What I consider a great art of book...
358808
What I consider a great "Art of Book" is not only displaying your best work but to give advice about the business and the process of creating such art. When an artist gives back to the community and not just produce an ego driven book makes it a great art book. My library is filled with those style books. Artist including Drew Struzan, Joe Jusko, Julie Bell and Boris Vallejo to name a few produce those style books. And now my collection includes Echo. This book is wonderful and I am not only learning a couple of her techniques but also about the business. This is a top notch book and must be for all art enthusiast.
2901729
I may or may not drop in often to update this, but I thought I'd comment at least for those of you curious about the art book.  I have just opened the set and only flipped through the book.  My initial reaction is this:  It is of a high quality, hard cover and contains 200 pages of artwork (208 total pages with index/credits, etc.).  It is really well done, however my only complaint is that there is very little descriptive text.  Only short intro's exist for each section within each chapter.  Usually this wouldn't be a complaint concerning an art book.  After experiencing "The Making of Guild Wars 2" art book that came with that collection however, I have to say that I miss not having at least some description of what it is we're looking at, how the ideas came to be and how these drawings influenced the final content. For instance, did these drawings/ideas make it into the final release and if no, why not?

Again, this is only an initial response to a 'flip through,' and the book is beautiful.  It's just I would prefer at least some information on the creative process that went into these drawings and sketches, as well as a bit on the artists behind them.
4740372
If you love books, or even just like them, this one is for you.
3503725
Great addition to my collection of 100  Greatest Books...
2425588
i love this book. i really hope DK makes more of these books soon. Also, the need to some more big book versions.
158244
I love books - it's hard to rate , if this is your style of book - then it is very good , I really liked it
3401017
I'll confess, the cover of this book didn't intrigue me.  The title seemed a little odd.  A quick flip through the pages made me say things like, "Yes, I know she does that kind of art. It's her signature." And, "Interesting, but not my style at all."

However, a few phrases flew off the pages and caught my attention.  In the store where I first saw "Art Saves," I found a chair and decided to give this book a second look.

I'm really glad that I did.

This book isn't a how-to book about art... it's a nurturing series of lessons about creating your OWN art, not cookie-cutter art that copies anyone else's work.  And, it's about redefining art, taking it from "cute" or "nicely done" to "Wow... that's extraordinary!"

Years ago, I read and loved a book called&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/No-More-Secondhand-Art/dp/0877734828/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">No More Secondhand Art</a>. It's still one of my favorite books for the message it delivers.

"Art Saves" could be subtitled, "No more secondhand rules and no more limiting ideas."

If you're looking for a book that pushes you past the usual boundaries and definitions of polite and tidy art, into a realm of profound and authentic self-expression, this is the book to get.

It's not a how-to book, though it contains some projects with step-by-step instructions.

Mostly, these artists aren't saying, "Here's how I create my art," but "Here's WHY I create my art... and what it gives me -- and the world -- in return."

For me, this is a deeply affirming and inspiring book, and I never would have guessed that from the cover or even a quick glance at the contents.
2242769
I have no bad critiques of this book. I really liked how the author used references from many other authors throughout the entire book. When books use references from other books related to the subject, I tend to then read that other book and that is how I build my repertoire.

This is that kind of book, a book from which to create a book repertoire.
2043614
I managed to get this beautiful ebook last week, when it was free. I just couldn't resist, I mean, this is Shakespeare, after all. Despite all the controversy related to him, whoever wrote all of this is a true artist. What is in a name, right? At least that is how I think.
There are some very good paintings included in this, which is why I am considering this to be beautiful. I'm just including one of them.
The content is, obviously, a classic. It may be harder to read for some people, but I really enjoy the language it was written in. My favorite has always been A Midsummer Night's Dream, I have read that a few times and will probably do that every once in awhile.
I don't know if this is for everyone, but owning a classic is something anyone who appreciates literature should do, in my opinion.
Definitely a 5 star ebook. I love the illustrations and the content is great.
781526
What a great, meaningful book.  I love the message, the art work, book size, etc.,  I highly recommend (I"m a reading specialist and grandma)
2762142
This is simply an outstanding tome of comic art knowledge. Highly appealing to either the practitioner, student or admirer of technique in modern comic book art, coloring, and design. The book is loaded with great color images by John Higgins. Most table top books aimed at artful collections sort of bore me, they seldom display the art in a manner superior to the way it was originally displayed (and this book occasionally falls into the "cross the center seam" or shrink it up too small to appreciate the detail) but in Beyond Watchmen the works are not simply displayed with some tidbit of historical information you are likely to forget in a few weeks after reading, it serves as a true study of technique.  The dedication to returning to a visual and written explanation of design choices, color systems, and modern manufacturing of comics books is the real payoff for investing into this work.

If you are more than a "that's so cool" follower of art, if you want to know more about how the art is made, the business of comics, the relationship between authors and artists (when they are not the same) the complexity of layout, the methods of design - then this is a MUST HAVE for you!  If you are more of a patron of the art - it will be more revealing than other "art of" books you are used to - and well worth adding it to your collection.  And if you are just a fan, there is enough high quality art to serve.  Really a solid effort a more than a few notches above the norm.
627319
Yes it is very nice it is worthy to buy this kind of books the contents superb and  the print is excellent too,I love it.
1703044
I have read many, many, books over the many years and must say that this is, in my regards, one of the better, if not the best, of those I have had the pleasure of reading. My advise to the author....keep up the fine work, only make them longer!
4863117
The pictures are cool.  Lots of them are very beautiful.  Like I mentioned  in the title...I'm a bigger fan of the selection of scenes and the text.  Great coffee table book.

If I have any issue with it, it's just that the pics are too perfect...I'm not a fan of the computer generated stuff.  Especially for this genre.

It was very well done...very artistic, but I'm a bigger fan of less "shine."
Still...very worthwhile.  Uplifting.  I would not hesitate to give this as a gift.  I enjoy my copy.
1962912
I admit, I am not a regular reader but it must be the combination of the layout and the content of the book that made it very easy for me to submerge into this book. It is awesome.
It's not just the content. I may be biased because I know that the author is an art school grad, but it feels more like an art piece than a book. Someone who is looking for an experience beyond just the read, I would highly recommend!
2571017
Books are not just about contents. A book is a whole object with its form and its contents. Here is one.
3742977
Very pleased with this book!!
as an artist I have gotten quite particular about the books I like,  This one is a winner.