Art & Photography Books

Book SynopsisCats have been revered by artists since ancient times for their beauty, grace, independence and air of mystery. Domesticated, but with a touch of the wild about them, they share our homes and endlessly fascinate us. The Book of the Cat is a cool and quirky collection of feline art and illustration by artists from around the world. Interspersed through the illustrations are short texts about the artists and their subjects. Beautifully designed and packaged, the book will appeal to cat lovers of all ages.

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Book SynopsisUtagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858) was one of the last great artists in the ukiyo-e tradition. Literally meaning “pictures of the floating world,” ukiyo-e was a particular woodblock print genre of art that flourished between the 17th and 19th centuries. Subjects ranged from the bright lights and attractions of Edo (modern-day Tokyo), to spectacular natural landscapes. In the West, Hiroshige’s prints became exemplary of the Japonisme that swept through Europe and defined the Western world’s visual idea of Japan. Because they could be mass produced, ukiyo-e works were often used as designs for fans, greeting cards, and book illustrations. The style influenced Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, and Art Nouveau artists alike, with Vincent van Gogh and James Abbott McNeill Whistler both particularly inspired by Hiroshige’s landscapes. This introductory book presents key images from Hiroshige’s vibrant, vivid portfolio of blooming cherry trees, beautiful women, Kabuki actors, and busy shopping streets to introduce one of the greats of Asian art history.Trade Review“Some of the greatest prints in the history of art.” * The Wall Street Journal *

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Book SynopsisThe sixth book in the bestselling Master Guide to Drawing Anime series focuses on using principles of figure drawing to create anime characters and scenes. In this new title, Christopher Hart combines two subjects he is well known for-figure drawing and anime. The classic concepts of figure drawing are a perfect place to start for the aspiring anime artist. This book shows readers how to apply basic figure-drawing principles to the anime style that fans love. Chris covers figure-drawing fundamentals-such as proportions, posture, and poses-along with the finishing touches that infuse characters with personality. For example, a simple hand gesture can define an entire scene! This book teaches readers how to draw hands and gestures, and also faces, contours, poses, clothing, scenes, and more. Each lesson offers tips and tricks that will demystify the drawing process, giving artists a solid figure-drawing foundation that they can apply to the anime style and beyond.

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Book SynopsisThe first comprehensive overview of Yves Saint Laurent's haute couture collections, presented through original catwalk photography.Trade Review'This book is testament to the brilliant legacy [Yves Saint Laurent] left behind. As he said himself, fashions fade, style is eternal' - Daily Mail'Features a unique and engaging cast, both behind and in front of the lens, from the 1850s and into the 21st century' - HUCK'The book’s 1000 original runway photographs and text chronologically document not just the house's groundbreaking designs but also some of the magnificent locations, top models and most-interesting the press and public’s reactions to the collections, from the archives of Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris' - Tatler'A photographic encyclopaedia of one of the 20th century's greatest creators' - The Business of Fashion'The first comprehensive overview of Yves Saint Laurent’s couture collections' - LOVE'Forty years of haute couture design from the inimitable master who rewrote the high-fashion rules, starting with his first game-changing collection of 1962' - The Lady'The infamous Catwalk book series, published by Thames & Hudson, are made up of the modern day fashion worshipper’s holy bibles ... The Catwalk books are extraordinary in mapping out fashion trajectories lost to the pre-digital age' - SHOWStudioTable of ContentsPreface by Andrew Bolton • Introduction by Suzy Menkes • Yves Saint Laurent: A Short Biography by Suzy Menkes • The Making of a Collection by Olivier Flaviano • The Collections 1962–2002

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Book SynopsisNow available again, this visually stunning collection of Gustav Klimt's landscape paintings brings to light a lesser-known aspect of the Viennese painter's oeuvre. While Gustav Klimt is largely revered for his opulent, symbolladen portraits of the Viennese bourgeoisie, these works were just one aspect of his artistic expression. His landscapes represent an important facet of his career and are a valuable contribution to the school of European nature painting. For many years the artist travelled to the Austrian and Italian countryside during the summer, where he took advantage of the extraordinary light and spectacular hues to paint and sketch landscapes. Among the most exquisite of Klimt's landscapes are those in which he experimented with composition and style. Accompanied by scholarly essays, the images reproduced in this book comprise all extant landscapes from this brilliant artist, proving that his mastery extends beyond portraiture and revealing themes that appeared throughout his life's work.

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Book Synopsis15 stunning wildflower templates with guidance from the artist behind RHS Flowers: The Watercolour Art Pad and RHS Botanical Art Watercolour Pad.

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Book SynopsisThe New Yorker was launched in 1925, and offers reporting, criticism, essays, fiction, poetry, humour, and cartoons. From the very outset, the founders, Harold Ross and Jane Grant, declared that their sophisticated magazine was 'not edited for the old lady in Dubuque'. The New Yorker has also offered great literature in short stories from such acclaimed writers as John Cheever, Roald Dahl, Alice Munro, Haruki Murakami, Vladimir Nabokov, J. D. Salinger, and Shirley Jackson. From the very first issue, the now iconic monocled dandy Eustace Tilley made The New Yorker's covers unique and pointed. These signature traits have continued right up to the present day in the striking and sometimes controversial covers from such artists as Peter Arno, William Steig, Saul Steinberg, Jean-Jacques Sempé, and Art Spiegelman.Selected by Françoise Mouly

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Book SynopsisFigure Drawing for Artists: Making Every Mark Count is not a typical drawing instruction book; it explains the two-step process behind juggernauts like DreamWorks, WB and Disney. Though there are many books on drawing the human figure, none teach how to draw a figure from the first few marks of the quick sketch to the last virtuosic stroke of the finished masterpiece, let alone through a convincing, easy-to-understand method.That changes now!In Figure Drawing for Artists: Making Every Mark Count, award-winning fine artist Steve Huston shows beginners and pros alike the two foundational concepts behind the greatest masterpieces in art and how to use them as the basis for their own success.Embark on a drawing journey and discover how these twin pillars of support are behind everything from the Venus De Milo, to Michelangelo's Sibyl, to George Bellow's Stag at Sharkey's, and how they're the fundamental tools for animation studios around the world. Not to mention how the best comic book artists since the beginnings of the art form use them whether they know it or not.Figure Drawing for Artists: Making Every Mark Count sketches out the same two-step method taught to the artists of DreamWorks, Warner Brothers, and Disney Animation, so pick up a pencil and get drawing. The For Artists series expertly guides and instructs artists at all skill levels who want to develop their classical drawing and painting skills and create realistic and representational art.Trade Review"Steve Huston is a living master, and one of the few who can teach as well as he paints. He's both a mentor and an inspiration to a new generation of professional artists around the world." - Joshua Jacobo, Cofounder and CEO,New Masters Academy"Steve Huston is one of the most uniquely powerful artists out there . . . a modern master. [Figure Drawing for Artists] is a phenomenal resource. Steve's insight and love for what he does inspires. This book should be in every student's library. That being said, it's for every artist - students and professionals alike." - Carlos Huante, Art Director, Industrial Light & Magic, a division of Lucasfilm"Finally a book that emphasises gesture and rhythm first and foremost. I think the book is weighted just right for making it clear to the current photo copyist culture, and the overly medicalized anatomy culture, that gesture, rhythm, and playful, designed proportion are by far the most important initial visual ideas. Not only for the figure, but for entire images." - Erik Olsen, faculty at College of Creative Studies, Detroit"Steve Huston's new instruction book, FIGURE DRAWING FOR ARTISTS, has been long over due and something I have personally waited for. A consummate draftsman, brilliant painter and one of the most knowledgeable artist I have ever had the pleasure of knowing has made this valuable book available for anyone who is truly interested in understanding the principals of drawing. This book will be the yardstick that all other instructional drawing books are measured by." - Dan McCaw, Fine Artist"an authoritative and useful book with a range of expert tips, pointers and advice that will help your figure drawing" * Paint & Draw *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Getting Comfortable with Your Materials Part 1: The Elements of Drawing Chapter 1: Structure Chapter 2: Basic Gesture Chapter 3: Advancing the Idea of Gesture Chapter 4: Perspective Chapter 5: The Laws of Light Part 2: Breaking Down the Human Body Chapter 6: The Human Body: An Overview of Basic Forms Chapter 7: The Head Chapter 8: The Torso Chapter 9: The Arms and Hands Chapter 10: The Legs and Feet Chapter 11: Finishing Details: Light and Shadow Conclusion: Five Minutes

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Book SynopsisNo Rain, No Flowers is a collection of irreverent, addictive, astute, and life-affirming handwritten notes from French artist, curator and gallerist, Thomas Lélu - sharing his viral inspiration, wisdom and humour.At the core of Lélu''s work is the message that art has the power to help humans through any kind of emotional challenge. A cultural innovator of the highest degree, his fans range from Snoop Dog to The Kardashians and he works with some of the biggest lifestyle brands in the world.No Rain No Flowers is an antidote to the age of the filter, Thomas has a rare ability to capture universal feelings in the ether - via simple, shareable, escapism.

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Book SynopsisLearn to draw the natural world with this inspiring and accessible guide by master-artist Giovanni Civardi. Beginning with the key drawing methods and essential materials you’ll need to start your artistic journey, along with advice on drawing perspective as well as light and shade, learn to sketch country scenes, fruit, vegetables, animals and more. Throughout you’ll find hundreds of helpful and practical illustrations, along with stunning examples of Civardi’s work that exemplify his favourite techniques for capturing the natural world. This is the perfect book for both beginner and experienced artists looking for an inspirational, no-nonsense introduction to drawing natural subjects. This comprehensive guide brings together seven books from Search Press’s successful Art of Drawing series: Drawing Techniques; Understanding Perspective; Drawing Scenery; Drawing Light & Shade; Flowers, Fruit & Vegetables; Drawing Pets; and Wild Animals.Table of ContentsContents I: Drawing Techniques II: Understanding Perspective III: Drawing Scenery IV: Drawing Light & Shade V: Flowers, Fruit & Vegetables VI: Drawing Pets VII: Wild Animals

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Book SynopsisAn easy, no-skills-necessary guide to drawing flowers, leaves, and cacti with 200 step-by-step prompts.Trade Review" We love Peggy's take on teaching the art of line drawing. Her joyful approach to embracing imperfections throughout the process is a breath of fresh air. From her perspective, a crooked line is your crooked line--it adds unique character to your artwork. Thanks to her inclusive style, beginners and pros alike can feel confident in their creativity." --BRIT + CO " For anyone who has ever said "I can't draw," Peggy's stepby- step guide to botanical illustration is for you. Her ability to break down complex illustrations into simple shapes will have you creating pieces of artwork you didn't know were possible. Her style inspires the artist in all of us." --SKILLSHARE

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Book SynopsisThe creator of the ubiquitous Knoll “Tulip” chairs and tables, Eero Saarinen (1910–1961) was one of the 20th century’s most prominent space shapers, merging dynamic forms with a modernist sensibility across architecture and design. Among Saarinen’s greatest accomplishments are Washington D.C.’s Dulles International Airport, the very sculptural and fluid TWA terminal at JFK Airport in New York, and the 630 ft. (192 m) high Gateway Arch of St. Louis, Missouri, each of them defining structures of postwar America. Catenary curves were present in many of his structural designs. During his long association with Knoll, Saarinen’s other famous furniture pieces included the “Grasshopper” lounge chair and the “Womb” settee. Married to Aline Bernstein Saarinen, a well-known critic of art and architecture, Saarinen also collaborated with Charles Eames, with whom he designed his first prize-winning chair. With rich illustration tracing his life and career, this introduction follows Saarinen from his studies across his training all the way to his most prestigious projects, and explores how each of his designs brought a new dimension to the modernist landscape.

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Book SynopsisGrammy Awardnominated, platinum-selling musician Halsey is heralded as one of the most compelling voices of her generation. In I Would Leave Me If I Could, she reveals never-before-seen poetry of longing, love, and the nuances of bipolar disorder. In this debut collection, Halsey bares her soul. Bringing the same artistry found in her lyrics, Halsey's poemsdelve into the highs and lows of doomed relationships, family ties, sexuality, and mental illness. More hand grenades than confessions, these autobiographical poemsexplore and dismantle conventional notions of what it means to be a feminist in search of power. Masterful as it is raw, passionate, and profound, I Would Leave Me If I Could signals the arrival of an essential voice. Book cover painting, American Woman, by the author. Halsey, born Ashley Nicolette Frangipane, is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and recipient of the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame's Hal David Starlight Award. She lives in Los Angeles,

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Book SynopsisEvery one of the world''s half a million tennis courts is, at its most basic, an identical blank canvas: a 78-foot by 36-foot rectangle, divided by a 3-foot-high net in its centre, and marked with eleven straight lines. But add in the elements of surface, space, wind, acoustics, crowds, shadows, humidity, and even air density, and every tennis court is unique-a work of art. And some are masterpieces.Nick Pachelli curates and profiles 200 of the world''s most beautiful, iconic, significant, alluring, and idiosyncratic tennis courts from across the globe, each breathtakingly photographed. He explores the heavyweights, including Wimbledon''s All England Lawn Tennis Club, which employs a hawk to keep stray birds from soiling the meticulous lawns. Arthur Ashe, the Grandstand, and Court 17 in Flushing, Queens, where hundreds of thousands of tennis fans gather every summer for the US Open. And there''s Court Philippe-Chatrier at Roland-Garros, whose clay seems to take on a different shade-burnt orange, burnt red, burgundy, umber-every time you see it.We visit far-flung treasures, such as Waiheke Tennis Club in New Zealand, where you''ll need to take a plane, then a ferry, then a car or bus, and then walk before arriving there. Indoor marvels, including the Tennis Club de Belgique, which evokes the hushed, reverent feeling of a theatre, with skylights illuminating the court and leaving the spectators in the shadows. Hidden jewels, such as the tiny Tennis Club San Stin in Venice, a secret, single outdoor clay court tucked away behind a villa and a 15-foot wall shrouded with vines.There are urban courts, including the Knickerbocker Field Club, deep in the heart of Flatbush, Brooklyn. Academies, like Rafael Nadal''s tennis temple in Mallorca, Spain. And the extreme: a single court completely isolated in the wilds of Scotland; a court in northern Spain revealed when the tide goes out, the sand hardens, and the metallic plates that serve as lines re-emerge; and a court in Kenya made out of termite mounds.Throughout, Pachelli not only conducts a masterful, once-in-a-lifetime tour of the world''s best courts, but in his writing does something equally immersive: He captures the real passion-some might say obsession-that tennis inspires. Because it''s on the court, no matter how grandiose or mundane, whether in an exotic locale or around the corner, where tennis players truly see themselves. Where we come face-to-face with our temperament, our drive, our frustration, our bliss, our longing.This book made me fall in love with tennis all over again.?Rennae Stubbs, former world No. 1 and six-time Grand Slam championHow had I been so blind? I''d seen a tennis court as an arrangement of lines, neat boxes, a net. This book reveals so much more: spaces within spaces, quirks and surfaces, shadows and light, and the communities most of all. What a gift. I won''t look at the game the same way again.?Louisa Thomas, staff writer, The New YorkerA pure pleasure to read and peruse.?Christopher Clarey, New York Times bestselling authorFrom Kent to Kenya, Marrakech to Melbourne. Indoors, outdoors. Seaside and underground. Pachelli captures the magic in this masterful book, which celebrates not just tennis, but this topspinning orb we call planet Earth.?Jon Wertheim, New York Times bestselling author and correspondent for 60 MinutesI''ve been around tennis all over the world, and this book truly speaks to the beauty and importance of tennis courts, whether at tennis academies or remote public courts. Every tennis player and fan will enjoy this book.?Patrick Mouratoglou, world-renowned tennis coach and founder of Mouratoglou AcademyThis book contains hundreds of beautifully photographed tennis courts. The real joy, though, is found in the stories that unfold about each one.?Katrina M. Adams, author and former president of the USTADetailing the remote and far-removed to the legendary courts that have hosted the most storied events in tennis history, this gorgeous book lends us a lens to encounter the world.?Caitlin Thompson, founder of Racquet magazineCan''t travel right now? No worries; Nick Pachelli has got you covered. My recommendation: Open the book to a random page and start dreaming away. And who knows? One day you may find yourself exactly there. A truly dreamy book!?Andrea Petkovic, former top-10 professional tennis player, host, and writerA stunning celebration of tennis that speaks to the heart of anyone with a passion for a pastime.?Tom Coyne, New York Times bestselling author

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Book SynopsisEmbodying the entire system of Robert Henri''s teaching, The Art Spirit contains much valuable advice, critical comment, and inspiration to every student of the arts.

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Book SynopsisAmong the few women artists who have transcended art history, none had a meteoric rise quite like Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (1907–1954). Her unmistakable face, depicted in over fifty extraordinary self-portraits, has been admired by generations; along with hundreds of photographs taken by notable artists such as Edward Weston, Manuel and Lola Álvarez Bravo, Nickolas Muray, and Martin Munkácsi, they made Frida Kahlo an icon of 20th century art. After an accident in her early youth, Frida became a painter. Her marriage to Diego Rivera in 1929 placed her at the forefront of an artistic scene not only in the cultural Renaissance of Mexico, but also in the United States. Her work garnered praise from the poet André Breton, who added the Mexican painter to the ranks of international surrealism and exhibited her work in Paris in 1939 to the admiration of Picasso, Kandinsky, and Duchamp. We access the intimacy of Frida’s affections and passions through a selection of drawings, pages from her personal diary, letters, and an extensive illustrated biography featuring photos of Frida, Diego, and the Casa Azul, Frida’s home and the center of her universe. This large-format XXL book allows readers to admire Frida Kahlo’s paintings like never before, including unprecedented detail shots and famous photographs. It presents pieces in private collections and reproduces works that were previously lost or have not been exhibited for more than 80 years, forming the most extensive study of Kahlo’s work and life to date.Trade Review“If you’re after a wow-factor gift for the art lover in your life, this coffee table book will tick all of the boxes and then some (if the shelves are strong enough!).” * The Independent *“Gives readers an insider view of one of art history’s most iconic painters.” * nymag.com *“The ultimate study of Kahlo’s work for her legion of admirers.” * robbreport.com *"A truly comprehensive exploration of her life and work." * Time Out *“A rare monograph as rich as any museum show.” * The Chicago Tribune *“Here is your own Kahlo museum.” * The Times *“A long overdue retrospective, this door-stopping volume brings together all 152 of Kahlo’s paintings, alongside personal artifacts including rarely seen photographs, diary excerpts, and letters.” * cntraveler.com *“A comprehensive survey of Kahlo’s life and work.” * The New York Times *“…contains some of the most elusive and rare paintings by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.” * townandcountrymag.com *“A magnificent monograph containing the largest study of the Mexican trailblazer’s work to date.” * Harper’s Bazaar *“Frida Kahlo. The Complete Paintings bears the weight of Kahlo’s immense triumphs and struggles.” * forbes.com *“Frida Kahlo. The Complete Paintings is a must-have.” * vogue.com *“An unprecedented glimpse into the historical haven of Kahlo.” * Vogue *“Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?” * Frida Kahlo *“…brings together a wealth of [Kahlo’s] letters, diary entries, and photographs, along with vivid recreations of more than 150 of her paintings.” * Vogue *“Allows readers to admire Frida Kahlo’s paintings like never before, including unprecedented detail shots and famous photographs.” * creativeboom.com *“… brings together the most extensive study of [Frida Kahlo’s] paintings to date.” * GRAZIA *“…offers for the first time a comprehensive survey of her entire oeuvre.” * bbc.com *“A privileged glimpse into the private world of the legendary artist, including paintings that belong to private collections and are difficult for the general public to access.” * dazeddigital.com *“Undoubtedly the most comprehensive publication on the artist to date.” * hypebeast.com *“Nothing is absolute. Everything changes, everything moves, everything revolves, everything flies and goes away.” * Frida Kahlo *“There is an impressive authenticity in Frida’s visual metaphors. Looking at her paintings, we can say: this is true, this has been lived, suffered, and re-created.” * Octavio Paz, 1988 *

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Book SynopsisLucian Freud (19222011), widely regarded as the greatest figurative painter of our time, spent seven months painting a portrait of the art critic Martin Gayford. The daily narrative of their encounters takes us into that most private place, the artist's studio, and to the heart of the working methods of this modern master both technical and subtly psychological. From this emerges an understanding of what a portrait is, but something else is also built up: a portrait, in words, of Freud himself. Full of wry and revealing observations, this is a book not quite like any other: the inside story of how it feels to pose for a remarkable artist, and be transformed into a work of art.Trade Review'One of the best books about art, and the making of art, that I have ever read' - Julian Barnes'Freud is vividly surprising, potent and dynamic ... a portrait of an anarchic painter with views on everything from Leonardo’s failings to Princess Margaret’s voice' - Observer'If it is Freud who dominates this book, it is Gayford’s achievement to bring him out and to do so with wit and humour as well as acute intelligence ... literally inimitable' - Guardian

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Book SynopsisFounded in 1925, Fendi is a luxury brand rooted in elegance and experimentation.Renowned for its attention to detail, innovative design and signature ''double F'' logo, the family firm has conquered the fashion industry and acquired cult status among celebrities and fashionistas with the iconic Croissant, Peekaboo and Baguette ''It'' bags.Through stunning photographs and expert text, Little Book of Fendi tells the story of one of Italy''s oldest fashion dynasties, from the Fendi sisters, early days of fur and Dolce Vita period, to Karl Lagerfeld, Kim Jones and a global empire that remains as deeply embedded in popular culture as it ever was.

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Book SynopsisNew in the Photofile series, a mini-monograph on Belgian photographer Harry Gruyaert. Born in Antwerp in 1941, Harry Gruyaert was a pioneer of European colour photography in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1972, he created TV Shots, a series of images created by turning the dial on a television set at random and photographing the screen. Later he travelled the world, seeking out different kinds of light and exhibiting a particular fascination with borders, interfaces and incongruous juxtapositions. A member of Magnum Photos since 1982, he describes colour as a means of sculpting what I see ... it's the emotion of photography.' Most recently he has begun to explore the experimental freedom offered by digital photography. Autonomous, non-narrative and often witty, Gruyaert's images are complex encounters with colour and light.

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Book SynopsisCelebrate 100 years of magic and wonder with this official Disney colouring book!This stunning collection of illustrations will take you on a journey through the last 100 years of Disney magic. Specially curated by the staff at the Walt Disney Archives, the book features much-loved characters, icons, Disney theme park concept art, posters, maps, movie art, vintage colouring book pieces and more to ensure there is something for every Disney fan - young or old!The perfect way to celebrate 100 years of Disney, this book will keep you entertained for hours. Also available: Disney Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas Colouring Book, Disney The Fashion Collection Colouring Book, Disney Hocus Pocus Colouring Book, Disney The Christmas Collection Colouring Book and Disney The Vintage Poster Collection Colouring Book.

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Book SynopsisFrom its birth in the 7th century through modern times, the Islamic religion has inspired glorious works of art. This stunning book includes more than four hundred reproductions of treasures of Islamic art that span the world: from southern Europe, along the entire Mediterranean basin to sub-Saharan Africa through the Middle East, India, and Central Asia. Arranged geographically, the objects include paintings, miniatures, ceramics, calligraphy, textiles, carpets, and metal works. Each region is given a thorough introduction that offers historical context and extensive descriptions of its artifacts. Accompanying essays offer guidance in interpreting the many themes that tie these works together, including typology, calligraphy, and religious beliefs. With its large format, exquisite reproductions, and extensive research, this book is a thorough introduction to the Islamic artistic tradition.Trade Review"The subheading of this weighty volume gives a sense of the sheer breadth it covers in its survey of three continents across 14 centuries." —Crafts Council

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Book SynopsisAn illustrated 100-year history of modern art, from cubism to pop and avant-guard. .Trade Review'Robert Hughes is the best of guides, enthusiastic, astringent … neither smug nor condescending' - Observer'Teeming with ideas … an enormously enjoyable account of the state of play between art and society' - The Times'Takes the stuffing out of the subject where and when it can' - The Spectator'A genuine landmark, presenting the story of 20th-century art with unparalleled immediacy' - Elle Decoration

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Book SynopsisFIND NEW WAYS TO SHOOT AND LEARN KEY SKILLS WITH OVER 60 PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECTS FROM EVERY GENRE.Elevate your craft and unleash your creativity with the Ultimate Photography Ideas Book. Requiring simple and minimal kit, this no-nonsense guide is packed with over 60 captivating challenges across every major genre of photography:LANDSCAPES: Try out new techniques for stunning images of the great outdoors.PORTRAITS: Get creative with different ways of shooting people and animals.WILDLIFE & MACRO: Embrace nature both close-up and from a distance.STILL LIFE & CREATIVE: Have fun with inspiring table-top projects.ACTION: Master all the technical skills for capturing subjects on the go.DOCUMENTARY & STREET: Find new ways of looking at your environment.BASIC KIT: Shoot every project on standard kit, or learn how to make what you need!EASY ADVICE: Step-by-step guides and difficulty ratings for every project inside.In partnership with the UK''s best-selling photography magazine, this book offers limitless ideas and concise guidance for you to transform ordinary moments into extraordinary works of art.Turn your passion for photography into professional looking images with The Ultimate Photography Ideas Book.

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Book SynopsisThe name Valentino has been synonymous with high fashion for almost fifty years. Based in Rome, Valentino is only one of two couture houses recognized by the French government outside of Paris. His exquisite designs are coveted and worn by young Hollywood and high society the world over. On the occasion of his last couture collection, presented in Paris in the spring of 2008, this landmark book celebrates forty-five years of Valentino’s remarkable career. Published in association with a prestigious exhibition at the Museé des Arts Decoratifs’s famed costume department in Paris, this volume focuses on Valentino’s haute couture creations, highlighting the most important and iconic creations of his half-century in fashion through recurring themes in Valentino’s work—variations on the ideas of volume, line, and texture as well as motifs such as geometry, pleats, and flowers—through new photography, sketches, fabric samples, and commentary on the Trade Review“We’ll mist up every time we pass our coffee table…Halard does an exquisite job in bringing Valentino’s masterful works to the page, and Golbin…provides concise, reverential text to complement the arresting images.” ~LA Confidential "This tome includes stunning photography of fabric samples as well as lively, backstage images of fittings minutes before models walked out onto the runway." ~Florida InsideOut "Original sketches, behind-the-scenes runway images, photos of fittings, and the atelier at work, as well as his ad campaigns over the years, celebrate this legenday talent in all his glory." ~Southern Accents "Perfect for the most glamorous person in your life..." ~Private Clubs Magazine "The remarkable 50-year career of Valentino, founder of the first couture house to be recognized by the French government outside of Paris, is given the coffee table treatment in a lavish new book..."~Luxist.com "The new book is a collector's item and a keepsake for every devoted fan of Valentino and the fashion industry." ~Hautemimi.com "The book isn't just a retrospective, but the essence of Haute Couture." ~Lepetitechic.com"Valentino is synonymous with timeless elegance. From a distance many of his designs appear simple and understated, but the details are always stunning. This book celebrates forty-five years of an outstanding career." ~Bookriot.com

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Book SynopsisA fresh, unstuffy guide to the stained-glass windows of England's churches, including a list of the top 50 places to see outstanding examples. The magical qualities of stained glass have an enduring appeal, but church windows tend to be ignored as a form of creative and artistic expression. Yet churches are accessible treasure trove of history, art and craftsmanship. No other set of historic buildings with such superb and important architectural and artists assets is as easy to visit. How to Look at Stained Glass is the companion guide that's needed to make sense of and enjoy the vast array of stained-glass windows in the churches of England. This fresh, unstuffy guide: - Uses an A-Z format to reveal a multitude of fascinating details - all the way from apples to zig-zags - Explores stained glass by themes, patterns, designs and effects - Requires no previous historical, artistic or religious knowledge - Covers all the major periods and styles, from medieval to modern, Victorian to postwar, eighteenth century to Arts and Crafts, figurative to abstract - Examines the fascinating and evolving iconography of stained glass - Makes looking at gloriously colourful, artistically important windows both entertaining and rewarding - Features a list of the top 50 places to see outstanding examples - Offers a useful index of churches by countyTrade ReviewIf you venture out into the country, whether by car, bicycle, or train, it would be a good idea to tuck this book into the glove compartment, pannier, or rucksack * Church Times *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction Exploring a Church How a Stained-Glass Window is Made A–Z of Stained Glass 50 Places to See Stained Glass Further Reading List of Images Index of Churches

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Book SynopsisA collection of writings that sets out Kengo Kuma's theories of architecture, but also a left field critique of where the architecture world finds itself today. Kengo Kuma is one of Japan's leading architects and Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo. Widely known as a prolific writer and philosopher, he proposes architecture that opens up new relationships between nature, technology and human beings. Through a series of thought-provoking essays, he unveils his vision of architecture as a dynamic interplay between tradition and innovation, critiquing the megastructures and capitalist influences of the 20th century and challenging readers to reconsider the role of architecture in shaping our world. Drawing from diverse disciplines including art history, philosophy and literature, Kuma crafts a narrative that transcends the boundaries of traditional architectural theory, presenting a compelling manifesto for a new era of design one that dismantles hard concrete volumes into points, lines and planes that celebrate the simplicity and sustainability of human connection.

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Book SynopsisLearn to draw all kinds of cute cats doing all sorts of silly things through 75 step-by-step tutorials. In Kawaii Kitties, popular Instagram artist Bichi Mao (@bichi.mao) perfectly captures cats’ different attitudes, while playing, sleeping, eating, stretching, exploring, being loving, wearing cute costumes, and much more!Along with the tutorials, Bichi Mao shares: An introduction to the kawaii art aesthetic Suggestions for drawing tools Tips and tricks for drawing and coloring your cats A facial expression directory Coloring pages swarming with kitties for you to decorate So, get ready to purrfect your drawing skills, as well as be inspired to create your own kitty characters or illustrate the daily activities of your favorite pet. Learn how to draw even more cute things with these other fun books in the Kawaii Doodle series: Kawaii Doodle Class, Kawaii Doodle Cuties, Mini Kawaii Doodle Class, Mini Kawaii Doodle Cuties, and Kawaii Doodle World.Table of ContentsHi! What Is Kawaii? How to Use This Book Tools Drawing Your Kitties Adding Facial Expressions Coloring Your Kitties Playtime Daily Activities Being Curious Playing Dress-Up Sharing the Love Discovering Breeds Bon Appétit Kitty Coloring Pages

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Book SynopsisThis authoritative visual guide to the artistic materials and painting techniques of J. M. W. Turner brings to life the skills of one of the world's greatest artists. Details of his watercolours and oil paintings, usually only available to small numbers of museum professionals, and an experienced artist's recreation of his core painting processes, combine with in-depth research into Turner's use of new materials to give unique insights into his creative processes. How Turner Painted brings new research and understanding to the subject since the publication of the author's earlier book Turner's Painting Techniques (1993). Joyce Townsend, senior conservation scientist at Tate, which houses the majority of Turner's work and is a centre of expertise on the artist, has revisited, updated and continued the examination of his innovative use of materials and early adoption of new colours. Comparisons are drawn across oil painting and watercolour to illustrate how Turner built up an image,

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Book SynopsisA seasonal collection of quilts inspired by life in the countryside. With 20 new projects that are suitable for a range of skill levels and include 12 large quilts and 8 smaller items, which can be customized to suit your own décor.Highly Commended for Best Sewing Book in the Creative Book Awards 2025Selected for its warm, inviting approach to traditional quilting with a modern twist inspiring readers to create beautiful, heirloom-quality quilts with confidence and creativity.'A brand new collection of quilts and projects from one of the most recognizable and best-loved quilt designers in the UK. These inspiring designs, photographed in beautiful rural locations, reflect the changing seasons and beauty of the British countryside. Each of the four chapters features inspirational lifestyle photography showing the quilts in beautifully styled settings.For all skill levels from beginner to advanced, the book includes the guidance and practical knowledge you need to begin quilting successfully. The 12 large quilts and 8 smaller projects and accessories can also be made in alternative colours and fabrics to fit your own style, making them enormously versatile.This is the book for any quilter and lover of country style.

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Book SynopsisTom of Finland (born Tuoko Laaksonen, 1920–1991), was an iconic and ground-breaking artist who rose to cult status in the international queer community and beyond for his work celebrating the male figure and masculinity during a time when being homosexual was taboo. Created in partnership with Tom of Finland Foundation, Tom of Finland: The Official Life and Work of a Gay Hero is a beautifully detailed account full of never, or rarely seen, materials from his archive. The text was completed just a few months before the death of the artist and he was interviewed at length for it—making this book the only fully approved biography of the legend responsible for creating the muscled, mustachioed gay archetype of the 1960s and '70s. With a foreword by Jean Paul Gaultier, an extensive history, and provocative photos and illustrations, Tom of Finland: The Official Life and Work of a Gay Hero brings to life the story of the icon whose erotic depictions of men influenced many artists, including Robert Mapplethorpe and Bruce Weber.

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Book SynopsisA deeply moving exploration of the relationship between thinking and drawing, from the author of the groundbreaking Ways of Seeing

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Book SynopsisCreating beautiful botanical paintings has never been easier with these template outlines and art-quality watercolour paper. Perfect for absolute beginners in botanical art, the ready-to-use outlines allow you to focus on the painting and avoid the accuracy of composition drawings. Each outline includes a finished painting by artist Rachel Padder-Smith and a recommended colour palette, so all you have to worry about is enjoying the process!Included are step-by-step tutorials on all the essential tips and techniques you need to know, from painting different parts of the flower and shiny surfaces to perfecting the fine veins on leaves, as well as advice on how to correctly capture light.Rachel's stunning illustrations also include fruit and vegetables, so whether you're a lover of autumn leaves, spring daffodils, or even an onion or two, she has you covered. This detailed and visual art book is the perfect start for anyone looking to take up botanical art, refresh their skills, or simply appreciate the beauty of nature.

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Book SynopsisBeginning Pastel guides beginning artists through an exploration of pastel techniques and step-by-step projects for acomprehensive and approachable overview of the vibrant pastel medium. Pastels are a unique tool, and Beginning Pastel is the perfect introductory resource for artists just getting started in this colorful medium. Before jumping into the step-by-step projects, this book covers choosing the right paper, pastels, and colors, to basic techniques like blending, gradating, and masking. Each stroke and technique is clearly explained and beautifully illustrated. After learning the key concepts, you’ll promptly put them into practice through simple step-by-step exercises. With pastel often considered an advanced medium, Beginning Pastel makes the tricky task of drawing in pastel accessible and achievable for any artist. The Portfolio series covers essential art techniques, core concepts, and media with an approach and format that’s perfect for aspiring, beginning, and intermediate artists.Also available from the series: Beginning Acrylic, Beginning Drawing, Beginning Watercolor, Beginning Colored Pencil, Beginning Color Mixing, Expressive Painting, Beginning Color Mixing, Beginning Pen & Ink, and Beginning Composition.

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Book SynopsisHarry Potter: A History of Magic is the official book of the exhibition, a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration between Bloomsbury, J.K. Rowling and the brilliant curators of the British Library. It promises to take readers on a fascinating journey through the subjects studied at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from Alchemy and Potions classes through to Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures. Each chapter showcases a treasure trove of artefacts from the British Library and other collections around the world, beside exclusive manuscripts, sketches and illustrations from the Harry Potter archive. There's also a specially commissioned essay for each subject area by an expert, writer or cultural commentator, inspired by the contents of the exhibition absorbing, insightful and unexpected contributions from Steve Backshall, the Reverend Richard Coles, Owen Davies, Julia Eccleshare, Roger Highfield, Steve Kloves, Lucy Mangan, Anna Pavord and Tim Peake, who offer a personal perspe

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Book SynopsisSir Edwin Lutyens is widely regarded as one of Britain's greatest architects. In a career of over 50 years, spanning the Victorian, Edwardian and modern eras of architecture, Lutyens was prolific. His work ranged from great country houses, city commercial office buildings, his famous World War I memorials across Europe and Britain, and his magnum opus designs for New Delhi built during the 1920s and 1930s. Despite such diversity of building types across his long career, Lutyens's most celebrated works remain his country houses, which first established his reputation during the 1890s. As Lutyens's practice flourished his work became widely promoted in publications such as Country Life magazine, and his houses, particularly those designed in the vernacular manner, would subsequently give rise to an entire genre of the English country house that became known, as it is to this day, as a 'Lutyens-style' house. Sir Edwin Lutyens: The Arts and Crafts Houses brings together in new, wide-format, full-colour photography a definitive collection of 45 of Lutyens's great Arts and Crafts houses, in which he ingeniously blended the style of the Arts and Crafts movement with his own inventive interpretation of the Classical language of architecture. The book features 575 all-new current photographs of the houses, inside and outside, together with a selection of floor plans of the houses, and a fresh interpretation of Lutyens's enduring architectural genius.

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Book SynopsisThis beautiful hardcover book features over 20 full-page illustrations by artist Peter Lee and marks the first in a multipart series exploring the Warcraft universe; from the distant past to the modern era.

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Book SynopsisThis gorgeous coloring book for adults offers dozens of ready-to-color art activities that combine mystical mandalas with beautiful butterflies. Talented artist Jess Volinski lets her imagination take wing with fragile flying creatures hovering in colorful cosmic circles. Colorful Creations Butterfly Mandalas also includes handy guides to coloring techniques like patterning, combinations, and shading. Guided Coloring Pages make coloring easy for beginners, with beautifully colored examples and ready-to-use color palettes. Perfect for decorating with all of your favorite coloring implements, each design is printed on one side only of archival-grade, acid-free, 200-year paper. Perforated pages detach easily for gifting or display. This book has earned the DO Magazine Artist Fair Trade Seal of Approval.

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Book SynopsisHe's one of the most enduring characters across all popular cultureand this collection of The Incredible Hulk Nos. 16, along with his appearances in Tales to Astonish, is where it all began. The lavish reproduction of the original comics brings Hulk to rampaging yet sorrowful life alongside original artwork, rare photographs, and ephemera.

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Book SynopsisThe first art book containing the work of Spanish photographers Anna Devís and Daniel Rueda. For Anna and Daniel, every unique story needs a unique location to be told in. Luckily for them, there are plenty of beautiful places on our planet waiting to be discovered. Set in all sorts of real-life environments, their images do not only celebrate constructions all over the world but also the cities they were built in. In ‘Happytecture’, Anna and Daniel challenge us to look at the immediate world around us in a way we’ve never seen it before, unfolding the hidden beauty of street elements such as doors, windows and other urban vernacular to which we might tend not to give a second look. The result is a visual love letter to architecture and urban design that is both personal and relatable.

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Book SynopsisIn our pill-happy society there is a pill for everything. Corporate legal drug dealers, aka Big Pharma, have for decades put design thought into clever pill presses and multicolored gel-caps to distinguish their products and attract buyers. So too, in the 1990s and 2000s when ecstasy swept the club and rave scenes, the branding of pills was essential to the marketing, a way for the user to identify a good high from cold medicine or a batch of poison. Ecstasy branding was often based on well-known corporate logos. Easily identified, pill makers latched onto the brand recognition of our corporate society subverting the brands at the same time. A process the cultural critic Carlo McCormick says “collapses the ever-convergent space between subversive youth culture and acquiescent mainstream passive consumption.” While working as a nightlife photographer, New York-based Michael Lorenzini became fascinated by the design details in ecstasy tablets and wanted to document this underground art form. He proceeded to photograph every pill he took from 2000-2001. Although jewel-like in their tiny colorful forms, the macro photographs, shot on slide film with an extreme macro lens, reveal hidden imperfections and textured landscapes. Every Pill I Took: 2000-2001 is part of Blurring Books' new series of publications, Limited Slim Publications.

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Book SynopsisPhilip Hook takes the lid off the world of art dealing to reveal the brilliance, cunning, greed and daring of its practitioners. In a richly anecdotal narrative he describes the rise and occasional fall of the extraordinary men and women who over the centuries have made it their business to sell art to kings, merchants, nobles, entrepreneurs and museums. From its beginnings in Antwerp, where paintings were sometimes sold by weight, to the rich hauteur of the contemporary gallery in London, Paris and New York, art dealing has been about identifying what is intangible but infinitely desirable, and then finding clients for whom it is irresistible. Those who have purveyed art for a living range from tailors, spies and the occasional anarchist to scholars, aristocrats, merchants and connoisseurs, each variously motivated by greed, belief in their own vision of art and its history, or simply the will to win. The cast of characters includes Paul Durand-Ruel, the Impressionists' champion; Herwath Walden, who first brought Modernism into the limelight; Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler, high priest of Cubism; Leo Castelli, dealer-midwife to Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art; and Peter Wilson, the charismatic Sotheby's chairman who made the auction room theatre. Philip Hook's history is one of human folly, greed and duplicity, interspersed with ingenuity, inspiration and acts of heroism. Rogues' Gallery is learned, witty and irresistibly readable.Trade ReviewHook...writes suavely and racily...has a fabulous ear for anecdotes...his entertaining book has a Wodehousian tone that makes even the most heinous act it describes glint with comedy -- Waldemar Januszczak * Sunday Times *Fascinating and elegantly written...both wise and timely -- William Boyd * Guardian *Wonderfully entertaining...full of cracking stories -- Hannah Rothschild * Mail on Sunday *Fascinating...Hook writes with honesty and wry detachment -- Robert Eustace * Telegraph *A pleasure to read -- Michael Prodger * Times *Illuminating...combines expertise with irreverence -- Christian House * Observer *Fascinating -- Roger Lewis * Daily Mail *Entertainingly written -- Bendor Grosvenor * Apollo Magazine *Hook writes...eloquently and knowledgeably...witty and erudite * World of Interiors *Remarkable -- Fkorence Hallett * The Arts Desk *Praise for Breakfast at Sotheby's 'This book is a learned and thoughtful work of art history, but it also 'investigates in prurient detail the guilty but ever-fascinating relationship between art and money' with great wit * Daily Mail *A cultured, witty, clear-eyed, worldly teacher with a fully functioning sense of humour. A real delight. -- William Boyd * Spectator *He writes better about the physical nature and impact of painting than anyone I have read for years. -- Grey Gowrie * Daily Telegraph *Authoritative without being pompous and happy to mock his trade's absurdities, he explores offbeat subjects ... Even those who don't know much about art will find lots to like here. * Guardian *A breezy, whimsical and often wry compendium, chock-full of hard-won wisdom about what makes someone spend millions of dollars to buy an artwork at auction. * New York Times *Mr Hook's] delightful Breakfast at Sotheby's is a house sale of a book, a chance for him to clear out 35 years of memories as an art dealer and auctioneer, first at Christie's and then Sotheby's, a rival auction house. Besides the colourful stories, Mr Hook offers various theories about the art world, and keen insight on that vexing question of what gives art value. Amid the well-known answers (provenance, colour, "wall power") are some less obvious observations, both relevant and delightful. * Economist *It's very hard to write an amusing book about art that has some serious things to say. But Philip Hook has done it. * Sunday Times Books of the Year *A winner. Readers will learn more about the modern art market in this simple book than in any college course. * Kirkus Reviews *

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