No comments about Tapestry of Cultural Issues in Art Therapy.

5 comments about Ceramic Extruding: Inspiration & Technique.

1. A great book on the technical aspects of extruding. Lots of good photos for ideas and explanations. A good start for anyone into handbuilding or adding flair to their thrown work.



2. Ceramic Extruding: Inspiration & Technique by professional studio artists Tom and Jean Latka, is a thoroughly "user friendly" guide ideal for both aspiring ceramics workers and dedicated hobbyists to the use of a ceramic extruder or pugmill in new and wondrous ways to craft memorable and adventurous artworks in this challenging medium. More than 200 color photographs illustrate the easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions, as well as display possibilities for the finished product. Ceramic Extruding is a highly enjoyable how-to artbook and a strongly recommended addition to any personal, professional, or art school reference collection.



3. If you have been waiting for the best book on ceramic extrusion, it is
   available now Ceramic Extruding by Jean and Tom Latka successfully answers the question of, "Why are all of those clay extruders rusting on potter's walls?" Their answer is thus: Ceramists, like everyone else, have to be inspired to create beautiful work. This book acts as a magical muse for artists by showing over 300 quality photos of beautiful work by some of the finest international contemporary artists working in the medium today. This book's focus is on the recent emergence of extruded ceramic art as dynamic and surprisingly varied form of creative expression.

   "Though the words extrude and extrusion are not ones most people encounter in everyday conversation, we live in a world where we are surrounded by extruded objects. Our brick houses and their tile roofs are made from extruded clay. We shower on extruded tiles, send our smoke and fumes up extruded chimneys and our waste down extruded sewers. From the round O's in your breakfast cereal to the pasta on your dinner plate, extruded objects occupy every conceivable nook and cranny of our lives". Beginning with bricks, Ceramic Extruding details the history of the extruder then demonstrates the ease, as well as the necessity, of using an extruder in one's pottery. The book is organized in a logical manner in order to guide the reader by employing numerous step-by-step instructional methods.
   Essentially, Ceramic Extruding is a how-to book and the projects gradually become more advanced. Apart from the photos, another subject that distinguishes this book from other books on the market is its comprehensive theory of extrusion and was the only chapter I had to read twice. It is a difficult subject. The authors give detailed information on why extruders act in the manner in which they do. For instance, I didn't know that clay moves faster down the center of the barrel than clay closer to the walls. This information is useful for artists who want to design their own dies.

   Educators take note: As a teacher, I know how it feels to give students a
   blank canvas and ask them to be creative. In contrast Ceramic Extruding
   shows how to create a limitless supply of foundation material from the
   extruder for the student.

   The book truly has an international cast of artists, photos of ceramics
   spanning from Australia to Inge Pedersen in Norway. I became aware of
   several renowned European ceramicists. Antonio Cumella, Alessio Tasca, Elina
   Brandt-Hanson, Jim Robison. Other artist's work that impressed me was Ken Williams, Jutta Golas, and Jack Sures. Jean and Tom Latka have an excellent body of work apart from each other, but their collaborative work shines superior.

   Everyone has been waiting for the next thing in clay. Well Latka's Flying
   Hybrid Extruder and Michael Sherrill's novel extruder/wheel could lead to
   the new revolution in clay. The quick release system makes these extruders user friendly. The expansion box is larger than most other machines, and in the case of Flying Hybrid, it out performs slab machines by making slabs faster and more superior. Oddly enough, slab machines compress the clay from the center of the roller to the edges. This creates an unstable molecular structure and cracks result. The clay is evenly compressed in the Vertical Flying Hybrid. An 18"x24" slab is the result when an 8" cylindrical shape 18" long is extruded and sliced lengthwise.

   I would like to sum up with a quote from Michael Cohen. "It is important to find a well-made extruder that is adaptable to your needs. As for the
   wheel, once you learn how to use it, one question ultimately remains: What are you going to make? After mastering centrifugal force and friction, perhaps it's now time to use gravity and inertia to make a personal statement. Like throwing, it only looks easy."

   "Extruding clay takes on a wonderful new meaning when you use the extruder as you would any tool---as one step in the making process, not as an end in itself. The extruder's contribution to the studio can be as profound and influential as the potters wheel --- a slab for the imagination to leap off from". Jean Latka

   Two thumbs up! Burn the other extruder books; this is the only one you will ever need.
   I am an college art teacher at U.S.C. and find it the best book for my introduction course on the Extruder.
   ...




4. The book has an international cast of artists, photos of ceramics
   spanning from Australia to Inge Pedersen in Norway. I became aware of
   several renowned European ceramicists. Antonio Cumella, Alessio Tasca, Elina
   Brandt-Hanson, Jim Robison. Other artist's work that impressed me was Ken Williams, Jutta Golas, and Jack Sures. Jean and Tom Latka have an excellent body of work apart from each other, but their collaborative work shines superior.
   Peter Helm



5. This Krause Publication book, which means it is great, it is about the creative use of the extruder: its history, manufacture and
   production contributions and the creative uses being employed by studio clay artists.
   Over 300 color photos of creative work by a cast of international artists showing innovative uses for the extruder.
   The best book on extrusion.
   Andy Ganhal

No comments about 101 Great Samurai Prints.

No comments about A Mythic Obsession: The World of Dr. Evermor.

No comments about Art After Conceptual Art (Generali Foundation Collection).

3 comments about Mucha Posters Postcards: 24 Ready-to-Mail Cards (Card Books).

1. I was thrilled with the quality of the reproductions! I am using them in a project and they look marvelous. I would recommend this collection highly. Amazon was the first place I'd ever seen this and I have been in many book/gift stores before. This collection had many images that I'd never seen reproduced. The colors are truly sumptuous and "true." The collection includes Luchon, Zodiac, Cycles Perfecta, Lance Parfum 'Roda, 'Bleu Deschamps, Fruit, Moravian Teachers' Choir, Friendship, Sarah Bernhardt/La Plume, a few gorgeous ones which don't have names--and even more! There is a collection of Mucha postcards that were MADE as postcards--they are pretty. But these images come from the best of Mucha's posters. I thought they were a bargain at this price!



2. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!!! I am happy that I purchased this set of Mucha's postcards. It's a great piece for my collection of Art Nouveau. I don't even want to use them as postcards. I 'm gonna keep them for myself! The quality of paper is perfect - the finish is glossy, colors are vivid and deep. I just wish there were more pictures in the set. :)



3. These post cards are beautiful and the quality is great. I can't bring myself to tear them out of the book and actually mail them to anyone. I am going to have to order a second book so I can use them.

No comments about Collage, Artplay for Your Creative Spirit 2009 Wall Calendar.

3 comments about Outsider Art: Spontaneous Alternatives (World of Art).

1. This examination of outsider art begins with artist Jean Duboffet and his formation of the Art Brut movement in the mid-1940s. Duboffet's primary criterion for inclusion in the outsider category was that the artist had to exist outside of the prevalent culture of society. He amassed a huge collection of art that he culled initially from the works of children, and eventually from psychiatric patients. Colin Rhodes goes on to trace the pre-Art Brut history of appreciating the works of the "insane", and proceeds to document representative examples as well as the forces in society that brought attention to them. Rhodes also examines additional sources for outside art including artists working through spiritual mediums, self-taught visionaries creating obsessive environments, and people working outside the mainstream currents of power and culture.

   Rhodes is even-handed while presenting the various schools of thought as well as their rationales concerning outsider art definitions. His writing is academic, and lacks any sense of humor, but is incredibly informative and representative. The book is beautifully crafted, with copious plates reproducing samples from various artists. Together with his academic pontifications, they are very illuminating and convey a full understanding of this broad subject. He also includes anecdotes about the lives of these artists that serve to enliven the experience of reading the book. If you are interested in 20th century art and beyond, and will resolve to be patient with the author's academic tone, I think you will really enjoy this.




2. As a collector of thrift store paintings, I was completely enthralled with this book! I couldn't put it down. I now look at my paintings with a new perspective. This book was able to validate many of my intuitive feelings about the creative process. Thank-you Colin Rhodes for this insightful look at some of the least understood of paintings!



3. A clear concise and thoughroughly interesting view of "Art Brut" in the 20th Century. The representation of work produced outside the mainstream, provides clues and understanding of contemporary art. A must have for a complete art book collection.

2 comments about Ceramics with Mixed Media (Ceramics Handbooks).

1. A wonderful and unusual collection of unique ideas beautifully photographed.
   original, interesting and worth owning.



2. This was not what I expected -Most of the examples have been around forever - not very good instructional or inspirational reading - this was the first book I did not get a new idea from -

2 comments about Posada's Popular Mexican Prints.

1. Posada is known mainly by its illustrations of the death, in this book appears all its work and the illustrations of the death are only a 10% of the book, the others are illustrations of the daily life, critical policy and customs of the Mexico Posada's time.
   
   The quality of the paper and the encuadernación are not very luxurious, but he is agreed with the price.
   
   
   In Spanish:
   Posada es conocido principalmente por sus ilustraciones de la muerte, en este libro aparece toda su obra y las ilustraciones de la muerte son solo un 10% del libro, las demás son ilustraciones de la vida cotidiana, crítica política y costumbres de el México de la época de posada.
   
   La calidad del papel y la encuadernación no son muy lujosas, pero es acorde con el precio.



2. The book is a comprehensive review of Posada's prints. The biographical information is straight forward and well informed.