5 comments about Carving Found Wood: Tips, Techniques & Inspiration from the Artists.

1. Anything with Vic Hood in the title and you know your eyes are in for a treat, this is a great book to have on the coffee table as well as in you carving shop.



2. Inspiration is a good description. It really made me want to get back into carving. I have been away from it for a while but this book brought me right back. Great photos and the instructions are outstanding.



3. I bought this book as a present but when it arrived it definitely was not like what I expected. There is only one project design with directions. The rest of the book is just pictures of what other artists have done. Maybe this would be a good book if you are a skilled carver but for a novice it may be difficult to replicate the designs without any directions.



4. My husband has had the desire forever and I found a class to get him started. This is the first book he brought home from the shop. I read it today and found the illustrations worthy of framing alone. There is one very detailed how to example that takes many baby steps where you gain further skills in multiple cuts and design. VERY IMPRESSIVE.
   The different artists selected provide a bio and explanation how they came to carving, their choices in materials with the pro and cons of working within the choice.
   If I were to start wood carving from this book as inspiration the project breakdown leaves me believing it would be a success.



5. This is one of the best sources for a variety of new ideas that I've come across in a while. I carve and sell quite a few woodspirit walking sticks and the excellent color photos of the many professional artists profiled inspired many of my own original ideas. Great selection for any serious woodcarver's library!

4 comments about Soap Carving: For Children of All Ages (Schiffer Book for Woodcarvers).

1. Great book, has lots of detail. Especially like the instructions for making your own carving tools out of popsicle sticks.
   My 6 yr. old grandson carve a soap owl and it came out good.



2. I am a teacher and I carve in my free time. I have always regretted that the tools for carving are too sharp and dangerous for kids to use , so sharing my hobby with the children was out of the question until I read this book.
   What a nice idea, tools made out of popsickle sticks!!
   I made a class set of the tools and my kids happily carved some of the figures suggested in the book.
   I did it with a grade three class when the kids learned about Inuits carving soapstone. The kids enjoyed it a lot. Children in higher grades will have as much fun doing it and hopefully they will be as proud of their creations.
   I can recommend this book for anyone who would like to carve with kids but is afraid to do so.
   One suggestion. Have the children bring a serving tray, or baking sheet and have them carve on that so the chips of soap will stay in the tray rather than fall on the floor!



3. Excellent book for carving. The kids enjoyed it. Well written and illustrated.



4. This book is a gem in the rough. It is not slick or up-to-date looking, but it contains excellent instructions on carving soap as a prelude to carving wood. The author, an engineer, shows you how to create carving tools out of popsicle sticks. This is the one of the coolest craft ideas I have ever seen and it worked very well with a group of children from my church. Not only does he describe how to make a basic carving tool (by cutting a diagonal and then sharpening the "blade" on sandpaper) but he shows how to make a gouge and other tools too.
   
   The main part of the book contains detailed instructions on how to carve several different objects (a heart, a turtle, a dolphin coming out of water, and more), with a picture showing each stage of the carving process. These were great instructions for me; the children I worked with (ages 5-10) could have used easier models/instructions. This book is great because it shows how to introduce a new fun craft activity, carving, in a way that works for groups of kids safely and without much expense. The kids loved it!

4 comments about An Illustrated Dictionary of Jewelry.

1. While I will admit that this book is very informative, I was slightly disappointed for the same reason I have experienced with some other jewelry books. Of all the pictures only a handful are in color. Always confusing to me why they do this because jewelry is one thing that you really need to see in color to appreciate. I would recommend this book for it's information but if you are looking for great color pictures to go along with the definitions I would pass on buying it.



2. I have a problem with a book whose first words are: "The first problem".



3. This book is wonderful! Visually stunning, some of the pictures are enough to make you drool! Filled with extremely well photographed color and B&W photos of museum quality pieces, used to illustrate the jewelry terms being defined. The definitions are well written, and reference related terms in a very smooth and easy to follow way. This book is a MUST if you are fond of jewelry! MORE than worth the money!



4. From A to Z, the best jewelry dictionary I've seen. Aside from looking something up, it gives you the opportunity to learn terms you've never heard before. Even if you've been in the business a long time. Fantastic. Every antique lover should have this book!

5 comments about The Potter's Complete Book of Clay and Glazes: A Comprehensive Guide to Formulating, Mixing, Applying and Firing Clay Bodies and Glazes.

1. ...merely a tool, which definitley involves work on behalf of the reader. There are no pictures or test tiles to rely on; you have to try them yourself... a refreshing change from the results usually included in glaze books because you have to experiment and come up with your own results. I used the 1970's edition of this book as an undergraduate, which included the original recipes - not revised to exclude toxins - and while the revised edition is informative, it lacks the conversions for the "toxic" ingredients which many of us still use for the stunning results they provide. As a result some of the best recipes have been excluded from the new edition, and unfortunatley, the replacements and substitutions produce nowhere near the results gained from earlier editions. Still a good tool for the potter who enjoys glaze experimentation, but if you can score a copy of an unrevised edition(there are two- and they are out of print), you are sure to be pleased!



2. Many of these glazes are from other sources , same for clay bodies , but have been altered slightly to be presented anew. No real emphasis on glaze toxicity . Fritting Barium and Lead does not guarantee safety in the finished glazes . It's a case of user be aware . No guidelines for glaze usuage on functional wares or decorative . Is the glaze able stand table use - who knows ? Another in the long line of Artistic Glaze books , Ho Humm.



3. I was disappointed by this book due to the lack of illustrations even if only of test tiles. If the author has tested these formulae I cannot understand why these illustrations were not included, but without them the reader is left having to conduct his own test to determine the effects achievable. If the author has not tested, then the book is little better than the lists of glazes available free on the internet. Either way the reader is left with a lot of work to do.



4. This book has everything you could ever want in a glaze book. Includeing every chemical you need for glazes and charts on how much colorants to add in percentages. Every kind of glaze for every cone. I didnt' pay too much attention to the clay makeing part but thats not hard to do.



5. Chappel provides a complete compendium of formulas for various types of clays from low fire to porcelain. He provides extensive formulas for various types of glazes from low fire to cone 14. The formulas are arranged by type, color and includes speciality glazes such as crystaline glazes. He provides complete instructions for firing. In addition there is a good discussion of materials, substitutions and toxicity.

4 comments about Sculpture: Technique, Form, Content.

1. i'm currently a junior in college and i wasn't too familiar with the medium of clay up until i registered for Basic Sculpture this Fall semester. my professor suggested this book to me and it has been quite helpful...i'm usually glued to pencil, paint, and charcoal...but ever since i joined this class and obtained this book - i love the feeling of clay in my hands. i can't wait to work with metal and cast moldings.



2. I am the author of this book. Some comments have been misleading from the site/reviews. 1. This is not a paperback book. However, there is a small paperback "Guide for teachers" with the same title that can aid the book in teaching use. 2. The book has always been in print since the original edition and still is. However, Amazon may not have it in stock.



3. This version of "Sculpture: Technique, Form, Content", is a little deceptive.
   It is, in actuality, a teacher's guide for the text bearing the same name. I received this copy as a gift from a family member who didn't know this fact and pleasantly surprised me. As an aspiring secondary level art teacher myself, I found Mr. William's suggestions on the use of his text to be well thought out, but not overbearing. The paperback and hardcover editions of the text are both out of print and difficult to locate, although quite worthwhile. This book is an excellent companion title for the text.



4. I found this book to be a sculptor's handbook to clear and concise references. It provides a basic introduction to beginning sculpture students, as well as, providing high quality information for the professional sculptor. It covers basics like stone carving, mold making and metal castings. I would recommend this book to all artists pursuing sculptor as a medium.

2 comments about Scrimshaw Techniques.

1. This is the best, most informative book on Scrimshaw we've purchased. In just a few pages, we (my husband and I) learned more about creating and developing Scrimshaw techniques than we had ever learned from the entire content of other books on the same subject.



2. This is an absolutely wonderful book presenting scrimshaw methodology and artistry. The book is well researched, distilled and presented in a most accessible way. It is a tribute to traditional and modern scrimshandlers.

1 comments about The Art of Whittling (Woodworking Classics Revisited).

1. First published in 1930, The Art of Whittling is a classic introduction to the hobby of woodcrafting through whittling. Linden Publishing offers an unabridged edition of the original guide, offering over a dozen woodworking projects including continuous wooden chains, working wooden scissors and pliers, balls in cages, entwined hearts, fans, and even ships inside bottles. Black-and-white illustrations and diagrams round out this time-tested primer.

2 comments about A Passion for Metal: Reflections and Techniques of a Metal Sculptor (Schiffer Art Book).

1. This book is very readable, not just a look at the pictures. There are many techniques used and discussed, with a new fluxing tool I'd never heard about. I've actually read most of it because of its interesting writing style. The work is high energy and enthusiasticly made.



2. A Passion for Metal is truly an apt title for this book. Mr. Harvey writes with wit and a clarity of thought about his 30-plus years as a sculptor. The book is part instruction manual, part art criticism, and part philosophy text backed by truly beautiful photographs of the work from Harvey Gallery on every page. You can sit down and read it from cover to cover or open it up to random pages and get enjoyment out of it.
   If you are a sculptor, an art lover, or just want to know what life is like as a professional sculptor in the present-day, this book is for you.

2 comments about The Sculpture Reference: Contemporary Techniques, Terms, Tools, Materials And Sculpture.

1. This hefty volume is an indispensable addition to any sculptor's reference shelf. With what seems like over a hundred fascinating color photos of sculptors at work, work in progress in all sculpting media, excellent finished pieces, this book is a joy to have. As a sculptor and art educator, I have accumulated an extensive library of books in this area. This is one that I had to squeeze into its rightful place on my most used shelf. Whether you are starting out or are a professional sculptor, you'll want to own this volume. And don't loan it out to just anyone, if you want to see it again!



2. The Sculpture Reference by Arthur Williams is a phenomenal achievement. An enjoyable and educational book that I find quite inspiring. Living, contemporary, working - sculptors; what an excellent set of criteria for the inclusion of the over 280 artist whose work is displayed in the over 1,100 color images within this hefty 512 page book.
   
   The quality of the photography is excellent in every case. The alphabetical structure of the work lends a nice rhythm between materials, techniques and the results that can be achieved with them, in another words it is a good read for the serious sculptor.
   
   The most impressive aspect is his selection of unique sculpts; the diversity of which is almost unbelievable. This handsome book already has a few scares from knocking around my studio. Almost every person that has opened it has ended up going from page one to the back cover one page at a time. Most of these people not sculptors mind you, just everyday Jane and Joes that are drawn in. I have many instructional videos and books on sculpting and sculpture, but this one book could replace half of them as an effective educational tool.

3 comments about What Every Potter Should Know: Answers and Solutions to Common Pottery Problems.

1. A wealth of solid advice on how to prevent (or solve) a wide variety of ceramics problems. Well-written and easy to read. A unique collection of topics, but well-organized, making it easy to find what you're looking for. Includes details about clays and glazes, buying materials, firing, safety, and even business considerations. The title is accurate: you really should know what's in this book, and much of it you won't find elsewhere.



2. I am a self taught potter. This is one of the first books I bought on the subject and I still find it very valuable. It gets to the point and addresses practical problems in clear and specific ways. The glaze recipes that are given work, however it helps to have a bit of knowledge first. (I didn't understand about the thermal expansion of lithium and one of the base glazes give is overloaded with it. It broke my clay body apart completely, not surprising from its chemistry. On the proper clay body it would have been fine.) The solutions to the problems work well. I am using, with good results, a clay body that uses advise from this book. It doesn't have every solution to problems, but I haven't seen any book that does. It is interesting and covers a wide range of important issues for the potter, issues that are often left out of other books. I highly recommend it for anybody who works in clay, specifically those who mix their own clay and glazes.



3. As a beginner in the world of pottery, I found this book to be useful in a language that is easy to follow and understand.