No comments about Unmonumental.

5 comments about Sculpture: Principles and Practice.

1. If you purchase this book knowing you are getting an outdated book you may enjoy it more. It has some good info in a few areas, especially in basic clay-up, but lacks in most modern mold making techniques. The sculpture in this book is basically classical to put it simply. I would still reccomend this book especially to beginners.



2. I was thinking that this book would give me tips and ideas... its more of a history then how to.



3. If you are a beginning sculpture student, this might be a book for you. Althought the information is somewhat dated (original copyright is 1949) the book is fairly direct and straight-forward in its writing style. Primary interest of the author--and the bulk of written information--is directed to modeling in clay and casting in plaster. The section on stone carving is short, but fairly complete. The woodcarving section is sketchy and, other than a good list of the tools needed, inadequate.
   The sections on cast stone (concrete) and casting metal are outdated. Certain steps are still the same, but the materials currently in use are so different as to be almost another whole chapter.
   A great deal of space is given to architectural sculpture, but again, the info is outdated. The book gives information on producing a stone monument, but does not address the cost factors (nor the steps in computing costs)of assembling the materials and placing the finished work. Nowadays that is of prime importance if a sculptor wants to compete for art in public places.



4. I agree with the comment below - this is a beginner's book. More power to it. It was written by someone who has taught as well as practiced & focuses on the sculpting process rather than on artistic technique. Some of the mediums he covers (casting stone, glue molds) have advanced in ease of use since this book was written, but this guide has stood the test of time.



5. I found this book to be overly simplfied and not very helpful accept maybe to the most novice sculptor. The appoach is that of amateur craft not serious art. I thought the photos of examples to be most uninspiring.

5 comments about The Colouring, Bronzing and Patination of Metals.

1. I could read for hours and hours about the different colors that are discussed is this book. I would consider this book an excellent source for information on just about any color patina you are looking for on silver, bronze, brass or copper. There are several beautiful color plates, but not nearly as many as there are colors that are given. I am also very interested in specifics and would have like to have seen some color photos of the processes in action, but, I am now just making my own. Anyway, it is a great book and I am glad to have it in my collection.



2. Very nicely done, but I concur with those who believe additional photos are a must. A CD-ROM with high resolution images to go with each of the authors' experiments would be a useful upgrade to an otherwise astonishing book.
   
   I do feel that this book flags the hazardous materials very well, in fact, included are recipes which are subsequently not recommended by the authors based on the total risk or risk/reward ratio. The authors do assume some basic intelligence on the part of the reader.
   
   There are in addition examples of some very effective patinations, as evidenced in the color plates, which are achieved with relatively benign chemicals and methods; these should appeal to those who are not willing or prepared to work with more hazardous materials. Know your limits.
   
   The techniques employed are described clearly. To cap it off, recipes which give consistently good results are highlighted by an asterisk, a very thoughtful feature to help navigate through the abundance of esoteric and useful formulae.
   
   Bravo!



3. More than pleased with this purchase. These guys put serious time and energy into relaying info about patination. They leave no questions unanswered, as well as, they give tons of formulas to create with. The amazon price is the best out there!



4. The best book there is regarding patination of metals.



5. This book is truely the "bible" on patinas. There must be at least 1000 recipes for coloring metal.

5 comments about Great Wire Jewelry: Projects & Techniques.

1. I found this book to have great ideas for making chains. The one real problems is her wire sizes are not accurate. 20 gauge wire in not 1.0mm, 18 g wire is. All the wire sizes were wrong so it was hard to decide what size wire would work with which size ring. I generally don't have a lot of wire to waste.
   
   The Jens Pind's instructions were also very hard to follow and again it didn't flow right because of the wire vs ring size problem.
   
   I did like many of her designs and have made several of them. I would love to see her book come out with a second edition after more careful editing.



2. Very disappointing! Instructions incomplete or difficult to understand. Illustrations are not that much help and at least one appears to have an error (pg. 42) Save your money and get better instructions on the internet for free.



3. This book a the bible for chain maille jewelry as is covers all the basic chains. This book was originally printed in Scandinavia(Denmark, I believe)and in the book is in spare Nordic fashion. This is the only book I'm aware of that covers Viking Knit which has become popular in the last few years and another technique called Crown Sinnet braiding. But has all the basic patterns, The European 4 in 1, Open round chain maille, the Queen's link or box, the flower or rosette, the spiral and the double spiral. Also included is the Jens Pind,the 1/2 persian 4 in 1 and the foxtail. (The Japanese weaves are in the companion Silver Wire Jewelry. A chart showing wire guages and recommended mandrels are at the back of the book.
   All graphics for the projects are line drawn using red and blue to help learn and complexity is denoted by one Viking mask for easiest to 4 Viking mask for the most difficult. Also, there are photos of every project along with variation.



4. This book was recommend by the instructor from a chain maille class. It is a good resource. Photos and layouts are good.



5. I purchased this book at a jewelry crafting shop after leafing thru it, specifically for the chain mail instructions in the second half. for anyone interested in chain mail in a jewelry application this book is a good start, contrary to most of the online sources i found that focused on the armor and period specific applications of the art. as for the wire knitting, i do like some of styles but have also seen other books on wire weaving that were a bit better and had more clear instructions.

5 comments about The Japanese Sword: A Comprehensive Guide (Japanese Arts Library).

1. Although the title is a bit misleading, as the book also includes other edge weapons besides swords as well as their fittings, it was informative for a novice collector. The color photographs are outstanding.



2. 
   This is one of the BEST books on the Japanese Sword including history, terminology, et cetera. I really don't know how anyone could have a sword collection or interest without this book. A friend bought this for me as a gift, way before I was interested in swords... now I have hundreds of books (mainly on swords), and this is certainly my favorite. Great book, GREAT illustrations and photographs, superb glossary. You certainly wont be disappointed.



3. This book is exactly what the title says it is. It truly is a comprehensive guide to various japanese swords detailing the types and nomenclature of the swords.



4. i loved this book it gave me all the information i needed on the art of the japanese swords.



5. IF YOU COLLECT JAPANESE SWORDS YOU MUST HAVE THIS EXCELLEBT BOOK

5 comments about Creating Fantasy Polymer Clay Characters: Step-by-Step Trolls, Wizards, Dragons, Knights, Skeletons, Santa, and More!.

1. This is a fantastic & inspirational instructional book.
   Great photos & fun ideas & creatures to make.



2. Recently I gave my grandson this book for his birthday. Here are his comments "I'd say both rate around four stars out of five, or an 8 (scale of 1 - 10)"
   Somewhat terse, but then what do you expect from a 15 year old boy? I had seen the book, lent to me by a friend, and when I heard that my grandson was interested in clay figures I thought this would be an ideal book as there were lots of weird characters that would appeal to someone of his age. Don't get me wrong, this is a book for adults mainly, not just for kids, but I thought he would be inspired by the creatures within.



3. A cute book for anyone who likes to dabble in the fantasy world of polyamer clay.



4. The characters in this book are somewhat goofy, however, the author provides excellent basics on armature building for creatures like horses and dragons. If you are looking for a lighter side to the fantasy world and would like to sculpt some fun creatures, this book is perfect. I think that kids will really love how achievable the sculptures in this book are for them.



5. Superb from start to finish. If you have any interest in sculpting fantastic creatures in polymer clay this is the best place to start bar none-- and it will take you far. I've done most of the projects in the book and am now very comfortable creating my own critters from scratch. The photos are fantastic with just the right amount of detail (no shots taken from halfway across the room!), the text is very clear (and funny!), and the book is simply a lot of fun overall. Can't recommend it highly enough for anyone interested in the subject.

2 comments about Figure Sculpture in Wax and Plaster.

1. Exactly what I was looking for. If you are looking for well illustrated practical instruction on plaster and wax modeling, then this will be perfect. Although it focuses on the human figure, the techniques could obviously be applied to any subject matter. Wax and plaster are both relatively cheap materials that have quick results and hold there shape and allow reworking later on.



2. This is one of the reference books I keep in my studio.It covers techinques on materials that are not covered in other sources. The set up of the book is logical and helps one to understand the materials and techinques valuable to a sculptor focusing on the figure and other forms of expression. So valuable are these techiques as they offer a sculptor the opportunity to quickly create his design with the use of fairly inexpensive materials. i highly recommend this book to anyone serious about sculpture.

5 comments about Fifth Chinese Daughter.

1. I first read The Fifth Chinese Daughter in about 1963 when I was 13 and living 30 miles south of San Francisco. Visiting Chinatown was my first exposure to a foreign culture. It was mysterious and exotic, and I wondered what went on behind the building fronts lining the narrow bustling streets. This book gave me my first glimpse into this other world; very heady stuff for a 13 year old girl. Fast forward 45 years, and I'm looking for a book to recommend to my book club. I had never forgotten The Fifth Chinese Daughter but assumed it was out of print. Imagine my surprise when I found two copies on the shelf of our local bookstore. I snapped up both copies and jumped in. The Fifth Chinese Daughter was just as captivating and poignant to me at age 57. I can now appreciate it from a new perspective, viewing this work as a precursor to the wonderful Chinese American literature that followed. I could go on....but suffice to say, read this book.



2. I became interested in buying this book after reading the author's fascinating story in the L.A. Times last year. Since reading Fifth Chinese Daughter a few months ago, I have given it as a gift to three friends who also found this young woman's story as heartwarming and courageous as I did. Side benefit: I learned a great deal about Chinese-American culture and about American history, circa 1930s - 1950s.
   
   It's also a great book for teen girls. Reading about Jade Snow's sometimes difficult youth and teen years and how she met her goals will be very inspirational to that age group.



3. I usually don't write negative reviews, but I really was surprised by all the glowing reviews here. I truly think this is a terrible book and here is why.

   1). The characters are only skin deep. We never really get to know them beyond their attitudes toward Jade Snow. And Jade Snow herself is very opaque as well, we don't get to know more of her except that she is filial, hard-working and eager to please people. The insides of these characters are not alive and they resemble dull automatons carrying out the actions of a pre-determined script.

   2). The prose is very flat, so the end result reads like a very long summary of the plot rather than the book itself. The author crammed in many minutae of her life into the writing, with a emphasis on the details of food preparation. but most of the details are not evocative and fails to enrich the world she is trying to portray.

   3). A streak of very patronizing attitude to Asians Americans run through out the book. It culminate with a cringe-inducing climax of self-hate at the very end of the last chapter, in a scene meant to be the big emotional pay-off for the whole book. Jade Snow's father tearfully confess that he had done wrong by raising her under the backward Chinese culture, and that he should have raised her in the superior, freedom-loving Christian way.




4. "You must have confidence that I shall remain true to the spirit of your teachings. I shall bring back to you the knowledge of whatever I learn." Fifth Chinese Daughter is an inspiring autobiography that traces the life of Jade Snow Wong from childhood to adulthood in San Francisco's Chinatown. In her book, Jade Snow describes the numerous hardships and rewards that shaped her life. Through her vivid descriptions, the reader is immersed in the Asian culture of early twentieth-century America. Looking through Jade Snow's eyes, the reader is able to experience the conflicting cultural experiences of the middle daughter of a large family of Chinese immigrants.
   Conforming to Chinese tradition, Jade Snow felt that her worth as an individual was dictated by her family. Although Jade Snow's father took pride in educating his daughters in both Chinese and American customs, he valued the future potential of his sons over that of his daughters. Jade Snow's childhood is tainted by unjust punishment and suppressed emotion. Such experiences led her to pursue independence and acknowledgment in a country that offered numerous opportunities for well-educated young woman. However, from her difficult childhood, Jade Snow learned discipline and respect, qualities that allowed her to succeed and gain respect from her family. It is fascinating to witness her transformation from a submissive child to a woman of integrity and perseverance.
   As Jade Snow tirelessly worked her way through college, she came to understand the injustices of Chinese tradition. Ironically, at this time, she also developed a greater appreciation for her Chinese heritage and through it discovered her life's passions. Despite the heavy skepticism and criticism of her family, Jade Snow pursued her dreams with optimistic determination, suffering many hardships along the way. In each of her life's stories she proves to us that great rewards come from hard work and unfailing belief in one's self. If you ever feel hopeless or just want to be inspired, Jade Snow's story will lift you out of your darkness.



5. In the book Fifth Chinese Daughter by Jade Snow Wong, the author tells readers about her childhood as a Chinese girl living in San Francisco. Ms. Wong gives readers a chance to see what life was like growing up during the early 1900ýs as a Chinese girl. Throughout the book, you learn many things Chinese-Americans do which are different from American customs. Readers are given an idea of how Chinese-Americanýs raised their families during that time. The author shows in vivid detail what happened to her and what she had to work for in her childhood.
   Jade Snow was brought up in a household that made sure their children knew their native culture as well as the culture around them. Since an early age, Jade was given Chinese lessons by her father until she was old enough to attend Chinese school everyday after her American classes were over. The book chronicles Jadeýs life from her early childhood to when she becomes a young woman living on her own. Throughout the book, you see Jade learn to do the shopping for the family, cope with problems in school like discrimination, get into college on her own, and find jobs for herself.
   There were many things I liked about this book. Even though, this book isnýt like the books I normally read, it was very hard to put down. The author writes her story in
   graphic details, which pulled me into the book. I loved how she talked about her father in many ways, how some days he believed in her and others, he had no confidence in her. Also, I believe that Jade was a strong girl throughout her childhood. This is because she had to live with such strict rules in her household like respecting her elders, and how if she or her siblings did anything wrong, they would get punished by getting whipped.
   If I were to compare this novel with others I have read, I would have to say that this novel is in my top 50 books I have ever read. I found that every page I turned in this book, I was wondering what would happen next. This novel was very fun to read because I liked learning about what life was like for a young Chinese-American Women growing up during the early 1900ýs.
   I would most likely recommend this novel to another, unless the person did not like autobiographies. I would recommend this book to people who like reading about people of different cultures. Jade Snowýs book is geared more to people who like to read about peopleýs cultures, but I think many would find this book very interesting.

5 comments about Stone.

1. This was my first book encounter with Andy Goldsworthy and wow- his art ideas are great. I love how he uses nature in his art- and even more so, how the changes in nature are art themselves.



2. Stone, like many of Andy Goldsworthy books, sends the observer to a land that exists only for a brief time. Using the medium of photography, Mr. Goldsworthy captures these moments, in the world he creates, that appear to me as more of a heaven than an earth. If you as a child or if you have watched your child play endlessly with nature, creating masterpieces that may end up being washed away, blown away, or covered in snow, you will appreciate this book for capturing them for all eternity.



3. This was a gift for my boss but I just couldn't stop looking through it. What a beautiful book. Very inspiring! I got rave comments... and a raise! Definitely a amazing present.



4. A truly beautiful book, with rich photographs and nice summaries. Inspiring to the last page - and particularly useful for igniting one's creative juices. A small note to the Amazon reviewer: Andy Goldsworthy was born in England in 1956. He lives in Penpont, Scotland, but is English - not Scottish.



5. In "Stone," as in his other books, Andy Goldsworthy takes the natural play of a child--fooling around with sticks, leaves, water, stones, mud, and more--and elevates it to something above and beyond its natural status. He uses his adult design skills to create great manmade beauty from existing natural beauty. He never falls over the line into obvious, coy, or precious art--he simply lets nature be what it is with a tiny little bit of rearranging on his part.

   The results are never short of astonishing. Witness the sharp-edged rocks against which Goldsworthy has "glued" (with plain water) the leaves of brilliantly red Japanese maples, thereby making the edges look almost bloodied (p. 76). Witness the delicate, calligraphic tracery Goldsworthy stitched up by pinning together rush after rush after rush with thorns and then hanging these on a gallery wall so that it appears that either Calder or Matisse have wandered in and scribbled elegantly on the walls (p. 83). Witness the balanced oval boulders Goldsworthy lays in a curvaceous line from beach to the sea, and see how they roll and disappear from view as the tide comes crashing in (p. 101). These are but three of the many visual astonishments Goldsworthy shares in this book. The book is a never-ending source of delight and admiration for the feverish workings of one of 20th-century art's most creative minds.

3 comments about Facet Cutters Handbook (Gembooks).

1. The book was interesting but not as informative as I had hoped. Some of the info was too "clinical" and not really what I would expect from a Handbook. When I write a handbook it contains step by step instructions for anyone to pick it up and not be confused. I was hoping for some pointers or where to obtain tools such as dop sticks. It was a good buy though.



2. Informative, you need to be advanced in your craft in order to use this book.



3. This was the first faceting book I obtained, even before owning a faceting machine! From the moment I started reading I understood. This is a (sadly) a fairly unique state of affairs for books relating to crafts and hobbies. Edward Soukup assumes no prior knowledge and explains everything in simple, down-to-earth terminology. He covers all the aspects of faceting that a beginner needs to know from materials & tools to dopping techniques, and from a standard brilliant cut (extremely detailed instructions) to more difficult cuts. Some excellent hints at the end, together with handy tables. So much packed into such a small volume. If you have the Vargas book(s) then this will make your collection complete. Don't start faceting without it!