Customer Reviews

Kaleidoscope Artistry

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I see people are being mis-informed again. If this was a true presentation on the current producing kaleidoscope artists, as others have mentioned, it is very incomplete. Some of the artists and kaleidoscopes presented are "adapted" ideas of other artists that were left out of this book. To modify someone else's design only gives more importance to the original creator. Even the front cover shows a kaleidoscope that was "inspired" by a kaleidoscope artist's masterpiece that was NOT included in the book. There are more examples inside. Please do a little research and just don't take a reviewer's word. Yes, the images and pictures are nicely done.

Leaving politics aside, this book is a lushly illustrated book on contemporary Kaleidoscopes and Kaleidoscope Artists. The illustrations are rich and aewsome, and are of both the outside and inside images of many kaleidoscopes. I'm not aware of a better book in print for kaleidoscope enthusiasts and all interested in the art of Kaleidoscope making.
To be complete, combine this book in your library with other of Ms. Baker's books--especially Kaleidoscope Renaissance. Kaleidoscope Artistry primarily concentrates on more recent works by many scope makers, and blends well with the older scope info from her previous book.
Now, to address some complaints by other reviewers: This book is not, and does not try to be, an all inclusive encyclopedia of all active scope makers. Nor is it a philanthropic work of charity. Of course Ms Baker plans on making money from this book--just like John Grisham and Danielle Steele. Ms. Baker heads the Brewster Society, her private business. Like it or not, this society is the closest thing scopemakers have to a guild for their art. You may not agree with the society, but as of yet, there is not another organization which represents artists and enthusiasts alike. If Ms. Baker's distractors dislike the society so much, perhaps they should form their own group and write their own book.
It is unfortunate that such issues creep into these reviews. This is indeed a wonderful book that will grace anybody's library!

I had hoped to learn more about kaleidoscopes. It has great pictures. I just started collecting kaleidoscopes about three years ago. Even a novice, who loves to do research, finds this book lacking. I see that many don't believe it is missing some great artists and scopes, so I recommend great starting points: 1. the author's previous books, 2. [another website]. I do recommend that you look at Boswell's book and if you can get it, Gary Newlin's books. They don't seem to be "putting in plugs" for specific groups and artists, but just want to share information. This book does have some very good pictures and some good comments, but you know who the author loves and not who really should be included.

I wonder how the author can claim to be an expert when over 200 artists are left out of the book and a lot of great kaleidoscopes are also left out. A large number of the scopes are far better than those listed in this book on kaleidoscope artistry. It seems that this book is only about the members of the Brewster organization, owned and operated by the author. If this is the case, I recommend you save your money and do a little research elsewhere, like the internet. I found a lot of great scopes and artists there and at art fairs. I really wish I could have given this great marks, but it does seem to be a repeat of the authors other books on this subject. The pictures are great.

Collector Baker provides not just a collection of images, but a survey of new kaleidoscope artists and their techniques. Over 300 color photos of kaleidoscopes accompany profiles of their designers. A gorgeous display of kaleidoscopes and their changing forms.

I own all of Cozy's books. They just keep getting better and better. The kaleidoscopic images are beautifully presented as well as the exteriors of the kaleidoscopes shown. As an avid collector, what I especially liked, was reading the "up close and personal" comments of artists whose work I own and have met personally over the years. My only hope is that there will be many more books coming from Cozy.

I want to say this is a great book. I am very glad to see it out now. Have been waiting a long time. I am also very glad that the author made up with an artist, Brett Bensley, by including one of his scopes on the cover no less! I didn't see any mention of his name in the book, but still it is nice to see his work and that the author has made some reparations. I have admired all these artists and hope you will include more of my other favorites in future books. Great job and bless your heart Mrs. Baker for making peace with ousted artists. I see he made peace with you buy removing his negative site as well. Thank you for this great peace offering!

Many people do not know this, but this book is VERY INCOMPLETE. It supports only the members of the author's business, The Brewster Society. If it does include any of the hundreds of other artists that are not members, it is only because they already had a reputation before Mrs. Baker wrote her books. As mentioned, a large number of kaleidoscope artists are left out, and a lot of GREAT kaleidoscopes and images by these very artists are also left out. This self appointed kaleidoscope expert and her books leave a bad taste in my mouth after decades of kaleidoscope research and buying.

Until I picked up Cozy Baker's "Kaleidoscope Artistry" and a previous book of hers, "Kaleidoscopes, Wonders of Wonder", I thought of kaleidoscopes as something that had delighted me as a child; a plaything, a delectable rainbow of patterns, nothing more. A few short moments spent leafing through the pages of "Artistry" shifted my thinking on this subject forever.
I am dazzled by the artistry, the beauty, of the kaleidoscopes and artists featured in this book. It was a complete revelation to me to find such exquisite works of art in what I had thought of as a plaything. The author profiles the work of a number of kaleidoscope artists who are currently designing and creating scopes, each with his or her unique perspective on a unique object with fascination for people of all ages. She makes no claim to be exhaustive in her profiling but focuses on some of those working in this century.
It's one thing to have a passionate interest in something. It's quite another to be able to write compellingly about your passion. Ms. Baker meets this challenge with writing that sparkles like the patterns in the scopes she so obviously loves. She knows her subject well, and explains something of the kaleidoscope's basic design before profiling the artists of her book.
Of course writing of the artistry behind kaleidoscopes is one thing; portraying this quite another. What makes this book a complete delight are the stunning images of kaleidoscopes, and images of patterns from different scopes. Even without owning a kaleidoscope of my own, I feel as enchanted looking through "Kaleidoscope Artistry" as I do reading and reviewing gardening books. The photographs make the book worthy of description as a "coffee table book", as lovely as any book of art.
Maybe kaleidoscopes won't win a war, or feed the hungry, or end the spread of disease. But they are compelling objects of sometimes breathtaking beauty, a portal for brief escapes of fantasy in these disturbing times. Ms. Baker quotes Michelangelo, who said, "Gazing on beautiful things acts on my soul, which thirsts for heavenly light." Gazing on the beautiful thing which is Ms. Baker's book acts upon my mind, which is delighted in such artistry. Well done to artists, writer and photographers.

I absolutely loved the new Cozy Baker book, "Kaleidoscope Artistry". Cozy has included a wonderful display of numerous talented artists within the bounds of this beautifully layed out book! I think the photography is spectacular! I will continue to treasure this book, and refer to it to expand on my knowledge of many Kaleidoscope Artists and their scopes. This book is extremely useful in helping me add worthy scopes to my collection. I thank Cozy for all her hard work and dedication to the Kaleidoscope world! I would love to meet up with her someday at a convention!