Ray Hemachandra

A breathtaking collection of work put together by Ray Hemachandra and Chunghi Choo:
American Craft magazine: “A wonderland of possibilities ... page after page of inspiration.”
Robyn Hawk: "This volume is an excellent example of the vast array of styles and techniques that make up the Art Jewelry movement."
Tammy Powley, About.com Jewelry Making: "A kind of book slash gallery exhibit. This book is meant to inspire versus inform. Put simply, this is artwork first."
Erin Prais-Hintz:… Show more

A breathtaking collection of work put together by Ray Hemachandra and Chunghi Choo:
American Craft magazine: “A wonderland of possibilities ... page after page of inspiration.”
Robyn Hawk: "This volume is an excellent example of the vast array of styles and techniques that make up the Art Jewelry movement."
Tammy Powley, About.com Jewelry Making: "A kind of book slash gallery exhibit. This book is meant to inspire versus inform. Put simply, this is artwork first."
Erin Prais-Hintz: "The book is really stunning. The compact size packs quite a punch of art. This book is laid out very much like a gallery exhibit: each spread reminds me of a wall space where similar works of art are hung together, and sometimes the connections are surprising. The pieces range from high-end designer diamonds and gems incorporated into meticulously detailed settings to found object creations that look like experiments gone wild. The materials, colors, patterns and styles are fantastic and completely inspiring." Show less

A Publishers Weekly 2012 Best Book of the Year: "Opening this gorgeous hunk of a book is like walking into a high-end jewelry gallery. There are 500 full-color photographs of beaded jewelry--necklaces, rings, bracelets, pins and earrings--created by 275 artists with beads, wire, filament, and fiber. Some of the artists are well-known to beaders, like Carol Wilcox Wells and Diane Fitzgerald, and some not-so-well-known, with their work published for the first time. This makes for a heady blend of… Show more

A Publishers Weekly 2012 Best Book of the Year: "Opening this gorgeous hunk of a book is like walking into a high-end jewelry gallery. There are 500 full-color photographs of beaded jewelry--necklaces, rings, bracelets, pins and earrings--created by 275 artists with beads, wire, filament, and fiber. Some of the artists are well-known to beaders, like Carol Wilcox Wells and Diane Fitzgerald, and some not-so-well-known, with their work published for the first time. This makes for a heady blend of inspiration, ideas, and expression. Hemachandra selected the 500 beaded objects from submissions by 360 artists from 30 countries. To his credit, no single style--bead weaving, bead embroidery, bead stringing--gets short shrift. The photography is of high professional standards.” Show less

Quilting Arts Magazine: "A beautifully photographed book that is equal parts eye-candy and reference tool, worthy of being read and flipped through again and again -- and at over 400 pages, there can be no doubt that you will find something new and inspiring each time."

Books by the Willow Tree: "Who knew that raku could produce the diversity of styles and beauty that are contained in the pages of this book? You will find delicate beauty, humorous whimsy, bold design and serene simplicity on these pages. For some reason this 500 book has grabbed me a bit more than some of the titles. What's a bowl and vessel lover to do but continue to look through the pages of this book -- and dream!"

Mixed Media Artist: "Until I saw this new Lark book, 500 Raku, I had… Show more

Books by the Willow Tree: "Who knew that raku could produce the diversity of styles and beauty that are contained in the pages of this book? You will find delicate beauty, humorous whimsy, bold design and serene simplicity on these pages. For some reason this 500 book has grabbed me a bit more than some of the titles. What's a bowl and vessel lover to do but continue to look through the pages of this book -- and dream!"

Mixed Media Artist: "Until I saw this new Lark book, 500 Raku, I had no idea the variety of looks that raku artists were achieving. Naked raku, sprayed glazes, alcohol reductions, ferric chloride, underglazed, wheel-thrown, press-molded ... and such beautiful, beautiful stuff! This is an inspiration book. How can I pick favorites among so much fabulous work? The book is a visual feast." Show less

Chicago Metal Arts Guild: "Stunning! This book is an example of why the printed book should never go away. From cover to cover it is packed with amazing professional photos showcasing the work of world-renowned polymer clay artists. As someone who has worked in polymer clay for several years, I can appreciate the talent and hard work that goes into these incredibly detailed pieces of art, and this book brings it all to you. With just enough of (each) artist’s biography and bold beautiful colors… Show more

Chicago Metal Arts Guild: "Stunning! This book is an example of why the printed book should never go away. From cover to cover it is packed with amazing professional photos showcasing the work of world-renowned polymer clay artists. As someone who has worked in polymer clay for several years, I can appreciate the talent and hard work that goes into these incredibly detailed pieces of art, and this book brings it all to you. With just enough of (each) artist’s biography and bold beautiful colors of their pieces, this book is worth the price even if you have never worked with polymer clay." Show less

Masters: Blown Glass presents an astounding variety of blown-glass studio work, from Dante Marioni's Greek- and Italian-inspired vessels to Sunny Wang's complex calligraphic shapes. Ray Hemachandra and curator Susan Rossi-Wilcox include contributors from across North America and Australia, the leading centers for blown-glass work, as well as from China, Germany, Japan, and the Netherlands.

Library Journal: “(A) handsomely produced volume … the art speaks for itself. This book will be a welcome addition to Judaica art libraries and contemporary art museum gift shops.”
AmericanStyle: “The art that fills the pages of 500 Judaica is not only eye-catching, it is rooted in ongoing meaning and faith”
The Jewish Daily Forward: “A beautiful book.”
Jewish Book World: “Exemplary photographs of 500 contemporary ceremonial art and ritual objects.”
The Jewish Press: “Many of the… Show more

Library Journal: “(A) handsomely produced volume … the art speaks for itself. This book will be a welcome addition to Judaica art libraries and contemporary art museum gift shops.”
AmericanStyle: “The art that fills the pages of 500 Judaica is not only eye-catching, it is rooted in ongoing meaning and faith”
The Jewish Daily Forward: “A beautiful book.”
Jewish Book World: “Exemplary photographs of 500 contemporary ceremonial art and ritual objects.”
The Jewish Press: “Many of the works in Ray Hemachandra's new book 500 Judaica: Innovative Contemporary Ritual Art, which were curated by Daniel Belasco, Henry J. Leir assistant curator at The Jewish Museum in New York, are not the sorts of pieces you would expect to find in a Jewish book store or Judaica shop in Brooklyn. ... Some of the most interesting works in the collection are so fascinating precisely because they are non-functional.”
Handmade Spark: “This volume is stunning, and will be of interest to those of - or interested in - the Jewish faith and traditions, but also artists and anyone who appreciates meaningful art.”
Craft Gossip: “500 Judaica is an exceptional book for the variety of pieces shown and for its quality and value. Immerse yourself in the beauty of this book from the whimsical assemblage of found items in Liz Mamorsky's works to the machine precision and polish of Abrasha's work. No matter your choice of medium, you'll find examples here to inspire - beading, fiber, wood, ceramic, glass, and metal. This book is both enlightening and filled with beauty, much like the pieces shown within it.” Show less

500 Vases is the tenth book devoted to ceramics in the popular series. It showcases the finest contemporary work from international artists, capturing the full spectrum of styles, each potter's original voice, and whenever possible, close-up details that truly capture the surface quality of the piece.

Popular Woodworking Magazine, Glen D. Huey: “For a huge helping of inspiration, I totally enjoy perusing 500 Cabinets: A Showcase of Design & Craftsmanship. I remember spending hours looking through Fine Woodworking's design books when I was younger, and today we have the 500 Series of books – the series includes books on tables and chairs. While the pieces in this book are mainly contemporary, this is one of those books that I look to for ideas or simply to get my creative juices… Show more

Popular Woodworking Magazine, Glen D. Huey: “For a huge helping of inspiration, I totally enjoy perusing 500 Cabinets: A Showcase of Design & Craftsmanship. I remember spending hours looking through Fine Woodworking's design books when I was younger, and today we have the 500 Series of books – the series includes books on tables and chairs. While the pieces in this book are mainly contemporary, this is one of those books that I look to for ideas or simply to get my creative juices flowing.”
Popular Woodworking Magazine, Christopher Schwarz: “A cool new book. Most of the cabinets are contemporary, and almost all of them are fun to look at. All the staff members here have been paging through these books since they arrived. I really like these books because you get to see a wide range of work, and it's usually beautifully presented.” Show less

AmericanStyle: "The magnificent pieces found in 500 Art Quilts, edited by Ray Hemachandra, show how quilts are more than bedspreads — they are now considered true works of art found on gallery walls and in fine art museums. After a short introduction by Karey Patterson Bresenhan, founder and president of Quilts, Inc., the remaining 400 pages are filled with images of stunning 21st century quilts. Flipping through this colorful book, you'll find that 500 quilts are simply not enough."

Two dozen talented designers create 31 mini quilts that are, indeed, pretty and quite fun to make in this collection of mini-quilt projects from Lark Needlecrafts. The featured techniques include machine and hand quilting, piecing, embroidery, fusing, embellishing with beads and other materials, and trapunto, and the designs are diverse, inventive, fun, and inspiring!

AmericanStyle: "Flipping through the pages of Masters: Earthenware feels similar to exploring a fine art gallery. The book highlights the achievements of 38 international ceramic artists through galleries of work handpicked by the late ceramist Matthias Ostermann. Although the art is simply amazing, what makes this book special is the chance to step into each artist's mind: don't miss the quotes interspersed throughout the images to touch on the artists' inspirations."
Ceramics Monthly:… Show more

AmericanStyle: "Flipping through the pages of Masters: Earthenware feels similar to exploring a fine art gallery. The book highlights the achievements of 38 international ceramic artists through galleries of work handpicked by the late ceramist Matthias Ostermann. Although the art is simply amazing, what makes this book special is the chance to step into each artist's mind: don't miss the quotes interspersed throughout the images to touch on the artists' inspirations."
Ceramics Monthly: "Collectively, the selected artists create vessels, functional work, and various types of sculpture. The surfaces range from unglazed to monochromatic glazing and to highly decorated patterns [and] narrative, illusionistic, and even photorealistic imagery. The book showcases the versatility of working in the earthenware range — with some artists interested in the range of colors and surfaces available, while others are interested in the connections to specific historical or regional styles and glazes, and many are interested in the material's associations with the pottery that has been made and used by everyday people for centuries." Show less

Bead Unique magazine: “Take a trip around the world! Author Ray Hemachandra brings us exciting and beautiful jewelry ideas from sixteen amazing designers. Each piece is influenced by cultures from all over the globe, giving them an eclectic, ethnic look and feel. Most of the projects in this book are easy enough for a beginner, with easy-to-follow instructions to match -- so go ahead and dive in! My favorite piece: Sherry Duquet's Ocean Reflection, a turquoise and silver necklace with lots of… Show more

Bead Unique magazine: “Take a trip around the world! Author Ray Hemachandra brings us exciting and beautiful jewelry ideas from sixteen amazing designers. Each piece is influenced by cultures from all over the globe, giving them an eclectic, ethnic look and feel. Most of the projects in this book are easy enough for a beginner, with easy-to-follow instructions to match -- so go ahead and dive in! My favorite piece: Sherry Duquet's Ocean Reflection, a turquoise and silver necklace with lots of visual weight and texture.” Show less

The Christian Science Monitor: “A feast of ingenuity, grace, and sometimes straight-up wit (that) offers lessons in exquisite craftsmanship. You’ll be glued to your seat admiring the ingenuity of modern furniture makers.”

This spectacular gallery book of art jewelry showcases the creative talents of forty of the world's greatest goldsmiths. A short essay accompanies each eight-page section, along with choice quotes from the featured artists.

Craft Arts International: “The thoughtful writing, technical expertise, artistic vision, and diversity of application make this an exceptional reference resource for flameworkers, glass collectors, and all enthusiasts of outstanding contemporary craft work.”
Glass magazine: “Lavishly illustrated … Ten master flameworkers share their in-depth knowledge through essays on their artistic development and practical technical information. Interspersed between these highly detailed artist chapters… Show more

Craft Arts International: “The thoughtful writing, technical expertise, artistic vision, and diversity of application make this an exceptional reference resource for flameworkers, glass collectors, and all enthusiasts of outstanding contemporary craft work.”
Glass magazine: “Lavishly illustrated … Ten master flameworkers share their in-depth knowledge through essays on their artistic development and practical technical information. Interspersed between these highly detailed artist chapters are galleries that showcase the range of expression possible in the alchemical process of flameworking.”
Richard Clements, glass artist: "It’s a wonderful book. From its concept of showing the techniques and thoughts of ten master flameworkers to the beautiful photographs showing their work and a gallery of other flameworkers’ creations, The Penland Book of Glass shows that flameworking has come of age and is the most exciting technique in glass today.” Show less

Bead&Button magazine: “Bead art is alive and well, as this new title in the Masters series from Lark Books attests. The best of the best is included in this coffee-table volume of museum and gallery-worthy jewelry, sculpture, wearable art, vessels and containers, and more. This book is bound to be dog-eared, it will be perused so much.”

AmericanStyle: "This visually packed tome [is] the perfect eye candy for any furniture aficionado."
Fine Woodworking: "As a maker of chairs and a fan of the form, I pick up most every book I find with the word 'chair' in the title. Lark’s new 500 Chairs is perhaps my favorite. Part of Lark Books’ beautifully presented 500 Series, 500 Chairs opens with a brief but thoughtful essay on chairs by Craig Nutt. Then it showcases chairs in a clean format: color photos, titles, dimensions, maker… Show more

AmericanStyle: "This visually packed tome [is] the perfect eye candy for any furniture aficionado."
Fine Woodworking: "As a maker of chairs and a fan of the form, I pick up most every book I find with the word 'chair' in the title. Lark’s new 500 Chairs is perhaps my favorite. Part of Lark Books’ beautifully presented 500 Series, 500 Chairs opens with a brief but thoughtful essay on chairs by Craig Nutt. Then it showcases chairs in a clean format: color photos, titles, dimensions, maker, and, for the most part, little commentary. Whether your tastes lean toward the traditional or contemporary, functional work or artistic interpretations, you’re likely to find inspiration in this book." Show less

Publishers Weekly: "Art quilts have long since moved from covering beds to hanging on walls, and this collection of 40 artists' works...is ample evidence why. Ranging from the United States and Canada through Europe to Israel, South Africa, Japan and New Zealand, these quilters show the beauty and imagination of fine art and a vast variety of styles and materials....Each artist is represented by 10 works, some with details, as well as the artist's comments on inspirations and the works'… Show more

Publishers Weekly: "Art quilts have long since moved from covering beds to hanging on walls, and this collection of 40 artists' works...is ample evidence why. Ranging from the United States and Canada through Europe to Israel, South Africa, Japan and New Zealand, these quilters show the beauty and imagination of fine art and a vast variety of styles and materials....Each artist is represented by 10 works, some with details, as well as the artist's comments on inspirations and the works' meaning....the wealth of color and pattern is worthwhile " Show less