 "the dumber the better" | 2007-03-30 |
| - Reviewed By saucystintdave |
| There's something about this guy I really love. His art appears simple at first, but after awhile it can get as complex as I want to imagine it to be. It's funny too. Large book and very well printed and bound. Just an all around great art book, nice on the coffee table too. |
| |
| "perfect baseman" | 2006-07-12 |
| - Reviewed By kevinewing |
| Stunningly beautiful comprehensive retrospective of Baseman's relentlessly consistent, yet amazingly entertaining style. Short on verbage, which in this case is a breath of fresh air, this is a must-have for any Baseman fan as well as fans and students of contemporary American graphic arts. A treasure of a book. |
| |
| "Brilliant book with amazing photos!" | 2006-02-16 |
| - Reviewed By User: A89LMQ6FPHWYF |
| I got this book thinking it would be a dinky book with few pics of Gary's work, I was highly surprised when I received it today. It's a thick heavy duty chunky book, filled massively with brightly colored photos of his work, with a combination of black and white photos. A perfect combination. Gary is one of my all time favorite "low brow" comic artists. I fancy Keith Haring, but something about the cheesiness of Gary's work appeals to me. Not only that, but it reminds me of my own kooky poptoon paintings. Many people say that my work is like him... and it's odd that now seeing more detailed examples of his work, I can see the close resemblance in some characters. Definitely check out Gary's work when you get the chance! This book is awesome. |
| |
| "Good clean stupid fun." | 2004-10-17 |
| - Reviewed By boycorrupted |
| You gotta love Gary Baseman. His stuff is just so damn much fun that it's really no wonder he can parlay it into such diverse projects as Disney films and Starbucks board games. The surprising thing is that I can still look at it after all that - but "Teacher's Pet" IS exceptional for the schlock-factory that is Disney, even though it represents a somewhat cleaned-up version of Baseman's style. But if you prefer the Baseman of Blab! and Juxtapoz, the gritty oil renderings of his bug-eyed psycho cartoon world, here you go. You've got your naked chicks, your "dorks," your devils and skeletons, often in pinata form, often clubbing each other to death or otherwise violently expressing their angst and ennui. Spare yourself the really laughably pretentious forward by Barry Smolin, by the way: "Baseman's multivalent imagination conceives a panoply of diverse characters..." Please give me a break. "Sometimes a nose is just a nose," meaning that sometimes it's obviously a phallus; but we don't really need to invoke Freud to analyze the mysteries of Baseman's work - it's simply not that deep. It's "Dumb Luck." Let's not suck all the fun out of it! |
| |
| "Dumb Luck Counts Too!" | 2004-09-17 |
| - Reviewed By wuheavy |
Finally got my hands on this bad boy, and just have to say, Wow. This book is big (in every sense of the word), jam packed with pictures of Baseman's art and designed incredibly well. Coffee table books watch out, there's a new kid on the block.
Paging through this massive tome you become fully immersed in Baseman's World; a world full of amputee Bunnies, drooling ice cream cones, masochistic snowmen, doggie Dunces, feline pinatas, plus unattainable beauty and human desire. Though many aspects of Baseman's career are on display (advertising, animation, editorial, packaging and product art), it is his paintings that truly shine. This is where Baseman can let go, and let go he does with a torrent of cute and fuzzy creatures mired in the most horribly painful human experiences. The humor is oftentimes juvenile and sadistic, but somehow it manages to engender a smile from the viewer, maybe because we're glad it's the Snowman who is getting his heart broken (by a mermaid no-less) and not us. There is something else, that elusive "indefinable" quality, that gives Baseman's work it's mass(ive) appeal. His characterizations harken back to old Warner Bros. cartoons (who hasn't grown up on those?), which tickle the child inside, but the emotions and situations are purely human, which grabs the attention of our grown-up self. Baseman's greatest trick, however, is creating what appear to be very simple paintings. As with most great art repeated viewings are required to be able to peel back all the layers, and really see what's going on. And believe me, there is a lot going on.
I doubt that many people unfamiliar with Baseman's work would get this book, but anyone who has been exposed (a very appropriate term actually) to his paintings, magazine/book covers or toys should jump on it. Highest rating possible from me. |
| |
| "Dumb Luck it Ain't" | 2004-05-10 |
| - Reviewed By ronaldnelson |
| Seemingly simple forms hide complex thoughts. This book is like the height chart marked on the kitchen door frame measuring progress. Gary displays a variety of themes that have characterized his work over the past decade. Some will be drawn to the images reflecting his work on "Teacher's Pet" the emmy-winning ABC Saturday morning show that saw its last incarnation as a full-out animation feature film. Others will see his work as some Freudian-Jungian self examination of our hidden natures (that we try not to put on display for everyone). Even others will see his work as an alternative iconography to sleek Madison Avenue campaigns. This book is all of this and serves as a wonderful summation of Gary's work to date. The fact that Gary's images were used for the "Cranium" game is no fluke -- there is a high correlation between the type of individual who enjoys the mind game and the one who appreciates Gary's art. Sardonic humor never seems to go out style -- so, too, Gary's own expression of that humor will wear well. Do your brain a favor and get this book. |
| |
| "Eye-Popping Fun!" | 2004-04-23 |
| - Reviewed By Anonymous |
| I just received my copy of Gary Baseman's "Dumb Luck" book. I immediately felt compelled to pop an Elvis Costello record on my hi-fi and sit down with an ice-cold martini and go through the book cover to cover TWICE! Gary Baseman's colors and shapes are wildly beautiful! His point of view is laugh-out-loud funny! That combination makes this book a joy to savor! |
| |
