Category Archives: Art/Photography

Art/Photography, Book Reviews, Fantasy, Nonfiction

Coraline: A Visual Companion ~Stephen Jones

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Coraline: A Visual Companion ~Stephen Jones

–published 2009
–It Books
–240 pages
–Rating of art quality in the book: 3/5 stars
–Rating of written material: 5/5 stars
–Overall rating (factoring in Carl Math): 4.5/5 stars

Though still technically a month away, I found myself pouring a bit of lighter fluid on the flame that is beginning to grow for the R.I.P. V Challenge, when I discovered Coraline: A Visual Companion while wandering around the reference section of my local library this past Monday evening. I haven’t watched the film since just after its DVD release last summer, and haven’t read the novel since the inaugural R.I.P. Challenge in 2006, but when I saw the spunky heroine from Henry Selick’s incredible stop-motion adaptation on the cover, all my love of book and film came flooding back and I knew that my first act upon returning home from the library would be to crack it open.

And I did just that. 🙂

Continue reading Coraline: A Visual Companion ~Stephen Jones →

Art/Photography, Book Reviews, Nonfiction

Junk Beautiful ~Sue Whitney & Ki Nassauer

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Junk Beautiful ~Sue Whitney & Ki Nassauer

–published 2008
–Taunton Press
–204 pages
–5/5 stars

They say every woman’s trash is another woman’s treasure…or something to that effect. 😉 Junk Beautiful is all about the treasure. Among other things, the approaching summer has brought with it a desire to redecorate. How much the budget will actually allow is a mystery at this point, but I decided to feed this desire by scouring my local library for decorating books to start the creative juices flowing. On my second trip for this specific purpose I discovered this amazing book.

Those of you who read my review of Michael de Meng’s book,The Secret of Rusty Things, or any of a number of Friday Favorites artist features know that I am particularly attracted to found art projects, be they pieces of art or creatively re-purposed items, like those featured in Junk Beautiful.

I am fully prepared to admit up front that the “trash” vs. “treasure” viewpoints may come into play as I expose you to this book. Wherever you stand on the issue is fine by me, I know what I like, and I am beyond thrilled that the found art aesthetic is becoming more and more prominent in magazines, books, and on various online sites. It sparks my imagination and stirs my creative juices.

Continue reading Junk Beautiful ~Sue Whitney & Ki Nassauer →

Art/Photography, Book Reviews, Fantasy

Drawing Down the Moon ~Charles Vess

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Drawing Down the Moon: The Art of Charles Vess ~Charles Vess

–published 2009
–Dark Horse Books
–200 pages
–5/5 stars

The long-awaited (especially by those of us who waited through several scheduled and missed release dates) art book by Charles Vess finally saw publication a few months back and it seemed prudent to resist urges to tear right into it so that I could save it for the Once Upon a Time Challenge. It was a good choice…a great choice. This wonderfully designed book of wonders was the perfect book to begin the challenge with, and on Sunday, March 21st I spent a long afternoon basking in the warm glow of one of the best fantasy illustrators alive today.

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Art/Photography, Book Reviews, Fantasy, Friday Favorites, Science Fiction

Friday Favorites–Mark Schultz: Various Drawings Volume 4

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Mark Scultz: Various Drawings Volume 4 ~Mark Schultz

–published 2009
–Flesk Publications
–48 pages
–5/5 stars

The 2010 Friday Favorites continue with another Saturday edition, courtesy of a forgotten computer power cord and an all-day work conference. This post serves as both a celebration of art and a book review as I finally was able to sit down last week to slobber over this Christmas gift from my wife, Flesk Publications‘ latest release, Mark Schultz: Various Drawings Volume 4.

The tag line for this book reads: “A collection of images for those who enjoy process as well as result”, and this book delivers on that promise every bit as successfully as the three previous volumes.

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Art/Photography, Book Reviews, Fantasy, Friday Favorites, Science Fiction

Friday Favorite: Spectrum 16 Book Review

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(cover image by Melanie Delon)

Spectrum 16: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art ~edited by Cathy and Arnie Fenner

–published 2009
–Underwood Books
–264 pages
–4.25/5 stars

Each and every fall I await the release of the latest issue of Spectrum with fevered anticipation, for each and every year it is a delight to read. This year’s annual perusal with my friend Jeff was delayed due to ordering issues, but this past Wednesday we sat down to savor our first read-through. It most certainly will not be my last (a fact proven by my having read through it again since Wednesday!)

As I have in past years, I wanted to show you a tiny sampling of the massive art selection offered on the pages of Spectrum.

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