Art & Photography Books

Book SynopsisDiscover the secrets of the Spider-Verse in this visually stunning collection of more than 500 pieces of artwork from the Oscar-winning, groundbreaking animated feature film! Fans can go behind the scenes with the creators of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and get a look at concept art, final designs, and artist commentary, plus previously unseen storyboards. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the creative minds behind The Lego Movie and 21 Jump Street, bring their unique talents to a fresh vision of a different Spider-Man universe. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse introduces Brooklyn teen Miles Morales, and the limitless possibilities of the Spider-Verse where more than one wears the mask. This luxurious oversized art book unmasks the artistry behind the dazzling and thoroughly original movie with a unique visual style that’s the first of its kind. Here you’ll find fascinating insights into the filmmakers’ creative process: • Exclusive commentary from creators Phil Lord and Christopher Miller on their inspirations for their unique new take on Spider-Man, rooted in his comics origins and the idea of a post-modern Spider-Man in an environment that has multiple spider-people from all of the comics, and giving the film an even stronger visual identity by leaning into the comic book language. • Concept art and sketches of every featured character and location in the film. Meet Miles Morales, the Peter Parkers, Spider-Gwen/Ghost-Spider, Spider-Ham, Peni and SP//dr and Spider-Man Noir—as well as villains Green Goblin, Scorpion, Tombstone, the Prowler, Doctor Octavius and Kingpin. Explore New York City and State, from Miles’s Brooklyn home to Manhattan, the Hudson Valley Forest, Spider-Man’s hideout and Wilson Fisk’s particle collider. • Unseen storyboards and paintings of key scenes—including Miles meeting the older Peter Parker for the first time; Miles swinging through the city, exploring the subway, and swinging through the forest; the fight at Aunt May’s; and Uncle Aaron’s death. • 2 gatefolds feature the film’s complete color script by Dave Bleitch and artwork by Justin K. Thompson, Wendell Dalit, Alberto Mielgo and Yuhki Demers depicting Miles Morales/Spider-Man; storyboards by Ryan Savas of Miles exploring his powers for the first time; and lighting keys by Wendell Dalit of the same sequence. • A foreword written by Brian Michael Bendis, Miles Morales’ co-creator and executive producer of the film. Go into the Spider-Verse any time you want with this special compilation of art from the film that belongs on every fan’s coffee table! “The visual look of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a marvel. Seeing how they came to the design choices they did is... worth the price of this book and then some - Vespe's Holiday Gift GuideTrade Review"The work that's been done on this film absolutely deserves to be poured over" - Birth.Movies.Death "astounding" - SyFy Gallery Feature "the visual look of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse is a marvel. Seeing how they came to the design choices they did is...worth the price of this book and then some" - Vespe's Holiday Gift Guide "the making of a masterpiece" - CBR.com "This is an art book that'll only increase the hype to rewatch and enjoy the incredible film" - Adventures in Poor Taste "This art book is gorgeous...a great companion if you enjoyed the film and want to know more about how it was created" - Geekisphere "Beautifully designed and laid out, the book is an intimate portfolio resplendent with color character renderings, setting concepts, story-boarding and start-to-finish designs." - Boyce McClain, Collector's Corner "a stunning dive into one of 2018's finest features...as memorable and accomplished as anything in the final product" - The Film Stage "These art books are gorgeous, each one a perfect complement to a well-read living room or workspace" - Daily Beast

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Book SynopsisA complete guide to fantastic special effects glazes for studio potters. From drippy and crackle to ash and lichen glazes, experienced ceramicist Linda Bloomfield guides you through the world of special effect glazes. Beautifully illustrated with pieces from both emerging and established potters that showcase stunning copper oxide-blues, metallic bronzes and manganese-pink crystal glazes, Special Effect Glazes is packed full of recipes to try out: from functional oilspot glazes using iron oxide, to explosive lava glazes. In this informative handbook discover how you can create these fantastic effects and learn the basic chemistry behind glazes in order to adjust and experiment with your unique pieces. Discussed are materials and stains, how to find them and how they affect the colour and texture of the glaze, alongside practical fixes to familiar glaze-making problems. Special Effect Glazes is essential if you are interested in creating eye-catching glazes and wanting to develop your knowledge of glaze-making, or experiment with your own formulas to achieve the perfect finish.Trade ReviewRight up there with the best of them ... Linda should be congratulated * London Potters *The knowledge of glazes is an evolutionary process ... Special Effect Glazes makes a valuable and desirable contribution to this lineage of knowledge ... I encourage you to embrace this delightful publication. -- Kevin Boyd * The Journal of Australian Ceramics *... there is a ton of information and a variety of recipes in this book [...] there are many useful clues and ideas of how to test and push the glazes in a direction that works for your studio. * The Studio Manager *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction Section 1: Glaze Principles and Application 1. Understanding Glazes 2. Glaze Materials and Minerals 3. Colouring Glazes 4. Impurities and Variation In Materials 5. Stability and Durability 6. Creating and Testing Glazes 7. Glaze Mixing and Application 8. Firing 9. Glaze ‘Defects’ Section 2: Special Effect Glazes 10. Special Effects: The Chemistry 11. Crackle Glazes 12. Ash Glazes 13. Celadon and Copper Red Glazes 14. Drippy Glazes and Chun Glazes 15. Crystalline Glazes 16. Shrink and Crawl: Lichen Glazes 17. Volcanic, Lava or Crater Glazes 18. Spotted Glazes 19. Metallic Glazes 20. Layering Glazes Conclusion References Bibliography Appendices 1. Glaze Materials UK:US Materials Substitutions 2. Orton Cone Temperatures 3. Ceramic Materials, Chemical Formula and Molecular Weight 4. Limits for Stable Glazes 5. Periodic Table of Elements 6. Materials Analysis for UK Frits, Clays and Feldspars 7. Materials Analysis for US Frits, Clays and Feldspars Suppliers Laboratories for Leach Testing of Glazes Health and Safety Index

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Book SynopsisWatercolour painting is an absorbing, meditative art-from that many people would like to enjoy but don't attempt to because they believe they can't paint or simply don't know where to begin. An encouraging voice and a clear, easy-to-follow approach is often all that's needed to give people the confidence to get started and keep going. That's exactly what this book provides. Paul Clark, an enthusiastic and accomplished painter who runs his own art school, explains the fundamentals in a friendly and accessible way. He shows readers what they really need in terms of tools and materials - starting with a limited colour palette that can be mixed to create the vast majority of colours required. He then explains and illustrates the basic techniques, before presenting ten of his paintings that put those techniques into action. Each painting is broken down into stages, with clear instructions and photographs for readers to follow, plus plenty of helpful tips. In addition, there are three feature spreads that focus on particular areas of interest for beginners, including special effects, painting trees and painting skies.

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Book SynopsisWith Drawing: Landscapes, learn to render a variety of beautiful landscape subjects in graphite pencil. William F. Powell invites you into his artistic world to explore a number of basic drawing techniques and shows how to develop a drawing to its fullest through a series of step-by-step demonstrations. In this 10.25 × 13.75–inch book, Powell explains a number of drawing techniques and special effects and gives tips on how to design a well-balanced composition.Landscapes provides you with the necessary knowledge to create your own landscape drawings from preliminary sketch to the completed work. Discover different methods of shading, ways of manipulating drawing tools to produce specific textures, and a wealth of beautiful landscapes to both copy and admire, includes scenes from American national parks. Also included are simple techniques for developing common landscape elements—such as trees, clouds, rocks, and water—and how to apply a variety of methods to convey a sense of realism. Then, with a little practice, you will be able to apply your newfound skills and draw your own beautiful landscape masterpieces! Designed for beginners, the How to Draw & Paint series offers easy-to-follow guides that introduce artists to basic tools and materials and include simple step-by-step lessons for a variety of projects suitable for the aspiring artist. Drawing: Landscapes allows artists to develop drawing skills by demonstrating how to start with basic shapes and use pencil and shading techniques to create varied textures, values, and details for a realistic, completed landscape drawing.Table of ContentsTools & Materials Shading Techniques Surfaces & Textures Drawing Practice Finding Subjects Perspective Clouds Rocks Trees & Bushes Structures Mountains Deserts Creeks & Rocks Half Dome, Yosemite Grand Falls, Yellowstone

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Book SynopsisEleven-year-old Satsuki and her sassy little sister Mei are overjoyed about moving into a historic country house with their dad - but the girls don't realise what a delightful adventure awaits them there. While exploring their sprawling home and the beautiful rural area that surrounds it, Satsuki & Mei meet Granny, a sweet old woman, and her timid grandson Kanta. They also experience first hand the magic of the Soot Sprites, mysterious creatures that live in the walls, and discover a huge camphor tree that just might be enchanted...

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Book SynopsisJust when you thought there was no hope of ever finding a comprehensive color-mixing resource for oil, acrylic, and watercolor artists, along comes the 1,500 Color Mixing Recipes for Oil, Acrylic & Watercolor, a collection of Walter Foster's bestselling Color Mixing Recipes books, including Color Mixing Recipes for Oil and Acrylic, Color Mixing Recipes for Portraits, Color Mixing Recipes for Watercolor, and the most recent addition, Color Mixing Recipes for Landscapes. This incredible collection comes in a user-friendly concealed spiral-bound format that is tabbed for quick and easy reference. Aspiring artists will also find two removable color mixing grids--one for oil or acrylic, and one for watercolor.

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Book SynopsisStep into the enchanting world of Nicole Salvesen and Mary Graham, two visionary designers known for their English country house style, who are celebrated for their ‘future heritage’ approach to interiors. In this, their debut book, Salvesen and Graham invite you to explore the art of creating classically beautiful and thoughtfully curated living spaces that transcend trends and stand the test of time. Featuring a treasure trove of stunning images, they share invaluable insights, guiding you on a journey to decorate your home in a way that is as stylish and inviting today as it will be in years to come.

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Book SynopsisFrom Edouard Manet’s portrait of naturalist writer Émile Zola sitting among his Japanese art finds to Van Gogh’s meticulous copies of the Hiroshige prints he devotedly collected, 19th-century pioneers of European modernism made no secret of their love of Japanese art. In all its sensuality, freedom, and effervescence, the woodblock print is single-handedly credited with the wave of japonaiserie that first enthralled France and, later, all of Europe—but often remains misunderstood as an “exotic” artifact that helped inspire Western creativity. The fact is that the Japanese woodblock print is a phenomenon of which there exists no Western equivalent. Some of the most disruptive ideas in modern art—including, as Karl Marx put it, that “all that is solid melts into air”—were invented in Japan in the 1700s and expressed like never before in the designs of such masters as Hokusai, Utamaro, and Hiroshige in the early 19th century. This volume, derived from the original XXL monograph, lifts the veil on a much-loved but little-understood art form by presenting the most exceptional Japanese woodblock prints in their historical context. Ranging from the 17th-century development of decadent ukiyo-e, or “pictures of the floating world,” to the decline and later resurgence of prints in the early 20th century, the images collected in this edition make up an unmatched record not only of a unique genre in art history, but also of the shifting mores and cultural development of Japan. From mystical mountains to snowy passes, samurai swordsmen to sex workers in shop windows, each piece is explored as a work of art in its own right, revealing the stories and people behind the motifs. We discover the four pillars of the woodblock print—beauties, actors, landscapes, and bird-and-flower compositions—alongside depictions of sumo wrestlers, kabuki actors, or enticing courtesans—rock stars who populated the “floating world” and whose fan bases fueled the frenzied production of woodblock prints. We delve into the horrifying and the obscure in prints where demons, ghosts, man-eaters, and otherworldly creatures torment the living—stunning images that continue to influence Japanese manga, film, and video games to this day. We witness how, in their incredible breadth, from everyday scenes to erotica, the martial to the mythological, these works are united by the technical mastery and infallible eye of their creators and how, with tremendous ingenuity and tongue-in-cheek wit, publishers and artists alike fought to circumvent government censorship. As part of our 40th anniversary series, this edition compiles the finest extant impressions from museums and private collections across the globe in a lightweight, accessible format, offering extensive descriptions to guide us through this frantic period in Japanese art history.Trade Review“A quarter-millennium’s worth of prints reveal the evolving tastes of Japanese artists over the ages, and the impact of this art form on global culture.” * The New York Times *“A dreamlike stroll through the most beautiful landscapes of this fantasized Japan.” * Vogue *“I envy the Japanese for the enormous clarity that pervades their work... they draw a figure with a few well-chosen lines as if it were as effortless as buttoning up one’s waistcoat.” * Vincent van Gogh *

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Book SynopsisThe legend of Jean-Michel Basquiat is as strong as ever. Synonymous with 1980s New York, the artist first appeared in the late 1970s under the tag SAMO, spraying caustic comments and fragmented poems on the walls of the city. He appeared as part of a thriving underground scene of visual arts and graffiti, hip hop, post-punk, and DIY filmmaking, which met in a booming art world. As a painter with a strong personal voice, Basquiat soon broke into the established milieu, exhibiting in galleries around the world. Basquiat’s expressive style was based on raw figures and integrated words and phrases. His work is inspired by a pantheon of luminaries from jazz, boxing, and basketball, with references to arcane history and the politics of street life—so when asked about his subject matter, Basquiat answered “royalty, heroism and the streets.” In 1983 he started collaborating with the most famous of art stars, Andy Warhol, and in 1985 was on the cover of The New York Times Magazine. When Basquiat died at the age of 27, he had become one of the most successful artists of his time. First published in an XXL edition, this unprecedented insight into Basquiat’s art is now available in a compact, accessible volume in celebration of TASCHEN’s 40th anniversary. With pristine reproductions of his most seminal paintings, drawings, and notebook sketches, it offers vivid proximity to Basquiat’s intricate marks and scribbled words, further illuminated by an introduction to the artist from editor Hans Werner Holzwarth, as well as an essay on his themes and artistic development from curator and art historian Eleanor Nairne. Richly illustrated year-by-year chapter breaks follow the artist’s life and quote from his own statements and contemporary reviews to provide both personal background and historical context.Trade Review“I don’t think about art when I’m working. I try to think about life.” * Jean-Michel Basquiat *“The most complete monograph on Basquiat that exists.” * El País *“A must have... Exceptional reproductions of his most important paintings, drawings and sketches, to be shared with lovers of Basquiat’s raw art.” * vogue.com *“A cult object composed of exceptional reproductions of Basquiat's most important paintings, drawings, and sketches.” * Vogue *

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Book SynopsisThis is your go-to drawing and visual reference book for creating anime and manga characters, featuring more than 600 drawings demonstrating basic techniques and depicting a wide range of characters. For student and aspiring artists, illustrators, character designers, and more, Draw Like an Artist: 100 Lessons to Create Anime and Manga Characters demonstrates foundational art concepts like proportion and anatomy as you learn to draw a broad array of characters and their poses and expressions, all shown from a variety of perspectives. Each set of step-by-step illustrations takes you from beginning sketch lines to a finished drawing. Artist and author Alex Brennan-Dent’s expert drawing techniques and video tutorials to key concepts accessible via QR codes make this a must-have sourcebook for animators and manga artists. This comprehensive guidebook includes:   Anime and manga drawing fundamentals, includin

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Book SynopsisDraw realistic animal portraits in coloured pencils with award-winning teacher and animal artist, Lisa Ann Watkins. Animals are an eternally popular subject for artists but how do you capture the character of a much-loved pet or bring a favourite animal to life on the page? Lisa Ann Watkins has made a career of teaching her coloured pencil techniques, and in this magnificent book she will show you how. A section on materials covers coloured pencils and watercolour pencils, along with supporting tools including PanPastels. This is followed by a chapter about composition and preparation: how to capture the best reference photographs from which to work, along with notes on digital tools that can be used to help with colour choice and tonal values. Lisa's clear, simple techniques are presented through ten studies that demonstrate how to breathe life into your portraits by focusing on the subject's fur texture, bright eyes, and glossy noses. They answer, in simple terms, common technical questions from students/followers that cover unique aspects of the medium such as the amount of pressure to use – and make beautiful artworks in their own right. A series of five step-by-step full animal portrait projects then follows, ranging from cats and dogs to cows and horses. Project outlines and reference photos are available to download for free from Bookmarkedhub.comTrade ReviewThis is by far the best colour pencil book I have and I own quite a few. There is so much information in it, plus the lovely presentation and the print quality. I now fully understand how hard Lisa has worked on this beautiful book. The wealth of information is drawn from her experience both as an award winning pet and wildlife artist and as an art tutor. Includes a comprehensive materials guide, different techniques, studies and some step-by-step portraits showing exactly how they were achieved. This book definitely has everything a beginner needs to know to start their colour pencil journey and so much more for those of us with some experience under our belts. Something for everyone here. * Customer Review *This book covers it ALL and realistically not in just a basic form. I have purchased a lot of books for new ideas or tips for techniques I'm not strong in to become a better artist. I pre-ordered this book sceptically because I like to read the reviews FIRST before I buy! HOWEVER... even if you're an advanced or professional artist, Lisa Ann Watkins doesn't hide or hold back in this book. "This is a must have" book and the best I own for tips, suggestions, ideas, you name it, it's in this book! I am so glad I took the chance and purchased this book. * Customer Review *Learning about the artist in the introduction was really interesting. Lots of detailed information throughout the book. Very helpful. * Customer Review *This thorough guide takes full advantage of the fine details that can be created with coloured pencils to produce lifelike and characterful animal portraits. What is particularly interesting is Lisa Ann's subtle use of non-natural colours to emphasize highlight, shading and contrast and, in some cases, to subdue the more obvious hues in order to capture specific characteristics. After an in-depth study of the materials and working methods this style demands, the book proceeds by way of a series of studies and demonstrations that explain further aspects and considerations. Considerable attention is paid to features such as fur, eyes and noses. The subjects are all domestic, with a variety of dogs and cats, but also a horse and cow. This is, however, a book – and an excellent one at that – about animal portraits, so this is perfectly fitting. -- Henry Malt * The Artist *Lisa Ann Watkins is an award-winning artist and tutor who specialises in coloured pencil drawing, enjoying a large and loyal following on social media as well as face to face through her many teaching workshops throughout the UK and America. In this beautifully produced book, Lisa tackles the popular subject of animal portraiture. With clear, simple techniques presented through ten studies, she demonstrates how to bring your portraits to life by focusing on texture, bright eyes and glossy noses. Building on her experience as a tutor, she confronts many of the problems students face when using coloured pencils and provides easy solutions. Five detailed step-by-step full animal portrait projects are included, with subjects ranging from dogs and cats to cows and horses. * Leisure Painter *This is one of the best coloured pencil tutorial books out there. The colours are stunning and every project well thought out and beautifully presented. My favourite art book by a mile! -- Tracy Hughes * Customer Review *Themes, subjects and media go in cycles, and coloured pencil is having its moment in the sun again. This is no bad thing, because it’s a medium that requires little in the way of equipment and is highly portable, meaning you can work almost anywhere. On top of that, as printing tolerances improve, it’s possible to reproduce on the page the fine detail pencils allow; this is a book that sparkles in that respect. Let’s assume, therefore, that you’re on board with the medium and subject matter presented here. You’ve also skimmed through the technical introduction because there’s never not something interesting, and perhaps new to you, to be found. Given the level of work here, you’re not a beginner, so the basic techniques are, even if not second nature, at least familiar. What you want now is to feel comfortable with your tutor and to get just the right amount of instruction to be able to follow the demonstrations and projects presented. As we’ve already cut to the chase once, we can do so again – you won’t be disappointed and should feel right at home. This is not the first book on animal drawing, so we should look for individualities. In that respect, the word Portrait in the title is significant. These are head and shoulder images that capture the character of the subject. I really, really want to say “sitter”, but you’re going to need a photograph for that. And, yes, Lisa does indeed work from photographs. The technical introduction includes some rather useful tips on getting the photo right in the first place and also on using software to combine images for dual portraits. She also suggests reducing a colour image to line to help with the initial outline drawing. I haven’t seen that in a book where it’s not the main subject before and it’s an extremely useful addition, especially when working from photographs is essential to the subject matter. The drawings themselves include a good variety of creatures (although not the donkeys on the cover). It’s worth saying that, although horses and cattle are here, dogs and cats predominate. Lisa goes into considerable detail about fur and hair (no feathers here) as well as features such as eyes, noses and ears. There are enlarged illustrations at all the points you need them. Lisa is a thoughtful teacher who has an excellent sense of exactly those points where a student is going to need help or a nudge. In terms of style, as befits a portrait, backgrounds are largely neutral, but without the pitfall of looking like a blank card. The use of colour can surprise you – careful combinations of greens and reds are frequently used to create realistic shades and shading. Highlights, in the eyes especially, add character as well as that sparkle I referred to earlier. Production-wise, the book has soft covers that open easily and deep flaps that make it feel nice in the hand. Obviously, it’s the content that matters, but ergonomics have a strong part to play in the way we react to a book and this one ticks all the right boxes. A lot of thought has clearly gone into it. -- Henry Malt * Artbookreview.net *Sumptuous pages filled with colour pencil wisdom and creations – sign me up already! […] My humble abode is well insulated with art books at this point, and I was very happy to ass this volume from Lisa Ann Watkins to my collection. We are often referred to as a nation of animal lovers, and why wouldn’t we be … whether a meow, a moo, a neigh or a woof, animals do so enrich our lives and this book covers all these topics in style. It starts off with a great grounding on materials, covering what is available and why you might just fancy buying them. And we know resistance is futile and you are highly likely to succumb at some point, after all. Lisa has put some commonly used surfaces under the microscope here, and that certainly appeals to my Silent Witness-encourage forensic tendencies, a fusion of science and art is truly an empowering thing. Like many, I am full of aspirations about creating but also time-poor, so I was happy to see a section on using other media with coloured pencils. At times, I prefer to use colour pencil alone, and at other times, I do enjoy being able to get more done in the time I have available. Looking at you, dastardly backgrounds! A tour-de-force on mark-making with our beloved, wood-scented, heavenly pigmented pencils follows before a very useful section on getting great photos, with tips on how to turn those photos of Tiddles from B-movies extra to Hollywood A-lister. Colour selection and transferring is given due weight, preparing pencil-wielding artists for the creative magic that ensues. Ten excellent studies take us through some commonly faced animal portrait challenges, from different eyes, noses, and fur, before moving onto five in-depth projects covered from start to finish. The quality of the images and text are clear and doubtless will prove a great assistance to the reader. Whilst the book is clearly focussed on animal portraits, there is much fabulous information and insight within that can be applied to a range of subjects. So, in summary, I found this to be a very worthwhile addition to my collection. I do love Search Press art titles in terms of content and layout, and this is no exception. Easy to pick up and admire, but also rewarding to sit down and absorb, I thoroughly enjoyed it and it comes highly recommended. -- Spencer Philips * The Journal of the UK Colour Pencil Society, Talking Point *This is a wonderful book with excellent illustrations for anyone starting out with colour pencils. I only started using colour pencils earlier on this year and I wish I’d had this book from the start. It is very clear and precise and gives step-by-step instructions on the tutorials to achieve great artwork at the end. The writing is very concise with lots of helpful tips and tricks to help you along with your colour pencil art. It’s extremely useful for beginners but also for people that have been using this art medium for some time. The initial chapters take you through the materials needed and then there are tutorials to try and help you practice the techniques to create great artwork. There are also helpful instructions on how to transfer your subject from photos onto drawing paper. This is a wonderfully illustrated instructional book, and I would thoroughly recommend this to someone starting out on their colouring pencil art journey. This is a book I will refer to again and again. -- Angela Way * The Journal of the UK Colour Pencil Society, Talking Point *In this magnificent book, Lisa Ann Watkins will show you how to capture the character of a much-loved pet or bring a favourite animal to life on the page. Lisa's clear, simple techniques are presented through ten studies that demonstrate how to breathe life into your portraits by focusing on fur texture, bright eyes, and glossy nose, whilst a series of five step-by-step full animal portrait projects give you the opportunity to put your learning into action. * Paint & Create, March 2023 *Table of ContentsIntroduction 6, Materials 10, Getting started 20, Markmaking 26, Composing your portrait 38 Studies 52 Golden eye: dog 54, Green eye: cat 58, Brown eye: dog 62, Pink nose: cat 66, Black nose: dog 70, Pink nose: dog 74, Clumpy fur 80, Long white fur 84, Short shiny chestnut fur 88, Black curly fur 92 Portraits 96 Aura – Step-by-step Norwegian Forest Cat 98, Milo – Step-by-step Mexican hairless dog 106, Sadie –Step-by-step Shetland Sheepdog 116, Blue – Step-by-step Gypsy Cob horse 126, Brandy – Step-by-step Red Angus cow 136 Index 144

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Book SynopsisRomantic, cool and glamorous, the Chloé woman embodies the bohemian femininity that the fashion house has become known for.From the carefree romanticism of their relaxed silhouettes to their cult status leather goods, Chloé has appealed to the modern woman since its inception in 1952. Founded by Gaby Aghion, who introduced the revolutionary concept of ready-to-wear, the maison has since been steered by legendary designers including Karl Lagerfeld, Phoebe Philo and Stella McCartney.Including carefully curated images of Chloé''s most sought-after pieces as well as captivating text, Little Book of Chloé tells the story behind an iconic fashion house from its beginnings in Paris through to its continued status as the It-girl design house today.

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Book SynopsisAn elegant reference guide to the meaning of plants in art and life. From early Egyptian reverence for the acacia and the lotus, to the Victorian language of flowers and the works of Vincent Van Gogh and Georgia O'Keeffe, we have long sought meaning in nature. Significance has often been ascribed to particular plants, referencing their uses as food or medicine, their associations with saints and heroes, or more abstract or aesthetic qualities like fortitude, beauty and strength. Weaving together botany, mythology, folklore, religious texts, and centuries of art and literature, this richly illustrated, elegant reference guide engages the cultural significance and underlying meanings of over fifty plants. Each entry is accompanied by a work of art or botanical illustration, bringing together the world of art and plants in an elegant and seamless fashion and deepening our understanding of how plants have been used by artists in the past and what they mean to us today. This is the ideal reference volume for the artistically inspired botanist as well as a pleasure to read and leaf through.

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Book SynopsisFiona Watt is an Editorial Director and writer at Usborne Publishing. She graduated from Exeter University with a Bachelor of Education in Art and Design. She taught for three years at a primary school in Kent, before spending two years at a British school in The Netherlands. She started working at Usborne in 1989 and has written and edited hundreds of books including baby and novelty, sticker, art and craft, cookery, science and activity books. She has written all the titles in the award-winning THAT'S NOT MY series and many in the highly successful Sticker Dolly Dressing series. She is the sixth biggest-selling UK children's author, with over 10 million of her books sold in the UK since records began.

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Book SynopsisHundreds of oversized images of the world''s most spectacular destinations are featured along with service information on the best and most authentic ways to experience them. A candy box full of visual delights, this book will inspire tangible ideas for everyone''s next great trip. National Geographic takes you on a photographic tour of our world in this spellbinding new coffee table travel gift book. Hundreds of Earth''s most breathtaking locales are illustrated with vivid, oversized full-color images taken by Nat Geo''s world-class photographers. These images, coupled with evocative text, feature a plethora of visual wonders: ancient monoliths, scenic islands, stunning artwork, electric cityscapes, white-sand seashores, rain forests, ancient cobbled streets, and both classic and innovative architecture. Loaded with hard service information for each location, Destinations of a Lifetime has it all: when to go, where to eat, where to stay, and what to do to ensure the most enriching andTrade Review“Get ready to add to your bucket list every time you turn the page of this aspirational travel book. Because it’s from National Geographic, you know the photos are breathtaking. The cover alone, with its awe-inspiring image of a historic guesthouse built on a cliff in the Swiss Alps, will have you packing your bag. This is the perfect book to leave on your table as a conversation piece and a place to turn whenever you need a little something to look forward to when we can travel again. Price: $40” –Forbes.com"This breathtaking, 320-page volume, published by National Geographic, contains 250 exquisite color photographs that will either inspire you to see the world or at least give you the opportunity to become the quintessential armchair traveler. It features hundreds of locales around the world, both natural and man-made, including ancient monoliths, scenic islands, white-sand seashores and rain forests. Images taken by some of the world’s premier photographers are accompanied by practical travel information for visitors to each place, including dining and lodging options."—The Wall Street Journal"The world's most desirable holiday destinations—in pictures."—Theguardian.com

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Book Synopsis"A fascinating cultural history" (People) of how Japan adopted and ultimately revived traditional American fashion A strange thing has happened over the last two decades: the world has come to believe that the most "authentic" American garments are those made in Japan. From high-end denim to oxford button-downs, Japanese brands such as UNIQLO, Kamakura Shirts, Beams, and Kapital have built their global businesses by creating the highest-quality versions of classic American casual garments-a style known in Japan as ametora, or "American traditional."In Ametora, cultural historian W. David Marx traces the Japanese assimilation of American fashion over the past 150 years. Now updated with a new afterword covering the last decade, Ametora shows how Japanese trendsetters and entrepreneurs mimicked, adapted, imported, and ultimately perfected American style, dramatically reshaping not only Japan's culture but also our own.

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Book SynopsisA passionate advocate of craftsmanship over mass-production, William Morris (1834 1896) designed a huge variety of objects, but it is his highly original carpet, fabric and wallpaper patterns that have continued to capture the imagination and exert their influence on the decorative arts. Around 600 such designs are attributed to Morris, of which the vast majority are based on natural forms, including trees, plants and flowers. This beautifully designed, accessibly priced gift book offers a wealth of designs by Morris in which flowers are the principal motif, bringing together not only completed patterns but also working drawings in pen and watercolour, and examples of his pearwood, floral-pattern printing blocks. It also explores examples of the sources that inspired Morris's flower-based designs: his own gardens at the Red House in Kent, Kelmscott Manor in Oxfordshire and elsewhere; 16th- and 17th-century herbals; illuminated medieval manuscripts; late medieval and Renaissance tapestries; and a range of decorated objects, particularly from the Islamic world, that Morris studied at the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A). Authored by Rowan Bain, curator at the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow, north London, and lavishly illustrated with almost 100 colour illustrations, this exquisite book will both inform and delightTrade Review'Lavishly illustrated' - Leisure Painter'A key inspiration for contemporary designers, the patterns of William Morris are timeless' - Homes & Antiques'Truly magnificent' - Elle

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Book SynopsisMore photos are taken than ever before, but most are neglected and unused. This book suggests new creative directions and explains how you can produce distinctive and exciting works of art. Packed with technical advice and in-depth practical detail, it shows you how to use cameras and equipment for experimental photography. There are ideas on how to develop a creative eye and a personal photographic style. It explains when to use the rules of composition, and when to break them and shows you how to create amazing pictures from everyday objects. It provides inspiration, ideas and techniques for making abstract and pattern pictures, and using textures for artistic impact. Finally, it advises on using software to convert pictures to artwork and how to present art images for maximum effect. Through step-by-step guides and stunning examples, it also helps you create images that tell a personal story. It’s an essential guide to help you take photos that count, not just click away.

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Book SynopsisCollagraph printmaking is an accessible and environmentally friendly way of making striking prints with a unique texture. At its simplest it is a method of printing from collaged plates; at its most sophisticated, it is an innovative and exciting experimental medium. This book is a guide to the technique, with step-by-step instructions for creating and printing simple plates for the beginner, as well as tips, ideas and directions for those with more experience. There is advice on how to get started at the kitchen table; a guide to additional materials and equipment; step-by-step instructions for building collagraph plates and techniques for printing in monochrome using relief and intaglio methods.

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Book SynopsisNow in an unlimited edition: David Hockney's artist book of iPad paintings, made around a small farmhouse in Normandy during a year of lockdown. His vivid impressions of the changing light and landscape are brought from the glowing screen to the printed volume with a special six-color printing treatment, giving expression to every shade and hue.

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Book SynopsisLust for Life is the classic fictional re-telling of the incredible life of Vincent Van Gogh. “Vincent is not dead. He will never die. His love, his genius, the great beauty he has created will go on forever, enriching the world… He was a colossus… a great painter… a great philosopher… a martyr to his love of art. “Walking down the streets of Paris the young Vincent Van Gogh didn’t feel like he belonged. Battling poverty, repeated heartbreak and familial obligation, Van Gogh was a man plagued by his own creative urge but with no outlet to express it. Until the day he picked up a paintbrush.Written with raw insight and emotion, follow the artist through his tormented life, struggling against critical discouragement and mental turmoil and bare witness to his creative journey from a struggling artist to one of the world’s most celebrated artists.

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Book SynopsisMany designs that appear in today’s society will circulate and encounter audiences of many different cultures and languages. With communication comes responsibility; are designers aware of the meaning and impact of their work? An image or symbol that is acceptable in one culture can be offensive or even harmful in the next. A typeface or colour in a design might appear to be neutral, but its meaning is always culturally dependent. If designers learn to be aware of global cultural contexts, we can avoid stereotyping and help improve mutual understanding between people. Politics of Design is a collection of visual examples from around the world. Using ideas from anthropology and sociology, it creates surprising and educational insight in contemporary visual communication. The examples relate to the daily practice of both online and offline visual communication: typography, images, colour, symbols, and information. Politics of Design shows the importance of visual literacy when communicating beyond borders and cultures. It explores the cultural meaning behind the symbols, maps, photography, typography, and colours that are used every day. It is a practical guide for design and communication professionals and students to create more effective and responsible visual communication.

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Book SynopsisMany designers, from jewellers to architects, use folding techniques to make three-dimensional forms from two-dimensional sheets of fabric, cardboard, plastic, metal and other materials.This unique handbook explains key folding techniques, such as pleated surfaces, curved folding and crumpling. It has been updated with a new chapter covering some lesser-known techniques, suggesting yet more creative possibilities. The techniques are accompanied by clear step-by-step drawings, specially commissioned photography and ten new instructional videos.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisNo clichés. No cheese. No camera-club jargon. From the author of the best-selling ‘Read This’ series, this introduction covers all aspects of photographing places, including landscapes, cityscapes, architecture and interiors. Whatever your camera, whatever your interest, whatever your level, this indispensable guide gives you all the essential techniques and demystifies the work of acclaimed photographers. Packed with practical tips and iconic images, this accessible book will arm you with the know-how you need to take meaningful pictures of the places that matter to you most. Featuring 50 master photographers, including Alec Soth, Martin Parr, Robert Adams, Todd Hido, Rut Blees Luxemburg, Julius Shulman, Rinko Kawauchi, Thomas Ruff, Tim Hetherington and Joel Sternfeld. Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs of Places is part of the internationally-bestselling ‘Read This’ series, which has sold over half-a-million books worldwide and has been translated into over 20 languages. Coming soon: Read This if You Want to Be Great at Drawing People by Selwyn Leamy (September 2019) More titles in the ‘Read This’ series: Read This if You Want to Take Great Photographs by Henry Carroll (9781780673356) Read This if You Want to Take Great Photographs of People by Henry Carroll (9781780676241) Read This if You Want to Take Great Photographs of Places by Henry Carroll (9781780679051) Use This if You Want to Take Great Photographs: A Photo Journal by Henry Carroll (9781780678887) Read This if You Want to Be Great at Drawing by Selwyn Leamy (9781786270542) Use This if You Want to Be Great at Drawing by Selwyn Leamy (9781786274052) Read This if You Want to Be a Great Writer by Ross Raisin (9781786271976) Read This if You Want to Be Instagram Famous edited by Henry Carroll (9781780679679)

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Book SynopsisThe Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer turns his eye to the seventeenth-century Dutch Golden Age Twenty years ago, Benjamin Moser followed a love affair to an ancient Dutch town. In order to make sense of this new place, he threw himself into the Dutch museums. Soon, he found himself unearthing the strange, inspiring and sometimes terrifying stories of the artists who shaped one of the most luminous moments in the history of human creativity, the Dutch Golden Age.As he explored the hidden world of the Dutch Masters (and one Mistress), Moser met a crowd of fascinating personalities: the stormy Rembrandt, the intimate Ter Borch, the mysterious Vermeer. Through their art, he got to know their country, too: from Pieter Saenredam''s translucent churches to Paulus Potter''s muddy barnyards, and from Pieter de Hooch''s cozy hearths to Jacob van Ruisdael''s tragic trees. Over the years, Moser found himself on increasingly intimate terms with these centuries-dead artists, and found that they, too, were struggling with the same questions he was. Why do we make art? What is art, anyway - and what is an artist? What does it mean to succeed as an artist, and what does it mean to fail?The Upside-Down World is an invitation to ask these questions, and to turn them on their heads: to look, and then to look again. It is a brilliant, colourful and learned book for anyone, whether lifelong scholar or curious tourist, who has ever felt the lure of the Dutch galleries. It shows us art, and artists, as we have never seen them before.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisBetween 1915 and 1917 the Russian composer, Sergei Prokofiev wrote a series oftwenty piano pieces. While playing them for a gathering of friends, the poet Konstantin Balmont wrote a sonnet which entitled Mimolyotnosti which Kira Nikolayevna would translate as Visions fugitives. Inspired by these dazzling miniatures, I have assembled a jewel box containing twenty individual felt-tip drawings on watercolor paper capturing fugitive visions of Italy. I have always been eager to capture the faded beauty of cities and buildings. This obsession would inevitably draw me to Venice and Sicily. Wandering amidst the shadows of the Venetian light I have tried to portray the beauty of this luminous city. No part of Italy has as many layers of history or been inhabited by so many different peoples as Sicily. From the Greeks who colonized Siracusa and Selinunte, to the Romans in Agrigento, to the Normans in Palermo.

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Book Synopsis The first comprehensive overview of the work of DNM Architecture, one of the Bay Area's leading residential architecture firms Features a series of thoughtful essays by Principal David Marlatt about his career in architecture, his design philosophy and much more Each project case study, which include notable residences such as Deer Oark, Petaluma Pastoral, The Sea Ranch and more, isaccompanied by striking images by a team of top-class architectural photographers

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Book Synopsis The first comprehensive overview of the work of DNM Architecture, one of the Bay Area's leading residential architecture firms Features a series of thoughtful essays by Principal David Marlatt about his career in architecture, his design philosophy and much more Each project case study, which include notable residences such as Deer Oark, Petaluma Pastoral, The Sea Ranch and more, isaccompanied by striking images by a team of top-class architectural photographers

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Book SynopsisFollowing the worldwide success of his Poemotion trilogy, Takahiro Kurashima presents a title that is in no way inferior to the previous ones in terms of surprise and viewing pleasure. On the contrary: here, the motifs are combined to form a visual narrative that is revealed when the static basic image is set in motion by means of the striped foil. Then an astonishing panorama of unseen moirés and patterns unfolds. The artist uses the digital tools for his creations in a virtuoso manner. At the same time he continues to catch up with the great models of kinetic art. Moirémotion is a school of vision and offers contemplative recreation for our eyes.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisA colourful tribute to one of the UKâs most iconic cities with a foreword by Sir Paul McCartney. With its historic port and unique docks next to the mighty river Mersey, Liverpool enchants tourists and locals alike. Its bustling music scene, past and present, defines the city. Pictures of The Beatles and Cilla Black, stars of the 60âs, quickly turn a pub visit into a trip down memory lane. The cityâs vibrancy shines through every page of drawings, illustrations and paintings. They take us to Liverpoolâs grand cathedral and characteristic waterfront, up St Johns Beacon, the cityâs radio and observation tower, into quirky antique shops and busy pubs. Liverpoolâs very own artists highlight the cityâs personality so uniquely, that it will inspire visits to all its secret corners.Trade ReviewIf you love Liverpool then you’ll love this wonderful book. -- Paul O’GradyA visual love letter to a beautiful city. -- Stephen McGannThis book has so many wonderfully creative images of my hometown - love it! -- Gerry MarsdenA unique view of the city's diverse landscape through the eyes of its artists’ -- John BarnesTable of ContentsForeword Preface The Three Graces and Pier Head The Waterfront and The Albert Dock Liverpool Cathedral and the Hope Street Quarter The Metropolitan Cathedral and around central Liverpool The Cavern Quarter Around Dale Street to the Pier Head and Waterfront Stanley Dock Tobacco Warehouse, Tate and Lyle Sugar Warehouse Crosby Football Around the City Artist Credits

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Book SynopsisZentangle Basics introduces you to today's hottest trend in drawing meditation. Using only pencil, pen and paper, you'll learn how to draw 25 original tangles and discover inspiring ideas for incorporating these designs into your art. This expanded workbook edition includes a bonus section where you can get started with warm-up exercises, practice tangling, and experiment with strings and shading. With benefits including stress relief, inspiration and improved self-esteem, Zentangle can be done anywhere and no special 'artistic' talent is required. Tangles can be used to decorate wearables and home decor objects as well as cards, scrapbook pages and journals. Best of all, you can tangle even if you have never drawn anything before.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisIn a fleeting 14-year period between two world wars, Germany’s Bauhaus school of art and design changed the face of modernity. With utopian ideas for the future, the school developed a pioneering fusion of fine art, craftsmanship, and technology, which they applied across media and practices from film to theater, and sculpture to ceramics. This best-selling reference work is made in collaboration with the Bauhaus-Archiv/Museum für Gestaltung in Berlin, the world’s largest collection on the history of the Bauhaus. Some 575 illustrations including architectural plans, studies, photographs, sketches, and models record not only the realized works but also the leading principles and personalities of this idealistic creative community through its three successive locations in Weimar, Dessau, and Berlin. From informal shots of group gymnastics to drawings guided by Paul Klee, from extensive architectural plans to an infinitely sleek ashtray by Marianne Brandt, the collection brims with the colors, materials, and geometries that made up the Bauhaus vision of a “total” work of art. This is a defining account of Bauhaus' energy and rigor, not only as a trailblazing movement in Modernism but also as a paradigm of art education, where creative expression and cutting-edge ideas led to simultaneously functional and beautiful creations. The handy edition features artists Josef Albers, Marianne Brandt, Walter Gropius, Gertrud Grunow, Paul Klee, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Lilly Reich, and many more.Trade Review“... finally a book that brings a breath of fresh air to the lifeless literature on Bauhaus.” * domus *

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