Archive for the 'Arts and Photography' Category

True Vision: Authentic Art Journaling

True Vision: Authentic Art Journaling Customer Review: True Vision by LK Ludwig
This is the best book on art journaling to come out in years. Unlike some of the other recent books on this topic, the work presented is interesting, sophisticated, and artful. The instruction is for serious art journalists who have already done some art journaling and is not “dumbed down.” The author presents a broad range of work, much of which is by well-known and popular teachers in this genre, but also includes many worthy newcomers. The layout and graphics are inviting and spacious, and the text is worth reading. Ludwig has a soulful and poetic narrative voice. The feeling tone which she brings to her writing is wonderful; she has the courage to celebrate work that goes beyond “pretty.” One of my favorite aspects of the book are the in-depth interviews with some of the featured journalists, especially the ones with Juliana Coles and Traci Bunkers. There are many suggestions in the book which can be used to launch new journal pages, many beautiful quotes, and helpful “art activity” suggestions run vertically along the right hand page edge. My only criticism of the book focuses on the poor editing of the text–major bloopers! Captions are attached to the wrong pictures, paragraphs are repeated, lines are missing in one or two cases. The editor who worked on this book needs a scolding for such carelessness! Inspite of errors in presentation, this book is very inspiring and beautiful. A must for any library of art journaling books. I give it four stars.

Art & Fear: Observations On the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking

Art & Fear: Observations On the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking

“This is a book about making art. Ordinary art. Ordinary art means something like: all art not made by Mozart. After all, art is rarely made by Mozart-like people; essentially-statistically speaking-there aren’t any people like that. Geniuses get made once-a-century or so, yet good art gets made all the time, so to equate the making of art with the workings of genius removes this intimately human activity to a strangely unreachable and unknowable place. For all practical purposes making art can be examined in great detail without ever getting entangled in the very remote problems of genius.”
–from the Introduction

Discovering Great Artists: Hands-On Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Masters (Bright Ideas for Learning)

Discovering Great Artists: Hands-On Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Masters (Bright Ideas for Learning)

Featuring more than 150 activities, this guide teaches the styles, works, and techniques of the great masters—Van Gogh, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, and more.

Customer Review: Own this one!
This is a great book to have on hand to teach art or for a rainy day. I love how she goes through various artistic means of expression: buildings, sculpting, painting, etc. She talks about an artist (and includes a picture & some info) and then you create! Very, Very clever! LOVE it! But then again, I love all of the Mary Ann Kohl books we’ve bought!
Customer Review: Nicely done
Filled with information on both artists and schools of art with simple projects for each, this book will be very useful at home or in the classroom.

The Art of War (Shambhala Classics)

The Art of War (Shambhala Classics) Sun Tzu’s classic treatise on the art of warfare
Customer Review: The Illustrated Art of War
See “The Illustrated Art of War” ISBN 978-19518999X published in 2005. The same translator (Samuel B Griffith) and the same publisher (Oxford University Press) but in a hardcover edition with illustrations.
Customer Review: Strategic Classic
This is simply a very important book in the scholarship of military and political strategy. It is required reading for generals and other military commanders (as well as leaders involved in strategic and tactical decisionmaking).