Book Description
A consumer-friendly guide to do-it-yourself add-ons and other home improvement jobs, complete with architect-created plans.
Customer Reviews:
Can't buy the plans.......2003-02-28
The book is a good source for ideas. However, I bought the book with the intent to purchase general plans which I could modify for my application. Don't make this mistake--the plans are no longer available.
Excellent design ideas from small to large homes........1998-11-09
Although the book states you can buy the plans for the designs in the book and you can make minor changes in the plans, none of the plans I have called for have been available. If you want ideas the book is wonderful, but don't expect to be able to buy the plans.
Average customer rating:
- Fails to inspire, very disappointing!
- Time-Saver Concise is Precisely Right
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Time-Saver Standards Concise Plans for Adding-On and Remodeling
Jerold L. Axelrod
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Professional
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0071352368 |
Book Description
Remodel any type of room...in any type of house-fast! Save start-up time on your next improvement project with Time-Saver Standards Concise Plans for Adding On and Remodeling, by Jerold L. Axelrod. Whether you're an architect or construction specialist or a homeowner eager to expand living space and increase the value of your home, this one-of-a-kind guide puts over 300 design ideas and easy-to-follow, workable plans at your fingertips. An ultra-handy book/CD-ROM combo, this package gives you customizable, click-of-a-mouse access to the pre-designed plans in 3-D and in various materials.
Customer Reviews:
Fails to inspire, very disappointing!.......2005-04-21
I purchased this book through a book club, and i have to say I couldn't disagree more with the only other reviewer, who gave it five stars. I'd give zero if it were an option. This book sits on my shelf, with no chance of my referring to it for anything at all.
The plans are poorly thought out, showing various generic examples of room additions (here's what a one story addition would look like, here's two stories, here's a bay window). Some of the elevations and roof lines of the examples presented are horrendous!
Rather than give 400 plans, one third of which are worth exploring further, I'd have been better served by the author maybe developing the ones with potential a bit further.
Time-Saver Concise is Precisely Right.......2000-06-19
With over 400 floorplans and illustrations, this book packs a powerful bunch of information from cover to cover. For those who are familiar with floorplans and possess an eye to visualize, this book is for you.
The author does a great job of providing you with instructions on how to pick appropriate floorplans to meet your particular remodeling needs by helping the reader to create an architectural program.
Next, the reader can use this program to determine which floorplan(s) will best meet their remodeling needs. The author concludes the book by providing the reader with specific construction details not ordinarily found in most remodeling CD's that will help the reader tailor the plans to remodel his or her home.
In a nutshell, this book has the potential to save the savvy reader who is remodeling a home thousands of dollars and much frustration by helping the reader develop a professional plan which will meet his or her needs. In order to use the accompanying CD, you must realize that the CD is not a program, but drawings that must be imported into a program using Auto CAD releases 12 or 14. Try ordering an Auto CAD before you purchase this book if you intend to use the CD.
Book Description
Whether you've taken art classes or never held a brush before, An Introduction to Acrylics will show you everything you need to know about working in this challenging-- but rewarding -- medium. Easy-to-follow projects, shown as they were created, teach the essentials while inspiring the student to tackle increasingly complex techniques. Each volume of the DK Art School series focuses on a specific medium and subject, so you can choose precisely what you want to learn. When complete, the DK Art School will offer the widest choice of specific subjects -- from acrylic figure to oil portrait, and from pastel still life to watercolor landscape. Build your own private Art School in your home library.
Customer Reviews:
typical DK book.......2007-07-25
Pretty picture as in all DK books but gives an entire overview of all acrylic paining in 72 pages. A lot of simple paragraph definitions of techniques but nothing of any direction or use for a begining painter. A great picture book for a child.
GREAT beginner Arylic Book - Simple & Loaded with Pictures.......2007-07-13
I bought this book based on all the other reviews and now I too love it. Loads of beautiful color pictures and examples and written clearly. If you're beginning acrylics - get this !
Good Book, Not Great Book.......2007-07-03
Considering that I have yet to find a complete compedium of Acrylic techniques, this is probably one of the better books out there, especially for beginners. This book will give you the short and skinny on your tools, paint and mediums, and canvases/surfaces. After that, the book starts giving examples on how to tranfer your image onto the canvas with pencil prior to painting, using opaque methods to painting, transparent(watercolor style) methods, drybrushing, scumbling, and more. Then at the end of the book, it contains a series of gallry examples in acrylic to inspire. This book is a good foundation book, and gives many approaches to using acrylic.
Indispensable for the Beginner.......2006-08-16
When I decided that I wanted to start painting, I bought five "How To" books. This one is my favorite, hands down. The book is well organized, well written, and contains a lot of beautifully detailed photographs. The author has kept the text to a minimum, letting the photographs do much of the talking, which works far better for me than other books that have more emphasis on written instruction.
In only 72 pages, every topic is covered, and no question is left unanswered. It begins with a brief history of the medium, then moves on to cover color, paint types, brushes, painting surfaces, tools, and techniques, as well as galleries of different painting styles. There's even a section on experimental approaches, such as stenciling and inventive scraping. Rather than presenting a series of exercises (as many books do), this author encourages experimentation and discovering your own personal style, an approach that really inspired me to pick up a brush and get started.
Also worth mentioning is that every photograph and illustration is in color . . . really GOOD color. This may sound like a no-brainer, but a few of the other books I purchased contained a lot of black-and-white photos. Hey, you can't learn to paint in black and white!
Experienced artists may find the material here a bit too rudimentary, but for the true novice, like myself, this book is a winner. If you're looking for that ONE book to get you started, this is it!
Great for Beginners.......2005-04-17
Very informative and easy to read. Wonderful pictures! If you are new to acrylics, this is a great place to start!
Book Description
A comprehensive guide for the enthusiastic beginner and the experienced artist alike, An Introduction to Art Techniques embraces seven basic elements of art technique in one comprehensive volume. The subjects included are Drawing, Perspective, Watercolor, Pastels, Oil Painting, Acrylics, and Mixed Media. Easy--to--follow projects ---- from drawing natural forms to creating a photo collage ---- teach you all the essentials of each subject and inspire you to go on to master more complex techniques. Close--up, step--by--step photographs show artworks being created before your eyes, revealing the secrets of how professional artists produce their work. Art Techniques offers the widest choice of specific subjects ---- from mixing watercolors to block printmaking, from tonal drawing to oil painting in layers. You will find clear, authoritative text written by artists who specialize in each particular medium.
Customer Reviews:
Art Basics at its best.......2007-03-12
DK books are always a "best buy" when it comes to bringing clear, concise information on how to do almost anything.
An Introduction to Art Techniques.......2007-02-19
The book is in wonderful shape! My daughter needed it for a college class so the price helped her out a lot. I am an art teacher and was very impressed with it. I told her when she is finished with it she needn't pay me back...just give ME the book.
It's not a bad book...........2007-01-07
I had to get this for school. It's not a bad book and certainly is useful. I flipped thorough it to get some ideas.
I've seen books like these on clearance at book stores, so I think paying full price for this was silly.
An Amazing Value.......2005-12-16
We bought this for our 14-year-old nephew, who is just starting to exhibit an interest in art. It is truly a great introduction to drawing and perspective, painting (oil, watercolor, acrylics), and even mixed media. Don't expect great depth in any one area, but its easy to read and use, heavily illustrated to keep kids' attentions, has a nice glossary. All in all, a really really great value and a book that is exactly what its title says it is.
I love this book!.......2004-05-27
I have been a painter and drawer for many years. At my relatively young age of 25, having earned a BFA in painting and painting professionally for several years, I still fall back on this book for new ideas or refreshening on old ideas.
My mother bought this book for me in high school. For many years, I rarely opened it. However I have found that I still reference the techniques presented in this user-friendly book quite regularly. It is a wonderful reference to have on hand.
The reason I am writing this review is because I am going to buy this book for a beginning artist friend who has had very little formal art education. I recommend this book for experienced artists as well as beginners.
Hope this helps someone out there!
Enjoy! Ciao.
Book Description
Turn the pages of An Introduction to Mixed Media -- and discover an exciting art course that teaches you how to combine a variety of versatile and expressive media. an Introduction to Mixed Media is a practical guide to a range of artistic techniques. More than 300 photographs guide the beginner through a series of exercises designed to teach all the essentials of working in mixed media. Revealing projects focus on professional works of art, all shown in the making so novices can follow the creative process step-by-step. Unique gallery pages display works of masters -- pictures that will instruct and inspire every student of art. Packed with specially commissioned artworks, clear instruction, and easy-to-follow exercises, The DK Art School offers idea courses for "armchair" art students. The DK Art School series is a new way to learn, improve, or master drawing and painting skills. Carefully constructed courses ensure that you gain both the confidence and the know-how to create imaginative, beautiful pictures. With individual volumes on subjects like still life, portraiture, or landscape, in specific media such as oil, watercolor, or acrylic, The DK Art school series offers something for everyone, and builds into a unique collection of practical art books.
Customer Reviews:
Good general overview.......2000-06-03
This book is designed to open the reader's eyes to the various types of mixed media art and how the techniques are used by different artists to achieve a wide range of effects. The photographs, especially those of the tools and supplies used in the techniques, as well as the photographs of artwork are especially informative, and useful for a beginner. However, if you're looking for specific technique instructions, or tips on how to combine the various mixed media techniques into your own artwork, you may be disappointed. This book left me wanting more, but it is still a valuable addition to a beginning artist's library.
Book Description
This radically new approach to self-instruction brings out the artist in all of us!
Whether you've taken art classes or never held a brush before, An Introduction to Watercolor will show you everything you need to know about painting beautifully in this challenging -- but rewarding -- medium. Easy-to-follow projects, shown as they were created, teach the essentials while inspiring the student to tackle increasingly complex techniques. Each volume of the DK Art School series focuses on a specific medium and subject, so you can choose precisely what you want to learn. When complete, the DK Art School will offer the widest choice of specific subjects -- from acrylic figure to oil portrait, and from pastel still life to watercolor landscape. Build your own private Art School in your home library.
Book Description
Turn the pages of An Introduction to Pastels and discover an exciting art course that teaches you how to work in this expressive and versatile medium. An Introduction to Pastels is a practical guide to a wide range of pastel techniques. More than 300 photographs guide the beginner through a series of exercises designed to teach all the essentials of pastels. revealing projects focus on professional portraits, landscapes, and abstracts, all shown in the making so novices can follow the creative process step-by-step. Unique gallery pages display works of masters -- pastels that will instruct and inspire every student of the medium. Packed with specially commissioned artworks, clear instruction, and easy-to-follow exercises, the DK Art School offers ideal courses for "armchair" art students. The DK Art School series is a new way to learn, improve, or master drawing and painting skills. Carefully constructed courses ensure that you gain both the confidence and the know-how to create imaginative, beautiful pictures. With individual volumes on subjects like still life, portraiture, or landscape, in specific media such as oil, watercolor, or acrylic, The DK Art school series offers something for everyone, and builds into a unique collection of practical art books.
Customer Reviews:
Very Beginnings for very beginners.......2000-09-27
This book helped me know what I needed to get started. I like his use of classics in pastel to illustrate the beauty and range of the medium. Excellent tips for beginners from what you need, to creating your own paper for pastel work. It also give good information on how to decide what type of pastels to use - by showing different types in action.
Book Description
Turn the pages of An Introduction to Perspective -- and discover an art course that teaches you how to use perspective creatively in your drawings and paintings. An Introduction to Perspective is a practical guide to a challenging concept. More than 300 photographs guide the beginner through a series of exercises designed to teach all the essentials of using perspective. Revealing projects focus on professional artworks, all shown in the making so novices can follow the creative process step-by-step. Unique gallery pages display works of masters -- drawing and paintings that will instruct and inspire students of a variety of media. Packed with specially commissioned artworks, clear instruction, and easy-to-follow exercises, the DK Art School series offers ideal courses for "armchair" art students. The DK Art School series is a new way to learn, improve, or master drawing and painting skills. Carefully constructed courses ensure that you gain both the confidence and the know-how to create imaginative, beautiful pictures. With individual volumes on subjects like still life, portraiture, or landscape, in specific media such as oil, watercolor, or acrylic, The DK Art school series offers something for everyone, and builds into a unique collection of practical art books.
Customer Reviews:
Tools for Exploring Perspective.......1999-03-29
Linear perspective, said Leonardo da Vinci, Òis nothing else than seeing a place or objects behind a pane of glass, quite transparent, on the surface of which the objects that lie behind the glass are to be drawn.Ó Among LeonardoÕs notebook drawings, there is a tiny self-portrait (c. 1510) in which he is shown using a squared-off and window-like drawing device (sometimes called ÒAlbertiÕs veilÓ), four variations of which were depicted 15 years later in a famous series of woodcuts by German artist Albrecht Drer. This current publication is not only an introduction to perspective in book form but also a kit-like collection of tools to use in exploring for oneself its history, theory, and application. Among those tools are an acetate drawing window (like LeonardoÕs), two ÒdraftsmanÕs netsÓ (like that portrayed in DurerÕs prints), various measuring devices, pads of gridded drawing paper, and a cut-out with which one can easily make a three-dimensional model of Dutch artist M.C. EscherÕs Òimpossible triangleÓ (a well-known illusion that appears to violate certain spatial principles). Experimenting with the devices in this box could result in a deeper understanding of perspective, especially if one were to read at the same time an earlier, richer and far more interesting book on the same subject from the same publisherÕs Eyewitness Art series: Alison Cole, Perspective (Dorling Kindersley, 1992). (Review from Ballast Quarterly Review, Vol 14 No 2, Winter 1998-99)
Book Description
Whether you've taken art classes or never held a brush before, An Introduction to Oil Painting will show you everything you need to know about working in this challenging -- but rewarding -- medium. Easy-to-follow projects, shown as they were created, teach the essentials while inspiring the student to tackle increasingly complex techniques. Each volume of The DK Art School series focuses on a specific art medium and subject, so you can choose precisely what you want to learn. When complete, the series will offer the widest choice of specific subjects -- from acrylic figure to oil portrait, and from pastel still life to watercolor landscape. Build your own private Art School in your home library.
Customer Reviews:
A great book for beginners!.......1999-12-19
I enjoyed this book. It spent two pages on every topic that's important to beginning artists. It never rambled on about useless, trivial information. The author focused in on clear definitions and illustrations. This reader was never confused by the book's precise method in handling complicated exercises. These exercises not only explained the material, but also led to completed works of art. The book also had a small, but vital glossary. The glossary helped to reiterate important concepts, such as scumbling, aerial perspective, fat-over-lean painting and high-key colors (just to name a few). Reading this book is like taking an art class. It focuses in on the most important concepts; and, it explains them in a brief, succinct manner.
Nice idea spoiled by carelessness.......1999-11-29
My soft-cover version of this highly-attractive book has plenty of nice features. The overall concept is sound, (although a little cursory in places, even for a book aimed at beginners); the instructional and informational content is generally useful and interesting; the illustrations and reproductions are excellent. There are even some health and safety tips that were very welcome.
So, what's the problem? The low rating I gave this book falls squarely at the feet of the editor(s). Simply put, there are far too many mistakes for a book of this size!
Completely wrong labels on a graph of oil content in paints makes for total confusion, especially if you're trying to come to terms with the "fat over lean" concept or similar technical ideas. Page cross-references that are incorrect are frustrating, but tolerable, in a monthly magazine or daily newspaper, but not in a textbook! There are numerous other little labelling, spelling, word-usage and grammatical errors, as well as a couple of invented words ("sawned off" is going to stick in my memory for a long time!) and a few "explanations" that don't explain anything.
I'm not sorry I bought the book, but it would be so much easier for my wife, who is just starting out in oil painting, and who is not a native user of English, if the information were a bit more reliable.
I purchased another Ray Smith book [Portraits, hardcover] and have no real criticisms of that book. I would consider buying others in the series, but this one is a little disappointing. A very beautiful book spoiled by sloppy editing. It's really a shame!
Really lays out the basics well.......1999-08-16
This is the kind of book that organizes the information you need to know in a logical and straight-forward manner. A great place to start for any aspiring artist.
Book Description
A practical, professional art course in every volume.
Turn the pages of An Introduction to Drawing -- and discover an exciting art couse that teaches you how to work in this expressive, versatile medium. An Introduction to Drawing is a practical guide to a wide rage of drawing techniques. More than 300 photographs guide the beginner through a series of exercises designed to teach all the essentials of drawing. Revealing projects focus on professional drawings, all shown in the making so novices can follow the creative process step-by-step. Unique gallery pages display works of masters -- drawing that will instruct and inspire every student of the medium. Packed with specially commissioned artworks, clear instruction, and easy-to-follow exercises, The DK Art School offers idea courses for "armchair" art students. The DK Art School series is a new way to learn, improve, or master drawing and painting skills. Carefully constructed courses ensure that you gain both the confidence and the know-how to create imaginative, beautiful pictures. With individual volumes on subjects like still life, portraiture, or landscape, in specific media such as oil, watercolor, or acrylic, The DK Art school series offers something for everyone, and builds into a unique collection of practical art books.
Customer Reviews:
Lavishly illustrated.......2001-02-16
Just like other books published by Dorling Kindersley, this one is profusely illustrated by closely-spaced drawings and photographs that almost crowd out text. It's a short book, at 72 pages, but it covers, however briefly, artists' materials used in drawing, as well as a large number of drawing techniques and subjects.
Artists' materials covered include pencils & colored pencils, pens & inks, chalks & charcoal, pastels, watercolors and paper. Techniques covered include ways of working, getting started, linear drawing, tonal drawing, layout & construction, forms and modeling. And subjects covered include buildings & architecture, interiors & exteriors, landscapes, figures & drapery, life drawing & portraits, movements & gestures and drawing for painting.
This is a good catalog of drawing techniques and subjects, but if you're interested in learning to make accurate, detailed, realistic drawings, it's not the one for you. Drawings by the author are quite impressionistic and underworked by comparison with those in, say, How to Draw the Human Head by Louise Gordon or Botanical Illustration in Watercolor by Eleanor B. Wunderlich or Rendering in Pen & Ink by Arthur L. Guptill.
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Planning Your Addition
Additions: Design Ideas for Great American Houses (Great Houses)
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