacket cover. A long thin piece of dark wood with a human shape has blades for feet and hands. Yet the work evinces complexity, or layers, because the figure is not malevolent or aggressive. With its thinness, it is somewhat lissome; and with its curved shape, almost withdrawing. Most of Surl's wood sculptures contain such ambiguities from the handsomeness of the wood materials and their biological shapes mixed with sharp edges. If anything, Surl's drawings indicate an even more complex, involuted, attempt to find some compromise among the different aspects of nature. Yet despite the ominousness inhering in Surl's works, they are not "conflicted." Though they are not harmonious either. These different parts of nature do not come into direct conflict with one another because they exist within a larger context, suggested by the inner and the ambient spaces of Surls' sculptures. Splendora is the artists' community about 45 miles south of Houston established by Surls. It attracted promising regional artists seeking Surls' inspiration and tutelage; and it was there that this artist came to his unique ideas and style.

No comments about Kcho: La jungla.

No comments about Start Sculpting: A Step-By-Step Beginner's Guide to Working in Three Dimensions.

1 comments about Hella Jongerius.

1. This is great book about Hella Jongerius. It has wonderful photography of many of her designs. I highly recommend it!

2 comments about Calder, Miro.

1. This is a wonderful catalogue that accompanies the landmark exhibition that was held at the Beyeler Foundation in Basel, Switzerland in 2004, and at the Phillips Collection in Washington. Apart from the groundbreaking comparative study of both artists, which is very well written and highly informative (a trove of previously unpublished documents), the illustrations are fantastic. One of the most moving series by Miro, the Constellations, some 40 watercolors painted in 1941, are wonderfully echoed in a three-dimensional space by Calder's delicate mobiles of the same period. Highly recommended.



2. it is always interesting to see how artists and friends influence one another and here is another brilliant examination. alexander calder and joan miro couldn't have been more different, yet, it seems that this factor propelled their friendship. they true friends from the beginning the artists, and their families, remained close throughout their careers. often collaborating on works, sharing ideas or simply exchanging artistic gifts their friendship shines through to their art. this show brings commonalities and collaborations together under one roof (some for the first time ever) and explores the influences behind the objects. bravo to the curators for bringing this to our attention and thanks for the fantastic catalogue that accompanies it!

No comments about Lessons In Flower And Fruit Modeling In Wax.

2 comments about The complete book of pottery making (Chilton's creative crafts series).

1. Comprehensive in scope, this book takes the reader through a complete ceramics course. Very well written, it includes concise but thorough background info, plus clear step-by-step instructions on specific techniques. It lacks some of the detail of specialty books, but if you need to start with one overall book, or if you want to make sure there are no huge gaps in your understanding, this book is a good choice.



2. I reccomend this book to both begginers and experienced potters. It has many step-by-step black and white photos with great instructions. The photos have helped me perform techniques better and properly. There is a section on every method of working with clay and gives you solutions to problems. This book also gives great guides on buying clay, making a work space and many other opinions on how to become a professional potter. I don't have a question about pottery that can't be answered in this book.