5 comments about The Story of Art: Pocket Edition.

1. This is a beautiful book with comprehensive text. It is written in common English that anyone should understand. I already have a copy I received as a gift and bought this copy for my grandaughter who will enter college this year to study Art History.



2. That may sound a bit strange, but this is a great book to take on the plane or train with you -- or even to the beach.
   
   It is a compact volume (though about 1 1/2 inches thick). Because of this compact format the text is in front (thin paper) with the plates in back. Phaidon provides two ribbon bookmarks. That also means that it is easiest to read using both hands.
   
   That said, Gombrich leads the reader along with a style somewhere between a conversation and a lecture -- more like what you might expect from a learned uncle or family friend. Pleasant delivery, but leaving you no doubts about the value of the information that is to be passed along.
   
   There may even be an advantage to having the plates in the back. I found myself dwelling on them perhaps a little longer than if they had been in with the text -- and the text calling for my attention.
   
   You can read this book in long sessions, or in little bits. It doesn't matter, because the information is always there, and in the case of this book, the journey itself is important.
   
   Enjoy.



3. An excellent book in an easy to read formatt. My professor used it for my art history class. Beautirul illistrations. Highly recommended. Great reference book as well.



4. For somebody interested in art, a book with many pictures is easy to read and enjoy.



5. The convenience of the pocket edition is incredible and the quality of the images and analysis is excellent.

5 comments about Visual Chronicles: The No-Fear Guide to Creating Art Journals, Creative Manifestos and Altered Books.

1. This isn't a bad book, but for me it didn't prove to be a very good one either. I will admit to getting some ideas from it, but found it pretty basic for the most part. I really didn't like any of the pages the authors did and wasn't really inspired by any of it. I have to agree with the other reviewers who said this is more like cut and paste scrapbooking and not art journaling. If you want a book about doing crafts, this is a good one. If you want a book about doing art, then save your money.



2. The title of the book and the reviews here are really misleading. This book has nothing to do with art journalling. Art is art, scrapbooking is craft.
   
   I didn't believe the other negative reviews here because they all went on about how they were artists and they already knew the stuff here. But their reviews were much more accurate than the 5 star reviews.
   
   If you want to collage a little book together about your life, the things you love etc, then this, and every other book by this publisher is for you. There are hundreds of books out there and i'd say this one is a little thin on ideas to be worth choosing over other scrapbooking books.
   
   Basically this book talks about painting the background, using rubber stamps and rub-on letters, colouring in photocopies, and cutting up paint sample sheets from the hardware store, as though they were new ideas.
   
   There are cute ideas in here, and the book talks you through how to inspire yourself. But i honestly can't see any difference between this an all the other books out there trying to cash in on the scrapbook industry. of which i am not interested.
   
   If you want to make an art journal, something that an artist uses to develop their work and ideas, then you're going to be let down. You wont be given ideas for drawing materials, or how to combine materials to accentuate your own drawings, how to develop ideas further and present them thoughtfully.
   
   This book actually assumes you have no drawing or creative ability at all, suitable for some, but not for those wishing to create an art journal/sketchbook. I suspect the author/publisher put the word art in the title to purposely mislead people like me. I'm seriously tempted to return this book since the title is so misleading.



3. I read Journal Revolution first, and loved this just as much! This book is full of inspiration and ideas for art and life. It is not just a scrapping book or a journaling book. Its really about how you approach art and life. There are fun and unusual projects, cool techniques, and the best philosophies ever. LOVED IT!



4. A wonderful book that provides tools for anyone who wants to start journaling. And even for those who are experienced there is a lot to read, see and laugh about. The essence of what Karen and Linda want to tell you is that only you can tell your story. No one else can do that for you. The sisters show you that you only need limited supplies to make a start and that you definitely do not need an education in art to do it. Anyone can do it! That is by far the biggest message the sisters give you. It is well written, with a great sense of humor. The layout of this book is beautiful. The examples and explanations of the various techniques are breathtaking. This book invites you to get started right away. It gives you enough inspiration to take notice of and to journal about the humor, the special occasions and the everyday. And to do this in a way that is especially worth while to you.



5. This book contains NO interesting ideas, NO beautiful pictures, NO inspiration, and NO meaningful journal writing. However, it does contain techniques you probably learned in kindergarten. So unless you are under six, you do not need to buy this book. These authors presumably have created beautiful art at some point, considering their profession as art journal writers and instructors, yet they withhold any and all information on this topic throughout the book. I feel completely betrayed -- I gave them money and they gave me none of their knowledge. I wish I would have considered the advice of those who rated this book poorly prior to my purchase. Although this book was not expensive and I enjoy having a large reference library, I refuse to keep this book as part of my collection because I know I will never gain anything from these pages, now or in the future.

5 comments about Keys to Drawing with Imagination: Strategies and Exercises for Gaining Confidence and Enhancing Your Creativity.

1. If you want to improve technique or just learn how to draw get this book.



2. I have tons of drawing books, but I love this one! It has tons of great "mini-project" ideas that encourage creativity and originality!



3. While I am not a beginner, I thought this book might offer creative drawing exercises and ideas, something to feed my imagination. I was right. The chapters are brief and to the point with exercises that stretch beyond the usual. The illustrations of finished work as well as those of the actual exercise steps are excellent. A worthwhile book, not just a showcase of an artist's work... but not one for a beginner. Some of the chapters show nearly finished drawings as illustrations of the concept presented; there's no useful step-by-step instruction. But overall, most of the chapters are very good. Not a must-have, but still worth the money.



4. This is a great how-to-draw book, because it has a very smart strategy: finesse the negative self-criticism that keeps most of us from even beginning to do anything smacking of `art.'
   
   When a six year old once asked her father, a college art instructor, what he did for a living, he said, "I teach people how to draw." Incredulous, she replied: "You mean they forget!?"
   
   We all know why that is-- a censorious voice inside our heads keeps up a murderous barrage of intimidation: "You suck! You can't draw!" And we knuckle under.
   
   Most books on how to draw just reinforce this anxiety. They aim to teach you how to draw realistically, which for most of us means there is just one way to get it right, and a thousand to screw it up. How to solve this problem? Cookie-cutter schematic diagrams are given for drawing everything from portraits to horses, but every time you draw one of those almond shapes for a head, then put in a cross on which to put facial features, you've become a robot and art, an assembly-line production. That's a far cry from the utter fearlessness we all had when armed only with crayons.
   
   This book blows by all this tomfoolery because it cares little for cheap realism but much for real creativity. By not focusing on the "what" but the "how" this book lets you not only think like an artist, but become one. In its pages learning is doing as rules are jettisoned in favor of principles, suggestions and exercises that gently immerse you in the experience of drawing, so that before you know it, you're scribbling away as intently as any six-year old... or Van Gogh. Getting the terminally self-conscious to believe in themselves as artists is no mean achievement--it's damn hard to do as a matter of fact--but Bert Dodson does this beautifully. (Even more experienced artists will learn much from perusing this wise and thoughtful book.)
   
   But don't misunderstand one thing. Dodson's emphasis on creativity isn't an injunction to just "do what you feel." Drawing books like that leave you hanging in the air with no chance for traction and forward-momentum. This book is not one of those. The format in Keys to Drawing with Imagination not only generates much artistic material to work with, but will channel your growing understanding, concentrating it, so that a genuine mastery emerges, confident enough to undertake its own experimentation and exploration. This book is designed to be like the Buddha's raft--once it carries you over the river, you leave it behind to go on your way. For, ultimately, making art is about being free.
   
   I have only one small cavil to make about this superb drawing book. The title bites. With a subject as exciting as creative drawing, this title is like giving Marilyn Monroe a name like Norma Jean. It obviously hopes to cash in on the success of Mr. Dodson's earlier book, Keys to Drawing; I sense the money-grubbing hands of the publisher's bean-counters. My condolences to the author, a most witty and engaging man, who must be suffering grievously.



5. Thank you, Bert Dodson, for Drawing With Imagination. It is a much needed elixir for both my creative and professional life. I've been an Art teacher for thirty years and I know from experience that you can teach almost anyone how to draw and paint well. Learning to use the tools is the easy part. What's hard is stimulating the imagination and the confidence to be creative.
   Dodson's new book is a brimming reservoir of inspirational projects and ideas for the artist or teacher. Some of these exercises are so freeing, blocks to creativity seem to melt away leaving a fresh landscape of fertile ground. Using Bert's book as a basis for lessons my high school beginning students are stumbling onto originality and my advanced "Portfolio" students are discovering new directions for their work.
   Every teacher and artist needs a copy of this book at their fingertips if only for an infusion of energy for your classroom and studio. I didn't realize till I got my copy, I've been waiting for this book for a long time.

5 comments about Creative License, The: Giving Yourself Permission to Be The Artist You Truly Are.

1. I love this book! I've been drawing since I was little and painting for over 20 years, I'm just now learning to do quick sketches. I had gotten away from drawing and now I'm back and love it! Danny is so inspiring and gets you drawing right off the bat! His sketches and ideas are fun to do and you'll be wanting to sketch everything you see, and you can! He shows you how to make time to sketch and shares my belief that everyone can draw. This is a keeper!



2. I am really enjoying Creative License written by Danny Gregory. I actually am now on my second reading! After finishing the book I began to read it from back to front! It is a lovely book written with humor, sensitivity and just plain good sense. I got a sort of kick-in-the-pants start from some of his "encouraging" push starts. The quotes are wonderful and often eye-opening. I do have some trouble reading the strange font lettering sometimes - but that is very minor. I loved the book and reccomend it to anyone stuck in their forward movement in the art of their choice.
   A.M.C.



3. Remove the block to your creative drive and find yourself once again enjoying your own drawing, painting, writing, crafts, or whatever it is that brings you joy!
   
   The Creative License: Giving Yorself Permission To Be The Artist You Truly Are is all that the title claims. Own it and you have (one of) the keys that will open the door back into the world of your own creativity, unfettered by a need to be perfect.
   
   Be you. Create what you want. Be happy.
   
   What a concept! What a book!
   
   Highly recommended!



4. I think a dissenting opinion is in order. I was looking for a book on unblocking ones creativity, not a book on being like Danny Gregory. The book seems to be more about how Mr. Gregory expresses creativity than about how to become more creative. If I wanted to learn to draw I would have purchased a book about drawing. If I wished to become a writer I would have sought books about writing. Mr. Gregory seems to be saying in this book that the only way to become a creative person is to draw and write first, which is how he expresses creativity. If I have to force myself to draw and journal I am not becoming more creative, I am simply following what someone else thinks is creativity. Further, Mr. Gregory's drawings are ugly to my eyes. I am amazed that anyone would want him to illustrate anything. The type used in the book is hard to read and some of the print was so small I could not read it. This book was definitely a waste of my money and time. If you are looking to unleash your creativity through some medium besides drawing or writing, you should probably look elsewhere for inspiration.



5. I love this book. The colorful pages, the honest and encouraging advice and the fun art all inspire me. Thanks, Danny, for such a great resource. I'm recommending it to everyone.
   This is an excellent resource book for writers of any genre. A must-have for your reference library!
   
   Cynthia Morris

5 comments about The Gift of Nothing.

1. McDonnell's newspaper comic is pretty hit-or-miss with me, since he can get pretty heavy-handed sometimes, but this book represents his absolute best work. I generally buy this (along with his "Just Like Heaven") as baby shower gifts, since it's always very well-received and always appropriate. I also have it on my own shelf and buy copies for friends who either are hard to buy for or just need a pick-me-up. The pictures are a delight and the simplicity of the story is just right. Highly recommended.



2. This is a wonderful story about how sometimes the best thing to get someone for their birthday is no "thing" at all. I love how the author gets the story across without using a ton of words--the text is nice and concise. My only slight disappointment is the style of illustrations. I know they're his trademark, but the small, 3-color illustrations don't always hold the interest of the youngest picture book audience.



3. Good message about real values in a world of too much stuff. My 4 yr old grandson loves this book.



4. This was the first book we bought to read to our son (he hasn't been born yet). We liked that it discussed the concept of nothing, and that it looks to be a book we won't mind reading over and over again.



5. A gift of nothing, especially during the holidays, will become part of our annual holiday tradition. The message in the story is that you don't need "things" to be happy. Spending simple, quiet time with loved ones is a gift in itself.

No comments about Horse.

5 comments about Creating Textured Landscapes With Pen, Ink & Watercolor.

1. I haven't had time to really get into it but going through the book she gives you some interesting techniques. I have not done much in watercolor and ink.



2. As with ALL of Claudia's books, this one is no exception - it is EXCELLENT!! She wonderfully illustrates in such a way that you are motivated to pick up your brush, watercolors, pen and ink and start painting!!
   
   It is a wonderful book to have to inspire you to paind.



3. I normally like her books on pen and ink, but this one has more to do with watercolor than pen and ink. I was disappointed and returned the book. It's a good book for to look at and you might be more interested if you want to know more about how to use watercolors. I have enough of those books!



4. Yes, the title says for landscapes, ink, pen and watercolor, but really you could apply the techniques in this book to just about anything. It has a huge sampling of textures and how to achieve them. Since I am a beginner, I thought the techniques would be difficult to learn, but the directions are incredibly easy to understand and non of the techniques are time consuming (aside from masking). Put this book together with Gordon MacKenzie's The Watercolorists Essential Notebook, and you have a complete watercolor art class through at least intermediate to lower advanced skill level. The images and text are easy to understand and give great reference. I do find the "handwriting" font a bit difficult on the eyes after a while, but otherwise a very well rounded book with easy to follow quick techniques that will really knock your socks off. Way to go Claudia Nice!



5. Just received this book today. It is very colourful and well layed out.
   
   There are tonnes of tips and techniques on watercolour painting as well as specfic examples and step by steps on different effects and how to acheive more contrast etc with texturing.
   
   Well worth it.

4 comments about History of Modern Art.

1. this textbook of sorts is super informative with great color and black and white pictures of paintings discussed in the readings.



2. Academic reading and art criticism, well suited for undergraduate and graduate coursework. Dry reading for aficionados, on the bombastic side descriptive. This book speaks to art as a critic would describe the sunset.



3. Blah blah blah - Good quality blah blah. You know the drill, just BUY IT already!



4. Having taken art history in college, I wish this was the addition of Arnason I bought. Kalb is a gifted editor. The original text is streamlined and energized with beautiful new plates. I thought the later chapters that Kalb wrote on contemporary art brought this classic to the 21st century. I bought it again.

4 comments about Color Mixing Recipes for Portraits: More than 500 Color Combinations for skin, eyes, lips & hair (Color Mixing Recipes).

1. I love this book. It has become my figure painting bible. It gives you the recipes (like a cook book) of the proper amounts of each color to achieve all different skin tones and hair! It's great!



2. This is great value for a novice that needs help to mix skin colours. The text is kept to a minimum and the charts clear to understand.



3. This book is cool. Flip the hard pages (wipeable), and you have all ethnic colors at your fingertips. Of course you will need to adjust, but it is full of basic eye, nose, lips etc. colors and carts. Im glad I bought it.



4. If you are looking for a technical guide on how to mix skin colours for all the different races of people (well most anyway) then this is the book for you. It gives you all the information you need (which paint and how much)to mix just about every shade of flesh, covering both cool and warm versions, it covers the full tonal range for each mix and shadow effects. In summery it is the most comprehensive flesh colour mixing book I have come across yet and I have got most of the more popular books on this subject. At this price it is a bargin
   

5 comments about Writers Market Companion.

1. Definately an "essential guide" for anyone that wants to have their writing published.



2. From Writer's Digest Books comes "Writer's Market Companion," which serves as a valuable supplement to their `writer's bible,' "Writer's Market."
   
   In the volume's introduction, the authors explain their reasoning for a companion to the popular "Writer's Market" guide: "As the publishing industry changes, we have become more selective in choosing markets that appear in `Writer's Market.' As a result of these choices, we have to sacrifice essential content, the nuts and bolts of publishing...To fill this gap, we're providing you with this `Writer's Market Companion, 2nd ed.'"
   
   In their "Writer's Market Companion," authors Joe Feiertag and Mary Carmen Cupito provide an overview of "the nuts and bolts of publishing": writing and selling different types of material, including poetry, short fiction, non-fiction articles and essays, book-length fiction and non-fiction, and even screenplays and scripts. They also discuss alternative markets for a freelancer's work, such as corporations, web sites, and eBook aficionados. Other topics covered include conducting research; executing interviews; promoting your work; pursuing grants, fellowships, and prizes; finding and evaluating writing groups and communities; treating your writing career seriously, like a "real" business; contractual and copyright issues; and pricing your work.
   
   As compared to other manuals on writing, publishing, and promoting books and articles, "Writer's Market Companion" is easily one of the more superior ones I've read (and trust me, I've pored over quite a few!). The guide is well written (an essential when it's a book about writing!), informative without sounding dry or boring, and chock full of useful advice. However, I thought a few of the chapters were on the weak side; for instance, chapter 13, "Promoting Your Work and Yourself" didn't offer much beyond the monotonous promotional strategies I've seen in every other writing manual. Nonetheless, the book as a whole is good buy, definitely worth the time and money.
   
   A caveat: if you're just in search of market listings, stick with "Writer's Market." There aren't any paying markets included in "Writer's Market Companion," simply descriptions of the different types of markets out there, along with advice on how best to court them. Conversely, if you're a newbie just starting out, you'd probably be best served buying both the "Writer's Market" and its companion (after all, what good are market listings if you don't know what to do with them?).
   
   - Kelly Garbato
   
   Author & ePublisher
   Peedee Publishing / Hot Dog!, LLC



3. Probably many of us do not realize that incredibly over a billion books were sold during the past year.
   In the USA alone there are over 18, 000 magazines and approximately 45, 000 newspapers.
   Added to these publications is the multitude of information web sites.
   What is more noteworthy, as mentioned in The Writer's Market Companion, authored by Joe Feiertag and Mary Carmen Cupito, is that "America's love of reading is perhaps most evident when we look at book sales. In the years leading up to the new millennium, book sales in the U.S. (excluding textbooks) were up a healthy 38 percent."

   No doubt this is excellent news for the aspiring writer as well as the seasoned professional.
   There is a vast market for your books and articles. The key question is to how do you crack the market?

   Feiertag and Cupito provide the reader with a detailed plan as to how to go about succeeding as a writer.
   Divided into seventeen chapters, the authors deal with such topics: resources, ideas, writing plan, finding leads, selling, legal aspects, self-promotion, business aspects, and workshops.

   As examples of some of the excellent advice contained in the book, there is a chapter entitled "The People Chase" that explains how to conduct an effective interview. We are also provided with concrete interviewing tips and pertinent samples of questions to ask of the interviewee.

   Another section deals with the topic of what to write about. It is within this section that we are provided with idea-generating exercises.

   Finding leads and knowing how to research your topic can very often prove to be a stumbling block in the planning of a good article.
   The manual provides three chapters that detail how to resolve this dilemma.
   In fact, I was pleasantly surprised when I followed the advice of the authors and experimented with a suggested site called ProNet.com.
   As I was informed, this site is a subsidiary of the PR Newswire. It allows you to find an expert by typing in a topic, and to my surprise I was bombarded with replies to my query within one day.

   The authors do not omit to delve into the business aspect of writing and there is an entire chapter dealing with the subject of pricing. Various pricing suggestions are presented pertaining to such occupations as ghost writing, film scripting, brochure writing, and many more.

   My reading of this book was out of sheer curiosity. However I would have to admit that "The Writer's Market Companion" should be placed on a must acquisition list.

   This review first appeared on the reviewer's own site
   www.bookpleasures.com




4. This book is a life-saver...it offers real advice that will help anyone who is just starting out in the writing field. All of the information is well presented, so that you don't have to do a lot of guessing about what they mean. A must-have book for any wannabe writer.



5. One of the key reference books for aspiring writers seeking publication, The Writer's Market Companion is a compendium of sound information on every aspect professional writing. Joe Feiertage, Mary Carmen Cupito, and the Editors of "Writer's Market" have collaborated to provide up-to-date information on writer organizations, internet resources for writers, securing representation, obtaining a publisher, copyright protection, self-promotion, marketing and promoting fiction and non-fiction, taxes and financial issues, and much, much more. The Writer's Market Companion is a comprehensive and informative addition to any personal, professional, and community library professional writing reference collection.