5 comments about The Watercolorists Essential Notebook.

1. This is really a must-have. Very detailed in a clear and direct language. Excellent for every level of watercolor painters!



2. -I last painted with watercolors when they were in paintbox form -40 years ago in high school art.This book has been a valuable tool in getting me up to speed on present day brushes,paints and techniques.I
   am very pleased with the results I have been able to achieve in
   just a few months time.This book is a definite buy for newbies or as a
   refresher.



3. This has some great step-by-step lessons for creating different effects in a landscape watercolor. The only criticism I have of it is the drab coloring in many of the examples.



4. Let's just say calling me an amateur would be an understatement. I bought this book in high hopes of entering the world of watercolor. It hit the nail right on the head.
   
   The text is informative and precise without being overwhelming. Enough different information and very comprehensive. Although perhaps lacking in the texture/details department. Overall the best of the 3 other books I bought. This one may be the best beginner to intermediate book out there!
   
   The only drawback was the fact it doesn't say in the description that it is for tube watercolors, as I want to use pans...but still I think most techniques will work either way.



5. This is a really great book on watercolor. It is full of wonderful tips and explanations of how to achieve many simple to advanced effects. It also explains why certain colors are better to mix with others for the results you want. It is also amazingly readable. I set it by my reading chair and I am drawn to pick it up and read just for interest. I am learning so much. FYI- I have lots of knowledge about art, but am a beginning to intermediate watercolorist.

5 comments about Color: A Natural History of the Palette.

1. I took for granted all the colors and dyes in our everyday lives -- yet these seemingly simple colors each have a history, a point of origin, a story: these tales are fascinating. (I will never be able look at blue jeans with the same complacence again.) And this is a great travelogue too: Finlay travels the world to search out the colors....



2. This book was recommended to me by a customer in my shop, following a discussion of art and textiles from Indonesia, Central Asia and the Middle East. I found it to be an informative read. It presented a lot of information on the history and anthropology of colors, providing perspectives that I found to be interesting. In some places the author's style was somewhat off-putting which detracted somewhat from the content. That aside, I recommend the book and have in fact suggested it to several artists who have visited my shop, Interesting Stuff.



3. I use some of the fun facts from this book in the oil painting class I teach. A very entertaining and educational travelogue. I really enjoyed how the author tied different narrative threads together.



4. Part travelogue, part history and part study of the origins and source of pigments, "Color" is always informative and engaging. There is no book quite like this. For the painter, amateur or professional, the book will provide inspiration and a new way to look at and think about color. For the non-artist, it is an eye-opening essay into this exciting world. You'll want to rush out and buy a paint set afterwards.



5. Color: A Natural History of the Palette
   
   This book was highly recommended by a potter on an online listserve for potters. I found this book very interesting because of the travels by the author to find the areas that the materials used in color originated. It told me of the history of the area/country where the materials came from, as well as the methods used to develop the colors, and the people who used the colors. She talked about people continuing to use a color (the painter Turner) even though he knew the color would not last, as well a people continuing to use a color that would affect their health (lead as part of the process) because that's the only way to get that color, which continues to this day.

5 comments about Drawing the Head and Figure.

1. This book is not expensive, but is the most useful book on figure drawing I own. I have consulted it so many times that it is dog-eared. A thing that sets this book apart is the way the author uses easy to remember rules of thumb and anatomical "landmarks" to aid in drawing. While not getting too detailed, the author enables you to avoid the gross mistakes that cripple a drawing. For example, the book shows how to successfully draw a quarter view of the head and shoulders, and explains the natural tendency to draw this view incorrectly. This is, without a doubt, the best art book I own.



2. Two weeks ago I couldn't even draw a stick figure with the correct proportions, now, I'm actually drawing males/females quite nice ... for a beginner of course !
   
   This books is awesome ... even though I haven't really paid attention to the 1st part of the book, concerning faces (which really don't generate enough interest at the moment for me as a 3d modeler) the second part, concerning anatomy and proportions was pure gold !
   
   So easy, so nice ... drawing made easy in all possible ways ! I'm still thrilled ! Although at first I was a bit discouraged, after reading the book and getting familiar with it, drawing became so fun. I usually spend about 1 hour per day, and use this baby every time...
   
   I plan in buying my girlfriend a copy of this book in the near future ...
   
   Conclusion: If you're a beginner ... this will be wonderful help ... and best of all it's cheap !



3. This book seems a bit old-fashioned in it's exercises and drawing suggestions. Even the examples of women's faces look like heads of women from the 50's. Maybe it is from the 50's originally. Anyway, it is dated.
   
   The layout is messy and the faces cartoonish.
   I am hoping to find some helpful tips on drawing the human figure but I am not too optimistic so far.
   
   I'd say skip this book as I am sure there are much better ones out there.
   
   If you don't have it check out Drawing for Dummies, it is a MUCH BETTER instructional guide than this one.



4. This is an excellent book, written by a man who was an absolute master of drawing. His depth of knowledge is extraordinary, as is the clarity, simplicity, and comprehensiveness of his approach. As an artist and illustrator I own many books on painting and drawing, and this is one of the best.



5. I grew up reading and using Jack Hamm's "How to Draw Animals", like it was a bible. As a professional illustrator, relying heavily on realism for all my work, his books are a great introduction in learning to see correctly, to gain insight into proportion and drawing skill. Anyone who doesn't get anything out of it isn't putting the time and effort into studying the material. It will help you if you take the time to read it. I just bought this book, as a refresher, as he always has something to teach, no matter what stage of art skill you have. I recommend his books to my students all the time. Art school basics in a book.

5 comments about Writing the Breakout Novel.

1. this is hands down the best 'how to' book for writers and aspiring writers that I've read. It has valuable hints and tips on every page. This man knows the writing craft! Buy it - your writing will get better.



2. The book was very helpful, answer many of my questions and if you follow his suggestion I beleive, I think it will improve your writing and (hopefully) your chances of being published. Now for the "but." There are lots of good and even great writers not getting a chance. There are too many agents and publishers that are looking for "types or formats" not great stories or books. As a reader and hopefully a writer, I am looking for something a little different...The book is well worth a read and it will help the writer understand the process of the New York agents.



3. I'm now reading through Donal Maass's Writing the Breakout Novel for the 2nd or 3rd time, and each time it's very helpful in writing my own fiction. His insights and analyses of what makes a book 'break out' into bestsellerdom or into critical acclaim make one stop to look more critically at one's own writing.
   Really, really helpful. Very practical advice.



4. My rating of course is a dead giveaway that I liked this book, immensely. It deserves high praise indeed for Maass's in depth, yet succinct and clear writing style. His many years of writing experience shine through. And as president of his own Literary Agency, he knows what the industry looks for and he knows how to showcase the important, and indispensable devices you need to master--if you really want to get published. All the chapters conveniently end with a Breakout Checklist, which is a nice way to summarize what you've just read. (Similar to a workbook, which he also offers and is worth getting, especially if you're working on a first draft.) Packed with all the stuff you really need to know; this book, like a great novel, is hard to put down. Believe me, you're going to learn something. If you've read dozens of books on writing, it might be something you've already heard before, or maybe not, but Maass expresses it in a very digestible form. And that makes a big difference. (Comes in handy when you don't get much sleep.)
   
   All right, so here's the big question on everyone's mind. Would buying this book help me write a breakout novel of my own? Answer: YES, it will help you write a much better novel. And quite possibly your breakout novel at that. That's up to you. No particular book is going to hand you the magical keys to literary fame and fortune. But, let me say that of all the books I've read on writing novels, this has been the best.
   
   Now for my only pet peeve. (For your benefit Mr. Maass) What's with the Brand-X cover? As a graphic designer, I understand about white space and simplicity, but honestly, when I first came across this cover I wanted to pass on this book. It's not a bad design; I just think its contents deserve a different representation. Like the cover on your workbook; very nice. (We should be grateful for chapter previews.) Maybe it's just me; who knows if everyone judges a book by its cover. Cheap-looking cover--questionable contents. That's my take. Thankfully, with this book, its contents are the antithesis of its (hideous) cover.
   
   And so, thank you Donald Maass for your insight and expertise. It is well received, and I'm applying what I've learned to my first novel, "A Death for Beauty", which I'm happy to say, is not so far off the mark. I'll query you after one more polish. Hopefully, you'll let me down gently, with even more good advice. Then again, I might soon be on your roster of best-selling authors. Who knows. Ahh, dreaming is such a blessed thing. I think I need a nap.



5. Maass maintains that good storytelling (plot) is more important than good writing (dialogue, characterization, turns of phrase, etc.). With the examples that he holds up--Grisham, Crichton--it's hard not to disagree with him. Why do so many midlist and literary writers fail to "break out"? Low-stakes plots. True, not every reader wants to read about the world in peril...but many readers do, and upping the ante is one of Maass's techniques to be commercially successful. He also provides excellent advice for handling agents, editors, advances, promotion, etc. that will be sobering for many beginning authors.
   
   Maass loses credibility when he moves away from tried-and-true book analysis into more esoteric (and religious) areas. Take, for example, the subsection titled "God at Work in the World": "God works in little ways as well as big ones...Have you ever felt that something that happened to you was fated?" The most egregious religious reference, however, is his citation of Tim F. LaHaye's "Left Behind" series as a breakout work due to its authors' special ability to "make the apocalypse feel real." Huh?
   
   As an author, Maass has written either 14 novels (according to the text) or 17 novels (according to the book jacket) under pseudonyms. Since none of them are mentioned by name, I'm going to assume that he's still struggling as a midlist author. Why he doesn't use his own techniques to write his own "breakout" novel? That's a good question, and one that goes unanswered.

5 comments about John Howe Fantasy Art Workshop.

1. This is a very lovely book for showing how a professional artist goes about his business. I appreciate the lack of product endorsement.
   
   Howe can get rather verbose and sometimes repetitive, but this book is filled with great inspiration in text and pictures.



2. This is a great book and those I've shown my book to agree with me. Amazing talent and very well illustrated. The workshops show amazing creativity.



3. I'm always interested in any collection of John Howe's work and this book does not dissapoint in that regard, it is chock full of illustrations and examples of his approach and techniques. The addition of his insight and advice just makes this a terrific volume with no failings. In addition to being very useful as an instructional book, it's also inspirational. It's worth every penny of it's very reasonable price.



4. John Howe is the artist I credit for making me interested in fantasy illustration, and will always be one of my favorites. It should come as no surprise that the artwork in this book is amazing, and the information presented is also quite insightful. It is not an art how too book, so much as it is a general treatise of John Howe's way of thinking about his work, and going about his creative process. He actually expresses pretty clearly his dislike of anything that feels like a how too process, or is so forumulaic that it can be presented as if there is only one set way to do it. One of the best additions to my art library.



5. This is a wonderful book. I am a big fan of Mr. Howe's work and much of the advice in this book is familiar from John's forum but it's a good chance to see how he works step by step, as well as how he organizes his studio and prepares for illustration jobs. While there are only a few "walkthroughs" featuring new art, the book is full of interesting tidbits of information about the creation of other paintings. There are lots of tips even I who has been painting for many years didn't think of before. John Howe makes a point to encourage readers to find their own unique style and way of painting, unlike many how to books which only show one way of doing things. I particularly love that his sense of humor shows. He honest about illustration and admits that he isn't perfect and procrastinates as much as possible before every job.

5 comments about Abstract Painting: Concepts and Techniques.

1. I only wish I had seen this book before I started painting. It would have saved me time and money. Lots of great creative ideas and techniques. I recommend this book to beginners, like me.



2. This is a great book! It goes into the philosophy of abstract painting, methods, materials, composition, etc. The book also emphasizes each artist's creativity. The artist's interpretation and creativity is what art is all about, and even more so with abstract art, as abstract artists aren't painting something easily recognizable (i.e. a barn). The author did a great job in this book!



3. This book's images are impressive and provide motivation for the novice to explore abstract paintings. However, it really does not go into enough detailed instruction so that techiniques can be applied in the studio. I can't recommend this book except for those painters who 1) already have some experience with abstraction, and 2) novices who want a general introduction and can find other sources to help answer technical questions. It's a pretty book with little technical substance.



4. I have really enjoyed this book. It is informative on technique as well as rich in concepts, as the title suggests. It has many high quality photos, and is filled with wonderful examples. Thought provoking and well written. A welcome addition to my art library.



5. Good book. Really clues you in on the whys and what fors of abstract painting. After reading this book (more than once) I was not intimidated by trying my hand at abstract painting. The photos in the book are awesome. The author knows her art as does those artists who contributed to the book.

5 comments about Drawing for the Absolute and Utter Beginner.

1. An easy to follow, step-by-step instruction on realistic drawing that includes a variety of mediums. As the title states this book is a intended for the raw beginner. Other books such as Betty Edwards "Drawing on the Right Side of Brain" contain similar lessons, but this one "clicked" with me. No drawing book will be all things to all people, but this volume is certainly a good place to start. I can also recommend "Drawing for Older Children & Teens" by Mona Brooks, these titles compliment each other nicely.



2. I can't say I was blown away with this book, nor can I say I was disappointed, this the rating of 3 stars. It has great text to tell you "why" each part is important which a lot of books seem to lack any decent text at all. So for that I give it 5 stars.
   
   I was "expecting" at least some technique tips and pointers, like, here's a good way to draw texture on a leaf, or more concrete examples, like maybe some "tips" in the margins or something. A little cheat to keep you saying "oh cool" or something. At some point it seems to drown in text, which I suppose is probably what a beginner needs, but I'm more of a lets get to it kind of person. I want to see at least something fun at the end of my first lesson, not a squiggly line, so I would suggest complementing this book with a tips and technique book to get a well rounded beginners experience to keep it fun and keep you motivated.
   
   Obviously my expectations were not met, and that may be my own fault. I would say if you are a beginner, this will give you the start and the "classroom" portion, but add a book that will add the FUN and instant success to it too. It's a decent book, give it a shot.



3. Recently I decided to get back into drawing. I purchased this book after reading some good reviews about it on a number of art sites. It tackles not only the technical aspect of drawing, but the mental process behind it as well. I found this important as I was having trouble coming to the realisation of how your mind can hinder you greatly. All in all, the layout of the book is great, the comments and diagrams by students is encouraging and I have certainly found more success in my drawing and sketching results.



4. I like this book because it is very friendly, images are very good and I've noticed it has helped me a LOT in my drawing skills. Quality of the paper is excellent and I think it will help a lot of people like me.



5. This is a fabulous book for the beginning artist. I have just started an art class, and when I found this book I was estatic. It is a great lesson by lesson drawing tool. It is very easy to follow and like the title says it is for the absolute and utter beginner. I also feel like those who ARE more advanced will also benefit from the book. I like how there are examples from her students of all levels.

5 comments about Charley Harper: An Illustrated Life.

1. I purchased this book as a gift. The recipient was delighted with this book, and praised it highly.



2. the unique wildlife art of charley harper did deserve a retrospective dais of honor, but the quality of printing is so low and disappointing...
   as a collector and a passionate wildlife and wildlife art enthusiast i would have bought this book anyway, but if you are looking for high quality art books, then this is not the right address/investment.
   Ron, Israel



3. My dad got this for me as a college graduation gift, and I love it. I've always wanted this book, so was thrilled when I opened it up and saw what it was :)
   In my opinion, the matte finish of the pages suit the artwork well. The only painting that might have benefited from a gloss finish is probably the large ladybug one where the body of the ladybug is one shade of red while the background is another shade...if you have this book and know what I'm talking about.



4. We also saw the program on CBS Sunday Morning and immediately purchased the book. We have had it now for 3 or 4 months. My husband and I bring it out often and keep looking and looking. You see something different every time; the complexity of the simple and the simplicity of the complex. This man's mind was amazing. We are going to buy another one so we can dissasmble it and create a wall of pictures in our son's room that can be changed from time to time. It is one of my favorite treasures. I can't wait until my kids are a little older to look at it with them.
   
   We are not graphic artists or book people. We just buy what we love. Our book does not seem to have any issues or problems. Just beautiful picutures that inspire our mind. Oh and the box it comes in is beautiful too.



5. I gave this large format book to my son who is a graphic designer. I had seen a segment on television about Todd Oldham's admiration of Charley Harper, and the story caught my imagination. My son loved it, and recommended it to a retail store where he works near the Savannah College of Art & Design. They now carry it. Full of inspiration for the artist or the aspiring artist in your life.

5 comments about Landscape Graphics.

1. This book need to be developed as all of the examples are very basic and boring.I am a professional Landscape Architects and I have 10 years experience. I really believe that this book does not present any important information for its users.



2. Over the last ten years, I've recommended several landscape graphics texts to my students, and this is the one they repeatedly tell me they like. It provides a good mixture of how-to instructions and a wide variety of examples--diagrams, plans, sections, elevations and perspectives. Color rendering is not covered (I use Michael Doyle's book, but I'm sure there are other good ones).
   
   ***Students purchasing a used copy of this should check the publication date. The older version (1987) has some amusing and alarming examples--use with caution!***



3. Excellent first year planning studio text book; excellent sketches and explanations, clear and comprehensive diagrams and text



4. Though the book was published in 2002, the graphics may seem a bit dated in our digital age, but the book is an excellent source of skills and design treatments needed in landscape design. Lettering and symbols are very helpful. The book is consistent with college level instruction and is recommended reading.
   
   Dan Halsey
   [...]



5. This book is an absolute must-have for the beginning landscape designer/architect's personal library. As a fifth year landscape architecture student, my book is in wretched condition due to the fact that I refer to it constantly, more than any other book I own. It will continue to be useful to me for years to come.

5 comments about Watercolor in Motion: How to Create Powerful Paintings, Step by Step (Book & DVD).

1. This combo, book and video, is a great buy. Birgit is a wonderful artist and teacher. The book is sturdy and informative as is the dvd.



2. I am a painter of watercolors, mostly self-taught with the use of books. The appearance of this book is very striking, with an unusual and very interesting layout. The illustrations are excellent, and the text clearly describes each step in the fascinating art of watercolor painting. Even though the emphasis is mostly on flower themes, the methods can be applied effectively to any other theme as well. Personally, I am finding it very helpful for improving my process of learning to paint portraits. Although the book itself is a very useful guide, I have learned even more by repeatedly watching the attached DVD with its live illustrations of how to work with watercolors. I realized that this kind of guide was the missing link in my own learning. Although I have watched many YouTube videos on the process of painting with watercolors, in general I have not found them particularly useful. The DVD is very well structured, the technical quality is good, and the educational technique is effective. I have found it very useful.



3. This is a great book and DVD. Woderful exercises that help you paint wet on wet with control and vibrant colors.
   Any one who paints flower or plants will enjoy this book. It helped me to paint with more confidence and to use colors in a more exciting way. I hope to take a clas with Ms. O'Connner someday,



4. Watercolor is a challange for even the best of artists. One is constantly learning application, technique and how to create beautiful images on paper.
   This books demonstrates some of the secrets in achieving flowing watercolor works. The step by step demonstrations help you to learn different techniques such as wet on wet, and soft and hard edges and just the right way to blend colors. It is easy to read, easy to understand and the DVD guides you along making each lesson fun.
   I recommend this book to any watercolor artist both new and seasoned.



5. I bought this book and DVD for a friend and myself. I always say you can learn something from anything you read or watch.
   I learned a lot about using more water with my watercolors and how to layer things a little easier. The DVD was too short for me, so I guess it was good enough to leave me wanting more.