Reviews (2)

Air Brush discovered
I bought an air brush to paint diecast models. I soon realized it could do much more than spray gray paint on toy tractors and also that I needed intruction if I was going use this tool effctively. I choose Ms. Shanteau's "Ultimate Airbrush Handbook" - a wise choice. Very clearly written, excellent illustrations and meaningful exercises. Many aspects of airbrush work covered in detail. This is an excellent instruction book.

Ultimate Airbrush Handbook
If I had to chose one book to learn about airbrushing, this is it! Every major aspect about airbrushing is explained clearly, from the most basic elements to very advanced techniques. Essential information concerning airbrush care and maintenance is included along with paint and accessory explanations. The step by step exercises to teach airbrush control were easy to follow and I had great results painting the beginner "Apple" project. Almost every chapter has a step by step how-to project.Pam Shanteau shares the spotlight with other great artists who are tops in their fields. It was neat to see how these pros paint. The fine art section was out of this world and the automotve airbrushing was some of the best work I have ever seen. Someday I want to paint that good! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Fair book but, not for the beginner.
Excellent graphics. Great quality in the physical aspect of the book and the colored graphics contianed in it. But, it definitely does not help the beginner much. It jumps steps and the photographs do not help to decipher what the author is trying to explain. Not for the NOVICE

This book has inspired to become an airbrush artist!
This book has 22 step-by-step demonstrations of all the basic-level aurbrush techniques! It says what type of airbrushes are used for what type of airbrushing! Picking an air source, airbrsuh, paint, painting surfaces and things you need to get started in both Illustration and T-shirt airbrushing! This is a book I have read 3 or 4 times and every time I read it I find out something new! This is a must for any airbrush artist or artist to be! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Best I've seen so far
Service was great and the book was awesome.Answered every question I had and taught me things I never thought of.

I expected more! :( !
Maybe I am wrong, but, unlike all the reviews here that give this book a 5 start rating... I woudl give it 4 or even 3 stars.
I bought this book just because of the reviews I read here, and now Im not going to trust them as much as I did before.

Some people say about step by step articles, hmm, yea, ONE or two, really boring ones. I expected to see something like Thom Taylorsbook " How to draw cars like a pro " which is excellent. But this book is very boring to read, Im a little bit dissapointed about it. Well, I will have to search for more books to find what i expected to find here.

If I knew this book was 1st published in 1983, I wouldnt have bought it. My mistake. Also, I dont want to sound mean, but most of the reviews here about this book are not exaclty correct.

Excellent book for any airbrush artist
This is an excellent book for any airbrush artist from beginning to advanced. The author does a great job of covering the technical aspects of airbrushing in understandable terms.

The book starts out by detailingall the features of the airbrush, helping you choose which one to buy &then describing how to clean it. What kind of mediums to use with each typeof paper is then explained in depth.

Next, actual use of the airbrush,including many practice exercises, are given. How to transfer drawings,construct curves for making masks, and use both color and other paintingtechniques is demonstrated.

There are not really any step-by-stepprojects per se, but there is a section on airbrushing the human face inboth color and in b/w. A beautiful full-color gallery in the back is a nicebonus.

Airbrush: The Complete Studio Handbook
The title says it all. Mr Vero has chosen to pull the whole concept of Airbrushing apart and let you see how it's done as he pieces it back together. I would not be still airbrushing, if I did not have this book.The illustrations, photographs and step by step tutorials are first rate.The Afterword chapter at the end of the book is very inspirational andreassuring and is testimony to Rado Vero's dedication to this bookscontents. It should be in EVERY school library!

the best airbrush book available, and I've seen them all!
Mr. Vero is an artist/philosopher. He'll start you off using gouache (opaque watercolor) and take you step by step to advanced techniques.

His chapter on "the shield" alone is worth the money. Others have nowripped his idea off to sell these shields, but save your money. Buy a pieceof acetate and use the templates in this book. I rely heavily on his shieldfor my own work.

This man is an altruist, he is more concerned withteaching than with getting rich. Otherwise he could have marketed theshield himself instead of teaching you how to make it yourself.

This bookis what did it for me and is a big reason why I stuck with it and workedhard to learn all I could.

As far as I'm concerned, this is the onlyairbrushing book you'll ever need. For the rest, study the art of the OldMasters, but with the insights that Radu Vero will give to you. Then youare on your way! ... Read more

Book Description

Books in this instructive series are written mainly for advanced art students, teachers, and ambitious art hobbyists. Instruction is comprehensive, intended to guide learners in creating highly finished artworks of professional quality. Step-by-step instructions are presented with helpful photos, as well as illustrations of works-in-progress. The airbrush is a favorite tool of commercial artists and fine artists to produce photo-like effects. This manual demonstrates its use with many examples. Illustrated throughout in color. ... Read more

Book Description

Walter Foster's classic How to Draw and Paint series provides aspiring artists with an exceptional array of art instruction books featuring all subject areas and media. Each title includes easy step-by-step exercises as well as finished illustrations or paintings that will inspire artistic talent in anyone.

Packed with practical information, helpful tips, and fundamental techniques, the How to Draw and Paint series offers a complete library of resources to which artists of all skill levels can refer again and again.

What you'll learn from this book ...

• Proper construction of the human head, and where to place features

• Hints on creating differences in type and character

• How the construction of male heads differs from that of female heads

• An understanding of form based on the use of planes

• Skills for using the proportional differences among heads of people of different ages

• The simple bone structure of the head on the neck

• How to draw a variety of facial expressions ... Read more

Reviews (2)

walter foster publishing ruins what they touch
I held Andrew Loomis's books in the highest esteem. Then walter foster came along and decided to cut cost by publishing every third page and discarding everything in between. Think this statement is absurd! Compare Andrew Loomis's books BEFORE and AFTER walter foster got his hands on them.

A very, very good book!!!
"Drawing Heads" by Andrew Loomis is a very thorough and comprehensive book that has amazingly been crammed into under 70 pages.

There is no waste whatsoever in any of the pages. The illustrations are beautiful and it contains simplified, easy to understand approaches to drawing the head as well as basic anatomy and facial planes. Also contained are the proportions for small children, babies and teens.

It would have to be the best book on drawing the head i have come across and is at a bargain price. It is a "must have" for anyone serious about learning how to draw the head. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Mind-Blowingly Sublime Manual of Salacious Seediness
This isn't one of those wastes of paper that you see so often packed full of 'tips' like "listen to your creative urge" and "whatever you do, be you". This book has numbered and sequenced full-color photos showing step-by-step the process involved in a project from start to finish, explained by the best in the field. It lists the type of brushes used, the size of brushes used, brands of paint, how to prep and store your equipment, layout of designs, the methods used by the artists, everything useful. This is the information needed to let you start doing your own thing -- the right way. Thank the Baby Jesus for Craig Fraser! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Colorado painter, printmaker, and educator Charles Ewing explores art on clay surfaces in The New Scratchboard. Unfired porcelain clay applied in a thin layer to a support gives a surface that is both absorbent and easily scratched. Images are created by applying and removing pigment. Ewing looks at the long history of clay-surface art and describes the nature of clay-coated surfaces. He presents a staggeringly wide range of pigment that media artists can employ on scratchboards, including graphite, colored pencils, charcoal, ink pens, watercolor, acrylic, gouache, oil, etc. Application and removal tools are equally diverse. Chapters about using India ink and color on white clay surfaces include demonstrations and exercises, and Ewing also provides extensive demonstrations of printmaking techniques such as relief, intaglio, and lithography. The book is exhaustively illustrated by a wide range of artists who have exploited the easy versatility the clay surface affords. Ewing's own work portraying horses and animals from the wild on inkboard reflects a mastery of line, form, and rhythm; his black-and-white rendition of four dancing ravens, for example, is simultaneously amusing and realistic. Any artist is sure to find a captivating technique from the wide media illustrated, each with its own unique characteristics. Although saturated with technique, the book celebrates experimentation, which is perhaps best captured in its being "dedicated to those with a 'What if...' curiosity that always prevents them from exactly following a recipe." --Mary Ribesky ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Not what is expected
I must admit that, after I recived my book,I thumbed through and was amazed at the artistic renditions that I saw on the pages. I was excited to delve into The New Scrathcboard and learn the techniques and practices that helped to produce such fine work.

When I actually started to digest the content, I soon realized that this book was not really about my favorite method(scratchboard), but more about the medium Clayboard. I have always thougth of scratchboard as a type of art or technique rather than a medium on which different artistic styles can be practiced.

There is actually very little emphasis on scratching in this book, other than the acknowledgement that scratching brings out the light details on various pieces. While impressive, the content does not instruct to the level that I was hoping.

The message of the book can be summarized very simply..
"If you paint in oils, try this on Clayboard. If you paint with watercolor, try it on Clayboard.If you use pastels, try it on Clayboard. If you use most any medium, try it on Clayboard, which by the way, can be coated or uncoated with India inked and scratched away to reveal highlights."

Overall, the book is very colorful and inspiring. It may get the juices flowing to try new methods on Clayboard, but it does not live up to it's title. I would rename the book "The Versatility of Clayboard".

Wonderful book for experienced painters to expand horizions
This is a wonderful book for experienced painters with that want to expand their horizons or for anyone who wants background information on clay-surface techniques. It shows how a wide range of painting and drawing techniques can be used in conjunction with scratchboard techniques to create a stunning array of results on these very versatile surfaces.

The book starts out with background information on clay-coated surfaces including history, and the types of surfaces and their characteristics. It then covers application and scratching tools. A basic vocabulary and an overview of various mediums that can be used on them are also here.

Several sections highlighting different surfaces and mediums follow. These include ink-coated clay surface, India ink on white clay, color medium on white clay and printmaking with the clay surface. Each section includes at least one demonstration of a work in progress from start to finish. The printmaking chapter is the largest and includes eight demos. These demonstrations are meant to showcase a general technique rather than create an identical copy of the work.

My favorite part of the book is the beautiful artwork throughout. I may even buy a second copy to cut out and frame some of this vast array of gorgeous art. Captions for each piece include artist, title, size and a basic description of techniques used. My favorite is "Madame Butterfly", a whimsical piece that combines acrylic airbrush with scratching techniques. I also loved the many black and white wildlife images.

There is a great material resource directory and a helpful index in the back. I admit I have not really tried any of the techniques shown here. I think they are a bit above me as a beginning artist. I would definitely buy the book again though just for the example images and the inspiration they provide to encourage me to develop my own skills.

Is it really about scratchboard?
I bought this book online, without having physically seen it before. For this reason my first impression was not the best. In fact, at first glance it didn't appear to contain any scratchboard work at all. Scratchboard, to me, is high-contrast black ink and white clay, with the possibility of color after the black and white has been rendered. You won't find this book geared to my definition. Chapters 3 and 4 contain the majority of the "black and white" pieces. Chapter 3 is small and deals pre-inked clay surfaces (like Clayboard Black). It has a few examples of the traditional scratchboard look, but most of them have color added. Chapter 4 is larger and deals with applying india ink to the white clay surface. I have to admit, there are some really nice pieces in this chapter, but rather than looking like scratchboard, they tend to look more like ink and wash. My favorite is the one mentioned in the main review, with four ravens dancing on a fallen totem pole. Very nice.

A careful look does reveal some nice "traditional" scratchboard pieces done on Essdee Scraperboard, but they are few. This book is not about working with Essdee Scraperboard, it is about working with Claybord. Strangely enough, there are pieces that have no scratching at all, including some excellent contributions by Stephen Quiller. I think the book is poorly titled. It should be called Claybord: Clay-Surface Techniques and Materials for Today's Artist. It was written by the inventor of Claybord, and is essentially an instruction manual on how to work with a variety of media on Claybord. I don't have a problem with a book on Claybord. Some might even argue that Claybord IS the new scratchboard. Fine, why not put Claybord in the title? I just think the title should be descriptive of the book's contents.

Since the overview of the contents is explained in the main review I won't go into too much depth. Charles Ewing explains his own development as an artist, his discovery of scratchboard, and the needs that drove him to create a new product (Claybord). He never claims to be a traditional "scratchboarder" and in fact, he says "By traditional scratchboard standards, I was far from being labeled a purist then, and I'm afraid the little purity I had has further degenerated in the intervening years". This book is about very untraditional methods. He does go through a history of using scratches for making art, the development of scratchboard, and an explanation of clay as a surface for making art. He goes on to demonstrate at least some of what is possible with a clay surface. The techniques are well explained and the writing flows well. This is a "picture" book so I have to admit I haven't read it word for word.

Basically, if you lose the expectation that you are going to learn about traditional scratchboard this is a pretty nice book. If enjoy experimentation and the exploration of media and surfaces, you will be happy with what you find. On the other hand, if you are looking for traditional scratchboard instruction you would be much happier with Ruth Lozner's excellent book, Scratchboard for Illustration. It's now out of print so good luck finding it.

Valuable Information about Scratchboard Medium
This book is awesome in not only covering the little known subject of scratchboard art; but in the quality of artwork, and the highly informative and lovely presentation. A must for anybody who loves to draw and is curious to try the new changes in scratchboard as a professional art panel. Enough info & inspiration for a long time. Good for both beginner and advanced artists. ... Read more

Book Description

This book is designed to impart the techniques of using this effective tool quickly and easily. All three types of airbrush are examined and explained in simple terms. The title also boasts an excellent section on actually using the airbrush, and studies in depth the painting of four different miniatures. Clear photographs are taken of the painting process on each different model, showing all sorts of exciting techniques. Methods of lightening and darkening, representing camouflage and weathering and mixing exactly the right colour are all explained.A book that will suit both complete beginners and those wanting to get more out of their airbrush. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Scale Modelers View
The book is the regular Osprey size paperback with Beautiful full color Pictures Each chapter is mostly step-by-step pictures with some text.

One chapter shows an airbrush being disassembled. Another is step-by-step on how to build your own silent compressor. One chapter has to do with mixing your own colors.

The book seems to be more aim at general airbrush user instead of the scale model builder. I would have preferred more on thinning paints and setting pressures.

I do not recommend it.

The Testor's manual on plastic model building is more useful. It has a great chapter on troubleshooting and how to tell if the paint is too thick or thin, or if the pressure is too high or too low.

I think the Kalmbach Books' Painting and Finishing Scale Models is the best value on how to paint.

I'm still looking for a book that will help me become a better airbrusher.

Great pictures, little technical detail, not for kids!
The book has beautiful photographs of models that have been expertly painted. However, there isn't a great deal of information on how to render these effects. I bought the book for my son to use in detailing model cars and model superheroes only to find that a large part of the book is devoted to painting nude fairies! These are anatomically correct women with butterfly wings on their back. Needless to say, we won't be using this book. I am writing this review primarily to warn other parents considering this book for their kids. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Just not that impressed.
I'm a true bigginer in airbrushing and I bought this book along with two others and this one just isn't very impressive. Its about as thick as a thick magazine and it really doesn't go into much detail. I only paid $3 for it used so i DO think I got my monies worth. I'm not dissapointed just not impressed. Could be because the other two books i ordered were just so much better. Big Book of airbrushing and Complete Studio Handbook. Most impressed by the Complete Studio Handbook from my beginners perspective.

A Useful Guide
I remember buying my first airbrush over a decade ago. A Thayer and Chandler model. As a naive teenager, I was so eager to get stuck in, I didn't realize the paint was supposed to be diluted into liquid form first. Much to my frustration, nothing happened. That was before I bought this book, succinctly titled "Airbrush Painting".

Like most books about art technique, "Airbrush Painting" (1988)starts off with a list of materials and equipment, the tools of the trade employed by both fine artists and illustrators. This is followed by diagrams, troubleshooting and step by step projects, before finishing up with a gallery of work by the professionals, all of which are guaranteed to awe the novice. Out of the list at the back, Chris Moore was the only name I recognized.

Most people will agree that the airbrush is an intimidating tool at first, but this book explains a lot about it in easy-to-understand language. In fact "Airbrush Painting" is very similar to another book I own called "Creative Airbrushing" by Graham Duckett. Both covers show a hand holding the airbrush over a piece of highly finished artwork. In fact, the books are almost identical in content and format.

Despite the advances in desktop publishing, I like to think that airbrushing is not old hat. Airbrushing is a useful skill to have when the computer breaks down. In the past people have expressed reservations about the airbrush, believing that it's a form of "cheating". I find this amusing. Like all technology, the airbrush is meant to help the artist complete the job quickly and more efficiently. It makes life easier. Is it cheating when a farmer uses a tractor instead of a plough?

Just as the car hasn't stopped people riding horses, the computer hasn't stopped artists using the airbrush. The technique (which dates back to the time of cavemen) is just as popular today. Whether you're an artist or an illustrator, "Airbrush Painting" is a valuable book to have.

It is an extremely useful art-book for any artist.
It has everything in it from basic gradients, to complex photo retouching techniques. Everything is there. If you manage to find this book anywhere, you should buy it immediately. It is INDESPENSABLE! ... Read more

Book Description

A comprehensive art workshop from "pencil to palette." A step-by-step guide to projects in various media. Each project has a tutorial, "tricks of the trade," and instructions on how to work through common problems. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Highly recommended, especially for the beginner
This well-structured, informative book is an excellent introduction to painting with watercolors, oils, acrylics, and pastels, each of which is given its own section. Taggart begins each section by detailing the basic necessities of the medium before launching into a series of lessons to introduce the reader to a variety of techniques. The approach is balanced and honest, never narrow-minded or preachy. The many "do's and don'ts" (my words, not the author's) are practical in nature, meant to help the beginner (or experienced artist) avoid or correct specific problems. Everything -- materials, techniques, and all -- is well-documented with words and illustrations... ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good and Complete
This book is a very pleasing combination of words and pictures. The author spreads the illustrations throughtout the text, drawing the reader into the flow of his thoughts. It is a complete treatment of the Shakers - from their history, their way of life and worship and their enduring legacy to our country. Mr. Horsham acknowledges the existence of a small number of Shakers in the Sabbathday Lake community in Maine which is a pleasant change from many of these type of books. Although the main focus of his work is on the beautiful worksmanship of the Shakers he does a credible job of explaining their theology and the all encompassing effect that theology had on their lifes and work. He also includes information on the spread of the Shakers community as well as the contraction that they experienced as the society around them changed, making their lifestyle less attractive to the "world's people". Definately a good value for the price, enjoyable for the neophyte Shaker enthusiast as well as the more "obsessed" among us. ... Read more

Book Description

This authoritative analysis examines thirty key paintings in detail, from 1860 to the end of the century. The artists - from Coubet to Pissaro and Toulouse-Latrec -representalmost every aspect of the Impressionist movement. A full discussion ofhow paint and color effects are achieved as well as the artists' training, availability of materials, and the influence of photography are discussed. Includes over 200 color illustrations. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very detailed and inspiring
There seem to be so many books on the techniques of the old Masters, but it's very difficult to find books on actual painting techniques of the Impressionists. This book discusses this topic in extreme detail. Small sections of paintings are magnified with arrows pointing to specific areas, describing how they were probably done and with which paint colors.

As a context to the primary subject matter, you also get a fair amount of art history. This part I found interesting as well.

I read this book for hours at a time and was thoroughly fascinated and inspired. If you love the Impressionists and (especially) if you are a painter yourself, you will really appreciate this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Harrison Fisher: Defining the American Beauty is the largest picturial guide to this popular artist ever produced. Nearly 450 color and black and white reproductions of his magazine covers and book illustrations document this important artist's career. Harrison Fisher enjoyed incomparable fame from 1905 to 1920, achieving celebrity status and holding the enviable position of national beauty judge. Fisher portrayed the American woman as an outgoing, lively personality, wealthy and healthy. She rode horses, played tennis, and motored in the new automobiles while holding court for admiring men. Fisher's portrayals of such beauties added market value to dozens of novels as well as hundreds of magazines which clamored for his art on both their covers and inside pages.With Fisher's work extremely hot on the collectibles market, new and seasoned buyers alike will benefit from the advice of antiques dealer and Price Guide author Bruce Magnotti. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Good, But Not the Best, Resource on Harrison Fisher
I am a devotee of Harrison Fisher.

This will certainly be one of the books you will want to add to your reference section on Harrison Fisher, but it's not the best.

Some of the shortcomings for this book are:
1) It does not come in hardcover
2) Too many of the illustrations are in black & white
3) Many of the illustrations are not named and/or the source is not given.
4) Many of the pages are cluttered with too many illustrations which are pictured too small.

Naomi Welch's "The Complete Works of Harrison Fisher" is the superior reference on Harrison Fisher's works. Welch's biography on Harrison Fisher is more extensive; the bio in this one is disappointing.

However, so few reference works exist on Harrison Fisher that there should be room on your bookshelf for this one. It has a nice length, good number of illustrations, and it's more inexpensive than "The Complete Works".
It has satisfactory coverage of Fisher's illustrations.

Decorating Artwork
IF you find that you are buying the popular Victorian Ladies note cards and collecting antique victorian ladies prints, then you will love this book. I found all the ladies that I collected over the years plus a whole lot of others. Plus Amozon's prices is much cheaper than other companies Fisher Victorian Ladies books.

A Great Primer for Harrison Fisher's Art
This profusely illustrated book is a great companion for the collector of Harrison Fisher's work or Edwardian graphics. Devotees of turn of the century costume will also find a wealth of source material in this book. Well written and researched, this is a great primer for the beginning collector. ... Read more

Book Description

Even if you've never held a brush in your hand, you can master the graceful art of fine calligraphy with the expert guidance of Brush Lettering. Brush calligraphy offers unlimited potential for creating an array of hand-lettered treasures. Now you can produce beautiful invitations, greeting cards, and certificates, distinctive stationery, unique posters and brochures, innovative logotypes, professional-quality headlines, elegant fabric designs, and much more. Marilyn Reaves and Eliza Schulte take you step by step through the techniques of brush lettering with the edged brush and pointed brush, dispensing invaluable advice on tools, media, and design. For beginners, students, hobbyists, or anyone involved in graphic design, Brush Lettering is a complete and authoritative how-to-manual. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent instruction
This is an excellent book for anyone trying to learn western brush lettering. First, the book discusses in detail how to choose and care for materials including brushes, paper and various media types.

For both flat brush & pointed brush writing, the book shows exactly what the strokes should look like & how to hold the brush properly. There are several warm-ups these really helped me prepare to start writing.

Some flat brush alphabets covered included are Roman & Italic Minuscules as well as Flourished Italic & Roman Capitals. Pointed brush styles include Pointed-Brush & Copperplate Scripts. Flourishing is also shown.

Both flat & pointed brush styles have sections on adapting them for other alphabets. In the back, there is a wonderful artist showcase. All artwork is black & white. ... Read more