It’s ideal as the basis of a daily or weekly art lesson.  It’s also a great preparation for taking young children to art museums.  In fact, it’s one of the best I’ve seen, for that purpose.

Each letter of the alphabet is matched to an art-related word.  The word — like the book — is in English, but it’s also provided in Spanish, German, and French.  Each letter is also represented with Sign language.  This expands the use of the book in any classroom setting.

The illustrations in the book are delightful.  They aren’t too intimidating for young children, and will definitely appeal to them.  They’re colorful and fun.

The brief definition of each art-related word will give teachers enough to work with, to teach effectively.  They’re even more useful if the teacher spends a little time online or with art books, learning more about the subject to explain it in more depth.

I especially like that the book includes several complex art concepts, and it doesn’t “talk down” to children.

This kind of book is ideal for a homeschool group, teaching children at  multiple grade levels.

For teaching a class, or reading to more than a very small group of children, larger illustrations will be helpful.  The examples in the book are too small to be seen beyond the second row in a classroom setting.

However, many school and public libraries have excellent books to supplement what’s in “…The ABC’s of Art.”  (Every book has its limits, and this one addresses that issue well.)

The price of the book reflects the full-color pages, but it may be a little price-y for a teacher or homeschooler who is taking this out of his or her personal budget.

However, this is a very useful book for a department, school library, or public library to purchase.  It will be greatly appreciated by teachers.

As a starting point for a daily or weekly art theory lesson, this is a book that teachers have needed for a long time.

Pros

• Every page is in color, and has a lot of visual appeal.
• The terminology doesn’t “talk down” to children.
• Helpful tips make it easy for teachers to share this information without an art background.

Cons

• The price of this large paperback book  isn’t competitive with some art books from larger publishers.
• Images of the art being described are small for students to see from a distance.

(Aside from the price, I had to look hard to find a second negative comment to make.)

If you are buying books for a public or school library, I think this is a must-buy.  If you frequent your public or school library, recommend this book as a useful resource for teachers and parents.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Herman The Jester and The ABC’s of Art
Price: USD 23.99

19 used & new available from USD 6.00

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The Weekend Crafter: Making Books And Journals: 20 Great Weekend Projects is a short (80 pages) book that features some unusual book designs and lots of photos showing readers exactly how to make each book.

What I love about this book is that it’s great for beginners and it includes some innovative ideas that will delight experienced book artists as well.

Some people thrill when they discover a new, intricate binding technique for art books.

While I enjoy those, I’m far more enthusiastic about clever, simple designs that allow me to wildly embellish the books.

The latter is why I recommend this book: The projects are easy enough for beginners, and exciting enough for experts.

Here are just a few of the 20 projects featured in this book:

• Folded Book with Pockets
• Roll-Up Travel Journal
• Mailable Journal
• Jelly Bean Books
• Angel Photo Albums
• Ornament Books
• Coptic-Bound Sketch Journal
• Japanese-Bound Picture Frame Album

… and 12 more, plus many ideas based on these handmade books.

What I love about this book for beginners is this: The photos show how to create each book, step-by-step. These really are projects that you can complete in a few hours, or at least in a weekend.

This book is also great for experts because many of these books can be embellished into awe-inspiring projects. And, the simpler books can be given to friends, sold online inexpensively, or displayed around your home or office, to let others know about your more elaborate handmade books.

All in all, this is a book that may look average on the bookshelf, but — once you look at the projects that it features — you’ll be impressed.

Making Books and Journals is also simple enough to give as a gift for anyone — including a child old enough to use the tools — who’d like to learn to make handmade books. It also offers a wealth of ideas for Scouts or youth group projects.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Read others’ reviews at

Amazon.com or  Amazon.co.uk

The Weekend Crafter: Making Books And Journals: 20 Great Weekend Projects
Price: —

44 used & new available from USD 0.10

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Over 40 projects fill this book with fabulous ideas for making one-of-a-kind handmade books, journals, and albums. It is one of the most exciting and inspiring books for anyone who is interested in making unique art books.

Whether you want to start with a simple folded book or scroll book or leap into a tunnel book, flag book, pocket book, or even a three-panel Jacob’s Ladder book, Unique Handmade Books will delight you.

This book includes projects that beginners can complete within an hour or two using paper, glue, scissors and any art supplies that you have on hand. However if you want to learn classic and ornate bookbinding techniques, they are included as well.

One of my favorite chapters is called “Transforming Everyday Life,” which includes inspiring illustrations of a mixed media books and related projects. This chapter includes instructions for spiral binding, a card file book, a found poetry journal, and an innovative use of a spell checker to create poetry.

If you’ve been intrigued by cloth books, the author includes three different fiber projects.

In separate chapters, Ms. Golden includes techniques for illustrating your new handmade book with a variety of media. She also presents fascinating ways to display your handmade books and even discusses ideas for collaborative projects for adults and for children.

If you can only buy one book about making handmade books, this would be an excellent choice. I highly recommend it .

I have referred to this book often for my own work and consider it a vital reference in my studio library.

PROS: Enough ideas to spark and sustain a career in handmade art books. Juicy photos show many ways to personalize these projects. I can’t possibly rave enough about this book.

CONS: Beginners may be overwhelmed by the number and variety of projects in this great book. Illustrations can be confusing if you tackle a complex design without prior experience in paper folding and book constructing techniques. Start with the simplest projects, and work your way up.

Summary

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Buy this book and read others’ reviews at

Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

Unique Handmade Books
Price: —

8 used & new available from USD 38.63

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

If you are someone who is intimidated by startling, innovative art journaling techniques, this rich, juicy book may overwhelm you. This is an idea book more than a step-by-step guide for beginning book artists.

Since my approach to paper art is often, “When all else fails, read the directions,” this is one of my favorite reference books. However, I also understand why many of my students feel that it is strictly for advanced artists.

If you are an artist who learns visually and would prefer to have more pictures and less text in an art reference book, you’ll probably love this book.

On the other hand, if you are someone who stares at completed work and wonders how they did that, you may prefer a different book.

If I could own only three books about art journaling, this would probably be one of them. I am endlessly inspired by the many lavish photos in this book.

While the focus is generally on paper arts, the approach is more aligned with mixed media techniques. Some of the featured projects include found object art, fabric art, decorative metal work, and truly extraordinary art.

Depending upon your learning mode, this book will either be one of your favorites or a book that you put aside to enjoy when you are more confident about exploring new materials, media, and techniques on your own.

PROS: Rich, colorful, highly inspiring illustrations covering a wide range of art journaling techniques. From textiles to aluminum foil to cigar boxes, you’ll find a wealth of ideas in over 125 glossy, full-color pages.

CONS: Weak instructions rely on readers’ experience/intuition–or perhaps daring–to achieve similar results. If you prefer to learn from specific, step-by-step instruction, you probably won’t like this book.

That said, if you buy this book and are disappointed in it, put it aside and look at it again in a few months. It will probably become one of your favorite reference books.

Summary

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Buy this book and read others’ reviews at

Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

Artists’ Journals and Sketchbooks: Exploring and Creating Personal Pages
Price: USD 14.95

55 used & new available from USD 7.00

Related posts:

1. Discovering Great Artists, Mary Ann Kohl and Kim Solga Starting with Giotto and continuing on through current artists,...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The Artful Dodger: Images and Reflections by Nick Bantock is a must-own for fans of his art and writing.

Nick Bantock may be best known for his Griffin & Sabine Trilogy, but he has authored many other extraordinarily beautiful books featuring his own art and text.

In the Artful Dodger, Bantock offers some of his most haunting, beautiful, and inspiring art from each of his books, with commentary.

In the some cases, he explains why he wrote the books the way that he did and provides insights to his creative process.  If some of his more cryptic books have baffled you, you may find answers in this large, comprehensive volume.

Bantock also shares many examples of other art that he has created, including his paintings as well as book covers and illustrations for other authors.

In discussing the art process, Bantock dismisses any attempts at faux elitism. In talking about some of his paintings, Bantock says, “I was working on the floor so that I could walk around the piece. Also I was using brushes less and less, often paintings with my fingers. ”

Later, discussing his pop-ups, Bantock says, “I taught myself how to construct pop-ups by trial and error; using scissors and a role of Scotch tape. I began with simple cuts and folds; then, when I’d gotten the hang of the easy stuff, I started dismantling any old pop-up books I could get my hands on to see how the more complex paper mechanics functioned. ”

By offering a wide range of examples from many years of his work as an artist, Bantock gives us a fabulously inspiring overview of his development and his talents. The results are stunning.

If you have been inspired by Bantock’s art but are less interested in his stories, the Artful Dodger is a wise investment. However, all fans of Bantock will enjoy this book; it includes favorites from most of his stories as well as a tour of his lesser-known studio works.

This is a high quality, hardcover coffee table book that you will treasure for years to come. It is among my favorites references for collage and mixed media art.

PROS: A rich sampling featuring varied art by an extraordinary contemporary artist. Varied techniques, media, subjects, and approaches offer a wealth of inspiration for artists.

CONS: Does not include the intriguing envelopes and enclosures of the Griffin & Sabine series, only the art. Very little text from the original books; instead, Bantock offers extensive narrative insights and backstory for his popular art novels.

SUMMARY

• Coffee table book, not a how-to book
• Insights into Bantock’s inspiring art career
• Includes many of the best of Bantock’s illustrations

If you like Bantock’s art, this book is a worthwhile purchase for your studio reference library.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

For others’ reviews of this book
see Amazon.com, or, in the UK, see Amazon.co.uk

The Artful Dodger: Images and Reflections
Price: —

60 used & new available from USD 3.93

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Art Doll Adventures: Exploring Projects and Processes through Cultural Traditions by Lisa Li Hertzi

First, a disclaimer: I know Li (she’s one of our expert reviewers) and she’s a very good friend. That said, I’d rave about her book even if I didn’t know her.

See, I’ve been making art dolls since childhood, and selling them since the early 1970s, so I’m always interested in books about creating dolls of all kinds. I’m also bored out of my mind by vapid, cookie-cutter dolls.

Since I’m venting… the other problem that I have with many dollmaking books is that they’re either too much by-the-numbers, or they’re so advanced, even experts gasp in awe when they see some of the projects.

So, I opened the package with Li’s book and held my breath as I opened the cover. I mean, I hate to write a negative review about a friend’s book, but I also need to be honest.

Whew! (That exclamation should be in neon lights.)

I love this book. Really, it’s one of the few dollmaking books that I can recommend to absolutely anyone with any level of experience, even a total beginner.

Well… okay… If you’re looking for dolls with sweet, realistic faces made from skin-toned fabric, with the correct number of fingers and toes, this probably isn’t the book for you.

For anyone else: Get this book. I mean it. Skip the rest of this review and order it right now. (That’s an Amazon.com link, btw.)

Need more info?

Okay, here it is: Li features all kinds of wild & wonderful cloth dolls, including lots of designs inspired by tribal and primitive art and archaeology. The colors (and sometimes beading) are vivid and juicy.

Li has provided lots of detailed instructions, not just about the dolls, but about the techniques of making them. She doesn’t just say, “Rub ivory black into the crevices,” she has a photo showing exactly how to do it.

This book isn’t just about dolls, either. There are many very cool, fabric art projects.

One of them is a fabric color wheel… unlike any color wheel you’ve ever seen. Then, there’s the Agreements Book Screen, which is a paneled fabric book that’s also a backdrop for displaying your handmade dolls & figures. And, an Etched Petroglyph ATC made from fabric and acrylic artist’s supplies, as well as instructions for a simple, layered-fabric ATC.

If you’re interested in making contemporary cloth dolls and figures, this book belongs in your collection.

If you’re a total beginner and you can buy only one book, this is an ideal choice. It includes full-size pattern pieces, and detailed, illustrated step-by-step directions.

Or, if you’re a professional dollmaker and you’re looking for inspiration, this is one of those books that you’ll consult again and again. Even the step-by-step instructions feature illustrations and tips that make me say, “Ooh, what a great idea!”

I especially like that the basic designs are really simple.

You won’t get bogged down with teensy little sewing details. You won’t spend 20 minutes trying to figure how to attach pieces A and B to piece C.

And, you’ll have plenty of energy left for creative embellishments that will make the figure uniquely yours.

I don’t usually write such long reviews, or rave this much about a book unless it’s truly one of the best in the field. Art Doll Adventures gets my 100% enthusiastic recommendation as a must-own book for dollmakers at all levels.

SUMMARY

• Fun, innovative, highly original cloth doll projects.
• Great for beginners and advanced fiber artists alike.
• Nothing insipid! Dolls, ATCs, fabric books & more.

Doll artists with figures in this book include: Inez Brasch, Patti Medaris Culea, Sue Farmer, Cody Goodwin, Linda Hansen, Jan Hayman, Judith Harmon Hertzi, Barb & Doug Keeling, Kathy Kenny, Elizabeth McGrath, Leslie Molen, John Murphy, Rosie Rojas, Rivkah Rosenfeld, and Isabella Zambezi.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Order a copy or read others’ reviews at
Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk

Art Doll Adventures: Exploring Projects and Processes through Cultural Traditions
Price: USD 18.99

36 used & new available from USD 5.29

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

While we’re in transition, this site may look a little untidy.  Have patience.  The improvements will be worth it!

(All of the earlier reviews will be here, shortly.  We’re working on restoring the audio reviews, too.)

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

If you require any more information or have any questions about our privacy policy, please feel free to contact us by email at email@ArtBooksReviews.com.

At www.ArtBooksReviews.com, the privacy of our visitors is of extreme importance to us. This privacy policy document outlines the types of personal information is received and collected by www.ArtBooksReviews.com and how it is used.

Log Files
Like many other Web sites, www.ArtBooksReviews.com makes use of log files. The information inside the log files includes internet protocol ( IP ) addresses, type of browser, Internet Service Provider ( ISP ), date/time stamp, referring/exit pages, and number of clicks to analyze trends, administer the site, track user’s movement around the site, and gather demographic information. IP addresses, and other such information are not linked to any information that is personally identifiable.

Cookies and Web Beacons
www.ArtBooksReviews.com does not use cookies.

DoubleClick DART Cookie
.:: Google, as a third party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on www.ArtBooksReviews.com.
.:: Google’s use of the DART cookie enables it to serve ads to users based on their visit to www.ArtBooksReviews.com and other sites on the Internet.
.:: Users may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy at the following URL – http://www.google.com/privacy_ads.html

Some of our advertising partners may use cookies and web beacons on our site. Our advertising partners include ….
Google Adsense
Commission Junction
Clickbank
Linkshare
Amazon

These third-party ad servers or ad networks use technology to the advertisements and links that appear on www.ArtBooksReviews.com send directly to your browsers. They automatically receive your IP address when this occurs. Other technologies ( such as cookies, JavaScript, or Web Beacons ) may also be used by the third-party ad networks to measure the effectiveness of their advertisements and / or to personalize the advertising content that you see.

www.ArtBooksReviews.com has no access to or control over these cookies that are used by third-party advertisers.

You should consult the respective privacy policies of these third-party ad servers for more detailed information on their practices as well as for instructions about how to opt-out of certain practices. www.ArtBooksReviews.com’s privacy policy does not apply to, and we cannot control the activities of, such other advertisers or web sites.

If you wish to disable cookies, you may do so through your individual browser options. More detailed information about cookie management with specific web browsers can be found at the browsers’ respective websites.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Colourwash Quilts by Deirdre Amsden is a superb and inspiring book for advanced quilters.

If you enjoyed Strip Pieced Watercolor Magic, but you are ready to try more complex, innovative or original designs, this is an ideal book.

In this book, author Deirdre Amsden spends far more time explaining how to design your quilt than the details of constructing it.

Although she gives many examples that you can copy by following her directions, this is not a book offering by-the-numbers instructions. In fact, many of the quilts that you make from this book will be one-of-a-kind, and designed on graph paper, or an enlarged grid.

One of the reasons that I like this book so much, is because the author uses wide range of fabrics in modern and historical inspired patterns. She talks about her pattern, color and value choices as part of the design process.

She also is a daring with colors. On the cover of the book, you’ll see color opposites — such as blue and brown — placed next to each other. You’ll see other similar, startling combinations inside this very exciting book.

This is a visually dazzling book if you love color.

There are books that talk you through projects so that you can create the quilt that you see in the photograph. This is not one of those books.

Instead, this is a book that you will browse for inspiration when you want to create an award-winning quilt that is innovative as well as a unique art statement.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Order a copy or read others’ reviews at
Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk

Colourwash Quilts: A Personal Approach to Design & Technique
Price: —

45 used & new available from USD 2.35

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

We’ve all read webpages, magazine articles, or chapters in books that provide valuable photo tips. However, few of those articles provide enough information–especially about digital photography–for professionals in arts and crafts.

If you need photographs of your art or crafts for a juried show or competition, the quality of your pictures can be more important than the quality of your art. That’s why you need to read this book, and–if you are like me–you probably need to own a copy of it

First, the author explains how to select a digital camera and how to use it. The camera that you use for family photos or your travel pictures may not have the features that you need to competently photograph your artwork.

Many of us only know how to turn the camera on, push the button to take a photo, and then transfer the digital image to our computers. That’s not enough for photos that juries will see.

In this book, the author talks about image sizes and file types, and the differences between photographs for online use, for slides, and for print.

He provides a list of the minimal amount of equipment you’ll need to take pictures of your artwork. He suggests seven items. (The first three are a digital camera with a zoom lens, a memory card, and a tripod.)

Then, he provides a full page illustration showing exactly how to set up your studio for professional quality photographs.

Until I read this book, I had no idea how to light my arts and crafts to look their best.

The author not only tells you how to take successful photos, he explains it in plain English. Even better, he has illustrated the book with drawings and photographs that will appeal to visually oriented artists.

One of the most important features of this book is the section that discusses the specific needs of different kinds of art and crafts. For example, if you are taking a picture of your glass or ceramics, you will use a different approach than when you are photographing quilts or art made with fiber.

In my opinion, this is a book we’ve needed for a long time. A copy belongs on the bookshelf of every professional artist and crafter, and it should be referred to often.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Order a copy or read others’ reviews at
Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk

Photographing Arts, Crafts & Collectibles: Take Great Digital Photos for Portfolios, Documentation, or Selling on the Web (A Lark Photography Book)
Price: USD 16.47

40 used & new available from USD 13.47

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.