Customer Reviews

Celtic Art: The Methods of Construction (Dover Art Instruction)

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2 star:		(1)
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Among those in my acquaintance who are fond of Celtic art, George Bain's Celtic Art is the one which most buy first. I did. Then I read it and found that some of his instructions (particularly for creating knotwork) seem totally off-the-wall and totally indecipherable. However, for some reason, he seemed to be the only one who has ever come up with a way to recreate impossibly complex knotwork panels, and do more than just plain fretted knotwork. Fear not, Dear Reader! If you follow his instructions, practice the designs as he shows them, you will ultimately discover what he is trying to say. And when you do, the entire world of complex, bewildering and magical knotwork will open up to you.

However, knotwork is not the only type of art that Bain covers in this book. He also analyzes fretwork (mazes), spirals and zoomorphic forms (animal and human forms which can sometimes even be interlaced), as well. These, comprise the entire corpus of form used in the great books of Celtic and Anglo-Saxon art which were created in the 6th through 8th centuries.

Let me also put a good word in for Bain's survey of Hiberno/Anglo-Saxon calligraphy as well, in which he assembles many of the fanciful letter forms for which this form of writing is known.

I do own all of Aidan Meehan's books (and also recommend them), but if you can only afford to buy one book, buy this one. Then, as you can afford others, branch out into Meehan (and even Bain's son, Iain has written a book on knotwork!), and begin purchasing surveys of the Books of Kells and Lindisfarne so that you can study from the true masters.

Enjoy!

Not too long ago I got the idea for a series of paintings with a celtic-medieval themed look. This book was one of the two books on celtic designs I bought. The type of patterns shown are very diverse and range from simple borders, to spirals, zoomorphs (animal-designs), calligraphy to examination of designs from Lindisfarne and the Book of Kells. It is also the most extensive of any of the books on this subject that I've seen. The only drawback is that the method for constructing these designs is not easy. As one earlier reviewer stated, the main method is to set up a grid pattern, draw out every line then erase the ones not needed. There are other books with simpler, better step-by-step details for constructing celtic designs. However, no other single book covers such a wide range as this one. It also covers a lot of complex designs and shows how to recreate them that no other celtic pattern books demonstrate. Quite a lot of the history of these designs is covered too. For anyone who can only afford one book on this subject this one will be all they'll ever need.

I can't add much more than the last previewer. But it is a good introduction to Celtic Art and patterns, plus he covers its history and shows you how to even difficult patterns. Drawing Celtic Artwork is not easy, a gifted artist and craftsman Bain makes it look easy but its not. Howeverf if you practice the basic patterns you can get pretty good at it in a reasonable period of time. I have several of Aidan Meehan's books and this one is by far the best for beginners imho. Use Meehans works when you can replicate a good many of the patterns found here.

It is also a fine resource for the more elaborate patterns which are not covered very well in other works. Many of these patterns can be transferred to leather, clay etc, you name it.

Overall if you only get one book on Celtic Art get this one and with a bit of practice your effort will be rewarded.

Acknowledging the complexities of this book's approach to Celtic Knotwork, Iain Bain, George Bain's son, has published a much more approachable introduction in his Celtic Knotwork, Constable, London 1986. It was reprinted last in 1992 but is unfortunately out of print. Used copies are available and I would stongly recommend Iain Bain's book as a most helpful place to begin. The senior Bain's book is however an informative reference, a far cry above the usual "picture book for colouring" approach.

If you want to see examples of the variety of Celtic design, this book is a good resource. If you want to reproduce any of it and you aren't experienced, it's not very helpful -- there's too little comprehensible instruction. I've tried to draw by the diagrams but without luck. If you're a beginner (as I am) this book won't be of much help. Perhaps for artists with more experience and understanding of Celtic art this book would be of value.

How Bain has managed to come up with this method is beyond me, but God bless him for it! I have used his methods for creating cross stitch patterns, a complicated matter but well worth the results.

This book is a great introduction to the various aspects of Celtic art. George Bain takes the reader through step by step on how to construction knotworks, borders, spirals and key patterns. Bain also talks about lettering and zoomorphics (interlaced animals). Almost every page contains several black and white illustrations with reference to the historical bookgrounds of the designs. This is a must for any artist new to the Celtic world of illuminated manuscripts, symbol stones and metalwork

A "HOW-TO" DRAWING REFERANCE FOR ARTISTS AND BEGINNERS ABOUT TO EMBARK ON THE CELTIC AND PICTISH MYSTERIES. A GOOD MAINSTAY FOR THE DRAWING PHASES OF YOUR WORK, WITH HAND-DRAWN EXAMPLES FROM THE BOOK OF KELLS, LINDISFARNES, AND DURROW. ALSO COMPARES THE SIMILAR TYPES OF LINES AND KNOTS FROM OTHER EARLY CIVILIZATIONS, AND SOME EXAMPLES OF HIS OWN WORKS.COMPARIBLE TO HIS SONS (IAN BAIN) OWN "HOW-TO" BOOK,BUT MUCH LESS RIGID.GEORGE BAIN ALSO SHOWS YOU HOW TO DO SOME ZOOMIPHORICS (ANIMALS) AND SPIRALS NOT FOUND IN HIS SONS WONDERFULL BOOK FOR BEGINNERS. HERE IS TRUTH IN TITLE.

This book is a must for anyone interested in Celtic Art. It is not an easy book to learn the art from so if possible I would also get a book called Celtic Knotwork by the authors son. But do get this book because it has so much detail in it and explains the history of the work.

THis book is the most helpfull i ever seen. You buy this, and you need no other book to draw celtic knots.
You start with no knowledge and you really can make extraordinery things after a feel training. Its really works.
I strongly recommend.