5 comments about Watercolor: For the Artistically Undiscovered (Klutz).

1. I bought this for my niece as a Christmas gift. She really enjoyed it!



2. Watercolor for the Artistically Undiscovered has been a fun workbook for our whole family. My daughter received one for a gift and it was so entertaining we had to order two more so everyone could sit and do it together. The book's layout is in page by page exercises that might inspire further fun and thinking, as well as build on each other to create a more versatile way of looking at painting. In my opinion, the most fun part is being able to paint in a book and even cut out parts and glue them elsewhere. Kids have a chance to breakout from the usual parental mantra of "Be sure not to write in the book, watch out with the paint...". The pages are very sturdy and good quality and the author's sense of humour is wonderful. I have my very own copy to play in, which is sometimes just the thing to inspire me in my own work. And well, there is something about turning squiggles into bugs....



3. This is a great place to start. The paints and paper provided are 1st class quality allowing serious exploration, and the excerises are fun. Add a few more colors - dark green and light blue- and a extra, nicer brush, and there is no better way to start



4. I am extremely intimidated by painting, so I took baby steps and bought this book. It comes with some beautiful watercolors that are rich and color--and a brush as well.

   They start you off with painting some small pictures, even blobs if you are comfortable with it, and you will be amazed to see how much your lil paintings look like paintings instead of a piece of crap (which is what i expected---can i say crap?) anyway, they give you pages where you can "play" and you don't start color mixing and other frightening things until later.

   Later on, you do landscapes and play around with some light and shadow. Its like the fisher price version of learning to paint!! Sometimes, my pictures blended in with their little pictures along the way, which made me happy. They just turn something very scary, into something a lil more easy.

   If you run out of paints or brushes, or you want some more paper, there's a phone number in the back you can call to order some more!! I love klutz products, cause I am one!! Highly recommended!!




5. This fun, whimsical book takes the mystery and frustration out of painting with watercolors. Learn watercolor basics by following the book's simple instructions and then practicing alongside on its watercolor-paper pages. Witty sidebar commentator Thatcher Hurd adds humor to an otherwise indimidating process. Discover what makes you the best painter you know--paint this book and unmask your watercolor painting personality

5 comments about Perspective (Artist's Library series #13).

1. This book is a good for beginner artist and people who want to learn more about how to correctly draw perspective. For the price of the book you are getting a great deal of information about 2 point, 3 point perspective. I ordered this book for my college level class just to better understand perspective and it has taught me a lot that I have forgotten. I recommend this book to any artist who has had trouble with perspective and wants a inexpensive book to teach them that.



2. This was the first perspective book I went through where I actually "got" perspective. It clearly illustrates the principles in a concise and easy-to-read manner.



3. This book was ok if you have taken a perspective class then is really just a review and not really needed.



4. I had to use this book in one of my first drawing classes for college. The ease and depth which the topic of perspective is presented is easy enough to understand but, very useful for learning the proper art of perspective. I would recommend this book to anyone wishing to learn this fundamental principle that is perspective.



5. I really like this little book. I'm a nut about perspective, and this cheap little paperback clearly teaches you everything you need to know about perspective for most uses. It's definitely not very in-depth, but if you just want to quickly learn the basics, this is the book you want.

5 comments about The Simple Secret to Better Painting: How to Immediately Improve Your Work with the One Rule of Composition.

1. I have nothing to add to other's reviews, just want to lift up the rating.
   Five stars with no doubts.



2. Although this book focuses on one secret to better painting, it shows through images of every kind, and every subject, how that concept can be applied to any type of work. Sometimes focusing on just one element for improvement can be the best way to integrate that concept. In this case, he clearly demonstrates the application of the idea in all its forms.



3. Very helpful.
   
   I know a lot about drawing, and a lot about controlling oils, but when I am out there doing a Plein Air, I can't remember any principles of composition. All I can think of is, "Ack! The sun is moving!" I am just painting furiously.
   
   This book is like BRAINWASHING. "There is one magic rule: never make any two intervals the same."
   
   Values: never make any two intervals the same.
   Intensity: never make any two intervals the same.
   Shapes: never make any two intervals the same.
   Etc. But he goes into even more details than that. He has LOTS of little areas that this rule applies to.
   
   Each page covers this rule in respect to ONE aspect of composition. And every time he reiterates: never make any two intervals the same.
   
   Most pages have a great painting on them, and not just by him. Offhand, I remember seeing some by Kevin Macpherson. This way you see how professionals apply this rule. I realize that every GREAT painting I have ever seen has incorporated this rule into every facet of their composition.
   
   By reading this rule on every page, and seeing how it applies to so many nit-picky little things, I am noticing it more in my painting. The last time I was doing a plien air, I thought, "Oh, the fence posts are all the same: *never make any two intervals the same*, I should angle a few of them. Oh, these two trees are identical: *never make any two intervals the same*, I will make one a little warmer and shorter". Etc. I could only remember it though becuase of his successful brainwashing technique.
   
   I find this book to be very helpful, and as soon as I am done with it, I am going to read it again. Regardless of your skill level, and regardless of your medium, this book will improve your composition, and therefore your finished product.



4. As a photographer, I'm always looking for help to improve my composition. This book, though not written specifically for photographers, is the best I've found so far. It is copiously illustrated, highly instructive, intuitive, and a quick read. Also, a lot of the art in it is just great to look at. I can't give this book enough praise. It's really made a difference in the way I set up my shots.



5. This book is a great beginner book or review for anyone wanting to understand what it takes to plan and execute an engaging painting. The concise textual ideas are amply illustrated with many examples from actual paintings in progress. The ideas are easy to understand and apply. The presentation of design concepts is spiced up with excellently chosen graphics and diagrams. The author gives psychologically sound explanations as to why certain design ideas work, and others do not.
   If you were an art major, and lost all your texts, you could start and end your library replacement right here. If you wish you had been an art major, but do not know where to start, this book is your answer. The author's words early on in the pages are quite true: "This book is intended to be read quickly, and referred back to often."

5 comments about Oil Painting for the Serious Beginner: Basic Lessons in Becoming a Good Painter.

1. This is a great book that doesn't insult the artist.
   The author takes you through the thought process, the planning and the execution.
   It's not for someone who never picked up a paint brush before- for those people I suggest taking a class.
   It doesn't spoon feed you step-by-step of every brush stroke. Other wise it would be just a "here's how you can copy me exactly and not really learn anything" type of book.
   I loved the book and I am inspired to paint "plein air".
   The author's paintings are beautiful ( and yes some of the fall exterior paintings have a golden-yellow feel, but that's what the artist wanted to use).
   It is worth every penny.



2. IF you are serious about painting, this book is worth 100 times its weight in gold. If you're just dabbling in it as a hobby, then go ahead and buy one of those generic "how to" books. I am relatively new to painting, but took to it like a duck to water at 42 (my father is a well-known landscape artist and I've always had a natural bent). I luckily happened upon Steve Allrich's book at my local Blick's store and, at first, hesitated to purchase it, questioning whether or not it would be worth the hard-earned $20.00 that COULD have gone toward a couple of tubes of cad lemon. I wonder no more!
   
   I own a slew of painting books and make it a habit to study almost as much as to actually paint. I study A LOT. Yet, on any given day in my basement studio it is rare that you will find me without Steve's book by my side, frequently propped open to a "demo" page for constant reference. This book has dramatically affected my painting style (in a re-e-ally good way) and has simplified considerably my palette. I LOVE this book! And I love this man's honest, humorous, inspiring and intelligent take on the profession of painting with oils. He clearly writes from the heart and makes no apologies for his unique, but very effective, techniques which even the seasoned artist will find valuable (as some of my artist friends can attest).
   
   This is not a book for hobbyists, however. It is much too inspired to be reduced to a "how to" book. But it will encourage, teach and guide you if you desire to truly embark on this often misunderstood profession of artist.



3. This book is not for the true beginner. It may be good for someone with a lot of experience but not me. I wanted a book with the basics of painting, a how-to book.Oil Painting for the Serious Beginner: Basic Lessons in Becoming a Good Painter



4. I found this book to be very easy to read and helpful with basic concepts needed for a strong foundation in painting with oils. I especially like the info about shading, color for impact and components to make your work more polished.



5. I should have listened to the other reviews. The images are yellow toned and it makes it very difficult for a beginner to learn how to mix paint and get the right colors. The book also doesn't guide you on this matter which makes all the difference. I haven't used this book once.

3 comments about Thomas Kinkade: Masterworks of Light.

1. This book is so beautiful you go crazy over just the Cover! This is a must for art lovers like myself. You would have to be crazy not to like it. The pictures are so peaceful you just get lost in a world of color and light!



2. This is surely one of the best books on the market today if you like scenery pictures. Mr. Kinkade's work is most breathtaking and he is a master at what he does. I highhly recomend this book to all of you.



3. Even if one does not appreciate art, Kinkade's vivid artwork shines through the brilliantly placed pages of his Masterworks of Light.

   Masterworks of Light contains an abundance of Kinkade's popular landscape pictures that come to life within the comforts of one's own home.

   Do not forget to view these images in regular light and dim light as well. You may just find a few surprises to delight you.

5 comments about The Book of Kells: An Illustrated Introduction to the Manuscript in Trinity College Dublin.

1. There is no lack of great vivid pictures to enjoy and the book is of high quality paper. The text is brief and has a nice flow. There really isn't much more I can say that other reviewers haven't already stated other than this is one of my favorite picture books :p
   
   If you enjoy celtic art or illuminated manuscripts this makes a fun addition to your library!



2. The Book of Kells is one of the most beautiful manuscripts in existence. This booklet enables those of us who are unlikely to ever see the real manuscript to feast our eyes on many of the illustrations as well as to learn a little of its history and preparation. Most of the illustrations are in colour and their vibrancy is still apparent across 12 centuries.
   
   I consider that this booklet is worth acquiring for the illustrations alone. It also contains a lot of useful information for those interested in the physical preparation of such manuscripts as well as the underlying historical significance of this particular manuscript.
   
   Highly recommended.
   
   Jennifer Cameron-Smith



3. The book was just what I was expecting. Shipping was quick.



4. I was glad I had this book along with me when I went to see the real Book of Kells at the Trinity College Library in Dublin. The lines of tourists waiting to view this famous eighth century manuscript were about a quarter of a mile long, and the museum proctors were really hustling us through the area where a small sampling of pages were actually on view.
   
   (If you take the tour, be sure to check out the main chamber of the Old Library with its first editions of Newton and Darwin, plus the harp that is (alas, falsely) attributed to Brian Boru, high king of Ireland).
   
   The first facsimile of the Book of Kells was published in 1974, and although this book only advertises itself as 'an illustrated introduction to the manuscript...' it contains good color plates of many of the most famous pages, e.g. the symbols of the four evangelists and the beginning of the 'Breves causae' of Matthew, among others.
   
   Author, Bernard Meehan, the current Keeper of Manuscripts at Trinity College states that "the sacred text itself was copied in the Book of Kells with a remarkable degree of inaccuracy." It consists of the Latin text of the Gospels, illuminated in the very ornate Hiberno-Saxon style ('Hiberno' refers to the Irish, or Hibernians).
   
   Legend has it that the Book of Kells was produced by St. Colum Cille on the island of Iona off western Scotland. Although it was probably begun in the Irish monastery on Iona, it was taken to the monastery of Kells in County Meath, after a series of Viking raids. The monastery on Iona was pillaged in 795, and again in 802. According to the author, "In 806, sixty-eight of the community were killed in another raid. The following year, the survivors migrated to Ireland and began to erect conventual buildings at Kells..." where the illumination of the manuscript was probably completed.
   
   If you are interested in the historical background of the Book of Kells, the author devotes a whole Appendix to it.
   
   Alas, according to this book's second Appendix, "Losses, Additions and Marginalia," the Book of Kells has not remained intact down through the centuries. "At present there are 340 folios, but around thirty folios, including some major decorated pages have been lost." The monks also used blank spaces in the manuscript to record details of property transactions in the late eleventh and twelfth centuries.
   
   Meehan's book is definitely worth viewing and reading. It also contains a wealth of the smaller decorative illustrations that do not always relate to the sacred text, e.g. hares, dogs, horses, and at least one moth. The color and minute details of these decorations are a source of endless fascination, and the scholarly text, although a trifle dry, is also very interesting.



5. I like how the author gives various images of the book of kells, but gets really confusing and goes all over the place while writing about it. I think a lot could be learned from this book, but the author crams so many examples into the work that it starts to get annoying. Ever line seems to have parenthesis around something and folio this or that. For that alone i give the book two stars, multiple examples are good, just not when you plague every line with one. It hardly gives the reader a chance to understand the first few.

2 comments about Rembrandt A&I (Art and Ideas).

1. i received the book on time, it was in very good condition! i'd purchase from this company again.



2. 
   In her book Mariet Westerman guides us through the life and works of Rembrandt - from his earliest self-portraits to the introspective works of his later days. And she does so with empathy and a deep understanding of both the artist's character and the artistic, economic and social environment which he was a part of. Westerman writes in a matter-of-fact way without being superficial. Thus the book may be read by the specialist and novice alike and enhance the pleasure of both the next time they are confronted with the profound humanity of Rembrandt's art. This is no coffee-table book, but comes in a format made for reading and use in trains and galleries alike. Nevertheless, the book is beautifully illustrated with all the pictures relevant to a top biography of one of the most beloved artists in European culture. Highly recommended!

2 comments about Jerry Yarnell's Landscape Painting Secrets.

1. This is an excellent reference book for beginners or advanced painters. The soft cover book is well written with illustrated steps that are easy to follow. This is a helpful addition to a painting reference library.



2. This book gives detailed instructions for painting basic landscape elements in an easy-to-use format. Yarnell's use of a limited palette along with a short supply list make his techniques not only attainable but affordable.

5 comments about Watercolor for the Serious Beginner: Basic Lessons in Becoming a Good Painter (Serious Beginner).

1. I liked this book because it gives you lots of ideas to think about as you grow and learn to watercolor paint. However, I didn't feel it was a must-have for my collection. The pictures are beautiful and the ideas are good to remember but if you're really enthusiastic about painting, I think you'll be doing all these things she speaks about anyway. I guess it's a good book to have if you need a reminder once in a while.



2. Watercolor for the Serious Beginner: Basic Lessons in Becoming a Good Painter (Serious Beginner)
   this is a fantastic book. The information is clear and concise, and the lessons move one along at a good pace. I should mention that the title of this book is a key to understanding it. This book is for the SERIOUS watercolorist. If one wants to really become serious about their water color studies. This is an excellent place to begin.



3. This is a good book to learn a variety of techniques in watercolor painting. This was for my teenage daughter who enjoys watercolor painting, so she can expand her level of techniques. She sat for hours going through the book to learn and study what it had to teach her.



4. Was a welcomed Book in my collection and is extremely helpful in applying new techniques in a new student of watercolor.



5. This makes me want to take my supplies and park myself somewhere beautiful to sketch and paint.

5 comments about Icon.

1. The ilustrations in this book portray you to another book that perfectly capture the original paints.



2. When people think of fantasy artwork, they might think first of those Conan and Edgar Rice Burroughs paperback covers, or a berserker warrior on horseback, corpses of foes beneath him and dripping weapon above him. People think of Frazetta first, whether or not they know it's him they're thinking of. He's also done recognizable work for Mad magazine, Little Annie Fanny for Playboy, posters for Peter Sellers movies, and lots more.
   
   Frazetta has done plenty of work in ink, especially for a range of comics, but his oil paintings are best known and most heavily represented here. It's easy to see how he became the inspiration for an entire generation of fantasy artists, and probably well into a second generation, too. No one captures the rippling sinews of barbarian warriors like Frazetta does, or beasts, half-men, dungeons, jungles, and every other fantasy-scape that he's rendered. Above all, no one comes close to the lush, rounded figures of his female characters. They can be warriors and wizards in their own right, or eldritch spirits, or even savable maidens. Some, as in "Moon's Rapture" or the standing figure in "Rogue Roman", show a rich and womanly figure at rest, but somehow promising as much raw physical power as any man.
   
   I recommend this collection to anyone passionate about illustration or fantasy art. Any one of his paintings can be an entire course of study for a budding artist. They can also be seen as powerful narratives in imagery, or as a jumping-off point for dreams of far-away worlds and heroic adventures.
   
   -- wiredweird



3. I read Edgar Rice Burroughs novels as a teen and will never forget the impact of the Frazetta covers. His heros, the settings and the creatures were so wild and vivid; plus I think he definitely set my ideals of feminine beauty for life. This collection is a must for anyone who wants a good biography of F.F. along with some great reproductions of his best work.



4. Frazetta is great and this book is swell... however (as one other reviewer also experienced) the cover came off my book after I had it for only one week! I couldn't believe it! To credit of the publisher they did send me a replacement. I think I will buy the sequel now. Too bad it's only available in hardcover, but at least that way the cover is much less likely to fall off. As for the third book, it seems to be completely unavailable except to those who are willing to pay over a hundred dollars for it!



5. Words cannot describe the beauty and passion in Frazetta's work; This book is filled with amazing art, from the original sketches to the final product; Lots of personal photographs and insightful narratives help to make this a satisfying package, but the artwork alone makes this book a must have. From his early career doing comic books and movie posters, to the grand scale of his fantasy art, this is a book that is sure to excite any and all who have a shred of creativity within them. Totally inspiring book!!!