Art Books

There are already more than enough books on the publishing process and the nuts and bolts of publishing yourself or finding a publisher.

What was lacking was a book that talked about the love/hate relationship I have with my book, that made me feel part of something bigger and let me know I was not alone in my journey.

I thought other authors knew things, and had confidence in their work 24/7 without fail. I thought I was a freak for not being totally sure of my book and my abilities as a writer.

A Book is Born showed me this process is painful for everyone. It is confusing for everyone. It is scary for everyone.

I cannot express how relieved I felt as I got to the end of the book, my only regret was that I wasn't published by Wyatt-MacKenzie...all the women felt so supported by the publishing house I actually thought I might have made the wrong decision regarding self-publishing.

But even if I did make the wrong decision, it's something that happens to everyone. While I write my next book I'll refer back to A Book is Born early and often to remind me my journey is not a unique one, and that the feelings I have while my book is being born are natural and normal.

I wish I had this book when I started out on this writing journey over six years ago. A Book is Born is a wonderful, informative, fun read for all the writers out there. All the inside secrets and how to's are shared in a fun way.

Reading this book is like having a mocha latte at a corner Starbuck's and getting the scoop on this writing journey from some of the best writers there are!

Thanks, Nancy. What a great read!

Trish Berg
Author, Book Reviewer
[...]

Rattled: Surviving Your Baby's First Year Without Losing Your Cool

The Great American Supper Swap - Solving the Busy Woman's Family Dinnertime Dilemma

Nancy Cleary's "A Book is Born" is a hands-on, photo and graphic-filled blueprint for the regular person to use starting when they're tossing around an idea to get published, all the way through actual publication. Told from the point of view of 24 different authors as they journey from book idea to publishing that book, there is always a different voice to tune into if one person's perspective isn't the direction you're interested in. With so many unique voices, Cleary shows that there are as many techniques to prepare for publishing and the aftermath of publicity as there are writers. Very easy to read, extremely helpful for the frazzled writer in the midst of publishing chaos. Cleary breaks the demons of publishing down into easy steps, and offers solutions for the up-and-coming writer. A fun essential for any writer. Cleary's concise and practical book makes the trip toward publication a natural and interesting journey. Definitely order one!

I spent the weekend reading this book and found it truly inspiring. It was wonderful to hear about all the women's experiences and the paths they took, going through the process. The touch of "baby" humor throughout was an added bonus.

All the advice given throughout the book will help any aspiring author reach their dream, including myself. This book offers both encouragement and motivation. A great read!

As a first time author, I have been struggling with the complexities of how to get from point A (writing) to point B (published). This book provided really practical information: details about terminology, chronological checklists, and actual experiences related by authors. I enjoyed the tales of the authors even as I was being instructed by them. The book is like a user's manual supplemented with "dream potion recipes", and will undoubtedly launch the careers of a new generation of writers who have been waiting in the wings for stage directions.

Whatever else they do in life, Nancy Cleary and co-authors have left a legacy of impactful guidance that will further the goals of storytellers yet unrecognized.

This book is a wake up call to the Creative! It completely opened my eyes to the many things to think about and plan for when leaving your secure job, and going out on your own. Extremely well written, with a plethora of knowledge on the subject. A complete eye opener. A MUST HAVE for the Creative who is planning on going freelance, or starting their own business. Very informative and necessary to read in order to succeed on your own. Very exciting, I could barely put it down!

According to the author's website at http://www.creativebusiness.com/books.lasso The Business Side of Creativity addresses freelancing and the basics of pricing, selling, and running a SMALL design or marketing communications business. The Creative Business Guide to Running a Graphic Design Business focuses on the management of a MULTIPERSON organization. The website gives a summary on the various chapters of each book.

I started out excited about this book, then quickly realized much of what the author had to say was outdated at best, not the best advice on numerous occasions, but yet the book contained some valuable information. A bit stoneage as far as business marketing practices. One hundred pages on setting up your own studio/small business with personnel (No, thank you). If working as a freelancer in the graphics or copy arenas is your thing, its worth paying $20.00 to get something out of it.

This is such a comprehensive book. If you have any question about how to run a business, let alone a creative one, this book is the only one you'll need.

I'm starting a sole-proprietor (one-person) freelance design business and I have found this book to be extremely helpful. It manages to be realistic about what to expect while also providing encouragement that if you prepare well and work smart, you have the opportunity to reach your financial goals. The book has made me consider contracts carefully and has given me valuable suggestions (for example, setting up standards such as "I can't accept jobs for which I can bill less than 8 hours' work"), thinking about what kinds of clients I want to attract in my business, and so on. It has important points to consider if you are locating your business outside a large metropolitan area. I recommend it for anyone who is starting out - or considering starting out - on a solo creative business.

I had been eyeballing this book for about a year, flipping through it at the bookstore on occassion. I love the Kodansha publications, and was surprised with this book as a present last month. Wow, what a great book. The photographs are crisp and detailed, and the information is laid out in a concise and easy-to-follow format. I hightly recommend to anyone interested in jujutsu or judo.

Mifune's 'The Canon of Judo' is an outstanding work and certainly joins Kano's 'Kodokan Judo' as an essential book for all Judoka. The instuction included within is exceptional and will without doubt be of the utmost benefit to any and all Judoka who may read it. Mifune was undoubtedly one of the greatest Judoka to have lived, and the quality and depth of instuction given in this book is a fitting match for the man. Few, if any books available at this time present techniques in the format offered in this book. Mifune offers not only the pure techniques but also advice, key points and cautions for their use which are often only learned the hard way.

I wish I had bought this book while I still an actively practicing Judo. It is comprehensive and impressive. I wanted to reconnect to the dicipline and history of Judo, and this did the trick. My son has become very interested in Judo as well as other cultures becuse of this book. What more can a you ask?

Each page has about six pictures showing progressions of the various techniques. Some pages have four pictures and some have eight or nine. Description headings include: Description, Practice, Important Points, Caution and Remarks. It starts with judo fundamental principles and etiquette and progresses to posture, exercises, falls and breaking of balance. The book continues to descriptions of practice and philosophy. After the first fifty pages, forty pages of throws, ten pages each of grappling and strangling are followed by another ten pages of counters and defenses. Fifteen pages of joint locks follow with seven pages of ground strategy. Then twenty four pages of defensive and counter techniques for throws with multiple counters or defenses per throw lead into a brief discussion of modification of technique and adapting to circumstances and several pages of more specialized techniques. A few pages of counter techniques for practice are finally followed by methods to revive the injured.

All in all, this is one of the very best books on martial arts I have seen. It belongs in every martial artist's head, but you have to read it and practice it to get it there.

Fantastic source of info & techniques. Definitely one of my most used resources.

I subscribe to Ann's newsletter, and have purchased just about all her informational material she offers,and the good news is, Ms. Kullbert has plans to self-publish this title later this year or in 2009. That means we won't have to pay the outrageous prices this book is being offered at. We are artists, and "starving" maybe not, however, I prefer to purchase art materials with my extra bucks. Also, she offers a companion CD to this book with video clips on technique and printable line drawings from which to practice. Third, my fellow artists, she is just about finished her 3rd book...so watch for it!!!

This is a wonderful guide to rendering all the little details that can make a colored pencil painting special. There's a CD (available separately) of short movies of the author working on the projects in this book, and the CD and book together are an unbeatable combination. It's almost as good as private lessons from a master artist. I learned a great deal from this book.

It is not only a pretty book but very interesting and helpful.

This book is beautiful, full of great step by step information, color recipe information, and tips for beginners to advanced. A keeper!

I really like a lot of her techniques. They are easy to follow and very basic. Her books are good starting books. I have found others to show more techniques too that are great. It's just good to have a variety, since many artists have varying approaches. I basically will go with colored pencil artists whose work is excellent. I will not buy a book by an artist who does crappy art work, even if the techniques are great according to other readers. To me if the techniques are great, so would be the artwork.

Unless you are a rabid collector, do NOT give your money to these ridiculous people who are selling this book for $170. Yeah, this book is out of print, so what? Everything in this book can be found online for FREE. In fact, you can even watch video demonstrations of the techniques discussed in this book, showing you how to do them better than any text could. And again, it's all free. Don't waste your money.

It is crazy that I would have to pay over $200 to own this book! Is it bound in human skin? Does it have the secret of eternal life and youth?As another reviewer noted,reprinting this book will NOT result in frenzied card throwing mobs overturning cars and looting stores.The first press run seems to have come and gone without causing civil unrest on the part of card throwers-I've never met a card thrower in my life.In fact,I've never met anyone who mentioned WANTING to learn card throwing.The audience to whom this book appeals is tiny and nothing will ever change that.Relax, folks.This will turn out to be "too hard" for 9 out of 10 people who try it-all 50 of them.Now, REPRINT THIS BOOK, Please!

I was "forced" to get this book online without paying for it because no economical alternative exists. I completely disagree with the people on here who don't want this book reprinted because they think that the world would soon become saturated with card-slingers, thus taking away some of the glory of being the only guy in town who can chuck an Ace of Spades through the Washington Post. Please keep in mind that like ALL hobbies that require:
a) reading a book
b) lots of practice and dedication
...means that 99% of the population will buy the book, skim through it and put it on the shelf next to their dusty diet, magic coin trick and gardening books.
Even if his fellow slingers & magicians busted his ballz for releasing trade-secrets, Jay should definitely reprint this book so 1% of people who read the book and follow through with it will keep the art alive.

This book is amazing, as previously stated, but I am STRONGLY against any reprinting of it. One of the things that makes card throwing so amazing is the fact that so few people know about it / how to do it. Imagine everyone being able to throw cards. Personally, I think this book is perfect in its current rare form, and should NOT be reprinted.

I am a semi-pro card thrower in the national card throwing league (ctl), and I have to say that this book is the bible of card throwing. The techniques I have learned from Jay's book have helped me a lot. I was struggling on the tour last year when I got to talk with the famous Bill 'the Hand' Strongtide who recommended I read this book and it has really helped my form this past year.

The authors of Chi and Creativity present important concepts and methods for living in an expansive and intentional way. In this book we are shown how meditation, guided imagery, breath work, and chi kung can effectively awaken and enrich our creative processes. This remarkable book has have been of great help in supporting my chi kung practice.
Lew Carson, Professor Emeritus of Art, California State University, East Bay

I am greatly honored to express my intense love for this literature. I have been blessed enough to know the authors Kaleo and Elise and be presented with this spirit expanding piece of literature. Being a hypnotherapist and learning more about the Eastern Way of philosophy has helped my grow unto myself and how I see myself helping others.
Reading this literature and absorbing its knowledge has for me enhanced my perception of the tri-fold "singularity" that makes up who we all are. I am fascinated by the detailed instructions and positive suggestions about how and when to come in contact with our "Inner Artist".
I highly recommend this to anyone wanting to develop their perception about energy flows and cycles of life/death by holistically improving in body-mind-spirit.

Both me and my girlfriend, a licensed psychotherapist, have used this book. More than just a creativity guide, its a guide to well being and to life. The masks are incredible. What a valuable resource and a beautiful, inspiring book.

This book is wonderful. I love the mediations, chi gong exercises, and more. Through doing the chi gong and mediations I have been able to reopen my creative self again. I feel like myself again, an artist! The book was very well written and illustrated. I love the personal journal inserts for they helped me to relate to the writer and to my self.

As an artist, I appreciate the physical quality of this book. It feels good in your hands, paper stock and layout are beautiful. As a healer, this book gives me great ideas to build my chi with many different exercises, reaching all aspects of myself. Highly recommended.

I have a copy of the first edition of this book and am still mesmerized by it. When it first came out, everyone I knew at design school who bought it felt like the information and techniques had given them an out-of-body-experience and it quickly became THE book to own, learn from, and emulate. Anyone who buys this book and applies the material and techniques will become better at drawing, rendering, and creative presentation methods...it is a sure-fire way to achieve "star power" in your office and in front of your clients!

great book! Out of the dozens of hand rendering guides I looked at, this was by far the best and the easiest to learn from. It tells you what pencils, markers, and tools to buy to achieve certain effects, and gives you step-by-step rendering instructions for tons of different types of materials and lighting situations. I highly recommend this- in fact, it should be mandatory for interior design students!

This is an excellent resouce for the study of rendering. After detailing the elements of color and design, it describes, step-by-step, how to achieve many finishes both interior and exterior. It is both instructive and informative.

It's really hard to say too many things about this book. Even older editions of Color Drawing are great, but this newest one goes above and beyond the call of duty. In an age when a lot of books get re-released as new editions with few substantive changes, Color Drawing breaks the mold by updating the techniques with current technology (i.e. Photoshop). It's great to see that the author and publisher realize that pure hand-drawing and rendering is quickly becoming a thing of the past and that the practitioners of today and tomorrow need to have excellent computer skills too. This book is full of very useful tips for combining Photoshop with hand drawings to create great effects. So even if you have an earlier edition, do yourself a favor and buy the new one anyway because you will learn a lot.

This is the standard for rendering in architecture and interior design as far as I am concerned. It will most definitely become a required textbook for my classes in visual presentation in the years to come. Doyle takes you step-by-step into the process of rendering with marker, color pencil, and pastels. But he doesn't just spoon feed you the recipe for each material rendering, he presents the basis for a process that allows you to render virtually any material not found in the book.

This book details the life of Suenaka Sensei and his martial accomplishments
including his relations to some of the greatest martial arts teachers of this century, most importantly his relations with Morihei Ueshiba and Hohan Soken, I don't think there is anyone else out there that has the martial knowledge and lineage similar to that of Suenaka Sensei. This is a excellent book and should be read by anyone who has interest in Aikido.

As a person who recently started training in Aikido, this book was suggested for me as a handy reference. As a beginner I didn't care much about the martial history or the various political factions - I simply wanted to learn Aikido - so I skipped right to the second half.

Of course the book will never replace actual hands-on instruction but as a supplement to training I've found the second half of the book to be extremely valuable. Using it to learn the various Japanese terms, the order of the Taiso, and to see the written descriptions of things I had learned in class, allowed me to retain what I had learned faster, and to begin to see the overall pattern evident in the art.

While this DOES NOT contain an exhaustive collection of Wadokai techniques, it DOES contain a large collection of pieces that the reader can use to discover new techniques on your own. Close study allows the reader to notice the similarities between various techniques, and to apply those principles in techniques not included (except in pieces) in the book. If the reader approaches the book as less of an encyclopedia of possible techniques, and more of a dictionary of individual linked components, he/she will not be disappointed.

After a couple of months, I decided to read the first half of the book. I found it well written and highly entertaining. Despite my initial disinterest in the topic, I ended up reading the first half in less than a day due to these qualities. A good read for anyone who has trained for a while and is interested to learn more about the history of the art.

Complete Aikido? No, of course not. Such a book would be 10 times as long, cost $200, and still omit various combinations and special waza. As a reference for people new to the art, or for people who have been training for years, it still has a lot to offer. Especially if you are creative!

This is another great work. Sensei Roy Suenaka gives a no-nonsense narrative of his history with aikido as well as basic technique and training tips. There is also reference to Seunaka's friendship with one of the founders of the Shorin Ryu style of karate and Suenaka's experiences with Sensei Saotome. Great history, Great technique advice and overall entertaining reading.

Having been involved in Aikido, Judo and Karate for more than 20 years. I am glad that Suenaka Sensei gave his insight into what really happened between Doshu and Tohei Sensei. After practicing with the Federation for sometime I always wondered what happened that caused the split between the Doshu and Tohei. Suenaka Sensei's account has brought all the missing pieces together for me and has answered all the questions I had about one of the most monumental events in Aikido post O'Sensei's passing.

I also found Suenaka Senseis credential very impressive and wish that he had a school in Canada as I would love to have the opportunity to train with someone that has studied with all of the masters he has.

It seem that Suenaka Sensei's Technical part of the book is much more real life oriented than the Aikido that I am used to practicing and teaching. I was amazed to see him actually using a kick in one of his techniques. I have never seen anyone at Hombu do that and I will start to combine my use of kicks as atemi in my own techniques as it really makes sense. Also the use of punches seems to be used in every technique that Suenaka Sensei does which has really made me think about having to combine atemi with everything I do if I want my Aikido to work in the street.

I especially liked all the stories, and I agree that aikido can be very useful in real life self-defense situations, if you learn and apply it in certain ways. Unfortunately aikido as it's mostly taught today, has lost some of it's practicality. But the potential of aikido is great. Just decide what you want out of it. I also recommend The Robert Koga DVDs (Practical Aiki-do) or his biography, for those in doubt whether aikido can "work" on the streets. Also David Dye's DVDs have that approach (Aikido Self Defense for the Modern Warrior). Both of these senseis are ex police officers and have tried and tested their techniques in the world outside of the dojo.

The book never arrived at 3 weeks, so canceled the order and hope the charge is reversed on my card. Woody's books was nice about the problem and sent me a $5 check to aid in buying the book at a higher cost in a local book store.

This is a fantastic book for the newly-diagnosed breast cancer patient. It was given to my by my surgeon's office. It does a great job explaining things on a level that the average person can understand. It also has great diagrams, lists of questions to ask your medical team, glossary of terms, websites to check out and comments from breast cancer survivors and/or significant others of survivors. I highly recommend this book.

We give this book to surgeons in our area to distribute to women diagnosed with breast cancer. Before purchasing it, we had a group of 4 breast cancer survivors review and rate 3 separate books on breast cancer. This book "won" hands down, based on numerous criteria -- everything from its explanation of breast cancer treatments, to its index and glossary, to its discussion of life after cancer. It is clear and easy to read, provides comprehensive information on types of breast cancer and corresponding treatment alternatives, has wonderful graphics and photos, and provides interesting anecdotal stories of actual patients in its sidebar. Highly recommended!

I was introduced to this book at work and am now giving it to women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. I am on oncology certified nurse in the radiation oncology department of my cancer center. In January 2007 I also became our Breast Cancer Patient Navigator. I find this book gets excellent reviews from patients and their families alike. It is a great source of information, covering all the topics from diagnosis to living life 'after cancer'. I only wish I would have had this book when I was on my personal breast cancer journey! I highly recommend this book for someone newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

"Many experts believe that Herceptin represents the future direction of breast cancer drugs, because it targets a particular protein on the cancer cell, rather than attacking all cells at random. As research progresses, scientist hope to make all anti-cancer drugs as specific as possible." ~ pg. 97

Designed to compliment the book, the DVD provides an environment of understanding with explanations for all the procedures and various situations that will occur after a diagnosis. New treatments like Immunotherapy are discussed and there is an extensive resource section with additional CD options, including a CD-ROM program that is an interactive guide to treatment.

Helpful up-to-date information about why you may not need a mastectomy and only a lumpectomy is encouraging and gives hope. Radiation and Chemo is also discussed in detail. Throughout both the DVD and book, women tell their stories and that gives a sense of the range of experience. There are over 150 color photographs and graphics to illustrate important points.

A variety of questions are given in each section so you know what to ask your doctor. The stages of breast cancer are given so you know exactly what your doctor is talking about. The main sections include:

Facing Breast Cancer - Your feelings, support groups, healthcare teams and overview of treatment options.

Breast Cancer Basics - Types of Breast Cancer

Diagnosis and Staging - Tumor Testing, the Pathology Report, Additional Tests, How Stage is Determined

Surgery - Reconstruction, Lumpectomy and Mastectomy options, Lymph Nodes

Reconstruction - Choosing a Plastic Surgeon, External and Internal Options

Radiation Therapy - How treatment is given, Brachytherapy

Chemotherapy - Side Effects, Common Chemotherapy Drugs

Hormone Therapy - How Treatment is Given, Who should be Treated, Side Effects

Immunotherapy - Future Therapies and Herceptin

Clinical Trials - Participation Ideas and getting the newest treatments...

Life after Cancer - Emotional Recovery, Physical Recovery

The Guide for Your Partner is a special section your partner can read. If possible, watching the DVD together would be ideal because it explains all the basics in the book.

Be a Survivor is an excellent resource because it gives you all the questions you need to ask and answers a number of pertinent questions any woman will be asking the moment she is diagnosed.

Vladimir Lange, MD is one of the most respected doctors in this field of study and this book came into being after his own wife was diagnosed with breast cancer.

~The Rebecca Review

I can also recommend "Reconstructing Natalie" by Laura Jensen Walker.

Great Book. Full of Good Stuff to work with.

Very Speedy Mailing. Thanks.

This book is just another one of Patti Culea's delicious writings, complete with other people's work as well. Wonderful.

Creative Cloth Doll Beading: Designing and Embellishing with Beads



Creative Cloth Doll Beading
Designing and Embellishing with Beads
by Patti Medaris Culea with Anne Hesse and Laura McCabe

* Beaded Tattoo's - what more can I say? How COOL!

* The collaboration of these three stellar dollmakers brings out the best in each artist.

* Great new Techniques for wings, hair, creative clothing and beautiful faces! Also... detailed directions on making flowers - WOW!

I am not really a beader... so I sighed when I got this book "Oh... tedium, oh schemedum, oh little tiny bead-ium" but what I saw knocked that apathy right into a shocked puddle on the studio floor which was dangerously slick... what with all those beads rolling all over the place!


What a killer book! Patti gets some able assistance from two of the doll making worlds finest, Anne Hesse and Laura McCabe. Just as she did in the wonderful Creative Cloth Doll Couture, Patti provides one versatile doll pattern. This pattern is used by all three main artists and the many talented "gallery" artists, to create a flock of beautiful and unique dolls.

Patti does a chapter on flowers, making them look wickedly easy and raucously beautiful. Anne has the next chapter and with her two comrades, she leads us through a bead embroidered face, now THIS is exciting to me! Next Laura creates a "wood elf" and beads her leather garment with several cool techniques, my favorite being the bead stacking. Finally Patti returns at the end of the book and gives us "Franalizia of the North Sea" who has scales of beads, and a wealth of burned, melted and glued beading and embellishment techniques. She is a "Fairymaid" Upp you guessed it, a mermaid with wings, extremely clever!

Off to the right here... is my version of the beaded head... Ok, so I didn't draw the face onto the fabric and I didn't use a rubber stamp (tho this is a great idea!) , I basically didn't follow any of the directions, (tho they are great!) but I did get INSPIRED and I did LEARN about "Wedges", "Focal Beads" and "Fill Patterns". I also learned how to make fringe, and flowers and what a "bud" is. (this was welcome news to me as it associated with the "bezel" and I can't help but sit around snickering about "budding the bezel" or "bezelling the bud" - Yeah, just alittle easily amused... Ya think?!)

I highly recommend this book for us "regular folk" as well as the seasoned beaders. Hum, now where did my charolottes go, I need to do a basic bud on that bezel!

This would be a great gift

A must for your library. This book has easy to read instructions, wonderful instructive pictures and tons of inspiration! So very glad I purchased it!!!

I love Pattie's unusual style and I learn something new in everyone of her books and I have all but the faces one. My only complaint is having to add seam allowances on some pieces.I find it unnecessary and bothersome..but she must have a good reason for doing this I just don't like it. Also some of the instructions are vague for anyone with limited sewing skills. But it is always worth the time it takes to teach yourself if necessary.