2 comments about Fantastic Book of Canes, Pipes and Walking Sticks: A Sketch Book of Designs for Collectors, Woodcarvers and Artists.

1. The carving drawings are ugly and demon-like. If you dig the bizarre, then this is the book for you!



2. This is an excellent collection of cane and pipe designs! The designs are quite imaginative. While some are impractical, most make very good walking sticks. This is not a book for neophyte cane makers, but a great addition to your shop library

No comments about Jacques Lipchitz: The First Cubist Sculptor.

No comments about The Craftsman Revealed: Adrien De Vries, Scupltor in Bronze.

4 comments about Sandy Skoglund.

1. Sandy Skoglund is a creative genius! This book greatly illustrates her artistic aesthetic to intertwine the mediums of both photography and instillation art. She is like a magician in the images she creates. Through her illusions of fabricated rooms, repetition of objects, placement of people limitation and exploration of selective colors, and great attention to detail, Skoglund is showcased well in this hardcover-bound book.
   
   Pink bubble gum, red foxes, and yellow fish invade their own rooms. Her images seem chaotic yet serine-quite frozen in time and yet a feeling of movement is present. The book explores her earlier series to the more recent, which she explores even further to the outdoors. With large, colorful images, "Sandy Skoglund" by Linda Muehlig is a great source of inspiration and a great addition to art and photography book collectors!



2. I'm glad I bought this book because it gives me an Idea of the kind of person Skoglund is, and interesting information on her work as well as many works I have never seen before. However, I was dissapointed by the image quality in that the pictures were very dark and the color-depth was off. I have several postcards with Skoglund's photography on them, and they knock the socks off the picture quality in the book. Maybe in a few years another book will be made.



3. Being an untrained creative person and artist, I thrive on drinking in the arts whenever I can. I took my 12 year old daughter Jessica to Sandy's lecture and opening night of her display show in Omaha, Nebraska. It can be difficult to find such inspiration at this level in the midwest. It is just not at our fingertips as in the case of those who live on the east and west coast.

   Being new to the midwest from Southern California, I was thrilled when we joined Joslyn Art Museum and our first invitation was to Sandy's lecture and to view her collection. My daughter was so inspired she wanted to use her hard earned money to buy Sandy's book but time and again the book sold out at the museum bookstore. Finally I decided to add the book to her Christmas list and surprise her with it Christmas morning. I am so thrilled to finally find it here on Amazon.com and at such a reasonable price. We are so looking forward to Christmas morning and the joy she will feel when she opens this gift. She is so artistic and creative. We want to nurture this in her, she will go far with her talent. Sandy's wonderful, colorful, inspiring work in this book will be so perfect. The book truly does her work justice, in showing her work and the process she goes through in creating it.




4. What creativity and imagination! Sandy Skoglund (who went to school in my home town) has put together one of the most intriguing collections of photographs I've ever seen. Her pictures are so surreal and complicated it's almost impossible to describe them. Her use of sculptures, patterns and colors create whole worlds that are captured on film. Accompanying these pictures are several informative essays that delve into the mind of the artist and into the work that goes into her art. I hope others find out about this immensely talented woman so she receives the attention she deserves. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has a healthy imagination and a love of the surreal.

No comments about Pottery: Modern Wares, 1920-1960 (A Schiffer Book for Collectors).

No comments about THE Neumann:the Archetypal World of Henry Moore (Paper) (Bollingen series).

2 comments about Georg Keilhofer's Traditional Carving: Basic Relief Carving (A Schiffer Book for Woodcarvers).

1. This book is very limited - it only has two projects in it: a letter carving project, and a relief of oak leaves (shown on the cover). It does have step-by-step color pictures, however. If you've never done any carving this might be of use - although carving is best learned by direct instruction by an experienced carver.
   
   If you're an experienced carver looking for some additional projects/patterns, this book is not of much use.
   
   Just a note to beginners - he describes the Sheffield system of carving tool numbering and does not mention that the Swiss system exists or that it's the more popular system.



2. I bought this book for my husband and it was a big hit. He's made two different relief carvings now and is working on designing more. I'd highly recommend it.

No comments about Michelangelo: A Psychoanalytic Study of His Life and Images.

3 comments about Creation Out of Clay: The Ceramic Art and Writings of Brother Thomas.

1. Brother Thomas' is a beautiful work of inspiration. While he makes pots, he also writes of his philosophy, partly based in his faith, partly based in his talents for creation. His works are subtle, masterful, and demonstrate a love of clay. Lavishly illustrated, this work has been an inspiration for me. I find myself reaching for my sketchbook and pencil as I am turning the pages.
   
   This is not so much a "technique" book as it is a "this is how I make pots." But, it's a wonderful source of inspiration and ideas. I recommend this one to everyone who is in any way interested in the art and craft of pottery.



2. Brother Thomas Bezanson ,originally from Nova Scotia, is one of the great potters working in cermaics today. His work is notable in its use of color, resembling texture and color used in both China and Japan. He works in porcelin,and now lives and works in Erie, Pa.,not a noted hotbed of the arts. He was formely assocaited with the celebrated Monks of Weston Priory in Vermont. His work is easily accesible, and is on display in the Boston museum,among other places. This book, with its luxurious photos show the depth of the color that Brother Thomas achieves,the deep blends that have become his signature .Tea bowls, plates,vases all are lovingly illustated in beautiful full 4 color photographs.In this volume,he shows his deep indebtedness to the japanese and chinese artist who have preceeded him.Also his story is told along with his progress as an artist, and one can see, as a man. This is a beautiful book,lavishly illustarted which tells Br Thomas history along with the history of the pieces. Excellent, worth the cost and effort.



3. I found this book very enjoyable and uplifting. The writings of Brother Thomas and the photographs of his art work are exceptional. This is a book I recommend to any artist or anyone who enjoys man at his creative best.

5 comments about Foundations in Polymer Clay Design.

1. I was disapointed by this book. The cover is great and drew me to buy it but the contents is a bit all over the place and I'm not sure what the purpose of the book is. There aren't really any projects and the design foundation information is a bit hard to follow. I must admit that I haven't picked it up again since looking at it the first time.



2. This introduction to design principles for artists working in polymer clay is a useful book, and I learned a lot from it. McGuire discusses the elements of design, including value, color, form, shape, line, space and texture, and addresses more briefly design principles like balance, pattern, rhythm, emphasis, and unity. McGuire follows each section of the book with an exercise designed to allow the reader to experiment with the element or principle being discussed, and illustrates each section with excellent photographs of polymer clay art that uses that element or principle particularly effectively. Between the exercises and the photographs, I was able, as a design newbie, to gain some understanding of McGuire's topics. However, McGuire's writing is so muddy and vague that I learned almost nothing from the text itself. Indeed, some of the paragraphs--especially those defining the key concepts--were so unclear and confusing that I was completely unable to discern what McGuire was talking about. The editor of this book really fell down on the job!
   
   So, while this book did help me get started thinking about the elements and principles of design, I will have to turn to other authors to gain a richer understanding of these ideas.



3. This has some of the most wonderful artists. And good examples of their work. Just lovely a favorite.



4. Barbara McGuire's Foundations in Polymer Clay Design is a must have for every polymer clay artist. It has exceptional information to enhance one's design knowledge and how to apply this knowledge to polymer clay artwork. The photos are stunning and best of all, show evidence of today's talented pc artists. Barbara's examples of each design concept and how they apply to working in polymer clay are valuable to the serious artist.

   This book has several wonderful easy-to-try projects that demonstrate the chapter's concept. These lessons help to satisfy the reader who is looking for practice, but may not be 'enough' for the person who is simply looking for a book of how-to projects.

   McGuire's book will remain an excellent reference for the artist and one where new lessons can be learned each time the book is taken off the shelf to reread. Five Stars!!!!




5. Barbara E.McGuire's 'Foundations in Polymer Clay Design' is a great addition to both a beginner's and a more advanced artist's library, however, note that it is not a project book. The technical aspects of the clay are briefly discussed in the first chapter. The rest of the book focuses on the aspects and elements of design. Invaluable discussions on color, line, form, movement, etc., are contained within its chapters; as well as a stunning array of polymer clay artwork captured in beautifully executed photograpy.

   While you will find plenty of inspiration gazing at the gallery of work in 'Foundations', you'll find little if any discussion of the techniques used in making them. The information offered is to be used as a guideline for refining your own unique style.

   Working in polymer clay is more rewarding now that I've read (and reread) this book; it has served as a muse and a mentor. My work is more professional, more diverse and visually pleasing; my practice far more organized. The absense of step-by-step instruction does not limit the reader but helps them to expand by calling upon them to apply what they have learned to their own ideas.

   This title is a perfect complement to Donna Kato's 'The Art of Polymer Clay', which is overflowing with technical instruction made beginner-friendly. I highly recommend a newcomer to the medium purchase both titles.