4 comments about Fine Art Scratch and Sketch: A Cool Art Activity Book for Budding Fine Artists of All Ages (Activity Books).

1. Buy this for any budding artist - teaches them about classic art and self expression!



2. The entire series of these scratch and sketch books provide hours of fun and quiet! They are ideal for restaurant waits and anywhere that requires well behaved, engaged children.



3. Hi,
   We bought this for our grandaughter and she loved them along w/hidden pictures books .



4. My third grader loves to draw and her art teacher was thrilled to see her interpretations of fine art through the Scratch n' Sketch books.

5 comments about Dulcie's Taste of Magic (Disney Fairies Chapter Books).

1. My daughter loves the series. It is light-hearted and always has a lesson to learn when the last chapter is finished.



2. We own all of this series! Started reading them when my daughter was 4 (she just turned 5 now), and they are age appropriate. Not too scary and always a happy ending. One book only takes us about 4-5 nights worth of reading together. The longer ones are good too "Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg" and "Fairy Haven and the Quest for the Wand", but they are a little bit scarrier than the short books (more appropriate for ages 5-7 I would think).



3. I have purchased and read almost all of these books with my two girls (6 & 4). We read a chapter a night and the girls can not wait to read the next chapter. We started with The Trouble with Tink and now have one left. Beck and the Great Berry Battle. The stories are well thought out and feature the fairies from the previous books. After each Chapter we talk about what could happen in the next chapter. My six year old sometimes reads the chapters ahead of time becauses she can't wait to find out what happens. All in all a wonderful story that is appropriate for the younger crowd.



4. I was rather disappointed in this story which I know is not the common viewpoint. My 6 year old is reading this story to me and she has pointed out each instance that Dulcie lies or steals to make her magic recipe. This is all true. She does tell fibs when other fairies ask her what she is doing and she does steal the ingredients and takes advantage of other fairies' hard work. My 6 year old even made the comment that she doesn't think the magic should work for someone who lies and steals. It may teach better lessons, I am just sharing the viewpoint of a 6 year old.



5. We have been devouring these books since beginning of this year. We read a chapter a night, and have gotten through every single book, with just two remaining and I'm now wondering what can follow these beautifully written and captivating books. My daughter is 4 and I'm always trying to gently guide her to the next level in attention span and had NO problem with these books. I thought it may be a challenge since not every page has an illustration but she hangs on every word. The exchanges between fairies is light and easy to comprehend, the story lines are whimsical and fun, and adventure highlights every book. The vocabulary is very robust, my daughter's imagination and dramatic play has blossomed to a new level since we started reading these books!!! We can't say enough about these well written, well crafted, excellent story-time- read aloud books. I will be at a loss when I finish them, and I welcome any suggestions for a great follow up series.

5 comments about Gerhard Richter: Forty Years of Painting.

1. Gerhard Richter is one of the finest Pop artists of the 20th century. ("Pop" because he is highly non-ideological, even depicting ideological subjects in a completely neutral fashion. His works are plain-old nice to look at.) This book is a beautiful representation of his work, chock-full of his painting, from his earliest works to his most recent, printed nicely in full color. It is specifically the catalog for the exhibit of his works at MOMA in early 2002 (which this reviewer attended, with great delight), but the exhibition was so broad, with a wide range of paintings across Richter's full career, the number of paintings in this book is satisfyingly broad.

   Richter has dabbled in many styles, and continues to produce works to this day, but most often works with abstraction or semi-abstraction. His sense of color is wonderful, and his sense of vision is superb, by which I mean his paintings force you to stop and stare for long periods of time. Many of his paintings are like photographs taken just slightly out of focus. (He uses a projector, but modifies the image just enough to make you know a human did the work.) Their beauty truly makes you look long at them, and their skill makes you wonder how a person can achieve such subtle effects of lighting in painted oil on canvas.

   This book also contains good explanations of Richter's work, but these can become tiresome at times. The worst is that the reviews and the plates are not indexed very well, so it is frustratingly difficult to find a given work, either in the list of plates, or in the various texts. This is a major disappointment, but never mind. The reason to purchase this book is the art. The text is explanatory enough to teach the reader about Richter's career and work, and serves its purpose well enough.

   It is not clear whether the reader unfamiliar with Richter's work, or who has not seen it in person, can enjoy this book on its own merit, but for the reader even slightly aware or curious of Richter's career, this is a welcome volume for the library.




2. A lot of words been written lately about the �unexpected revival of painting� fueled by the current Gerhardt Richter painting retrospective captured in this book. It seems, according to some influential art scribes writing in the trail of this traveling exhibition, that the much heralded demise of painting, much like Mark Twain�s death, has been greatly exaggerated. Showcasing about 120 works over a 40-year period, this book is one of the most comprehensive retrospectives ever mounted about a contemporary painter in recent memory, and that by itself is a strong enough reason to buy it. However, it is what has been proven by Richter�s career and accomplishments, and unexpected stature in the art world (Sotheby�s recently dubbed him the �most influential living artist in the world�) and now driven home here, that makes this a-once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn some lessons about the contemporary art world. You see, Richter doesn�t fit the formula for success that many art curators and influential critics and other art powers-that-be have carefully crafted in the rarified atmospheres of the upper crusts of the art world. In fact, Richter breaks every �rule� that often starts being pressed upon 18-year old art students and then is hammered home in reviews and lectures by many contemporary art critics and curators. Rules like �you better have your own recognizable style!� or �only new is good� and the oddest rule of all: �painting is dead!� But Richter is not only a painter in an era forced to focus on video artists, performance stars and PhotoShop wonders, but also Richter wanders from style to style with an ease and speed that makes this book a lesson on half a dozen art movements of the last century beautifully continued onto the current one. Thumb through the pages here and you�ll soon discover that Richter is as much as ease with photorealism � some ultra sharp and some foggy in detail -- as he is with pure abstraction and with romantic paintings of pretty clouds and scenic waterfalls. This is an artist who is not just happy with thumbing his nose at the well-enforced rule that a good artist has to have a clearly identifiable style and do something �new�, but who also seems intent on destroying the other forced formulas of the modern art world: he copies other artists� works, works directly from photographs, blah, blah, blah � all sins that would make all my art professors and most art critics sigh in disgust. But above all, Richter paints, and he paints in a time when painting has been dismissed as �ailing� and �ancient.� New is good, technology is good� painting is dead.� Why does Richter paint? Doesn�t he get it? NOPE!! It�s because it is all about painting! And managing to make fools of critics who forget that their job is to follow the artist � not to lead the arts. What those who consider painting an �ailing� form will never understand (mostly because they are not painters), is that Richter can�t and won�t stop painting, because through his veins runs the same intoxicating venom that fueled their ancestral kin in the caves of Altamira and which will continue to drive painters long after today�s critics and curators are forgotten dust. This book shouts: Art does not have to be �new� to be good, and technology is not the only venue to deliver great new contemporary art - it also continues to prove that painting will never die.



3. Richter's work is presently on display at the High Museum in Atlanta. My husband and I enjoyed the pieces displayed there and through the museum located this book. The representations are accurate. The work itself is arresting and the colors are magnificent. In the book the artist discusses his technique and educates the reader. The book is now a permanent addition to our book shelf as both a tool for my artist husband and as a book of gorgeous, stunning paintings for both of us to enjoy.



4. Great book.
   If you like Richter you will love this book.
   Well written and the images are fantastic.
   Must have for any art library.



5. Unbelievable book. Wonderful reproductions of the brilliant Gerhard Richter's work and wonderful words by the brilliant Robert Storr. The interview in the back between the two is my favorite. This is the definitive book on Gerhard Richter. I would recommend it to anyone. This book generally retails in museum stores for $85, by the way.

5 comments about 500 Figures in Clay: Ceramic Artists Celebrate the Human Form (A Lark Ceramics Book).

1. I am thrilled to own this book. I review it regularly for inspiration and ideas for glazes and forms.



2. without being able to review the illustrations in the book, I was unable to make good use of the models for my beginning sculpting projects. The cover picture seemed somewhat simple, but the many complex figures contained in the book were too difficult to be models for my limited ability.



3. I've been wanting to get into ceramics for a while and this book was just the thing to get my creative juices flowing. It has many (500 actually) beautiful pieces to admire, with such a wide selection of styles. I love that it has a both beautiful and grotesque figures revealing so many artistic view points. It's definitely not a "how to" book, with just enough info to get a basic idea of how each piece was created but the beautiful photographs and wide variety of sculptures makes it well worth purchasing.



4. I love this series from Lark! It provides me with lots of inspiration and it is a wonderful tool to learn new artists and their work. I have almost the whole series!



5. This is one of the Lark Books on ceramics that I will return to over and over. The book covers such a wide range of possibilities. The selections are fresh and evocative. The photography is artful. I guess, since I am a human being, one of my favorite subjects is the human body. I am endlessly fascinated with how expressive and analytic these figure studies are.

5 comments about Moving On: The Art of Steve Hanks.

1. This is an absolutely fabulous collection of works produced by Steve Hanks. The artwork is beautiful and the written excerpts provide insight into the artist's life and inspirations for the pieces.



2. I am jealous. Admit I love the artist; I've purchased several dozen of his works. But,I don't want you to ever own his books or his paintings; let me explain. As our children were young, I would surprise my wife each year with one of Steve Hanks' paintings. It was the last present opened at Christmas. The children would always watch in anticipation to see my wife cry as the wrapping would unveil the lastest painting. It is probably the most profound gift I've ever given - or gotten. Each year I would mount the latest painting; our bedroom walls have nothing but Hanks' works. It is said that sharing is the most precious gift we gift to each other. I, on the other hand, don't want to share Steve Hanks. You have given my wife a lifetime of memories, as have you have given my children treasure in the world of art. Don't buy this book; I want all of the copies. Mound them on the floor; stack them to the ceiling. But don't buy the book. In fact, buy any other book "but" this one. I'm begging you! Hanks is certainly worthy as an American treasure - a Michelangelo, a Raphael, a Cezanne. So please, don't buy the book!



3. Everything I thought it would be. Great book. I would recomend it to a friend.



4. I greatly enjoyed Steve Hanks' first book. This second book continues in the Steve Hanks' tradition. He has a wonderful way of expressing the beautiful things in our world, it's people, with a suffusion of clarity and light. His work continues to entrance me, and I find myself gazing at his many prints that I have in my home.
   
   This latest book always draws favorable comments from those that have viewed it. It makes a great coffee table book. I have yet to have a friend pick it up, then put it down. They all become deep in thought, with a smile on their face, as they slowly work their way through this masterpiece.



5. My wife won't let me hang his prints all over the house so this is the next best thing. His art is magnificent. The nudes are exceptionaly sensual, yet tasteful and all his works inspire. This was just what I hoped it would be and I cherish it.

5 comments about Business and Legal Forms for Graphic Designers (3rd Edition).

1. This book has EVERYTHING you need ... and then some. When you think you're not going to need one of the forms in this book, you later realize that YOU DO! As a freelance artist, using these forms made me feel as though clients noticed that they were dealing with a real professional. Absolutely a great investment.



2. Our small graphic design firm had been relying on the legal forms and contracts from this book for about one year. Finally, we decided that perhaps we ought to visit with a lawyer to make sure we were doing it right...$560.00 later for an initial consultation, we realized that this $29.95 book was the best business investment we'd ever made! The lawyer confirmed that the contracts that we had been using were airtight and were great (he had a few other pointers...but, none worth $560.00).

   We have had many comments from our clients that over all the creative teams they'd worked with over the years, our design firm had surpassed them all in business professionalism. If you are serious about running a firm, or just want to protect yourself, you really can't go wrong with this book! Such a small investment for such a large return!




3. In starting out and gathering information it's hard to determine what books will be helpful. This is great. It is filled with tear out forms you can make copies of and use over and over. Great information. And the CD-ROM includes all the forms in pdf format, as well as Pagemaker and Quark XPress so that you can make changes to fonts and style, logo additions, and more, to suit your own home business. Files are compatible with Mac and IBMC platform, which is great for me being a designer working mostly on an IBM computer. Excellent book!



4. I have only serious clients who are willing to pay me because I take a contract to our first meeting and make them sign it. These contracts will protect you and your clients! They are worded with the legal stuff but easy to understand. He even explains what it all means. It even has a CD so you can pop it in your computer right before your meeting (as I have done) and print a contract.



5. First off, I have to say this book is absolutely perfect for all first-time freelance graphic designers. My business partner and I recently started our own design agency at [...] and didn't have a clue about where to get our hands on the legal forms needed. We were referred to this book from another source. And since my partner's father-in-law is a lawyer, we decided to let him take a look at it to see what he thought. He said everything was solid. He couldn't find any holes on any of the forms inside. So after making a few small changes to custom fit our business, we were set. I can honestly say this book should be on the shelf of every aspiring freelance graphic designer. I highly recommend it.

5 comments about H. R. Giger's Necronomicon.

1. Great work of art! Truly unique. Any fan of Giger should get their hands on this quality compilation.



2. If you have ever marveled at the artistry behind the beast from "Alien," then you would love this book. The look and feel of the world comes from this Swiss artist, who has this book to help explain his work.
   
   There is no way to get totally into the mind of the artist. The wealth of elements would require a psychoanalyst. For many of his works, the artist provides some commentary about his background, which gives you some idea of what influenced him. Further, some photos are included of his life, and these will also show the viewer what helped shape the ideas in his work.
   
   Included are some of his more popular works, but you will not find the alien from the movie (although you will find sketches for House Harkonnen from Dune).
   
   If you are a science fiction or horror fan who is thinking of learning more about art and the artist behind the work, then this would make a fine coffee table addition.



3. Giger please release a new book of your artwork one of these centuries. I've been living off these same books since high school!



4. I just found out that the so-called "signature" inside the book is actually printed, and not even Giger's at all. What a disgrace. The store owner actually believed it was signed, and so he mis-led me into buying it for that reason. What a sick marketing stunt. I wouldn't buy this guys books to use for toilet paper. Like the other reviewer says, why is it the same junk recycled over and over. Just desperate drug infested marketing tactics, that's all. That's what you are paying for if you buy this garbage.



5. My boyfriend is a huge HR Giger fan, so for christmas i purchased this book as a surprise present. He was very happy with it, which made me happy :)

4 comments about Self Portrait in a Velvet Dress: The Fashion of Frida Kahlo.

1. Apparently in 1954, the year Frida passed away, Diego Rivera had her dressing room and bathroom at the Casa Azul locked, with the stipulation that it could be opened 50 years later. In 2004 the day came to unlock the room, and discover its contents. This book explores those contents, which included many of Fridas clothes, hair ribbons, medical devices, linens, etc. Its an amazing archeological discovery of sorts. A time capsule that reveals much about the day to day life of what has become one of the most influential women artists in history. Lavish color photographs of her clothing, paired with photos and paintings in which they appear; a treasure for those passionate about the life, art and fashion of Frida Kahlo. Really destined to become a personal favorite.



2. Magnífica obra que muestra con fotografías y lúcidos textos las obsesiones de una de las artistas más importantes del s. XX Frida Kahlo, quien a pesar de su atormentada vida supo con el color y la gracia de su indumentaria legarnos una alegría y pasión por la vida admirables. En las notables fotografías del fotógrafo Pablo Aguinaco descubrimos la inusitada faceta de una artista excepcional. Las imágenes logradas con un gusto y acierto exquisito, nos conducen por la Casa Azul, morada de Frida y despliegan colores, texturas y luces, para todos aquellos interesados en esta gran artista.



3. Self Portrait in a Velvet Dress: The Fashion of Frida Kahlo
   
   This book is fill with bright colors and amazing details of Frida's wardrobe. The book not only shows and describes the clothing, shoes, jewelry that Frida wore, it also shows rooms of her home which give one a look into her life. By reading and viewing this book, a part of Frida's life is revealed like it has never been done before. I give this book, five stars out of five.



4. This is a great book for anyone interested in the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Her muralist husband Diego Rivera had Kahlo's bedroom sealed immediately on her death and requested that the room not be opened for fifty years. Their house became a museum devoted to Kahlo and the curator honoured Rivera's wishes and the room was left sealed for the full fifty years. At the end of that time it was decided that the clothing and other things inside the room should be rescued and preserved and the room was opened. The story that follows is fascinating as the people that did the restoration tell their stories of what they found and the feelings they had on being the first to enter and see the clothing that became Kahlo's trademark look.
   The photos are lovely and were shot on site at Kahlo's house. Photos of Kahlo in the garments are also included as well as descriptions of where the pieces would have come from in Mexico and what they are made of. This is an interesting read for fans of Kahlo and Rivera, anyone interested in the clothing of Mexico, and those who enjoy reading how a bit of history was preserved. It also gives a very personal view and insight of the life of a great artist. I can't recommend this one enough! It's my favourite book in my Frida Kahlo collection.

5 comments about Compositing Visual Effects: Essentials for the Aspiring Artist.

1. I had originally wanted to get Steve Wright's other book, Digital Compositing for Film and Video, Second Edition, but read another review of this book make mention that it is geared more towards a beginner. At first, I thought this to be what I needed and when I got the book and scanned through it, it just seemed like an overview of the variety regarding compositing. I was a bit disappointed, until I started to peruse through more thoroughly.
   
   What I liked (and am liking) is that it is geared towards more of a primer in the sense of the fundamental operations involved in digital compositing. And ironically, it was also what I did not like. I expected to have a more thorough or at least a methodical approach (not necessarily step-by-step) towards teaching basic compositing principles. That is what the aforementioned book describes. (And I say this based on the Table of Contents.)
   
   So, I give a 5-star review to let people know that if they want to get a handle on "essential" concepts, that is easy to understand and comprehend, then get this book. Even if you have no interest in making movies or working in a VFX field, this will be a fun read to see the tricks the pros build upon to create some truly imaginative results. However, if you know what bluescreen compositing is, multi-plane compositing, premultiplication, etc., then this book might be redundant for you.
   
   Once I'm done with this book, though, I'll be moving onto his other text and will be better prepared to absorb more detailed techniques.



2. This book is valuable because it gives the reader a solid foundation in a straightforward and fun way. I read slowly and it still felt like a quick read. Readers with a background in motion graphics (for example Flash or After Effects artists) who don't think of themselves as "compositors" will probably take away much that can improve the quality of their work. The author does a particularly good job at explaining the structure and attributes of digital images. The writing is precise and well edited. From learning the basics of color correction, to gaining a working knowledge of video and film workflows, the book delivers. It comes across as an industry veteran who likes what he does, giving "Aspiring Artists" a simple and strong foundation. Well done!



3. Great book for anyone who wants to get an understanding of Visual Effects.
   Steve Wright's book explains a lot of techniques that are used on many films today.



4. All I can say is that my project fees have tripled by adding motion graphics and using an ipod Touch to show clients the completed video segments to seal the deal and get a check in hand for such profesionalism.



5. Like a lot of people getting into visual effects, compositing, motion graphics and the like, I'm self-taught. Plenty of books and tutorials and trial and error, but no formal instruction. This book serves as a formal resource to help fill in the gaps of your own self-education.
   
   "Compositing Visual Effects" is definitely as beginners book, covering the absolute basics of electronic imaging. Things like frame rates, aspect ratios, bit depths, film formats and elementary compositing techniques. Topics you may have a working knowledge of, but don't know the finer points of it all. Wright explains everything at the most basic level, giving us a more solid foundation to build upon.
   
   I can personally say now that knowing the actual math that goes into a certain blending mode is much more helpful than just trying them all out and guessing at which one I should use.
   
   Wright also takes us through some of the basic tasks a compositor faces (dust removal, color correction, etc...) and overviews the steps and thought process to take to accomplish them.
   
   Again, "Compositing Visual Effects" is beginners book, although a very thorough one. After reading this book, I can't say I know all that much more than I did before. But I am sure that now I know it all better.

5 comments about Lanvin.

1. THIS BOOK IS WELL RESEARCHED HOWEVER COMPARED TO SOME OF THE OTHER SIMULAR BOOKS I WAS A BIT DISAPOINTED IN IT. IT NEVER TOLD OF CASTILLO AND MYRL LANVIN ETC.



2. This book makes the hair on the nape of my neck stand up. The research, the photographs, the interviews, the sketches - it's a masterpiece. If you don't have this book, run out and buy it.



3. PRETTY can have a negative connotation....but NOT here. Truly PRETTY PRETTY illustrations and clothes. Lanvin clearly very different from the other greats. Her clothes are,well, dare I say PRETTY in the very best sense. Lots of pics and a real delight to see her work in depth. I can't speak to the text because I buy books for the pics. Also, very little on the current designer. Almost all the book on the original Lanvin...which is to my liking. I must say some of the 'new guys' stuff is fun too though.



4. Such an inspiring book. I just love the history and the detail.
   lovely...



5. this book though it is a well prepared and has many beautiful and colourful photos yet it didn't reach my interests and expectations.few designs were introduced.most of them are simple and have no kind of attractiveness.