Editorial Review

Scott McCloud's Read more

Reviews (8)

Amazing

Great book for establishing your comics
Scott Mccloud's Making Comics resembles a constitution for those want to establish their comics either as a hobby or as a carrier. It goes through so many details regarding creating your panels, establishing scenes, storytelling, characters designs and feelings, drawing styles, and the list goes on. Simply, the book gives you a guideline for establishing a living world in papers. What makes "Making Comics" unique is that it can teach you how to be a comic artist even if you're not good enough in drawing. The book illustrates the fundamentals of drawings comics and let you be creative for starting your own comic book. All in all, I really enjoyed reading this book, and it will help me a lot for my comics' drawings.

Disagree with review below--this is a remarkable book!
The previous reviewer accuses Scott McCloud of lacking the authority to write a guide to making comics. But McCloud's book is based on clear demonstration, not on authority.
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Subjects:  1. Cartooning    2. Comic books, strips, etc.    3. Comics & Cartoons    4. Comics & Graphic Novels    5. Drawing Of Specific Subjects    6. Educational    7. Fiction - General    8. Fine Arts    9. History & Criticism    10. History: World    11. Humor    12. Technique    13. Techniques - Cartooning    14. Comic book & cartoon art    15. Comics & Graphic Novels / Comics & Cartoons   

Reviews (5)

Wonderful !!!
Not only the content is insightful, but the design of this book is just wonderful. It is a good source of international drawing's world and a good coffee table book. Get it now!

poor quality images
I am disappointed with the quality of the images.They are the quality of an ink jet printer set at draft quality.Most of the images are so faded it is difficult to see at all.I have returned this book, which is something I do once every 1000 books I order, and it is the first art book I have ever returned in my life.

obsessed drafter
Beautifully bound and a pleasure to hold...what a book is all about vs the digital stuff.
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Fine Arts (Specific Aspects)    4. History - General    5. History Of Fine Arts    6. Techniques - Drawing    7. Art / Drawing    8. Drawing & drawings    9. History of art & design styles: from c 1900 -   

Reviews (1)

The best coffee table book ever !!!
Recently I have found myself drawn to graphics of all kinds. Being a huge fan of Tashen books and seeing this book on their website I decided to order it. Now at $200.00 this was quite a big purchase but this book is incredible. The color plates are beautiful and the information about the designs is very complete as well as interesting. This is a huge book! I think it must weigh in the neighborhood of 10 lbs. It is not a book to take to the beach for alittle read. However, it is a book to get inspired by and it will inspire you no matter what your art medium is. This is a book that I will tresure for years to come and I am sure if you decide to invest in this book you will not be disapointed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Decoration & Ornament    4. Design - Decorative    5. General    6. Reference    7. Art styles not limited by date   

Reviews (9)

Great Textbook!
I just started my summer class a few weeks ago, and I definitely agree with the instructor that it's a truly great textbook! It's not as pricey as I initially thought it was going to be and it has a ton of art information. The CD and timeline are kind of useless, but I would still use them to study for exams or quizzes. If you want to learn about art in SOOO many ways, get this book because it's a treat!

chosen paintings shown several times
I got this book for a class, and besides just using it for tests, I haven't opened it much. Most of the paintings in the first few chapters are also the same paintings in the last few chapters, though, and I thought it would have more variations. However, the info in each section is concise, easy to read, and the whole book is a great introduction for the beginner to the study of art.

Great Book for the begining Artist or Art lover
I found it to be detailed enough to learn about art without boring me. It was actually for a class I'm taking by found I read more chapters than required because it was a great overview on many diffent subjects from art to architecture ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. General    4. Reference    5. Art / General    6. History Of Art / Art & Design Styles   

Reviews (2)

A must read for new and old collectors
A unique and new look at the Art of Art Collecting.A full analysis of the sociological and esthetic mechanism that is the art world, as well candid advice and opinions from a selection of international art world figures.The book ultimately asks questions about the relationship between art collecting and art history, and challenges the traditional taboos and cliches surrounding art and money

Enter a whole new world!
A book for the rest of us!Adam Lindeman lays out the basics surrounding the world ofcontemporary art using a series of interviews with collectors, dealers, critics and curators. As the book explains, contemporary art is hugely popular all over the world and the internet and art fairs have changed the nature of the business. This book is a primer for those who have touched the edges of the contemporary art world and will likely prove interesting forthose who are already knowledgable.
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Collecting    4. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions - General    5. History - Contemporary (1945- )    6. Antiques & Collectables    7. The Arts: General Issues   

Reviews (1)

Delicious!
Once again, Logo Lounge gives the most creative and innovative examples of logos anywhere in an unbelivably organized format. As a graphic designer specializing in logos, I find the Logo Lounge library and website completely indispensible. I enjoyed seeing the judges favorites and definitely have a few of my own. The Portraits and Sketches (profiles of specific designers & agencies, identities and their applications) are always interesting and inspiring but don't overwhelm the book as I like to get straight down to business and dive right into the Collections (zillions of great logo examples). I've been designing and collecting design & logo specific books since the 80's and NEVER have any books inspired me more than these. I don't think you really have to be a designer to enjoy this gallery of artwork, but you may just turn into one! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Advertising Art    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Catalogs    5. Commercial - Advertising    6. Corporate image    7. Design - Product    8. Designers    9. Directories    10. Graphic Design    11. International - Marketing    12. Logos (Symbols)    13. Online Services - General    14. Art / Commercial / Advertising   

Reviews (3)

Classic for Serious Art Students
This book is a classic.It is used as a textbook in Florence, Italy for serious drawing classes with excellent results.

a treasury of lost teachings
This book is essential for those students who wish to study art seriously, and to make themselves capable enough draftmen in order to paint. It is a complete reproduction of the "fabled but rare" drawing course used in Gerome's studio in nineteenth century Paris, comprising multiple levels of cast drawings, master-copies and linear life-drawings designed specifically to train the student's eye for painting. a treasury of lost teachings
This book is essential for those students who wish to study art seriously, and to make themselves capable enough draftmen in order to paint. It is a complete reproduction of the "fabled but rare" drawing course used in Gerome's studio in nineteenth century Paris, comprising multiple levels of cast drawings, master-copies and linear life-drawings designed specifically to train the student's eye for painting. Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Individual Artist    3. Reference    4. Study & Teaching   

Reviews (1)

THIS IS SURPRISINGLY ENTERNTAINING!
The authors spent about four years collecting doodles from as many presidents as possible. The results are presented here. Did you know Hoover's doodles were used for a line of baby clothes? Did you know Johnson's administration was filled with doodlers? The authors give context to each president's times along with the reproduced doodles. I read about this book online, but when I actually saw a copy and picked it up, I was hooked! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American - General    2. American Satire And Humor    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Government - Executive Branch    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: American    8. Subjects & Themes - General    9. Topic - Political    10. United States - General    11. United States History (General)    12. Drawing & drawings    13. English    14. Political leaders & leadership    15. USA   

Reviews (15)

EXCELLENT rendering help
My rendering skills have improved HUGELY scince recieving this book.It helps with marker, colored pencils, pastels, how to treat light, etc.My renderings look amazing and it is a great reference for when I'm not sure how to treat a surface/object.I would absolutely recommend this book.

Color Drawing Book
I needed this book expedited and it got to me even before the dates listed on my confirming email. Very pleased.

Color Drawing: Design Drawing Skills for Interior Designers
Excellent reference book for explaining techniques for drawing with Prismacolor markers and pencils, which are the primary instruments used by interior designers to use in color renderings.Book has the shortcuts and techniques needed to help take what you learn in drawing class to a higher level. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architectural Drawing    2. Architectural rendering    3. Architecture    4. Art & Art Instruction    5. Color drawing    6. Design & Drafting    7. Drawing    8. Technique    9. Techniques - Drawing - Colored Pencil    10. Architecture / Design & Drafting    11. Art techniques & materials    12. Drawing & drawings    13. Graphic design   

Reviews (12)

For project boards & rendering
I bought this to help organize my project boards, which it is great for. The bonus is the information on rendering. There was better information here than in the other 2 books I own on color theory and rendering.

excellent resource
This book is an excellent resource for the interior design student. It's a book you should get as soon as you start studies. Great reference to compliment classroom lessons. I also recommended it to my Residencial Design teacher. It has basic information that will save you time.Great buy!!

good guide
good guide to lots of information. Good reference for any design library. It touches base on resumes, presentation, etc. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Art    3. Color Theory    4. Design    5. Graphic Arts - General    6. Graphic arts    7. Interior Design    8. Interior Design - General    9. Interior decoration    10. Interior decoration rendering    11. Reference    12. Architecture / Interior Design   

Reviews (11)

A Great Gift
I have received this book as a gift and have given it as a gift.It is wonderful!You can look at it for hours and still pick it up again and again.Also, you find that there are many more illusionists other than Escher.

Wow.
This book is a wonderful overview of a lot of interesting artistic styles and mind-blowing techniques.Of course, you can buy more complete editions about the specific artists within this book, but I haven't seen such a variety of of artists and images put together in such a great way before.This was a great purchase, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone interested in any of the artists within it.

Masters of Deception
This is an excellent resource. Anyone interested in visual illusion and the artists involved in creating it will thoroughly enjoy this book. It is difficult to get a chance to look at it, let alone read it, because someone else is always picking it up and becoming enthralled with it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions - General    4. History - Contemporary (1945- )    5. History - Modern (Late 19th Century to 1945)    6. Optical illusions in art    7. Art / General    8. Art Forms, Treatments & Subjects    9. Puzzles & quizzes    10. STUDY NOTES - SparkNotes   

Reviews (27)

Great For Technical Specifications/Flats
I can say that Chapters Four and Five alone is worth their weight in gold. This book is used on a daily basis by our CAD department as a reference when making flat sketches for specs.To take a designer's drawing or a sample of the garment and turn it into detailed, flat sketches takes skills.That particular section is great when it comes to drawing details for sewing such as types of stitching, where pleats/folds/darts should go, placements of notions/trimmings, etc.Flat sketching for specs is very important when a garment is produced in huge quantities by numerous operators. There's also a section in the front on proportion drawing using the croquis which is also very helpful. Since the company I work for produces a wide range of theatrical costumes that has tons and tons of details (think odd shapes and sizes), this book has come to the rescue many times.
Don't buy this book
I've had this book for awhile and I've noticed that some of the drawings, especially the fashion illustrations look rather unprofessional.There are drawings, renderings, that you would never see in fashion world. Some of the drawings look like they are fine art life drawings; others look very much like student work, some look just badly drawn and should not be shown as explemary work for those who wish to learn.I think that they are better books out there and this is not one of them.

Are U Kidding Me!!!
Anyone who says this book is a waist of your dollar is obviously not looking at this book closely.The art work is incredible and the attention to deatil is unrivaled.9 HEADS is one of the most incredible books in regards to fashion sketching I have ever seen.If you are looking to improve your know how and skill of fashion sketching I highly recommend this book.It's worth every penny.By the way, the drawings are not cartoonish nor are they amateurish.I doubt anyone at Parsons would look down on this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Design - General    4. Drawing    5. Fashion    6. Techniques - Drawing    7. Art / Design / General    8. Drawing & drawings    9. Fashion design   

Reviews (26)

Graffiti World By Nicholas Ganz
I am really interested in graffiti of the world and have found it somewhat hard to find good books on the subject. Overall this is a good book with many full-color illustrations along with text giving credit to the artists. Since there are not that many graffiti books out there I believe this one is one of the best I've read yet. Although many of the pictures in this book are really good, they are basicly the same works that you can find images of online and through other resources. What I'm tring to say is that I wish there could have been some more never before seen illustrations, not the same old stuff I've seen a million times!

The best global outlook of Urban Art
Nicholas Ganz has done a great job at traveling the world tocapture in this book the state of street art everywhere. Taking the reader through it by continents (Americas, Europe, Rest of the World), the book takes you on an in-depth, visually-loaded trip that highlights the work of the best street artists around these days.
Great book a must have
I got this book last year the WHOLE thing is art down to the cover (I had framed). It shows many styles of art from walls to ships postboxes the list would go on .........anyway great fo the end table or for ideas ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Folk & Outsider Art    5. Graffiti    6. Graphic Arts - General    7. History - General    8. Mural painting and decoration    9. Popular Culture - Counter Culture    10. Popular Culture - General    11. Street art    12. Techniques - General    13. Art / Popular Culture   

Reviews (8)

A WINNER
I bought three books on Polymer Clay, and this is the only one with all the techniques there that I want to learn.
Polymer Clay Bible
Everyone starting out in polymer clay should have this book in their library. Many newer techniques have been developed since this book came out but this book contains everything you need in order to develop your own original work. If you're looking for a "projects" book skip this, but if you want the basicsthis is the book for you. I only wish Nan Roche would write another! I still find myself refering to it and I've been working in polymer clay for over 15 years.

The Book that started it all for Polymer Clay
It was the first book about PC. It was the only book available for quite some time. Many of the most renowned PC artists started with this book and you can see the influence in their work.
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Subjects:  1. Antiques / Collectibles    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. General    4. Hobbies/Crafts    5. Jewelry    6. Jewelry making    7. Polymer clay craft    8. Art techniques & materials    9. Ceramic arts, pottery, glass   

Reviews (8)

For the Serious...
It's been difficult to give a balanced critique. On one hand, "Elements of Color" has a wealth of information, but on the other, it takes serious committment to fully understand and comprehensively apply the information Itten presents. There is much valuable data, but it's interspersed with almost stereotypic, outmoded "Teutonic" concepts; e.g. assigning "Blond Types" springtime, bright, vivid colored topics, while "Dark Types" should be assigned "Night, Burial and dark room" topics. There is much valuable, technical information, but it is like digging through hard stone to find the gold; overwrought and culturally centered, judgemental statements are very common ("red expresses intermediate degrees between the infernal and sublime"... what's this?!?!). Other statements seem value-laden, i.e., "sentimental blue", "angelic pink", "blue reigns supreme"... Some excuse may be found in realizing the concepts in this treatise may have been developed before the Post Modernist Age, which accepts cultural and ethnic diversity, that accepts art and the use of color as being open to various interpretations, that color is certainly relative and greatly subjective, that many statements about color are only opinions...and that there is no absolute truth as to what color is "right" or "wrong". Unless the reader is studious and very serious about trying to unearth the information contained in this book, he or she is much better served by studing Albers or others. Too bad there is no editing, no index, and no glossary. What would Itten think of the book, "Chromophobia"? ... Pablo Tellez

so you decided to learn the truth about colors...
Itten, himself is one of the greatest color theorist of our century, and the masterful mind behind the Bauhaus School.
Color from a master
Although witten for artists who mix colors for an effect, this small book has a wealth of information for fiber artists and quilters.How do translucent colors interact with other colors?Illusions in color? Which colors can be used in conjunction with other shades and tints? It is all here in this book.Many illustration,color plates,and well written text.
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Color Theory    4. Art / Color    5. Painting & paintings   

Reviews (17)

Excellent primer for the novice and self-trained
I recently finished reading - and taking copious notes - from The Elements of Graphic Design. As an individual taking himself through the process of learning graphic design without having to go to school, this book is invaluable. White makes the concepts crystal clear and simple prose imbued with his own take on doing design correctly plus doing it well. I've always had a good eye for composition but White's work has helped me see the underlying methods for making my designs better. I'm now building a presentation from his work to share with our marketing team to build a consistent look for our work. His book is a superb work for anyone needing to get a quick grip on design fundamentals, too. Just put them to use! There's no magic here, but there is a right way and a wrong way to do design. White will show you the way.

The Elements of Graphic Design
The Elements of Graphic Design
well organized for reference
I used the book as reference for teaching design for HS publications. The visual & theoretical information worked well to show how to organize information and why. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Computer Graphics - General    4. Graphic Arts - General    5. Graphic design (Typography)    6. Layout (Printing)    7. Type and type-founding    8. Typography    9. Art techniques & principles    10. Graphic design   

Reviews (11)

not beautiful, but certainly effective and fun
This book is set up much like a textbook and would work well for an independent study in design. It has clearly organized chapters with projects at the end of each; the projects work on a theoretical and practical basis, and allow the student to employ a hands-on approach. It is fun, engaging, easy to follow, and manages to be technical without feeling pompous. It takes the designer from inspiration and mood boards to the final designs and a cohesive line. It breaks down the process into smaller tasks in the most fun way I have yet seen.
Too basic
I was looking for a more detail book and I found this one too basic.

made the right decision
i have been going to community college for a while now and i have always wanted to be creative so i decided to go to Institute of Design and Technology for fashion design i start 06/10/2006 and bought this book to inspire me. Well in reading this book i know that i have made the right decision for myself. And actually cant wait to start even though i was a little intimated at first due to no experience reading this book has opened up many possiblties. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Commercial - Fashion Design    4. Design - Textile & Costume    5. Fashion    6. Fashion drawing    7. Study & Teaching    8. Techniques - Drawing - Specific Subjects    9. Art / Fashion   

Reviews (33)

valuable
As a graphic designer, I spend most of my time on the computer and have sorely missed creating with my hands. This book is bringing me back to that in an exciting way. Contrary to some reviewers I am very glad the book doesn't indulge too much in Photoshop instruction (although it does give information aboutPhotoshop that is most relevant to the processes, like print specifications). That would be a waste of space because there are a gazillion Photoshop books out there, but these techniques are much more rare and need as much space as possible to teach them. The authors do a great job of this. Very clear, thoughtful and succint writing. No wasted words.
DEFINITELY INNOVATIVE !!!!
If you are a serious printmaker this book is a must have.It shows you how to combine traditional printmaking with digital printing, printing on different substrates, has great pictures and much more. YOU DONT NEED AN EXPENSIVE PRINTER TO FOLLOW THIS BOOK.I have an EPSON 1280 INKJET ($399) and it works great.The ideas and possibilities are endless. I highly recommended this book !

Technology and creativity
It's good to see someone use technology creatively. All too often "art" and "technology" are seen as mutually exclusive. These authors show that that is certainly not the case.
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Assemblage Art    4. Digital & Video    5. Digital art    6. Ink-jet printing    7. Technique    8. Art techniques & materials    9. Image processing   

Reviews (4)

Gotta Get It
For anyone who loves to collect, this book is a must-have. Not that you'll need the tips that the author includes for the novice, but this gem of a book is a collectible in its own right, presented in a hard plastic sleeve. Filled with whimsical photos of dozens of designs by today's most noted designers and architects, "Antiques of the Future" is irresistible and informative. As a student of contemporary material culture and the things that surround us, I got a huge kick viewing some of the best design of our time in this format. Makes a great gift for the person who has almost everything.

Love it
This book was a great addition to my library. I was surprised to see some of the objects that I own and love might be worth something someday, and to find out why. I have a few other "conversation piece" books on products, but most of them only talk about one type of design (like chairs) or are organized historically. I like that this book has a great variety of objects. The only bad thing is that now I want to own everything in the book!

Antiques of the Future
As a collector, I find this book timely and interesting.It's good to know what I should be collecting now for future value. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Antiques & Collectibles    2. Antiques / Collectibles    3. Antiques/Collectibles    4. Collecting    5. Popular Culture    6. Popular Culture - General    7. Reference - General    8. Antiques & Collectables    9. Antiques & Collectibles / General    10. Collectibles; pop culture   

Reviews (5)

Thorough Guide to Fashion Drawing
This book is a thorough guide for learning the art of fashion design illustration. The book features a plethora of examples to teach how to draw faces and poses in correct proportion, as seen in professional fashion illustrations. The examples in the book are large, facilitating the use of tracings prior to free-hand drawing. Anyone who wants to learn fashion design, especially teenagers interested in the field, will find this book an invaluable asset.

cool
i thought this book was great and easy to read you learn alot from just copying and praticing your drawing technigues, its amazing and loved the art.its a must buy for a fashion student or for some interstead in fashion illustration.

Better than expected!
I ordered this book as a hobby figuring that the 200+ pages must have some decent methods to improve my drawing skills. I have been looking for a fashion design instruction book for a long time now.This is certainly an elusive topic to find information on -- even on the web I couldn't find any website that offered any helpful instructions.I have never been able to find anything suitable, especially since I didn't want to invest a lot.This book was a good price that I didn't think would be too much of a loss if I didn't find it useful.
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Art Forms, Treatments & Subjects    4. Design - Textile & Costume    5. Fashion    6. Industrial / Commercial Art & Design    7. Techniques - Drawing - Specific Subjects    8. Techniques - General