3 comments about Willem De Kooning: Paintings 1960-1980.

1. Book is in English and German.Good photographs with some works I had not seen before.Also a couple pictures of de Koonings studio inside and out.Includes an interview by Harold Rosenberg.Loved it, of course I am De Koonings biggest fan!



2. Great book showing the best paintings from the greatest modern painter from his greatest artistic period, the sixties and seventies. Wish I had visited the exhibition. This book is a must have for every de Kooning lover.



3. This book contains numerous illustrations of many rarely seen works from what is perhaps the seminal period of this masters work. There are numerous essays by leading scholars of de Koonings art. The design is a little heavy handed, for example the ideosyncratic typeface, but it does not get in the way of viewing the plates. The uncoated paper is a nice touch. Many other books reproduce de Koonings paintings with oversaturated colors; this one does not.

5 comments about Florence Broadhurst: Her Secret & Extraordinary Lives.

1. This book is perfect for the design fanatic- especially prints and home decor. The cover is made of a sweet fabric and seems precious. The inside features amazing color images of Florence Broadhurst's one of a kind work. There are many great wallpapers and prints that span the art deco style to modern geometrics. As a painter I found the patterns fascinating. Makes for a great gift.



2. I had heard of Florence Broadhurst but didn't know a lot about her. I read this book cover to cover (granted, it is not that thick) without putting it down, it was so interesting! I never realised the amount of scandal involved in one of Australia's greatest designers of the time. I found her life fascinating and her wallpaper designs so beautiful. I did feel that the book could have shown more designs but it was excellent as an introduction to Florence Broadhurst and her more popular wallpapers.



3. I took this book in and read it little by little.... As if it was a fiction mystery novel.... Very well written, GORGEOUS pictures of Broadhurst's work! What a character!!! Love LOVE this book! Not only the story is great, but also the pictures in it of F. Broadhurst's work are an inspiration!!!
   I have to say, before this, I had no idea who she was, now that I know and see how she has been criticized.... won't tell you why.... but will tell you this.... THAT'S WHAT ART DIRECTOR DO!!!! DIRECT!!! Those who critique her cannot also see that the woman had a vision, she was ahead of her time... and had the passion to keep this 3 step forward going!
   I want to see more of her work!!!! LOVED-IT!!!



4. A compelling story (that you can actually read, as opposed to skim) plus stunning visuals - what more could you want? Broadhurst comes across as a real character, part charlatan, part entrepreneur, and the reproductions of her designs (some of which haven't been seen since the 1960s) are comprehensive and beautiful.
   
   No mention of the book can be made without remarking on the actual physical book itself, which is a fabric-covered hardback with a belly band with spot gloss. You'll gaze at it for hours.



5. Florence Broadhurst had a great "Eye for Design".....
   ......I feel good design NEVER goes out of style!....today, yesterday and tomorrow!

No comments about Kung Fu Panda: The Furious Five.

5 comments about Karate-Do: My Way of Life.

1. A wonderful book from the man who effectively created Shotokan Karate.
   Funakoshi was a very humble man who was trained by two early Okinawan masters (Yasutsune Azato & Yasutsune Itosu). He never boasts of his acheivements and indeed claims only ever to have used his skills once, when he was quite old, to protect himself and his goods from a young thug. He regretted this act though.
   
   The book is only small, and perhaps this reflects a man who lived a very simple life. As he says "think of everyday life as Karate". Whether you are a new student nervously awaiting your first grading or a Dan grade with years of experience you should really read this book to bring a sense of perspective to your Karate.



2. This really gives a great insight into a lot of the philosophy of the master. How you take the information inside this book is up to personal opinion but whatever your opinion it is an eye opener if you wanted to know why perhaps some things are the way they are



3. This is a great book for anyone taking Shotokan Karate. This is more of an autobiography on Funakoshi. I think his life is very interesting. He tells of how he was a very sick boy but became 100 times healthier through his study of karate. This book gives his philosophy on the way he lived his life. He reminds us that everybody starts out as a beginner and the true nature of what karate really is. Anyone can learn karate, there is nothing super human about it. If you are interested in the origins of karate and how Shotokan became organized and introduced to the world, then this would be a great book for you. It's an easy read and very much enlightening.



4. Okay, this is the guy who took karate from Okinawa and demonstrated it on mainland Japan. It had previously been as secret as could be, and was practiced at night so nobody would see the training.
   
   Funakoshi worked at menial jobs in Japan to support himself while he was teaching.
   
   And his real work didn't start until he was 70. And the first dojo his students built for him was destroyed in World War II, and also many of his students. And he lost his son, a karate innovator, to tuberculosis.
   
   And he kept going.
   
   This book has value far beyond an ordinary marital arts book. This book is a story of the effect of focus and a long time horizon.
   
   Funakoshi wasn't rich. He wasn't well connected, at least when he came to Japan. He wasn't the only karate teacher in Okinawa by a long shot, and he may not have been the best.
   
   But he didn't quit. He had the same grit and refusal to stop that marks the lives of all great men (and women).
   
   Yes, he was a karate master. But he was a great deal more than that.
   
   And he should be an inspiration to everybody, including those of us who are a little older than we used to be.
   
   This book, by the way, is all text and no pictures. That doesn't make it less useful. I've re-read it five times, and I learn something useful every time.
   
   Sidenote: take a look at the book "Hidden Karate" after you read this, and the book "Shotokan's Secret".
   
   Those are interesting books that review the same historical periods, and the same body of technique, and have totally different perspectives. Hidden Karate talks about a pact to hold back the real techniques of karate from the general Japanese population. And Shotokan's Secret takes the position that a number of changes in the body of Shotokan technique were to prepare for a sort of hand to hand melee party by Okinawa's karate bodyguards and Perry's marines.
   
   If the history of karate is of interest to you, you have to read this Karate-Do: My Way of Life. You simply don't have a choice, because Funakoshi was the gateway through which karate reached the rest of the world. When he was a child, karate was essentially unknown outside of Okinawa. When he reaches the end of the book, he points out that his next project would be sending karate experts to the rest of the world to teach.
   
   It is hard to find other examples of long term planning and execution that come close to Sensei Funakoshi's life story.



5. Few know what it is like to be a martial artist to the core like Funakoshi. Whatever your discipline, passion or focus, you can find something valuable here. This text is, without a doubt, as significant as "The Book of 5 Rings" or "The Art of War." You don't have to be a martial artist to appreciate it's brillance.

5 comments about The Art of Perspective: The Ultimate Guide for Artists in Every Medium.

1. This book is incredible. I highly recommend it.
   
   The writing is detailed, clear and simple. The accompanying photographs, line drawings, sketches and paintings are numerous and clearly show what is being discussed.
   
   The discussion is comprehensive but written in a way to make the subject clear without unnecessary clutter.
   
   The author starts with "Natural Perspective" including the elements of size, spacing, tone, value, color, overlapping, placement, etc., then moves on to the rules of Linear Perspective.
   
   I have a burgeoning collection of art, drawing, sketching and painting books and this ranks at the very top.
   
   The discussion of Natural Perpective in the first several chapters is - by itself - worth the cost of the book.
   
   I can't recommend this highly enough !!!!!
   
   So many books fall far short of their promises. This one delivers.



2. Illustrates and explains the right way to draw roof angles, shadows and reflections, as well as stairs, tile floors, wheels, etc. Uses many diagrams, photographs, painting examples (watercolor & some oil), and written suggestions for different methods to try in figuring out how to draw something correctly. Briefly touches on focus, reflected light, scale, etc; some step-by-step demonstrations on drawing houses. Some prior perspective knowledge might fill in some small gaps in information (struggled through Rex Vicat Cole's Perspective for Artists, a helpful 1920s textbook-like reprint) but this book goes to great lengths to illustrate perspective in a way I can understand.



3. I am an art teacher who has spent years teaching perspective, linear and atmospheric...and I have never found a very good book until this one!!!! The Art of Perspective: The Ultimate Guide for Artists in Every Medium



4. The "Art of Perspective" is an impressive and very useful guide to achieve a convincing illusion of depth in drawings or paintings. PHIL METZGER shows outstanding talent presenting his techniques with simple and easy-to-follow explanations. With his guidance we succeed putting perspective into the picture- no matter how special our eye-position or view-point may be. And he does not leave out any complementary subject, like atmospheric perspective, light and shadow or reflected light as well as many other effects that contribute to the illusion of depth. Moreover his fine watercolor paintings stimulate us to contemplate, having adopted now the ability of showing what we see in a very convincing way.



5. I'm a school art teacher. Teaching perspective to students is always a challenge. One has to think of examples to illustrate the different kinds of perspective.Phil Metzger's book has finally help me in this aspect. There are ample examples where I can draw from to make my explanation clearer to students. His Part 3 on "Special Problems" touches on perspective of complex structures and what he has shown are very informative and valuable to me as an art teacher.

5 comments about In the Pink: Dorothy Draper--America's Most Fabulous Decorator.

1. A sensational look at the life and stratospheric career of the extraordinary Dorothy Draper. Written by her assistant who inherited the company, Carleton Varney has written about Draper's life and career like no-one else could have. Draper had such a unique style that has inspired the likes of Kelly Wearstler to this day. Unfortunately one of her most important design signatures, colour - and lots of it, is not done justice or captured accurately in the mostly black and white photos in this book. This is a great book if you are interested in the life and career of one of America's most important and charismatic decorator's, but if you are hoping for reference for her design and trademark colours then you may be disappointed.



2. This is an interesting book but the items reproduced therein are no so great. The photos of the ballrooms/hotels are great and that's where Draper was at her best - in grand spaces. It's difficult to imagine men living in these highly styled white baroque plaster rooms in more common-sized apartments with dizzy graphic prints and maneating flower motives. Still, if you like that kinda thing, find it on sale.
   
   Stylemaven



3. Like other reviewers, I was disappointed in all of the black and white photos. The content is very good but it just needed more color to really show what Draper's style was all about.



4. This is a wonderful book, full of excellent photographs and graphics, detailing the history and the flamboyant and highly sophisticated design of Dorothy Draper. The book includes treatment of her furniture, fabric designs, and public relations projects, as well as examples of her most important residential and commercial commissions. A book about great style, and a book with great style.



5. Although I found the book to be visually interesting...I was disappointed to find that the majority of the photos are in black & white, which greatly reduced the "impact" of the actual rooms being shown. I truly believe that if the original vivid colors were "inserted" (via digital / computer imagery) into the black & white pictures, this would have truly represented the decorator's original vision and consequently made for a much more visually powerful book.

5 comments about More Making Books by Hand: Exploring Miniature Books, Alternative Structures, and Found Objects.

1. This book is divided into two sections. The first one is an introduction to the techniques and materials used for bookbinding. The technique are illustrated with clear drawings to show you what to do. I don't know anything about bookbinding so I can't tell if this part of the book describes best practices, traditional techniques, or modern adaptations. I can say, however, that it was perfectly understandable and clear. The materials are all common and easy to find...though I would have liked to see more brand names mentioned, just so that I was EXTRA sure I was getting the right stuff at the store.
   
   The second part of the book contains instructions for a series of projects. Unless you are a pretty good artist, there's no way you will be able to reproduce these incredible miniature books since many of them include original artwork. But WOW, are they cool to look at! And of course you can design your own pages using stickers, clipart, cutouts, rubber stamps, or anything else.
   
   Keep in mind that when the authors say "miniature," they mean it! The projects are all very small. (The techniques section in front will help you learn how to make books of any size, though.)



2. For a beginner, I found everything I needed in this book, from materials to step-by-step instructions. Very easy to follow.



3. EXCELLENT illustrations! This book not only provides excellent ideas, it also CLEARLY shows you how to execute the techniques necessary to complete the project! Excellent reference book for anyone who wants to create their own professional looking books!



4. I was looking for a book with good instructions, nice photos, and interesting projects. This book definitely fits that description. I am loving using the sample projects as a catalyst for my own creative ideas & the authors made it easy with the detailed information provided.



5. I was disappointed. I guess I had higher expectations for this book because I flipped through it @ a bookstore and thought it had potential. And while, yes, the instructions are clear and detailed, I thought that it would have a lot more ideas but it basically just repeated the same boring accordion-styled book over and over.

5 comments about Art Making, Collections, and Obsessions: An Intimate Exploration of the Mixed-Media Work and Collections of 35 Artists.

1. I recently stated that I shouldn't buy any book without "Look Inside." I did and everyting is beautiful. The description is not deceptive but if you are looking for directions for projects, which I thought would be included but I didn't read closely, you will be disappointed. Perhaps I shouldn't rate the book so low because it is beautiful but I just didn't want another book by all of the greats reflecting. If you love to read reflections you should scoop up this book.



2. I have always loved the work of Lynne Perrella, but she has outshone even herself by compiling this book of artists from the same ilk as herself.
   Being a compulsive collecter and an artist myself, this book was irrestible and to see what other artists collect is both engaging and delicious at the same time!
   Congratulations to Lynne Perrella for this wonderful book. I have already researched several of the artists listed and to see their websites unfold is truly a delight...thanks!



3. Great pictures, just the kind of eclectic stuff I love. The written part seems entirely superfluous--actually, I read every word and all were apt, it's just that I bought the book for the visuals and that's what I remember and go back to and wish there were even many many more of.



4. I found this book to be an emotional book. Although this isn't the type of art I enjoy, I am drawn to look thru it from time to time and usually am stimulated to get going on a project or get something brewing in my brain. You will either love or hate this book. I guess I love it because of what it produces...go figure.



5. This is beautifully done and inspirational - the artists featured are wonderful and the information is interesting - I recommend this book for those who love objects and the world of mixed media design. Kartika

5 comments about Babar's Museum of Art.

1. Buyer beware -- these note cards fold to 3"x5".



2. This is a review for the note cards. They are beautiful. The whimsical images lifted from the book are printed on decent/usable cardstock, and are definitely fine but the envelopes are much, much higher quality than you normally see in a product like this. The box itself is wonderful and will be something you keep long after the cards are all gone.



3. My 4 year old granddaughter loves the book. I enjoyed seeing many famous works of art converted to elephant-views of the world -- a refreshing reframing of the familiar. All ages can benefit from this.



4. The story and illustrations are top-notch. This book is an excellent tool for children learning to appreciate art and artists. Every child should own a copy of this book!



5. It's beautiful and teaches kids (and parents) how to appreciate art in a simple way. Lifelong lesson that demystifies art. Love it. It engaged my son since he was 3 and he's 4 and still loves it.

1 comments about On Reading.

1. It is enough to say that this book is by Andre' Kerte'sz which means the one who purchases it will not regret it.