Artists Books

Kramer's works are visionary paintings similar to Blake's etchings, providing an array of colorful oil works which are eye-catching. Modern spiritual art at its best.

During the Great Depression, Hal Kramer sold one at a time out of an old metal suitcase. He has worked ship-board at sea, learned the trade of lithography, started his own successful publishing company, sold it, and retired. Then, at 70 years of age, he began a new, phenomenally-successful publishing company, H J Kramer.

Now 86 years old, Hal Kramer is reborn once again as a gifted visionary artist. He paints not things, but energy, and his book, Moments of Union, is radiant.

The Introduction, and inspiring story of Hal's career -- from industriousness to success to art to spiritual expressionism -- is worth the price of the book. But it is only the beginning.

I found it impossible to decide which paintings are my favorites, because each page I turn brings a new epiphany. Moments of Union is a book one can keep for many years and never grow tired of revisiting its pages.

Each of his paintings is like an oracle, in which we see our own inspiration, our own hopes and dreams.

Because beauty is in the beholder's eye, I urge you to open its pages and delight in your own moments of union.

This is a book which celebrates the power of creativity and a the profound art which comes out of a life well lived.

The format is gorgeous, each painting a radiant experience of its own. Linda Kramer, Hal's wife, is an expert in visual book design and her work has joined with Hal's to bring us an overall experience of being surrounded by light and color.

There is joy in these paintings and freedom of expression. When you look at this book, you believe in the power of your own creativity and you know that as you grow older, this power does not wane, but can, if you let it, come more and more to the surface.

The paintings in the book are grouped into 6 sections, called "Awakening", "Creation", "Emergence", "Flow", Manifestation" and "Arrival". These section groupings help the viewer approach the paintings and understand the process which forms the ground of Hal's work.

And the book is also wonderful if you flip it open and begin to feast your eyes. Try simply looking at the painting called "Instant Beauty" on page 28.

Read Hal's biography which is at the beginning of the book. As we "baby boomers" age and begin to wonder what we will do with the rest of our lives, we can look at this book and know that it is possible to begin a whole new chapter of growth and fruitfulness at any age.

Buy this book and savor it. Open it when you are feeling down. Remind yourself of what is possible.

When I received my copy of Moments of Union, I thought I would glance through it and save it for a rainy day. But no, once I opened it, I could not lay it down. Every painting had a gift of vivid colors and patterns. Gradually, my mind surrendered to something within that was far deeper. Hours later when I closed the book, I felt whole, as if all the parts of my being had joined together in this extraordinary shower of colors dancing freely across the pages. Next, I went through each page a second time to intellectually grasp why these paintings are so fulfilling and how Kramer's use of colors could stimulate such a sense of joy! Instead, I selected 15 favorites, the ones I would love to frame if I ever have the temerity to cut them out. I highly recommend evenings with this book to bring back an inner balance of heart, mind, and soul.

This is a book which celebrates the power of creativity and a the profound art which comes out of a life well lived.

The format is gorgeous, each painting a radiant experience of its own. Linda Kramer, Hal's wife, is an expert in visual book design and her work has joined with Hal's to bring us an overall experience of being surrounded by light and color.

There is joy in these paintings and freedom of expression. When you look at this book, you believe in the power of your own creativity and you know that as you grow older, this power does not wane, but can, if you let it, come more and more to the surface.

The paintings in the book are grouped into 6 sections, called "Awakening", "Creation", "Emergence", "Flow", Manifestation" and "Arrival". These section groupings help the viewer approach the paintings and understand the process which forms the ground of Hal's work.

And the book is also wonderful if you flip it open and begin to feast your eyes. Try simply looking at the painting called "Instant Beauty" on page 28.

Read Hal's biography which is at the beginning of the book. As we "baby boomers" age and begin to wonder what we will do with the rest of our lives, we can look at this book and know that it is possible to begin a whole new chapter of growth and fruitfulness at any age.

Buy this book and savor it. Open it when you are feeling down. Remind yourself of what is possible.

This book is fantastic! It captures the essence of Monet's painting better than any other book I've seen. The color printing is accurate. The plates are large and plentiful. There are complete series like the Japanese Bridge and Lily Pads as well as select paintings that are rarely found in other Monet books. And the inclusion of some unfinished late canvases shows how far Monet went into the future of Western art. You won't find many better than this!

Unlike most art books, this small volume has been in print continuously since 1978 & when you read it, it isn't hard to see why: superb reproductions and an extremely elegant design (plus its small size - very unusual in art publishing) offer the reader a wonderful experience wandering in Monet's vision of a carefully constructed alternate reality. In Monet's Giverny, natural forms respond instantly to light. The images produce a peculiar sense of floating in the viewer - many of the pictures lack a horizon line or any indication of where the viewer is in relation to the picture. As a result, we seem to hover in flight, poised above a constantly shifting panorama of woods, water, fields, and lilies. Interestingly, no human figures are visible in these works (Monet was never really a figure painter) producing a peculiar sensation of isolation and contemplation in the spectator - we wander through this magical land alone, or with whatever companion we desire. A superlative achievement which has found few imitators in the world of art publishing.

Whether you have appreciated Monet's works for years or you are just discovering him for the first time like me, this book is a beautiful, informative collection of his best.

Beyond the absolutely vivid and beautiful quality of the paintings displayed in Monet's Years at Giverny, I greatly appreciate the style of language used throughout the book. Unlike many major art books which often seem to forget about the layman reader, this book reads more like a beautiful story of his life providing great insight into his works.

In college, I was fortunate enough to see a collection of his Water Lilies in Paris. Although at the time I was amazed to see them, through Monet's Years at Giverny I came to fully appreciate them---Not only the paintings, but the man himself.

Excellent addition to any collection!

Claude Monet lived in rural Giverny from 1883 until his death in 1926. Many of the paintings that we most closely identify with his oeuvre were done on his property or in the neighborhood. Following his death, the property deteriorated until its restoration was completed in the 1970s with the help of Lila Acheson Wallace, of Reader's Digest fame. This book was created to in part to honor that restoration and the show that commemorated it. The show marked the beginning of a resurgence of interest in Monet that continues to grow. My only reservation about recommending this book is that it would have benefited from larger sized pages so that the reproductions could have been larger.

Giverny is located to the north of Paris, and is connected to Paris by the rail line from Gare St. Lazare (which Monet painted several times). The view of nature we get there is a reflection of Monet's very French focus on creating gardens, a lily pond, and walkways that bring natural beauty into our controlled grasp.

I have had the pleasure of visiting Monet's home at Giverny several times since it was restored and highly recommend that you make this journey as well when you are in Paris. Your concept of Monet's work will be changed by seeing his working conditions. The grounds are primarily an extension of his studio, for making observations of nature easier. First time visitors will be shocked to realize that the lily pond was dug and expanded at great effort and expense by Monet. Without his persistence, we would be missing many of our favorite Monet paintings.

Throughout the time that Monet lived in Giverny, his eyesight deteriorated . . . mostly due to cataracts. As an artist friend of mine points out, that eye affliction greatly improved his painting by making it freer and less detailed.

He also pioneered many techniques of al fresco paining, such as creating an artist's studio in a boat for his famous river scenes. This enabled him to capture many unusual perspectives from the water to the river bank. Similarly, one purpose of the Japanese bridge over his lily pond was to give him a similar point of perspective.

The book contains a map of Giverny and Monet's property (purchased in 1890 after he originally rented it), and 81 works that he created in the area.

Missing from these reproductions are the famous water lily paintings that he gave to the French nation which are now housed in the basement of the Orangerie. Be sure you see them when you next visit Paris. Many people go to the Orangerie and never make it to the basement. These are among the greatest jewels of Impressionism.

You will be pleased to see the 25 works from the Musee Marmottan in Paris. These masterworks are also often missed by those who visit Paris because they do not know about this small gem of a museum and its superb Monet collection.

The reproductions are organized around themes: (1) river scenes (from the boat) (2) haystacks [sic] (3) poplars (4) river and fields (5) morning on the Seine (from the boat) (6) the Japanese footbridge (7) the Garden Path (8) early water lilies (9) the late series (my favorites are the rose trellises over the garden path) (10) pond subjects, and (11) late water lilies.

The end of the book also has a chronology of Monet's life and works that will help you integrate this show into his entire work.

You will come away with a new excitement and respect for nature from these images. You will also feel more connected to and with the beauty of nature. Your mood will be lifted, just as Monet intended. What you see will be uniquely yours, also just as intended. Monet pays you the ultimate compliment here of letting you participate in the creative process by arranging the work in your mind to fit your mental needs and perspective.

After you enjoy these images, I suggest that you come away inspired to make what you do more accessible to others. How can you make your life and your work easier for others to participate in?

Live in beauty!

This book takes an in-deapth look at one of the greatest impressionist artists of all time. Go out and buy it today.

The better of his 2 books. Truly a confident fantasy artist with a unique style. Very inspirational a must for any art book collector. His exploration of form and the illusion of tendons, fat, muscle and steel are perfect, His ability to combine so many different creatures aspects fluently together is truly amazing. This is a book I turn to when inspiration has left me.

I knew before i purchased this book that I enjoyed Carlos Huante's work - now I am a dedicated fan. I first noticed a couple of his pieces in spectrum 11, and it piqued my curiosity. There's little in the way of writing, just a quick synopsis of the artist's Bio, and some working techniques.. also a few blurbs about some of his original paintings towards the end. But honestly , most of the images don't need explanation as they seem to be the work of pure imagination. Solid anatomy, shading and subtle color usage characterize the creatures and characters that populate the pages. This book is a must - have for any aspiring concept or character artist!

it is hard o really describe this book but with one word: amazing.

the organic creatures/ monsters, the characters, illustrations and color schemes are frightening.

his sketches are perfect.

I got this book for quite some time now, and it still inspires me with new ideas every time.

his characters have such an enormous dramatic apperance that it hurts in a very good way when I watch the illustrations.

A must for all anatomy/creature- and illustration-fans.
Ah yeah, his sculpting skills...yeah, you guess right!..

Even if your not into sci-fi this book will impress. It is a mix of hand made and computer rendered illustrations that are top notch. The hand drawn images are wonderfully revealing. Would make a great technique scource book for any artist.

This is a book of the most amazing, top-quality illustrations of monsters and heros. Every time I page through it, my hear skips a beat out of excitement. If you love graphic novels or illustration, you MUST see this book!

I interviewed Jacqueline Duheme when she was promoting this exquisite book, and one thing remains in my mind that she said about "The Grand Dame, Jacqueline" - that she could have been a painting woman!!!

As an ardent admirer of Mrs. Kennedy for the past 40 years, I have read every book on her that I could get my hands on. "Mrs. Kennedy Goes Abroad" is a refreshing change from the repetitive narratives and recycled photos that are the mainstay of so many other books about her life. Ms. Duheme's illustrations are elegant and sumptuous but also embrace a childlike purity and simplicity which capture the essence of Mrs. Kennedy's persona and mystique. The commentary has the simple charm of a beautifully written children's book. It is obvious why Mrs. Kennedy chose Ms. Duheme to accompany her on her more memorable trips abroad as First Lady. A truly enchanting book.

Mrs. Kennedy Goes Abroad is an adorable little book filled with colorful Fauvist-like illustrations. Anyone who likes Laura Stoddart's simple-chic illustrations for Kate Spade will probably enjoy it. Fans of the recent exhibition at the Met that highlighted Jackie's White House clothes may appreciate it too. The commentary is kept to a minimum and black and white photos from Mrs. Kennedy's travels are included, but the focus is on French artist Duheme's amusing miniature paintings that capture Jackie in all those great pink sleeveless dresses and crisp suits in Paris, India, London and Italy.

As a side note: Duheme and Jacqueline Kennedy became friends who shared similar painting styles, and Duheme was invited to Cape Cod to give the First Lady an art lesson.

This book has wonderful pictures that captures the "facts" from actual photographs and transforms them into scenes of "fantasy". I really enjoyed the background information that accompanies each picture. A real treat of Jackie fans.

"Mrs. Kennedy Goes Abroad" is a beautiful book. The illustrations are lovely to look at, and the book is fun to read. A good choice for anyone to add to their library; especially recommended for those interested in the Kennedys and Jackie in particular. Evokes the fun mood of Jackie's scrapbook written with her sister Lee, "One Special Summer".

The author once again uses his excellent talents as a writer and artist to create a spell-binding novel. A series of murders followed by the suicide of the killer baffles the police task force headed by Nate Rodriguez' girlfriend, Detective Terri Russo. Nate, of course, is the sketch artist whose insights, surpassed only by those of his witch-like grandmother, enable him to create likenesses so good that evil-doers are instantly recognized.

In this plot, his drawings are essential to the conclusion, as is his stubbornness to dog every possible clue and angle. It seems the victims and their killers are veterans of the Gulf War, suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Meanwhile, Nate continues to labor under the belief that he was responsible for the death of his father, an undercover narcotics cop, 20 years before.

This well-researched novel provides all the chills of a 1984 intrigue. The combination of fluid writing and the artwork moves the reader forward at a breathtaking pace. The characters are portrayed sharply and realistically. The book is accompanied by an extensive bibliography on various topics germane to the story. Highly recommended.

This is the second book I have read by this author. Keep them coming!

The metropolitan area in which I live is blessed with a college of art and design that, over the past 20 or so years, has acquired a fine national reputation. Lately, business matters have taken me past the school frequently. I have noticed during the course of each trip that a number of students have been carrying ANATOMY OF FEAR by Jonathan Santlofer. It is not surprising; in that fine novel Santlofer performed a fascinating interweaving of art and dialogue, making the art an integral part of the story. He performs similar magic, arguably on an even greater scale, in his latest work of fiction, THE MURDER NOTEBOOK.

While this is a sequel to ANATOMY OF FEAR, one can read it without having any familiarity with its predecessor. Santlofer does a fine job of filling the new reader in with respect to what has gone before in the life of NYPD sketch artist Nate Rodriguez. His creation is possessed of an uncanny, almost supernatural ability to bring out the best in witnesses --- including, at one point, himself --- and bringing their observations to the page. Rodriguez is also a gifted facial constructionist, and as THE MURDER NOTEBOOK begins, he is tasked with attempting to recreate the face of an arson victim. He is quickly shifted to another task, however, as he is called upon to sketch the face of a suspect being sought in connection with a particularly brutal and apparently random murder. When another such killing occurs, followed by a spectacular suicide, Rodriguez senses a nexus among all of the deaths, even though he cannot identify it.

Terri Russo, Rodriguez's paramour and fellow police officer, is heading up the team to which Rodriguez is assigned. While she is behind his intuitive curve, she remains --- how shall I put this? --- skeptically open-minded about his hunches, slow to come around but willing to go with the flow at full throttle once she is convinced. The investigation and the sudden mysterious involvement of federal law enforcement put a strain on their relationship, even as it appears that Rodriguez himself is being targeted by whoever is ultimately behind the mayhem occurring on the streets of New York.

As the investigation resumes, Rodriguez has been continuing the facial reconstruction to which he was originally assigned on his own time at his own expense, little knowing that his work is the first step in resolving one of the major conflicts of his life. Yet both investigations pale when compared to what ultimately awaits Rodriguez, and the reader, at the conclusion of THE MURDER NOTEBOOK.

Santlofer's writing and plotting abilities have improved since ANATOMY OF FEAR --- a great read in its own right --- and are nicely counterpointed in THE MURDER NOTEBOOK by his artwork, which again advances the story and narrative. His sketches are stark and deceptively simple (no four-color plates here), but they are infused with a haunting realism that attracts the reader's attention and interest, even while they occasionally make one's skin quietly crawl. Upon completion of the book, I found myself going back and looking at the drawings more than once, particularly the author's renderings of the stages of Rodriguez's facial reconstruction models.

I would recommend that those students I mentioned --- and everyone else --- make room in their backpacks for THE MURDER NOTEBOOK.

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

Nate Rodriguez is a forensics sketch artist who works freelance. He is still dealing with the death of his father a few years ago. He and his mother don't have much to say to one another since that time. Deep down Nate feels guilty about the death.

Terri Russo is Nate's girlfriend. She works for a task force for one of the departments. As the leader of the task force, she has three men under her. Terri and Nate don't tell others they are a couple and try not to work together unless necessary.

Nate gets assigned a skull to recreate. It is a "John Doe," and they feel he may be the person to figure out whose skull it was. Terri is coming across people dead. She needs help with the case and hires Nate to help her. Nate is taken off working on the skull but now works on it in his free time. He and Terri are questioning people when another body turns up dead.

Nate's mom comes to town for a visit. He introduces Terri and they hit it off. Nate thinks this is finally his one shot to talk to his mom about his dad's death. Just when he gets the nerve he backs down. Mom leaves with the words still unspoken between the two of them.

They are not getting answers as quickly as they need them, so Nate takes to the streets to find answers. He finally finds what he's looking for. The only problem is getting the task force to see the clues for what they really mean.

With all the sketches and clues, Nate finally figures it out. Then when the skull is all done, a bell goes off in Nate's head. Now after all these years since his dad's death, there might be another break in that case as well.

I love how you see the sketches and the book tells you how to recreate a skull. The book is very interesting and keeps you turning the pages.

Armchair Interviews says: Another page-turner.

NYPD forensic artist Nate Rodriguez is in demand. Bronx Lieutenant Bill Guthrie wants him to do a facial reconstruction of a skull with bullet holes that was also burned in a fire. Chief of Deportment Perry Denton wants his help on the case of a murdered student who turned hi back on the ghettand won a schiolarship at City University.

Nate interviews the dead student's girlfriend who describes a man who picked a fight with her boyfriend for no apparent reason. The sketch evidently leads the police to the killer who ends up committing suicide. That should have proven the end of the case, but soon afterward another murder-suicide occurs with echoes of the most important elements of the first incident. Guthrie tells Rodriguez to drop the case of the skull, but the artist works on it anyway because he feels compelled to finish the job. More murder-suicide crimes occurred and Nate convinces his peers they are linked, but no one knows how; besides the FBI takes charge. Nate risks his career with the help of police officer Terri Russo to solve the case, but soon realizes their lives on the line from a DARPA conspiracy to conceal the truth.

The link the cases have in common is horrific and chilling because it is believable. THE MURDER NOTEBOOK is an extraordinary police procedural as the protagonist on a quest for justice and follows the clues one step at a time with his keen artistic eye which is how they finally saw the links. It is a struggle for the police (not Nate) as clues are not linear and it takes intuition to skip the logical sequence. Jonathan Santlofer provides an enjoyable investigative tale.

Harriet Klausner

My Journey In Karate: The Sabaki Way is a in depth book about Kancho Ninomiya's Journey though Karate. It describes how he won the All Japan Tournment and started the Enshin Karate Style. I am a Student of Enshin and Recommend the book to anyone who wants to read a great book about Karate. Two Thumbs up!

Anyone who has been a serious martial artist will throughly enjoy reading the inspiring story of Grand Master of Enshin Karate Joko Ninomiya. Anyone who has been serious about the martial arts for a significant amount of time can relate to Ninomiya's life story.

Before beginning his study of kyokushin karate at the age of 15, Ninomiya practiced judo. After making the transition to karate, Ninomiya never turned back and had the dream of becoming a karate champion. The book explains how he would go to different karate schools in Japan and challenge the top students to improve his skills. He challenged different schools in a dignified way, he never used bully tactics. After hearing about the all-Japan karate tournement, Ninomiya practiced diligently for years until he was able to win first place. In the book, he talks about his training and preparation, his fights and the people who helped him become better as a martial artist and as a person.

I like the way Ninomiya emphasizes that karate is not about winning tournaments and beating people up, it's about confronting yourself and pushing beyond what you are today. Master Ninomiya admits that he did not realize the true meaning of karate until after he had accomplished one of his goals. Sometimes that's what it takes because after we win something or accomplish something big, we often ask ourselves "now what?" and become complacent. We should fight against this complacency because it will only make things harder in the long run.

Towards the end of the book, Ninomiya gives his opinion of "no holds barred" fighting contests. I agree with Ninomiya that "no holds barred" contests appeal to a morbid curiosity. People often watch these types of contests and are happy to see someone lying flat on their back at the end of a match or seriously hurt in some way. Ninomiya founded The Sabaki Challenge which is a real karate tournament, but he has a point system that emphasizes technique to minimize injuries.

I have been a martial artist for most of my life, and so have always been attracted to stories that outline other martial artists journeys. Joko Ninomiya has written a "must read" for anyone whose chosen path is the Way of the Warrior. He has done an outstanding job of outlining the highs and lows of a life dedicated to the "eight Fold Path". I was also moved by his love and respect for his Sensei and for his father. This book was much more than I expected and a wonderful addition to everyone's library.

Kancho Ninomiya is not only a world class champion, he writes with a certain gift; one that captures the essence of a lesson one could only get from training with him... and make no mistake, this may make for an inspiring read but reading it without training in any martial art is as hollow as reading Shakespeare and never seeing it performed... I began studying karate very seriously as an adult under Sensei Kishi, one of Kancho Ninomiya's teachers and best friends, as well as a collaborator on this book... this text captures the true spirit of martial arts training, something that is very difficult by nature of the difference between the written word and the life of martial arts training. Osu.

Rarely in the martial arts world are biographies rich with insight about both the individual and the training. Normally, -except a couple bio accounts of Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris' auto-bio account- the books are very dry and not very telling. Sometimes it is the writing and often it is because the reader is never really let under the skin of the martial artist. In this book - that has changed.

Ninomiya graciously allows the reader to travel in his mind and spirit as he grows from an unfocused (though hardworking)martial artist and somewhat immature teen into a higly skilled and mature warrior.

The reader travels and sees when Ninomiya, through several events and a couple of key mentors, understands himself and his journey through karate. Unlike most auto-biographical accounts, I never felt Ninomiya was boasting about his success. Instead, he shows where his failures and determined manner leads to success beyond winning a "trophy."

An excellent book. I learned much from this extra-ordinary man.

wonderfully wonderful in the totality of evolutionality of variablistic monostereotypism

it waz amazing, it changed my life. other bioz didn't do it for me, but here autobio touched right here. after i read it i went out and changed my foolish wayz. No more gangz for me and no mo' shootin'. Now thez dayz I give all my billz to the poor and try to share the book of nadia to all my pepz

I LOVE this book. I am probably Nadia's biggest fan! It gave me inspiration as a gymnast and as a person. It is a real treat because it is from Nadia's viewpoint. There is also a movie based on her book, called " Nadia". I am currently looking for my own copy of this book and movie. They were great!

I've got 34 books on Nadia cause I'm a gymnast myself and I chose to read about her cause shes by far the best!And this book was the first I read about her and I got more Info and excitement out of this book than any of my Nadia books!!!I loved it!i recommend it for someone writing a report and is a fan!

I owned a copy of this book since 1981, right after it was release in England, and until today, this inspiration book placed the most unique place in my heart.

Many people has found the movie 'Nadia' inspiration, but none can compare to this book, more closer to the real Nadia's own story. This book told you the courage and brave and clever little girl who went through the most important growth time of her life. Her thoughts, her struggles, her love and total dedication for her sports were so unique, which made Nadia Comaneci until today an unreplaceable icon in gymnastics. She is the person who was selected to be the Greatest Gymnast and one of the greatest athlete in 20th Century.

After 26 years of her innovative Comaneci Salto in bars event, was rated as the ultimate most difficult movement in the year 2001 Gymnastics New Code Of Point. Today, only a number of gymnasts got to do it, and we can see that how advance technically she was of not only her time but today as well. Her 14 years old of winning the Montreal Olympics All Around title, with the world first perfect ten that even the electronic scoreboard was not ready for it. Her 3 consecutive European All round title, through her physical growing period is a record until today no one came close. Her dedication to technical superiority and artistics expression in gymnstics, that set a new trend in modern gymnastics until today. She held records that are not able to be written off, and influent in the sports beyond imaginations.

Yet, beyond all the glories and fames, you can find this book, the most honest, caring and humble nature that made this lady to be unique of all. You will find her consistant to her words until today. You can find her present involvement in gymnastics, charities and youth motivation came from thoughts years ago. Her words in the book live up to the expectation of the real person she is today. Her words in this book will keep you inspire and aim for the impossible, I am one of the person who truly inspired by her words in the book. I would like to expressed that it is a book that you must have and share with others who wanted to be motivated.

Best Wishes.

This book is lavishly decorated by Bewick's works, with such a quality that it can serve as a little Bewick anthology. In fact the quality of printing is better than the Dover edition of his works (which you can get at Amazon), and this collection of his vignettes that I also own (Scolar Press, 1978). It's worth the money just for the illustrations. By saying this I'm not depreciating the text. Mrs Uglow certainly writes gracefully. But bear in mind that Bewick was a honest, though quick-tempered, craftsman. His life was not that eventful. There're no scandals to expose (well, Bewick actually ripped off his clients, when he felt like to). As a result, the book is at best lively, but not exciting. Chances are that you won't finish it in one sitting, especially when you're not particularly interested in 18th-century England. But get it anyway, if you care about art history at all.

I'd seen Thos. Bewick's illustrations for years in NY Review of Books and elsewhere; they'd always seemed to me mysterious for their silent detail and concentration. So it was quite refreshing to find out that he was a loud, warm, confident man. He spent his life and career firmly rooted in one place, so unlike myself and many others of us in this "globalized" age. He devoted his career to appreciating the minutiae of life all around him, and innovated new techniques for portraying them. These circumstances, together with the author's calm, clear and often bemused style of writing, create a very cozy experience -- almost like reading a non-fiction fairy tale. I read most of this book in small bites of a chapter or two over the course of a couple of weeks of evenings, and found it a wonderful escape from the pressures of the day.

Though the book is very well-researched and surprisingly long (nearly 400 pages), it never drags. I'd been pretty ignorant about late 18th-early 19th Century English history other than a few names and dates, so it was also interesting to learn about the grass-roots resentment of government policies and wars, the government's tendency to turn dissidents into political prisoners, and much other historical context. But this learning is conveyed with a light touch. The illustrations are not only wonderful, they're as numerous as raisins in a cake, yet placed with great taste. A very outstanding book.

Thomas Bewick was a hulking six foot tall, in the eighteenth century when such stature was remarkable. His realm of interest was the broad Tyne Valley, the region around Newcastle in England. His art, however, was of the miniature, woodcuts of astonishing detail about the size of a calling card. You might think that the life of such a rural artist in a medium that was dying out even when he was perfecting it could not hold much interest, but Jenny Uglow who has written biographies of others from that era has made Bewick's life, art, and world quite fascinating in _Nature's Engraver: A Life of Thomas Bewick_ (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux). This is a beautifully produced book, with scores of Bewick's engravings, most reproduced at the same size as he originally made them, often humorous tailpieces that were to fill the blank of a page at the end of a chapter, as well as serious reference illustrations of quadrupeds and British birds. Get out your magnifying glass. Each tiny vignette, composed only of minuscule blobs of black ink, is more full of details than you would have thought possible.

Bewick was born in 1753, and drew compulsively as a child. He was apprenticed to an engraver, and took up woodcuts when engraving on copper was becoming more customary. After his children's books, he spent nine years studying animals, live (sometimes in traveling menageries) or as preserved specimens. _ A General History of Quadrupeds_ appeared in 1790. He thereupon took on the task of documenting all the birds of Britain in _A History of British Birds_. An admirer was Audubon, whose big and colorful bird portraits were of a completely different branch of art, but who traveled to see Bewick in 1827, finding him, despite his age, full of life as "he delivered his sentiments with a freedom and vivacity which afforded me great pleasure... when I parted from Bewick that night, I parted from a friend."

The attention did not change Bewick in the least; he remained a plain, bluff, down-to-earth engraver. Uglow brings him to life. He was often irascible, and was not the easiest of businessmen to get along with, especially as he kept imperfect records. He chewed tobacco constantly, and might get into heated discussions over his pint at the pub. He loved music and angling, although he was no hunter, having killed a bullfinch with a stone when he was a boy; he remembered the bird long after, thinking that if it could have spoken "it would have asked me why I had taken away its life." He was a soft touch, constantly giving money away, to the consternation of his wife. He put feed out for wild birds, and he was much ahead of his time, as such eccentric behavior did not catch on until the mid-Victorian years. He was something of a conservationist. He sympathized with the Americans in their revolution, and he always felt that working people deserved representation in government. He disliked organized religion, and scoffed that the Bible's doctrine of original sin didn't "come within the scope of either rationality or justice." He could be classed as a deist, insisting that reading nature was the best way to understand its creator and to obtain a "perpetual cheerfullness". He was loyal to his family, and having been an apprentice, he took his own apprentices, and his relationships with them remained among the strongest of his life. One of his last woodcuts, included here, shows an ancient horse, and is titled "Waiting for Death". When death came for him, he was still at work on the impossible task of getting all the birds into his great work, and he was loved by almost everyone who knew him. He was an admirable man, Uglow plainly shows. Her book, full of Bewick's miniature masterpieces just as he would have printed them himself, lets him show what an admirable artist he was.

This is a very well written informative biography of the influential wood engraver Thomas Bewick. The author places Bewick and his artistic contribution in the context of his times describing the artist's rise to success at the beginning of England's industrial age and during it's wartime eras with France and America. Uglow is passionate about the artist and his work and the book is beautfully illustrated with well chosen examples of Bewick's phenomenal tiny woodcuts. His work has endured for 2 centuries and this book helps you understand why.

I appreciate the years of hard work that authors put into their books. Their mountain of effort allows me to learn more about their subject through a few hours or days of careful reading. However, some books are greater gifts than others. Jenny Uglow has given me two of my very favorite reading experiences. Her "Hogarth" was a revelation to me. She opened up Hogarth's world and provided such a rich context for his life that my understanding of his time and context made his life and work much more meaningful.

With this book, on the life, work, and world of Thomas Bewick, I experienced that delight again. I took my time savoring this book and examining the beautiful reproductions of his work with a magnifying glass (since my eyes can no longer pick up all the detail). Frankly, I had never heard of Thomas Bewick and wanted to read the book because it is by such a wonderful author. He was an engraver who specialized in engraving in boxwood. Again, a subject I knew only in the barest outline.

Bewick was from an established but not wealthy family in the Tyne valley in northern England. He apprenticed as an engraver and demonstrated talent enough to found a shop with a partner. His work goes beyond the usual artisanship of wood engraving into a realm of artistry that sets him apart into a world that is still shocks in the effect and composition. This wonderful book provides a large number of his works in their actual size. Boxwood was used because of its hardness and ability to stand up to the number of prints commercial reproduction of the time required. However, the wood was small in diameter and the pieces tend to be small.

Yet, they demonstrate a full range of emotion. Bewick is able to capture the images of his time and the countryside he loved. There are pieces that are quite funny and make a point such as the man driving his cow across the river to avoid paying the toll at the bridge, but losing his hat that was more costly than the toll would have been. He also shows us the drama of storms, shipwrecks, and all kinds of vignettes from life.

However, his masterworks consumed more than twenty years of his life. The first was his Quadrupeds, which provided wonderful images and interesting text on animals both domestic and exotic. He then produced two magnificent works. The first volume was on the Land Birds of Britain and the second on the Water Birds of Britain. His presentation of the birds transcends mere illustration and were used and loved by naturalists for many decades. Even the great Audubon paid homage to Bewick's achievements. I find their beauty still has the power to stun and invite long and close examination.

Uglow provides what is known about his life, his apprenticeship and those who apprenticed with him (a list is provided in the back). We learn about his business dealings, his lack of skill in handling money, but his generous spirit with friends. His somewhat prickly nature also caused strife and ongoing difficulties that were needless and destructive. Yet, the work remains. And we are all enriched from Bewick's rich talents and Uglow's masterful and magical writing.

You owe yourself a trip through Bewick's life with Jenny Uglow as your guide. It will be an experience you will treasure.

Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI

Here is Uglow's magnificent biography of Hogarth:
Hogarth: A Life and a World

I will keep it simple and just say i really enjoyed this book. The art style is diffrent and sweet. I love the girls big cute shoes and the beautiful backround settings. I really don't think a manga/anime fan could be dissapointed with this book. vibrant pages of cute anime girls with their own names and bios make this book a pleasure to add to my collection.

I have NEVER regretted Buying This! The art style is so unique and cute. There are alot of Loli-pictures but its good for refrence material!
There is one naked girl pic in a Artclass Setting. Its not drawn in a offensize way. Theirs also quite a few girls wearing dress shirts and (...). Its still a very good Artist and Worthy of Buying~ !
Please Buy this and get Kao Yun's book too! (

I love this one of the whole entire series. I love the way the artist make characters about it and how they draw the characters. Now only if they could make a show based on this..........

i find this to be the best edition of this series so far. Not only does it have far less fan service, the art style is ver original. I love the beatiful art in this book and could look at it all day. Do your self a favor and pick up a copy.

This is by far the BEST of the New Generation of Manga Artists series. It beats them all in terms of originality and charm.

The best quality I consider in this book is Renga-san's use of backgrounds. He uses up most of his canvas in a majority of his pieces with city scenes (something I'll always have trouble with ^^;;) or images relating to the character's personality (like my favorite, a cute girl with stereo equipment).

As for the characters, most of them are girls (one or two boys are thrown into the mix). The design is very unique and appealing, especially with the big eyes; the lines up close are pretty rough, so if you're sensitive about line quality, you might not be satisfied...however, I'd say they are far from unprofessional. As I mentioned with backgrounds, Renga-san does a lot with bringing out his characters' personalities; there's bonus profiles of some of them in the back of the book.

Unlike most of this series, there's no exaggerating body parts in this edition. There is quite a bit of unnecessary underwear scenes, some so random you wonder why they're even there.>__o;; Only about three of them are near provocative. All in all much tamer then the previous artist books.

I still love this book after 2 years...still use it for reference. It says in the back comments that Renga-san might consider doing another book in the future, and I would be happy if he did. He already has a nice portfolio site (http://rengaworks.hekatoncheir.net/). Anyway, highly recommended book for any budding artist!=D

This is not a book to be judged by its cover. Although No Way Home by Carlos Junior Acosta is his story about becoming a world-class ballet dancer, it is that story about the becoming that has pulled me from page to page as a Cuban boy, born into poverty, defied place, people and time to reach the heights, literally and professionally, he has achieved. So little is known by so many of us about the real struggles of people who live on the islands of the Caribbean. Little is known by so many of us about the racism in Cuba, about what life is really like when people struggle against so much. This is not an anti-Castro book either--and I am thankful for that because I live in Miami Beach and have heard more than enough about the evils of Fidel. Instead the reader is carried along as a young boy fights against his black father--a father of many children by many women. Junior wants to be the next Pele, the greatest soccer player. But his father insists otherwise: his son will become a ballet dancer. I loved how accepting the Cubans appeared to be of a boy taking ballet, something we do not experience in this country. Mr. Acosta has sprinkled in wonderful dialog, rich descriptions of his white mother, of his two half-sisters, of the places where Junior had to endure life. The book is divided into three sections: the boy and adolescent, the maturing young man, and the powerful ballet professional as an adult. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the real life in Cuba as well as the humanness of a man who could so easily have written awful things about his father but chose instead to rise to a high level of grace.

...this book will fascinate you. This is ultimately a tale about finding one's place in the world; a place that seemingly evades and, at times, can appear as unattainable as a mirage. Carlos Acosta's descriptions of his familial and economic hardships are honest and direct without being either exploitive or self-deprecating. He states things as they are, but the lyrical quality of his writing lends his ultra humble origins an unmistakable air of dignity and pride. Even as he conquered the highbrow world of ballet, the boy who grew up in poverty in the Havana suburb of Los Pinos, never left his side. "Yuli" as his family called him, is ever present. The restless and truant boy who loathed ballet and dreamt of soccer and break-dancing is very much entrenched in the man who is considered the greatest classical male dancer of his generation. From playing "eating mud" to being the first ever black principal dancer of London's Royal Ballet, we come to know an individual who has struggled his entire life to stay close to people and places that his art necessarily pushed further away from him. Again, if you couldn't care less about ballet, you'll find a little bit of yourself within its pages, as this book will undoubtedly speak to everyone. At its core, it's a humanistic a tale as they come. Funny, moving, haunting and honest, No Way Home: A Dancer's Journey from the Streets of Havana to the Stages of the World is a deeply rewarding experience that reminds us of the price we must pay for the choices we make.

I'm not interested in dancing or Cuba. To speak plainly, I didn't expect to enjoy this book. But enjoy it I did.

From the cover, the book appears to be about the life of a fabulously talented dancer who begins his life is dank poverty in Cuba, and fight his way out of all that. Sounds like a well worn idea, right?

But it's far more interesting than that. Carlos Acosta actually didn't want to be a ballet dancer, and tried to stop being a dancer several times. He almost succeeded.

The book isn't really about dancing. You don't need to know anything about dancing to appreciate the soul of this man. Acosta could have had the same life and travels and written the same basic book even had he been a swimming star, a soccer star, film star, baseball star, a great break dancer or singer. The core question of the book would still have been the same: What use is ambition and earthly success if you lose your family and your sense of belonging in the world? Does having talent give you a responsibility to fulfill your potential?

Acosta comes off as a very likeable guy, even as he describes himself doing rather unlikeable things, at times. He is poor but does not hate poverty. He has troubles in his family but still feels that he belongs with them. He has troubles with his country but wants to stay. He acknowledges that he's in the minority-- that lots of his countrymen want to escape. He paints no rosy picture of life in Cuba. He sees the problems, he just doesn't mind them.

His family, teachers, and friends relentlessly push him to fulfill a destiny that they insist is his. At times he also becomes ambitious to dance well, but his thoughts always return to his family and the beloved dirty, terrible, dangerous neighborhood of his childhood. He travels far, but always finds a way to go back home. Perhaps the title should have been No Way to Stay Home.

I like Acosta because he doesn't buy into the philosophy of ambition for ambition's sake. Yet to please the people he loves he must leave the people he loves and appear to love something else. How he comes to terms with this makes for a book I felt compelled to read in one sitting.

I am not a balletomane or even a big fan of memoirs, but I loved this book! The writing, the style, and the story pull the reader in to Acosta's world. This is a universal story, told brilliantly and with great attention to language and pace. A great story for all ages!

I bought "No Way Home" because I heard Julie Kavanagh (she wrote the recent Nureyev biography) call Acosta the most charismatic figure in contemporary ballet. I am glad I bought it. It's an eminently readable and moving memoir. I am a big memoir guy, but hardly a ballet aficionado. The themes in this book transcend ballet. Acosta addresses universal human issues in relating his personal history (race, the idea of home, familial relationships, ...) and he probes these issues honestly and with a keen eye for detail.