Illustration Books

I wanted a book that taught my 6 year old daughter how to draw. But I was disappointed with the "How to" books out there for children. They all seemed to give too much information.

This book solved my problem. It's a picture book that teaches! It talks about perspective, styles of drawing, taking characters/situations into consideration, placement, emphasis, etc. All with humor and simple instruction.

I love this book!

This books shows what illustrators do by following two illustrators both working on Jack and the Beanstalk but coming up with very different results. A friendly cat and dog also add to the book.

Outstanding descriptions and illustrations describing how two illustrators can get very different results, even though they were both working on the same story. (Jack and the Beanstalk) Wonderful teaching resource. Highly recommend this for K through the 4th grade; also recommended reading for teachers and parents. Contains excellent color illustrations.

This book is one of the keepers - even when my kids get too old to be read to - this one is staying on the book shelf for my grandkids! Wonderful message, goofy characters, great illustrations!

Absolutely wonderful, if children can grasp the message in this book then when growing up and beginning friendships it will be a whole lot easier. I loved it! The graphics were brilliant and story simple but true!

If you're child is between 3 and 8 buy him/her this wonderfully told and illustrated book. The child will love it (and so will you!).

Written for young readers age 4-8, Willow May Goes to the Midnight Carnival is an exuberantly colorful, rhyming picturebook showcasing an extraordinary carnival. Not only does it have clowns, music, and acrobats, there are werewolves and many more exciting surprises! "Up above, / soaring through the air / on an undying breeze, / swings an / acrobatic family / of zombies / on the trapeze." A fun and friendly read-aloud book, not to be missed even if the Halloween season is several months around the corner!

What child doesn't like going to the carnival? But what about a Midnight Carnival? And what would be at a Midnight Carnival anyway, if you could stay up late?

Willow May does get to go to a Midnight Carnival and it's nothing like the carnivals you might see during the day.

The Midnight Carnival stirs your imagination with colorful illustrations depicting a colorful Mardi Gras wonder of events. Willow May and her dolly Jane enter into a world of wonder as they stumble across some of the performers at this Midnight Carnival. She sees clowns with one eye juggling black rats, a raven as ringmaster, blindfolded swordsmen, and a vampire who walks the tightrope. But the excitement doesn't stop there. Soon skeletons take the stage performing magic tricks and dancing, until one loses his footing and falls. Only to be swept away in a basket.

The fun and thrill of the Midnight Carnival leaves children and adults waiting for the night in this unexpectedly delightful picture book with a surprise twist at the end.

Wow! Opening this book is a visual feast. Our nephews and nieces love this book with its many unusual characters and a story kids can follow. I am amazed at the colors and the artwork and are glad we got it for them.

My only complaint about the book is there's just not enough of it! Kaluta's work really requires a multi-volume retrospective to demonstrate the breadth and depth of his astonishing talent. Anyone whose work recalls Moebius, Hal Foster, George Grosz, Alfons Mucha, Frank Frazetta and Heinrich Kley all at once deserves a far wider audience.

Get this book, then scour the used-book sites and get copies of "The Michael William Kaluta Treasury" and "The Michael Wm. Kaluta Sketchbook". Oh yeah, and "Metropolis".

Go to the guy's web site (not hard to find) and see for yourself.

Kaluta is one of comic art's most revered artists, providing a blend of graphic color images and fantasy covers and designs which are rich in texture and packed with content. It's especially pleasing to find all of his images under one cover, from sketches and work from his comics to full-page color presentations - many never seen before. Both prior fans and newcomers will find Wings Of Twilight captivating.

Finally: it's out! After a year and a half of digging through chromes and wrestling over the selections, Wings of Twilight, the Art of M.W Kaluta, has hit the stands, and, as the Artist In Question, I have to say I'm delighted! Lots of Color, Lots of b/w drawings and Prelims. A full set of my Tolkien Illustrations and a good group of pictures from METROPOLIS... add to that a fair number of previously unpublished pieces and there you have it... a fine collection of The Big Stuff... it's been 20 years since this type book on my work has been published. Not since The Studio, in 1980, has there been a nice overview of what I do, alone, at home .

If you are interested in seeing some of the work in the book before deciding on a purchase, you are welcome to go to my Web Site and click on Wings of Twilight for a look-see.

I gave the book 5 stars because, frankly, I am overwhelmed. However, there are about 4 pictures printed in reverse, and ONE printed Upside Down... but only I will know!

Enjoy the book! I certainly enjoyed doing the art.

With Paintbrush and Shovel is certainly a unique book. The beautiful paintings of wild flowers - 238 in all- really look more like high quality photography, they are so exquisitely detailed. The story that goes with the paintings tells an unknown story about work done by WPA women during the depression. One of the projects fostered by Roosevelt, the WPA gave work to unskilled African-American women and it was these women that cleaned up this willderness and brought the wild-flowers to Bessie Marshall to be reproduced in watercolor. The book is well-worth owning.

The wildflower paintings in this book are absolutely unbelievably beautifully detailed. When you see them you will not believe the artist could so accurately paint the tiny delicate features of each flower and could so accurately recreate the wonderful colors. If you like, forget about the wonderful story documenting the WPA project in the 1930s to create a wildflower park and document the flowers with paintings. But, if you are an artist or a wildflower lover or both you must check this out just for the wonderful paintings.

Additionally, the printers spared no expense. They used high quality paper and achieved exquisite reproduction of the paintings. I'm sure they were fearful they would be totally out classed if they did not.

This book provides a rare glimpes into the WPA projects especially designed by women. The book also illustrates the history of the park and chronicles the work of a diverse group of women who established a botanical preserve in a City Park during the 30's. The project, of national significance, was part of the WPA that provided work for African Americans and White Women during the depression. How intersting to read that the park provided an income for these deprived women, who created a wildflower/bird preserve for a small city. The beautiful botanical illustrations by B. Marshall are exquisite and the story to follow only enhances the charm of this well documented history.

Cartoonist Greg Irons was killed in 1984 at age 37 by a bus in Thailand so he never received the recognition he could've achieved over the decades, but YOU CALL THIS ART?! Provides a fine collection of his entire works; from the rock posters he designed for Bill Graham to his graphic comics and examples from his children's illustration and tattoo art work. The blend of black and white and color reproductions accompanies a survey of Irons' life, talents and achievements in a retrospective not to be missed!

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

This is the book I've been waiting for, and now I can retire all my old Greg Irons undergrounds to bags and boxes and display this volume proudly on my shelf, and have it at easy access for constant consultation. About the only thing I don't like about this book is the weird day-glo cover design. For some reason it almost makes the book look like an advance copy, as it appears unfinished. Aside from that I couldn't love this book more. Mr. Rosencrantz is generous in his biographical details, family photos, snapshots and art from every phase of Mr. Irons' too short career. This book is well worth every penny it costs, and so few books are these days. If you have an interest in anything from old San Francisco Rock posters, to underground comix, to record album design to book illustration to tattoo art....This is the book for you!!! Can't recommend this book highly enough!!!!

In the Summer of 1974, Back in my "Starvin' Artist Daze", I had been working on 30 Pages of Comix Art for months. One August morning, I gathered up my Guts and Drove To Berkeley, and The Print Mint. Shaking like a Leaf, I walk into The Folger Ave. Office. Inside is Bob DeRita, The Owner, at his desk talking to a Lanky Young Guy with an Long, Long Blonde Hair and a Scruffy Beard. He's calling him Greg, I have walked in to the office right in the Middle of an Pay Dispute. DeRita, is not in a Good Mood (To say the least!) and Croaks: "Well, Whatta You Want"??? Well, by now I'm about to lose Breakfast, Right in The Print Mint Office, and Silently shove my Art at him. He looks it over (Quickly) and gives it back. "Two Words, Kid... Art School" was his reply. I'm lookin' at the Door, when the Other guy, Greg, say's: "Hey Man, Let me see your Stuff". At this Point I'm ready to Crawl under a rock and Die, But, I gave this Friendly Stranger my Art, kinda hoping he was the Owner of The Rip-Off Press. He looks it over for Many long minutes (Seemed like hours) and gently hands my Art back. Greg, tells me: "You are Good Man, But, you are readin' too Much Crumb, and you are trying to draw Crumb", (He had me Cold)..."But, I see a liitle of my Stuff in your Work as well". "Your Work?" I whispered. "Yeah", he continued, "Slow Death & Deviant Slice". Now, I Knew who this was, Greg Irons was Checking my Work.

Now, it's summer of 2007 and I'm readin' this Great Book, "You Call This Art?! and it's a Fitting Tribute to an Amazing Artist. Lot's of his Comic Art is in here, Many of The Filmore West Posters as well & lot's of his Tattoo Art. I had no idea that Greg had done Illustrations for Children's Books, but, they are here as well. I Own many Books about the Underground Greats...Crumb, Shelton, S. Clay, etc. BUT, "You Call This Art", is one of the Finest Publications I have seen in years, I learned a lot about the Man, as well as the Artist by reading this one.

Looking, Now at Greg's work, Three Decade's on, it's even better than I remember it way back from The Early 70's. There is a lot in that Art, You will see the EC influence, that he grew up with and he Brought that Love of Great Horror into the Underground for us to enjoy. This Book brings me Right back to that time Long Ago. Times have Changed, The Underground Comix Business is Kaput, and Greg is Gone as well.

Oh, Yeah...I attended some Art Classes, and my Comics ARE in print in a Small Mountian Newspaper in South Lake Tahoe, Ca. Greg, was a Good Guy and FANTASTIC ARTIST...This Book tells his Story with Ton's of his Wonderful Art...FIVE STARS.

Zachary is a wonderful young man whose imagination and resident knowledge is amazing. He is not the video game fanatic that some little boys are and he uses his knowledge to see things in a different way. His parents provide him with the tools to be a treasure hunter by carrying him to places where he can explore and learn while drawing conclusions that are very enjoyable to read. Zachary has imagination but he also has a very stable family who encourage and abet his fanciful thinking while providing the environment needed for him to grow. I was a public librarian many years ago and a school librarian after that and this book with its page of print and page of illustration is very child-friendly. The format allows a short reading and then a comparison with the illustration and time to remind the listener of the treasure just found. It is a good teaching book for the listener. The chance to see all of Zach's treasures in his room and discuss the treasures and where they were found is a wonderful means to allow interaction between reader and listener or between the listeners.

I enjoyed the active imagination that Zachary has. My grandson is named Zachary and we had fun with the book and his imagination as well. The illustrations are great too.

This book is perfect for a parent or grandparent to read to a child. It helps you appreciate how active a child's imagination is and how important it is to nurture that imagination. Zachary turns everyday outings into exotic adventures. My grandkids just love me reading them this story.

My husband and I are trying to start a t-shirt company and this book gave us some great ideas. So many, that I don't know how we are going to produce that many shirts. I would really recommend this book for ideas for all kinds of crafts.

This wonderful new book makes a great companion to the Glass Painters Motif Library. None of the designs in this book are repeated and as with the Glass Painters Motif Library all of the designs are copyright free. If you have access to broadband internet why not catch our regular TV shows on www.createandcraft.tv where you will see some great demonstrations of many craft items. Don't miss our new book, The Complete Guide to Stamping which is published in March 2004. Also look out for regular features on us on HGTV in the United States.

"Courtney Davis ....Offers Celtic Art as displays of richness and colour, intricacy and symbolism to equal the world's finest styles" (quoted from "Arts & Crafts Magazine").

I picked up this book of illuminated letters at a museum in Dublin, and if you are interested in Celtic art, both old and new, be sure to check out the artist's web site at awenpress.com. Courtney Davis has published over 50 books on Celtic art, including coloring books and books of Viking and Celtic tattoos.

"101 Celtic Illuminated Letters" is a source book of decorated initials from some of the most celebrated thousand-year-old Celtic manuscripts, including the Book of Kells and the Lindisfarne Gospels.

After a brief introduction, the letters are arranged one to a page, the black-and-white version facing its counterpart colored by Courtney Davis. The letters average around 3.5 to 4 inches high, and are very easy to size up or down using a grid (not supplied).

Beauty is combined with humor in the letters of the Celtic Dog Alphabet, and there are also birds and human faces worked into some of the illuminated letters. This is a lovely and useful source book for anyone who is interested in Celtic knot-work, embroidery, or calligraphy.

Mr. Davis is my favorite author of books on Celtic Design. He is a master of it and besides the designs he has a mind like a color wheel. He is truly talented.

This is one of the few sources I have found for black and white interior artwork from the old SF magazines. If only there were more places I could find these rocketships, aliens, giant ants, babes with blasters and all the other paraphernalia of good old fashioned space opera.
My rating of "excellent" for this book must be tempered by the recognition that its subject matter isn't of interest to everybody. But for what it is, and for the audience it serves, it's priceless.
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This is a wonderful book.I bought many years ago the original french edition(HIER L'AN 2000,l'illustration de science-fiction des années 30,Denoël,1973)and I also own the british edition, published in 1975, by Souvenir Press(the book was printed in the USA).I met Jacques Sadoul at the 1969 SF Symposium in Rio de Janeiro,BRAZIL.Sadoul really knows the history of american science fiction.And he is a true admirer of the american writers and illustrators.For instance,he was very friendly with the late-and great-Alfred Elton Van Vogt,who wrote the INTRODUCTION of this work.Personally,I love the black&white interior illustrations made by VIRGIL FINLAY and A.LEYDENFROST and the covers by HOWARD V. BROWN and EARLE K. BERGEY.I'm constantly perusing the books reproducing BROWN's and BERGEY's covers for THRILLING WONDER STORIES and STARTLING STORIES.So,I highly recommend "2000 A.D.Illustrations from the Golden Age of Science-Fiction Pulps".It's a well researched and written book.And reproduces dozens of marvelous futuristic images.And,here,my homage to a few of the greatest science fiction illustrators of all time(they are all represented in this book):LEO MOREY,FRANK R.PAUL,WESSO(Hans Waldemar Wessolovski),HANNES BOK,STEPHEN LAWRENCE(Lawrence Stern Stevens&Peter Stevens),ELLIOT DOLD,J.ALLEN ST.JOHN,JULIAN S. KRUPA,WALTER POPP,PAUL ORBAN,ROD RUTH,ALEX SCHOMBURG,ROBERT FUCQUA and EDD CARTIER.