Arts Books

I was so excited to receive this book...and it certainly exceeded my expectations!! The projects are wonderful, the directions easy to follow and I am up to number 3 reproduction of Kelly's amazing art..Buy this book, you will not regret it!!!

I agree with the other reviewers in that this really is a gorgeous book. But it is more than just a pretty picture. The passion that Kelly Rae Roberts has for her art seeps into every corner of this book. I am not a mixed media artist (yet) but I do make one-of-a-kind jewelry that has a mixed-media appeal. All I know is that I am truly inspired by her book to take my art to the next level. I have never been good at keeping a journal but the workbook pages in this book are really quite helpful. I am using this as a getaway from my life...when I need to be inspired and uplifted and righted on my path to creativity. When I am done I will go back and read through my answers to see where this book has taken me on the wings of Ms Robert's fancy. Ms Robert's artwork is a stunning backdrop to a rich collection of essays and quotes meant to treat your senses to an inspiration smorgasbord. Perfect book for anyone who wants to follow their dreams or just put a bit more creativity into their lives.

This is so much more than just a book with art in it. This book gives you inspiration and help and encouragement in your journey with whatever art form you work with. Kelly's art is beautiful and so inspiring and the fact that she included some other artists in the book as well was such a bonus. The interviews and techniques of these artists are awesome and eye opening. The way Kelly used their techniques with her own just gives to the overall feel of the book. Learning to step outside of your comfort zone and try something new. I am glad to have been opened up to their art as well and learn something from them. Every project in this book is awesome and I cannot wait to try them all. You really get into Kelly's heart and see how she started out and what she has overcome in her own journey. It is almost like a little dose of therapy in there as well. I just got inspiration overload from it all. The book is great, you will not regret having it in your home library. I have always been in and out of a rut with my art and this has been the push I need to give my creative spirit wings and soar. The only thing I regret about the book is that it's not signed by the wonderful artist Kelly Rae Roberts, that would be the final touch!
Note: And to note, I just couldn't resist saying something about the 1 negative comment about the book so far, basically is to ignore it and not even waste the time reading it cause it made absolutely no sense at all and I just have to wonder what this person is on. A monkey could follow the step by step instructions given, they are easy to follow and understand. Okay, off my soap box now!

just as the title indicates, this book has proven to give me wings and set my creative juices into motion. i have thoroughly enjoyed learning and being inspired by kelly and the techniques presented. in fact, i started a project (finally) one evening. when i awoke the following morning, it felt like christmas and i diverted from my usual routine and went straight to the art table*** thank you kelly!

I bought this book because I really liked the front cover and also because the critics were so wonderful that I thought that I really was going to LEARN something but I found that she didn't even know what "gesso" was,an artist! I found a book made only for women who needed to be encouraged about their art abilites,needed of hearing that they could do it, that they are sacred, and blah blah blah....It is a self-help book not a real art technique one.Much better any of Claudine Hellmuth for exemple,I have much more, or any of the thousands of journaling blogs in internet made by famous mix media artists.
For me it was a really waste of money because I couldn't read more than ten pages.If I give it 2 stars is because some step by step are O.K.
I already know I am an artist and I can do anything if I work hard and I find the right information
This opinion is just to help other people looking for other kind of help.

I am in a collage class at school and found this book a perfect supplement for all my collage projects. There is a variety of tricks- everything from different techniques for backgrounds and ways to transfer images to your collage. Plus the book itself is beautifully done. Nothing makes my heart twitter more than a fantastic collage...

. . . . there was paper and glue. This book is a "must" buy for the beginning artist who has decided to explore the world of collage. It has very simple explanations of incredible techniques that you can learn quickly and use over and over. You will find your favorites, but don't be afraid to try all of them.

I also recommend this for "young" budding artists.

I just so love this book. It gets straight to the point, It is incredibly detailed plus for beginners like myself who are new to collage it makes perfect sense.

Book was in great conditon, but I purchased the book for a project and by the time it came... we were done with the project.

Without a question Claudine gives great advice and instruction in this book. Lots of ideas for scrapbooking, collage and just crafty folks. I would definitely recommend her other book "Beyond the Unexpected" as well. She also has DVDs that are awesome for those of us who learn by watching. She's a hoot!

A very readable & enjoyable book. I especially enjoyed the chapter on autism & the origin of language. Fritjof Capra's book "Hidden Connections" referenced this informative & amusing text including the link between brain function involved with hand gesture, signing, & tongue movements that unexpectedly led to the promotion the uptake of speech in autistic.
There are many insights into the shared psychology of humans & other primates. Despite the physiological and genetic similarities of all primates that have made chimps attractive model organisms for research,it was interesting to read about the reluctance of biological scientists to accept the anthropomorphic traits of chimps. There can be little room for a claim to "value-free" objectivity by biomedical researchers who can apparently dismiss the psychological effects of enforced confinement & sensory deprivation, on the effectiveness of anti-viral medications, or a range of other pharmaceuticals. The author has shown considerable bravery & commitment to expanding this area of learning, despite the threats against his personal career by people with vested interests in ignoring or denying the contradictions to their implicit or explicit values.

At age 62, I still look for writers who will change and deepen my sense of our human nature and our place in the natural world. More than writers about religion per se, I think these writers are able to help us advance our moral and spiritual understanding and reconcile our human/animal natures. For some years I've been reading Goodall and others on primates, but Next of Kin was, for me, a pinnacle illumination. Even if you aren't interested in these types of questions, I think this book will move you deeply. If you ARE interested, may I also suggest the recent Mycelium Running by Paul Stamets.Take Me With You When You Go

A must-read for any animal lover. Roger Fouts and the recently deceased chimpanzee Washoe are my heroes.

Although this book was written some time ago, it is exceptionally timely because the relevance of chimp behavior to our own continues to unfold. The devotion the author invests in his charges and the passion he feels about the atrocities visited on chimps both in the laboratory and in the wild drive his story. This abuse is reinforced by the backward and ignorant thinking that stems from bible thumpers who fear the truth about evolution and man's close relationship to apes. Roger Fouts and his wife have provided an invaluable service to our understanding of chimps, and their research related to sign language is truly stunning. They have succeeded in accomplishing their observation and reporting against considerable odds. All these aspects, and the Fouts' fully rounded examination of their subjects make for a gripping and emotional tale well told.

"Next of Kin: My Conversations with Chimpanzees" is one of the most amazing, heartbreaking, and inspirational books I've ever read. The book is written by Roger Fouts, a primatologist who devoted his life to studying the language patterns of chimpanzees. While in graduate school, Roger was introduced to Washoe, a precocious young chimp who became fluent in American Sign Language. Eventually "Project Washoe" expanded to include many chimpanzees, all who learned to communicate with humans using ASL and demonstrated unique personalities, complex emotions, and astounding intelligence.

I've always been a big animal lover, but reading this book taught me so many things that I never knew before. Anyone who questions an animal's ability to think or feel will get a sharp reality check after reading this book. Chimpanzees are people, too, just as much as human beings are. Unfortunately, the majority if humans in this world don't agree with that logic, and thousands of animals, including chimpanzees, are routinely kidnapped from their natural habitats and bred in captivity for the sole purpose of participating in biomedical research. In many cases, medical laboratories house animals in appalling conditions and literally torture them to death. "Next of Kin" details the horrors that go on behind closed doors at biomedical laboratories, and chronicles the steps Fouts and other animal activists have taken to protect chimpanzees from being treated inhumanely.

I absolutely loved this book. Reading it made me feel close to Washoe and her chimpanzee friends, even though I never met any of them before. (Sadly, Washoe passed away last fall at the age of 42, but I hope to visit members of her family at the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute in Washington someday.) Parts of this book are incredibly depressing and difficult to read, but hopefully learning about the terrible ways animals are treated will inspire people to take action. I admire everything that Fouts, his family, and his colleagues have done to protect chimpanzees, who are our next of kin on the great evolutionary scale. I hope other readers get as much out of this book as I did.

I am a college student studying Business and I've had a long history of anxiety and panic with being "In the Spotlight." I finally got sick of living in fear-- that a teacher would call on me or that I would have to give a presentation. If a presentation was listed on the syllabus for a class I would have a panic attack right there just in anticipation! I was finally fed up and joined Toastmasters about a year ago. I then set a goal to start the only Speech club on my college campus. At this point, I was still VERY nervous about public speech and decided to read this book in preparation of the first Speech club meeting.

This book helped me in many, many ways. It helped to go forward with that first meeting for the Speech club-- something I had been dreading for months and months! There are many positive and useful techniques: positive thinking, reassurance training, breathing techniques, getting to the source of the anxiety... The list goes on!

I still get nervous giving speeches and continue to have small panic attacks when put on the spot in a class. I know that if I continue to face this fear and use constructive techniques such as the ones in this book, I will slowly grow out of it. Good luck!

I would listen to this CD to sleep, not for my anxiety. The best thing for anxiety is Celexa and EMDR. I bought this CD with the book and it's terrible. It states the obvious and is not helpful at all.

Sorry, but it sucks.

The author had first-hand stage fright experience and she shared the techniques that she learned to overcome the stage fright and to go beyond the fright to enjoy being in the spot light. The skills are very valuable for a stage fright person like me, and are also valuable for teachers of music who would want to learn how to help students with stage fright.

The skills mentioned in the book are transferable skills that can be used to reduce stress and to cultivate positive self-esteem. Teachers can use these excellent skills to help their students.

It was by far the best book that offers alternative and possible solutions to shift the stage fright paradigm. The book has been helpful to me as a personal growth tool and in other areas of my life, in addition to the performance anxiety challenges. One day I was feeling down, and reading chapter 10 of the book re-channeled me to something more funny and pleasant and I was uplifted. That was a powerful experience.

The book is easy, fun and enjoyable to read. Once you start reading, it is hard to stop reading.

Reading Janet's book was a revelation for me. It was amazing to find that someone understood exactly how I felt when I found out that I had to speak in public and the torture I imposed on myself leading up to, during and after speaking. But better yet, she not only empathizes with the reader, but provides a clear path to overcoming the torture. So enjoy the empathy, but enjoy even more the tools for success!

There are a lot of self-help books on the market that deal with the fear of public speaking. But I can say first-hand that if you are looking for help in how to overcome this fear, this is the best one you can buy.

The book is more than just speaking tips or techniques---it takes you right to the heart of the issue, which I found to be surprisingly helpful. It helps you understand where the fear is coming from in the first place and how to ultimately overcome it. I read the book about a year ago, and have re-read certain chapters many times since then as both a resource and a confidence booster when I've have a big speech coming up.

There's not much more I can say, other than I bought the book. It helped me. I highly reccomend it to anyone who is looking for help with this very common fear.

I went from a solo plant, maybe an oz harvest last year, to a harvest I can't even mention on here this year. I bought this book in January and read it cover to cover, what I learned has changed my technique, my appreciation, and my SUCCESS RATE!!!!!!! Cop the DVD's too, you won't be able to watch em just once, I guarantee. Buy this book, learn something, and enjoy a great harvest.

It just keeps me NORML!!!!!

I love this book. I was very surprised this book is so in depth and awesome. I have grown before, but there is info that I never imagined that would be in a Marijuana horticulture book. It's perfect for anyone. VERY New grower friendly, It's great knowledge for the people getting into growing, and it's great for the experienced growers too: this is a great book to learn more from. There is even a section on how to make Hash! I highly recommend this book, awesome info, packed with awesome helpful pictures, and all I could hope for in a Marijuana horticulture book. ^.^

If you want to know anything and everything about growing, this is your book. Seriously, this guy goes in depth to explain things without making it overly complicated.

It's simple, thorough, worth the buy.

I can't grow the divine weed where I live; I bought this book because it is absolutely the most in-depth, easy-to-understand book in the gardening world! I use it constantly for advice about soil, water, diseases, pests, growth stages, light requirements, etc.--for my tomatoes! Best book out there for weed *or* tomato gardening!

Way too much info on how to grow 100 plants a month. I feel illegal just thinking about it.
I am just a normal person, Card Carrying Medical Marijuana Pt, who can't afford the $300 - $500 a month for Med grade Cannabis. ( My Pharm Meds are $1200... but my insurance Co. pays that scam! ). The Cannabis works ALLOT better!
I want to grow 1 plant every 3 months, like 99% of the legit patients. I would destroy any excess I overproduced... personally.

Obviously, this Author is beyond expert and is an authority on the subject. I would love a Medical Growers Bible for your "PERSONAL" Med crop. With a strict recommendation for personal use only. If you sell ANY, you are just a dealer... so, keep it clean... is the book " I " want. My personal opinion.
Regardless of your personal view.... respect the spirit of the law and intent of the society and community you live in. It is the flow.
Freedom Rocks!
215 and 420 set the rules. Just follow them and every one is happy.

I have this book on my desk. Every loves it and I think its very creative and it approaches graffiti as an art rather and in a different point of view. Banksy must be a very smart or weird guy.

You have to check out this book if you can appreciate the art that is graffiti. Banksy also inspires you with his political satire.

there isn't much to read. the art speaks for itself.
6 sections to this book:
monkeys, cops, rats, cows, art, and street furniture.
there are a few pages that contain several paragraphs of writing. banksy provides captions for maybe.. approximately half or less than half of his art. towards the back there's one page with "advice on painting with stencils". if you were looking for graffiti instruction, look elsewhere... unless you really want to look at that one page haha. some of his famous quotes are in there.
what a funny guy. funny book. it was worth the money :)

Couldn't put it down. Images are mezmerizing. Everyone I show it to wants to buy it to. No profanity or sexually oriented photos make it a hip gift choice for young people.

Banksy is a great artist. This book is 240 pages of both his graffiti and his "gallery" or more "Piece" art. I think he is an innovator and inspiration to all artists. We could all learn something from Banksy. If you like this book you might also like some Shepard Fairey work. Also check out Banksy's website at http://www.Banksy.co.uk its really great.

Andy never ceases to amaze me with his delicate sensitive sculptures which capture the essence of the place in which they were created! Where does this man get his inspiration from? Truely unique!

This lovely, large book was all I had hoped for--and MORE. Great value for the price. I am thrilled to have photos of Andy Goldsworthy's works to look at any time. I had researched buying a print to frame and found few available. The photos in this book could actually be put in frames! The color and detail is beautiful. Friends, adult children, and grandchildren gravitate to this book with each visit. My granddaughter even recognized a coincidental similarity between Andy's "OVERLEAF" and the stacks of "discontinued" grapevines in my back yard. Andy's work is helping us all tune in more deeply to the wonders around us.

while i bought this book for another, i find it to be pretty good. some pictures aren't up to todays digital quality, but its still great to look at. you won't be disappointed.

AMAZING - INSPIRING - AWESOME. This book was purchased in tandum with the video "Rivers and Tides". I don't think I could just pick one or the other. What one begins, the other ends and the relationship is perfect. Be inspired - spend time, REAL TIME - looking at these images and reading about his work and his methods. You will look at the world a new way. I am a professional photographer and the photography is gorgous. You can't miss this one.

I was instantly attracted to the cover. I would have liked two things before I purchased. The date of publication and to have access to more pictures in the book. It was a gift and it is loved. I love you people...I love free shipping....it is now a HUGE factor in whether I purchase on line or get in my car and go to the book store.

I've read this book a couple times in theatre classes I've taken. Its worth it every time. Shurtleff's reminders will serve you everyday in your acting, not just in an audition. I highly recommend this text.

It talks about many aspects of character that a student actor needs to know according the situations. Some of the examples are the key elements that compares to the realistic situation.

This book has important information for the actor. A lot of this stuff you get in very expensive classes. It's material you should review again and again, whether you are interested in stage, TV, or motion pictures, these principals hold true. Read This!

This book is fantastic. I read my friend's copy of it when I was at a performing arts program a couple years ago, and we had general auditions for the 13 shows being done there the next morning. Later I went on to read the entire book, which was immensely helpful. Not only does it help with auditioning skills, which, less face it, are among THE most important skills an actor can have, but it also helps with acting in general. Anyway, the night after reading a few sections after this book, I went to my auditions, and then the next day I attended 5 callbacks to different shows. I was approached by directors the next day telling me about the strength of my cold readings and how the directors had argued that evening because they all wanted to cast me in their shows. This hadn't happened before, and I attribute this success to this book. It's essential for every actor to read this. Gold.

This book breaks down the audition process and helps to give you something, a formula to work with and depend on to prepare your best performance. A great tool for any actor or performer.

The author changed a lot of what were supposed to be direct quotes and 'Briti-cised' them. I don't have examples off the top of my head, but I remember one quote being attributed to Brian that included very British phrasing. That's not a direct quote, that's paraphrased.

I don't even think I finished the book. I'd have expected the 'Official' Bio to be put together more like a lot of the UNofficial ones.

Also, a LOT of American fans are not going to understand British terms. Honestly, you're better off collecting the unauthorised bios...

I've read about 18 or so books on this group. And of all of them, if you're going to get one, get this one. It has good details of the boys' life before the group, and area which other books tend to lack in. It has pictures of them when they were kids that I haven't been able to find anywhere else. And it has info on the person who started the group, another thing I find hard to get good info on. This is definately one to buy if you're a major fan.

I think this is the best backstreet boy book ever written. I loved all of the stories. It was so much fun to read about how the backstreet boys first got together. If you have not read this book yet and you are a fan you must have it! Even if you just like to listen to their music you should read it. I think that anyone who wants to be a popstar should read this too. Well I could write 20 pages of this book. I'll leave now but before I do I'd like to thank AMAZON.COM and their customers. Because with out them I wouldn't of known about this book. THANKYOU EVERYONE!!

As a former BSB fan, whom owns the book, I still take a look at it from time to time, because it are honest and true facts of the boys their life before they became the Backstreet Boys and the beginning of it all. It has good pictures, but you can find them on almost every website and the biography must have been copied loads of times as well, so it's up to you!

Great Book!!!
It contains pics when they where baby's SOOO CUTE!!!
If your a true BSB fan you gotta have it!!!

I just finished reading Dinotopia to my 6 year old girl and we both enjoyed it a good deal. The art kept us captivated, even when the story failed to entice us. The "journal" format of the book did not really suit the story well, and the story meanders. At times, I felt that the story was just an excuse to link up a whole stack of lovely illustrations. At the close of the book, I'm not sure that the story was much more than a connector between paintings.

Gurney's imagination is absolutely marvelous. We felt that a whole realm had indeed been called up, and we loved learning about the designs and cultural innovations of Dinotopia. Through Gurney's eyes, we felt like explorers of a lovely land. And we were inspired by the messages of peace, hope, and harmony.

In the end we were curious to learn more about the places and realms of this imaginary land. Perhaps we'll look to sequels. But we hope that latter works of Dinotopia prove to be better written than this one.

This book was not up to the usual quality that I had purchased before. But Amazon fixed the problem so all is well.

Dinotopia was the first book James Gurney wrote in this series. The artwork was what initially drew me into the story and I found sweatshirts, posters, calendars, pins...you name it, with these chaarcters on them. The storyline was easy to follow, as it was written in diary format.

The things I really found interesting were the song (notes and lyrics) and the code for the Dinotopian written language (footprints). My students love writing letters and stories in Dinotopian to each other and for daily assignments. After teaching it for almost 10 years students are as much in love with the story as I am and they want to read it over and over. The artwork makes for great writing prompts and gives kids ideas for sculpture and watercolor pieces.

I remember reading this book as a child and loving it. Today I think I love it even more. The illustrations are so rich and well executed. I'm sad it isn't published in hardcover anymore. Every household should own a copy.

You might just end up with "Dinotopia". That's how good the illustrations and paintings in this book are, and should be the primary reason for purchasing the book. The artwork is absolutely first class, and the book can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. I purchased "Dinotopia" in 1992 when it was first released, and subsequently, picked up its sequel "The World Beneath". They both still hold a special place on my book shelf more than 10 years later. HIGHLY recommended!