Book Description

The art world's best-known Native American artist, the Chiricahua Apache sculptor and painter Allan Houser (1914-1994), was one of the towering figures of 20th-century art. His larger-than-life sculpture Sacred Rain Arrow welcomed athletes to the 2002 Winter Olympics; his powerfully moving bronze Offering of the Sacred Pipe, created for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, has become a worldwide symbol of peace. In 1992 Houser (Haozous in his native language) became the first Native American to receive the country's highest art award, the National Medal of Arts.

This beautifully illustrated volume is the first art-historical treatment of Houser's entire career. The author, a noted historian of Native American art, discusses the artist's work in relation to his Apache origins and places it in the context of the art of the 20th century. Interest in this beloved artist will undoubtedly soar with the retrospective exhibition of Houser's work, one of two shows to inaugurate the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian in September 2004. ... Read more

Book Description

The power and beauty of traditional African sculpture has influenced 20th century art and design around the world. Found in many museums, its abstract forms, skillful rendering, and deep symbolism has also made it a welcome addition to the homes of private collectors.This new book offers a broad survey of the traditional sculpture that is available in the marketplace. The sculpture shown here covers a span of 100 years and focuses on masks, statuary, and architectural carvings in wood, bronze, and terracotta from sub-Saharan Africa with a sampling of the contemporary work in stone. The works are presented in beautiful color photographs, and accompanied by helpful, informative captions and a guide to values in today's market. The book helps the collector evaluate the quality and authenticity of African sculpture. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Don't waste your money!!!
Vanity publication and advertisement for parties (who are) more interested in self-promotion than education. Sophomoric descriptions and overly inflated prices for less than mediochre examples of touristy junk.

Beautiful book... Could offer more information...
This book has a brief introduction followed by many outstanding color photographs of African sculpture, including figures and masks. For each of 19 countries, there is a list of the major tribes, the predominant religious beliefs, and when the country gained its independence. The photography is excellent and it gives you an idea of the types of artwork that are representative of the different regions and tribes. The book also lists the dimensions and pricing of each work. I would have liked to have seen more information about the tribal traditions in which some of the objects are used. It would also have helped to see some suggestions on how to tell whether a work is real or has been faked. Overall though, it's a beautiful book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

One of this century's preeminent artists, Louise Bourgeois recently was the subject of a major one-person exhibition at New York's Museum of Modern Art, and she represented the United States in the 1993 Venice Biennale. This exquisitely designed volume, which includes 133 color reproductions, is a testimony to the importance of the act of drawing to this highly autobiographical artist, who is known primarily for her sculptures.Produced over the course of 50 years, the drawings are seen side by side with Bourgeois' own observations about her personal life, her work, and the genesis and sources of certain works, offering a very intimate vision of Bourgeois as a woman and as an artist, as well as insight into the creative act of making art. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A glimpse into the mind of a great artist...
Browsing through this book of sketches is like reading Bourgeois' personal diary. These drawings seem to be the ones she made only for herself, to figure things out and generate more ideas. This is not her "finished" work, so don't expect "LB's Greatest Hits", but any true fan of this artist will delight in seeing her sketchbooks come to life and reading her thoughts and memories of the drawings. Full of rich spontaneity & wit. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Truly Amazing......
I have recently beagan to study sculpting more seriously and received this book as a gift. I improved tremendously with the help of this book. I'm not sure how best to communicate the message; but i must convey to you the importance of this book to anyone interested in sculpting. Does anyone know if a second series is planned?

A practical and detailed guide for all
My wife and I decided to study sculpting together and started with this book on a recomendation from an art professor friend who uses this book as part of his curriculum. We have had tremendous success...what we like is that no steps or details are skipped as with the one or two other books we tried, so we do not get discouraged along the way...Peter Rubino...keep our momentum going!

So you want to get started in clay portraiture?
Start with this book. I bought this book when I was halfway through a sculpture workshop at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. I learned so much from this book. Peter Rubino demonstrates two ways to "get started" and clearly shows techniques to help you figure out some of the tough parts of sculpting a head(like the eyes.) The photographs are clear and the text is direct. This is really a terrific book. If you are interested in getting started tn clay portraiture then buy this book. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Finally, a sculpting book that helps those of ALL abilities!
I was searching for a book that could help develop my limited talents. I followed Peter Rubino's guidelines and created a very credible portrait following his step by step geometric approach. This book can make everyone better at sculpting, regardless of skill level or talent. The beginner can improve dramatically - and the advanced will find new and fascinating dimensions for creating the portrait in clay. This book is a MUST READ for anyone who's had an interest in the art of sculpting at any level.

Exercising with the Portrait in Clay"
Rubino's work is outstanding. He is able to take the novice and professional artist through the basic steps of seeing geometrical forms and planes of the face. He uses a step by step approach to completing the bust. Beginning with clay, to using appropriate instrument to finishing the product with a patina. If one follows his detailed instructions, the artist will be able to complete a replica of a figure in only a few settings. I strongly recommend this book. It is a real buy! ... Read more

Book Description

outstanding studies, including sketches for David, Sistine Ceiling, Last Judgment, etc. Nudes, figure studies, children, animals, mythical and religious works, more. New volume in Dover Art Library affords insight into mastery of proportion, anatomy, perspective, shading, contrast. Essential for artists, museum-goers.
... Read more

Reviews (3)

Inexpensive renderings of classic drawings.
A good buy for any student of art or anatomy.

Extraordinary Studies of the Great Master
In this thin but great book, you'll find 46 works of the great master - Michelangelo. Concentrating in Life drawings you'll see studies of the great marble - "David", for "The Battle of cascina",for various figures of the Sistine Chaplle Ceiling,and many more astonishing studies, all vivid in his great manner. Black & white. A real "Must Buy", especially in this price. Michelangelo. The Master.

definately worth the [price]
this is a collection of 46 figure drawings michelangelo did. michelangelo was a master painter and sculptor, he rendered figures more beautifully than any other artist ever has. most of the drawings in this book are studies he did for his paintings and sculptures. and he was a master draftsman. the book is in a workbook style binding so it takes up little space, but it is a hardy book. it is well worth the...price.
... Read more

Book Description

This full color coffee table sized book about Zimbabwe's geography, history, culture and of course the Shona sculpture produced there is one of a kind. It is the first book published in the West about Shona sculpture and the Shona artists. It is also perhaps the only full length book on Shona sculpture ever printed in full color. A perfect balance of rich text and beautiful photographs taken by award winning travel photographer Robert Holmes (winner of "Travel Photographer of the Year" and also a National Geographic Photographer). Not just a book on Shona art, the history from ancient times to modern day is touched on in this book as well as other items such as geology which all contribute to a greater understanding of the current Shona sculpture art movement. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Wholesalers of Shona Sculpture
I have been involved with the export of Shona Sculpture for over 4 years now through our website zuluexclusive.com and was given this book on a trip to the States last year. It certainly describes everything about shona sculpture in great detail and shows many beautiful pictures. We recommend this book to everyone that we supply sculpture to. If you have any questions about Shona Sculpture we would love to hear from you heather@zuluexclusive.com

This book does what is says, and superbly!
It was interesting to read the other reviews before purchasing this book. I was anxious to read it for myself, since it consistantly got high marks, yet also recieved criticism for not being comprehensive, an apparent dichotomy! Upon opening the book, I read the introduction, which some of the severest critics seem not to have done...for if they had, they would have seen that it clearly states that this is NOT the defintive book on Shona Sculpture, nor would it ever pretend to be! Rather it is an OVERVIEW, and introduction to the people, country, history, geology and culture that have produced this unique artform. The authors also CLEARLY state upfront that this book is THEIR own opinions, and that , as in all art movements, there will be disagreements as to the whens, whos, hows etc. Given this self-appraising clarification from the authors themselves, I found myself at ease reading this book, which has quite a lot of thoughtful and well researched content as well as many beautiful pictures!

comprehensive but not academic
This is a wondeful book for giving the background in Zimbabwe of the Shona people and a pictographic essay of Zimbabwe which feeds into the Shona sculpture. However, this is not an academic study, not does it give comprehensive biographies of each major Shona sculptor. In its favor, it shows a closeness to the people and an understanding of their history and daily life. It also does have an extensive listing of sculptors which is helpful.

Spirits in Stone: The New Face of African Art
I am one of the largest importers of Shona sculpture in the US. [ www.shonagallery.com ]I have traveled to Zimbabwe more than 12 times and have purchased thousands of wonderful sculptures from more than 200 artists directly. I believe this book to be the very best treatment of shona sculpture and its relationship to the Zimbabwean culture that I have seen. The people who put it together seem to have a similar perspective, as I do, on the art form and the people of Zimbabwe. As the country of Zimbabwe and Its people have evolved, so has the art form evolved. It is not an art form exclusive to the first generation artists and their styles. It is a vibrant expressive means of sharing cultural and spiritual feelings through stone. The young artists of Zimbabwe are some of the finest stone sculptors in the world today, and Spirits in Stone is a very inspiring reflection and that fact. It would be a wonderful book to have along with any piece of Shona sculpture one owns, or just a beautiful book to have around.

more scultures and less filler
Although there were some african sculptures presented, there was a great number of pictures of artists and african scenery. I would have liked to have seen more artwork or less book. ... Read more

Book Description

In addition to instructions for simple papermaking, this heavily illustrated guide covers tools and materials, basic shapes and forms, and various techniques for paper craft, including crumpling, weaving, relief sculpture, papier-mâché, and wearable masks.
... Read more

Book Description

The work and techniques of fifty international artists are showcased in this highly illustrated study of the human form in clay. A large–format volume, featuring 250 color photos. ... Read more

Book Description

This volumn covers 481 objects from the first centuryB.C. to the eighth century A.D. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Underrated Masterpieces, Well Presented
Fabulous. I loved this book. If you think Rodin and Canova are all that there is to 19th century sculpture, read this book and marvel at these masterpieces. Janson does a really great job and concisely presents so much fascinating information. Some great female sculptors are also included. I think many of these artists will later be "rediscovered" and more widely appreciated. A wide variety of styles: Neoclassical, Romantic, Realism, Impressionism, Academic. The book will also help you to better appreciate 19th century paintings. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great ideas
This book has been very helpful for myyoung children's clay classes. We successfully completed several projects from this book and everyone was happy: teacher, kids, parents. It was fun seeing the older kids come over from their wheels and be jealous of the little kids' projects. The book has also been a source of joy to me since the animal projects we did in class were so much fun, I continued the projects long after class was over.

The writing is clear, sometimes sparse, but the pictures are good. I also appreciated the associated learning that can accompany the projects (or vice versa).

AN IMAGINATION BOOSTER
The concise, clearly worded directions are easy to follow. No wasted words; no partial explanations. In the photographs accompanying each project, I like the mix of student and mature work. Also commendable are the explanations of how basic handbuilding techniques can be combined to produce lively ceramic art. All in all, The Great Clay Adventure stimulates the imagination. I highly recommend this book for clay artists, art teachers and school libraries.

Barbara McKenzie, Ph.D.
Professional Potter
Instructor, Durham Arts Council

NC K-12 Clay Exhibit
The past three years I have had the privilege of chairing an exhibition of K-12 student work in clay for the NC Pottery Center located in Seagrove, NC. This year my grant was generous enough for me to present each teacher who participated in our exhibiton a copy of Ellen Kong's book, The Great Clay Adventure. Each receipient was thrilled and eager to begin new clay projects with students.

We at the Pottery Center feel confident that distributing this incredible and inspiring book across our clay rich state of 100 counties will definitely stimulate our next generation of potters!!! Thank you, Ellen Kong!!

At last!
I have been looking for just the right book to help me get started doing workshops with children in my small town. Today I came upon "The Great Clay Adventure" and I am delighted. The pictures are clear and colorful, the instructions easy to follow and 'extensions' given at the end of each chapter will enhance the total clay experience. I will add this book to my library and will use it often. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (5)

For beginners
If you are a beginning sculpture student, this might be a book for you. Althought the information is somewhat dated (original copyright is 1949) the book is fairly direct and straight-forward in its writing style. Primary interest of the author--and the bulk of written information--is directed to modeling in clay and casting in plaster. The section on stone carving is short, but fairly complete. The woodcarving section is sketchy and, other than a good list of the tools needed, inadequate.
The sections on cast stone (concrete) and casting metal are outdated. Certain steps are still the same, but the materials currently in use are so different as to be almost another whole chapter.
A great deal of space is given to architectural sculpture, but again, the info is outdated. The book gives information on producing a stone monument, but does not address the cost factors (nor the steps in computing costs)of assembling the materials and placing the finished work. Nowadays that is of prime importance if a sculptor wants to compete for art in public places.

Great general guide
I agree with the comment below - this is a beginner's book. More power to it. It was written by someone who has taught as well as practiced & focuses on the sculpting process rather than on artistic technique. Some of the mediums he covers (casting stone, glue molds) have advanced in ease of use since this book was written, but this guide has stood the test of time.

simplistic manual
I found this book to be overly simplfied and not very helpful accept maybe to the most novice sculptor. The appoach is that of amateur craft not serious art. I thought the photos of examples to be most uninspiring.

Good presentation, very informative
I am a novice and am in the process of reading and learning all I can about the technical foundations of sculpture. I found this book very easy to understand and well organized. The photographs and illustrations are top notch and add greatly to the understanding of the subject. This book is worth its price.

The best book since 3000 years!
I really liked his style and I enjoyed reading it, this book is a stimulance if you want to be active in sculpture !!!!! Lango Metten, the Netherlands ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Oaxacan Woodcarving
This a beautiful and colorful book about Oaxacan Woodcarvings. It illustrates their vivid history and humble beginnings by folk-artisans in Mexico.

Latin American crafts are special because they're created by people who have a passion for life. They express it in their art with vibrant colors and whimsical expressions.

I sincerely appreciate the work that goes into creating these figures. This book captures all of the above and more.

Not just a picture book, but a book about people...
I picked this book up just recently and was rather delighted by what I found. Vicki Ragan's photos are lovely, but it is Shepard Barbash's text that is the real delight here. How many of those who buy this book will be like the lady below who, apparently without reading the text, complains that the book does not feature all her favorite artists and all the little alien figures which she is sure are the most important images coming out of Oaxaca?

Please do buy this book, enjoy the lovely pictures, but then read the text. Barbash raises, rather subtlely, the question of whether these woodcarvings are folk art or a response to a commercial demand; he questions whether we are right to put our own "surrealist" readings on these wonderful little figures which are hardly conceived out of some sort of pychological dream matter.

Instead he puts this work into its proper context. These wonderful, brightly colored woodcarvings are the work of individuals with their own stories, hopes and fears -- for whom the incomprehensible wealth and technology of the United States is far more surreal than anything they might produce.

I have one of the cute little aliens the reader below speaks of. They are nice, but superficial beside the personal stories and personal expression that occasionally finds its way into this fascinating art that exists somewhere between folk and commerce.

Informative but disappointing.
This book is very informative for those interested in learning more about the artists behind the woodcarvings. However it only represents a few of the carvers and the photos while excellent quality will be a disappointment to those who may own or have seen many of the other wonderful carvings that these artists create. The photos seem to concentrate mainly on human style figures and although it does contain quite a few photos of animal figures most are those more on the conventional side. The more elaborate and colorful figures are not represented, neither are some of the more exotic animals like dragons, giraffes, and armadillos. There is nothing at all on the small 'alien' monsters which are now considered the trademark emblems of this area. For those wanting a book to show friends just what these artists can do it will be a bit of a disappointment, however since it's the only book available at present there is little choice.

A "Wooderful" Treasure
This is a wonderful little book with a wealth of information and pictures that document the whimsical wood carvings of Oaxaca(pronounced WA-HA-ka), Mexico.The folk art depicted are beautifully detailed figurines, lavishily decorated hand painted carved wood. The book explains the entire process and how the works are often family projects where all family members participate in order to sustain the family. If you are a collector of folk art this book is a good reference source as it tells you which names are most collectible. One of the more interesting Oaxacan carvings are the "alebriges" which are figurures that may have animal and human traits but are created in such a fashion that it looks like it may be from another world with its extra parts of anatomy and exaggerated form. The three-dimensional carvings are delightful pieces of folk art. Anyone interested in the folk art of Mexico, planing a trip to Oaxaca, teacher or student involved in art would enjoy this book. Easy to read and photographed to reproduce the intricate works that are so colorful this book is a valuable source of information for all interested in these now famous wood carvings from Oaxaca.

Not just the carvings, but the culture
Oaxacan Woodcarving is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to know more about both the woodcarvings and the culture of the woodcarvers.

The well done photos combined with very personal stories made the book easy to read. I found myself wanting to know more about the village and the people.

During a trip to Oaxaca, I found the book to be invaluable. The author's insight into the people who created these delightful sculptures helped me to understand what I was seeing.

I would recommend the book to anyone who is going to Oaxaca or has an interest in the culture. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Must-have polymer book, flowers are beautiful & easy to make
This is a must-have book for anyone wanting to learn to make beautiful miniature flowers. It is great book for all levels, even those who have never worked with polymer clay.

At first glance I though it would be hard and very time consuming. I was wrong. I was amazed at how easy it really was. In less than two hours, I had a very impressive looking rose bud.

The author first covers materials and how to work with polymer clay. Included templates help you judge size & shape. Each part of every flower is then explained step by step. Numerous color photos help to guide you.

Flowers covered include roses, dogwood, daisies, cherry blossoms, pansies, daffodils, and irises. There are a few projects in the back showing you how to frame the flowers and make jewelry or ornaments out of them.

excellent resource for life-like flowers!
I have many books on polymer clay and this is one of my favorites! The techiques show here can be applied to any sculpture but what impressed me was how lifelike these projects look! And with such detailed explanations and illustrations it is an easy jump to use these techiques to create flowers of your own choice. I have made figures from polymer clay for 7 years now and most books are repetitive to me, I found this one re-energized my creative juices and gave me something new to make, I now make minature flowers to adorn some of my figures and have been pleased with the new dimension it adds.

A primer for making flowers with polymer clay
Step-by-step instructions on how to make seven different flowers using polymer clay. Detailed diagrams and tips (from tools and materials to color blending). Good book for beginner flower artists in the polymer clay medium. Provides list of sources and references. ... Read more

Book Description

Painted Ponies is teh classic book of antique carousel art. This extraordinary coffee table style book presents the finest carving examples by the most renowned carousel artists. The rarest horses and most unique menagerie animals were selected from America's premier private collections and antique operating carousels. Painted Ponies contains useful guides, charts, and directories for collectors, carvers, artists, and enthusiasts. This book contains over 650 color photographs, 256 pages, 9"x11.5", deluxe hardcover edition. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

best book for carousel art and history
This an excellent book giving a good insight into the history of carousels from their early beginnings. Crammed with beautiful photographs of the various animals and some rare photographs of the carvers and their workshops. A must reference book if you are into carousels.

Great Carvings
A delightful book on a vanishing art form: hand carved carousel animals, sleighs, and ornaments. The color photographs are excellent. The background on merry-go-rounds and round-abouts is fun. The carvers and their companies are discussed in detail. Timelines, a directory, publications, restoration services, music, and a brief bibliography are included. I would have preferred an annotated bibliography, and citations of non-bound materials. In any event, this one is a keeper, and will give many hours of enjoyment.

A must for ANY carousel lover
I absolutely adore this book. The full color photos throughout the book are worth the pricetag, not to mention the extremely detailed history of the carousel and some of the more reknowned carvers. You can't pass this one up.

An excellent reference book!
Painted Ponies is THE best book on carousel art. We own 80 carousel animals & every book on fairground art but Painted Ponies is the only book we use as a reference. Whether you are an enthusiast, a first time buyer or an experienced collector, the hundreds of color photos are very useful to identify horses. It was also a wonderful source for paint & color ideas during the restoration of our antique carousels & animals.

If you love carousels, you'll love this calendar
I haven't seen the 1999 calendar, but I enjoyed the 1997 Painted Ponies calendar immensely. The photographs are spectacular! And the figures they've chosen to include are fabulous! If you are a carousel fan, you will be thrilled with the magic of carousel art every day.

Last year, I was given a different calendar with carousel figures on it...the difference was incredible. The quality of the two calendars was significantly different.

This year I searched until I could find this calendar again and I am looking forward to spending another year with the Painted Ponies. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The early work of any artist is often startling, and Alexander Calder's is particularly so. We think of Calder's sculpture as the epitome of crisp, Modernist forms--sometimes moving gently, as the mobiles and stabiles do. And we think of his paintings as filled with abstracted, biomorphic shapes. But the 1998 Calder retrospective showed that this American in Paris between the world wars began as a specialist in smoky nocturnes. This book, the catalog of that exhibition, carries Calder past all that, to 1930, when he was "shocked" into complete abstraction, as he said, by a visit to the studio of Piet Mondrian. The rest of the book details the development of an oeuvre, including bent-wire toys, carnival figures, and circus acrobats, that made Calder among the best-loved of 20th-century artists. It contains pictures of Calder and his beautiful wife Luisa, at home and in the studio in Connecticut and France, and 267 full-color plates of Calder's drawings, sculptures, and paintings. The chronology is interspersed with the chapter essays, which can be somewhat confusing, at first, for readers who like to jump to the back of the book looking for the time line. It is well worth it to slow down for Marla Prather's readable, instructive text, which is filled with quotes from Calder and his contemporaries, and for Alexander S.C. Rower's remarkable chronology, which includes even the Calders' 1972 New York Times advertisement calling for the impeachment of Richard M. Nixon. With great economy, Rower covers every event of importance, in Calder's art and in his life. --Peggy Moorman ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Caulder 5 stars, Publication 5 stars, Writing Style 3.
Calders work leaves me speachless and in its place... inspired, to do more, better. The book(hardcover)itself is beautifully bound and constructed of the highest quality materials, making it a delight to page through. The writing style is rigid and impersonal. Perhaps the author was careful to provide a neutral background for the colorful, animated genius of Calder but it lacks rhythym, speed and ease of use. I loved the tactile experience of the book itself and of course, Calder for his fresh, brilliant and prolific inventiveness. ... Read more