Reviews (25)

WOW!!
I bought this book about a year ago, allowed my cousin to borrow it, and he didn't return it fast enough, so I bought a second copy! I love this book. Every time I pick it up I find someting I didn't see before. It's inspiration, educational and just, well...just wonderful. And the cover is stunning.

wonderful book
I am a working student in graphic design for web and print as well as web site design. Because I need to work I dont have time to work through books cover to cover. It seems that I'm allways trying to extinguish the "fire of the day" and I refer to my books for fire fighting techniques. With more experience hopefully I'll have most of these techniques in my brain...
A modern, solid, informed, beautiful guide for all those who use letterforms...
If you are a fine or graphic artist, a signmaker or architect--even a historian, anthropologist or architect--then you simply have to have this book. Stop looking for a book more complete in its study of the letterform and how it applies to our daily lives;it doesn't exist.Leslie Cabarga,the great California designer instrumental in resurrecting an appreciation for Art Deco since the 1970's, has outdone himself with this book.
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Artistic Lettering    4. Design    5. Graphic Arts - General    6. Graphic Design    7. Lettering    8. Logos (Symbols)    9. Techniques - Calligraphy   

Reviews (11)

Inside Edward Gorey's house...
If you are an Ogdred Weary fan...this is a truly wonderful book.Photographs of the exterior (peeling paint and kind of saggy porch) and the interior rooms of the house on Cape Cod in Gorey lived and worked, along with his cats and figbashes, piles of thousands of books, assorted rocks and oddish things, and the expected miriad of curiosities.Alas, or delightfully...just the environment one would expect of the eccentric Edward.A cabinet of curiosities...a delight!

Not MUST HAVE, but definitely NICE to have
This book wouldn't mean much to anyone who isn't already a Gorey fan. I own (and love) the compilations 'Amphigorey', 'Amphigorey Too' & 'Amphogorey Also', so have a head start. I also have the auto(?) biography 'Ascending Peculiarity', which is almost a necessary co-requisite to this book - it helps explain the cats, and many other Gorey details. Now that the individual books are available again, I'm tempted to get them too, because they are such nice objects - but only if the kids promise to share with me!

A specialty item for the true Gorey collector
Even dedicated fans of Edward Gorey will probably know very little about his personal life: he was an enigmatic recluse and few were permitted past his front door. Photographer Kevin McDermott's Elephant House will delight students of architecture and photography, providing rich duotone works of Gorey's intriguing home and its contents. A specialty item for the true Gorey collector, Elephant House is an impressive photographic showcase and a welcome addition to both architectural studies and photographic studies reference collections. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1925-    2. Architectural & Industrial    3. Art    4. Artists, Architects, Photographers    5. Authors, American    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions    8. Elephants in art    9. Gorey, Edward,    10. Homes and haunts    11. Intellectual life    12. Massachusetts    13. Techniques - Drawing    14. Yarmouth Port    15. Yarmouth Port (Mass.)    16. American English    17. Architecture    18. Biography: general    19. History Of Art / Art & Design Styles    20. Novels, other prose & writers: from c 1900 -    21. Photoessays & Documentaries   

Reviews (43)

If you are selling a novel, this is not the book for you.
I laid down my coin on the assumption that this book would help me with writing a book proposal for a novel - before the "look inside" feature. The title is misleading, even though the author tries to appeal to novel writers by sprinkling the concept around like glitter on a greeting card; it does not have any real substance. 2 stars for that.
Good resource for novice non-fiction proposal writers
I have this and Elizabeth Lyon's book, and both have helpful. I like Larsen's book for the hints and tips strewn throughout. Its more than a theory of proposal writing. He shares tips on when its okay to veer from the norm and when its not. It offers some helpful examples as well. I don't know how good it would be for a fiction book but I have been referring to it constantly as I write my proposal.

I'm going to write "How to Write a Book About How to Write a Book Proposal" and give it to this book's author.
This book is full of helpful information, but man is it boring.Every chapter is about twice as long as necessary, the text is dry and bland, and whole chapters seem completely uneeded. Read more

Subjects:  1. Authorship    2. Book proposals    3. Composition & Creative Writing - General    4. Language    5. Language Arts & Disciplines    6. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    7. Publishing    8. Art techniques & materials   

Editorial Review

When the late H.H. Arnason wrote the first Read more

Reviews (8)

History of Modern Art : Painting, Sculpture, Architecture & Photography
This is the best art history book around; I got it in college in a course by Dr. Donald Kuspit at S.U.N.Y@ Stony Brook I have this book from 1990 and still to this day I use it as a reference. There is no stone left unturned with this book about modern art. I suggest it for all artists, students and professionals who are in the art field and for everyone who wants a good book on this subject. It is the best one out there!
Best book on its subject..
"History of Modern Art" is, in my opinion, the very best general overview of modern art (i.e., the last 125-150 years or so) published to this date. Get yourself a BIG dictionary.
I just completed a 20th century art course here in Southern California with this book as the chosen textbook.I would consider it at the medium to advanced level. It was much cheaper on Amazon than the college bookstore or the museum store!Like the title of this review suggests, the authors were pre-occupied with their knowlege of uncommon words in the English Language.I would never encourage the "Dumbing down of America" but the word usage in this book is to the point of distraction.The new Oxford Essential Business and Office Dictionary makes it a point in it's forward to point out that usage like this is superfluous. Er, I mean needless.The reproduction is outstanding and the physical structure is very good.I have every intention of making this book part of my permanent collection.And yes, agreeing with the other reviewers above, it is heavy.But hey, with a few extra sit-ups and one or two extra laps and you'll be just fine.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1900-1999 (20th century)    2. 20th Century Art    3. 20th century    4. Art    5. Art & Art Instruction    6. Art, Modern    7. History - General    8. History - Modern    9. History - Modern (Late 19th Century to 1945)    10. Modern art    11. Reference    12. History of art & design styles: from c 1900 -    13. Reference works   

Reviews (17)

The one book for any art metal/jewelry artist
This edition or any of the other versions of this book is a must have. I have seen this book in one edition or another sold in the most different locations with only one thing in common. That is METAL you can use it no matter what you are doing if its with metal you can use this book. I have a large number of books in my collection and find that I use this one to answer questions and get quick info. I would suggest that you get the pro edition at some point as it comes with a disk with some small programs for a PDA and books on the computer only. I own it in three different editions.

Who's the audience?
This book is strange because it goes back and forth between seeming to be for beginners and advanced metal smiths. I think if the author had defined his audience before constructing the book, he may have done a better job. Another problem is that full chapters are crammed onto one page, with illustrations that sometimes do, sometimes don't relate to the text. And the text is so abbreviated that it's hard to get any real information out of it. I wish I could recommend a better book for the the beginner metal smith (which I am), but I have yet to find one.

Outstanding - Service
I was amazed at how quick this book arrived.They were in excellent condition. I will always come back. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manual    2. Art metal-work    3. Crafts & Hobbies    4. Crafts / Hobbies    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Metal Arts And Crafts    7. Metal Work    8. Metal-work    9. Metalwork    10. Art techniques & materials    11. Base metal & ironworking    12. Crafts & Hobbies / Metal Work    13. STUDY NOTES - SparkNotes   

Reviews (11)

One of my Top 3 Bridgman books- great in drawing from memory...
Mainly for intermediate-level artists- it's actually *GREAT* for enthusiastic beginners. It has a little bit of *everything* depicting anatomy construction from memory. It's also great for general improvement; a few tips & tricks- an *excellent* reference for all working artists.
Kinda hard to understand
This book is filled with pictures. George B. Bridgeman did a great job with this book. The reason I gave only 4 starts is beacuse it was kinda hard to understand. I mean I spent 20 min. figuring out the introduction and still dont full understantd it. But farther into the book it was easier to understand but still difficult. I am only 13 and this book may have been written for college students or adults so that may have been one reason I dont unerstand so well but once you start picking it up you learn a lot of stuff about the human anatomy. THIS IS GREAT FOR COMIC BOOK ARTISTS, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER ARTIST.

Not what I hoped for!
I expected more from this book based on the reviews that I read before buying it. Although it has some good information about what specific muscles jobs are, the illustrations are not clear enough for good understanding. As an artist specifically working with the human form I find this book very mickey mousey and incomplete. If you already have all the books ever created on human anatomy that are needed to put together the information that is required to have a comprehensive knowledge on how the human body is constructed and moves then get this to finish your collection, but if you are looking for a clear understanding and accurate information on human anatomy for the artist look elswhere. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anatomy, Artistic    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Science/Mathematics    4. Techniques - Drawing    5. Techniques - Life Drawing    6. Art / Techniques    7. Art techniques & materials   

Reviews (11)

Great place to start exploring
This is a great introduction to the medium.I've painted with acrylics for a few years and wanted to experiment with encaustic.Mattera gives a simple but thorough overview of encaustic.After reading this book I felt I had the basic knowledge I needed to start and it has continued to guide and inspire my exploration.I definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in painting with wax.

The Art of Encaustic Painting
I think the book is really great. It's not one of those books that takes you steep by steep through the proces of Encaustic painting but gigves you just a enought to venture out on your own. It's a book that I go back to quite offen to get my creative juices going.

Outstanding Book for Fascinating Art Medium
Joanne Mattera has written a comprehensive volume about my favorite medium, encaustic painting.She details the history of the art, as well as current artists using the medium.Perfect for beginners in encaustic, as complete instructions on melting, mixing, fusing, tools, safety issues, as well as how to build substrates, are given. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Encaustic painting    4. Painting In Specific Media    5. Technique    6. Techniques - General    7. Techniques - Painting    8. Art techniques & principles    9. Painting & paintings   

Reviews (41)

A godsend for the true beginner
Veteran portrait artists -love- to bash this book. It's understandable: I'm a computer programmer, and if there was a book that taught people with absolutely no previous computer skills to code complete programs in a couple days, even if those programs weren't exactly the same quality, it would irritate the heck out of me.
Excellent Book !
This book is truly wonderful !I have several art books and this one is by far the best. Lee Hammond does and excellent job of teaching without bogging you down with page after page of yammering. She is to the point and the improvement I've seen in my work as I went through this book is amazing.I personally don't think the reviewer who bashed this book knows what he's talking about. He mentions Betty Edwards book Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain as an excellent book... I have that book !I made it 25% of the way through doing the exercises and such and then had to quit because my joy and enthusiasm had been sucked right out of me with all the droning on and on. I want to learn how to draw not get a PhD in Art Psychology. After that experience I left drawing for over a year. When my desire to draw returned I bought this book from Lee Hammond and I've been encouraged ever since. I'm thrilled with the improvement I've made and how much fun Lee makes learning. If that reviewer knows so much I didn't quite catch the names of his books. ?

Exciting material!
I once was told by a college art professor that I didn't have an artistic bone in my body, and have spent many years overcoming that statement."How to Draw Lifelike Portraits from Photographs" by Lee Hammond has been like a lifeline to me.I think it is an awesome book and have recommended it to a lot of people.Recently my young granddaughter, an aspiring artist, looked at a portrait of her that I was drawing.She said her school art teacher was showing them how to draw, but that it was "so hard."As I explained Lee Hammond's process a light came on in her eyes as she understood how simple it can be to draw great portaits.She is getting this book and some drawing supplies for her birthday this month from her grandparents. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Drawing Of Specific Subjects    4. Drawing from photographs    5. Pencil drawing    6. Pictorial    7. Portrait drawing    8. Technique    9. Techniques - Drawing    10. Techniques - General    11. Art techniques & materials    12. Drawing & drawings   

Reviews (3)

A beginner???this is THE book for U!
i am a beginner in pencil drawing, and as a beginner i say this book is just awsome! it takes u from the basics till u reach the developed level... but yet this book already assumes that u already know a bit of drawing..meaning: u have the skills but u need to learn how to apply them on ur work to get the best results... more or less u'll benefit from this book...it's just great!

Great book and a lot of text
Hi all.I draw as a hobby and have been drawing since I was a about 10.I took drawing classes before, but when I look at my previous artwork, they really don't have the "realism" that I wanted, i.e. they look too much like cartoons.I wandered around and tried looking for some books to teach me how to obtained that photo-realistic quality with a pencil. Good starting fundamentals
I like this book as it covers most of the basic topics in pencil drawing.As compared to other books for beginners, this book gives sufficient guidelines and examples.The only concern I have is that the examples are not very "real", not "live" enough. After all, I wouldrecommend this book to beginners in pencil drawing. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Drawing    4. Pencil drawing    5. Technique    6. Techniques - Drawing    7. Techniques - General    8. Techniques - Pencil Drawing    9. Art techniques & materials    10. Drawing & drawings   

Reviews (10)

Try another one.
This book is alright for certain aspects of drawing, but the book itself has some of the worst drawings I've ever seen. And, if you are truly a beginner, you'll want to recieve more instruction than this offers. I wouldn't suggest this to anyone.

Funny and helpful book!
I love to draw, and when I got this book for Christmas, I was a little discouraged by the title.Of course, the old saying "never judge a book by it's cover" came into play.I decided to open it up and skim through the pages.This book was GREAT!Drawing for Dummies covers all of the basic and advance techniques of drawing ANYTHING!Catergories it covers include perspective, 3-D drawings, shading, texture, and more!There are picture examples along the way incase you don't know what the auhor is really talking about.There are many exercises from the simple practicing shading, all the way to drawing a VERY REAL looking three demensional teddy bear (listed in easy to follow steps).I really enjoy this book, and anyone who loves to draw or needs to improve, this is the book for you! 5 stars!

Try another drawing book first!

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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Do-It-Yourself - General    5. Drawing    6. Technique    7. Techniques - Drawing    8. Art / Drawing    9. Art techniques & principles    10. Drawing & drawings   

Reviews (4)

Inspiring light
The author-painter teaches step-by-step the way to make watercolor paintings sparkle. Her own examples are breathtaking. If one really wants to acheive the skill to fill one's paitings with heavenly light, this is the book to start with.

Incredible Beauty
This book captures the essence of "Painting with Light". The author provides pratical step-by-step instructions and new techniques that even the professional painter horizon's will be broadened.I have purchased four copies of this book for fellow painters and received rave reviews!!! I am adapting some of the ideas to oil paints as well.I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in new techingiques for capturing light in a work of art.Truly amazing!

Excellent choice
Well written and illustrated book.Bought a second copy for a friend who is learning to paint, as well. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Technique    4. Techniques - General    5. Techniques - Watercolor Painting    6. Watercolor painting   

Reviews (13)

Now I get it...
I am not an artist, at least, that is not what I've gone to school for (I am a History professor).But Betty Edwards' books, over the past couple of decades, have helped me to draw like I know what I am doing. And now I know more about color and the art of mixing acrylics.
Not recommended.There are better books on color.
I admit it: I was suckered into buying this book on the strength of Dr. Edwards' classic, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.So how does one repeat the success of a classic?Well, this book sure isn't it!
Finally!I understand color!!
It is interesting to read the reviews on a book like this and then to finally get the book to decide its quality for myself.Sometimes, my opinion is so different from some of the reviews that I wonder if we were reading the same book!That is the case with this book.I think that it is outstanding!
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Color Theory    4. Color in art    5. Graphic Arts - Use of Color    6. Art / Study & Teaching    7. Art techniques & materials   

Reviews (41)

Good for drawing "live"
Very usefull, very pleasant to read. I was expecting more explanations about the relationship between anatomy and the human pose, but it's more about how to look at the model to draw it well.

Thank God for an excellent figurative painter!
Ryder's book is a delight to leaf through, looking at the excellent life drawings in red earth, done with the same accuracy and passion as the masters of the past.
Excellent, but...
The general consensus of the reviews I've read is that this is a fine book, but not for beginners.My take is somewhat different.
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Figure drawing    4. Study & Teaching    5. Technique    6. Techniques - Drawing    7. Techniques - Life Drawing    8. Art techniques & materials    9. Drawing & drawings   

Reviews (17)

awesome
I haven't received work yet from this book, but I have a WEALTH of info in which to puruse.

EX-Cellent Book for an EX-Cellent Price
I've been religiously buying this book since 1997 and - although I've never made any *successful* contacts - I still find it an inspirational read that all of those potential markets out there just might, someday, give me my >cough< "big break".

Alibris is a bad company!
I order the 2004 artist market an good this 1994 artist market. they will not refund my money! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Directories    4. General    5. Graphic Arts - General    6. Marketing    7. Reference    8. United States    9. Industrial / Commercial Art & Design    10. Media, information & communication industries    11. Reference works   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (60)

Sophisticated art.

Self-Censorship from the land with no First Amendment
Doubtless going to rattle a few cages here, on *both* sides: the people who consider his stuff impermissibly naughty, and the people who wax rhapsodic about this particular work.But it has to be said.
As complex as its subjects
This is possibly the most beautiful set of photo portraits I've ever seen. Like the subjects, though, the beauty has a scary side to it.Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Individual Photographer    3. Individual Photographers And Their Work    4. Photo Techniques    5. Photography    6. Photography Of Specific Subjects    7. Reference    8. Subjects & Themes - Portraits    9. FICTION    10. PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY    11. Photographs: portraits    12. Photography / Portraits    13. Poetry texts & anthologies   

Editorial Review

When the Hermitage in St. Petersburg celebrated the city's 300th anniversary in 2003, they assembled a selection of 50 years of Cy Twombly's works on paper, coinciding with the artist’s seventy-fifth birthday. At first look, even the most savvy and well-heeled art lover is apt to think "my kid could do that," and there is a (very surface) bit of truth to this. Twombly, an American who moved to Rome in the 1950s, was obviously influenced by Jean Dubuffet's idea of art brut, as well as the work of Paul Klee, and of children. But it doesn't take long to see Twombly's genius. He created something very new with the pure gestures of abstract expressionism, and in this survey it's a joy to see the ways his work constantly changed, from adopting some of the formal strictures of minimalism in the 1970s to embracing vivid colors in the 1980s. Like the graffiti scratches (ancient and modern) that are perhaps Twombly’s greatest influence, it's very playful, often rather dirty work. Unlike graffiti, it's exceptionally labored over. Once you can decipher his scratchy line, you notice that the subtle interplay of words and images is matched by very few others, though the work of Raymond Pettibon and Nancy Spero do spring to mind. Assembled for the St. Petersburg's show's arrival at the Whitney Museum in New York City, this book is a joy. Simon Schalma's essay is ribald, terse and excellent, while Roland Barthes’ writing is, unsurprisingly, worth the price of the book alone. In a review for Read more

Reviews (1)

Beautiful
I was pleased with the quality of the reproductions. The introduction and details of Cy Twombly's life and work was informative and gave a clear picture of the man and his art. I would reccommend this book to anyone interested in the free thinking and essence of comtempory art. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1928-    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Drawing, Abstract    5. Exhibitions    6. Individual Artist    7. Techniques - Drawing    8. Twombly, Cy,    9. United States   

Reviews (1)

Expanding the Frame of Educational Thinking
Review by Arnold Aprill from
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Study & Teaching   

Reviews (8)

A beautiful presentation, but
It wasn't much help beyond some technicalities of brush work and some reproductions of the artist's work.Okay for a pretty intro. and some history.If your goal is to reproduce someone else's paintings, this book does that; but I want to create my own so Chinese Brush Painting: A Beginner's Guideby Pauline Cherrett, actually gives directions: on how to care for your tools, how to compose your own paintings, how to make your paintings vibrant with energy and spirit, with enough "what not to do's" to be truly a useful beginners guide.I don't understand the 5 star ratings on this book.As to technical brush work; Chinese Calligraphy Made Easy: A Structured Course In Creating Beautiful Brush Lettering by Rebecca Yue; gives wonderful step by step directions for brush work that transfers to painting everything else.

Exquisite watercolors?A Simply Excuisite Book!
Fabulous Book!
I am a beginner watercolorist and I found this book to be a great help! It is so easy to understand and follow. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art  &