1 comments about Albert Paley: Portals and Gates.

1. Next to cave wall paintings, sculpture is the oldest known form of human artistic expression and has been a part of every culture in recorded human history. "Albert Paley: Portals & Gates" is an annotated compendium of 150 magnificently reproduced color plates of 150 examples of sculptures by Albert Paley, beginning with his first major commission (Portal Gates) for the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Institutes in Washington D.C., to his most recent work (Transformation) displayed at the Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. The theme of these sculptures is that of diverse depictions and interpretations of portals, gates, and other key works over his thirty year career in which he has created more than sixty major works of art for public institutions and private corporations. Edited by M. Jessica Rowe (an established contemporary art expert and former curator of several national and international exhibitions), "Portals & Gates" is enhanced with informed and informative commentaries by Lynette L. Pohlman, Gregory L. Geoffroy, William L. Clark, and Mark C. Engelbrecht. Of special note is the inclusion of a Chronology and a Checklist that students of Palye's work will find invaluable. "Albert Paley: Portals & Gates" is a seminal study and a highly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library 20th Century Art History & Sculpture reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

2 comments about Paperclay: For Ceramic Sculptors 3rd Edition.

1. There are few books out there on paper clay, so if you're one who learns by reading there's precious little to choose from. If you're interested in the medium, you probably need to have this book. But be forewarned: though it contains lots of information not currently available from other sources, it's one of the worst-produced books I've seen in a very long time.
   
   The book was evidently never put through a professional editing process, and it shows. It's full of typos, punctuation errors, and confusing sentences. After reading the first few pages, I concluded (erroneously, as it turns out) that English was not the author's first language. Here is a sample garbled sentence, admittedly one of the worst: "Join between bone and soft is usually better that same join at would be leatherhard." Some sections read more like the author's notes rather than a finished manuscript.
   
   Many of the illustrations have been reduced so small that it's difficult to discern what's being shown -- and some of the labels, reduced along with the illustrations, contain type that literally required a magnifying glass to read.
   
   The author decided to use a question-and-answer format for the entire book, which quickly becomes tiresome. As a result, there's no "narrative" to the book and the information is disjointed and episodic.
   
   The book I received, although it says it's the 2007 "third edition," does not look like the one pictured here. Instead, it's printed in a very horizontal format (about 9 inches wide by 5 inches deep), which is awkward to hold and irritating to use.
   
   If you have the patience to deal with all this, much information about paper clay can be gleaned from this book. The author quite obviously knows a lot and seems willing enough to share that with her readers. However, I believe the publisher does her, and us, a disservice by going into a third edition without taking care of these fundamental problems.



2. i have found this companion boock easy and clear to follow.it have beeing a great help developing new forms in my studio.

No comments about Chola: Sacred Bronzes of Southern India.

1 comments about South Italian vase painting.

1. This book is concise and pithy. It is an exellent beginning point for the study of Italiote vase painting.

1 comments about Kovels' American Art Pottery: The Collector's Guide to Makers, Marks, and Factory Histories.

1. If you've ever wondered if your "find" is indeeed authentic, this book will resolve the majority of your questions.
   In addition, it is a beautifully designed book with many luminous photographs and closeup details. I'm proud to display it on my table and carry it while antique shopping. It has always been met with a knowledgeable nod.

No comments about Goebel Figurines & Prints by Charlotte Byj.

1 comments about Sterling Silver Flatware for Dining Elegance: With Price Guide (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. This book is a great resource if you are looking for general descriptions of the hundreds of different types of sterling flatware pieces - it goes well beyond the standard place setting and serving pieces. However, it would be better if it had better photos of some details and the price guide is very general - it does not value specific patterns.

5 comments about Carving & Painting An Heirloom Santa.

1. I am on the finishing details of the featured santa project in this book, so I write from first-hand experience. This book describes (with both photos and captions) techniques to do highly detailed and stylized Santa carvings. You definitely need more than a benchknife and a v-tool to do these projects. Nevertheless, the progression of steps in the project is logically laid out, and if you have some carving experience under your belt, you'll do all right. One criticism I have is that most of the sequence photos on the project are in color. For me, color is actually distracting -- clear B&W photos reveal much more the sense of depth in a carving. There is a very good color gallery of other Santas, however, that should inspire. Painting technique is a bit complex, but yields distinctive results. One final thought...Bolinger's preface story about leaving his software executive job to carve full-time can be a strong temptation for a lot of us who like to work with wood!



2. I am on the finishing details of the featured santa project in this book, so I write from first-hand experience. This book describes (with both photos and captions) techniques to do highly detailed and stylized Santa carvings. You definitely need more than a benchknife and a v-tool to do these projects. Nevertheless, the progression of steps in the project is logically laid out, and if you have some carving experience under your belt, you'll do all right. One criticism I have is that most of the sequence photos on the project are in color. For me, color is actually distracting -- clear B&W photos reveal much more the sense of depth in a carving. There is a very good color gallery of other Santas, however, that should inspire. Painting technique is a bit complex, but yields distinctive results. One final thought...Bolinger's preface story about leaving his software executive job to carve full-time can be a strong temptation for a lot of us who like to work with wood!



3. I am on the finishing details of the featured santa project in this book, so I write from first-hand experience. This book describes (with both photos and captions) techniques to do highly detailed and stylized Santa carvings. You definitely need more than a benchknife and a v-tool to do these projects. Nevertheless, the progression of steps in the project is logically laid out, and if you have some carving experience under your belt, you'll do all right. One criticism I have is that most of the sequence photos on the project are in color. For me, color is actually distracting -- clear B&W photos reveal much more the sense of depth in a carving. There is a very good color gallery of other Santas, however, that should inspire. Painting technique is a bit complex, but yields distinctive results. One final thought...Bolinger's preface story about leaving his software executive job to carve full-time can be a strong temptation for a lot of us who like to work with wood!



4. The illustrations are excellent and this book is very well written, but the techniques are sophisticated. The painting, in particular, is done with oils rather than the more common acrylics. It makes a beautiful product, but is difficult for the casual amateur to accomplish. I only rate it lower because of the difficulty in replicating the painting.



5. I would reccomend this book for someone looking to carve a larger european style Santa. The project detailed in the book is not diffiuclt, but it is time consuming due to its size. The painting techniques contained in this book are among the best I have found.

1 comments about Cowboy Spurs and Their Makers (Centennial Series of the Association of Former Students, Texas a & M University).

1. Well the book is an in depth look at the famous spur makers and some not so famous and the history of Spurs in the New World. Some minor inconsistencies in information about when a maker or company marked their products. I enjoyed the extensive list of little known makers and their style points in the back of the book. If your looking to see the makers marks in a book; well... be satisfied with the history and folklore and construction. The omission of showing historical documentation of the maker marks of the makers reviewed is a glaring one. Cowboy Spurs... is informative and chock full of biographical tidbits on the best of the best custom and production spur makers. I bought Cowboy Spurs and Their Makers but then I ordered Cowboy Bits and Spurs by Joice Overton which is more helpful with Identification and styles; a Schiffer book.

2 comments about A Sculptor's Guide to Tools and Materials - Second Edition.

1. I purchased this with the thought it would help educate me on different sculpting products (clays and tools) by discussing their various properties, etc. It did do very brief overviews of different clays (plasters, plastilinas), but nothing in detail and no mention of specific brands or their product lines. I really don't know much more about clays/tools now than I did before I read through the book, other than how plastilina is made (interesting, perhaps - but of no practical use).
   
   It covers sections on tools (with some pictures) and accessories, and provides (again, brief) overviews of mold making (it does NOT give instructions or recommendations or tips on any mold making process or material), casting materials and tools/materials used in stone and wood carving. However, don't expect to read this and be able to make any kind of informed decision on what would be the best materials for mold and casting your sculpture.
   
   At the end is a rather limited reference section of books on sculpture, and absolutely NO supplier references (ie, websites or company info for purchasing any of these materials/supplies), or links to foundries, art schools/etc., that would be of use. At the end was a long list of tools, no pictures, listing their weights and dimensions - I'm not sure what purpose this is supposed to serve; I found it absolutely useless information. What matters to me is how it feels in my hand and how well it does the job I want it to do.
   
   I found it to be a waste of $22, personally. Go to your local sculpting supply store - you'll get much more practical and useful information there (for free, too) and can see the products and materials and decide which will be good to try for your needs. Worked for me.



2. A Sculptors Guide to Tools and Materials is an essential volume in an artist's reference library, particularly for a beginning sculptor or anyone studying sculpture. This recently published second edition incorporates dozens of additional images which make the book even more "user friendly" than the first edition. The volume is organized by chapters, and includes several appendixes with valuable information, such as Specialty Items and Tool Weights and Dimensions. The glossary at the end of the book is particularly helpful to anyone working in the field. I keep this book within arm's reach of my desk!