5 comments about Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga and Graphic Novels.

1. This is a great tutorial and reference for anyone considering writing a comic book for the first time (or perhaps someone more experienced who'd like to get a fresh perspective and/or deeper understanding of fundamental structure). Scott has taken all those elements that go into making a good comic book (that you've probably noticed subconsciously but couldn't put into words) and laid them bare with expert analysis.
   
   The analyses and guidelines are presented in a light-hearted, comic book format that is both entertaining and enlightening. You won't find yourself getting sleepy or distracted while reading this book - and you will understand every concept with perfect clarity, even if you are a complete novice.
   
   Get this book! I found it at my local library and read it twice (cover to cover). I plan to buy it so that I'll have it handy for reference as I plan and begin drafting my first comic book.
   
   Highly recommended.



2. Scott McCloud's "Making Comics" is a must-read for all aspiring comic artists. This book is very different from other comic technique books. While most other books will teach you how to draw characters or backgrounds, this one teaches you how to tell stories. McCloud goes in depth into what makes a good story through pacing, image choice, layout, words, facial expressions, among many other factors. All of the instruction is given in comic form, so it is very easy to see how the techniques are implemented since he shows you right on the page. I particularly like the section on facial expressions. He has a very inventive method of using basic facial expressions and then mixing them to create totally new facial expressions. It has to be seen to be believed.
   
   If you're thinking of starting to draw comics, or if you're on the edge of giving up comics because you just can't get it right, this will give you the inspiration to keep trying. If you're a great artist, then you'll come to a better understanding of the techniques that you use. I definitely recommend reading this book.



3. I've always found it fascinating to imagine how a comic book author/illustrator creates the stories and images that appeal so much. Having been a non-fiction book author for many years, I have a firm understanding of the writing process. I sometimes pick out a few illustrations to put into a book.
   
   But building a story around the illustrations, that seems like a trip to the planet Neptune to me. I was very pleased to find that Scott McCloud is very good at explaining (and illustrating) the creative and production processes he uses. I was delighted when I realized that he had also described how an individual could make a few comics to share with friends.
   
   With computer art getting to be easier to do, I can see that there's even hope for those of us who couldn't draw out way out of a paper bag.
   
   Mr. McCloud has the kind of mind that sees everything in perspective, in this case as facets of an overall story-telling task. He always has the goal of engaging the reader in mind and relates his points well to that purpose.
   
   The work is impressive at another level . . . it's a masterpiece of providing instruction. The book shows more than tells, as a book about comics should do.
   
   If Mr. McCloud ever tires of making comic books and graphic novels, he should go into explaining non-fiction subjects. He would make a fortune!



4. When my grandparents got me this book, I didn't think it could help me. I was looking for a "How to Draw" not a "How to Write". This book proved me so wrong. I couldn't believe how much fun it was to read, and it helped me a lot too. Almost everything I thought I knew was proved wrong and after reading it I felt like I understood comics so much better. As well as making me better at writing comic books, it made me a better writer altogether. I strongly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in comics or in just plain writing or art.



5. Well thought out, well written, quality throughout. I like this book the best so far; the previous weren't as appealing as this but were still very well done. The author really practices what he preaches as far as his message and the book speaks for itself. You won't be disappointed. Looking forward to the new books!

5 comments about Organic Chemistry (6th Edition).

1. I'm in my second semester of organic chemistry and really struggled the first semester because my prof doesn't ellaborate on anything,likes to keep lectures generalized, and believes it's best that we learn on our own through the book. The $250 book we had to buy for the class is so wordy and poorly organized. We usually have 7-8 chapters on one exam (about every 3-4 weeks) and some of the chapters are 80-100 pages. When I study things I like the text or my notes I get caught up on the little things if it's not neatly/concisely/clearly written. This book is exactly what I love. It uses many colors to perfectly keep things easily readable. I had read hundreds of reviews (I'm not even kidding) about how wonderful Wade's texts are and how he teaches it as if you were a little kid--it's so true. You seriously cannnot read one of his chapters and not understand. I never use my other text anymore even if I know where the info I'm looking for is at. It is seriously one of the best science textbooks I have ever had because of how it's formated. He also has great examples in it that are useful....like ones that are often on our labs and on quizes/exams. The end of the chapter summaries are the best thing too. He literally sums everything up by writing all of the equations so everything is all on a couple of pages. I've photocopied many of the chapter reviews because they're such a concise and clean form of my notes.



2. This book is nicely written for someone who is not going to be an organic chemist. It is easy to read and understand. One downfall I will mention is that it is so easy to read, students are many times fooled into thinking that they understand the material. But overall, good features including helpful graphics, summaries and examples.



3. This seems like a well-organized and helpful book. Even more helpful, perhaps, had I opened it for the class...oops.



4. Students in chemistry, this book is clear and colorful to a better understanding of this though class.



5. I ordered a used book for my daughter. Even though there were plenty available when I ordered, I received an email about a week later saying that the order was being refunded with no other explanation.

5 comments about Janson's History of Art: The Western Tradition.

1. love it! very informative and has the best of the best artworks. but could use a modern edition strictly of the 20th century



2. I used the original Janson when I took art history in college. I bought this for my son and started reading it on my own. What a wonderful rework of this classic. It provides very accessible descriptions of historical context as well as clear presentations of the impact of "technology" (i.e. development of various media) on the ability of the artists of various periods to express themselves. Love this book.



3. This book is incredibly comprehensive and covers all aspects of art in different cultures, including painting, sculpture, architecture, and burial sites. It is remarkably detailed (almost too much so), and has many great pictures.
   
   The most distinctive aspect of this book is the primary sources it includes that explain the historical context of artworks. For example, there are numerous letters (translated, of course) from Italian artists in the Renaissance to their clients. Another text includes excerpts from the law code of Hammurabi, to accompany the sculptural piece on which it was originally engraved.



4. An excellent base for an art student to build upon; clear, informative, visual, and historical. Supplements and sources such as Wikipedia and encyclopedias and history texts will show how intertwined art is with politics and religions in depth where the book skims over.
   A wonderful book, and covers some Eastern Art despite the focus title on the West. Chapters are organized and they get the point across; lovely descriptions of photographs that are present in the book, so you really get to study the subject and with the assistance of the text, see the inner beauty in the architecture.
   What I found lacking was the mention of the Golden Ratio, and in fact, any mathematics whatsoever. As mathematics is very important to ancient-modern art, I found it rather confusing. However, as said before, an excellent base.
   Very intriguing and not in the least boring or dry, Janson's History of Art is a prime choice coupled with supplementary books. If you're interested in overall art history, this is the one to go with...
   Have fun!!!



5. This is one of the standard history of art textbooks. Of course it includes color prints of all the most famous art of the Western tradition, as well as numerous photographs and floorplans of famous architecture. It has a little coverage of Islamic art, but that is a topic that deserves better than it can be given in a textbook on the Western tradition. Painting, architecture and sculpture are clearly the focus, but photography and decor each get a nod. Other forms of art--from gardening to appliance design--although interesting, evidently cannot fit in this space.
   
   The text is adequate: a little better than standard textbook composition, less dull, perhaps a touch less condescending, and of course perfectly informative.
   
   Issues in technique, interpretation and so on are well-introduced.
   
   If you, like me, are not a student but an adult just curious about art, this is a fine choice. I've also enjoyed work by Robert Hughes ("The Shock of the New," which I strongly recommend, and "American Visions"), Andre Malraux ("The Voices of Silence") and David Morgan ("The Sacred Gaze").
   
   (I'm not widely read in this field by any means: those are the only books I've read about Western art history! So there could be various better books out there. But still, this textbook has been very useful to me, helping me fill out my knowledge in many areas.)

1 comments about A History of Western Art Revised.

1. I purchased this text for an online class. It was MUCH cheaper through Amazon than the college bookstore. I was a bit concerned at first beacuse of discrepencies in the ISBN#'s but apparently I ended up with the correct edition. The delivery was prompt and the book arrived in perfect condition. I had ordered a text for a previous class through a third party at Amazon and recieved not only the wrong edition, but a version that was not sold in the states- (guess that's what I get for trying to go too cheap!)so I was a bit nervous! I have taken numerous other Art History classes and noticed that this text takes a slightly different approach, which is a nice change. Also, when it refers to another piece of art rather than just telling you the page number so you have to go flipping through the book it provides a small picture on the page, a nice touch. I also like that it covers art from medieval to present in one volume, other versions tend to split at the Renaissance, which gives more individual attention to some areas, but it is nice to have a general overview in one place.

5 comments about Fingerprint: The Art of Using Hand-Made Elements in Graphic Design.

1. I bought this book as a gift for someone else, but after seeing it in person I'm thinking of buying it for myself! It is a beautiful book!



2. When relying on a computer all day, this book lets you return to how it all began. Get creative! Draw, doodle, color, cut, create and interpret this into your latest computer-aided design.



3. This is a fantastic resource filled with great examples of handmade design masterpieces. There are a few sections of illustrations that are already starting to look very dated, but a lot of the featured designs are timeless in their inginuity and beauty.
   
   Whether you are already using hand-made techniques in your work, or you are searching for some inspiration on how you can get a more hands-on tactile feel with your designs in this age of InDesign, Photoshop and stock graphics, this book is great.



4. If you love handmade and mixed media this book is for you. It is an inspirational collection of graphic design with a handmade look, very creative.



5. This is such a lovely book! Nice layout, easy to follow. Full of fantastic examples.

3 comments about Exploring Art: A Global, Thematic Approach (with ArtExperience Online Printed Access Card).

1. it's brand new and i got it cheaper than in my school bookstore.
   It came fast too.



2. I had no problems when ordering from this vendor. The book description was accurate. I had no problems and received the book prior to the estimated arrival date.



3. If my sock drawer was organized like this book...there would never be a matching pair of socks. The old socks and the new socks would cling together in a wad of static electricity, making it painful to dare try and pull them apart and match them up in any other way. The book lacks fabric softener, and reading it is itchy torture.
   
   But seriously...this book tries to be "smart" by organizing the chapters into "subjects for art",and it doesn't work.
   It's stupid!

5 comments about Survey Of Historic Costume: A History Of Western Dress.

1. This book is often used as a textbook in costume history courses. As far as textbooks go, it is definitely one of the best. The text is quite dense, since it covers a lot of material in a limited space. Despite this, it is never dull. The authors are always careful to cite their sources, as well as explain why they support one point of view over others in those instances where several conflicting opinions exist. The text has several very useful features: extensive bibliographies at the end of each chapter, as well as at the end of the book, are an excellent resource guide for more in-depth study; the visual summary tables at the end of each chapter review the basic progression of the silhouette within a period; and every chapter includes a section titled "Contemporary comments", which shows what the people who actually wore these garments thought about them. The careful attention the authors pay to the general historical, cultural, and political backgrounds of each period present fashion history as part of the greater framework of the history of Western society, which makes for an engaging read.
   
   I stopped short of giving this text a 5-star rating for the following reasons:
   1. Illustrations in the body of the text, primary research as well as drawings, are black and white. Color illustrations are confined to separate pages inserted in the middle of the book. The plates are too few and too small, and the color fidelity doesn't seem to be of exceptional quality. It seems that in an effort to keep costs down, the publisher sacrificed a vital part of the book. After all, when it comes to clothes, a picture often is worth a thousand words.
   2. Whoever was in charge of making sure that the illustration and page numbers correspond to the ones cited, did an extremely poor job. What I mean is, when authors describe a particular garment, they'll refer to an illustration in parenthesis (see figure 8.10, page 182). Well, this illustration may or may not be on the page named, as well as the illustration may or may not be an example of what the authors are talking about. The correct illustration is never far (usually on the same page or the next page), and I have not yet encountered an instance where a cited illustration is absent entirely, but this discrepancy has occurred once or twice in almost every chapter. I place the full responsibility on the publishers, and would ask them in the future to be more careful when proofreading an expensive and otherwise admirable text.
   
   Bottom line: buy this book if you intend to read it. If you are looking for a quick and clear visual reference of costumes through the ages, your money will be better spent elsewhere. Try The Complete History of Costume & Fashion: From Ancient Egypt to the Present Day



2. This is the textbook from my History of Fashion course. Like nearly all Fairchild Publication books, this is extremely well put together. It describes the dress of the time, construction and what it was made of, as well as the social/historical events at the time that helped influence the dress styles. It covers women's wear, men's wear, and children's wear. It is truly an excellent resource.



3. The book came in great condition! It was shipping fast, which is great because it was needed for a college class. I would definitely use them again for future purchases.



4. There are some real photos of paintings from the time periods, but also a lot of drawings of tiny cartoon people wearing time period clothing which are confusing. The author could have at least made the drawings bigger and drawn arrows naming each piece of the outfit, but under many pictures the caption just reads "women's attire" which leaves the student forced to read through the entire chapter and match up the cartoon character's garments to the clothing descriptions. It takes longer to learn and study for tests and is often confusing. I wouldn't reccomend this book! If your costume teacher has a PHD please let them know it is their duty to write a new history of costume book!!!



5. This book is perfect for anyone who wants to become familiar with what people have worn through history of clothes.
   I loved it.

5 comments about Theories of Modern Art A Source Book by Artists and Critics (California Studies in the History of Art).

1. The beauty of this book is that so many letters, reviews, interviews etc. about/by so many artists are conveniently gathered in one place. On the whole, there isn't anything in here that you can't find elsewhere, such as in biographies of the individual artists. For example the letters contained in the opening section on "Post-Impressionism" from both Cezanne and Van Gogh are included in just about every biography on them.
   
   The over-riding reason for buying this book is that so many are collected together. So, even for an artist that you might not like enough to go out and buy their biography, atleast you get an insight in to their thoughts/motives etc. In some cases this may spark your interest in a previously less favoured artist and appreciate their works from a new perspective.
   
   Chipp covers all the main "isms" of modern art from Post-Impressionism (Cezanne) onwards. Each movement opens with a treatise detailing the main theories/artists/concepts/techniques that made it unique. This is followed by a comprehensive selection of articles/letters/interviews etc. concerning the main players i.e. the section of Expressionism includes writings from Nolde, Kandinsky, Kokoschka, Kirchner, Marc, Klee and Beckmann. One of my favourite pieces is by Stuart Davis. He's responding to a critic's recent review..."in your review you speak of your enthusiasm for my work and call me a "swell American painter". This attitude on your part I heartily approve, but you further state that my style is French and that if Picasso had never lived I would have had to think out a style of my own. Now is that nice Mr. McBride?" and off Davis goes in his defence. Superb.
   
   Rather than reading about these various "isms" via the well meaning but often biased views of a expert art historian, here you get the views from the artists themselves.
   
   For any art historians dealing with the modern art period this book has to be essential. And for general appreciators of art, as well as artists themselves, this book contains a wealth of information, and pays dividends to both intense study or just random browsing.
   
   Since it's first publication in 1968 this book has formed the foundation of any respectable art library. I just checked the bibliography of more recent books on art history - this book is referenced extensively. In my opinion, if anyone is looking for an interesting and enjoyable introduction to the world of "Modern Art" they could do a lot worse than start here. And given the way that any one "ism" owes it's existence to the "isms" that came before it*, this almost reads like a novel.
   
   *Regardless of Dali's utterances about Surrealism being a unique movement, unfounded by anything that came before, just go and have a look at the works of Hieronymous Bosch to see that wasn't the case.
   
   Recommended!



2. I just wanted to respond to the person before me. It sounds like contemporary art is way over your head. Please do not waist our time with long reviews about things you clearly do not understand.



3. Not only educational, but inspiring. I not only learned about each artist and what when on during their time of certain artworks, but I was able to get inside their head. The words of the artist's in their letters were captivating. I was caught up in the reading. I especially enjoyed Matisse and Kandinsky. Kandinsky is very spiritual about his writing and gives a deep explanation of colors. Anyway, it is a great read. It was required for my history course, but I enjoyed it. Not very many in my class could understand what they were reading. I guess you not only need intellect, but sophistication. I liked it!



4. How often had I looked at a painting of Van Gough and wondered what exactly was this great man thinking when he conceived and painted such a picture. Now by reading thru this excellent book, I can claw into the mind of artists themselves.



5. Even if you are not interested in the arts but simply in thought process- I think you will find this book very interesting. You could say this is the history of modern art without pictures (although there are some pictures)- bringing the reader facinating insights into how different types of artists came to their philosophies of art, and of course, the world. Documented through personal letters, manifestos, and articles, the varity of different thoughts and beliefs catapolts just what art can be. To me it shows that art is a never ending universe of ideas- all connecting but all very individual just the same.

5 comments about Two Knotty Boys Showing You The Ropes: A Step-by-Step, Illustrated Guide for Tying Sensual and Decorative Rope Bondage.

1. A great book on Shibari. Well illustrated and photographed. The knots are delightful and fun to tie on my special someone.



2. Most people I have talked to all say why buy the book when you can watch all the videos on youtube? Well number reason I would say buy it. It shows all the actual knots! Not just the whole thing. It goes step by step showing you the basics knots used in most all bondages. Good detail. It helped me out on the ones I was having troubles with on the videos. If you are a big fan of there videos you really should buy the book. Not only to help them out but its a must read for the extras you will never see in the book. I will buy book 2 when released.



3. Clear instructions, many step-by-step photos, several very pretty designs. For the price, I would say the best rope bondage book on the market for beginners.
   
   For the more 'advanced' rope people out there, it might not be enough for you, but still well worth the money (especially if you get it on sale).



4. I've long been a fan of the Two Knotty Boys style and was excited to have purchased this book when it came out. It is very easy to understand and follow the instructions and photos. Some feel the black/white photos should have been colour, but I don't believe that it would have made much of a difference. All of the photos are clear and easy to see what is going on. The ties are fun and beautiful, which is my type of rope art. I personally believe this is one of my essential quick reference books in my (rope) collection.



5. I laughed a lot reading this book and enjoyed the techniques they teach. I practiced the knots and mastered them pretty quickly. Some of them are pretty difficult too, but they did well breaking down the steps. You have to try the "dragonfly sleeve". It is beautiful, cool, and effective. I have another book on Japanese rope bondage by Midori and it was also good. The two books compliment each other well.

5 comments about Art in Theory 1900 - 2000: An Anthology of Changing Ideas.

1. The subtitle to this book is "An Anthology of Changing Ideas", which is remarkably accurate. The excerpts in this book run the ideological spectrum from Winston Churchill to Adolf Hitler, and everyone in-between. The assembly of so many artists, politicians, philosophers, and theorists in one place has had a profound impact on my understanding of particular artworks, and my relationship to art in general. It's an intimidating book, but somehow this diverse group of thinkers is organized in a way that could be read straight through. Personally, I find it to be an invaluable tool for research and artistic growth.



2. It seems that students of art and art history eventually end up with a copy of this book in their possession, at least for a while. This is a book of excerpts. It's fantastic because it presents the written thoughts of artists, critics, and intellectuals in their own words. It's maddening because all the entries are trimmed, edited, boiled down into excerpts. The book is a good starting point and offers a meaty cross-section of thought in the twentieth century art world. But if one wants to read the whole article, one must seek the original sources to find what has been cut away. Also, editing the work this way allows the editors to insert their own slant on the material. Consequently, though I like the book, I can't give it five stars.



3. my college library had the "feminist art theory" volume from this same series, and i LOVED that book to death.
   since i liked that book so much, i thought it would be a good investment to cash in a recent gift certificate on this hefty volume.
   i wish that i had gone for the feminist art volume-- it's much more relevant for anyone who is interested in art as political expression... that topic is really not addressed in this anthology.
   it's probably still good as a reference if you're going to be writing a lot of papers for standard survey courses covering this time period, though.



4. Had I read the reviews about this book, I wouldn't have bought it.
   I had to though, for my "Art: Language and Theory" class, in my second year of Graphic Design major. I was shocked with it at first, it's almost 1300 pages, with not a single image in it! It looked extremely dull. But the thing is, I found it extremely useful, and enjoyable to read at times too. It covers art theories in the 20th century, and has texts written by artists, philosophers, polticians and much more.
   I now refer to it with every paper I write, every presentation I make and so on. There are also letters and notes in the book by artists such as Cezanne and Matisse, which are delightful to read. I use a dictionary sometimes, but not always, though I agree, the language is hard to comprehend at first glance.
   I don't think any art student or teacher could do without this book, I used it as a beginners guide while studying art, and I won't stop using it. Don't be put off when you first get this book, you'll learn to value and appreciate it with little time.



5. I used this book for a graduate theory class and ended up reading pretty much all of it. The book provides an excellent overview of the major movements during the past 100 years but also misses out on a lot of the most current trends. I believe there were less than 3 articles dated after 1999. The writings seem to be obscure at times, with the editors trying to draw distant similarites between varying fields. Most of the passages used overly pretentious language, so keep a dictionary nearby. This book is not a beginner guide and it helps to have some knowledge of art history as well as a little world history. A better or easier read would have to be "Theories and Documents of Contemporary Art"...