5 comments about ZBrush Character Creation: Advanced Digital Sculpting.

1. I would recommened this book to anyone looking to advance their digital sculpting skills further, regardless if youre a beginner, intermediate or expert. This is a very thick and heavy book with some great tips, tons of which I had no idea you could do. The included cd has a bunch of lessons and video clips to help illustrate processes, along with the great pictures in the book.
   Finally Zsphere hands were explained and demonstrated easily!



2. Very useful, and gives you a breakdown of traditional form to digital which is a must. The tutorials are helpful as well. But overall great book if you want to understand form and gesture, he also explains the interface of Zbrush and why the menus are organized the way they are.
   Buy this book.



3. A great book with a wealth of production proven information!
   
   Scott approaches topics from both traditional and digital stand point. The book is packed with info covering just about any topic the aspiring or experienced Zbrush artist could ask for. The additional information included from other professionals really completes a great book.
   
   The trial and error time that this book will save is enormous - highly recommended!



4. A truly incredible book, written by a master of both traditional and digital character sculpture. This book contains lessons that go beyond the software drawing on Scott's experience in the industry and artistic and anatomical training. I've studied with Scott personally over the past few years and I've gained a great deal from his teaching. ZBrush Character Creation encapsulates his own style and ability as a teacher and includes many extras submitted by the best Zbrush artists in the world. This book is intended for intermediate users, Scott goes through the basics of the software very quickly so this is not recommended for people who are new to the software. If you know enough to get around the interface and create a simple figure then your ready for Scott's book.



5. Being new to ZBrush and 3D character modeling, I've been looking for a while for a good resource that would, (1) give me a good jump-start into these worlds, and (2) be advanced enough for me to grow into and keep me interested. Scott Spencer's "ZBrush Character Creation" book is just that...plus more.
   
   The content of the book is excellent; explaining everything from traditional sculpting techniques, anatomy, ZBrush fundamentals, topics of character creation, and on to advanced ZBrush tools. There is so much great info in this book! Additionally, Scott includes a cool DVD which contains the corresponding source files and video demonstrations. I can see why Scott is an expert in the field from the level of detail he demonstrates in the video presentations. One amazing demo in particular is how Scott sculpts a human face -- He starts out by creating a skull from a sphere and then intricately builds up the rest of the face, layer by layer, with the muscles, fat, and skin. This demo is just in chapter 2 so you can imagine what other great content there is in all the other chapters of this book.
   
   Thank you Scott for creating this book!

5 comments about Creative Concrete Ornaments for the Garden: Making Pots, Planters, Birdbaths, Sculpture & More.

1. This book contains many "recipes" for making concrete containers and concrete art. The book contains many full color photographs to guide you through each project step by step. The instructions are thorough and easy to follow. I've already made the hypertufa planters and stepping stones. The author also included numerous photos (and website links) of other artists' works. I found this book to be very inspiring.



2. This book is filled with inspiring ideas and recipes. I am excited to get started - Only problem is that it is always raining on the days I can work!



3. Start with her first one, Making Concrete Garden Ornaments, then try this one to expand you skills. An excellent way to get a feel for this art form!



4. I can't say enough how thorough Ms. Warner-Hunter's books are - they are step-by-step, material suggested, inspirational, and illustrated (photographic)! As an artist, this book was helpful in clarifying issues I had with materials: and, as a teacher, I believe even a middle or high schooler could follow this manual. Lark books are fabulous and this one of the best!



5. Super book with detailed information on creation from beginning to end! Super for beginners and seasoned artists.

5 comments about The Art of Polymer Clay Creative Surface Effects: Techniques and Projects Featuring Transfers, Stamps, Stencils, Inks, Paints, Mediums, and More.

1. I found the book just did not live up to my expectations. When will crafting books realize that photo transfers done with xerox machines hardly ever work as they are shown in books? The techniques of photo transfer, which is covered in this book as if it works, is really frustrating. Also, the use of translucent clays to good effect is iffy and the high polish acheived by the author on many of the pieces. I just couldn't get it to work.



2. As a statement jewelry artist [...] I work in polymer, glass and metals.
   
   This book is really informative, great easy techniques that give really nice results. The pictures are great and she always
   carefully gives you step by step, I have not done transfer but will try it now. For beginners start with her earlier books, then move on to this book.



3. This book is outstanding and extremely useful. It has great projects, detailed descriptions, and plenty of info on where to find suppliers for every tool and material used in the book. I found it very helpful.



4. I was totally new to clay working, heading for a class in the medium, when I purchased this book. I was absolutely delighted, and was able to start my class with some background and understanding of working the materials. I sit in awe of Ms. Kato's talent, and did find the techniques more difficult than they look. This aside, it is an excellent accumulation of many of the techniques that makes polyclay such a joy to work with. Ms. Kato does list several varieties of clay, inks, paints and other products, but I appreciate that she enumated which she found easier to work with, and why. I did expect some bias towards Kato Polyclay, as she helped develop it, but have also found this an excellent product to work with and have not been disappointed with its performance.
   The book is a MUST HAVE for the beginner reference library, and is also an inspiration with the images from Ms Kato and other artist's collections. I'm pleased I purchased this book, and plan to keep it as a cornerstone for clay working.



5. I was surprised at how many "finishes" you can give Poly Clay. This book explains it all . She does show alot of "specialty tools" you can use - but they can be substituted with your own tools or simple copies. GREAT BOOK - Great Pictures and easy step by step instructions.

5 comments about Introducing ZBrush.

1. This book is a great reference book even for someone that is familiar to Z brush. There are so many features in the program that his book goes into detail describing. The step by step tutorials will help you get started with Z brush. It also touches on the 2D capabilities of the program, something that is often over looked.



2. First of all this book is so boringly non-visual. Black and White except for the small insert in the middle. The projects need a better step-by-step approach. I found myself having to reread the wordy steps most of the time to find the "key" word I was missing to complete a step. It didn't help that the first tutorial was so incredible boaring and goes on for 139 pages. By the time it was over I lost most interest in continuing. Shorter projects to the point please. YAWN...wake me when this is over. It was nice to have something written down for a change but that was its only benefit for me. I am looking for a book to tell me where things area and what they do period. A Zbrush manual needs to happen.



3. This is a solid book for anyone using Zbrush. I'm an intermediate user mainly bringing in models from another program and exporting them back out. I've rarely had a chance to play with the 2.5D or a lot of Zbrush's little nuances. Eric has written a book that gets down to the basics is and simple to understand. It's setup in a linear fashion but is still very easy to look up what you are having trouble with and get right to the info you want. I've found that it's a much better source than looking for help or using the Zbrush help. This book is essential for beginners. Straight forward, easy to read and well worth the money no matter what skill level you are with Zbrush, Introducing Zbrush is a worthy choice.



4. I've been wanting to get into Zbrush for a very long time. I even downloaded the trial version and surfed the web for tutorials. However, the lack of results were frustrating. Not only this book has helped me with the learning curve but also opened my eyes to zbrush REAL potential... it's very exciting. Now I can enjoy this wonderful piece of software.



5. This book really helped to open me up to all that ZBrush has to offer. Iv'e been working in motion graphics, and now gaming for the last few years, and really only came into contact with ZBrush as a sort of
   appendage to Maya. Not really realizing how much it stood on it's own two feet. I really didn't bother to learn much past what it could do for my Maya models, so I'm really glad I picked up this book. Because I only knew a very narrow vision of Zbrush, it was interesting and informative right from the get go. The first tutorial alone touching on aspects I hadn't ever dealt with. I must asume it would be great for beginners as well, as the tutorial are very detailed, and progressively build on each other. Anyhow, it's a great investment for someone who wants to learn ZBrush, and has never used it. Or for someone who uses it as a "plug in", but has never really gotten to know it. It's also worth the price just to get your hands on the great harryhausen Medusa head that's on the DVD. Oh, that's another thing, the DVD is more then a bunch of Zbrush scenes saved at various stages. There are movie files that actually show the sculpting process, macros that play back within ZBrush, as well as a trial version of Zbrush.

3 comments about Chihuly: 365 Days (365 Series).

1. Other than seeing Chihuly's work in person (breathtaking!), this is the best book detailing his work, theory and progress I have purchased. The photos are clear and give a full view of the range of his talent and creativity. The explanations of how he created each type of form over the years are revealing and interesting.
   This is the definitive work for those wishing to meet Chihuly and his work for the first time, and for those who wish to dig deeper into the man and the artist within.



2. Ever since we were fortunate enough to have a Chihuly exhibit at our museum of art, I have been an avid fan of his work. He is absolutely a master of his craft. The book far surpasses what I had expected. The photos are wonderful and the information, though not extensive, is very informative. I highly recommend this book.



3. This is a beautiful book with marvelous photos. A "must have" for Chihuly fans. A great bargain at the price.

5 comments about Secrets of Rusty Things: Transforming Found Objects into Art.

1. I thought this was an instruction book - it's a "how I created great art" book - I was very disappointed



2. For those of you creating found art for the first time and those who have been creating for years ... this is the book for you. Makes you want to visit junk yards and comb thru the muck just to find that special, odd piece that brings your art to life. Love his stories and humor. Will flip through the pages of this book for years to come.



3. I LOVE this book, it is filled with so many beautiful images that it has inspired me in many, many ways. The stories behind the pieces remind us to look deeper into the art around us and listen to their stories. I was surprised so many people were disappointed it was not a step by step book, art should inspire you to create, not copy. If you don't get inspired by this book, consider seeing a doctor :)



4. I bought this book along with another book on assemblage art. I found this book not just inormative about the subject but it was a good read as well because of the artists creative process. I was so interested in the artist's work that I went to his website and signed up for an art retreat he will be teaching at.



5. To say this is not a "How To" book is ridiculous. If that's what one is looking for (a step by step holding your hand venue), then one needs to go to a craft store. Michael de Mange's book is about creating ART !
   
   You can't sit down and just read it once. It's like a fine glass of wine - you need to savor and "drink in" every page over and over. Then, and only then, will you understand how to create a piece of ART and not just CRAFT an item.
   
   As for the safety of using products, that's up to each individual to read the labels. If you can't read directions, then you shouldn't be using the product !
   
   In my own opinion, I don't think he meant to write a "How To" book. Instead, he let us peek into his fabulous mind and provided the opportunity to see how he creates his art. I'm an artist, not a craftsman. I want to create something from my own mind and I found this book to be a springboard of inspiration and recommend it to all artists.

5 comments about Stories in Stone: The Complete Guide to Cemetery Symbolism.

1. This is the book I've always been looking for, and just didn't know it. Not only is this a fabulous reference book for taphophile, but it's also just good reading. As much time as I have spent wandering and working in cemeteries, I've learned some interesting facts. The book is also quite lovely, and well organized. And the facts seem well researched, and gives quotes from the appropriate religious texts when appropriate. It also gives more than the Christian context for many of the symbols and seems well balanced for an overview of American cemeteries. I knew within seconds of browsing this book I had to have it, and it's been nothing but wonderful since.



2. This book is excellent for anyone interested in cemetery symbolism and/or genealogy. The photographs make it all the easier to understand. I highly recommend this book...it's one of the best of it's kind that I have found.



3. I found this a facinating book. It was ordered for one particular cemetery display but was found to contain some amazing monumnets. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cemetery or religious art.



4. Dead men may tell no tales, but the symbols on their tombstones do. This guidebook is geared for genealogists and cemetery fans. Several chapters on cemetery symbols include Flora, Fauna, Religious Symbols, Secret Societies, and Mortality Symbols. Other chapters are a guide to cemetery architecture, tomb types and a selection of unique tombs.
   
   The book is illustrated with numerous photographs and includes an alphabetical listing of acronyms and abbreviations of societies, clubs and organizations. A chapter on mortality symbols discusses everything from the skull and crossbones to the grim reaper. There are chapters on symbols of flora (plants), fauna (animals), and religions (Christian, Hebrew, Chinese and Japanese), including descriptions of different kinds of crosses. Angels, who seem to gather in cemeteries everywhere, get their own section called "Heavenly Messengers." I was especially impressed with the chapter devoted to secret societies and organizations such as the Masons/Freemasons, Woodmen of the World, Knights Templar, Knights of Columbus, Odd Fellows, Grand Army of the Republic, Shriners, and others. Each of these is illustrated with an example photograph.



5. Information is great but format leaves something to be desired. Book is odd size especially considering price and type is very small. Get out your magnifying glass for this one. Layout and type really take a lot away from the book.

5 comments about The Encyclopedia of Jewelry-Making Techniques: A Comprehensive Visual Guide to Traditional and Contemporary Techniques.

1. Once again I find myself reviewing not the book, but the "search inside" function. This one is just plain weird. Whoever decided what was to be shown of the iside of the book, left in all the instructions (!) and blanked out all of the pictures - as if you could rip off the techniques from looking at the pictures! Now the problem with this way of displaying - or not displaying the contents of a book, is that I want to see what SORT of jewelry is being turned out - or how will I know whether it is worth my while. Or my money. This is where a real bookstore comes in I guess. Or a library. Browsing is necessary to buying some sorts of books.



2. I've been setting stones and soldering findings to chains and making bezel settings for a couple of years and want to branch out so I was specifically looking for an introduction to jeweler's techniques such as mokume gane, reticulation, etching, forging, advanced soldering, gem setting (such as bead settings, pave etc...), polishing, fusing, granulation, ingraving, etc... This book looked perfect. It has sections for all that stuff and more. The production values of the book and the quality of illustration photographs are excellent. Sections are organized alphabetically with a an inspirations sections at the back with lots of lovely pics of nicely finished pieces that were made with concepts in the book.
   
   The problem is with the actual content. Each section is just a couple or a few pages long. Concepts are introduced, given just a paragraph or two - and then that's it. Step by step photo illustrated instructions are not referenced in the text per se and almost always lack a picture of the finished piece or effect, leaving you sometimes scratching your head as to what you are supposed to end up with. For example, the section on Mokume Gane gives great step by step instructions and illustrations about how to sandwich, solder, cut and layer - and then dent up to file off and show the layers. But there's no picture of the front of the mokume gane after the filing so you can see what all that work achieved. There's a single picture of a pave setting, but no instructions on how to get there or what a beading tool looks like or how it is used. For gem setting there's a great step by step of making and setting a bezel, but for facet stones there's only a brief step by step on making a basket. There's no specific instruction on how to notch prongs or how to bend them to set - just the phrase "bend prongs over the stone to set". This isn't sufficient to actually help you do it. The section on sawing shows you what a saw looks like and how to saw a right angle, but lacks a table instructing you which saw blade works with which thickness of metal. Every area of this book suffers from too much brevity and a lack of useful details.
   
   I'm not going to say that this book was worthless. The section on bending and the section on catches are great. I learned a few great tips too - like the use of a spitstick to clean up the top of a bezel setting. I benefited from seeing the step by step illustrations of many techniques I didn't know. But I did not get enough information to actually execute any of these unknown techniques. I'd say that this book is a good visual orientation on what these techniques are, what tools are used, and what it looks like doing these techniques. It's too brief, however, to give you enough instruction to really execute the illustrated techniques. This book just isn't enough - it's an illustrated introduction that requires additional more in depth texts to actually help you get that stuff done.
   
   Follow-up (May 2008): Am I just hard to please? Perhaps, but I have subsequently found a similar book of introduction that I do feel gives enough detail to actually do the projects: James Codina's "The Complete Art of Jewelry Making". Although I'll grant the aesthetics of the examples in McGrath are better, as a guide to technique I consider Codina to be superior.



3. If you just want to buy pieces and put them together- this is not the book for you. If you honestly want to learn jewelers skills then you will be pleased with this book. I have really enjoyed this book and it has led to many new ideas. This one will stay in my library.



4. I purchased this book in the hopes that it would help me expand my technique with jewelry making and design. Almost all of the techniques covered in the books would take thousands and thousands of dollars in equipment and supplies to actually impliment. It's only really useful for professional jewelers working for big companies with big bucks. It is however interesting and pretty. If you are curious about various techniques such as enameling, reticulation, oxidization and mokume gane, than this is a good book. Even though I am a jeweler and an artist, this will just be a "coffee table book" for me.



5. This is a perfect book that combines text and plenty of images to demonstrate both bare bones beginning jewelry making technique as well as more advanced technique (including making some of your own tools!).
   I bought a copy of this after taking it out of our local library and I am very pleased with it...Very thorough. Very easy to understand. For those who are really just starting out it's almost like the "idiot's guide" to the Complete Metalsmith...Not that this is dumbed down but there is alot of terminology in Metalsmith that requires one to know the foreign language first...This book assumes almost no knowledge from the reader, but doesn't babytalk or oversimplify either.

5 comments about Jewelry: Fundamentals of Metalsmithing (Jewelry Crafts).

1. ...and goes well with his DVD. The text is definitely geared toward beginners. However if you're new at this, the photos of jewelry (albeit lovely) are a little intimidating. I'll use this book as a reference source for techniques, but I'm looking to Stephen O'Keeffe's "Jewelry Making" for projects I can actually achieve.



2. 
   excellent book for the beginner. It explains at length how to do the job.



3. Another great product and great service. Thisa will prove to be a 'bible' for years.



4. Jewelry: Fundamentals of Metalsmithing (Jewelry Crafts) This book is great for anyone interested in the art of jewelry making. Wonderful, brilliant-colored photographs fill the pages and it's very well-planned, written and designed.



5. 
   This book is well thought out, with brilliant photos and well-expressed text. It covers a huge span of metalworking techniques, and is great for one to see an explanation and in a fit of lightbulb-comes-on say to himself, "Oh, so THAT'S how they do that!" It conveys lots of concepts and ideas, and although it is well worthwhile as a text for the beginner, it is ideal for someone with some degree of practical working background, since you need to be able to understand the concepts to make full advantage of its possibilities. The wide array of photos express plenty of complex concepts suitable to stimulate the mind of the experienced metalsmith. I recommend this book to anyone short of a professional who wouldn't be buying a book anyway.

5 comments about Making Concrete Garden Ornaments.

1. I've already made about 10 projects from this book. If you are a gardener, or like to 'ornament' your yard with tasteful items, this may be your book.



2. As soon as this book came, I had to go through it cover to cover. I love the projects, and the way everything is explained step by step. You are also given advice on using different mixes and techniques. I feel that the author not only teaches you how to do the projects in her book, but gives you the knowledge, skills, and encouragement to go beyond that. And that is exciting!



3. This is a good book for learning how to make your own hypertufa and concrete ornaments, including how to make the molds or reinforcements. Some of the projects are of overwhelming size for a person who is interested in small things for their garden. I like the planters, but some of the other things in this book are way too modern and gaudy for me.
   
   If you want to learn to do concrete ornaments for your yard, there is an incredible book still in print since 1904 called Concrete Pottery and Garden Furniture by Ralph C. Davison, which shows how to make garden ornaments such as columns, table, benches, planters in the Victorian and Greek styles--more my taste. This little book is packed with valuable photos and diagrams of how it's done.
   
   I would recommend Davison's book over this one, but Warner's book still has some great recipes for hypertufa and unique ways to construct molds for concrete statuary.



4. This is an excellent resource for learning concrete sculpture! Start with this one, then get her other book, "Creative Concrete Ornaments for the Garden: Making pots, birdbaths..." for more advanced projects that reinforce your skill leves.



5. Explicitly exhibits (photographic) the process of concrete ornament construction - even suggests creative alternatives to Ms. Warner-Hunter's designs. You don't have to be an "official" artist to follow these instructions or to create beautiful garden scultpures/containers! Is written for the average-intelligence adult and is not at all "art-speak"!