Customer Reviews

The Printmaking Bible: The Complete Guide to Materials and Techniques

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

One thing that should be noted about this book is that all illustrations are in color and the photographs explaining various process are well done and easy to see. However, this is not just a technical primer (although it excels in that respect)- many artist/printmakers are interviewed as well as given step-by-step treatments as to their process. Both _Complete Printmaker_ and _Printmaking: History and Process_ are great books, but are showing their age with outdated digital references and art that is very '70's. This book is a welcome contemporary addition.
It should also be noted that the authors are British, so some of the terminology will be different from the American vernacular (such as methylated spirits instead of denatured alcohol). Most (but not all) measurements are given in standard and metric.

Really nice step by step sections, but with a fine art feel instead of an 'arts and crafts' feel. Practical with nice highlights of artists and a broad range of artists and mark-making styles. Of recently published printmaking books - one of the best.

This book has some nice things going for it if you are a beginner printmaker. It explains a wide variety of printmaking techniques, features some examples of each type, and interviews with various printmakers.

On the other hand, despite what it says in the publisher's descriptive blurb, this book is in no way "perfect for artists " and in no way is it a "complete guide to materials and techniques". The steps given for various ways of making prints are very cursory. You would have to go beyond this book and find other sources to truly understand what each technique requires. The examples given are pretty but uninspiring, and the printmaker interviews, while being wonderful artists in their own right, are more like artists' statements about art and beauty, than discussions about particular methodology.

It would have been more honest for the publishers to describe the book as an introductory guide to materials and techniques for on that level the book is perfectly acceptable and would have given the buyer the ability to make an informed choice. However to call it a bible is totally misleading and irresponsible, purporting by the use of that word that this book presents a definitive presentation of techniques. It most definitely does not. For the serious printmaker, look elsewhere for enlightenment.

This sizable tome aims to be a technical tour de force and in large part achieves its goal. While no one survey of something as broad and varied as printmaking could be compiled into a single book, the authors do a good job of covering the basics while also including interesting asides for those already up to speed. Though the primary focus is technical, they also delve into context providing both historical background and contemporary examples. Hughes and Vernon-Morris take the lead role as authors but they also (refreshingly) share the stage with other contributors creating a well-rounded sense of field.
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as a art student with a emphasis in printmaking, this book was a great find. the full color illustrations, step-by-step guides, and the artist interviews are extremely helpful. it covers nearly every process, and the price cannot be beat. i would recommend this book to any art student or professional artist interested in printmaking.

Tons of examples and good images to go thru. Covers a wide range of printmaking techniques.

This is one of those exceptional Art instruction books, a pleasure to peruse no matter what questions you have about a specific printmaking process. It includes pertinent examples for all methods, with profiles of actual artists describing their own practice, and excellent illustrations for each. The illustrations alone are worth its purchase.
It is the perfect printmaking guide for an artist like me who primarily works in other media, and may not have had printmaking training since art school.
I highly recommend it!

Extremely happy with this book! First saw it at the UFL library and had to have it. Lots of detailed step by step information on various methods of print making. Supported by info on suppliers of papers and tools etc.
And a good range of art work too. A must have book!

Terrific - great reference for my class. And well-made, hard-bound, and pleasant to look through.

The book's title says it all. This fairly massive tome really IS a (kind of) printmaking bible, and it DOES give a (fairly) complete guide to printmaking techniques. I say 'fairly', because what book could contain all information about such an enormous field? This book gives a great oversight, and lots of insight, in a wide range of printmaking techniques. It's clearly written, and beautifully illustrated. I love it.