Art Books

Watercolor painting can be discouraging for the beginner because of
its delicate and difficult technique. A complex sketch that took a
long time to develop can be ruined in two minutes when the novice
painter starts putting watercolor on it, therefore wasting precious
time and effort plus some expensive paper and paint. That's why Jack
Reid, a fine painter with a great instructional sense, suggest
approaching watercolor by learning-by-practice four basic techniques:
flat wash & glazing, graded wash, wet-on-wet and dry brush. Mr. Reid
proposes practicing these techniques on exercises a learner will be
glad to try: nice looking pictures based on very simple sketches,
appealing enough to be stimulating but simple enough to avoid lazyness
and frustration. Also, the exercises proposed can be made in small
format, thus relieving the distress of wasting materials that often
makes the beginner repress from practicing. It's indeed a delight
working on that simple projects and finding that Mr. Reid's advices do
work. Along these exercises the beginner will adquire a practical
knowledge about how things are done in watercolor.

Once the beginner is supposed to manage the basics, the second half of
the book goes into the general problems of painting: value, colour and
composition. Again, every subject is accompanied by exercises of
increasing difficulty that the learner may be willing to reproduce.

In summary, the book is brief but worth every paragraph and
illustration. It makes those of us painting for some time as
self-learners to stop for a while and think seriously about changing
the way we focus our work. The only doubt it poses is if Mr. Reid's
approach is valid for general watercolor painting or just for
"Reid-ish watercolor". Anyway, one's style can only be develop by hard
work; a book can only give directions on the basics. And this book is
great for that.

This book is for the "Very Beginer". It tells you what to purchase to start...ie..which brushes, what paint colors, and paper type. It then goes on to show you step by step how to use those supplies to create a picture.

I am teaching myself watercolor painting and this book has helped me tremendously. The step by step exercises make is so easy to learn technique and the reasons for different techniques. It has also helped me to learn to draw better. I highly recommend it to any beginner!

After looking at the library copy of Jack Reid's books on water color tecnniques, I knew it was the best way to learn and feel confident that I can do it! I had to have a copy of my own. The illustrations are great as the painting develops step-by-step, gently leading me to a new skill. Enjoyable confidence builder. Also, Mr. Reid's approach on materials is easy on the budget and makes the picture more important than the kind of brush that paints it. Styrofoam and twigs are right up my alley.

I would recommend this book to everyone to get so that you can practice watercolor techniques. Like all the other books in this series, you can't go wrong adding it to your collection.

Love the book so far, has been really helpful with learning about my new wheat allergy.

I got this book hoping to read about the science behind grains and how our bodies process them. (I have been trying to eat healthier) This book advocates a lot of junk food surprisingly, and it geared entirely to celiac disease. I was under the impression that it would be good for anyone just thinking about giving up grains, but it was not. I only gave this 2 stars because I didn't like it, if you have celiac disease and do not want to eat a raw food diet, than you would like it more.

My husband asked, "Another book about gluten free living. How many do you need"
This should have been the first book I bought. Is is very helpful with lots of detail without getting so technical I get lost. I now have a far better understanding of my disease and how to more successfully live with it.
I especially appreciate the parts intended to help me deal with the depression and feelings of isolation. And, the anger because so many just don't get how difficult it is to live this lifestyle. This diet is very labor and emotionally intensive that there are many times I just want to give up. Even the dietitian to whom I was referred knew less than I.

Read this book if you are especially newly diagnosed. It will help get your through some rough times.

Danna has taken what can be an overwhelming process and broken it into a seamless set of sections that have served me as a reference to my four year old's allergy needs. Korn gives a lay manner of understanding celiac sprue, wheat-free, gluten free and other issues that manifest from these special diets. She gives personal examples and guides the reader into being a positive person with an outlook towards family changes in order to keep everyone balanced.

I highly recommend this book to anybody looking to live the gluten free lifestyle. It's full of knowledgeable facts from a mother of a child with celiac disease. She knows her stuff!!! I read the book and use it often as a reference to foods I should/shouldn't eat. I also love the symptoms and useful advice about living gluten free. I feel much more knowledgeable about the subject after reading this book! I also love the recipes!! :)

March never leaves my desk. It covers everything. From functional group transformations to mechanisms to FMO theory - you name it it's there. Highly recommended for any advanced undergraduate, graduate or post-doctoral researcher. It's a bookshelf staple that any organic chemist should have available.

I'm pretty sure that you _must_ have this book if you are studying advanced organic chemistry. Maybe it's not the best one to use as a study guide, but it's extremely helpful as a reference book both for undergrads and graduate students. However, one can argue that this edition is a bit out-of-date.

I bought a copy of this text (2nd Ed) after finishing my sophomore year of college, and it proved to be the best single investment I've ever made in chemistry. I used it so often, I had to duct-tape the book together.

I think the happiest moment of my career was when my name appeared in the index of a later edition. Anyway, buy it and treasure it.

This is by far the best text I have found. Although it is considered a text book, it is more handy as a reference tool. I have seen no other book that contains more information than March's. This book is actually worth the price.

I paid more for my 4th ed. new, and find it to be worth even more. It is not a cookbook per se, but it is a very comprehensive textbook that details general reactions by functional group. It outlines every way known to remove, add to, or otherwise modify every functional group. There is as much commentary as is needed, if not more, and every pathway is mentioned regardless of how exotic or primitive and low-yielding. The corresponding OS synth refs for specific cpds. are given for each type of reaction, along with a total of 15,000 other refs in footnotes. This was cutting-edge in 92, with much updating of the 3rd ed. The index will take you to the section that shows how to make the manipulations you want - if it doesn't, it probably can't be done.

This is a Fantastic Book! It is great for both the novice quilter and the nore experienced one! The book covers all the methods of machine and hand applique plus it explains how to embelish! It comes complete with projects and patterns! It has everything you could want about applique in one place!!!!

The book has all the different kinds of applique techniques. It is a great reference book.

This book is great for the beginner or advanced sewer. It shows many ways of applique that all make sense. This book has clear illustrations and wonderful pictures. There are detailed instructions that are clear and easy to follow.

I own several books on applique, but will probably never use them again. This one has it all! Great photos and easy intructions for every method and then some. A must have for anyone who sews or quilts.

This book has just about everything you need to learn how to Applique If you are Right-Handed as all of the people that wrote six star reviews must be. There are no instructions whatsoever for the left-handed person.

Excellent book! Very good instructions........easy to follow! Lots of great ideas to stir your own creativity.

I'm no sewer, but this book makes me think I can... Incredible ideas and great instructions. Definitely an inspiration.

A lovely book to look at and be inspired. Lots of photos of very original work, unique projects for wearable art.

This book is a crash course in Rosemary Eichorn's fabric collage techniques. If you read it carefully, you will be able to recreate all her projects, or use that knowledge to further your own designs in fabric. Her instructions are clear and generous. It's an inspiring book. The photos are clear and well done.

The best manipulated fabric book I own. I read it cover to cover because I was interested in every page. She took the time to teach many different facets of sewing, fabrics, colors and many techniques. I belong to a Wearable Art Group and all I do is rave about this book. Her patterns are very good also.

this is the best book of its' type, truly the only english resource regarding peruvian cuisine. highly recommended.

We got a great deal on this book through Amazon. We have had the book for just a few weeks now, but have made several of the recipes and they are extremely tasty! Don't expect them to look exactly like the beautiful photos, which have been artfully stylized and photographed, but concentrate on the flavors.

We have a neighbor from Peru who had this book, and she says that these recipes are the real deal.

I saw this book during a recent visit to Peru, on our last day there. Throughout our trip we had been repeatedly astounded by the quality of the food we were served and by the almost asian presentation of the servings. My husband and our good friend, both the primary chefs for their families, practically drooled on the book, which contains recipes for a number of the dishes we had enjoyed eating. We opted not to buy it at that time because of the weight and the lack of space in our luggage, but when I saw it on Amazon and read the reviews, many from peruanos or people married to peruanos, I was prompted to order it.

And as a bonus, in addition to containing many wonderful recipes this book is beautiful--a veritable coffee table book. So perhaps we should install one in our kitchen.

Outstanding. Highly recommended!!!Best cooking book ever!! I have a collection of cooking books and I have tried a few recipies from each by hosting "cooking parties" but nothing comes near this recipies, Granny Inocencia plating with a french style.

OUTSTANDING!!

My husband is from Peru and I've had a hard time finding a good cook book. This has great traditional recipes with awesome photos. They give you a little history about the food and it has a bookmark with the names and photos of the most popular ingredients. This will help me the next time I'm at the grocery store. It deserves 5 stars.

Amazon.com is great because everytime I order anything from them directly, it comes on time and in very good shape.

I haven't finished reading this book yet but it seems very good. It is very easy to read and it is very informative. I would recommend this book to anyone who has taken organic chemistry, is going to study organic chemistry n graduate school, or as a supplement to any mechanism class.

This is a great book. It is a "must have" for any organic chemist.

For people who love organic chemistry, this book provides a basic guide for people to learn some basic but fundamental details of organic chem mechanism.The fourth chapter is expecially worthy reading. Moreover, Chapter 6 provides people with a rough idea of what's going on in organometallics filed.

This book is excellent for reaction mechanism. This book is helpful for the undergraduate's organic chem 2 and the grad school's reaction mechanism class. I learned how to move the electron in reasonable way. So in one word, this book is awesome book that I ever read for practicing reaction mechanism.

Received the book promptly and was received in the condition described. Thank you. V. Santana

The Art Spirit is a classic. No artist should ever be without a copy. This book invites reading time and time again. It brings us back to the principles. The value of things. Right thinking. Relationships. As a practicing artist, I can think of few books that have meant so much.

Any artist who does not have this book in his or her library is being cheated out of great insights:

"There are mighty few people who think what they think they think."

"Be willing to paint a picture that does not look like a picture."

"...pictures which do not represent intense interest cannot expect to create an intense interest."

"Effects of perspective are made or defeated by sizes of strokes or by their tonality."

And this is just the teaser.

George Bellows, Edward Hopper, Patrick Henry Bruce, Stuart Davis, Rockwell Kent, Guy DuBois, Alfred Maurer, Carl Sprinchorn and countless others studied with Henri and went on to do great work. There are too many for this to be simply coincidence. The "Art Spirit" is the closest thing we can get to the Kool-Aid that flowed in Henri's classroom. One can glean quite a bit from the pages of this book. It is both practical and inspirational. I have to say that it can be a bit frustrating not being able to see anything or ask a question, but its much better than nothing (thank you Ms. Ryerson!). Buy a copy and read it.

The Art Spirit. Now there's a bold title. The implication is not only that there is such a specifically identifiable thing as an "art spirit", but also that the author, painter, and teacher, Robert Henri knows these specifics; a bold implication indeed. The difficulty (wherein lies the boldness) whenever one attaches the word spirit -or spiritual- to anything, there are, of course, as many understandings or perceptions of that word as there are hearers and readers of that word. This may exist to no greater degree and appear no more obvious than in the world of visual arts. Henri himself acknowledges this, writing in the forward, "...the opinions are presented more as paintings are hung on a wall, to be looked at at will and to be taken for what they are worth. If they have a suggestive value and stimulate to independent thought, they will attain the object of their presentation..." And later, "There is no idea that anyone should agree with any of the comments or that anyone should follow the advice given. If they irritate to activity in quite a different direction, it will be just as well." Although he embraces this free thinking, to-each-his-own, take what you will from it approach, it is merely one of the specific personality characteristics evidenced in the Art Spirit. Henri intends to show there is an "art spirit", and it is the province of every human being.
This is the crux of the issue for Henri, his point of departure from other artist/writers, and the chief value of this book: The Art Spirit is attainable by anyone, can be exhibited by everyone.
Other works on the subject tend to be either the less specific, more nebulous notions where we are expected to buy the fancy explanations and just accept that there is something spiritual, or of the spirit, going on here, or the very specific, artist-only oriented varieties. For example, consider Mandarin's grid "composition" series and his writing about them. While his theosophically induced explanations may help some to a degree of understanding, we are essentially left to take his word for what we are supposed to be seeing in the canvas. In his "Concerning the Spiritual in Art", although Kandinsky presages Henri -discussing psycho-emotional, expressive, and contemplative states of artists out in the real world and before the canvas- he ultimately leaves it with the artist, not really taking it out of the studio and into the factory, construction site, or office cubicle as Henri does. Whereas Kandinsky seems to digress at times into a sort of "how -to" instruction guide for defining and placing spiritual elements into a picture, Henri takes it further, defining his Art Spirit, then setting about showing us how to tell when it's present. This every-man definition is offered at the very beginning of his book:
"Art when really understood is the province of every human being.
It is simply a question of doing things, anything, well. It is not an outside, extra thing.
When the artist is alive in any person, whatever his kind of work may be, he becomes an inventive, searching, daring, self-expressing creature. He becomes interesting to other people. He disturbs, upsets, enlightens, and he opens ways for a better understanding. Where those who are not artists are trying to close the book, he opens it, shows there are still more pages possible.
The world would stagnate without him, and the world would be beautiful with him; for he is interesting to himself and he is interesting to others. He does not have to be a painter or sculptor to be an artist. He can work in any medium. He simply has to find the gain in the work itself, not outside it."
Henri then spends two hundred and forty five more pages illuminating and reiterating how one is -or can be- an inventive, searching, daring, self-expressing creature; how to live life to the fullest. The Art Spirit manifests itself in the appreciation of the non-material things in life; in the "true student" who self-educates and explores feelings, meanings, who contemplates, who really sees, who learns to express "who is you"; in what comes from the external world and inside you; in the full enjoyment in the living of life; in doing a thing well ... anything.
Henri accomplishes a difficult task here; a book with specific and important information for the artist, yet within that structure filled with insight and compelling ideas for the non-artist. One is urged to make a full reading, since quite often both are mingled in the same sentence or statement. For example, a non-painter might be tempted to skip the ten-page section on brush strokes (pg. 62-72), seeing no need for it. The unfortunate reader would then miss out on many little gems of insight and information. What is a brushstroke but a purposeful committed action by an artist? So then, consider the message in these statements when you substitute the word "stroke" with "action" or even "attitude" (parenthetical insertions are mine ):
"Strokes carry a message whether you will it or not. The stroke is just like the artist (person) at the time he makes it. All the certainties, all the uncertainties, all the bigness of his spirit and all the littleness are in it."

"There are more strokes which laugh, and there are more strokes which bind laughter, which freeze the face into a set immoveable grimace."

"(There are) bad strokes which are bad because a brush (a method) or a condition of paint (situation) were chosen which could not render them."

While Henri plays to both artist and non-artist audiences, it is at these times when he addresses the artist more directly he more closely aligns himself with Kandinsky. Both men bring their great passion for the subject into their text in their strong, clear, and pleasing voice. Kandinsky, sounding alternately-yet only slightly more- poetic here, technical there; Henri with a bit more enthusiasm. They share the same territory on many issues, such as the shape, direction, and function of line, intention of every stroke, careful planning followed by exuberant expression and more. Yet, while they may travel the same road, they do not share the same vehicle. There is an important distinction in each man's approach to spirituality, or the art spirit. For Kandinsky, there is a spirit world out there, and a spiritually inspired painter can -and should- find ways to represent both that indwelling spirit and that exterior spirit world to which we are all connected. Henri says (when) we search the external world with appreciation and wonder, and we search within ourselves, and when we become more self-expressing creatures, we have the art spirit...we are the art spirit. Kandinsky believes only non-objective images can reveal the spiritual, Henri says it matters not what you paint but how you paint it-compelled by the spirit. So while Kandinsky can use the "psychic effect" (pg. 24) of color to manipulate the viewer's emotional state toward a comprehension of the spiritual, Henri says the artist's mark itself can manifest the Art Spirit. While, in both cases it takes a more or less purposeful opening up to the notion of the spirit, for Henri it is not trying to grasp the spirit and record it, it is about internalizing and building the spirit inside ourselves, and our resulting expressions will, by definition, represent the Spirit. And it is possible for all of us.
The long quote above (from pg. 5) is written exactly as printed in the fifth edition printing not only as expository text, but as a means of illustrating Henri's bright, clear and energetic voice that runs throughout this book. The subtitle for The Art Spirit reads, "notes, articles, fragments of letters and talks to students, bearing on the concept and technique of picture making, the study of art in general, and on appreciation," and that is exactly how it reads. Much of this is due to Henri's considerable gift of communication, and the balance is credited to the physical layout of the book. There are no chapters, even very few headings to sections, lending itself very well to opening to any page and beginning to read. At times, a lecture, or perhaps advice to a single student goes on for five, six, seven pages. Other times, pages are divided into two or three sections, or set up in individual sentences which concern the same subject, yet stand on their own. The resulting effect is the feeling of being in the very classroom of Professor Henri. There are also considerable instances of repetition here, albeit in subtle variations. The index, however, is usefully repetitious as well, helping to differentiate between those subtleties when one may be in need of a specific quote or reference.
The last thirty pages are exact notes taken by Margery Ryerson, a Henri student who eventually compiled the notes, fragments, etc.(in the revised edition, she is credited as Editor). This is an excellent addition to the book. Reading Henri's comments and insights in her necessarily abbreviated, note-taking style provides fresh psychological weight to the reality of Henri's classroom.
One area of disappointment concerns the photograph illustrations of Henri and his work. In the fifth edition, the plates are in black and white. Although understandable at the time of inclusion (1930), they do not allow for close comparison with Henri's ideas and techniques about painting elaborated in the text. The real disappointment is to find that the current edition available from booksellers has not updated to colorplates, but jettisoned the pictures entirely, save for the full color cover.
I recommend The Art Spirit to anyone involved in the creative process. It is a must have, particularly for those times when one may be experiencing a creative burnout, or to shake off the cobwebs. I am recommending The Art Spirit to non-artists as well -anyone who is looking for a little spark, a little positive push toward self-actualization.
For the artist, I am not recommending The Art Spirit over the Kandinsky classic; I see Henri's work as more of a continuation, or a rounding out of what Kandinsky started years before. Artists and aspiring art appreciators must read both if there is to be any hope of understanding

"Autumn Lightning" by Dave Lowry appeared to me as a combination of biographical sketch mixed generously with Japanese History, and Spirituality.

The book (for me) was in itself, a "Fair Read," but not necessarily one that will become part of my spirit. Much of this could however, be due to my age. While reading this book, I was often reminded of the movie; "The Karate Kid." In that movie; "Daniel Larusso" becomes "Miyagi-fied" and is turned into a great Marshal Artist. Likewise, Dave Lowry in this book becomes "Kotaro-fied" and emerges as a great Occidental swordsman.

I own one other book by Mr. Lowry on the "Art of Kendo" complete with photographic examples, and many teaching comments that have been very helpful to me.

Mr. Lowry writes and teaches out of sheer devotion and love of the subject, and for this; I truly applaud and respect him! I believe this to be a worthy book but, probably for a younger individual looking for a mentor of desciplines that help to develope spirit and physical attributes.

Dave Lowry offers a perspective in his books not often available to the Western martial arts practitioner - a considered interpretation of modern martial arts in the context of traditional (koryu) arts.

Written in a exceptionally approachable style, Lowry tells the story of his introduction to martial arts, interspersed with anecdotes from Japanese martial history.

Lowry's books provide me with insights into my own training and have helped me grow as a martial artist. Rather than the simple discussion of technique, his essays delve into the "-do" of the arts

One of my all-time favorites, it's recommended reading for all of my students. Mr. Lowry's story is similar to my own. He tells his tale with crisp and humorous writing that has you on the edge of your seat and then lets you sit back and chuckle. A wonderful classic.
If you don't have a copy, you're really missing out.

This is a great read for anyone interested in learning about the history of the Yagyu Shinkage Ryu of swordmanship. Woven into this history are the events that lead Lowry into studying this Ryu and his dynamic interaction with his Sensei.

I've recently reread all the books I have on martial arts, Japan, Japanese culture and history. When I find a passage that really strikes me, I underline it and dog-ear the page. After finishing the handful of books I already have, I came to Amazon to find more. Dave Lowry's book seemed interesting from reading the first few pages available online. Little did I know I would be underlining and dog-earing most of the pages in the rest of the book! An excellent read for new or experienced readers in Japanese history, culture and/or martial arts. I highly recommend it!

Excellent layout and binding that allows you to leave it open to the page your following. Easy to follow instruction and pics for the visual learner. Love it and looking forward to the projects!

Very detailed and organized. I am glad I bought the book. As a beginner in stained glass this met my needs.

Quick, easy and lots of pictures. Binding allows all the pages to turn easily, preventing the pages from 'closing' up on you while you try to follow the instructions.

I have been checking out many of the books that are available and this one gives the best directions and it has made my first project half way easy.

The title says it all. I went from never having worked with stained glass to completing the first two projects in the book - and it was fun! Now, I'm working on my first original stained glass design. This book is great for anyone new to stained glass - the step by step instructions would probably be excrutiatingly slow to someone who already has a lot of experience, but they were exactly what I needed to get started! I also really liked the explanation of all the most common tools and equipment.