No comments about Judy Pfaff.

3 comments about The Art of Al Rio, Vol. 1.

1. The book was okay. I have a print I bought from Al Rio's website, and I love his style. There were some great pictures in the book, but I didn't expect to see the nude pictures. For $10 though, I didn't lose much money. In hindsight, I would not buy the book again.



2. The front and back cover is colored, but all illustrations inside are black and white, like the majority of his work on his website. I have browsed Al Rio's entire picture archive on his website, and I would say roughly half of the images in the book are not posted on his website, so that was a nice bonus. A few of the pictures are somewhat explicit, so not for the younger viewer. A great buy in my opinion.



3. SQP presents the first volume of the art of Brazilian artist Al Rio who has worked for Marvel, DC, and Image among many others. Al Rio has a sensuous, powerful, and yet playful style and he can very from finely detailed pen & ink illustrations to slyly comical works where you have to pay attention to everything going on in the background. This volume presents a rather eclectic sampling of the artist's work from rough pencil sketches to finished pen & ink illustrations.
   
   A major theme throughout the book is jungle women or cave women, some in the midst of battle with giant reptiles or apes, and some where they are simply lying demurely, frolicking with other jungle life. While modern, it reminds me of the great art on the 30's and 40's jungle pulps as Al Rio does a great job conveying the action and movements in his works. Besides the jungle themes, you'll find themes of horror, fantasy, bondage, angels, rockers, lesbians, and gun-blazing action. His Lara Croft pieces are particularly outstanding. Al Rio's art is very crisp with clean lines and amazing detail, particularly in his backdrops.
   
   The back cover sports a beautiful nude medusa in full color, smiling as she holds a skull, while her serpents writhe about. In an outstanding piece called "Fuzzy Muffin" a lovely blonde seductress leans against her bed, holding a stuffed animal in a `strategic' location over her body. "Ice Cream Dream" is an almost Mad Magazine-like scene with two very buxom women walking their dogs while the cartoon like men gawk in the background at the pair of beauties. There are many pieces that harkens back to the classic pin-up days of the 40's and 50's such as the one depicting a sexy, topless artist, hard at work and thy shy, pony-tailed girl looking back over her right shoulder.
   
   The collection features both nude and non-nudes in a truly mesmerizing collection of gorgeous women. Al Rio is an artist supremely talented and capable of working in any form or genre but his beautiful women are certainly the highlight of his work and a must have for anyone who is a fan of erotic or pin-up style art.

No comments about Jake Chapman: The Marriage of Love & Squalor.

1 comments about Art History: A Critical Introduction to Its Methods.

1. I had to buy this book for an art history course in college. Nevertheless, if you want a comprehensive background on the development of the field of art history and the different methodologies that go into current art historical analysis, this book is for you!

2 comments about The Principles of Harmony and Contrast of Colors and Their Applications to the Arts.

1. Is not easy to review a book that is published since XIXth century, too much water have flown in the color theory field, knowing that, I bought it as a reference book, I recommend it only under this consideration



2. I'm not sure about all editions of this book but the one that I own (paperback...) has NO color inside at all! Who ever heard of a book on the subject of color that didn't include any? What were they thinking? I'm sure it's a fascinating read but if someone is interested enough in color to read this hefty tome, you've got to think they might also enjoy looking at it too. This is an oversized thick book which is at least 95% text. There are very few black & white diagrams either.

5 comments about Robin Hopper Ceramics: A Lifetime of Works, Ideas and Teachings.

1. I thought this book was great. Robin gave very good background history of his life in ceramics and his views on what he created on his long career.
   I loved the pictures and his instruction on how to be the best in what you make. I have read the book cover to cover a few times and have still learned more after a second and problably a third look.I have tried a few of his ideas and had fun which I think ceramics is all about.



2. Although much of this book is a compliation of his former books, it encompasses his personal and professional history as well as his philosophy, recomendations on style, and insights about pottery, designs and life.
   Every potter, and collector of pottery shoud read and own this book.



3. This book is great. Robin Hopper shares his unique background with the reader and the thought processes that have gone into shaping his life and career. His down to earth approach to doing the work he loves so much was a joy to read. The technical information in this book and the way he presents it with illustrations and examples is great. The experienced potter as well as the beginner will enjoy this book.



4. I am a potter. I make pots. I make a bunch of pots. I am always open for improvement, assistance, and suggestions. And I am very glad I added this book to my personal library!
   
   Robin Hopper writes very simply about the various stages of making pottery. He profusely illustrates his techniques with photos and drawings, making the book itself a work of art. It is a pleasure to read, and an inspiration for all potters who want to learn to be better at it.
   
   Hopper offers tips on every phase of making pots, from sketching, through preparing the clay, to making glazes. His examples are beautiful, and the descriptions are clear and concise.
   
   If you're in one of those inevitable "slumps," I suggest Robin Hopper's "Ceramics: A Lifetime of Works, Ideas, and Techniques" to break you out of the clay doldrums and into new territory.



5. I have several of Robin Hopper's books and I have enjoyed them all immensely. I am able to find any type of info I need from these books. Well laid out, good explanation and very very useful information for a home studio potter. Cheers, Cheryl

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

1. I actually bought this book for my daughter, an art major looking for inspiration in game design. She is familiar with Stephan Martiniere, having sat in on a 2 day workshop taught by him in Pasasdena. Overall, she is very happy with the selection of artists and their works. The reason that I gave it 4 stars is that there a couple of artist's examples that she just didn't like.



2. 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.



3. 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.

No comments about Resist and Masking Techniques (Ceramics Handbooks).

No comments about Institutional Critique and After (SoCCAS Symposia vol. 2).

1 comments about The Life of Sigmar: Being the Epic Tale of the Warrior-God Sigmar, and the Founding of The Empire (Warhammer).

1. Rarely have I seen a product that can stand as both a gaming aid and good (if pulpy) read, but Life of Sigmar does both.
   
   Written in the style of a `modern' scholar who has compiled legend and artifact into a coherent story, Life of Sigmar tells of the young prince of a bronze-age Teutonic tribe in the Warhammer world. In this capacity the book is a somewhat clinical (or appropriately scholarly) telling of a coming of age story. Sigmar makes mistakes, learns lessons of wisdom and leadership from his archetypal father, and performs impetuous feats of strength and valor. Although fairly banal, it's evocative of a religious parable or Renaissance-era recording of an oral mythic tradition. Sigmar himself comes across as an Elric or Jesus-like character, vaguely familiar in his brooding seriousness and not defined as much more than an icon. All of this reinforces the `in-character' nature of the book. Nothing revolutionary here, but it's an easy and decently entertaining read, with plenty of orc smashing and epic warfare.
   
   Where Life of Sigmar really comes into its own is in the presentation. Even the necessary copyright information is hidden away in the back, creating an immersive feel and look. The pocket-sized hardbound cover, gold-leaf comet and lettering on the front, and a wide array of woodcuts and simple line drawings give one the impression it was pulled right off of a table in Altdorf and into the real world. It's really quite cool to see woodcuts depicting particular Warhammer style orcs, or oft-mentioned events like the birth of Sigmar under a twin-tailed comet or his mysterious departure to dwarfish lands. I could see this book being utilized in a Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay campaign as a player handout, perhaps as a reference work in an investigative campaign. It would be great for GMs trying to get a feel for texts in the Empire, or flesh out devout NPCs and their beliefs about Sigmar as a man, before he was patron deity of that land. For fans of the Warhammer world in general, it's an atmospheric and thought-provoking view into the output and beliefs of Imperial citizens.
   
   Overall, the book was a decently entertaining read and unique `inside-out' view of the Warhammer world and its history.