No comments about Cape Dorset Sculpture.

1 comments about Giambologna.

1. Having attended the Florida State University Study Program "a Firenze" from June to December 1976 and having returned nearly ten times since, Giambologna became one of my favorite Renaissance-Mannerist-Baroque sculptors. This book very well summarizes his life and works. Please enjoy learning more about Giambologna!

No comments about The Light Artist Anthology: Neon and Related Media.

2 comments about Rookwood Pottery: The Glaze Lines/With Value Guide (A Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. This book is a very good reference for Rookwood enthusiasts. I bought one, then bought another to give to a friend. Highly recommended.



2. This is THE book to get if you are just learning about rookwood, but if you are searching for a price guide, That is this books only weak point. I was able to meet Anita J. Ellis in person, and even then, she dosen't like to put a price on it.

2 comments about Michelangelo: Sculptor.

1. I actually bought two copies of this book; one for myself and one for my teenage cousin who is a budding sculptor.
   
   Needless to say we were both immensely pleased.
   
   Its not a "text-heavy" book but it does contain enough information to make you feel informed. The quality of the images is spectacular and the details of the iconic and slightly lesser known sculptures have really helped him develop his technique.
   
   Whether for educational application or casual perusal this book excels.



2. Don't let the price deceive, this is one of the best books of photographic reproductions available documenting M's sculpture. I originally purchased this in 2000 when I was in Rome, and I couldn't find it anywhere else. I wanted to give some copies to friends, and I had to order then from Italy, but now anyone can have this book; and you should buy it. Enclosed are beautiful, full page prints, and many macros from interesting angles; so close you can see the chisel marks! The works photographed:
   
   Battle of Centaurs
   Madonna of the Steps
   Bacchus
   La Pieta
   David
   Bruges Madonna
   St. Matthew
   Moses
   The figures of the Medici Chapel
   Slaves and captives
   Brutus
   Palestrina Pieta
   Rondanini Pieta

No comments about Cildo Meireles (Contemporary Artists).

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 The Art of the Picts: Sculpture and Metalwork in Early Medieval Scotland.

1. The book is well illustrated, yet the text is constantly cross referring to other items, some of which are in the book, pages away, and some of which are not in the book at all. This can be frustrating when you would like to do the comparisons to understand the point the author is making. Also, please be forewarned that this is written from an art history perspective, not so much from an historical or archaeological perspective. To me, the book would have benefitted from text which blended these disciplines a little better. Perhaps the authors presupposed that readers would already be familiar with the other disciplines, and therefore just concentrated on art history. Still, if you love Pictish art, this book is probably a a must-have.



2. HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION. A fine presentation of Pictish studies from an art-history perspective. It includes a superb collection of 300 b/w photographs of Pictish jewelry and sculpture. Extensively footnoted and thoughtfully argued, it's a great resource. Some crucial monuments are depicted without the glass enclosures that now obstruct them. It's a great asset to have these clear images.

   If you're new to Pictish studies, many of the references and concepts may not be meaningful -- but the photos alone are worth the cost of the book.

   Quibbles: (1) The photographs aren't individually credited, (2) None of the photos are in color, and (3) The stated locations of some monuments don't identify their current placements. (I'm writing this within a few months of publication, so it's not that they've moved since then.)

   But don't pass up this book for these paltry reasons. I plan to lose myself in it for quite some time.

2 comments about Modeling with Polymer Clay (Artist's Library series #33).

1. I first got this book out of the library and now that I've read it, I'm going to buy it. The book demonstrates a cartoonish but not cutesy style of sculpting. I've always wondered how to make that style of eyes and brows and it showed me exactly. Might not be the best book for someone who has never touched clay before but definitely worth reading for anyone with even a little experience.



2. I recently discoverd this book by David Kracov and had to purchase it to see how close I could come to duplicating his sculpting technique. So far I am very happy with the results, and considering the fact that he uses a clay that I have not used in the past, I consider this a good selling point for his book. I would not recommend this book for someone just getting into clay sculpting as he leaves out some vital information (or so I believe) and some of his instructions are very vague. But if you've learned the basics of sculpting characters from another source or are a natural artist, I think you should be able to glean some very useful design concepts from this book. Mr. Kracov is very talented and I hope he publishes another book soon. I will be watching and waiting for one.

1 comments about Antique Garden Ornament.

1. At long last, an authoritative book on garden ornament in America! Barbara Israel delivers a beautiful tome with scholarly punch in her Antique Garden Ornament: Two Centuries of American Taste. Many books exist on gardens and landscape history, but none addresses the issue of the statues, fountains, and furniture used within them with such depth and clarity as Ms. Israel. In addition to the chapters themselves, the catalogue of objects in the back of the book and the list of makers provide a greatly needed reference for this growing field. I highly recommend this book.