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Masters of American Illustration: 41 Illustrators and How They Worked Hardcover – July 15, 2011

by Fred Taraba (Author)

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From 1989 to 2001, author Fred Taraba was a regular contributor to the graphic arts publication, Step-By-Step Graphics. His column, Methods of the Masters, documented the lives and working methods of some of America s finest Golden Age illustrators. While a number of other writers contributed to the regular column, Fred himself wrote 41 installments. This book is a compilation of those 41 classic articles, which have been extensively reworked and revised with completely new artwork especially prepared for this volume. Featuring 41 of America's greatest illustrators, this book is a showcase for hundreds of reproductions of original paintings, photographs, and tearsheets of vintage printed ephemeral materials. Each artist's life and career is discussed, and their working methods are described in detail. This book is destined to be a classic, and belongs on the bookself of every serious student of American illustration history.

Masters of American Illustration: 41 Illustrators and How They Worked

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Fred Taraba is an art dealer and an art historian in the field of illustration art.

Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: The Illustrated Press, Inc.; First Edition edition (July 15, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0982004141
ISBN-13: 978-0982004142
Product Dimensions: 1.5 x 9.5 x 12.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 6 pounds
Average Customer Review: 10 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,114,173 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #8141 in Books > Arts & Photography > Individual Artists

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Methods of the masters

ByRobinon November 13, 2011

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

It's the words '...and how they worked' in the title that should convince you to get this book. As Taraba reveals in his Intro the forty-one articles originally appeared in 'Step-by-step graphics' magazine. The copy is basically unchanged though another fifty illustrations have been added to those that appeared in the magazine.

This is wonderful collection of illustrators, their work and nicely, looking back historically to some work produced before 1900. In fact there are plenty of artists from the distant past I was not too familiar with. What I think makes this book a cut above the rest is the way extra material has been included. So, not just a copy of a particular piece of art but frequently a rough sketch or model shots that helped the artist get it right. The cherry on top of the cake for me was showing how the art appeared in print. There are magazine spreads with the headlines and text, complete ads, magazine covers plus the logo and headlines. All this gives many of the images extra credence rather than just a picture of a painting divorced from why and where it was commissioned.

A fabulous book and I wonder if they'll a second volume? There surely must be another forty-one artists and their working methods whose work needs exposure. If there is another book I would like to suggest that a slightly thinner paper is used. Apart from that I thought this was a five star plus book.

###LOOK AT SOME INSIDE PAGES by clicking 'customer images' under the cover.

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Fantastic

Byreading guyon May 7, 2012

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This is an amazing book for anyone interested in illustration; it is huge and covers so many illustrators, lots of pictures, discussions of technique etc. The only caveat I'd give, is that if you've been buying the magazine this is based on, Illustration, then you likely have most of these articles. True they've been revised, expanded and so forth, but I have a few of the early magazines and the articles are 90% the same. Also, given the price of the book, you could buy old copies of the magazine (easily available on Amazon) and get more for your money. But, the book is great to have all the article togethers in a beautiful copy, so I'm glad I got it. My understanding is that it won't be reprinted, so if you are interested go ahead and buy it now before the price goes up.

0Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Wow! Great book

ByRGon October 13, 2011

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

First of all, this is a thick book! It does not appear that way from the photos, but it is. It is also heavy.
The quality of the illustrations is wonderful. They are printed on a nice heavy stock paper, and each and every one
is great. The short biography of each illustrator is interesting and gives a nice insight into not only their
personality but also their beginning in illustration and their accomplishments. I truly enjoyed this book and have
tried to force myself to slowly go through each story, but it is hard since I want to read about the next one
as much as the preceding one. For anyone in the artfield, or just a person that appreciates great illustration,
I think you will enjoy this book as much as I have. It is certainly worth every single cent paid.

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Five Stars

ByMAXIon October 17, 2016

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Wonderful

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Superb..

Bybratheron April 20, 2012

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This book offers much more than it is worth.. Life of artists, processes and many mant photos.. All fine, well done. Great for every library..

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Beautiful

Byico Costaon December 8, 2011

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Beautiful and very interestanting for the panoramic vision about the most important american illustrators but in special for the interestant informations about elements of the process creation of this artists.

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Grand Slam for Illustrated Press

Byjpcooperon August 28, 2011

Format: Hardcover

Fred Taraba's new book on "Master Illustrators" is certainly a gem. There is just enough material on each artist to whet one's appetite for further exploration. This is a vast improvement over previous compilations that offered only a couple of examples of each artist's work. The illustrators chosen are among the best the field has produced and yet, in some instances, ones who have been sadly overlooked. The production quality of this book is excellent. The binding, paper and print quality represent the standard all art books should aspire to. There are numerous full-page illustrations allowing the reader to truly appreciate the artist's work. I have purchased all of the Illustrated Press publications and have found every one top notch. This latest addition, however, is in a league of it's own. Needles to say, anyone interested in this field of art should add this volume to their library - without hesitation! I don't throw the term around too casually but in this instance, "Classic", is hardly overstating the case. I know the dust has yet to settle on this recent, exhaustive project but I hope it represents but the first in a series of similar volumes. If Mr. Taraba is searching for further inspiration in this quest I might suggest the pages of "Illustration Magazine", there are several more names that deserve to be so honored. One last comment - at $45, I would seriously recommend ordering two copies. Your friends will inevitably wear out your coffee table offering and once this keeper goes out of print none of us will be able to afford a replacement.

0Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Excellent Book-- a classic

Byiorekon August 11, 2011

Format: Hardcover

This well written, thoughtful book picks an ideal selection of illustrators- the ones who haven't been covered a dozen times already, but who who are still accomplished "masters" with gifts worth sharing-- and displays them for modern audiences using a combination of quality reproductions, preliminary sketches and rare photographs. The production values are first rate. This is an important book, and a keeper.