2 comments about Facet Cutters Handbook (Gembooks).

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



2. 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!

1 comments about Antonio Lopez Garcia.

1. Why so inexpensive when the Rizolli book is $500 - $1000!!! Size. This book is 6 3/4 by 8 1/4. I appreciate anything I can get on the artist, but the person who put this book together should be shot. Metaphorically.

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 African Masks: From the Barbier-Mueller Collection (Art Flexi Series).

1. Great overview of all African masks, with intelligent background and supportive material. Not just a picture book or rehash of oft-repeated images. Really a book to be used and absorbed.. It will be a great help.



2. I bought the hardcover version of this & it is well worth the additional expense because the photos are excellent in quality & number. The printing of the photos is of a very high quality. The book is well organized by region & tribes; since many tribes do not adhere to modern borders. I also bought THE TRIBAL ARTS OF AFRICA it is very good but the organization is poor (by region & country) and the descriptions for the smaller photos are not in the same order as the photos, so one has to really search to find out what one is looking at. Whereas the variety and great quality of the photos in AFRICAN MASKS enabled me to definitively identify a mask I acquired 30 years ago. If you collect or love viewing West African carvings I recommend investing in the hardcover version.



3. This is the best book I have found on the psychology and understanding of African masks. Just fantastic, worth the money. 80% color plates, brief outline of basic African mask types and their interpretation, grouped by region and by style.



4. This is the best book I have found on the psychology and understanding of African masks. Just fantastic, worth the money. 80% color plates, brief outline of basic African mask types and their interpretation, grouped by region and by style.



5. First-rate, high quality throughout, this volume does what a book of this type should do: packs in plenty of color plates of the masks, and shows them being worn (in black-and-white in situ photos) on the accompanying left-hand pages of the spreads. The collection is far-ranging and, though it cannot include every type of mask, it does manage to convey the incredible variety, richness and paradoxical sophistication of this art form. Highly recommended.

5 comments about Origami in Action : Paper Toys That Fly, Flap, Gobble, and Inflate.

1. What a great book! The author explains how to accpomplish the different types of folds used in the ' Introduction.'
   So when you go to make one of the models, you'll understand the directions better, than if you just tried it on your own.
   Also, all the origami models in this book perform an action.
   It has all skill levels of difficulty.
   An awesome book to get to learn from and practice with. Besides, you get to make some neat models.
   FYI - Just remember to read the Intro.



2. I BOUGHT THIS BOOK FOR MY ONE NIECE, SHE HAS THE OTHER ONE BY: ROBERT J. LANG. THIS WAS WHAT SHE WANTED FOR EASTER. SO ALL I CAN SAY IS: FROM LISTENING TO HER, SHE HAS ALOT OF FUN WITH THE BOOK SHE HAS, THE PROJECTS ARE EASY, ALL YOU NEED IS PAPER. I THINK IT IS GREAT BECAUSE, A CHILD HAS TO USE THEIR MINDS, & NO BATTERIES, NOTHING TO PLUG IN, ONE OF THE FEW ITEMS OUT THERE, WHERE A CHILD CAN LET THEIR IMAGINATION GO WILD & THEY DO IT THEMSELVES.



3. If you're just starting out in origami, I really suggest averting from this book. No, really. Unless you start off taking origami very seriously and have your steel resolve handy, this book will only serve to discourage. There aren't a lot of easy designs in this volume, and there's plenty of designs towards the end that are obvious expert-level pieces. I'd go get a book that had a sizable section of traditional origami designs first, then I'd go pick a copy of this up. It's terribly fun once you have any idea what you're doing !



4. The challenge (and pro) in this book is that you can make the completed model "move" by pull or push the model. And it contains some wonderful models, like the boat rower and the guitarist. However there are too many easy models here, and most of them can be found in other origami books. It's a good idea to make the model come to live, but I'm afraid some quintessential qualities of origami will be lost. A new and good try, but I hope this isn't Lang's new style. From the very beginning Mr. Lang's models are always highly expected and appreciated and adored by folders around the world, and always a challenge. So,fold us more super complex models.....



5. Robert Lang is one of the most prolific and innovative origami model creators around. Many of Lang's books, however, are composed mainly of more difficult models appropriate for intermediate and advanced folders. But *Origami in Action* offers lots of fun model building for folks at every skill level. The diagrams and instructions are wonderfully clear and presented on big pages surrounded by lots of calming white space.

   I've been teaching origami to 20 third graders (an interesting volunteer experience!). *Origami in Action* is one of my top suggestions when a parent asks me to recommend an origami book for an eight or nine year old.

   But this book is also great fun for grownups -- even origami-addicted grownups and other advanced folders. The otter lying on its back is absolutely wonderful!

   Thanks Mr. Lang!

5 comments about Modeling in Wax for Jewelry and Sculpture (Jewelry Crafts).

1. A bit disapointed by this book. I guess so many books now have great photos and are put together so well that an old fashioned style manual like this just doesn't inspire. I'm sure it's full of really useful stuff, but the format is so off putting that I can't be bothered to read it. A really good, modern book on wax carving with lots of interesting projects is long overdue..



2. Informative book with many photographic examples of the instructions.
   I enjoyed putting some of the methods into practice. Was well laid out with a broad choosing of projects.
   A good intro to medium level instruction book.



3. Complete and easy read a great place to start.



4. I wish I had this book when I first started to sculpt figures in wax. I would have saved myself a lot of time and agrivation. I would have also saved myself quite a bit of money by using good tequniques, and in that respect alone this book would pay for itself. If you are just getting into wax sculpture, this book would lay a very strong foundation from which to build your skills.



5. I got this book after making jewelry for 3 years and lost wax casting for 6 months. Boy, did I learn a lot! The projects are truly outstanding. They show a wide variety of techniques and styles. Try each one even if it's not a style you're really big on - I did and found neat ways to do things I wanted to do that I hadn't managed before. I require this as a text for all my apprentices who do casting.

3 comments about Felix Gonzalez-Torres.

1. Felix Gonzales-Torres ( 1957-1996 ) was a many-sided artist.
   He uses photographs, A1 sheets of paper stacked one upon the other, light bulbs ( white not
   colored ) and even large amounts of candy wrappers with the same colour.
   
   He has everything of a minimal art performer and yet the materials he uses ( albeit not at the same time ) and the different ways of displaying his art ( walls of buildings, corridors, rooms and staircases ) are so complex that it would be laughable to call his work 'minimal art'.
   If it's necessary to give him a name I would call him an explorer. I believe it's the purpose of an artist to search what lies beyond the horizon.
   
   I believe also in the value of abstract art. It emphasizes the essence of what we see: colour, shape and the different relations between one and the other.
   
   Art with artificial light is the fascinating area between abstract painting and sculpture. Only a few artists so far, had the courage to walk that borderline and one of them was Gonzales-Torres.
   His 'light-art' is simple ( He uses for instance only burning white lamps ). For example a large corridor in a modern building has several garlands of light against one wall, or strings of white lights attached to the ceiling and pouring down like rain to the floor to form a pool of light.
   
   If you want to know all about Gonzales and his different forms of art, please read the fascinating
   book " Felix Gonzales-Torres " by Miwon Kwon.



2. A truly truly beautiful book on who I consider to be the most important, influential and sublimely talented artist since Warhol. Edited by Felix's close friend Julie Ault, this is a beautiful beautiful informative book - a must have.



3. Great in depth look at one of the most important artists of the past 30 years. Not just an overview of the work, analysis from Ault, Storr, and contributions from Marguerite Duras and Wallace Shawn. The latter are not just in there to be interesting, their interests and those of Gonzalez-Torres overlap in thought and practice. Also, there are many statements and interviews with Gonzalez-Torres about the work's formal structure as well as its content. Overall, a great analysis without sentimentality - rare when an artist dies at the height of her/his creative powers.

5 comments about Clay and Glazes for the Potter.

1. It is astonishing every potter should know it
   It say most news that other book don't write in a way simple and undersatndable even for the novice.
   I find that is complement is another book on the glaze spectrum written by robin HopperThe Ceramic Spectrum: A Simplified Approach to Glaze and Color Development.



2. This is the best book to start with and never part with if you are a clay artist.



3. Everything you ever wanted to know - and more - about clays and glazes. If you just want a quick introduction to the topic, you should skip this book. If you want a well-written, very thorough, and very clear explanation of basic ceramic principles, this is it. If you want to go even further, delving into the intricate complexities of specific clay and glaze formulations, that's all here too.



4. this book is quite informative of clays, glazes, colorants, temperatures and many little details that a ceramicists needs in order to experiment and produce different effects with various materials. this books is very helpful and easy to read..



5. Very good book that's being used for text in my husband's ceramics class. A good book for anyone having questions about pottery, clay ans glaze

5 comments about The Complete Woodcuts of Albrecht Durer.

1. Una gran edición a costo más que razonable para mi. Contiene todos los grabados en madera.



2. The visuals contained in this book by Durer are very very good. It gives you a great idea of what type of talent this man had. There is a very nice transition from his earlier work to the later noticeable due to the intricate detail woodcut by woodcut. If you are a fan of Durer, or wanted to know what he was capable of creating, I highly suggest checking this one out.



3. This book is 346 pages, not 44 as listed. Dover has a newer edition. Durer masterworks.



4. This is the best compilation of Duerer prints I have ever seen. Duerer's talent is really downplayed in the avant-guarde scene today, but if you just look, you'll have instant appreciation. My only dissapointment was that the book does not include all of Duerer's Revelation woodcuts, which are my favorites. Anyway, I suggest you look into this book--it is amazing.



5. Albrecht Durer was one of the most talented artists the world has ever seen, and his woodcuts, especially those of apocolyptic visions are spectacular. This book reproduces these woodcuts faithfully, and the images are not diminished by the format of the book as is often the case.

   These images are the stuff of nightmares - hell, torment, torture and death, and yet the images are so startlingly realistic as to be almost poignant in their representations. Enjoyt the images for what they are - works of genius. In addition the commentary is worthwhile, with interesting observations of Durer's life and techniques.

   A valuable addition to an art lover's library, but also a fascinating book for anyone who is interested in genius.

5 comments about The Writer's Brush: Paintings, Drawings, and Sculpture by Writers.

1. This is the bargain of the year. Wonderful full-color plates and extremely interesting biographies of the writer/artists.



2. I had seen a brief review of the book on t.v. prior to the holidays & ordered it for a friend of mine who is an avid reader & also dabbles in painting. He positively LOVED it, and this is a man who is not easy to please.....He said the book was insightful & gave glimpses into the other artistic side of writers....



3. This book is truly a treasure! Every page unveils little known talents and secrets of literary artists whose talents as painters, sculptors, and so on are every bit as fascinating as their written work. What is even more special is that the artists include such an immense variety of men and women from various periods of history. It is not a book to be read page-by-page, but like the greatest culinary delights from truffles to the purest chocolates, it needs to be savored in small, rich, fulfilling portions. I expect to see The Writer's Brush published in other languages, if that, indeed, has not already begun.



4. The Writer's Brush is a remarkable achievement. It's a unique work that is simultaneously a very interesting read and a valuable resource. The collection of artwork is a window into the oft unknown alternate lives of many of our best known writers. It is fascinating to see the artwork of Joseph Conrad, Winston Churchill, Emily Bronte and Kurt Vonnegut, Kipling, Ibsen and Ionesco... who knew that their talents transcended the page to the canvas. I am also enjoying learning about authors that I didn't recognize and then seeking our their writings. Bravo.



5. I just got this book, and it is one of the best literary compendia I have ever seen or read. I love learning more about some of my favorite writers and was surprised at how talented some were - some I never knew painted - and it was strange to see how some of the art would have been what you expect, and some wasn't. For example I am a huge Dostoyevsky fan and his drawings looked a little ragged and strange and dark like his characters. I didn't know he drew in the margins of his manuscripts. At over 400 pages I will probably spend the next 10 years taking this book down from the shelf to read the quick bio and look again at the art of a writer who comes up in conversation around our house or who I am reading...Really beautiful and inspiring book.