Watson Books

This book is absolutely delightful! The clarity of presentation with techniques, patterns and finished projects lends itself to becoming a well-worn resource. The only drawback is that I wanted it to be double the size with even more patterns and gallery pictures! What wonderful lay-out! I took it to bed for a week just to feed my soul.

This book inspired me to make paste paper immediately. I have learned many of the techniques within this book firsthand from very talented book artists. Then for the last 3 years I taught young children, adolescents and adults how to make paste paper, to make their own journals and even luminaries. I saw this book on the web. I don't know how I missed it before, but am actually grateful I found it now. It showed up at a time when I felt ready to go deeper. It is well organized, with colorful detailed examples. Great for beginners and those with experience. So! This summer I am playing with this book. I'm making my own brayers and practicing the various papers illustrated. Thank you, thank you, for this dear book!

This book is one of the most enjoyable, helpful and inspiring book I have read. I had not worked with paste paper before, and this book has precise instructions on how to begin exploring this art and what issues to anticipate. The best thing is, the book shows you how to make beautiful art with things found lying around the house. Having read the book, I see possible paste paper tools in everything around me, and I would buy this author's other books.

It is a rare book that can entertain, captivate, and inspire--Benjamin Watson has written such a book. This book is raw and honest, full of wonderful vocabulary and detail, amusing as all get out, not too sacred, yet holy to the core. If you're not shallow, phony, prudish, or excessively fearful, you WILL LOVE this book!!!!!!!

With stark honesty, sorrowful humor, jarring sensitivity, and frightening (almost embarrassing) familiarity, Watson fearlessly phrases a life convincing us that hope, purity, and innocence, once truly experienced, somehow survive even while drowning in the most terrible circumstances. Even though my primary fascination while reading was with Alexander Wokowski's desperate, sinful activity, rendered with Watson's slick, punchy, and altogether gratifying style, this truth burned through. I wonder if this isn't how Salinger would have written had he come of age in the millenial era.

It's been a long time since I read a book that took me by the throat like this. If you like fine literature with a grim, humorous, beatnik sensibility, this is for you. Watson separates himself from the pack of young, hip writers writing about the underground scene by the sheer careful craftsmanship of his writing - most writers just seem to be rehashing that stark, simple, bloodless Raymond Carver or Brett Easton Ellis style of conveying the feelings of Generation X. But Watson reminds me of a Nabokov for the people, an Updike for the coffeeshop. Combined with this is some of the most honest sexual discussion since "Portnoy's Complaint" or "Fear of Flying". Basically a story about a jazz musician and his screwed up bizarre love triangle with two lesbians, it is also a story of coping with hyper-sensitivity, the loss of innocence, being haunted by places and people, and searching for spirituality in a materialistic world. I finished the book feeling - despite all the sex, drugs, and violence - renewed, inspired, and wanting to live life to the maximum. Watson is one to watch.

This book covers so much concerning the business of creativity. I've been searching and searching and haven't seen a book more thorough. I absolutely love the price estimation section where the author does all sorts of ways to estimate price and he explains the advantages and disadvantages. So yes, it covers pretty much EVERYTHING.

Though plenty of info still applies today, I still wish there were an updated version to this book.

The best part of this book is that more than half of it is interviews with successful designers, and examples of their work. They are quite candid, and talk about how they became a designer or started a studio, and how they run their business and deal with customers. Highly recommended.

For many people in the Graphic Arts profession, the business side is often missed in their schooling. For those who forgot to take Business courses while they were in Art school this book is for you.

From Back Cover:

"They probably didn't tell you in art school, but it takes a great deal more than talent to succeed in a career in illustration. Illustration is a business, and like any other business, professionals must learn to skillfully navigate their way through the marketplace in order to survive and thrive. 'The Business of Illustration' provides information not available elsewhere, guiding the wannabe or even more experienced illustrator through the process of setting up a business, creating effective methods of self-promotion, finding a rep - or perhaps even choosing to operate without one. Best of all, no three-piece suits are required.

Full of tricks of the trade too often learned only after getting burned, 'The Business of Illustration' presents a broad picture of what it takes to protect your intellectual property while also making your talent and passion into a viable business. Interviews with successful illustrators, such as Brad Holland, Anita Kunz, Henrik Drescher, and well-established artist representatives, like Vicki Morgan and Richard Solomon, put the reader on the 'inside track.' Examples of work from the many different genres of illustration show diverse, yet equally successful approaches to editorial work, corporate, advertising, book publishing, cds and records, medical, packaging, comics and still more. Appropriate fees for work in various areas of the business are also listed at the end of the book."

144 pages
188 full-color & 89 black-and-white illustrations

99.5% of illustrators are now self employed. At one time there were full-time employed illustrators on staff in most advertising agencies, but now that has drastically changed, and an illustrator has to learn how to start his/her own business just like any other entrepreneur. This book is great in giving you realistic advice and guidelines. I strongly disagree with the person that wrote that an illustrator needs a rep for their business. Your statement was correct, you are not an illustrator. I am a career advisor that also helps students with placement at an art college. (As well as being in the art field as a graphic designer and illustrator for 20 years.) The business of illustration is supply and demand. You must promote and market yourself, just like any other business. You also have to be good, fast and learn how to develop good communication skills. Yes, an artist can learn those skills if they choose to. Art as a profession demands the same respect as any other field. It is not a hobby when you are making a living at it. A rep is always an option, but never a must. My advice to any student who wishes to pursue illustration as a career is, you have to be serious, dedicated and willing to put your heart and soul into it. The art field as a profession is probably one of the most demanding fields. It is extremely deadline oriented and does not have 9-5 hours. As a self-employed business, you will have peaks, sometimes working 7 days a week, 12 plus hours a day. You have to learn how to deal with different personalities, understanding you may not have ownership of your work. Not every artist is cut out or willing to make the sacrifices necessary to make art their career. It is very rewarding though, if you don't let your ego get in your way.

I hate to disagree with the other reviewer but, frankly, he doesn't know what he's talking about. Mr. Heller has written a wonderful book explaining the ins and outs of the illustration industry and it's crucial that ALL illustrators read it. The illustration industry is going through a terrible time at the moment with large corporations preying on the lonely illustrator, so it doesn't surprise me that the businessman below feels that illustrators shouldn't know their business!! Illustration IS a business, not a hobby and should be treated as such. Business and art can co-exist and illustrators can be some of the most creative business people I know.

Mr. Heller is a well respected Art Director/Author and you would do well to head his advice.

Ralph Douglass's Calligraphic Lettering provides a good resource for beginning or more advanced calligraphers. This is one of the first calligraphy books I used as a child some 20 years ago and was so glad to see it republished again recently.
The author offers several different calligraphic hands with a brief history for each. He also includes sections on design, proportion and a couple of pages on teaching children to write - a section I am now using to teach my children. The thing I like most about this book is that it emphasises the need to practise.

The lovely, hand-lettered text of this book distinguishes it even before you get to the wonderful, clear alphabet studies. Its spiral binding makes it very easy to refer to pages while working; and for some reason, other calligraphy texts haven't figured that out.
I do calligraphy as an amateur (literally, for the love of it) as well as for pay. I am not a teacher by profession; but whenever I teach a calligraphy class, this is my prime reference book.
Recently I thought I had lost my copy, and that is when I realized how much I depend on this book. It is The Best.
If you are going to own only one calligraphy guide, this is the one!

This hard-back, spiral-bound work has a plethora of alphabets for the beginning adult scribe to learn. Many classic examples from art history, and adequate detail from the author are available to guide the willing penman. One who will devote time and self-discipline for serious practice will find this work an able guide to learning classic letter formations.

I was happy to see there is such a high rating on my book but please note that you have mixed in 2 reviews of Don Sparkman's book in with my reviews. Many Thanks, Roz Goldfarb

THIS IS AN IMPERFECT ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF AN EARLIER REVIEW OF THIS BOOK (TRANSLATED BY BABELFISH, then from Babelfish):

I had the opportunity to read this book while studying the field of graphic design, and it seems to me that it is an excellent book. Anyone interested in graphic design should read it. Personally, I recommend this book to all aspiring designers, since it will not only help them open doors at the firms they are interested in working at, but also in finishing up their studies in their field. It is a book that really teaches to us to be graphic designers and not just in name. I hope that you enjoy this book as much as I did...

Tuve la oportunidad de leer este libro mientras estudio la carrera de diseño gráfico, y me parece que es un excelente libro, que todos los interesados en el área del diseño gráfico deberían de leerlo, personalmente recomiendo este libro como parte de la formación de todos los aspirantes a diseñadores, ya que este les ayudará y tal vez les abra las puertas de muchas organizaciones en las que les interese laborar, ya sea durante sus estudio o al finalizar la carrera. Es un libro que realmente nos enseña a ser diseñadores gráficos y no quedarnos tan sólo con el titulo en la mano, nos enseña a pensar como el patrón, que quiere y que espera de nosotros. Espero que disfruten este libro tanto como yo lo disfrute...

Atte.

Una aspirante a diseñador gráfico

Up to date, with rationales, for the reason one answer is correct or not correct. Very organized.

This book was a great help to pass the CCRN, it gives questions and rationals in all sections of the test. It is also good if you just want to brush up on neonatal nursing knowledge. A great accompany to this book is the Core Curriculum for Neonatal Nursing, these two books together have everything you need to know to pass the CCRN and increase your knowledge in neonatal nursing.

I had originally planned on reading the Core Curriculum text, but then realized that wasn't going to happen. Instead, I just did the review questions in this book. It is divided by topic and gives rationales for all the answers in the book. I went through the book once and passed my NICU RNC exam on my first try.

Preamble & Definitions:
"all that he could do was to tell the story. The point is, perhaps, that in our times we no longer even have the enthusiasm to tell the story,.." What is more disappointing in these days is that very few read the story, "believing perhaps that even the story has become meaningless." (Arthur A. Cohen, telling the story of a Hasidic master, who tells the story of Baal Shem Tob.)

+ Christians: Persons who believe in Jesus Christ and follow or try to follow his teachings.
+ Observed: Adhered to, followed, noticed or perceived, special attention being paid to.
+ Narratives: Stories, accounts, tales (parables included).
+ Church: Fellowship or convocation of believers and people of God who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and savior.

Love Stories & Doors:
"...a series of love stories. So it is ; and it is itself as a whole a sort of love story, a record of the love of God that is awakened by the variety of ways in which God touches human struggle and growing. None of these portraits is here to prove a point; each one is here to open a door." Most Revd Rowan Williams

Troubadours& Biographies:
"To read an autobiography as if it were a novel calls for close analysis of the structural patterns of the text-narrative point of view, plot outline, character roles and development, image patterns, use of metaphor, symbol, and language, and, finally, the use of silence." David Leigh, S. J.
If this is true, and sure it is; how did I venture to read, and even more importantly rejoice? It may be that we have got a good story teller, who like the troubadours of medieval times wrote songs of love and chivalry!

The Hidden Hearts:
"Your language is wonderful, and your image of Jesus intrigues me, but if our Lord - to use a Christian term - is all the we say He is, then a Christian confession of faith must be uttered. How does this fit with prayer at the mosque? You are a Muslim."
"You should not despise the sermon of my life, my work to feed my children, my love for my wife; our lives are our creeds. We know Jesus Christ and we love him and we live him. There is no good but God, Muhammad is his messenger and Christ is the Son of God."..."For lovers of Jesus there can only be an inward baptism of the heart and the daily living of the Eucharist,"
"You have an eloquent testimony."
"The real truth of our love is veiled - deeper than the words." (From the book; 'Cairo Conversation')

About the narratives:
I received this week a beautiful Christmas card, with it was an Annual Newsletter, from a dear couple, their 22nd, since 1968, and I thought of the enthusiasm to tell the story that promotes fellowship. While Fr. John Watson reveals that; "I wrote the book many years ago, but thanks to the Archbishop (of Canterbury), it has seen the light of the day," this is not a whim of the moment, but the ministry of narrative, which Jesus Christ was the master, and Good Shepherd.

"We narrate to you the best of narratives," Koran, surat Yusuf

The words of men:
In his 'People of the Book?', John Barton masterfully declares, "But there is for Steiner a fourth stage, and it is this which peculiarly important in identifying a work as a classic -- Only great works enable us to achieve this fully, transcending cultural gaps yet without losing their own cultural context...when detached from its original setting, nor adapts so readily as to be in effect merely a tabula rasa on which new meanings can be inscribed at will. It remains itself, yet has something fresh to say to each new inquirer."

The best of narratives:
Today's Church needs to listen to the Love Narratives from Fr. John Watson, the holy stories teller, who takes you in an 'Ecumenical Christophany.' Some of his bold statements in the book's introduction stunned me, "Ecumenism is dead in the dust of difference. Reconciliation is a lost word, though its terrible price has been paid." I prayed this painful conclusion of a devoted ecumenist is one of Umberto Eco's overinterpretations, but I remembered what fr. John has already anticipated that some enteries will not be comforting.

Portraits of Reconciliation:
Fr. Watson's portraits are painted in iconographic Scripture setting, with soundtracks and snapshots. While encountering Tomas, Michel, Arsenius, Ali, and Teresa Domenica, between many others will persuade you to think, hope, wonder and be hopefully reconciled in love.
In: 'Cairo Conversation', you will learn what they say: "Egypt invented Eternity'. Mummification is about discovering eternal life: Jesus Christ came 'here' as a refugee: the soil of Egypt is 'serious earth' for me (Abba John)-- pilgrim is exactly the right word (describing most of his life)."

A Mystic's insight:
The insightful mystic, and author of 'the Wound of Knowledge, says in his 'Foreword' to these narratives, "Christianity has always depended heavily on stories to communicate its news, when you tell the story of Jesus, you begin in the same moment to tell the stories of the lives reshaped around his identity ... none of these portraits is here to prove a point; each one is here to open a door. Some will be very hard reading for anyone committed to the traditional practice of the Church;..." Dr. Rowan Williams

"God grant that the experience of listening and absorbing stories like these will at least save us from complacency and the passion to decide where God can and cannot be at work."
Rowan Williams, Most Rvd Archbishop of Canterbury

Christianity Redefined:
"Christianity is an inclusive movement of the mind and spirit, present in a series of exclusivist organizations. The will to be free is always present in the structures." The stories that have been related here show that there is a better future for the Church, and that this better future is for Today's Church. These wonderful narratives are the outcome of a loving encounter with Christians, whom he experienced on his extensive travel for five decades. Although the ecumenical evangelical layed down his model of kenotic rescue of the Church, the story teller, siding with the mystics and mavericks, binds his tales with a common thread of kenotic ministery of reciprocal love.

A series of love Narratives:
'The episodes recorded in this book are all true. They are born from despair with religion in its normal managerial role, defining the brand and excluding the alternatives; but hope is greater than despair. Christianity is an inclusive movement of the mind and spirit, present in a series of inclusivist organizations.'
This is what those allegorical narratives preach, on many levels existential, liberation, and mystical perspectives.
"In modern Western man there have arisen two-forms of consciousness that have striven with each other and with traditional and religious forms. These are the scientific and the historical consciousness," stated John Cobb. Fr. John Watson narratives, a series of love stories (Agape) open the door, you have to knock, so you could break free of the traditional practice of dogmatic Christianity to the mystical approach that ordinary living Christians practice their real faith.

Narrator, John abba Watson:
The ecumenical narrator, as was Thomas Merton and Henri Nouwen, is preaching genuine orthodoxy; the ever new commandment of love. He very modestly describes himself as an assistant priest in a Dorset village, we call him Abuna (Abba), and I call him 'My Virtual Bishop'. He is the author of 'Among the Copts', many enlightening essays and biographies and an avid book reviewer. He favors 'Coptic Church review' with his insightful articles.

Envoi:
In his farewell conclusion, the admirable narrator who instructs in snapshots, PS, soundtracks, Scripture settings, and Iconography, concludes;
Christianity in the twenty-first century:
institution has more substance than movement,
condominium is preferred to tent,
possessor is stable; pilgrim is flimsy.

This is a true-life adventure story. The author does not attempt to tell a story of daring exploits - rather, he gives a factual accounting of his experiences as the owner-captain of a [private] Confederate blockade runner operating in the Gulf of Mexico. However, this factual account is all the more captivating because it is real.
What makes this story unique [for the genre] is that this is not a story about one of the big [fast] steam ships running the blockade in and out of the major ports on the Atlantic coast, this is a story about a relatively small, shallow draft sailing schooner using stealth and its ability to go into shallow waters to sneak past the Union ships in the backwaters of the Gulf.
The other aspect of the story that really sticks out is that the vast majority of the true threats and dangers to both the captain and his little boat take place on land not at sea. From corrupt public officials and conniving business partners to dishonest and dangerous crew members you can't help but worry for the man every time he steps ashore.
A great read. Thanks to Barto Arnold and Texas A&M University Press for re-publishing it.

I happened across the title, "The Civil War Adventures of a Blockade Runner," while doing some research on the Civil War in Texas. At the time, I was skeptical about what I might find in the book. As it turns out, Watson's book is not only a fast read, it's entertaining and suspenseful, too!

In this book, William Watson relates the experiences he had during the last few years of the Civil War. Watson, a British subject and a Confederate veteran, purchases a schooner, the Rob Roy, with the intent of making money through honest trade. However, he quickly realizes that more money might be had through blockade running. To that end, while making a run up the Texas coast to New Orleans, he ducks into the Brazos River at peril from a blockading gunboat and begins his career as a runner.

In his career, Watson makes several successful runs with the Rob Roy before he is forced to sell it because of disagreements with his business partners. Watson then finds employment on a steamer, and later captains a few more runs himself before the Civil War -- and with it, blockade running -- comes to an end.

Several things interested me in the book. First, Watson paints a good picture of the Confederate economy. I could almost see him cringe when the government siezes his boat and desires to pay him off with worthless Confederate paper money. However, Watson manages to keep his cool and successfully negotiates to have his vessel released.

Also, Watson goes into great details about the tricks he learns to avoid the United States gunships and slip in and out of Galveston.

Finally, Watson's business transactions show that many people, including foreign governments, found ways to make money, if not a living, from the war.

To be sure, Watson makes no apology for being an experienced sea captain. As a result, the reader will want to have handy a nautical dictionary to better understand what happened, for example, when the foreboom unshipped from its mast, or to understand what the captain of a boarding party is saying when he asks, "Is your jib to windard?" While the general idea can be had if the reader bears with Watson, I find it all the better to get the full nuance that he intended.

I completed the book in a week, mainly because I always wanted to find out what was going to happen to Watson next. Through good luck and bad, Watson makes the most of his career, with the result that he finds himself hundreds of dollars richer than when he began.

If you are interested in either the operation of 19th Century sailing ships, or the United States blockade during the Civil War, I recommend that you read this book as an excellent eyewitness account of both.

First, I arranged for the re-publication of this book because it relates to the Institute of Nautical Archaeology's multi-year excavation of the wreck of the Denbigh, a famous blockade-runner lost at Galveston in 1865. Certainly, I am a biased reviewer.

The book is of interest for the excellent writing style and coverage of the topic. Watson provides many technical details of how the captain of a blockade-runner carried out his job, including both daring the Union Navy and dealing with sharp businessmen ashore. We have no first hand accounts as yet for the Denbigh, but Watson's trips in and out of Galveston from Havana and other ports were very, very similar. Watson brings the past to life.

I've spent a lot of time at book stores paging through books to find one that had actual tutorials for the beginning oil painter. Most were either books that talked about types of brushes, mediums, techniques, etc. without any actual demonstrating, or they were more theory or about composition. While those more advanced ideas are crucial to creating good paintings, as a beginner, I was looking for a book that would get me started actually painting. Something to give me a feel for what the techniques are, and not just describing them.

This book covers everything from the color palette and preparing your surface, to the actual steps the author uses during the painting process. The text is not too wordy, but is in depth enough to give a clear understanding of what you are doing and why.

If you'd like to learn to paint with layers and glazes, this is a perfect starter book.

I am learning exactly what I wanted to know about traditional painting from Jane's easy to follow instructions. The book is beautifully printed and full of important information. One of the best books I've bought.

This book is for anyone wanting to learn step by step how to paint with oils. Written with the beginner in mind, there is still plenty of information for the more experienced painter. Must have for any painting library.