3 comments about Facial Expressions Babies to Teens: A Visual Reference for Artists.

1. I actually prefer color photos on white paper, but this black & white reference is reasonably well done.
   
   It's very similar to Simon's other book Facial Expressions: A Visual Reference for Artists, except with an age range of 3 weeks(!) to teens about 19. Mid to dark backgrounds on grey paper are really not my thing, but it's the actual expressions that count.
   
   As with his other book, many of these expressions are extremely forced and odd, but it's great to see so many angles, ethnicities, genders and ages represented. There aren't many books like this right now. It's also somewhat of a personal book, in that the author's family is represented in pictures depicting their entire lives, from earliest photos til now, in order to show general age progression in people. A few pictures are blurry, but most pics in this book are crystal clear (or close to it). There's also 10 pages of kids wearing different styles of hats & headgear, to make this a more well-rounded presentation.
   
   I'm not sure what more people want in a book like this. Maybe color would be better, but black & white keeps this cost-effective. I'd get Simon's photo reference guides while they're still in print. Many expressions books like this tend to disappear after a while. (Or at least they used to...).



2. A ton of good photos to work from here. As always you may never find just the right photo to work from but with this many photos in one book you will come much closer to finding what your looking for.
   I could cry about the printing being to dark or wine about some of the grainy pics but hay for this price and not having to put up with a real brat and there over baring mother this is worth it (thats a joke honey).
   I have drawn a bunch of kids from life and most kind of like it but to get anyone to hold those cool odd faces is not being realistic.
   I have used the other face book more then you might think and sure hope to use this one as much.
   This book just makes my giggle every time I pick it up with the goofy faces these kids come up with.
   When I can't work from life a book like this is just what I need.



3. I own both Facial Expression books by Mr. Simon and for such a popular series you'd think they'd invest in a better photographer or a better camera. A lot of the photos, especially in this edition are very blurry and grainy. Though you don't need super well-taken photos to capture someone's facial expression it would have been nice if they would have upped the quality in this edition. I imagine it is difficult to direct children, but a lot of the expressions used were very similar too. This version has about the same amount of photos as the last, but they are a bit larger. I believe they made this change because one page after each person captured wasn't reserved for an illustration. This was a welcome change for me because a lot of the artists used in the previous book did sub-par work and some only re-drew the photograph of the person without applying the facial expression to something less obvious like an object or a fictional character. Overall, my satisfaction with this book is mixed. The first edition was far better because of the image quality, but it is nice to have references of children's expressions. Having little books to compare these 2 to, I had to give this 3 stars.

5 comments about Fashion Illustration for Designers.

1. I needed this book to help me render my sketches. ITS THE BEST BOOK YOU CAN BUY!! it comes with two DVD's and the book is hefty and about 300 pages, each one with valuable information!



2. I have purchased almost every book on fashion illustration out there, and this is still the best. It covers all media, has beautiful full color illustrations and hundreds of black and white. It also shows how to illustrate males and children of all ages.



3. I found this book the best for examples on learning to draw draped garments on the body. Although not explicitly meant for this purpose, this book divides each type of garment by chapter and gives examples for drawing them, appropriately. I find her approach realistic, and her style excellent. She definitely helped me!



4. i teach from this book and it is instrumental in creating enormous breakthroughs in students' sketching abilities. you will never tire of this book. loads of information. a must.



5. I have a lot of worthless books on fashion illustration, however, this one is not one of those. It is worth the money and then some. She is clearly a good teacher, the illustrations are great and the videos are a bonus. Buy this book, you won't be disappointed.

5 comments about Drawing the Living Figure.

1. As someone else mentioned, this goes in with my George Bridgman books. The terminology is simple, and doesn't get too medical. I really loved the variety of figures used, though I'd love to see more plus sized models in the male side and a more plump female figure.
   
   Sheppard lays out key points in observing how muscles and bones affect the surface anatomy of a figure. It shows you how for example the pelvis shows up and how muscle and fat distribution affects the legs, hips etc.
   
   Sheppard is rather concise and to the point, where many other anatomy books become too technical and you end up getting lost in the details.
   
   The other thing to mention is the price. Bridgman and Sheppard's books are rather inexpensive compared to many other anatomy and figure drawing books out there. This is a definite selling point!



2. Between the simplified cartoon anatomy books, popular today, and the detailed treatments inspired by medical textbooks, is this fine work. This book is built from the ground up for artists. By focusing on surface anatomy, showing its relation to underlying muscle and bone structure, and then presenting it all with a multitude of useful and expertly done drawings, Sheppard has produced what may be the finest anatomical artist reference.
   
   Most professional artists recommend Bridgeman's works. I don't doubt the usefulness of Bridgeman to a true working professional, but for me, and maybe other amateurs, the concepts in Bridgeman never seem to reveal themselves. Sheppard will be useful the first time you open the book and will certainly clear much of the confusion in figure drawing.



3. Excellent book.Draving are fantastic and informative.I just bought the book and would recommend it to everyone who needs help in drawing a human figure.



4. THIS BOOK IS A "MUST HAVE". It is not the only drawing book that you need in your personal library, but it is one of the most essential.
   
   The book includes about seventy well-drawn male and female nude drawings, grouped by type of pose (standing, crouching, twisting, etc.). Each of the seventy poses is drawn three times --
   (1) as an annotated finished drawing,
   (2) as an annotated (identically sized) skeleton in the same pose, and
   (3) as an annotated (identically sized) muscle diagram in the same pose.
   
   The anatomy is at a level of detail designed for the figure-drawing artist, not for the medical illustrator. As such, only those muscles and bones that are significant to a particular pose are labeled, and are described with simplified nomenclature.
   
   I remember complaining to my instructor that I could discern the rib cage in our male model, but not in this rounded-back posed female model. This book is the ideal reference for seeing the support infrastructure in such situations.
   
   Although there are many approaches to figure drawing, understanding the effects that underlying anatomical infrastructure have on surface anatomy is essential to realistic drawing. In addition to this book, you should also have other books in your figure drawing library, that cover croquis, circles & guidelines, tonal masses, planes, gestures, cylinders, lighting, proportions, contours, and other techniques. But Joseph Sheppard's "Drawing the Living Figure" will be your primary anatomical reference.



5. This book is both useful and economical. It covers male and female nudes in different positions and angles (3/4, side, frontal).

5 comments about Watercolor School (Learn as You Go).

1. "Watercolor School" by Hazel Harrison states on its book jacketthat it is "a practical guide to painting with watercolor." This is an accurate description of this really useful book. It is complete in every aspect, and even for the more experienced watercolorist it can be used as an exceptionally valuable informational source. What more can I say? It's a great book.



2. I am just a beginner, and this books helps me learn the basics, and encourages me to try and get better.



3. I'm a serious beginner and I chose this book for what it offered and then was surprised to notice that it's a Reader's Digest book (sorry, but I guess I'm a bit of a book snob). Well nevermind because it's a terrific book. Hazel Harrison walks you through a huge variety of watercolor techniques. Great lessons and reference.
   
   I would have appreciated specific paint colors and brands with each example/technique, but even without that it's a very valuable resource.



4. This is an excellent book. I have been painting for many years and
   still learned a lot from reading it. In this case I bought it as a
   gift because I liked my copy so much.



5. Over the years, I have bought many watercolor books to help me get started painting with watercolor. I wish I had found this one first. It has the basics and more. The techniques and demonstrations are illustrated extremely well. The text is easy to follow, too. In some cases, it even gives two approaches to painting the same subject matter. Good color theory, too. I know I will use this now and into the future.

5 comments about Logo, Font & Lettering Bible.

1. I can highly recommend this book as it has proved to be an absolute delight! Filled with information, but still presented in a delightful, easy to read and easy to follow way.
   
   Being old enough to have experienced the cantankerous and oft times spiteful ways of early drawing instruments made the historical section alone worth purchasing this book. The Author's knowledge and obvious respect for the earlier designers made for great reading too.
   
   One of the very few publications that one can open on any page and go Wow! plus get good information from.



2. I've recently purchased this book based on online reviews. I've seen good and bad reviews, but I decided to give it a chance. I was amazed by the quality of the print, and the layout of the content.
   
   The looks: The content is beautifully arranged, the layout design and the cover are done by the author herself. It has nice images, full color on every single page. The paper is of great quality. The hardcover size of the book is larger than the usually type of books and it resembles an album art format.
   
   The contents: The book has some big chapters that it deals with. Has good information on how to develop a logo and font design process , about thumb-nailing, brainstorming ideas, drawing by hand and using bezier curves in illustrator. It says what a logo is and what a logo is not. It has some info about how to run a design business as well. The content is very easy to read and understand, from cover to cover as well as a reference material.
   
   The price: very good price given the quality and the presentation.



3. I read glowing reviews of this book before my purchase. They were accurate, the author's passion for type and logo design is evident. A definitive work for the serious designer. No filler in this book. I would go as far to say that this reference work should be mandatory for all graphic design students. As the Bible is indispensable for the believer so this book is indispensable for the true type freak.
   
   Joe Typefreak



4. This book made me LOVE type the way no other book did. trust me just buy it!



5. Not only is it a terrific and easy-to-understand how-to book, but a fabulous idea-starter and it doubles as a coffee table book because it's beautiful to just thumb through.

5 comments about The Art of Resin Jewelry: Layering, Casting, and Mixed Media Techniques for Creating Vintage to Contemporary Designs.

1. The approach of this text is aimed at the beginner, but if you've played around with resin, I'm sure you'll still find plenty to learn between its pages because she covers so much in this 128 page book. Read the rest of my review here: http://jewelrymaking.about.com/od/mixedmediabookreviews/a/071107.htm



2. I am new to resins, but have always wanted to learn. I had taken classes from people who were experts in their field, but found it was difficult to create the resin pieces based on their techniques. I love how Sherri has created techniques that allow me to do them in my small studio space and without much expense. (e.g. in the class I took, the instructor had us use aluminum sheeting to cut and put together to pour the silicone into, Sherri just has you use old sour cream tubs, butter tubs, etc. with the bottoms cut off. That is so much easier and cheaper!) The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that she didn't go into why she (or the artist making the project) chose a particular resin over another based on the project (e.g. polyurethane vs. polyester, etc.). I don't think she covers safety enough, but I teach classes and am a safety freak with my students. Overall though, I am very happy with my purchase and definitely would recommend to anyone wanting to get into resins.



3. I like this book a lot more than another book I got on resin jewelry. This book was easier for a novice like me to understand. It was full of good ideas, explanations about the different types of resin and helpful hints. Best of all, the author mentioned where she got her craft supplies for certain projects.



4. Ever since I saw my first superchunky, gorgeous colored resin bangle, available for sale at an online store back in the early 2000's, I have been intrigued by the mystique of always different resin jewelry. Yes I kick myself to this day that I never bought that bangle!
   
   Now I spot brilliant fabulous clear resin jewlery, with pretty silver embellishments, and inlaid semiprecious stones, for sale online. I see resin as well on etsy with yummy looking real candy pieces or sprinkles and glitter floating cheerily in the molded colorful bangles or pendants.
   
   Well, I have finally broken down and bought my own how to book, from the best teacher around, and I am thrilled! Now that I own this award winning book, The Art of Resin Jewelry, by Sherri Haab, I can stop looking and start doing! Having already "devoured" this great book, I plan to get to work (or to play!) as soon as possible! I am hoping to stretch my imagination to the fullest, and to see what I can do as well, with resin as my launching pad!
   
   Sherri Haab is the perfect guide for a neophyte like me! I need HER clear writing style. I need the fun of seeing the variety of her projects, such as her high art "Pod Bead" bracelet, shown in two colors, and her ultra hip Techno Polymer Clay Bezels (which obviously use more than just resin as the medium you work with). That second project I just mention comes from a whole section in the book she offers which is called "Combining Resin With Polymer Clay". Everthing is so fascinating!
   
   The author is straightforward in her writing style and her book is great, in the manner in which she assists the reader to take the intial steps toward learning how to create coated resin, casted, molded or combined medium resin jewelry.
   
   Not only did she produce this super cool book, she has a website where you can pick up the things you will need to create you own jewelry (molds, resin, colors, powders, bracelet blanks, ring blanks and more) without going through the sometimes confusing process of wandering around in a local craft store or even two, looking here and there and checking and rechecking your list of required resin needs you have to obtain to get started. This book and her site will get you started. Who knows were you will end up!
   
   I love this book! I am please with the saftey precautions she is careful to explain, I love the projects, and I feel that this is a terrific all around crafting book!



5. This book takes the mystery out of working with resin. It explains mold-making in good detail and provides useful info for choosing the right raw materials. Not every artist can also teach, but Ms. Haab is skilled at both. The book is well laid out, not repetitive, and provides sample projects along with a list of necessary materials. Many of the projects are not my style preference, but written descriptions and pictures are clear and can be used for inspiration. Published in 2006, it is recent enough that the raw materials are still relevant and available.

5 comments about Area.

1. You can't go wrong with a Phaidon publication. The book is a very in-depth look at design world-wide. It has tons of examples of great design. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.



2. There is so much inspiration in this book. It's a graet resource for any designer. It will get your little design wheels spinning with fresh ideas every time you open it. There is so much in here and such a broad range of styles and subject matter. Some incredible artists.



3. There is something amazing in the way consumerism has birthed its own brand of art. In the 1880's, when Coca-Cola pushed their first few dollars across the table and asked for a slogan, I wonder if anyone ever dreamed what their industries would become and how much they would owe to this type of expression? I wonder if the idea that Frank L. Balm had about The Storefront Window, saying it was more than a place to keep a store's useless stuff, went beyond the United States becoming the frontrunner in glass consumption and into a field all its own? I ask because the field of Marketing Psychology intrigues me and, accordingly, the things we've birthed to sell items also intrigues me. Maybe "intrigue" isn't even the right world - maybe I should say that they captivate me, forcing me to search high and low for the best lightbulbs burning in the brightest phosphorescent starlight so to influence the migratory patterns of items that are pushed forth by a culmination of thought and a well-oiled pen.
   That is what is so beautiful about Area; it breathes what we are, what we consume, and how this meshes with the very fabric of how we conceive pitch and pitches, ticking and timeless, making up the very definition of art that is more than pictures generated "for art's sake." Looking here, it really reflects how the world has become vibrant and how pictures have shaped the world.
   Locked inside this book is more than a few pictures - its a blueprint of an overlooked history that America wears all over its geography.
   
   When I look at the field of graphic design, I am always tantalized by the creations that come from it, wanting to pour myself into page after page and see the "next big idea." It is somewhat like listening to the heartbeat of millions of people thumping in unison; if it clicks it happens to click, and you know what started the motion. Area proves that, too, showing you how far we've moved past the simple pixel lay-outs and into the realm of technological highs and really ingenious methods of salesmanship, making so many things seem desirable. In Marketing Psychology it is called tapping into the "ideal self" and making people buy a dream that the "actual self" doesn't seem to be able to supply.
   The idea seems easy enough to understand, too, and sometimes people laugh at the power wielded by the pen and call the "needing" lemmings. Here, in this book, I find a lot of laughter falling short of its mark and even the bigger birds of prey noticing things they adore and why they learned to adore it.
   
   When I first bought this book I thought it would simply feed my tastes and purse my lips with the hum of more curiosity, but lately I've noticed how much influence the book has. It has thousands of pictures, quite literally, and sometimes I catch my friends standing with their eyes glued to an item and that blank stare of "something remembering something" coming out as they slow move through the pages. Its as if Ford's comments on the heart of the new type of manufacturing, "machinery is the new messiah," have found application in ways he never intended.
   If you want to see how great that can become, how powerful advertising can become, then you should look at this book and see what I mean. Currently the one I own has been in my clutches for well over a year, and I still have around one hundred pages tabbed just so I can look back over them and marvel at the creativity that thrives in make-believe places orbiting some very real horizons.
   
   Even if you know nothing about art, you know what beauty is and this book comes highly recommended in that department.



4. This book is full of new and refreshing design from around the world. It helps to educate someone like me who, while getting a Graphic Design education, is getting a more traditional rundown of the field and less of a modern-day acknowledgment. "Area" addresses the artists' perspectives and shows a wide variety of visual styles and formats, and will have something extremely interesting for everyone. A great book for any designer's collection. Worth every penny.



5. Inspiration should come from all over the world. And this book gives you that.

5 comments about Canvas Remix: Techniques For Creating Mixed-Media Accessories.

1. Alisa's book really inspired me. Just starting a canvas of my own was so much fun and all of her different techniques expanded what I thought was even possible! I've always wanted to give a personal touch to something like a clutch and my first finished product has inspired me to try so much more. All my friends have complimented the clutch and want me to make them one.



2. I really love this book! It is full of vibrant photos and straightforward techniques that are simple enough for youngsters but totally fun for adults! Alisa Burke has taken a unique approach to creating within one medium-not an easy task- and has come up with all kinds of techniques and projects that the everyday person, without drawing or painting skills can actually accomplish. She also has come up with projects that are easy to duplicate and at the same time can serve as inspiration for creating with your own personal twist! As a quilter and fabric artist I am inspired by Canvas Remix and can't wait to get started on my own canvas creations!!



3. Only saw a couple of projects that were something I would wear or use and I am a funky chic . Beginner techniques .



4. This would be a good book for a beginner experimenting with canvas. For those who have some experience using surface design on canvas you might want to try another book with more more advanced techniques.



5. Alisa Burke has finally produced a book which assumes that the reader is ready for some creative freedom, thus inspiring with ideas and techniques without the need for step by step, copy-cat instructions. This is not a book for those with no idea where to start - this is a book for those who are or wish to be creative and just need the inspiration to let it flow!!
   
   Canvas Remix has given me the passion to pursue some ideas I wasn't sure I was ready to attempt, and to be comfortable with the results one way or another - no rules to say you cant try a project again! It's wild, its fun and it's free-thinking. Be ready to look inside yourself and let your creative diva out!

5 comments about Painting Better Landscapes.

1. The best book I have bought. Goes into visualizing,planning,etc. Covers the guidelines for compositions as well as values and mood. Highly recommend.



2. I bought this book years ago and I continue to come back to this book years later. It's full of good and useful information. Kessler lays out the basics well and provides good solid information for constructing good landscape painting. Her book is a great reference for when I run into problems or am not sure of what I'm seeing when I'm painting. Kessler and John Carlson are the two best books on painting landscapes that I found.



3. On my feedback I had entered the feedback for the wrong book, my apologies, please. This book does have a lot of great information and gives details using great techniques.



4. Well written text, for advanced artist as well as the beginner. Kessler explains her topics very well. She uses a lot of earth tones in most of her paintings, but any artist can adjust the color range to suit their taste.



5. Este libro es estupendo para mejorar tu pintura, tanto seas novato como avanzado, pero especialmente es útil si llevas tiempo pintando, creo que está orientado especialmente para superarte en lo que ya haces. Te hace ver la técnica a seguir, desde que empiezas a inspirarte en una fotografía y su interpretación, la combinación de colores empleados, la mejor composición, profundidad, la forma de trazar con el pincel, y muchas recomendaciones más para superarte en lo ya llevas haciendo un tiempo atrás, como es mi caso. Recomendable para todos.
   AVISO PARA AMAZON.COM: Soy español y hecho de menos que tengais un apartado especial para saber las publicaciones en mi idioma. Todos los libros que he comprado los hubiera disfrutado más si estuvieran traducidos al español.
   
   This book is marvellous to improve your painting, so much be raw as(like) advanced, but specially it is useful if you go time doing(painting), I believe that it is orientated specially to excel yourself in what already you do. It makes you see the technology(skill) to continuing, since you start inspiring by a photography and its interpretation, the combination of used colors, the best composition, depth, the way of planning with the paintbrush, and many recommendations more rides to excel yourself in already doing a time behind, since it is my case. Advisable for all.
   
   I WARN FOR AMAZON.COM: I am Spanish and a fact of less than a special paragraph to know the publications in my language. All the books that I have bought had been enjoyed by me more if they were translated into the Spanish. THANKS.

5 comments about The Way Home & The Bittersweet Summer (Owly (Graphic Novels)).

1. Andy Runton, Owly: The Way Home and The Bittersweet Summer (Top Shelf, 2004)
   
   The first book in Runton's widely (and justly) praised Owly series, this wonderful little book contains two stories: "The Way Home," in which Owly meets Wormy, who gets lost in a storm and wants Owly to help him find his way home, and "The Bittersweet Summer," where Owly and Wormy become friends with some hummingbirds. Owly is, for the most part, wordless; everything is conveyed with expressions and thought bubbles. It's clever and funny and heartwarming, a definite change of pace from most of the graphic novels that have been appearing for the past few years. Definitely recommended for when you need a pick-me-up. ****



2. I ordered the book for my daughter, although it was a little easy. Better for younger readers, but still a cute book.



3. Andy Runton has really hit on something here. He's managed to allow readers to remember what it was like to be a kid - the hurt, the hope, and the perseverance that comes from not having a clue as to what can't be done. That's something that both Adults and Kids should be exposed to liberal doses of.



4. A friend gave me this book...and now I want to buy it for just about everyone I know!
   
   It's a beautiful book with great art and lovely, touching stories.
   
   This would make a great gift for people of all ages - and you will love it, too.



5. I wanted to give my 3 1/2 year old daughter a present for Valentine's Day that shared something I love with her. And, as I love comic books, I was lucky enough to come across Owly.
   
   She loves it! And I love it! And her mom loves it!
   
   It is the perfect 1st comic to give to a kid. Moreover, as there are no words, once you go through the joy of working through the story with her once, she is able to "read" it by herself or to her little friends! What more can you ask for?
   
   You could ask for a wonderful story - Owly has it. Or beautiful art - check. Or great basic lessons of friendship and the beauty of nature - Done and done.
   
   So I highly recommend this book to you and your little ones. It introduces them to a style and method of storytelling in the perfect way.