No comments about Insects and Flowers: The Art of Maria Sibylla Merian.

5 comments about Enchanting Fairies: How To Paint Charming Fairies and Flowers.

1. A beautiful book with clear, easy to follow instructions. A great addition to any collection for fairy lovers/artist. As a lover of fantasy and creator of fantasy art for many years I enjoyed this book very much. I especially love the fairy babies included in this book,
   since they often seem be left out.



2. I thought the step-by-step painting technique demonstrations were excellent. Aside from being a how-to on painting fairies, there is a lot in the book about rendering natural details like flower petals, bubbles, leaves, water, hair, flames and snowflakes. All of the techniques Barbara Lanza uses to create her enchanting worlds can be applied to landscape and still life painting, as well as portraiture. I've learned a lot from her book.



3. I bought Barbara Lanza's book and was thrilled. Great product for the price! Her beautiful, delicate illustrations and clear instructions were easy to understand. I also liked that her love of fairies came across and inspired me. The variety of fairies and flowers was also refreshing. I would recommend this book if you would like to learn fantasy art!



4. I am a self taught oil painter and craft artist who was raised on Fairy stories. When I saw this book advertised I hoped it would help me and it has. I like her Fairies, not to baby type of cute.
   
   She has great pictures with detailed instructions of how to achieve her art work using two different media. The way the book is written, her instruction is also adaptable to any media or type of work you want to do. A friend was having trouble painting a nice drape of fabric on one of her projects. I showed her my Enchanting Fairies book and it showed her exactly what to do. This is a good investment.



5. I bought this book for my daughter who loves to draw and loves fairies. She has read other fictional works by the author and enjoyed them. This drawing guide had the right mix of how to and fictional background to keep her interested and inspired to draw the various examples as well as take them a step further. It also has enough detail in the information and interesting presentation to keep the "child at heart". If you want to draw this particular fantasy subject or just people, it is an enjoyable read that contains many useful details.

5 comments about John Singer Sargent: Figures and Landscapes, 1874-1882; Complete Paintings: Volume IV (John Singer Sargent).

1. Sargent excelled in all media and this book, the third in a series, clearly shows why he was the best of late 19th century American artists. Many of his paintings have become icons of American art, and here they are shown in the context of his life and artistic development. The color reproductions are superb and the book offers many hours of repeat perusal.



2. These books are the epitome of scholarly research into Sargent's work, made even better by the researchers inclusion of intimate personal and professional details. This presents a great background to viewing the well printed illustrations. One should not just purchase one of these volumes, indeed the experience palls UNLESS all three are not bought . One cannot praise this sort of in depth research and the resulting publications highly enough. The only quibble is one of size, given that Sargent revelled in life-size compositions, it is a a pity that pure economics forbid the printing of larger volumes- I mourn the death of the "elephant folios" so derided by librarians.



3. A wonderful collection of amazing images. This book will be looked at for many, many years.



4. The best book on a painter I have been able to buy for quite a while. As with the other three volumes so far published of Sargent's catalogue raisonne, this is absolutley stunning. Paintings are all in colour unless they have been lost, and the figures and landscapes are breathtaking. The text is anecdotal and interesting, with contemporary correspondence and criticism. This is what a catalogue raisonne should be, and never is - something exhaustively illustrated and investigated, rather than an artist's lifetime crammed into one volume with highlights followed by black and white "postage stamps" at the back (as long as the artist is worth it - and Sargent is worth it). A great tome on a great artist, and unbelievably good value. Go out and treat yourself.



5. The color reproductions are awesome. This books is a collection of Sargent's less known work which is refreshing. Some oils are not as polished as the more well known work which helps to show his technique in early stages---a plus to serious professionals and students. To me, this book provided a wealth of visual clues to understanding his thought process and technical principles. The writing, however, is the typical stuff used to fill most coffee table books. No insight whatsoever into Sargent's painting principles, tonal procedures or color palette. The author obviously knows little in that regard but there is so much information out there the text could have been more illuminating. Buy it for the reproduction quality and awesome collection of works. Worth every penny in that regard.

4 comments about Pocket Guide to Digital Prepress (Pocket Guide).

1. Right on in 1996; eight years ago. But with technologies changing so rapidly, that's a long time without an update. I'd like to hear from Mr. Romano now. I'm receiving a certificate in digital prepress in December. It would be helpful to know where things are now in my chosen field of endeavor and where he thinks they are going.



2. expected:
   an up to date explanation of the digital prepress process, tools and applications in simple terms.

   got:
   an outdate but thorough explanation of digital prepress written like a stereo manual. Alot of things were left unexplained and the writing was repetitive due to the "poket guide" style i suppose.
   While i did learn some tips and got some detail (sometimes much more than i needed) the material is needs alot of updating. Some areas were better written and fully explained than others and the use of diagrams and tables was OK but they did not tie in well with the text..they would just appear.

   One other BIG complaint is the horrible quality of the diagrams and the fact that they were all in black and white/greyscale. How can you try to explain color processing and printing using black and white diagrams?

   Bottom line:
   may make a good quick reference for older processes, but does not do a great job at emplaining some important stuff.
   The author needs to update the material and GET COLOR into the book, even if it's just some pages with color plates. also he needs to use a better drawing program to illustrate points, b/c it looks like he used MS Word's drawing tools.




3. I started a graphic design Department out of my love for design and printing, but I had no knowledge of the "REAL" Graphic Art Business until I read this Book. It has all the information you need starting from working your files on the computer, how to save them, problems encountered with saving files in the wrong format, as well as information on AM and FM screening, dot gain, banding, exposure,... and all the information one needs to know about the business and ART of Digital printing. If you are a biginner or a professional, this book will satisfy you since it has all the answers to your "UNASWERED" questions. It will guide you through all the process as well as the "SECRETS" of Prepress. This is a MUST READ AND HAVE BOOK.



4. A compact yet weighty volume covering virtually every aspect of the digital prepress process. The author provides an historical base for the latest technologies. This authoritative work, written by renowned expert Frank Romano, provides a clear and understandable treatment of the technology applied to each step in the prepress process.

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.

5 comments about A Painter's Guide to Design and Composition.

1. This is a "must have" for Artists as a fundamental Reference Guide to every facet of painting. Whether you just want your paintings to have that extra something special, or you want to have a bird's eye view on what judges in competitions are looking for, then this book is for you! If you are a beginner or intermediate (and maybe even an experienced artist) you can be assured that you probably will learn something beneficial for the quality of your paintings. There are a variety of artists in this book, with radically different ways of approaching complex painting scenes (and subjects),as well as simple ones, with ease, dexterity and grace. Sylvia



2. This book in written in a way that is easy to look through, find a topic of interest and have it presented with meaningful examples. While perhaps not for an advanced artist I would see where it would be helpful for a weekend painter, beginner or novice or someone getting back into painting. It is easy to understand the concepts and advice in the way it is written.



3. I gave this book a pass as I have better, more substantial book in my art library.



4. What a fantastic resource! We home school and my children and I are all very interested in painting. This book goes through the principles of design and composition in a clear, focused, logical and beautifully illustrated manner. It is an art education in a single volume. I bought copies for each of my children. (It also makes a lovely coffee table piece, for those who just want to look at the gorgeous paintings.) Thank you Margot Schulzke and North Light Books!
   K.Chevrier



5. One can never have too many books on design. In addition to containing timeless design principles, this book is full of beautiful images by well known artists with great demonstrations. I especially liked Richard
   McKinley's demo showing how he builds very translucent layers that achieve a lovely luminosity.

2 comments about Chinese Landscapes Made Easy.

1. Regardless of your level of expertise, you will find this book useful.Its explanation of papers and brushes is very good. It simplifies brush techniques, use of inks, use of colors.etc. Though everything is concise and brief, all the needed information is there for landscape painting. If you want to do Chinese landscape painting, this is THE book. You will not find the classical approach of working through the "Four Gentlemen", but you will get everything you need to do Chinese-style landscapes without the frills.



2. Hands down
   this is the BEST source of informationa and technique for chinese landscape painting. A must have for the serious painter Joel Smith MD

5 comments about Landscape Meditations.

1. When you are weary from toiling over your masterpiece, you must grab this book by Elizabeth Mowry, curl up in your favorite spot and just enjoy this wonderful book. The author & artist wants you to get involved with your painting and learn to FEEL what your eyes see, so that what you put on paper is part of yourself. It's your story, your vision of life. Ms. Mowry is a very talented artist who shares with the reader her thoughts & ideas that went into the many beautiful paintings she rendered in pastels & some in oils. The book is so beautifully done, with many, many beautiful landscapes she painted during her travels all over the world and her narrative about her travels and her personal thoughts about the many scenes she painted, that I didn't realize until I got well into the book that she was also giving the reader many valuable lessons in such things as structure of a painting, light source, theme painting, & individualizing one's work. Wow, what a book. It's a joy.



2. This book is so well done I can't do it justice. It is a treasure and valuable reference for any paselist beginner to advanced. Elizabeth Mowry
   is indeed a Master,her work is breathtaking!!



3. I am absolutely in awe over this book. It has to be the most beautifully written and illustrated art book on the market. Ms. Mowry lives her paintings and her descriptive narrative transports you inside of her paintings. I will refer to this book again and again. Outstanding!



4. I found this a very inspiring book. The paintings are really nice whether you are into pastels or oils.



5. Every artist of every level and every art lover should read this book,for the artist the writings and paintings are inspirationalshe not only can she paint but she can write as well.

5 comments about The Watercolor Bible - A Painter's Complete Guide.

1. The Watercolor Bible by Joe Gracia had been highly rated by Barbara Farrell, a watercolor teacher and accomplished artist. I am taking a class from her in Lake Forest, Illinois, and the book has been a big help in understanding color mixing from a limited palette such as the one Barbara recommends for her students.



2. This is a wonderful book for the beginning watercolorist. I also recommend his other book on watercolor washes, one of the most important techniques for anyone who wants to be successful with watercolors.



3. This is a good book which goes over the fundamentals of watercolor.
   
   It's excellent for a beginner, as it walks the reader through:
   
   - Types of watercolor paints available (tube and pan, translucent and gouache, student grade and professional grade),
   - Brushes and the types (synthetic versus natural),
   - Paper (cold press, hot press, hand made) types and weights,
   - Stretching your paper versus watercolor blocks,
   - Use of resists,
   - And much more...
   
   It also has sections on composition, technique, sketching, etc... For someone who was a complete beginner it will walk them through the processes of beginning a painting, making color and value charts, etc...
   
   For someone who has worked with watercolor before they might end up skipping some of the fundamental chapters on composition, sketching, etc. but this book will give them tips and information they may not have known before, additional ideas, etc...
   
   The book has a hard bound cover, with the pages being spiral bound so it will sit open on a page comfortably when you're working in your studio, kitchen, on your living room coffee table, or wherever you do your work.



4. This is one of the best general information watercolor texts I've seen. I teach watercolor to adults, and this is the most thorough book I've seen. It covers technique, materials, design elements, color and much, much more. I highly recommend it.



5. I first bought the book with a book club.
   The artist's work is more into the realism aspect, but his skill is very matured in watercolor. He has included alot of detailed sketches and experiementation with this medium, and alot of visuals.
   After reading it, one can't help but to try some of the stuff out.
   
   If you are looking for a book to improve and learn the various technquies in watercolor, I recommand it.

5 comments about Painting More Animals on Rocks.

1. I purchased this book along with the first one, "Painting Animals on Rocks" as a gift for my father who loves to paint. He really has enjoyed them. The details and the "how to" descriptions are great for learners and those who enjoy a challenge.



2. I stumbled upon this hobby by accident. I was an art minor in college and have done a lot of oil paintings. When a friend told me about painting animals on rocks, I had no idea what she was talking about. I have painted my first animal (a leopard) and it turned out great. I gave it to my cousin and she raved about it. The author is wonderful in her ability to inspire and direct "the student." My only disagreement is with having to draw the outline on the rock starting out. I think that may add a certain difficulty. I just go ahead and paint, making slight adjustments when needed. I find doing it that way to be much easier. I am really loving my new found hobby and hope to possibly sell some animals on rocks in a craft fair held annually here where I live. I am 67 and retired.



3. This book has so many ideas for a craft person. The instructions are very easy and the rocks are fun to make. My 5 year old grandson found it easy too. He made a Lady Bug. This book is worth having if you are loooking for a project that doesn't cost much money, and is really fun to do. You can take the whole family out on a hike looking for rocks, this was a nice outing too. Have fun and enjoy.



4. This book has so many ideas for a craft person. The instructions are very easy and the rocks are fun to make. My 5 year old grandson found it easy too. He made a Lady Bug. This book is worth having if you are loooking for a project that doen't cost much money.



5. I had been interested in Lin Wellford's books for a long time, but never really painted an animal rock. I bought this book, ready to try it. First I did a frog, which was very simple.
   The furry animals use a script liner, and that is not my favorite paint brush, so I was a little nervous that I couldn't achieve the fur strokes.
   I went ahead and tried a squirrel, and I was so surprised at how easy the fur turned out to be. I've painted a few more animals since then, and they are very easy to do. Very watery paint and a #1 script liner (the shorter one) makes it very easy.
   If you are looking to start painting rocks, don't hesitate...this is the perfect book! I would recommend it to everyone who is interest in painting!