3 comments about Minimalism (Themes & Movements).

1. Altogether a worthwhile book. Good photos, good writing. I have dipped into into it repeatedly.



2. This is my favorite book in my art book collection. If you like minimalism this is a great read with tons of colorplates, a historical survey of the movement, and relevant writings from top art historians and artists.



3. A glorious book combining a multitude of exquisite images of important Minimalist works with an unusual book design that includes overlapping fonts, and font sizes that progressively downsize as the reader moves through the text. (The book designers must have had a ball with this job.)

   The first section is loosely defined as a history of the development and basic tenets of Minimalism. An idea that weaves throughout much of the work termed Minimal is the use of serial geometry, industrial materials, and factory production methods that deny the centuries-old tradition of art as a unique, hand-crafted object that cannot be replicated. Although Minimalism is no longer avant-garde, its influences are felt today in Conceptual and process art, as well as Neo-Geo. This section goes beyond the traditional survey that simply is a factual list of themes or ideas utilized by each particular artist to also include critical response to the work. Minimalism is broadly characterized as a response to and reaction against the subjectivity, gestural mark-making, and private vision of Abstract Expressionism.

   The bulk of the book, the second section, is given to reproductions of the works by the Minimalist artists and those often associated with Minimalism. Large photos are accompanied by captions that describe that particular piece.

   The third and final section is a collection of writings, interviews, and other publications by critics and the artists themselves, chronologically arranged to illustrate the chain of discourse eminating from important exhibitions of Minimalist work.

2 comments about Teach Me Too!.

1. This is one of those books where the author couldn't care less about lesbians, but the publisher realizes that girls-loving-girls sells, so they put three nude women intertwined together on the cover despite the fact that there are very FEW lesbian scenes in this book! I CALL THAT FALSE ADVERTISING! I was very disappointed as a result! It's an illustrated book largely filled with drawings of guys with their genitalia hanging out. Not erotic or even interesting. Why can't they be honest and make that clear on their cover picture? Answer: Because they want to sell to gullible people like myself.
   
   THE COVER PICTURE IS THE BEST PART OF THIS BOOK!!!



2. This book only has seventy-two pages, but they are all eye-openers. Very, how shall I say this, informative, that's how I'll say it, informative. As you know there is more than one way to do it and it's possible to do it with more than one person, even at the same time. It's all here, in this delightfully outrageous animated, cartoon-type, picture book that now has a prominent position on my coffee table.
   
   And what a converstation piece this book is. Friends come over, we talk, maybe have coffee, or a glass of wine if it's after 5:00 or so. Their eyes will drift to the book, but, of course, they don't mention it. However, if I leave the room, you know, like if I have to go to the bathroom, or if I go out to the kitchen to get some more wine, well, faster than you can say fast, they have this book up and in their hands, leaving through the pages faster than the speed of light. Then they go through it again, slower. Then I come back, catch them with the book in their hands, `cuz they can't put it down and we talk. Some very interesting conversations, let me tell you.

2 comments about Paper Clay (Ceramics Handbooks).

1. This is a short but comprehensive book that explains how to make paper clay, covers the construction techniques of using paper clay, and discusses the various additives, finishes, and firing methods associated with paper clay. The author provides a good explanation of the advantages of paper clay over traditional types of clay. The guidance is concise but more than sufficient to implement the methods and techniques covered in the book. I found the book to be well produced with clear illustrations and a serif typeface that enhanced the readability. I mostly liked the works used to illustrate what can be done in paper clay. Much of the book tends to emphasize the making of sculptural works but the information applies just as effectively to functional wares. I found the use of p'slip as a contraction for "paper clay slip" to be a bit annoying but overall was very much pleased with the well-organized presentation of useful information.



2. This is a useful great book about "paper clay". However, the editorial description of this book doesn't quite tell you what "paper clay" is, so here is a nuts and bolts description: Paper clay is ceramic clay (slip or dry powder+water) that has had some percentage of fiber mixed into it, which produces a product with very interesting properties. The fibers can be paper, or refractory such as ceramic fiber.
   
   Because of the intermixed fibers, the unfired clay is stronger and can be manipulated when very thin, so it facilitates new kinds of clay sculpting. Additionally, because the fiber provides a sort of scaffolding that prevents shrinkage, "paper clay" can be used in new ways that traditional clay cannot, such as adding on to or repairing already bisqued pots. There is lots more, and it is all well discussed in this book, with some mention in the editorial description.
   
   The style of the book is NOT that of a craft recipe book, it is a thorough discussion of paper clay usage and variations, firing issues, fiber sources, steps in making and using, etc. There are specific charts and tables in the appendix.
   
   The topic is definitely worth five stars to anyone who works in clay. The only reason I am giving it four stars instead of five is that I can imagine even more comprehensive coverage, especially of use of castable refractory fiber -- other than that, it is worth five stars. But it is definitely an informative and useful book, which benefits from being the successor of several previous books on the topic by the same author.
   
   NOTE: There is a commercial product called "Paper Clay" which seems to be some sort of air-dry paper mache. The paper clay in this book is entirely different, a ceramic material which requires kiln firing.

5 comments about The Ceramic Glaze Handbook: Materials, Techniques, Formulas.

1. The BEST book a beginner can get on glazing. Explains alot of the chemicals used in glazes and breaks it down for you (what they do etc). I would get this book before you get other glaze books.



2. Very informative for beginner even. Well explained and pleasant to read. Like it very much.



3. When I ordered the book, there was no reader's reviews. All three reviews appeared the next day after I ordered the book. I would not have purchased it if I had read those reviews. However, when the book arrived, I checked it against the corrections [website] and found that all but one error have been corrected (foot note for middle picture on page 118). There is no indication that the book in my hands is a second printing.

   This book is well illustrated and extremely well organized for easy comprehension. The pictures of the test tiles for major colorants laid out in a modified 2 x Y factorial design is extremely informative. The format of having one illustration by each formula is the most inspiring and useful way of presenting the formulae. Get this book and Hopper's the Ceramic Spectrum if you want to start formulating your own glazes.




4. Our ceramics instructor and I (perennial student) found this book in a local library and our class loves it. We participate in a potter's guild situation, not an academic fine arts class, so the clear explanations in this book by Burleson help cut through the haze of what glazes are made of, how to take care of them, and how to experiment with them. We can't wait to get started.



5. This is a decent book, but...there are a number of errors in it. Be sure and get the corrections from the publisher at:

   http://mercury.larkbooks.com/glaze/correct.pdf
   http://mercury.larkbooks.com/glaze/index.pdf

   Other than that, it is a good book on glaze materials, mixing, and application. Includes a variety of recipies for use at various cone temps.

   Updated info...the second printing has corrected the errors that I mentioned above.

1 comments about Chris Burden.

1. I actually bought this book for myself, because my dad and brother had both bought it and I couldn't stand not having my own copy to spend loads of time mulling over. This book is a great retrospective book, full of pieces and images of pieces you may not even know, shedding new light on an already amazing artist...It also has some really great critical essays.. enjoy...

2 comments about Roman Art and Architecture (World of Art).

1. This is an excellent read and also a must to have in your library. The author disusses in great depth various Roman structures. In many of the sites, he goes into detail about where the material would come from, whether it was trade or something made from the city's natural sources, and also discusses influences among the Greeks and the Romans.



2. A perfect guide for roman mania interested in more than merely picture of its monumentum, this book contains colourful images of various types of ROMAN architecture scattered around its territory with plain explanation. And the book's hand-carry size makes your reading more confortable.

3 comments about Ceramics.

1. The book itself is informative but not all that captivating. Other than that the item was brand new and arrived in fabulous condition in a short amount of time. I was very happy with the sender.



2. This book is not a glossy full-color presentation of the world's spectacular ceramic pieces. It does contain a hundred or so black and white illustrations of ceramics from almost all cultures; ancient and modern. Philip Rawson writes about the general concept of ceramics, the techniques, and the philosophy and symbolism. I found this book to be very helpful in that it gives an overview of all types of ceramics and allows the interested potter or sculptor to survey Rawson's intriguing perceptions. This book promotes ideas and facilitates their coming to the reader through discussions of his seemingly infinite observations. Rawson was a brilliant art professor and brings amazing viewpoints to his readers. Ideas, after all, are the most important factor in creating works of art.



3. Every potter and vessel maker, every student and teacher of ceramics, every person interested in ceramics should read CERAMICS by Philip Rawson. In fact, you will want to own a copy of this book so you can re-read it and loan it to other people. (I received no compensation for that statement.) CERAMICS is an exceptional source for expanding your knowledge of and vocabulary for critically viewing, appreciating, discussing, and writing about ceramics.

   In CERAMICS, Philip Rawson, a prolific writer and art critic, gives a fascinating and lucid examination of the evolution and aesthetics of ceramic form. He states, "One of the prime reasons why ceramics is such an interesting art is that it fills the gap which now yawns between art and life as most people understand their relationship."(6) Rawson then introduces ideas critical to looking at and fully understanding ceramics such as the relationship of function to the origins of most ceramic forms and how that relationship affects our experience of ceramic objects. He also addresses the inherent attraction of a recognizable material transformed by the human hand into a new object with symbolic or metaphorical value.

   Following a comprehensive but concise overview of the techniques and processes involved in making ceramics, Rawson gives an in-depth discussion of how form, surface and design, combined with the ideas of transformation and forms' residual relationships to function, create meaning in pottery. Well-chosen photographs, illustrations, and vessel profiles accompany the text.

3 comments about The Potter's Eye: Art and Tradition in North Carolina Pottery.

1. An absolute gem of a book; clear, comprehensive, and beautifully illustrated.



2. A fine book with essays and some 90 photos with commentary on pieces shown in the NC Art Museum's early 2006 exhibit. But if you are not familiar with pottery and potting be sure to read at least the first dozen or so comments on the individual pottery pieces - some important descriptions and definitions are provided of the various kinds of kilns, pottery designs and styles. Otherwise you may be baffled by the name and term dropping later in the book.
   
   A book I will revisit often. The photographs are superb and the essays are insightful. I especially liked the discussions by potter and exhibit curator Mark Hewitt on the interplay of tradition and contemporary work: "a delightful syncopation of perception and expression, nudging the old world into the present...tradition is a mirror, reflecting who we are and how we measure up. It is the voice of our pottery forebears, encouraging, revealing, holding our feet to the fire. Tradition is one of the voices of the divine."



3. The Potter's Eye by Mark Hewitt and Nancy Sweezy is a must for lover's of North Carolina pottery. Organized in a logical way, the book offers a wonderful review of the stoneware tradition still alive in North Carolina. The book connects the North Carolina tradition of pottery making with traditions in Europe, Asia, and other states in the U. S.
   
   Lavishly photographed with rich details, The Potter's Eye is sure to impress. Perhaps the best part of the book are the interviews included with modern potters: Kim Ellington, Mark Hewitt, Ben Owen III, Pam Owens, Vernon Owens, and David Stuempfle. Legends in their own time.
   
   The Potter's Eye is not a coffee table book. It will become an integral part of your library as soon as you receive it.
   
   Peace

1 comments about Garden Mosaics Made Easy.

1. I was very disappointed with this book. All the projects are simply slightly different stained glass designs to incorporate in mosaics. No new creative or innovative techniques or ideas.

2 comments about Art of Midway: Before Pixels and Polygons.

1. I found there to be too much character & creature creation - aren't you glad we're all different? I really liked the landscape & environmental work - especially since the current push in video games is to make them more cinematic I see a need for vast improvement in landscapes & environments, needed by me to draw me into the game. And I really enjoyed the comments by the artists.



2. Lots of background for each individual painting is done by the artist who created the painting. They try to describe the mood, atmosphere, and feeling desired for each painting. Emphasis is given to environments and backgrounds, although there is a fair amount of character development and creature creation. Most paintings are finished work and not much preliminary work is shown.