5 comments about In This House: A Collection of Altered Art Imagery and Collage Techniques.

1. I just love this book, it's chock full of ideas that inspire me to not only 'make' my own house, but with tips that can be used on a whole range of projects. I would class it amongst the 'must haves' of Altered Art books.



2. I'm not an artist, but due to the circumstances of my life I have seen many, many art books. This one is soooo different from your typical "art" book. Is it inspiring from an artistic perspective? Yes. Does it share really cool technique ideas? Yes. But it goes way beyond that to be a really good, visually fascinating book to read and pore over even for someone like myself who will never use any of the techniques. If you love the idea of home, or want to create a beautiful home, or have ever lived in a house, this book is for you. It's a great gift book, because it is beautiful and can spark conversation about what home means. Highly recommended!!! And I can't wait to see what the authors have in store for us next...



3. This book is a visual treasure chest, filled with golden ideas that will inspire any artist (or in my case, those who adore artists). The book is beautifully put together. The photos are crisp and interesting, and the houses moreso. Expect to feel an undeniable urge to go dig through your art supplies and do something new after sitting with this book for a few minutes.



4. To be completley straightforward, I know the artists/authors and have worked on other projects with them. I am writing from the perspective of an experienced artist. I purchased the book to aid me in various problem-solving aspects of creating a model for my contribution to the sequel, which will be published in 2009. I found In This House indispensible and referred to it often with mechanical questions. I truly grew to love the ingenuity of the structure. It is a series of flat canvases, it is a book, and it is a three-dimensional house/home. What's not to like?
   
   Doing a project such as this is an interesting way to create a series of related, interconnected thoughts on the subject of home, a sense of place, and nesting instincts. Structurally speaking, In This House offers the reader a multitude of approaches on how to take a concept and push the bounderies, while at the same time making one canvas relate to the other in color, style, etc.



5. Have I made anything based on this book? No, not directly. Does that matter? No. Because every time I look through it I see something new, get a new idea, have a new thought about my art process.
   This is an incredibly beautiful and inspiring book - and well worth all manner of artist having on their book shelf.

5 comments about Altered Books, Collaborative Journals, and Other Adventures in Bookmaking.

1. I was so pleased with this book. It has been 2 weeks and I'm still going through it. You know, one of those books that just keep on inspiring you to make your own journal. It has lots of great ideas. It doesn't have instructions for everything but does give you some tips on the different techniques. I highly recommend it.



2. Interesting book that has spreads from altered books by a number of different artists. Each example shows a different technique and tells you in a paragraph or so how the artist created that particular page and what they were trying to say through it. Its not a step by step book so its better to already be familiar with altered book techniques first but once you have the basics this will give some good examples and other ideas. (e.g. "to create a dreamy, wash-ed out effect, the artist primed the pages with gesso and then worked layer by layer with watercolor crayons.") There are other books that I'd buy first before this one (like Altered Book Workshop by Bev Brazelton) but this is a nice addition to the library too. I don't have an art background - I'm self-taught - and I kind-of feel like I have to read between the lines and experiment to get the effect that is desired. I think someone with a few art classes under their belt would get even more out of the descriptions that I do. Great book though, glad I have it.



3. i've browsed through the selection offered at bookstores and i must say this one blows me away totally so i had to buy it off the shelf and bring it home! this book doesn't necessary go through the steps of creating one, but by the detailed pictures and variety, plus a bit of your crafty imagination, we can achieve a lot more via our own creativity, using ideas from this fascinating book to create our own altered books. not to mention an AB idiot like me, the information it offers all the way from AB communities to materials is priceless. i can't wait for more from Holly. ^_^ keep 'em comin'!



4. Only 4 stars because if you buy this book for what it's supposed to offer you'd be disappointed. This is not a book about the HOW to alter books.. but more of a journey at looking at other people who have.

   * This book is a showcase of books.

   * This book will not help someone who has never got into book-making before

   * This will provide you with inspirations to do something, it doesn't treat you as a pre-schooler saying 'cut here.. paste this' etc. It is all about setting your own creative spirit free.

   * Combine this book with a more basic 'how to' if you really need it, but for someone who is willing to experiment this book will get you going.




5. This book goes far beyond "eye candy". It's a visual delight with page after page of juicy and intriguing examples of book ideas and altered books. If you're a beginner, you may be frustrated by "how'd they DO that?" questions that could never be answered in just one book. Instead, the author has filled this book with vivid, rich and dazzlingly innovative examples of what you can do with an altered book. Intermediate and especially experienced paper artists will leap from one inspiring page to the next, saying, "Ooooh, what if I mixed this idea with that one and...," in lightning-fast brainstorming that this book can spark. I highly, highly recommend it if you want raw inspiration by artists with originality that soars. (Holly, we want MORE of this!)

5 comments about Southwestern Pottery: Anasazi to Zuni.

1. a beautiful coffee-table book on old and modern Southwestern Pottery. I would have liked a little more on the old stuff and a little less by modern potters, but it is a minor quibble.



2. this is a beautiful book the the pictures in the book are so vivid and colorful, it would make a wonderful addition to any library or it would make a great coffee table book!



3. I was impressed with the display groupings presented and the journey of the authors beginnings of his collections and the knowledge he aquired along the way. He gave good advice to new collectors. I open it daily and alway see something I missed. It's a great book to add to your collection.



4. I'd been looking for a book like this for ages. It goes through every pueblo's pottery, describing the special characteristics of each, and talks about the important potters in each pueblo.
   
   This is very well written in an easy going, non-snobish style, instantly increasing your depth of knowledge in southwestern pottery. The photographs are excellent and plentiful, giving many diverse examples from each pueblo/region/era.
   
   Highly recommended for those new to collecting. I gave a copy to my parents in New Mexico, and even though they had been doing a bit of collecting for years, they have a much better understanding of the history of some of the pottery sitting on their shelves. They love this book.



5. This is an excellent book for both the beginner or serious student of Southwestern Pottery. It gives examples of all styles, types, and designs, making it easy for anyone to understand what makes each Pueblo's pottery unique. Perhaps not as "in depth" as some others, this book is easily the best book out there today as far as explaining and illustrating the basics. It really is an indispensable guide and reference book. The authors are regular guys rather than scholars, so it is easy and enjoyable to read, and filled with great photos of their quite amazing collections. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a place to begin learning about Southwestern Pottery.

5 comments about The Ceramic Spectrum: A Simplified Approach to Glaze & Color Development.

1. I read it in only few days and I learned more than a year of reading other books on ceramics and on the process of doing glazes.
   It teach you how to master the very hard work of doing glazes in a right way letting you to follow your ideas but with strong bases and by using your brain.
   It teach you also how to work in easy ways with the right organisation of your ceramist job.
   This is the most useful book I have read in these last years together with two other books,that is : Clay and Glazes for the Potter and The Potter's Dictionary of Materials and Techniques



2. The Ceramic Spectrum is filled with detailed information and wonderful color pictures of glazing procedures and results. Extremely detailed color pictures of different glazes, errors made during glazing as well as mixing or modifying glazes from existing compounds. This book covers details from simple glazing techniques to complex crystalline glazes, and textural glaze applications. It has detailed explanations of glaze testing, color testing, glaze application and application faults. Almost all subjects are covered with color pictures of different techniques, faults and treatments. A totally complex subject treated in understandable terms. If you want to mix glazes, understand glaze procedures and techniques, avoid common errors, etc. this is the book for you. Excellent.



3. It is comparativelly expensive and with little procedural information.
   More than a tutorial it may work as a reference for materials.
   
   Buy it if you have extra shelf space and 30 bucks.



4. This book has more information on glazes and colorants than any other book I own. Robin Hopper's explanation on the breakdown of glaze and color development is truly amazing. This is not a book for the "I want it done easy person", but a book for the the person who wants to know how something is done. He leaves computer technology out and leaves knowledge up to human resource and personal experience. Unlike other books, I truly LEARNED something from this one.



5. This book has information that I've long been looking for, especially related to color development in ceramic glazes. I've learned quite alot in the short time that I've had the book (only 1 week).

   Highly recommended.

3 comments about Land & Environmental Art (Themes & Movements).

1. This Themes and Movements series of books is an excellent one for the neophyte as well as the
   expert.



2. Worth the price, a complete and well done editorial work. I recomend the entire series Themes & Movements.



3. This book should be a permanent reference for all artists including photographers and architects. The timelessness of the projects reflects the timelessness of the book itself. The diversity of projects and their ideas makes a remarkable statement about art and its boundaries.

5 comments about Polymer Clay Surface Design Recipes: 100 Mixed-Media Techniques Plus Project Ideas.

1. This book had some interesting techniques in it, but for the most part this isn't something that will get a lot of use. I'm not all that into uing paint on my clay and this book has several paint treatments. So for me, this book wasn't that great.



2. I really like this book for the fact that although i do not use polyclay often, this books ideas on color, scheme, and technique can work for most media. i thoroughly enjoyed the eye candy but savor it mostly for the secret recipes on coloration. i would recommend this book for all involved in visual arts.



3. Great information, I would recomend it to anyone who likes Polymer Clay.



4. This book needed writing! Thank you, Ellen for sharing years of experimentation and innovation. as you created your art. The specific information contained within its covers could well save an artist much time and money.
   
   Great information and a must have resource on surface treatments and polymer clay.
   
   Donna Kato, author of The Art of Polymer Clay



5. Some techniques in this book were new to me and some I have done for years. I like this book because it is a good collection of surface treatments all in one place.

3 comments about PreFab Now.

1. A Luscious book - with inspirational photos, in both quality and selection. A valuable book for educating those new to this trend in building, so they can abandon old ideas of prefab and look at the hot creative and even green possibilities.



2. PreFab Now
   
   For me, this was a pleasure to look through. The variety of homes covered in the book are extensive; and the photography captured the Pre-Fab installations beautifully. I plan on building a Pre-Fab in the future and I found this book to be a great source of inspiration and visual information.



3. PreFabNow, $26.37 Amazon.com, is a two hundred page square-format book from author James Grayson Trulove. His recent hardbacks include 25 Apartments and Lofts Under 2500 Square Feet, New Sustainable Homes, and The Modern Townhouse. This volume highlights prime examples of striking prefabricated homes on the market today - and examines facets such as cost, durability, and sustainability. The book also includes drawings, plans, renderings, and sumptuous full-page color photography from various architects and photographers.
   
   Resolution: 4 Architecture envisioned the Mountain Retreat that occupies 18 of the first 30 pages appearing after the Contents and Foreword. This 1,800-square-foot home was assembled in a factory before being erected on-site in the Catskills. Once the prefabricated bars were raised, exterior sheathing of cedar board and cementitious panels were applied; a deck for entertaining was also added. My favorite element on this house is the butterfly roof with clerestory windows.
   
   English countryside homes like Cedar House - designed by Hudson Architects - are enviable. This 3,450-square-foot home (utilizing off-site construction) was erected in just one week. Timber-panel floors, roofing, and walls allowed for easy installation; 15,000 untreated cedar shingles complete the exterior. Because the roof structure was lightweight, roof beams were not required - therefore the residence has soaring ceilings and vast open spaces. My favorite feature on this structure is the cantilevered corner window in aluminum-frame.
   
   Flexibility and portability are found in the Portable House from Office of Mobile Design. This California dwelling has ample living and sleeping spaces divided by a kitchen and bath. Once the 12-by-60-foot steel frame is trucked to its site and set on a foundation, the exterior is fitted with metal siding and translucent polycarbonate panels that serve as windows. My favorite detail here is the bamboo flooring, since bamboo is a sustainable hardwood.
   
   Another home designed by Resolution: 4 Architecture is in rural Virginia. The Country Retreat is a 2,600-square-foot house with communal areas on the lower level and private areas on the upper level. Once its prefabricated bars were raised, exteriors of horizontal cedar siding and cement-board accents were applied; a ground-level stone courtyard conceals a swimming pool. My favorite attribute of this retreat is the view from the dining/living area onto the aforementioned courtyard.
   
   Besides the Mountain Retreat, my favorite residence in PreFabNow, is the Red Cabin designed by Alchemy Architects. Perched in the Minnesota woods, a 750-square-foot house with two bedrooms and a galley kitchen evokes the image of a tugboat stranded atop a hill. Configured from two pre-built modules, the home appears spacious due to ground level and rooftop decks. Clad in rough-sawn siding, the house is painted firehouse red to mimic nearby cabins.
   
   Next I'll discuss the X 1 which is part of the X-Line from Hive Modular. This 2,300-square-foot modular home - also located in Minnesota - has 15 foot ceilings in the dining, kitchen, living, master and second bedroom, and study area. Its exterior is covered with maintenance-free fiber-cement and metal siding, and the windows are all black-clad aluminum. I'd say the architects at Hive Modular are fans of the artist Mondrian, based on this prototype.
   
   Of the houses featured here, I especially like the Mod3 Riverview. This green home was designed by Studio 804 of Lawrence, Kansas. All its ceiling, floor and wall cavities are filled with recycled cellulose instead of fiberglass insulation. The exterior is home grown Douglas fir used to reduce fuel consumption associated with shipping materials from overseas. Floor to ceiling windows utilized here also insure ample natural light, reducing the need for artificial light.
   
   While I can't imagine living in a Mobile Dwelling Unit - designed by Lot-Ek - it does possess a certain post-Millennial charm. This unit is built from recycled shipping containers. Its interior and sub-volumes are fabricated from fixtures, plywood, and plastic-coated plywood. When all the sub-volumes are extended, the square footage of the dwelling increases by ten percent. Overall, I'd say this is an excellent coffee table book for anyone that's contemplating buying a prefab home.

5 comments about Mixed-Media Collage: An Exploration of Contemporary Artists, Methods, and Materials.

1. This book is not just a collection of pictures of interesting projects, but each artist includes what inspired them, materials used and tips on creating similar works. You can get ideas from each artist to use in your own work or just enjoy getting in to the head of the artist. There are lots of different styles, techniques and ideas and they are all well illustrated with great photography. This is one book I'll be sure to keep around.



2. I have many, many books in my mixed media, collage library. This one is awesome. I go back and look at it time and time again for new inspiration.



3. After a quick introduction to collage and collage tools, the book is divided into two sections.
   
   Section one features in-depth profiles of five artists. Each artist is interviewed and interesting questions are asked about their creative process, their inspiration and why they choose to use the materials that they do. Multiple pieces of their artwork are shown. One project is featured with stepped-out directions and photos so you can learn their technique.
   
   The five artists profiled and directions for their project are:
   1. Laurinda Bedingfield: 3D collage book sculpture with photographs
   2. Barbara DePirro: using acrylic gel medium to create the look of encaustic
   3. Paula Grasdal: printmaking and collage
   4. Sharon McCartney: mixed-media multi-paneled wall hanging
   5. Teesha Moore: mixed-media journal page
   
   Section two is a gallery of two pieces of artwork from 20 different contemporary mixed-media artists. The information includes brief technique explanation, inspiration, and a list of supplies used.
   
   The strengths of this book are that there is a great variety of type of artwork represented. This is not a book of fads and trends. It was clear to me that each artist is following their own voice and making their own unique kind of art that they enjoy working with. For this reason I treasure the book, because there are other publications on the market which seem to display the `trend of the season'. This book is fresh and unique. Just seeing different types of artwork and seeing these artists using their own inner voices to guide their art (even if I personally didn't love the look of all of it) made me want to go and make some art.
   
   The book closes with some essays on the topic of the artist on the Internet. Directions on how to do photo transfers and how to do encaustic collage are provided.
   
   The book has a products resource guide, a vendor listing and a directory of all the artists featured in the book.
   
   The paper in the book is high quality glossy paper. The layout is very nice and the photographs are in full-color. This was very nicely put together.
   
   I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in mixed-media collage. If you love to read about what inspires artists and about people's creative process you will really enjoy this book.
   
   On a more personal note...
   My personal take-away from this book is a feeling of freedom of expression and a desire to go make my own personal style of art. In the past I have felt uncomfortable when I was creating art that was not the current trend, especially after reading certain books or a certain art magazine. Also while doing mail art swaps I have been criticized for making art that is not the hot fad of the day, for using different colors or materials than some people were. I personally don't plan to copy the work of these artists even though there are stepped out directions for five projects. What each of us takes away from a book is unique and that is alright.
   
   I also really enjoy reading about what inspires artists and what their creative process is like. I smiled when I read that one artist creates while sitting on her living room floor with images all around her. I prefer more talk of the creative process and inspiration rather than the books that only feature the finished art piece yet leave me wondering, "What was the artist thinking, why did they make that?".



4. I am not quite sure what I expected from this book. Yes, I did think there would be the same type of collage and craft but what I did not expect was the same old hats on people, heads on other bodies (refer to T.Moores stuff on the cover and inside) techniques that have been done to death to name a few negative points. It was a grave disappointment. It would seem there really has been nothing new from this area of paper arts for an awful long time.
   
   A few good points about the book is that it uses some male artists in a predominately female field. Further, the photography and lay out is very good. It also discusses faux encaustics. Sadly, I bought it and sold it in the same week.



5. Definitely a grab bag of goodies: Nuts, prizes and candy (literally). After reading other reviews, I had to put in my 2 cents. Yes, some of the pieces in this book are more "crafty" than others. The cover of the book makes no claim to presenting art rather than craft. The word "art" covers more ground today than in the past & I would consider most of these pieces works of art. Duchamp's mounted urinal entitled "fountain" was considered art in its day (and probably still is). Art is in the eye of the creater and the beholder. If you're not creating or beholding, then why bother to complain. So what's the matter with the pieces presented in this book? What's the matter with craft anyway? Geez.
   
   The techniques explained might not walk you start to finish and help you achieve the exact works of art presented here. They do provide starting points for the reader to come up with their own artworks. Sorry, there are no step-by-step methods to transfering photos to lampshades. There are loads of insights into how each artist creates. I purchased this book to read each artist's "spark", their methods, and their tools. I also want to look at the beautiful photos again and again.
   
   My only complaint about this book is that there is not enough fiber art.

4 comments about The Japanese Pottery Handbook.

1. I teach pottery and always have at least one Jananese student in my class. (Some times they speak very little English)
   This is the most basic pottery book. There are no color photos but what wonderful step by step instructional sketches, the sheer number of forms and different designs is truly Awesome.
   This book is written both in English and in Japanese. I can't tell you how much this book has help bridge the language barrier (I speak Zero Japanese).
   My students both Japanese and American love the book. Worth every penny.



2. This is an excellent book for the price! Simple and straight forward, it's a great learning tool and gives you some good basic info.



3. A very basic handbook if you are looking for pottery techniques, but invaluable for the English/ Japanese translations and terminology in hiragana, katakana and kanji for the Western potter who travels to Japan. Not many books around that gives one access to this terminology to enable one to discuss ceramics with the Japanese potter.The terminology regarding forms, descriptions, glazes, underglazes, etc are exellent, with helpfull maps on kiln sites and the different wares found in the different regions of Japan.



4. This informative and delightful book is a must for any potter. With charming and clear illustrations the authors provide information on tools, workshops, forming, decorations, kilns, etc. Even common problems are illustrated! Towards the end of the book, drawings of various forms will prove a valuable resource to many a potter. This book has become a constant reference in my own studio. Please note that two languages are used in the book, Japanese and English, accenting the visual delight of this well designed book.

3 comments about The Big Book of Layouts (Big Book (Collins Design)).

1. Most of the layouts and designs look quite impressive. However, there are some examples that should have not made it into this book unless the author was trying to showcase some examples of what not to do. If that's the case, then I totally missed the point.



2. I really liked the book. Excellent quality and very useful. The only problem is that it was damaged in the shipping. Maybe the way it was packed wasn't strong enough to protect the book...



3. Although it sounded like an interesting book, initially I bought it with high expectations; and it did not disappoint me at all. With bright pictures, crisp graphics, great layout is reassuring: I know I have a reliable source to go back to anytime I feel clueless!
   
   I would recommend this book to anyone stuck in a rut, looking for excitement and challenge.