Book Description

Mind over matter contains exclusive stories behind the images of nearly all of Pink Floyd's albims including A Saucerful of Secrets, Atom Heart Mother, The Dark Side of The Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals, and The Division Bell amongst others.

This 3rd edition of Mind Over Matter has been expanded to 224 pages with over 300 photographs and illustrations in full colour comprising not only album covers, but also posters, single bags, tee shirts, logos, programmes, song books and so on.

The text is full of anecdotes and explanation as well as providing technical information. This edition has also been updated with the addition of Ecoes Best of PF double album, Wish You Were Here webilm, and Live At Pompiee DVD.

Mind Over Matter (3rd edition) is being released to coincide with the 30th anniversary of The Dark Side of the Moon, arguable one f the world's 3 greatest albums which was firtst released in the UK in March 1973. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Very good, but not a true graphic artists compilation
As a music fan, there are two things you want to add to your experience, a songlist compilation and a biography. Anything more is really too much, but in the case of groundbreaking album cover art, and knowing Pink Floyd's history of employing visual effects in their shows, a book like this is necessary, especially since albums are gone now, and the tiny graphics you get on a CD jewel case don't compare with the stuff promoters used to jam into album jackets. This book is a trip into Storm Thurgeson's head, not necessarily Floyd's. The difference is not much since Storm was a boyhood chum, and listened so well to his employer's ideas, instead of pushing his own. That's one reason the band was so successful musically as well, was Hypnosis' reliance on the members' themes. This book is not a graphic artist's design book, though I wish it were, but it would be tons bigger. It covers 30 years (and not even all the Floyd's covers (for instance, The Wall)). But you will appreciate the fact that Storm operated more under impluse as a designer than by today's modern design houses which try to render graphics in a production line style...can't be done. The author's bylines give us insight if not in technical process, then in the intellect process, and it's good fun knowing this guy was a friend to the Floyd for a LONG time, even having to uncomfortably stand in the middle of relationships for the 'Is There Anybody Out There?' live Wall issue. All in all, I'd give 5 stars for the artwork and presentation, but lose half of one for lack of technical explanation. Enjoy!

"Mind Over Matter" is a treat
Few people have been more closely associated with Pink Floyd over the band's 30-year career than graphic designer Storm Thorgerson. And virtually no one (outside the band members themselves) has been more responsible for the mystique that shrouds the band and its music.

In "Mind Over Matter", Thorgerson explains in some detail the concepts and techniques behind the creation of some of the most evocative and memorable images in the history of Rock and Roll. With stories and recollections dating back to the band's foundations in the mid-sixties, Thorgerson goes piece-by-piece through most of the band's catalogue, recounting not only how he and his team created the images, but also detailing what they are meant to represent and how they relate to the music.

The book features beautiful color reproductions of the band's album covers, lyrics layouts, and CD booklets. (All but two Floyd albums-- "The Wall" and "The Final Cut"-- are included ; these are omitted because Thorgerson was, in his own words, "temporarily relieved of [his] duties" for these albums.) But the biggest treat to the serious fan are the reproductions and discussionsof lesser-known images, such as a tour promo and program from 1975, and artwork specially conceived for the 'deluxe' boxed set "Shine On". Also included are the designs for the remastered and repackaged CD releases of the Floyd's albums, as well as some art which was apparently created just for this book.

As a full-sized coffee table book, "Mind Over Matter" is gorgeous to look at. Thorgerson's text, which is witty and insightful, makes for a good read. All in all, no Pink Floyd fan should be disappointed.

A "Beautiful" Mind
I absolutely knew I had to purchase "this" book the second I saw the book cover. Storm Thorgerson is utterly amazing, eyecatching & perhaps a bit eccentric (aren't most true artists?) I loved reading about his ideas/how he came up with them & how he laid them out in the end, and after reading this book, I now want to check out other material on him as well. Pink Floyd is indeed legendary as are the works of Storm Thorgerson. A Fantastic view of Unimaginable Talent. Check it out.

A Mindblowing Journey
What do you get when you cross art and the greatest rock band in history? A materpiece! If I had the chance, I would give this book a million stars!

Storm Thorgerson, mastermind behind most of Pink Floyd's album artwork, has compiled almost all of the rare, unusual, interesting, and familiar pieces. It also includes stories on how they (the art) came to be (which, by the way, sheds a light on the innovative genius of the band). It goes from the early years of Syd Barrett to the post-Waters era. This book is a must for any Floyd fan, especially one who is interested in the history and progress of the band.

storm and po: applause!!! the eye of hipgnosis
a wonderful book for any album art fan, or a floyd fan...i am both. Storm is captivating in his art, and it is art. Great insight into the band also, as written from a close friend perspective. ... Read more

Book Description

This is a whimsical guide to drawing faeries from best-selling art instruction author Christopher Hart. Included are all the popular ingredients of the faerie kingdom-faerie personalities, faeries at work, faeries at play, faerie expressions, faeries in flight, faerie magic, faeries facing predatory household pets, and the secret faerie rituals of birth, courtship, and marriage. Step-by-step instructions for drawing faeries are revealed through a captivating story of a man-now grown up-who as a youth gained secret knowledge of where the faeries live and play, and having done so, was able to capture on paper the elusive creatures in their unguarded moments. The overall design and presentation of the book will enchant and envelop artists in a magical world of faeries. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Inspiring
Marvelous. It's in the name: - a believers guide. If you were not a believer prior, you become a believer once you dive into this book and let your imagination bring to life the characters you create using the simple, strait forward logical steps. Guiding the reader thru various faerie characters, their life, emotions, movement, clothing as well as their friends to create your own faerie world. Thanks to this book, the population of faeries in this universe will grow tremendously.

How to draw faeries
This is a good book that shows you the basics for drawing for drawing these creatures. They have step by step procedures, emotions, clothing, and information about each picture.
The only bad thing about it is that there is only one picture of a winged fairy(the picture is also on the front cover)all other faeries are wingless in this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (28)

The ultimate guide on HOW to animate
Any animator looking for a book to help them improve their craft knows that most books on animation usually fall short in so many ways, it's easy to think it's impossible to write a comprehensive and accurate book on the subject (don't even get me started about the abysmal state of computer character animation books). Williams is the penultimate animator's animator and he tells it like it is. Williams systematically demystifies virtually every aspect of animation from simple walk cycles, to breaking joints to dialogue and acting. Along the way, he corrects or eliminates information that is inaccurate or practices that distract (lose the headphones and the rad tunes when you work and watch your quality and quantity improve). Williams also is a great storyteller and writer. His accounts with Milt Kahl, Art Babbit and Ken Harris are gems, giving real insight into the personalities of these ingenious men. Since so much of the book is gleaned from his tutaluge under the now-gone "greats" of animation, any price for this tome is a steal. His gift to the world is this book.

If you want learn to REALLY animate characters with life and believability, get this book.

A Legendary Animator Tells it Like It Is
Richard Williams is a man who is largely responsible for the revival of the art of animation in the early 1970s. Williams had Disney animator Art Babbitt and Warner great Ken Harris working in his studio in London and training a new generation of animators in the techniques of good character animation, which was not taught at the time in any school or considered an art form.

Williams' long awaited book on animation technique is the logical successor to Preston Blair's CARTOON ANIMATION and it successfully updates some of the weaknesses of that book, particularly in handling dialogue animation. He covers a lot of the same ground that Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston did in their now out-of-print THE ILLUSION OF LIFE.

There is some history, but that's available in other books. What is unique about this book is that Williams writes how surprised he, an Academy Award winning animator with a successful professional studio, was to learn that he needed to learn just about everything over again from Harris and Babbitt. Fortunately for us he is now sharing these priceless lessons with the public.

The most important thing that an aspiring animator will get from this book is: that animation IS an art form, and good animation has nothing to do with whether it is done on computer or on paper. Williams exhorts his readers to 'draw whenever possible' and even though there is a computer modelled figure on the cover of the book, there is not a single piece of computer generated imagery in it. The book is about the bare bones, about creating life in art. Animation is the twentieth century's contribution to world art and deserves to be taken very seriously.

Buy this book.

Excellent!
I have been looking for a book like this for over a decade.
The detail is excellent.
The "fun to read" and "easy to understand style" of this book, is the cherry with whipped cream on top!
You will love this book and reach for it again and again and again.
Richard Willams book is a powerhouse of visual information.

Phenomenal
Of all the animation books I have read, this is by far the best. I found it more useful and detailed than Preston Blaire's book. This is essential.

Incredible
I've only read through about 50 pages of this book so far, but... omigod what an awesome book! Definitely should be on the shelf of anyone serious about character animation, whether you are doing 3D digital animation or traditional hand-drawn animation. Williams goes into incredible detail on motion, 'tweening, timing, and also has some great anecdotes from working with some of the legendary animators from Disney and Warner Brothers. ... Read more

Book Description

30 years after its publication Marshall McLuhan's The Medium is the Massage remains his most entertaining, provocative, and piquant book. With every technological and social "advance" McLuhan's proclamation that "the media work us over completely" becomes more evident and plain. In his words, 'so pervasive are they in their personal, political, economic, aesthetic, psychological, moral, ethical and social consequences that they leave no part of us untouched, unaffected, or unaltered'.

McLuhan's remarkable observation that "societies have always been shaped more by the nature of the media by which men communicate than by the content of the communication" is undoubtedly more relevant today than ever before. With the rise of the internet and the explosion of the digital revolution there has never been a better time to revisit Marshall McLuhan. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

BOOMERANGE FOR THE BABY BOOMERS
McLuhan reads the tea leaves of modern society circa 1965, and predicts that the Baby Boomers will lead the charge into the new age. Quoting Dylan: "Because something is happening/And you don't know what it is/Do you Mr. Jones?" He does not anticipate the Boomers becoming Mr. Jones; but he does predict a constant return to the past with each leap forward in technology; hence the return to the late Sixties of the Boomers children.

The book is a distillation of all his major ideas, and presented in WEB style format created by Quentin Fiore in 1965. Several pages are printed so that they can only be read by holding them up to a mirror, thereby illustrating his idea about the limited ability of print to offer multiple points of view effectively. He chides Jules Vern for predicting television only in the 29th century; but he, on the other hand, may have predicted the changes too soon. Nonetheless, he reads as current as last months Wired, and offers a means of contracting the effects of the media bombardment we Boomers suffer each day of our electronic lives ... awareness.

Snap this one up while you can!
Okay, so McLuhan is offbeat, a bit random in his organization, and has been dead for 16 years. This book, however, represents McLuhan's unique insight. It creates a text in the purest sense of the word. Pictures and words are used to drive home his point--one must read both the words and the images. In short, it is a good introduction to McLuhan's insight. Be forewarned: this will be the beginning of a relationship with this man's work

...now where's the album?
Love this book. It's quirky and odd, non-linear and abstract, perfectly representing our world today. It's difficult yet ultimately accessible though we never really quite know what he's talking about though, oddly enough, some days the stuff that didn't make sense becomes a beacon of light some time later.

But where's the album? Hello, all you who hold intellectual copyrights on his stuff! Please re-issue this in more modern mediums.

I have a copy of his LP from the 1960s and it is fascinating and remarkable and also ahead of its time. The sampling and meandering drifting beats found in techno/electronica music today hearkens back to this LP. When is it going to be re-issued? The world is waiting and is truly missing out!

Dated '60s relic, but still interesting
Hey, man, this McLuhan cat tells it like it is, you know... this book is what he calls a "collide-oscope"... I thought that was a funny word... it's got all these cool pictures of stuff and every so often there's, like, these words you gotta read... but it's still fun, you know... it's kinda like channel-surfing where you go from C-Span to MTV and back to C-Span and back to MTV... I read it in under an hour...

Anyhow, this McLuhan guy, he was a professor of English literature somewhere in Canada... but he was still a pretty hip guy because--dig this--he thought the written word was dying out... I'm serious, it's far out, man!... he says we've been living in this, like, word-dominated culture for the last 3,000 or whatever years... but we're entering an "electric" culture, what with all these high-tech things we've invented... like the Internet, but there was no Internet back in 1967... that's when the book came out... so maybe that made him kind of psychic?...

But anyhow, I got a little confused because McLuhan says word-culture is visual-oriented... which he says means real logical and linne, lynne, lennyer, linear... but, like, they told me back in college that verbal thinking comes from the LEFT brain hemisphere (which is the real rational-like part)... and visual thinking is RIGHT hemisphere (which is the kinda NOT rational part)... so it's like he's putting two ideas together that don't fit... or something...

Also--dig this--McLuhan is real into watching teevee... he says here, "Television demands participation and involvement in depth of the whole being."... can you believe some egghead college professor saying that?... what kind of teevee did they have up in Canada back then?... I don't wanna knock this McLuhan guy, but I don't put all this "whole being" jazz into watching teevee, you know?... I just kinda sit there on the couch...

Anyhow, there's lots of pictures... I just thought it was pretty cool, you know?... I think...

I Get Goosebumps...
I get goosebumps just thinking about reviewing this book wherein McLuhan coins the term "the global village." On the internet, 33 years after this book was published, McLuhan had the insight and perspicacity to see just how electronics will be changing us. He's more of an electronical anthropologist here.

The flash of the book has worn off some by now and the graphics, the photos and creative layout of the pages seems to be more of a period piece. Still, because this brief book portrays so many key concepts that currently fill us now. We do not notice the power of the media until we are someplace that does not have it. Like a fish out of the water, we take for granted the influence of the technology around us; we assume that they have been with us forever and we never slow down to challenge these concepts. So, thank God for McLuhan's book.

I've recommended this book to my students and it's fun to see how they read it (because it's so short) and open up to some of the concepts about the media's power. It's as if they had known it all along, but needed McLuhan's book to come along and draw it out of them. ... Read more

Book Description

A one term subject in visual merchandising in departments ofmarketing or fashion; includes users portfolio problems. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

GOOD BOOK
I think that this is a good book for anyone who wants a job in this field. And you probably don't think so but I do and I am only 15 years old.

So give this merchandising book a try and see how you like it.

A Most Expensive Lesson
This book costs about 50 cents a page - that is not obvious from the description - for that price you'd expect 500 pages, it is less than 150.

Give me a line and I will sell you my copy for half the price. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (10)

The New York Pop-Up Book
I purchased this Pop Up Book for a 14 year old friend who enjoys Pop Up Books. At the last minute, I decided to purchase one for myself. Both of us are going to New York in the future and thought it might be a good guide. This book is absolutely wonderful. I have enjoyed each page. The detail is tremendous. The writing is entertaining and informative. The Pop Ups give you a feeling of "being there".

a book of surprises
As one who dreams to some day live in New York, this pop-up book was great fun and most certainly made the dream that much more real. The facts was most interesting, the write-up in the form of "reflections" by New Yorkers themselves, also provided an insight into what life in the Big Apple is like. I recommend it to any New York freak like me!

Not complete
The Top of the Empire State Building are not in the book. The edges of the the book are really in a bad condition.I think, it's a seller problem!

Very disappointed
I have to use my fingers to make them pop-up. Not interesting pop-ups at all-- just plain and simple.

The Pop-Ups don't
The first thing that happened when I opened this book is that the Statue of Liberty fell out into my lap. Then I discovered that the Empire State Building doesn't actually pop up; you have to pry it up, and hope that you're not wrecking something in the process. This is true of most of the "pop-ups" in the book. Also, lift-up tabs get in the way of some of the pop-ups (or vice-versa). I'd say it's a lot of clever ideas badly executed. Probably the makers were trying to do too much. But in spite of all this, I still like it, and if you collect pop-up books, you probably will too. Just be ready to re-construct and re-glue a lot of the stuff. ... Read more

Book Description

Complete coverage of basic design principles illustrated by student examples

Design for Communication offers a unique approach to mastering the basic design principles, conceptual problem-solving methods, and critical-thinking skills that distinguish graphic designers from desktop technicians.

This book presents forty-two basic to advanced graphic design and typography assignments collaboratively written by college educators to teach the fundamental processes, concepts, and techniques through hands-on applications. Each assignment is illustrated with actual student solutions, and each includes a process narrative and an educator's critical analysis revealing the reasoning behind the creative strategies employed by each individual student solution.

Assignments are organized from basic to advanced within six sections:
* The elements and principles of design
* Typography as image
* Creative word play
* Word and image
* Grid and visual hierarchy
* Visual advocacy

Design for Communication is a highly visual resource of instruction, information, ideas, and inspiration for students and professionals. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

This work contributes to graphic design education
I am particularly impressed with the strength of the sections and introductory texts for each section. It is very cleverly planned and well written. More importantly, the strength of the book for me lies on the fact that the assignments do not illustrate but on the contrary, strengthens your observations, aims/objectives, methodology, structure and propositions for the design education.

The book is also in excellent record of what goes on in design colleges in terms of methods of working (to record students statements and instructors evaluations is, on its own right, a great contribution to knowledge within the design education). The interaction between students statements and instructors evaluations are very important for me. The two different texts create a dialogue within the book.

The book brings theory and practice together for the students and educators which is very rare in design publication and education and even more so at the BA/ undergraduate level..

Thank you for your great work!

A Unique Approach to Graphic Design Education
Professor Resnick's new text, Graphic Design for Communication offers a fresh, innovative approach to teaching visual communication in general and graphic design in particular. She presents many conceptual design principles in a format that is easy-to-understand, practical, and clear in its organizational hierarchy. The book provides intelligent, pragmatic lessons about design that will be of use to both students and teachers alike.

The book's most notable strength lies in its author's unique approach to the subject matter. In the past, most authors have tackled the task of writing an instructional text on design by focusing on a few basic principles of the craft and supplementing these with exercises designed to impart specific skills and techniques to the reader. In contrast, Resnick has employed a far more inclusive, conceptually focused approach. Like her peers, as an educator she does offer text that presents her perspective on various basic design principles. Yet unlike many others her focus is clearly on the reason we design-namely to effectively express and communicate ideas. And again unlike some other texts, ideas about BOTH form and content are give their due here. The different principles explored each section are illuminated with appropriate exercises. This is where Resnick's book shines as a unique accomplishment. For her illustrative exercises, Resnick invited a remarkable group of international educators to work with her as collaborators. All were invited to submit their best assignments along with student work for inclusion. In this respect, Graphic Design for Communication is unlike most other texts because it offers an inclusive diversity of approaches to design and will certainly be a great tool for educators. As a text for use at all levels of instruction, it offers the best, "road-tested", assignments for lecturers to draw upon as inspiration when explaining the principles of design to students. The numerous exercises impart information in a manner that is at once both practical and conceptually expressive.

Graphic Design for Communication features a structure that is pragmatic and clear. Each section opens with a well-written, articulate introduction to a different design principle (e.g., basic elements of design; typography as both image and semiotic message; word and image relationships; the grid and visual hierarchy; and visual advocacy). This text is followed by a series of design assignments (from basic to advanced) that teach students how to effectively integrate ideas with various techniques and processes. The design exercises are amply illustrated with examples of real student work completed in response to the assignments. In addition, most of the student samples include a brief process statement from the student as well as a critical instructor evaluation. As another reviewer pointed out, students will certainly appreciate the many illustrations (some in color) and the opportunity to examine both the process and critical evaluation of peer work outside the classroom. By using student work for examples (as opposed to those created by master designers), Resnick succeeds in bringing both the assignments and the creative design process to life.

Because of the great range of exercises included, this text will serve both students and educators as a useful handbook. For anyone who has either audited a class or wished they could have, the book is a joy. It is a little like auditing the "best of" graphic design education-all the more rewarding because the author was enlightened enough to collect some assignments and visual examples from cultures outside the U.S.

Professor Resnick deserves special credit for her concise editing and clean layout. I suspect one of the challenges in a compilation of this sort had to be the careful editing of her collaborator's assignments. It would appear that she did not just leave them to their own devices in this regard. Rather, as an educator herself she has thoughtfully and carefully applied her writing skills to the task. The result is a well-considered, consistent survey of the principles that guide modern graphic design. In addition, I must add that her bibliography is outstanding. It should be adopted as a standard reading list for anyone interested in the field.

As with the very best cookbooks (I am thinking of the classics here, such as Rombauer and Becker's Joy of Cooking or Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking) this book will find a place in the libraries of both novices and experienced students of design. Like those texts, it effectively explains the important principles that guide all design work. Her decision to present contemporary master "recipes" (those proven to work in the classroom) introduces students to design as a thoughtful "process" without forfeiting any artistry or pleasure along the way. It is clear that Professor Resnick is passionate about her work as BOTH a designer and educator and in this book she she shares that pleasure with us, the reader.

Design for Communication: Conceptual Graphic Design Basics
This new book, like Elizabeth Resnick's earlier one (Graphic Design: A Problem-Solving Approach to Visual Communication), that was published in the early '80s, has a generous amount of student work on its pages, providing the reader with some wonderful and useful examples of solutions to the problems presented. There's even a section with some of these shown in full color!

When Ms. Resnick wrote her first book, no graphic design was being done on a computer. This current text, published now that we're fully into the digital age, also very wisely steers clear of a "how to" approach. It's all too easy for students starting out in graphic design now to think that it's about "how to use QuarkXPress" or some other software package, but Resnick's book stresses concepts, communication, and the art of creating fresh and thoughtful solutions to design problems. It will help students to learn the importance of research, and how to develop the analytical and conceptual skills they will need as professional designers later on.

The idea of using quality student work as a teaching tool is a very good one. It results in a book that is much more appealing to the student. Each solution has a statement by its creator as well as the instructor's feedback. I think students will find the author's approach to the subject fresh, direct, and very accessible. The presentation of each problem consists of: the Assignment Brief, Objectives, Specifications, Process, and Critiques. This results in a very clear, useful, and well-structured text. I highly recommend this book!

Finally, a graphic design text with depth
There are so many books out there on graphic design that are merely pretty picture books, and focus only on what a piece LOOKS like. What students need is something with depth, something that addresses the conceptual aspects that can be so difficult to grasp.
Resnick's book really targets this need, by presenting an integration of formal and conceptual issues and respecting the students' intelligence in the process. It shows them how FORM influences and strengthens CONCEPT, which I haven't seen in any other text. This is one of the most important (and elusive) issues in graphic design education.

The book is illustrated entirely with student work, all high quality. Students will love this approach; they are used to being shown only the work of experienced professionals.

The book is also going to be really useful for instructors
who want to improve the rigor and depth of their assignments but aren't sure how to go about it. ... Read more

Book Description

Forms, Folds & Sizes will be the book that is always next to a designer?s computer. Completely practical with only the most needed information, this book will provide designers with all the little details that can make or break a design such as how much space to leave in the gutter when designing barrel folds, how to layout a template for a box and the ratios of each part, metric conversion charts, standard envelope sizes in the USA, Europe, Canada and Asia, etc. This hardworkinghandbook will be 2-color with a durable soft vinyl cover. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Discussions of type measures, postal standards, typography
Any graphic designer working with forms and folds or the written word will find Poppy Evans' Forms Fold Sizes a 'must' for properly designing everything from brochures and envelopes to laying out the written word. Here are informed and informative discussions of type measures, postal standards, typography - virtually everything needed to graphically translate the written word properly, whether it be to page, envelope, or folder. Forms Folds Sizes is an essential guide and strongly recommended for professional and academic Graphic Arts collections, as well as the publisher reference resource shelf.

It's all here, and it's portable!
I was so surprised by the content of this book. It contains so much information that you can and will use in your career. If I had to pick one book to take with me on a freelance gig, this would be it. Plus, the cover is spill-proof. Perfect for travel.

Essential reference for any graphic designer
Where was this book when I needed it for my first design job? This book is packed full of all of the practical information that any designer needs.

The extensive amount of topics covered in here is truely impressive:
-copywriter marks
-all kinds of dielines from folders to boxes
-common styles of plastic containers
-typography reference
-U.S. postal standards
-printing and finishing options
-cmyk swatches
-barcode standards and much much more...

For all of this information, the book is not a huge brick. It's a managable little reference book that I can carry with me to any freelance gig. And thanks to the vinyl cover of this book, I know I won't have to worry about it wearing out from all of the heavy use this book will be put through. ... Read more

Book Description

The greatest cultural accomplishments in history have never been the result of the brainstorms of marketing men, corporate focus groups, or any homogenized methods; they have always happened organically. More often than not, these manifestations have been the result of a few like-minded people coming together to create something new and original for no other purpose than a common love of doing it. In the 1990s, a loose-knit group of American artists and creators, many just out of their teens, began their careers in just such a way. Influenced by the popular underground youth subcultures of the day, such as skateboarding, graffiti, street fashion, and independent music, artists like Shepard Fairey, Mark Gonzales, Spike Jonze, Margaret Kilgallen, Mike Mills, Barry McGee, Phil Frost, Chris Johanson, Harmony Korine, and Ed Templeton began to create art that reflected the lifestyles they led. Many had no formal training and almost no conception of the inner workings of the art world. They learned their crafts through practice, trial and error, and good old-fashioned innovation. Not since the Beat Generation have we seen a group of creative individuals with such a unified aesthetic sense and varied cultural facets. The world of art has been greatly affected by their accomplishments as have the worlds of fashion, music, literature, film, and, ironically, athletics. Over the years, the group has matured, and many have become more establishment-oriented; but no matter, their independent spirit has remained steadfast.
Beautiful Losers is a retrospective celebration of this spirit, with hundreds of artworks by over two dozen artists, from precursors like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, and Larry Clark, to more recent adherents Ryan McGinniss, KAWS, and Geoff McFetridge. Work in all conceivable mediums is included, plus reproductions of reams of ephemera. The accompanying essays are contributed by a half-dozen writers who have championed these beautiful losers from the start.

Edited by Aaron Rose andChristian Strike.~Essays by Alex Baker,Thom Collins, Jeffrey Deitch, Rene deGuzman, Carlo McCormick and Jocko Weyland.

Paperback, 8.5 x 11 in./272 pgs / 200 color and 200 b & w. ... Read more

Book Description

This meaningful book provides a thorough understanding of the basic visual and expressive aspects of drawing, and centers around the belief that drawing well embraces the ability to feel as well as the ability to see, resulting in works whose expressive force is amplified by a sensitivity to visual dynamics and humanistic urgings.Offers an intensive examination of vital drawing processes and concepts, an in-depth analysis of exceptional drawings by old and contemporary artists, and suggested exercises to enhance users' grasp of important measurable and dynamic phenomena. Focuses on important drawing fundamentals, and covers topics not usually found together in a text of its kind, such as color, media and materials, and 'finding your way'. Includes a unique survey of common errors or 'pathologies' in drawing. Presents over 400 visuals, 25 new drawings, and nearly 30 quotes throughout to highlight important points and pique reader interest.For graphic designers and illustrators. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

How to see drawings
I have used this book for years as source material for the college level drawing courses I teach. Its greatest value is the high calibre of master drawing examples by everyone from Michelangelo to Rembrandt and Watteau, as well as appropriate and sensitive student examples. Mr. Goldstein breaks down the approach to drawing into contour line, structural line, shape, gesture, volume, combination drawing. The book is dense with writing as this is largely a verbal analysis of visual issues in which each drawing example is discussed in a very detailed manner. Some may find the approach too verbose, and indeed this is not a "how-to-draw" book in the "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" category, but more of a guide to conoisseurship and the philosophy of drawing. In fact, there are precious few exercises described for the student. I think that for the drawing student who does not have the benefit of a teacher, this book paired with a more practical "how-to" guide would be a terrific resource. This is the kind of book you will find yourself dipping into over the years. I always have it on an easy-to-reach shelf.

Goldstein is Gold
I bought this book for a college drawing class. And later on, because of scheduling reasons, I was unable to take the class. However, I kept the book and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. The pictures are great...although I thought the spectrum of drawings could have been a little broader. Most pictures are black and white. Commentary is good--a nice balance between words and pictures. Goldstein has done well with this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (4)

Figure Templates for Fashion Illustration
This book promises more than it delivers. The basic templates are useful, but in all other aspects this book is lacking.
The written information is scant and repeated - very superfluous. Mr Ireland's style is very outdated and uninspiring for those hoping to make a career out of fashion - in any form. I would recommend this book only as a basic early tool for novices hoping to improve their figure construction.
For inspiration I recommend Laird Borelli's FASHION ILLUSTRATION NOW.

great for copying
this isn't the 'how to draw the fashion model' book you wish taught you everything you ever needed to know. However, its good to have around when you just need to pump an idea out. It has women, men, and children.

Figure Templates For Fashion Illustration
This book is an excellent resource at a resonable price. It is more than a primer. I'd recommend it to anyone, experienced or novice, who designs/illustrates fashion.

Figure Templates for Fashion Illustration
Mr. Ireland has produced a helpful tool. I am a fashion designer and find the templates helpful when I need to do quick working sketches. I also teach Fashion Merchandising students, the templates are wonderful for the students with limited artistic abilities. It helps them in their presentation of professional storyboards. The book is also useful in acquiring basic drawing skills. I would recommend this book to anyone interesting in learning basic fashion drawing skills and for those with more advanced drawing skills ... Read more

Book Description

Many architects, landscape architects, and interior designers are self-employed or are partners in small firms. These professionals must understand the management, administrative, and planning skills that are critical to the success of a design firm--and apply them to a small business profile. The revision of this best-selling book addresses the latest changes that affect the successful management and growth of small firms. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Much broader than Architects, Engineers & Design Firms
This is one of those rare books that offers more than what the cover reveals. Being a fan of Wiley as a business publisher I was first attracted while searching for books on business strategy. This is a bit of a sleeper to me. My business has nothing to do with the target market yet I can safely rate this as a five star based on the excellent content that works in most business environments.

I like the way the author begins his introduction by taking the reader on a separate pathway that helps shape their personal destiny. His view on breaking from tradition and how being different means being visible aims right at one of the great weaknesses of many professional businesses. He slaps the reader with the realization that they must stand apart from the crowd to be seen in today's frantic world.

Then he leads you into the planning and strategy chapter where he imparts the need for a defined vision in writing as part of your plan. From there he focuses on servicing the client, hiring right, paying right and not trying to grow too fast. Hence the title --- 'Staying Small Successfully.'

This is excellent sage advice for just about any business I can think of and goes far beyond its intended market. I'm in the online content delivery business and I consider the insight and wisdom within perfect for my business.

With a few minor changes this could be reissued as 'Growing Your Small Business Successfully.'

A good guide for engineering and design firms
I stumbled across this book while at a client's office. They had never read it, and what a shame! There are few books written for those that market engineering and design firms. The book tends to talk more about architects than I had expected, but still applies well to designers and engineers. The basic principles are sound and helpful. As an owner of a marketing consulting company, I use the book periodically to get insights on growth, planning, compensation and other issues dealing with the challenges this niche business presents. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Reviews (49)

A fitting tribute
This book is certainly an appropriate tribute to the greatest comic strip of all time. It gives us a good dose of the best from each decade. My favorite aspect is the great margin notes by Charles Schulz, wherein he gives us fascinating background comments on the evolution of Peanuts and on ideas behind specific strips. My only regret, and the reason I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5, is that most of the Sunday samples of Peanuts are not in color here. They would have been in color originally, and I like seeing them that way. But this is certainly a terrific book to own, and I highly recommend it.

Peanuts deserves better, we deserve better
This is a delightful book. The photos and information of Charles Schulz (allow me an aside:: I think that Charlie "BROWN" is a smokescreen: the main character of this strip is Charlie SCHULZ), his background, and his studio are wonderful for a lifelong fan (I'm a year younger than Linus). The commentary and selection are superb, and it's even fun to shake your head over some of the 'fan' mail he got.

Allow me a sour note: the editing is sloppy. Strip #5 on page 15 appears again on page 16. The lower four strips on page 149 are out of order: they should go #6, #3, #5, #4. Good grief! Confused order on page 168 threatens to ruin the story line. #5 on page 168 belongs on page 170. Line 4 on page 171 appears again on page 236 (not that I minded seeing it again, but it means one less strip for us to enjoy.)

You may think I've got too much time on my hands, to go through a comic collection so carefully, but come on! This *is* Peanuts, after all! What could matter more?

Wonderful compilation for the casual Peanuts reader
When first printed in 1999, this book offered the best retrospective on Schulz' Peanuts. It's still a wonderful book, which I own. If you're a casual fan of the strip, and don't mind if you haven't read all the panels, then you'll love this compilation. It serves as a perfect introduction to Schulz' comic.

If you're a rabid, hardcore Peanuts fan like me, however, you might consider purchasing the complete Peanuts collection, which is available through Fantagraphics. (The first edition, printed in May, 2004, contains the first two years of Peanuts from 1950-1952. Several more volumes will volume over the next decade.) I've reviewed the first volume of that set, and plan on purchasing the others.

The "Golden Celebration" should still be in every "Peanuts" collector's library and is the best edited compilation I've seen on Peanuts.

A Great Sampling of 50 years worth of Cartoon Genius
If you are a Peanuts fanatic, you already have this book. If you like the strip, and would like to have a comprehensive overview of the entire series, this book is perfect. It contains comic strips from 1950 to 1999, in chronological order. Of course, this is just a sampling, another company is releasing all the strips in order starting in April.
The book also contains a short biography of Schulz, a section on the TV shows and movies, & peanuts collectibles. If you have the 25th or 40th anniversary books, you've seen much of this information. Out of all the anniversary books, THIS one contains the most strips. ALSO, it contains brief commentary by Schulz in a sidebar for special strips (first appearance of a character, first football gag, etc.)
Highly recommended for vigorous or casual fans.

Good . . . but not great
Any "Peanuts" book is (for me, anyway) great, especially since there are a lot of strips I still haven't read, and this collection seemed good to begin with - but I don't think this is the best book on the market. It's like a greatest hits double-CD with new liner notes, remastered, and missing all the lesser hits and major album tracks which are your favorites.(And it's a little pricey - where I am, it's almost AU$100!)

The drawbacks are, as others have noted, the editing is somewhat shoddy, some story arcs aren't completed, other really good story arcs aren't in here at all, a lot of the strips are in available books already (or at least those Fawcett paperbacks usually in libraries), and a lot of the commentary by Schulz is drawn from the 1985 book "You Don't Look 35, Charlie Brown!" (I wish that was in print.) - only the notes pertaining to 1990s strips are new. And the discussions of the TV specials, the musical, the movies are rather short - 2 pages for the 1999 version of the musical, and 2 for the movies _and_ the TV specials, when we're dealing with "It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown" and "Snoopy Come Home"!(Or rather, should be; neither are mentioned. Another out-of-print book, "Happy Birthday, Charlie Brown" [1979] goes into greater depth on a lot of TV specials, and the movies, and the making of "Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown" [unreleased at that time], but is of course a little out of date [but still great].) Just a list of all the TV shows would have been nice - it's hard to keep track of all the "lesser" ones made in the mid-late 1980s/early 1990s - but evidently, that's too much to ask.

Still, all the strips _are_ wonderful to read.

It just, as a whole, doesn't quite reach the heights of 5-stardom - or, more appropriately, it isn't gold; perhaps bronze. ... Read more

Book Description

The computer has made some typographic rules obsolete while others, previously known only to typesetters, have also been forgotten. Despite this, typography remains a fundamental element of graphic design. About Face presents and explains the typography basics required by all graphic designers, from the names of the different parts of characters, typeface styles and their function, to type measurement, typeface families, and type manipulation on the computer. It also looks at typography at work and features a wealth of applied examples by leading designers from around the world, who use, and considerably extend, the rules to create effective, communicative design. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Beautifully presented with many historical examples
In an era when many books about typography principles focus on the ins and outs of specific computer programs, here is a beautiful book for beginners that focuses on principles, theory, and examples.

Not as densely written as Bringhurst's classic "Elements" book, this book nonetheless has the advantage of being more quickly scannable, and it features many spreads that present actual book designs at full size or nearly so, giving a very tactile look to the book.

Other concepts about leading, word spacing, letterforms, and so on are presented with large visual displays specifically constructed by the author.

I would recommend this book for beginning graphic design students or for libraries interested in visual arts literacy. ... Read more

Book Description

There's a powerful fascination in creating fantasy characters andtheir bewitching environs on the computer screen. Written for anyone who works- or plays-in 3D graphics, Digital Fantasy Painting supplies a treasury of testedtechniques that can be applied to any illustration software package.This extraordinary resource is packed with dozens of step-by-step exercises fordesigning photo-realistic 3D creatures and their strange worlds. Readers willsee how to produce simple human skin and bone textures, as well as an entirehost of ethereal creatures such as ghosts, spirits, robots, and cyborgs. They'lldiscover how to design realistic atmospheric effects as well as capture thesurreal world of nightmares, futurescapes, and planetscapes. Computer artistswill also find tested techniques for modeling, surfacing, staging, and lightingas well as creating water, glass, and other true-to-life motion effects. Digital Fantasy Painting features a dazzling showcase of the very best fantasyartwork, complete with dozens of tips, examples, and shortcuts that help put thecreative process on the fast track. Plus, a special section outlines the myriadsoftware illustration packages available on the market today.For graphic designers, fans of fantasy and science fiction art, and anyone elsewho wants to try their hand at creating incredible creatures on their computerscreen, here is a definitive one-stop resource. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Good for beginners
This book mostly contains some step by step screen shots. The book talks mostly about using photoshop as a tool for texturing, and painting. It goes a little bit in other 3d programs such as Maya, 3d max, and Poser. But only covers a few modifiers or special effects. There is no real indepth explanation. As someone who works with 3d max and photoshop, I only recommend it if you are a beginner. The instruction are more like tips here and there.

A must have for any digital artist's collection
How this book slipped under my nose for so long is amazing. I just recently found it and the book contains some amazing artwork. True, a lot of the book is just gallery work and the "step-by-step" section is more of a step-by-step overview of how certain effects were created. If someone is looking for a how-to book, this isn't the one. The interesting part is that the book fails to focus on any singular 3D app. One masterpiece may be done with poser, another with Lightwave, another with 3D max, another done strictly with photoshop, and yet another may use multiple application.

It truly opens your eyes on the quality available with soem of the apps. This book belongs on your shelf alongside the other non-app specific titles like Digital Lighting and Rendering and Digital Texturing and Painting.

Very Well Done
Despite the other reviews, I found this book a worthwhile buy as a beginning digital artist. It does not provide an in depth explanation of every program in it, however, it shows a wide variety of artwork from various fantasy artists and gives basic tutorial steps and multiple tips. The work can be found online with some of the tutorials admittedly, but I found it very handy to have good examples and techniques for work sitting in front of me rather than clicking back and forth between multiple online tutorials and whatever program I was working on.

I am not familiar with 3d programs yet but this book gives examples of many different programs and gave me an idea of what programs I might like to try later. The tutorials were comprehensible and easy to follow as well as showcasing a variety of styles. They were not just sketch-detail sketch-end product the way that I've found many other tutoral books to be. Instead it shows the layering and painting process with each of the pieces, which is exactly what I was looking for. If you want nitty-gritty details, I suggest buying the "bible" for whatever program you want to find out more about. There's only so much you can do in a 160 page book, especially if you want an index and title page and whatnot ^.~

Visit a Web Gallery, Save Yourself Some Money
I was kind of rushed when I bought this book so I chanced it figuring I could return it later.

This book has no substance to it beyond what you can already find on the web. It just goes through basic "I did this, then that, then the other thing." No indepth look at any creation. I've found crap tutorials on the web with more information.

The gallery at the back is available on the web pretty much. One of the featured artists in it posts his work on forums I happen to moderate. I can see other works of similar caliber on the various community web sites.

One editorial note is I saw WAY too much Poser and Bryce work in this book which took away a LOT of credibility with me. I am sorry but those programs are not artist tools but cookie cutters. Tools would be Alias|Wavefront Maya, discreet 3ds max, and so forth. I think artists who take the time to learn those high-end programs deserve placement in books. Not someone who clicked a few presets and got an instant human.

A Mediocre Book of Pretty Pictures No Substance
This book is full of nice images, if I can say so it is more a gallery of Digital Fantasy Art then a training book, the editorial review is a little misleading. It is not a training nor lesson book, it is a Tip book only. For instance there will be a picture on the page and the author will explain 1-2 tips on how they created the light for that particular piece, nothing extraordinary. Not only that, but most of the images and "tutorials/tips" can be found on the internet. All you have to do is do a search on Epilouge or search other digital art sites etc. and you will find many of the images that are in the book.

The author's details about hardware and computers are mundane and "filler up" material. The target of this book is for beginners only. Other skill levels will want something of more substance.

If you are wanting a book that will learn you how to digital paint try Don Seegimiller's book, create compositions, image effects you will not receive this from this book, only a smattering of tips, which are good, but not detailed enough. Books like these should be giving tips that are rare and unknown, not re-hashing tips the reader already knows. ... Read more

Book Description

Technology has sent shockwaves of change through the world of commercial art.Digital illustration and design, online portfolio sites, and the proliferation of stock art have radically changed the way that illustrators and graphic designers work.What has not changed, however, is the wealth of illustrators and graphic designers hoping to turn their talent into freelance success.More than ever, artists face questions such as how to get started, how to sell their work, how to promote themselves, and what to do once they are working.For those embarking on freelance careers in illustration or graphic design, the answers have arrived.A twenty-five year veteran in the field, Michael Fleishman, has detailed every business aspect of commercial art in Starting Your Career as a Freelance Illustrator or Graphic Designer. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

filling a vacuum very well
This book is really a must-read for anyone at any age thinking about pursuing illustration as a living. It's a very competitive field, and you'll need more than a cute apartment and winning smile to make it. If you read it and decide not to become an illustrator, it's the best $15 you ever spent.

The Inspiration
If you get overwhelmed by the image you may have of what the life of a freelance illustrator is like, read this book. It is encouraging, while also being very practical. It tells you that you can start a career as a freelancer, but with a few practical IFs attached. Follow his advice and answer his questions honestly. Then ,if practical, take a deep breath, jump in and have a blast at FINALLY doing something with your life that you LOVE. ... Read more

Book Description

In Building Interactive Worlds in 3D readers will find turnkey tutorials that detail all the steps required to build simulations and interactions, utilize virtual cameras, virtual actors (with self-determined behaviors), and real-time physics including gravity, collision, and topography. With the free software demos included, 3D artists and developers can learn to build a fully functioning prototype. The book is dynamic enough to give both those with a programming background as well as those who are just getting their feet wet challenging and engaging tutorials in virtual set design, using Virtools. Other software discussed is: Lightwave, and Maya. The book is constructed so that, depending on your project and design needs, you can read the text or interviews independently and/or use the book as reference for individual tutorials on a project-by-project basis. Each tutorial is followed by a short interview with a 3D graphics professional in order to provide insight and additional advice on particular interactive 3D techniquesfrom user, designer, artist, and producer perspectives.

* Create interactive, 3D sets - virtual buildings, terrains, as well as other virtual prototypes for games, film/video pre-visualization, and virtual reality design for the Web from sketch to fully-working prototype

* Interviews with experts in the field provide additional insight into each tutorial

* Dozens of tutorials on CD-ROM, and dozens more on author's website ... Read more

Book Description

The information age has brought inconceivable amounts of data toevery area of life-at home and in the office, for leisure and travel, forshopping and banking. While the Internet provides instant freedom andinstantaneous access to hundreds of valuable resources, navigating through thestreams of cyber-information can be maddening. Today's web designers arebeginning to understand that it's not just how good the home page looks, but howquickly and easily information can be displayed, accessed, and delivered.Digital Information Graphics confronts the issues that directly affect ourinteraction with the screen, whether for the World Wide Web,