Decorative Books

The book arrived in a very timely manner and it was in great condition -- no markings or bent pages. I would definitely buy from this seller again.

This book is very informative and it tries to explain so that there is not much confusion after looking it over.

I would recommend this to anyone who wants to better themselves in the region of art history knowledge and the ability to evaluate art's content as well. It was well worth buying and compliments any classes orientated towards the subject...maybe would even overshadow the required text.

Loved this book for my Art class. I didn't think I would like the class, fell in love with art, and even kept the book afterwards instead of selling it.

I am extremely disappointed in amazon and this book. You guys delivered it over a month late.I'm not paying for amazon prime so I can receive much needed books over a month late. I had to go to my College bookstore and pay $120. You wanna know the worst part? They don't accept devolutions. So I'm extremely disappointed.

I love, love, love this book! I preordered and couldn't wait to get it. When the book arrived it did not disappoint. So many times a book does not live up to expectations but this one does. The how-to's are great - I have been struggling to get that layered look and now I think I can. The inspiration is, well, inspiring. The pictures are fabulous. I keep going over and over this book. So happy with this book. Thank you Kelly Rae for your gift of flight!

When my book arrived in the mail, it hasn't left my side! It is filled with wonderful pictures, techniques and creative inspiration! Kelly Rae shares her heart and her art with us, and it is truly a must have treasure!! Whether you dabble in art or not, it is something that will give you inspiration to find your nitch, your happy place to create. Its addicting!! :)

I've been waiting for this kind of soaring inspiration for a long time! Kelly Rae's book is not only soulful and beautiful, but it also offers you clear examples and practical information on how to give your creative life some wings. Artists interviews and mixed media projects will certainly get you playing and having fun doing your Art! Get ready to fly and make your dreams come true!

Absolutely love her work I've seen in the past, and the fact that she is willing to show the rest of us how to learn the methods and develop our own style I think is awesome! Incredibly giving of herself.
Wonderful pictures, how-to's, step-by-steps, and just plain fun to look at. This is going to be one of my #1 books to refer to when I hit a stumbling block in my creativity.

There are many art books on the market, but few that offer great ideas as well as inspiration. I have purchased many art books and I must say that this new book is one of the best! Kelly's openness, encouraging thoughts and fabulous ideas are so inspirational. I can't put it down--but I did to pick up my paint brush. This book is a must have for any creative person.

good times, not difficult or even too graphic. just good information for even more good times ;)

A great book on Shibari. Well illustrated and photographed. The knots are delightful and fun to tie on my special someone.

Most people I have talked to all say why buy the book when you can watch all the videos on youtube? Well number reason I would say buy it. It shows all the actual knots! Not just the whole thing. It goes step by step showing you the basics knots used in most all bondages. Good detail. It helped me out on the ones I was having troubles with on the videos. If you are a big fan of there videos you really should buy the book. Not only to help them out but its a must read for the extras you will never see in the book. I will buy book 2 when released.

Clear instructions, many step-by-step photos, several very pretty designs. For the price, I would say the best rope bondage book on the market for beginners.

For the more 'advanced' rope people out there, it might not be enough for you, but still well worth the money (especially if you get it on sale).

I've long been a fan of the Two Knotty Boys style and was excited to have purchased this book when it came out. It is very easy to understand and follow the instructions and photos. Some feel the black/white photos should have been colour, but I don't believe that it would have made much of a difference. All of the photos are clear and easy to see what is going on. The ties are fun and beautiful, which is my type of rope art. I personally believe this is one of my essential quick reference books in my (rope) collection.

Don't be misled by the simple pictures and storybook style into thinking this a just a book for children. I have given this book to several adult friends, including some who are professional artists. We all learned something from Molly Bang's clear and compelling explanations of the principles of visual composition.

I love this book and using it for teaching basic design ideas...a fellow teacher uses it in Psychology! The simple story of Little Red Riding Hood serves as the basis for discussion how line, color, shape, etc. work in art. Such a great idea...wish there were others of this type. I will be using it to teach the elements of art in Art History this fall.

I can't say I'm overly well versed in composition, namely because most books on the subject are so dense. But in Picture This, the author has found easily understandable way to show the basic fundamentals of art.

Rather than teach composition with diagrams drawn over old master paintings like some books, Molly Bang uses simple bits of paper to demonstrate how shape, color and placement can affect the mood of a picture. And once you understand these principles, it's easy to see how they can be applied to more complex artwork.

Bang's pace is very deliberate. Every change to her construction paper compositions is well documented and explained. It's that simplicity and directness that allow her to communicate such a large amount of knowledge in only 96 pages.

And don't let the short page count and the fact that this book is recommended for grade schoolers fool you. This is a book every artist should have her shelf.

Using the story of Little Red Riding Hood this book is focusing on the basic principles of composing images.

Reduced to the maximum and using simple colors and arrangements of basic elements like circles or triangles, the drawings as well as the short, precise text within this book are pointing out, how simple and complex arrangements within pictures work, transfer obvious (and hidden) messages, how philosophy and psychology witin pictures works. Therefor its a book telling the story why pictures may lie, may influence, may manipulate an observer even though obviously just showing "reality".

Whether you are taking photographs, drawing or designing - this book is a absolute must! A photo/image tells more than thousand words - here you will find the answer how and why. Great to read and watch, easy and fast to understand - even though dealing with a most complex matter.

Finally a personal statement and hint for an esthetes: if you like to possess a book with an outer shape and appearance that promises, what the contents keeps, than you have to buy the nice hard cover version instead of the cheaper soft cover version - it will pay off for sure.

This book is amazing...the illustrations are simple, clear and compelling and the narrative approach to understanding the art elements and principles makes this rather dry topic into a fascinating tale. I have purchased several copies of this book for friends and plan to use it in my middle school art classroom.

This was my first ATC book and gives good ideas, guidelines, techniques. Kind of neat- a teacher from my old highschool was featured in here. I DO like how several different styles were highlighted in the book.

Terrific book with a lot of fresh ideas. Some items are harder to find, but reasonable subsitutes can often be found...for instance Orange Goo Gone can be used in place of Gamsol in some instances. You can find a number of groups working on the challenges together and sharing their progress with this book and that's an extraordinary situation, IMO. I love it!

This is one of the best "how to" craft books I have ever read. I've just gotten interested in ATCs and the instructions on different methods and history of this artform are excellent. I highly recommend this book for beginners!

This book contains everything you need to know to create ATC's. It explains everything from the origins of this fascinating art form to examples and instructions. It provides inspiration as well. Great book!

I have only had this book in my possession for about a week and I have already made a trip to the craft store to get a few new supplies and was up until all hours of the night the last few days trying the new techniques! I have been an avid scrapbooker and paper crafter for years, but this book showed me things I have never thought of or tried before and it opened a whole new world of possibilities and inspiration for me. Not only does the author present some great techniques, but she includes gorgeous color photos and easy to follow instructions. Any paper crafter can use the ideas in this guide and make them their own!

Living the Creative Life is challenging me to look at creativity in many new ways. The approach taken from the viewpoint of many different artists in many different media shows the versitality of our innate creative spirit. The idea that all humans are creative if they allow that part of the whole person to flourish is not new to me, but the way this author discusses the creative spirit is fresh. The book is beautiful to look at and I love the format -- small size, lovely illustrations and great ideas for jump starting creativity.

By asking several artist's the same question, it shows there is no "right" way. Everyone comes to their art with their own style. Great idea's to jump start the muse. The imagery was beautiful.

You can't but be inspired after reading this wondrous book! I will admit first hand, I personally have no intention (nor the talent), to ever become a world class artist by any means. I do have passion to create however, and this book along with another I received around the same time, Your Home A Living Canvas: Create Stunning Faux Finishes & Murals with Paint, by Curtis Heuser, have almost convinced me to rethink my day job. How rewarding (and envious), it sounds from all these talented souls, to be devoted and fortunate enough to get to spend their time without a doubt, doing what they love. Not to say it is without effort, but the pure joy and love for expression, explodes off the pages and simply can not be denied in both of these glorious titles.

Unlike the various first hand artistic testimonials featured throughout "THE CREATIVE LIFE..." - "YOUR HOME..." follows just one decorative artist's amazing creative journey, leading to the publishing of his extroidinary first book which documents the rebirth of his ordinary historic home, through must see mural and faux painting techniques and decoration. In addition, Heuser's book is full of beautiful before, during and after photography, and inspiring how to do the same for your own home-projects. There are similarities in both of these titles however, as the reader will discover and can almost touch the often unexplicable creative passion in the hearts and spirits of these diversely talented artistans.

There appears a special kinship between the artists and authors of both these books - as each are driven by the undeniable desire to express themselves through a wide range of interesting art mediums. I want to personally "Thank" both authors for so eloquently and unselfishly sharing their work and individual views on creativity with us! Both books offer rare insight and are worthy of our every penny! ENJOY!!!!

It is hard to imagine anyone could read this book without stopping multiple times to experiment with some form of art explorations of their own. The author makes it seem natural and oh so inviting. The only drawback is the small print on busy pages. It is sometimes difficult to read the suggestions.

I know a couple artists that submitted their work to this book and I was happy to see them included!
I think any book that helps people with inspiration is great.

I do think this book is a bit fluffy. At least for me. I was hoping for something different maybe. Something meatier ~ Thanks

I WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH THIS BOOK I ORDERED ONE FOR A FRIEND WHO IS AN AUSTRALIAN DESIGNER.SHE IS OVERJOYED WITH IT AND STATES THAT THERE IS NOT A SINGLE PAGE THAT SHE DIDNT FIND FASCINATING AND I CAN ASSURE YOU SHE IS A VERY DISCERNING PERSON SO FOR THAT SORT OF ACCOLADE THE HIGH STANDARD OF THIS BOOK IS VERIFIED

I love having the chance to learn from the best, which is what I get with such great books as this one . Thank you Amazon Books..........

Bunny Williams has a great eye and this book is chalk full of great photos. Great inspiration for any designer.

Once I knew that Bunny Willams would be coming out with this book, I had no doubt that I would buy it. I proudly own and display both of her other books and find myself looking through each of them again and again. I happened to be in the library and noticed Point Of View there, so I decided to check it out before ordering from Amazon. It was sheer luck that I was able to look through and read this book before purchasing it! I so wanted to like this book but it was very disappointing to me. There is nothing, and I mean nothing practical in any of the pages of this book. I love to shop and feel that I have a beautiful and well loved home, but the houses in this book were beyond inspirational. It smacked of affluence at it's most over the top and displayed excessive consumtion of any object to fill every single table, space, etc. I found the rooms to be over-decorated even knowing and appreciating Ms. Williams style. I didn't see room on any of the tables to even put a cup of coffee! The rooms lacked any editing and there was much too much everywhere! The houses appeared to be enormous by any standard and crammed full of "stuff". Who could possibly be inspired to create several seating areas in one room to seat 8 people in each grouping. Come on! Way too much money sometimes equals absolutely no restraint.

What I did like was the writing. I also enjoyed the rooms which showed a television in them because so often these remain hidden. The reality is that everyone watches some TV. An Affair with a House was hard to top, I'll say that as well. Bunny and John's style seemed more personal there and the adorable pups in all the pictures were heart warming.

I wanted to like this book, darn it. But I didn't. Please look before purchasing. Sorry.

Bunny Williams is a significant figure in the realm of interior design, a distinguished apostle of a style that she learned from Sister Parish; and Williams' prior book AN AFFAIR WITH A HOUSE was tremendously inspirational to homeowners of both the aristocracy and the bourgeousie. Much was expected of this new book POINT OF VIEW, and while there are things to be learned from a close reading of the text, the dark photographs detract and indeed render the book less significant than it could have been.

-E.P. League

It's a good book with plenty of definitions and references. If you want to know about the History of Art and the Cultures that go along with it, I suggest this book.

Of course, I am a college student at an Art school and so I didn't have much of a choice as it is a required reading for one of my classes.

Visually, this is a beautiful book. The photography is excellent, and it is the pictures that provide value. The narrative has less impact, as little in the way of concrete information is given. In the end, however, the various rooms, inspite of their beautiful contents, leave an impression of emptiness. One cannot imagine people actually living in these rooms, and leaving any human imprint. The rooms are perfect as in a museum, but just as in that setting, no one may sit down.

Moss is really good at the visuals (and textures) of interiors, and she has what's clearly a reverence for the history of home and garden design. Both help create the richness of image and inspiration that are this book's primary appeal. Less attractively, she does seem out of touch, not only with ordinary folks but also with ordinary emotions. You'll get some gorgeous visuals for the steep cover price here, but be warned that there's nothing "lived in" about this "flair for living."

I don't think it is her wealth in and of itself that is the problem. Many home and garden writers (not to mention personalities in other fields) are wealthy and yet come across on the page as very emotionally present. (Plus, from the evidence within it Moss was already very well off when she created A Passion for Detail, her warmest and most generous book.) For me, the dollars and cents don't really matter.

What does matter is warmth, which this book never really offers. Moss uses the cataloging of antiques, objects, purchases, historic influences, travel, famous inspirations, etc., etc. etc. as a way to wall herself off--it's a lavish fortress of sorts, as is the home itself. It's hard to tell who or what she would be without all this. In the end, the weird part about this book is that even when I loved a particular room or grouping or object, it didn't make me aspire to the lifestyle illustrated ...the formality and elaboration and old fashioned feeling of it all weren't attractive even when the objects themselves were.

This book is filled with beautiful photos of the most superbly arranged and layered rooms that Charlotte Moss has ever done. Each page is loaded with visual ideas and requires careful study in order to see everything.
The text is very interesting because she discusses her inspirations and philosophies, which are not only interesting, but also a great source of inspiration in and of themselves. It has been one of my evening reads for over two months and I never tire of it. I have also given more than 12 as gifts and all recipients have raved about it.

I always purchase design books with some trepidation since I am not a designer and do not own a McMansion. I do have an 1880 square foot ranch home built in the 1980s that deserves to be both beautiful and well preserved. I also have a strong interest in good, functional design that combines beauty and comfort. Although I am certain I could never afford Ms. Moss's services, her book was the next best thing. My mantra is now "your home should reflect who you were, who you are and who you are becoming." The book is a like a wonderful walk through a beautiful park or art gallery that you can take much from in terms of content, concepts and sheer enjoyment. I find myself referring to it often for all three. It was well worth the price. The only reason for the four stars is I am still waiting for someone like Ms. Moss to turn her talents to a home that can be afforded by someone other than the ultra wealthy.

This lovely book has exquist photos and is well written. I also like that it does not look like all the other recent books that show the "new look" but that she has shown us rooms that are timeless and not trendy. It is easy to follow the current fashions, but much harder to creat a room or a series of rooms that indeed look fresh through generations. You only need to make a few minor changes and the room is updated while with the "new look" you will be dated in no time and have to redo everything.
I disagree with those who have express distain for her wealth.Who cares that she is rich and can afford wonderful things. The point here is to take her look and adapt it to your budget. It can be done. You just can't buy her look at Target and Pier 1. I strongly recommend this book.

If you are looking for a beginner lighting course, this books is just what you need. It goes through lighting applications per room/area, explains how to calculate foot candles, but if you want to read more about lighting plans, layouts, electrical requirements.....I would say - keep looking.

This is a good quick resource with little technical detail.

This book is great for designers! It covers everything you need to know and has some great ways for doing calculations for lighting!