1 comments about The Shipcarvers Handbook: How to Design and Execute Traditional Marine Carvings.

1. I am very impressed with the content and the overall knowledge with respect to marine carving by the author. His focus on design and project dimensions would make a huge difference on whether your carving looks good or improperly sized. He also covers techniques in wood bending and mounting scrolls and other objects over curved transoms. I can't wait to build my first nameboard for my boat after reading this gem.

No comments about Goebel Figurines & Prints by Charlotte Byj.

4 comments about Thomas Mann: Metal Artist.

1. I confess, I am a Thomas Mann fan! This is a wonderful book that anyone who loves Mixed Media, found objects and unique jewellery will love. A wonderful variety of "essays" written by others about Mann at different times in his career, starting in the 1970's including pieces written by Mann on his creative process. It is a wonderful read and you can see clearly how his unique style has developed.
   
   The glorious images that adorn the pages of his work are beautifully taken and reproduced in page after page of work that you can not help but gasp at, sigh at and hopefully appreciate this remarkable artist's talent. The book may be "old" in terms of publishing (2001) but you just have to track this book down and keep it before it is out of print. This book is one of my most loved.



2. This is a wonderful book. I was not familiar with Thomas Mann at all until I purchased this book. To say the man is a creative genius is almost an understatement.



3. A book well done for the fan of Thomas Mann. It gives LOTS of detailed photos of all his work through the years, as well as an account of his life. I'm glad he gives acknowledgement for all the people who contributed to his success. Well done!



4. This book displays a beautifully photographed representation of Thomas Mann's creative genius that is not to be missed. Thomas Mann is a true modern master and this book details his life's work and inspiration from the past three decades. From the use of non-precious metals, found objects, and objects that are created to look old, Thomas's highly recognizable industrial style is an inspiration to many, and he will be remembered for his contribution to the world of jewelry arts, for many years to come.

4 comments about The Complete Potter: Sawdust Firing (The Complete Potter).

1. This is one of my favorite books. It is not for a beginner. I do a lot of sawdust firing and find this book so inspiring and helpful. If you have some instruction on this firing technique and have an understanding of different clay bodies, this book will enable you to continue to experimenting and improving your results.



2. I was disappointed in this book. I was hoping to find detailed information on firing techniques other than traditional kiln. It did provide this information; however, no detailed information was provided on how to use/position tin to preserve glazing...this was the essential information I was looking for and thought the book would give detailed instructions on how to do this. The book did give good information on a variety of techniques used by potters all over the world, and it was very interesting...but not the "how to" I was hoping for. There was information on building outdoor kilns...and how to fire, which would be helpful to more experienced potters. Not exactly a book for beginners, like me.



3. "Sawdust Firing," through interviews with potters, sets forth how those potters do, rather than stepping through how-to's. This is NOT a book for beginners, except to give a taste of the medium. Brilliant photos of potters' works, 'though mostly UK potters and the editor's own, with a spattering from other countries. The vocabulary is distinctly UK-based, with some terms explained in the glossary. For a US reader, "ceramic fibre" may not instantly translate to "fiberglass," and "bin" to "garbage can." Having said all this, the book is worth the money just for the glimpses of Duncan Ross' work.



4. This text is a great reference for the potter beginning to work with unglazed firing techinques, and for the experienced potter seeking new ideas. There are slip recipes, definition explanations, and interviews with contemporary working artists. Beautiful photos intersperrsed throughout the text, both color and black and white, illustrate a number of technique results. A variety of kiln assemblies are described, including pit fire kilns and above ground models. Sawdust Firing is an interesting, easy read packed with information and a number of artist's personal preferences regarding their techniques. I highly recommend it to any individual curious about the art - this book makes unglazed firing very accessible, even to beginners.

5 comments about Mythological Creatures and the Chinese Zodiac in Origami.

1. I just found the directions in this book to be confusing, and some intermediate steps would probably have resolved this. There were several points that I found difficult to follow, a problem I have not had in any other origami books I have used.
   
   I gave this two stars because I think most of the models designs are nice. But considering the large majority of this book is supposed to be step-by-step to the final design, and those were not very clear to me, I have to give it the thumbs down



2. I am a beginning origami enthusiast and have only five origami books to my name. However, four of them are by John Montroll and this book, Mythological Creatures, is one of the best!! The drawings are easy to follow, the designs are very different and challenging and when completed, the three-headed dragon is just awesome!! It took me four hours to fold it, but it was worth the time. Get this book! The folds are great and the results are worth every penny!



3. This book has my favorite Montrol Model, Cerberus the three headed dog who guards the gates of hell, and my second favorite Pegasus. I had an old Sakoda model of a the flying horse but this one far exceeds it.

   Montrol models tend to be complex, with many many folds. The detail of the three headed dragon is amazing. But the final model is less than pleasing. Sometimes less is more. On the other hand, there are no cuts in any of these models and if you use good large paper you will be amazed at what is possible.

   (These models are easier than the Lang bugs)




4. I was very disappointed in Montroll's origami books. the directions/diagrams were not clear or complete. i was also disappointed in the end results of the pieces. they lacked the detail despite the complicated folds that were used to achieve the finished pieces.



5. This is a decent origami book overall. There are some very impressive models, such as the three headed dragon, but most of the book is pretty watered-down compared to some of Montroll's other books due to lack of detail.

4 comments about Mosaics of the Greek and Roman World.

1. All thru Italy I took pictures of the floors, I hope to make them into quilts. This book is an excellent reference, I could have bought it first and looked at the other sites while I was on vacation.



2. I bought this book because I have always appreciated the beauty of mosaics and I want to install some in my house someday. This book provides a thorough (but not tedious) explanation of the history of, and original purposes for, mosaics. The pictures and explanations provide a good understanding of the art form (although many pictures in black and white may frustrate some readers). However, if you couldn't care less about the history of mosaic art, and you are only interested in making some cute mosaic items to give as gifts or to decorate small surfaces in your home yourself with your own original designs, you may be happier with one of the more basic mosaic design books available on Amazon. If you have an appreciation for art history, however, this book will not disapoint.



3. I purchased this book to gain color references for the mosaics.....unfortunately, the majority of this book contains black and white plates. If you are planning on using this book as a reference for color, forget it.



4. The new book by Katherine Dunbabin is a welcome addition to the already excellent catalogue of Cambridge Press. Ms. Dunbabin once more proves her value as a historian by showing that the study of Art in ancient times goes beyond aesthetics and the sphere of nobles and palaces. Her work on Section II "Technique and Production" brings to life the craftsmen and workshops that made the mosaics, but also the social relationships involved in the creation of all forms of Art. Another strong point of the book is the quality of the images depicted in it, both the photo reproductions and the graphic drawings of the mosaics are astounding. The variety of subjects shown in the mosaics allow the modern reader to have a pretty good idea of the ambiance and way of life of the times. It is also interesting that at the end of each chapter Ms. Dunbabin indicates a list of related bibliography with recent works. I can only be sorry that her own classical work "The Mosaics of Roman North Africa" is out of print. This pioneer work should be reprinted.

3 comments about Mike Kelley.

1. This was one of the first and best monographs of this most important of West Coast artists who is now enjoying a slight rennaissance. For years this was the only book available on Mike Kelley, other than thin catalogues of european shows. Luckily, with the advent of more writing on Kelley, we have come to find that indeed it was and is the best introduction to his work. We are introduced to Kelley's work via tons of lovely color photos, b & w personal photos of kelleys, lengthy interviews, and essays. Nothing is to hard to understand and the psychological subtexts of his work easily filters into the writing without confusion. His earliest collegiate work recieves just as good attention as his later sonic youth-era works, although I would have appreciated more discussion of his side project the influential noise band Destroy All Monsters. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the west coast art scene, and should probably be recquired reading for anyone taking a class on the subject.



2. I have nothing but praise for Phaidon's publications. Each of their artist's books contain great documentations of the artwork, plus detailed writings by the artist and critics. If you are going to read a description of an artist's work, who better to explain it to you than the artist. This is especially true with Mike Kelley. He is well known for the writings he does for each of his works and he pulls no punches in his delivery.



3. Mike Kelley's excellent catalog from Phaidon may be the most definitive work to date concerning the merging of Elite and Popular culture. Kelley's use of his own astute observations about the world in which we live to "debunk belief systems" and deflate popular pretentions is nothing short of revelatory. His pathetic stance in sculpture, drawing, performance, sound, and banner-making constitute total war on austerity. All modes of his work are well-documented here with color photography of installations and descriptions and criticism by some of the best in their fields.

5 comments about Behind Closed Doors: The Art of Hans Bellmer (California Studies in the History of Art Discovery Series).

1. Therese Lichtenstein, Behind Closed Doors: The Art of Hans Bellmer (University of California Press, 2003)
   
   If you are aware of Hans Bellmer, you probably don't need this review. If you are not aware of Hans Bellmer, you're probably not reading this review. So... fish!A blowdryer. Seven kinds of candy and a needle threaded with bullion stitching together tree limbs in the desert.
   
   Lichtenstein does a fine job of deconstructing Bellmer, not only focusing on his subversion of Nazi ideology (ground already well-trod in art criticism), but pulling in biographical data to give a clearer understanding of what forces drove Bellmer to create life-sized dolls, assemble the pieces in odd ways, and then photograph them hundreds of times with only the smallest changes in position. Her essay is clear, readable, excellent. The book's main problem is that, well, for an art book, there's not terribly much art. More pictures, please! (Especially the drawings, a side of Bellmer's art seen all too rarely.) What art there is is reproduced well, though that's to be expected from an art book, wot? The book also uses the annoying, but increasingly common, convention of end-of-the-book endnotes instead of footnotes (or even end-of-the-chapter notes, annoying but not as much so). Stopping every half-page or so to flip to the back of the book makes for not-so-happy readers.
   
   Still, a fine work on a sadly neglected artist. Worth your time. ****



2. Therese Lichtenstein's "Behind Closed Doors" will immediately grab you visually, as any book about art or an artist should. It rivals Sue Taylor's "Anatomy of Anxiety" as far as visual appeal with the book itself and the plates therein. However, Lichtenstein's discussion of the exceedingly complex Hans Bellmer is a little too cautious, a little too much of a large brushstroke. This is a great book for a reader who knows little about Bellmer's work to read, but if you are hoping for some biography with your art discussion, this one does not have very much.

   This book is significant, though. Lichtenstein's discussion of Bellmer's life and art within an historical context is an engrossing and very well-documented discussion, but since so much of the book is spent on such interpretation, I feel it has left a lot of Hans, the man, and where his dolls really came from, by the wayside.

   This is merely opinion, and it may be that what was needed (and I guess I can accept this) was a new look at Bellmer and his work, with a little less focus on castration anxiety, his relationship with his father, his brother, and his lack of ability to truly be a child when he was a child. But I fear it was never really investigated b/c of the inherent taboo nature of Bellmer the man. It may have been me, but it always kind of felt like Lichtenstein was holding back a little, a tone of tension, perhaps, a touch of apprehension.

   What I feel is absolutely wonderful in Lichtenstein's book: its absolutely gorgeous creation, and the inclusion of a couple of Bellmer's own writing.

   As I said, for a reader just beginning to delve into the surreal world of Hans Bellmer, it is perfection. For those who already know a good deal about Bellmer, it is still very much worth it for the beautiful construction of the book, the excellent plates of his work, his own writing that is also contained, as well as Lichtenstein's solid, though sometimes redundant, interpretations of Hans Bellmer's work.




3. This is a good book to dicover the strange world of Hans Bellmer. Therese Lichtenstein describes the history of the dolls and Hans Bellmer with the contribution of people that were close to Bellmer. She also try to give a sociologic, anthropologic and psychoanalitic explanation to Bellmer's work. I think it's a good book to buy!



4. For me, this book was more than a mere companion to the exhibition, which I was fortunate enough to see. It caused me to reconsider my uncritical reluctance to take Bellmer seriously.



5. Too many words. Not enough photoes as an art book.

No comments about Roman Baroque Sculpture: The Industry of Art.

3 comments about Dresden Porcelain Studios: Identification & Value Guide.

1. Dresden Porcelain made in the late 19th and early 20th century are mostly hand-decorated, and the book presents information by maker or studio, which is easy to follow. With makers marks, basic information and hundreds of photographs, the publication is a true resource for the beginning or advanced collector. I've collected Dresden for years, and refer to this book often!
   I appreciate the Harran's as porcelain dealers and collectors, who, like me, have published on our favorite antiques and collectibles!
   My book is also available right here on AMAZON!
   Pictorial Guide to Silvered Mercury Glass: Identification & Values



2. This book is just right for the beginner. It gives a bit of history,a price range on some pieces and some lovely pictures but not many identifying marks. It looks lovely on your table, but if your looking for identifying marks,and dating your dresden this is just the tip of the iceberg.



3. You can reach to know the value and identification of the arts.