Designers Books

Informative book about the late author for elementary school level children. Also a great artist to study and try to replicate. My students have a blast learning about Jackson Pollock then creating their own splattered masterpiece!

I took last summer my two daugthers, age 6 and 9 to the Museum of Modern Art in New York. They loved it and each one choose her favorita artist. The younger one, Isabel, loved Picasso. Who doesn't?. My older daughter, Camila loved the american artist Jackson Pollock, she sat in front of his masterpiece One, admiring all that aparently no-sense. Its beautiful, she told me, and I sure can do that. She's not very good in art class and she felt identified with this painter's work. Wanting to explain his art I found a wonderful book, part of a series written by Mike Venezia about the great artists. In the case of Jackson Pollock, the author mixing words, comics and paintings explains in a fun way the wonders of the work of this artist. Pollock was the brother of a painter and went to study art as his brother did in New York, he tought he wasn't very good at it. But working and studyng with contemporary painters helped to create his personal style making him one of America's biggest contemporary artist. Try explaining that to your kid, don't bother. Mike Venezia will do the job.

Mike Venezia's Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists series is dedicated to the principle of introduction children to art and artists in fun ways. His primary way of doing that is to draw engaging cartoons that highlight not only biographical information about his subjects, but which also focus on key elements of the artist's work. That means this book about Jackson Pollock plays to Venezia's strengths, and he gets to do two jokes about using an eggbeater. If you count the front and back covers, Venezia gets to do nine of his cartoons, which may not be a record but it sure seems like one for this series, which also provides solid introductions to great artists from Da Vinci to Dali.

This book begins by pointing out that Pollock was one of hte greatest artists of the 20th century and that he was best known for huge paintings made by slapptering, throwing, and dripping paint onto this canvases. Then Venezia spends the rest of this informative and entertaining volume explaining how the latter leads to the former. Young readers learn how Pollock painted, what his work was called (Abstract Expressionism) versus what he called it (Action Painting), and how they emphasized emotions and energey rather than recognizable objects. The middle part of the books covers the key aspects of Pollock's life, but the best part is when Venezia details how Pollock developed his style, because that is where young readers are going to get a mini-education in art history.

Early on Pollock was trying to paint like Thomas Hart Benton, and Venezia contrasts Benton's "Arts of the West" with Pollock's "Going West," to show how that did not really work out. Paintings by Jose Clemente Oroczco and Pablo Picasso's "Guernica" also become reference points as Venezia traces the evolution of Pollock's art, culminating in "Blue Poles." The book touches on Pollock's unhappinesss without getting into detail, but that is appropriate for an introductory look at his life and art. In the end, Venezia underscores how Pollock was not just throwing paint around and that he knew exactly what he was doing. It is suggested that seeing Jackson Pollock's paintings in person is a good thing, so it is helpful that Venezia explains where the paintings in this book come from so you have an idea of where to go to see some of them (but be careful, because some of these references are for the works by the other artists).

Book was received in excellent condition (as described by seller) and in the time indicated by seller.

All of Tammy Powley's books are filled with helpful information and instructions. This book is no exception. Beside the many interesting and unique designs, she offers invaluable information on seed beads and related techniques. The instructions and their illustrations are very clear and easy to follow.

I loved this book! I make jewelry, but I don't make seed bead pieces. Therefore, I was curious to explore a book which carefully and mindfully explained how to weave with seed beads, from start to finish.
Tammy Powley has provided me with a great beginning and I feel certain that I will not get confused or lose my way when I try the projects in the book. In addition, the incorporation of stones and crystals is a wonderful incentive to me to try the projects! I like the concept she has written about concerning the peaceful feeling you get when seed beading weaving. I could use some of that!

The book is beautifully photgraphed. It offers a great introductory set of chapters, for neophytes like me, and also a great gallery of beautiful projects at the end. I recognize and enjoyed seeing many names in the gallery of some of my favorite jewlery designers.

I know I will refer to this book frequently as I make my way through the early stages (and the later ones as well) of seed beading.

This book was a very fun find for me, especially as I live in a more rural area and missed a lot of the "Cyberculture" including most of Mondo 2000's run... Oh, well...

I really liked reading from it, and even now it would be worth a look.

A very 1990 look at the future, but well done withgood graphics. Covers music, fashion, Industry,etc.

If you have read Mondo 2000 before, then nothing in this book will be much of a surprise. In fact in 1998 this book is clearly retro. Still, to the new reader you will find much of the information interesting. The format is basically an A-Z of popular memes and cultural phenomena with a pseudo hypertext interface.
High gloss and flashy. Suitable for a coffee table, but you might want to keep it on your reference shelf.

Mustang Designer: Edgar Schmued And The P-51 is the complete story behind the development and deployment of one of the most famous fighter aircraft of World War II. Beginning with the choosing of fighter designs in the formative years of 1935 to 1939 covering P-30 to P-50 craft, author Ray Wagner presents the birth of the Mustang in 1940 as designed by Ed Schmued and North American Aviation. The various incarnations and variations of the Mustang are followed up to and including the early jet age years of 1945 to 1952 and the Northrop Aviation launch of a new fighter. A highly recommended design and development history, Mustang Designer is enhanced for the aviation enthusiast and military buff with an appendix, notes, glossary, bibliography and index.

This is an excellent book, and serves as both a biography about Edgar Schmued and a history of the engineering work behind the P-51 and several other aircraft. Schmued led the design team that created the P-51. It does not cover all of the details behind the development of the P-51, leaving out the politics of how the USAAF finally adopted this half British aircraft. The best part of this book is that it is possible to see how closely the North American engineers worked with the test pilots and field reports; it was this tightly coupled engineering culture which responded quickly to every input, every flaw, that enabled the P-51 Mustang to reach perfection first and beat out its rivals.

Another book "P-51 Mustang: Development of the Long Range Escort Fighter" covers the bigger picture of the USAAF's overall search for a better fighter plane. This book very much complements "Mustang Designer" and should be read to get the full flavor of what happened with the P-51's development. For example, "P-51 Mustang" talks about the role of Colonel Thomas Hitchcock in championing the P-51 with the Roosevelt administration at a time when some in the USAAF brass were trying to kill it (an upper crust polo player, he had direct connections to the Roosevelt administration), but fails to mention Hitchcock's ultimate fate. "Mustang Designer" mentions almost in passing that Hitchcock was killed while test flying a P-51D on April 18, 1944, but does not go into the details of how crucial he was to the adoption of the P-51 by the USAAF.

One reviewer complained about the lack of information about Schmued's use of conical sections in designing the curves of the airplane. There is a half-page description of Schmued's use of conical sections on the P-51 - page 57, which does explain the principles, if not the details of what Schmued did.

"Mustang Designer" does clear up some urban legends about the P-51. It was the British who started the myth that the P-51 was designed by a German who had worked for Messerschmitt.

Schmued was indeed a German-Austrian, with an Austrian citizenship until he immigrated to the U.S. by way of Brazil. He was sponsored to come to the United States through his excellent work for General Motors in Brazil (immigration rules were extremely strict at that time - he was one of 794 people with Austrian citizenships admitted in the 1929 quota) and went straight to work for Fokker Aircraft Corporation of America, which was an aircraft company that was owned by General Motors and based in New Jersey. He joined North American Aviation when it was reorganized as an aircraft manufacturer. Schmued never worked for Messerschmitt; he did work for Fokker, but, despite its name, this was a wholly American owned company that happened to have Dutchman Anthony Fokker as its head.

The book goes on with details about the later problems with the F-82 (the USAF forced North American to use a two-stage supercharger Allison V-1710, which was an engineering flop, instead of the Packard-Merlin engine). Schmued also had a hand in the designs of the F-86 and F-100, but the exact details of what he did are not spelled out in this book. Schmued left North American in 1952, after Dutch Kindelberger became ill and started to devolve power to Lee Atwater, with whom Schmued disagreed intensely (the intensity of this disagreement is seen by the fact that Schmued was just three years shy of being fully invested in a pension from North American when he left - as a result, he received no pension from North American).

This book does not talk about the post-Schmued, post-Kindelberger years at North American, but they were mostly filled with a series of aircraft designs that never made it into production. The F-100 would be the last fighter plane that North American would produce. Schmued would leave North American before the F-100 flew (he lost a final dispute over changes to the design of the F-100), and it is clear from the subsequent prolonged teething problems of the F-100 that North American sorely missed Schmued's troubleshooting genius.

With Kindelberger and Schmued gone, the excellent engineering culture of North American seemed to wither under the mediocre stewardship of Lee Atwater. North American went into the space business, but this would culminate in the disastrous fire that killed the Apollo 1 astronauts in 1967. The negative backlash from that disaster (North American had built the command module that caught fire) ultimately forced North American to merge with Rockwell, which then buried this once famous name completely. (This later period of North American's history is not covered in this book).

Schmued, on the other hand, would go on to work for Northrop, and would help revive the flagging engineering designs of that company by designing the F-5. Ironically, the person who would hire him was Oliver Echols, the general in the USAAF who had played a semi-antagonistic role against the P-51 during its early days (Echols's role against the P-51 is described in the book "P-51 Mustang").

Also not mentioned in this book is the fact that Schmued's F-5 design would evolve into Northrop's YF-17, which then became the F-18, the Navy's current all-purpose and ONLY fighter plane (now that the F-14s have all been chopped up to keep Iran from obtaining parts for their remaining F-14s).

Overall this is an extremely valuable book for understanding the history of the P-51, F-82, F-100, North American Aviation, the F-5, and the man behind all of those success stories, Edgar Schmued.

Amazon has four listings for various other printings of this book:

0517088207 Random House 1992 (hardcover)

0517567938 Crown 1st edition 1990 (hardcover)

B000KRITOC Orion Books 1990 (hardcover)

B000QRPVEC Orion books 1991 (hardcover)

All of these are out of print, and so this paperback reprint by Smithsonian Institute Press is the most readily available.

the history of conic sections at North American Aviation (NAA). NAA was using conics in '32, Schmued was (at the least) an enthusiastic supporter of conics, and his P-51 Mustang was the first aircraft to be completely defined by conics.

Roy A. Liming worked with Schmued to mathematically analyze the Mustang's shapes, tangents and curvatures. Schmued wrote an introduction to Liming and Hartley's series of articles for Aero Digest explaining the use of conics. These articles (along with the success of the Mustang) showed that NAA was ahead of it's time during WWII.

Here's a "could-have-been"... In the early 90's Gary Gygax (a creator of the original Dungeons & Dragons) teamed up with GDW to create an all-new RPG. The game was originally called Dangerous Dimensions (DD). Though this was changed early on, the damage was done. Rival company TSR claimed that the renamed Dangerous Journeys game infringed their D&D trademark, though the rules systems & backgrounds of the games have little in common. TSR sued. The issue was resolved out-of-court, with game production ceasing, and TSR acquiring the game.

The lawsuit was both costly and distracting for GDW, at a time when the RPG industry was beginning a contraction. GDW would stumble on for a few more years before ceasing operations in 1995. (Interestingly, TSR -- $30 million in debt -- was sold to Wizards of the Coast in 1997, a victim of poor management and market forces.)

Quality of production appears to be high, and the basic game is relatively simple. Much of the book is taken up with elective add-ons. It's a shame Mythus wasn't allowed to continue.

Wayne Gralian
Wayne's World of Books

The Dangerous Dangerous -- Mythus game system is the best! The book is great and well worth its (orginal) price tag of $26. Although the system needs more playtesting (too many opportunities for unfair exploits) and the book needs better editing (errors in the data tables are worse than typo/grammer errors). Mythus & Dagerous Journeys is great..The best!. To bad T$R (AD&D) sued GDW for frivilous copyright issues. Now WOTC (Magic the Gatering) owns T$R and Mythus (through a buy-out) and hopefully they will debug and re-release Mythus.

My friend recently got out of the Marines and he brought with him the most wonderful role playing system I've ever encountered, and I've played alot of them. The way it approaches the use of skills is truly the most effective I've ever seen. The combat system, which runs off the skill system, works beautifully. It is a shame that TSR took this spectacular system away from the role playing populous, though how they won the lawsuit when the similarities to D&D are so few and far between still stupifies us all. I recently picked up Gary Gygax's new game, Lejendary Adventures, and while reading it, I keep thinking to myself, "It's almost Mythus, but Mythus did 'this' better." The only problem that any of us had with Mythus was the magic system, which is a bit unbalanced. Other that that, it is the pennacle of role playing games.

Romance "Never Say Never" by Evaldas Vigelis tells an emotional love story. One could even say it is one more interpretation of an immortal Shakespeare's tragedy "Romeo and Juliet". Of course, there is no poison and murder, everything is much more contemporary - the modern man does not need external enemies, one is quite capable of self-destruction in physical and spiritual sense. I am not going to talk about physical destruction, though the selected hero Harold is trying to arouse a need for a perfect cherished body. He is a sportsman advocating healthy life style - no spirits, the head can get dizzy only from the glance of the beloved, not from a glass of drink. Let us go back to the main idea of novel. Of course, the eternal theme is love. I have already mentioned that the plot carries some resemblance to the love story of Romeo and Juliet but the lovers of today have to confront inner trials, which are more difficult for them than outer ones. What stands on the way of love of a modern man? The man itself is against his love, it is his selfishness, egoism, lack of confidence, envy. These horrible feelings torture Edith - the main character of the book.
She is an independent woman. She is a connoisseur of her profession, valued by the colleagues, loved by the friends. Is she happy? It is hard to tell. She lives a safe life - without falls and uprisings. It is easier. There is no excitement; the feelings are sleeping behind nine doors and nine locks. Who needs them? The author at the beginning of the book presents Edith like that. Gradually the hero is changing, and she learns to live her life with feelings - the unexpected adventure in a hunter's hut makes the girl to review her life book. What has happened? The situation is rather banal: a car breaks down in a forest during a December snowstorm, and three travelers, to be more precise - two passengers and a driver are forced to look for a shelter. Roberta and Edith are typical girls from a city: they are overconfident, wearing make up, lipstick. Once they find themselves in strange surroundings, they both become scared, try to protest, but the life is putting them straight - they have to adjust. Harold is presented in a different manner. It is evident that Harold is an experienced man who has tried the taste of life. His looks - big, trained arms, muscular body - create a false impression at first. This threatening figure hides a good and sensuous heart.
The first seedlings of love spring up in the forest hut. At first, Edith passionately denies the feeling. She is even snorting, "How could I love an ordinary driver?" But love is powerful! It ruins the fences of uncertainty, the passion overwhelms the body, and the kisses break through the shell of indifference.
The short trip is over and the girls come back to their ordinary life. However, the strange adventure in the hut changes their lives - Roberta makes up with Edgar, whereas Edith starts looking for her Romeo - Harold Scott.
She has little success at the start. It appeared that visit card given to her by the driver belongs to his father. Edith is furious, but love is stronger than fury. They meet each other again by chance. They meet to stay together... no, they meet to try their feelings once again. This time their love is attacked by distrust and jealousy. Another woman beside Harold. Who is she? Another lover or just a friend? Jealousy is very lively, that is why Edith chooses the first answer: he is a Don Juan, a liar. She keeps being angry but the seedling of love does not die.
The lovers meet and part, they suffer and torture each other. Is needed only one word to solve everything but neither of them dares to utter it. Is it not the passion and the question eternal that of Shakespeare: I love but am I loved?
One more unexpected event - a broken plane by which Edith is trying to run away from her feelings - should open her eyes. But will she be able to understand the sign, which means that they should be together? I will set the reader at ease - the couple will come over all traps of uncertainty, their love is stronger.
This is a short presentation of the book "Never Say Never" by Mr. Evaldas Vigelis. It is love story. Tender and pure feelings breathe out of every page. Those who are tired from brutality, lies, cheat should love this book. Those who love and desire to experience that feeling will love the book!

When i first read this book i couldn't put it doown it is so good. I love all drama in this book and all the twist. For anyone who hasn't read this book go get it now you will not be sorry.

I enjoyed reading this romance book. It a little bit reminds a fairy tale because the hero addresses to his beloved "princess". However "princess" should learn to love, sacrifice herself and to live an unselfish life. The love changes character Edith. The selfish princess becomes loving and loved.
I liked to read this book because here it is possible to find many amusing situations that cheer up. I can tell about this book in a few words - it is a good adventure novel.

It may seem funny to speak of high fashion as being a subject for patriotic pride, but in fact, Americans don't need to look across the Atlantic for great couturiers; there are plenty of 'em in the Big Apple! Caroline Rennolds Millbank, who's also written the excellent _Couture_ and _The Couture Accessory_, turns her attention to the great designers, past and present, of the New York fashion scene. She reminds us all that Paris and Milan are not the only places that can produce superb couture, with hundreds of splendid B&W and color photographs (many in full-page format) and in-depth commentary on American designers from Mainbocher to Norell to McCardell. Kudos to Milbank for looking at great designers who aren't covered as often as they should be in books.

As a vintage clothing collector and seller, this is an invaluable resource for me. Ideal for a beginner, as well as a seasoned collector. An interesting read and a wonderful and useful book for just "looking up" a designer when necessary. It's a must have for the field.

What a way to meet the talented American designers. .Before Calvin, Ralph and Donna, there was Norell, McCardell and Mainbocher. Caroline Milbank introduces them and shows you their signature designs. A "must have" for fashion fans!

The book is fascinating not just because the pictures are so interesting and beautiful. Love seeing lifestyles of the rich and famous as well as showing her work then and now. Her life was so Masterpiece Theatre meets Dirty Sexy Money. I can just imagine her story of aristocracy (Prince of Wales, Lady Diana Cooper) mingling with Cafe Society (Maud Cunard, Sybil Colefax) partying with Hollywood (David Niven, Paulette Goddard, Charlie Chaplin) as a great TV series or movie. What fun!

Though the English woman Norah Lindsay's outstanding abilities as a gardener were widely known and respected among her circle of upper-class friends including Winston Churchill, the Prince of Wales, and Edith Wharton, she never considered making a career out of this--until at 51 and divorced, she found herself with "no husband, no money, no home," as she wrote a friend. It wasn't long before Lindsay began getting commissions for garden design and landscaping from her wealthy friends for their estates and for prominent public grounds. In the remaining 20 years of her life, she accomplished more visible and lasting landscaping than most professional landscaper designers with careers lasting a lifetime.

Black-and-white period photographs from the decades of the mid 1900s when Lindsay was active give a sense of the older, traditional English upper-class society and its tastes and attachment to its property she naturally appealed to. While later color photographs, often of the same scene and juxtaposed to it, bring out the color of the landscaping.

Her landscape design and reputation carried her to major works for upper-class and royalty in Italy, France, and elsewhere in Continental Europe. This study of Lindsay's garden design by a garden design historian is a portrait of an upper-class English life style that was largely lost in the latter decades of the 1900s, after the two World Wars and with the coming of the internationalist economic and cultural developments. Among illustrated material are mementos signed by Hilaire Belloc, another friend of Lindsay's. And besides the many period and later garden photographs are many of Lindsay's friends and acquaintances, e. g., the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Other photos such as letters of Lindsay to her sister open onto an intimate portrait of Lindsay. This finely-produced work with its balance of content by an author who is a graduate of the Harvard Landscape Institute and who traveled to many of Lindsay's surviving projects throughout Europe in her 10 years of work on the book focuses on the work, life, and social context of Norah Lindsay's work and projects so as to place her with the top level of garden designers for reasons of historical significance, stature of her projects, and garden-design aesthetics.

This is a beautiful coffee table book...with the added bonus that it is a great read. This biography of English garden designer Norah Lindsay is lavishly illustrated with beautiful photographs of the gardens she designed during the years between the wars. It is a must for anyone interested in the history of garden design and plantings, or with an interest in the social and political events between the wars. It's not just for someone with an interest in gardens - reading about her friends was fascinating. I gave this book 5-stars because for me it was an entertaining read with a wonderful insight into Norah Lindsay's life, career, and friends.

Not only is this book interesting, it is fun! The illustrations are creative, colorful, catchy and in the style of hokusai. Although it is probably a children's book, I love it. It is also a good read.

As a librarian I see many, many books and this is a definite favorite. The simple story of the great Ukiyoe master, Hokusai, and his young apprentice, Tojiro, is told with humor and feeling. Along the way, there are lessons about being young and old, about persistence and talent. Many of the stories about Hokusai and his artwork are based on fact, such as his most famous Great Wave of Kanagawa from the collection Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji and his "thought-up drawings" in Hokusai Manga. As wonderful as the story is, the illustrations may be the very best part of this book. Francois Place's paintings are a story in themselves. The illustrations are colorful, well executed, with a subtle oriental flavor. Interspersed with Hokusai's own woodblock prints, they appeal to adults and children who love art, Japan, or just a warm and heartfelt story. I recommend Old Man Mad About Drawing to children, parents, and anyone who loves interesting stories blended with captivating art.

Francois Place has cleverly built this story about a mentoring relationship between the revered artist, Hokusai, and a young apprentice he names "sparrow." In the process of learning to serve "the old man mad about drawing" the sparrow, Tojiro, is introduced to the progressive stages of Hokusai's art. At first the old man seemed scraggly & wild to the boy; then he grew to appreciate the humor & many-faceted talents of the artist. Tojiro was taught to read, make inks and serve in many capacities.

Each time I hold this book the 'feel' of it pleases me. The font, Perpetua, is discussed in the back. There is also a Glossary - illustrated, naturally! The book's illustrations are plentiful and filled with the energy of Hokusai's "manga" - - the sketchbooks which also brought him fame. Because Francois Place is both author & illustrator of "The Old Man . . ." he had the freedom to paint chapter headings as vertical 'capsules' showing what each chapter is about. Place has a strong individual style that has brought him success as an illustrator, & Reviewer mcHAIKU is eager to search for his other titles.

The warmth of the relationship between teacher and student is shown when, during a walk together, the master whispers to Tojiro, "Learn to look in silence, if you don't want noise to drive away the beauty of fragile things that are before your eyes." On page 96, Place has an amusing sketch of the master letting the boy leave to find his future, tethered by a rope inked in by paintbrush.

Hokusai's assessment of his own growth as an artist was added to his now-famous album of "One Hundred Views of Mount Fugi." (see page 100), This statement giving perspective on aging, persistence and achievement should be used at all seminars for 'seniors'. Long after his death in 1889, HOKUSAI IS A ROLE MODEL FOR TODAY.

Let me first say..I love this book! I have taken it out of the Library more times than I can count...I regret not getting it when I had the chance. I love fashion that predates the turn of the century and what this book contains is stunning. I would like to say more..but I would gush.. Get this book if you can.

The book is a wonderful resource for Lovers of Antique clothing,and the victorain clothing buff.

This is a beautifully produced book, with wonderful color photographs of incredible gowns and excellent narratives of the designers' life stories. Well worth the price.