Art & Photography Books
Dorling Kindersley Ltd Great Paintings
Book Synopsis
£19.80
Schiffer Publishing Ltd The 27th WaffenSS Volunteer Grenadier Division
Book Synopsis
£28.79
Schiffer Publishing Ltd The Modern Masters of Tattooing
Book Synopsis
£43.99
The Gresham Publishing Co. Ltd Murray of Atholl:: Waverley Genuine Tartan Cloth
Book SynopsisBound in real Murray of Atholl Ancient tartan cloth supplied with the authority of Kinloch Anderson, this hardback notebook is 21 x 13cm, with 192 pages - each spread has left blank, right ruled. Has stained edges, ribbon marker, bookmark and inner note holder. Eight perforated end leaves and expandable inner note holder. Each includes a removable booklet and bookmark giving information on the specific tartan used for the binding. With 192 pages, acid-free threadsewn, 80 gsm cream shade pages, with round-cornered cover and bookblock corners, and a matching elastic closure. The tartan cloth is supplied by and produced with the authority of Kinloch Anderson who are tailors and kiltmakers in Edinburgh.
£14.39
GMC Publications Silver Clay Workshop: Getting Started in Silver
Book SynopsisIf you love silver jewellery but don't have the time or patience to learn traditional silversmithing techniques, then the exciting medium of silver clay will open up a whole new range of possibilities to your jewellery making. Boasting all the same properties as modelling clay, it is 99.9 per cent pure silver meaning you can make high-quality jewellery using the easiest of techniques. This handy new book is perfect for anyone taking their first steps with this rewarding craft. Get stuck in to the varied series of 22 projects that show perfectly the versatility of silver clay. Shape, roll, cut, mould and indent your way through them, learning the techniques as you go. From pendants and bracelets to rings and statement beads, there will be something for everyone. AUTHOR: Melanie Blaikie's love of all things sparkly began when she trained as a diamond valuer for De Beers. She went on to forge a successful career as a jewellery designer working for many of the biggest names in the industry, including Garrard, Asprey and Tiffany. After studying traditional silversmithing techniques, Melanie discovered silver clay and fell in love with this amazing medium. She is now one of the foremost tutors of silver clay work in the UK and has contributed to Beads and Beyond magazine. SELLING POINTS: . Each project has a difficulty rating to show how you can progress from beginner to learning more advanced skills . Jargon-free expensive specialist tools and equipment . No need for expensive specialist tools and equipment . 22 quick and simple projects 436 colour photographs
£13.59
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Monoprinting
Book SynopsisLearn how to push the boundaries of monoprinting with a range of techniques explained by two practising artists. Monoprinting is a printmaking process in which a drawing or painting – executed on a flat, unworked printing plate or other surface – is transferred using pressure to a sheet of paper. A spontaneous and exciting process, the medium is also effective, convenient and does not necessarily require a press. Only one strong impression can be taken, hence the term monoprint. In this book, Jackie Newell and Dee Whittington show you how to push the boundaries of monoprinting with various techniques and demonstrate some unique possibilities available to you from screenprinting to collage prints. Through colourful illustrations, the authors also showcase work by a variety of printmakers from around the world for inspiration.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Health and safety 2. Monotypes: The painterly print 3. Monoprint basics: First steps 4. Relief, carborundum and collograph: The building blocks 5. Screenprinting: Easy squeegee 6. The traditional processes: Hidden depths and sensuous surfaces 7. Collage prints: Mix and match 8. New movements: Innovative and digital Glossary Suppliers Bibliography Index
£19.54
MACK Sleeping by the Mississippi
Book SynopsisSleeping by the Mississippi by Alec Soth is one of the defining publications in the photobook era. First published by Steidl in 2004, it was Soth’s first book, sold through three print runs, and established him as one of the leading lights of contemporary photographic practice. This is the second printing of the MACK edition and includes two new photographs that were not included in the Steidl versions of the book. Evolving from a series of road trips along the Mississippi River, Sleeping by the Mississippi captures America’s iconic yet oft-neglected ‘third coast’. Soth’s richly descriptive, large-format colour photographs present an eclectic mix of individuals, landscapes, and interiors. Sensuous in detail and raw in subject, Sleeping by the Mississippi elicits a consistent mood of loneliness, longing, and reverie. ‘In the book’s 46 ruthlessly edited pictures’, writes Anne Wilkes Tucker in the original essay published in the book, ‘Soth alludes to illness, procreation, race, crime, learning, art, music, death, religion, redemption, politics, and cheap sex.’ Like Robert Frank’s classic The Americans, Sleeping by the Mississippi merges a documentary style with poetic sensibility. The Mississippi is less the subject of the book than its organizing structure. Not bound by a rigid concept or ideology, the series is created out of a quintessentially American spirit of wanderlust. Sixteen years since the book was first published, the artist’s lyrical view has undoubtedly acquired a nuanced significance – one in which hope, fear, desire and regret coalesce in the evocative journey along this mythic river.
£42.75
The Crowood Press Ltd Engraving on Precious Metals
Book SynopsisEngraving on Precious Metals is for professionals and others who wish to learn hand engraving as a hobby or trade, and reveals many previously undisclosed practices of the commercial engraver which help to make his skill quite astonishing.
£17.09
Phaidon Press Ltd Raymond Pettibon
Book SynopsisThe most comprehensive monograph in print on this provocative artist, who has helped to redefine contemporary artTrade Review"A rich yet eclectic archive... Pettibon is an irreverent satirist and chronicler, who, armed with an observant eye and a steady hand, still remains unafraid to lead us into the darkest corners of the soul." —Aesthetica"Star-studded catalogue." —Artforum"Whether you already know a lot about the work of Raymond Pettibon, or whether you are coming to it fresh, this weighty tome is almost certain to include information and, more importantly, pictures, that you have never seen before... Fans will also appreciate the inclusion of his childhood drawings and unusual ephemera."—Illustration"The generous selection of work - largely pen and ink, but also using gouache or acrylic paint - intermittently traces an angry, alternative cultural and political history of the United States from the late 1970s to the Obama era... Big reproductions of the work are punctuated by essays and an articulate interview ('Speaking in tongues') in which Pettibon states: "My works don't claim to have an absolute veracity, and that's perhaps the biggest difference between political cartoons and my work. My work is not wrapped up in a punch line"."—EyeMagazine.com"Pettibon is an arch appropriator of culture... A purveyor of priapic pulp fiction... As well as a feverish draughtsman, Pettibon reveals himself as an epic landscapist, creating apocalyptic vortices of colour and ink." —World of Interiors
£47.96
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Art of Dora Carrington
Book SynopsisDora Carrington's association with Lytton Strachey and his Bloomsbury friends has tended to overshadow her own contribution to modern British painting. This book aims to redress the balance by looking at the immense range of her work: portraits, landscapes, glass paintings and letter illustrations.
£19.79
Editions Treville Pussycat! Kill! Kill! Kill! - Hajime Sorayama,
Book Synopsis
£42.75
Edition Reuss Hairy Pussy Angels
Book SynopsisText in English, French & German. How beautiful are these pilose vulvas that are natural and hairy and not shaven bald. I feel happy whenever I see something beautiful. Many past cultures worshipped vulvas. And its no small wonder that today, vulvas have started again to unfold their magical charms, at least within the world of fine art. So it is that Paramonov''s angels appear unashamed of their hairiness, act rather proud of their unshaven, natural beauty.
£41.99
BIS Publishers B.V. Trashures: The Beauty of Useless Stuff
Book SynopsisHave you seen the Waste Land documentary? It's about the largest landfill in the world in Brazil where people make a living out of garbage in the dump. Until artist Vik Muniz comes and Art is born out of rubbish materials and ends up in Phillips, an auction house in London, one of the most important in contemporary art. Inspired? Through Trashures useless garbage will become indispensable to your project. You can also get to know how other artists reacted to the transition from useless, scrap, ordinary things to unique pieces of art, ingenious assemblages of beautiful and smart designed new products. For whoever has an eye for it, there is beauty in everything, from rubbish to stuff that is plain useless. This book features fifteen international artists who work with rubbish, showcases some of their projects, and includes a DIY spread for a project by every artist.
£12.34
Faber & Faber I Am Dogboy
Book SynopsisIn 1999, Underworld''s Karl Hyde began writing a public diary. Every day since then, Hyde has documented his thoughts, lyrical works-in-progress, poetry and biographical essays alongside ''found'' visuals. For the last sixteen years, these entries have collectively created an on-going, utterly unique monologue on Underworld''s website.I Am Dogboy handpicks a selection of diary entries and rearranges them to create an autobiographical narrative that takes Hyde from childhood through to the exploratory early years of Underworld, an electronic act who have been peerless for the last twenty five years. Spliced throughout the narrative are standalone/abstract poetic pieces that offer occasional snapshots of life on the road and in the studio and give an insight into Hyde''s singular style of lyric writing.The book is beautifully designed by John Warwicker - Hyde''s long time collaborator and co-founder of the Tomato collective. Karl Hyde and John Warwicker have previously
£26.60
Ediciones El Viso, S.A. Las casas de Cayetana duquesa de Alba
Book Synopsis
£61.27
Promopress Fashion Patternmaking Techniques: Women/Men How
Book SynopsisThis second volume of "Fashion Patternmaking Techniques" examines the various procedures for transforming bodices, through dart manipulation as well as studying techniques for creating volumes, draping, and fitted patterns. The book includes techniques for creating patterns for knit fabrics; basic dress blocks and how to adapt these to different fabric patterns and types of garment (for example, maternity dresses); sleeves; basic blocks for men's vests and jackets; size grading for tops and dresses and the fundamentals of pattern layout. This manual prepares the reader to apply these concepts-along with their own intuition and creativity-to constructing patterns.Trade Review"As the director of and a teacher at the Euromode School Italia in Bergamo, Antonio created this no-frills series as an almanac or a formula book on pattern drafting.... Fashion Patternmaking Techniques is highly useful for certain segments of the sewist community. Fashion students, professors, industry professionals, advanced sewists, and people who are adept at math will get the most out of this book." MadelinL in the Sewing Patternreview blog, 8/17/2016 -As the director of and a teacher at the Euromode School Italia in Bergamo, Antonio created this no-frills series as an almanac or a formula book on pattern drafting.... Fashion Patternmaking Techniques is highly useful for certain segments of the sewist community. Fashion students, professors, industry professionals, advanced sewists, and people who are adept at math will get the most out of this book.- MadelinL in the Sewing Patternreview blog, 8/17/2016 As the director of and a teacher at the Euromode School Italia in Bergamo, Antonio created this no-frills series as an almanac or a formula book on pattern drafting.... Fashion Patternmaking Techniques is highly useful for certain segments of the sewist community. Fashion students, professors, industry professionals, advanced sewists, and people who are adept at math will get the most out of this book. MadelinL in the Sewing Patternreview blog, 8/17/2016"
£25.49
Thames & Hudson Ltd A History of Pictures From the Cave to the
Book SynopsisThe making of pictures has a history going back perhaps 100,000 years to an African shell used as a paint palette. In this book, each chapter addresses an important question: What happens when we try to express reality in two dimensions? Why is the 'Mona Lisa' beautiful and why are shadows so rarely found in Chinese, Japanese and Persian painting?Trade Review'I won’t read a more interesting book all year ... utterly fascinating' - A. N. Wilson, Sunday Times'Hockney asks big questions about the nature of picture-making and the relationship between painters and photography in a way that no other contemporary artist seems to do … Enormously good-humoured and entertaining … On almost every page, there is an interesting provocation' - Andrew Marr, New Statesman'An eloquent conversational testimony to the vividness of life lived through intelligent looking. You will see Caravaggio and Citizen Kane with fresh eyes' - Daily Telegraph'A magic flight of a book … It’s a measure of Hockney’s vividness of perception that he can always put a cap on Gayford’s knowledge … Fabulous!' - Clive James, Guardian'Crisps up perceptions and help readers to look anew' - The TimesTable of Contents1. Pictures, Art and History • 2. Pictures and Reality • 3. Making Marks • 4. Shadows • 5. Picturing Space and Time • 6. Brunelleschi’s Window and Alberti’s Mirror • 7. Mirrors and Reflections • 8. Paper, Paint and Multiplying Pictures • 9. Painting the Stage and Staging Paintings • 10. Caravaggio and the Academy of the Lynx-Eyed • 11. Vermeer and Rembrandt: the Hand, the Lens and the Heart • 12. Truth and Beauty in the Age of Reason • 13. The Camera Before and After 1839 • 14. Photography, Truth and Painting • 15. Painting with and without Photography • 16. Snapshots and Moving Pictures • 17. Movies and Stills • 18. The Unending History of Pictures
£28.00
S Q Publications,US Redheads
Book SynopsisRedheads have a glorious reputation for a fiery temperament to match their exquisite beauty, and artist Raffaele Marinetti has a distinct penchant for capturing such fireworks! Noted for his many delightful ginger pin-ups, Raffaele has collected a full colour (mainly red, naturally) gallery of curvaceous crimson wonders!
£11.69
Harvard University Press Six Drawing Lessons
Book SynopsisArt, William Kentridge says, is its own form of knowledge. It does not simply supplement the real world, and cannot be purely understood in the rational terms of academic disciplines. The studio is where linear thinking is abandoned and the material processes of the eye, the hand, the charcoal and paper become themselves the guides of creativity.Trade Review[This] is an enlightening, circuitous, and self-reflexive performance that delves into [Kentridge’s] greatest obsessions in the realms of art, politics, history, and image-making… Kentridge discusses topics including Plato’s cave allegory (a subject that looms over much, if not all, of the book), Africa’s colonies, and the violence of the Enlightenment. He delivers sharp insights into the history and character of Johannesburg; his memories from growing up under apartheid provide some of the book’s most lucid moments. He also elaborates upon life in the art studio (a ‘safe space for stupidity’)… Time—including how it affects work in the studio—and memory are also major themes. The argument here is really an anti-argument; Kentridge emphasizes the need to occupy the gap between certainty and uncertainty, and stresses ‘being aware of the limits of seeing,’ and ‘our own limits of understanding, the limits of our memory, but prodding the memory nonetheless.’… This is an essential book for anybody seeking a better understanding of Kentridge’s work. * Publishers Weekly *Anyone who has seen the film animations of the great South African artist will be fascinated by the account he gives of his thinking and studio practice. -- Kenneth Baker * San Francisco Chronicle *This is a beautiful and necessary book in all respects… It looks at the work of an artist from his own perspective, which in some instances may be a risky strategy, but Kentridge is such a good writer that the book is as brisk as it is insightful… He is also a wonderful draftsman, and his drawings, often executed in pen and ink or cut paper, are carefully reproduced here. The production of this book was handled as a work of art too. The size, proportion, binding, and attention to detail are superb. The design by Dean Bornstein harmonizes perfectly with the tone of the book. Enthusiastically recommended. -- S. Skaggs * Choice *
£27.16
Thames & Hudson Ltd Paintings in Proust A Visual Companion to In
Book SynopsisEric Karpeles's lavishly illustrated and comprehensive guide offers a feast for the eyes as it celebrates the close relationship between the visual and literary arts in Proust's masterpiece. Karpeles has identified and located all of the paintings to which Proust makes exact reference. Where only a painter's name is mentioned to indicate a certain mood or appearance, he has chosen a representative work to illustrate the impression that Proust sought to evoke. Botticelli's angels, Manet's courtesans, Mantegna's warriors and Carpaccio's saints stand among Monet's water lilies and Piranesi's engravings of Rome, while Karpeles's insightful essay and lucid contextual commentary explain their significance to Proust. The book closes with extensive notes and a comprehensive index of all painters and paintings mentioned in the novel. With over 200 beautifully reproduced paintings, drawings and engravings, and accompanying texts drawn from the Moncrieff/Kilmartin/Enright translation of In Search of Lost Time, this book is an essential addition to the libraries of Proustians worldwide and a handsome volume in its own right.Trade Review'Will thrill any Proust lover' - Financial Times'Will undoubtedly be greeted with the literary equivalent of a hosanna' - The New York Times'Intelligent and passionate … a window into Proust’s sharp, eccentric wit' - The Irish Times'Indispensable to the [Proust] addict, but also enticing for the casual browser' - ObserverTable of ContentsIntroduction • Volume I: Swann’s Way • Volume II: Within a Budding Grove • Volume III: The Guermantes Way • Volume IV: Sodom and Gomorrah • Volume V: The Captive • Volume VI: The Fugitive • Volume VII: Time Regained • Notes • Index of Painters and Paintings
£17.00
Orion Publishing Co Joel Meyerowitz: Where I Find Myself: A Lifetime
Book SynopsisWhere I Find Myself is the first major single book retrospective of one of America's leading photographers. It is organized in inverse chronological order and spans the photographer's whole career to date: from Joel Meyerowitz's most recent picture all the way back to the first photograph he ever took. The book covers all of Joel Meyerowitz's great projects: his work inspired by the artist Morandi, his work on trees, his exclusive coverage of Ground Zero, his trips in the footsteps of Robert Frank across the US, his experiments comparing color and black and white pictures, and of course his iconic street photography work. Joel Meyerovitz is incredibly eloquent and candid about how photography works or doesn't, and this should be an inspiration to anyone interested in photography.
£36.00
Tate Publishing Turner's Sketchbooks
Book SynopsisThe first book to survey the full range of J.M.W. Turner's extraordinary sketchbooks, beginning with his teenage explorations and culminating in the masterful colour studies of his later years. J.M.W. Turner's sketchbooks provide us with a rare opportunity to witness the work processes of an artist of unparalleled importance. They give us a privileged look over Turner's shoulder, allowing us to witness the creation and development of ideas that can be traced through to his most famous paintings. In the absence of detailed written accounts of his extensive travels, the notebooks are also a record of his impressions of the many places he visited across Britain and Europe, and of his life.Trade Review'Turner's Sketchbooks is the first single volume devoted to the visual notes that he made obsessively for 62 years. Sketches range from the fragmentary scribble that became Rain, Steam and Speed to miniature masterpieces. Perfect for fans of Mr Turner.' - The Independent
£28.50
Batsford Ltd Contemporary Landscapes in Mixed Media
Book SynopsisA great guide for painters who want to experiment with mixed media and make their landscape paintings more adventurous. Popular artist and teacher, Soraya French, encourages readers to experiment with mixing media and to create more adventurous paintings and broaden their artistic horizons. The media that Soraya uses in this book are acrylics, pastels and collage and she shows how to bring the best out of mixing these media with handy tips, some simple projects and several step-by-step demonstrations. Landscape, and the way it changes over the seasons, is the ideal subject for experimenting with different textural effects using mixed media. Contemporary Landscapes in Mixed Media is divided into four seasonal chapters, with each section dealing with the colours, shapes, patterns and textures particular to each season. There is information on mixing colours relevant to each season, as well as interesting ways of painting flowers and other details of nature, how to create exciting compositions, and how to add architectural aspects within the landscape. In some landscapes figures may be added in order to animate the composition and create a narrative. This practical and inspirational book will help and encourage the reader to explore the fascinating potential of mixed media and to adopt a freer attitude in their painting.
£19.99
Taschen GmbH Cabins
Book SynopsisEver since Henry David Thoreau's described his two years, two months, and two days of cabin existence at Walden Pond, Massachusetts in Walden, or, Life in the Woods (1854), the idea of a refuge dwelling has seduced the modern psyche. In the past decade, as our material existence and environmental footprint has grown exponentially, architects around the globe have become particularly interested in the possibilities of the minimal, low-impact, and isolated abode.This new TASCHEN title, combining insightful text, rich photography and bright, contemporary illustrations by Marie-Laure Cruschi, explores how this particular architectural type presents special opportunities for creative thinking. In eschewing excess, the cabin limits actual spatial intrusion to the bare essentials of living requirements, while in responding to its typically rustic setting, it foregrounds eco-friendly solutions. As such, the cabin comes to showcase some of the most inventive and forward-looking practice of contemporary architecture, with Renzo Piano, Terunobu Fujimori, Tom Kundig and many fresh young professionals all embracing such distilled sanctuary spaces.The cabins selected for this publication emphasize the variety of the genre, both in terms of usage and geography. From an artist studio on the Suffolk coast in England to eco-home huts in the Western Ghats region of India, this survey is as exciting in its international reach as it is in its array of briefs, clients, and situations. Constant throughout, however, is architectural innovation, and an inspiring sense of contemplation and coexistence as people return to nature and to a less destructive model of being in the world.Trade Review"TASCHEN understands books just as the best architects understand buildings."
£20.00
University of California Press True to Life
Book SynopsisChronicles David Hockney's protean production and speculations, including his scenic designs for opera, his homemade xerographic prints, his exploration of physics in relation to Chinese landscape painting, his investigations into optical devices, his taking up of watercolor - and then his return to oil painting, around 2005.Trade Review"Aside from being a terrific writer, Weschler is clearly a great listener and interviewer." -- Robert L. Pincus San Diego Union-Tribune "Weschler rewards his readers with lengthy quotes, an overwhelming wealth of knowledge and a lively narrative style." (Starred Review) Publishers Weekly "'Seeing Is Forgetting' and 'True to Life' are not only about the artists talking to Weschler or, through him, to each other; they're about the artists talking to themselves." -- David Ulin Salt Lake Tribune "'Seeing Is Forgetting' and 'True to Life' are not only about the artists talking to Weschler or, through him, to each other; they're about the artists talking to themselves." -- David Ulin Los Angeles Times Book Review
£22.95
Orion Publishing Co Art Oracles: Creative & Life Inspiration from the
Book SynopsisBe guided and inspired by the world’s greatest artists with this creative set of oracle cards. Are you suffering from creative block? Struggling to make a difficult life decision? Find out what Picasso, Pollock, Kahlo and other great artists would have done. Simply select an artist's card from the pack, select the oracles’ advice on life, work or inspiration and any obstacle becomes surmountable. Contains 50 oracle cards plus a booklet featuring the artists’ biographies and details of how to use the cards.
£15.29
Thames & Hudson Ltd Heavenly Bodies Cult Treasures Spectacular
Book SynopsisSuitable for goths, art historians and everyone in between, this book includes images of more than seventy spectacular jeweled skeletons and the stories of dozens more, accompanied by rare archive material.Trade Review'It’s utterly spectacular, hugely interesting and almost unbelievable' - All About History'Bling from the edges of eternity' - Annie Lennox'The grinning, bejewelled catacomb saints who stare our from the pages of Koudounaris challenge us to engage in deeper exercises, spiritual and intellectual; to recreate lost forms of devotional life; to understand how they inspired and deformed the study of the Christian past; and to imagine what it felt like to believe that the gauze-wrapped skeleton in your church was a time lord, whose sight and touch could help to save your soul' - The London Review of Books'Suitable for goths, art historians and everyone in between … Incredible relics' - Book DepositoryTable of ContentsIntroduction: Blessed Bones • 1. Holy Bodies: Relics and the Roman Catacombs • 2. The Church Triumphant: Constructing the Catacomb Saints • 3. Communal Property: Jeweled Skeletons and Civic Identity 4. The Mighty Will Fall: The End of the Reign of the Catacomb Saints Notes, Acknowledgments, List of Sites, Index
£17.00
Silvana Luigi Ghirri: Thought Landscapes
Book SynopsisWhat do we see when we observe? What do we see when we observe a photograph? Ghirri's work is distinguished by the tension between the object and its representation, and there is nothing that he loves more than those situations in which boundaries become permeable; his work has taught us a new way of seeing, giving meaning to what is seemingly obvious. This is not the landscape that is normally perceived, but the one that is supposed to be latent, inscribed on the reverse: landscape of memory and fairytale, the landscape of hidden figures and wonders. In this direction, Ghirri has always preferred common and familiar places, already seen, but for the first time 'observed' with different eyes, where everything is suspended between past and future and where, like in the countryside, the world can be imagined as a vision which still arouses wonder. A thought-landscape. Text in English and Italian.
£16.62
Thames & Hudson Ltd Mediterranean Landscape Design
Book SynopsisHuman beings have been transforming Mediterranean landscapes into art for at least thirty thousand years. This multifaceted region. This book offers a vision of the Mediterranean, past and future, linking cultural diversity and natural balance as discovered in its gardens, landscape design, literature, art and architecture.Trade Review'Louisa Jones has lived in southern France for nearly 40 years and her knowledge of and passion for the region is distilled in this scholarly work … Immensely inspirational and informative' - Garden Design Journal'Ambitious and scholarly … Clive Nichols’s photographs speak with eloquence' - Gardens Illustrated
£21.25
Thames & Hudson Ltd Sneakers
Book SynopsisPresents a global survey of sneaker designs that have been released over the last decade. This title showcases the very best of this new sneaker culture, featuring more than 300 designs arranged by brand.Trade Review'If you want the must-have sneaker, there is one source you have to consult: 'Sneakers’' - Huffington Post'If you want to learn everything about limited-edition sneakers, you need this book … a bona-fide must have … will surely satisfy your sole' - Complex.com'All the information a sneakerhead could want about many of most appealing athletic shoes that have recently been launched' - Women's Wear DailyTable of ContentsIntroduction • Adidas • Asics • Converse • New Balance • Nike • Air Jordan • Puma • Reebok • Vans • And Not Forgetting
£17.99
Images Publishing Group Pty Ltd Aston Martin: Power, Beauty and Soul
Book SynopsisFor a century now the Aston Martin name has been synonymous with performance, style and sophistication. Perhaps more than any other luxury car it possesses a mystique and charisma that have established it as a cultural icon and the pinnacle of automotive ingenuity. Yet the brand's survival has not always been assured. That Aston Martins are still being produced today is testament to the power of the name and what it represents to car lovers worldwide. In Aston Martin: Power, Beauty and Soul, author David Dowsey explores the colourful history of Aston Martin, from its humble beginnings in a London garage in 1913, to its takeover by the Ford Motor Company in 1987 and sale in 2007. Many of those intimately involved at the various stages of the car's history offer fascinating insights into the development of the Aston Martin and amusing behind-the-scenes anecdotes. Mike Harbar's delightful renderings add a charming bespoke dimension to the book. With lush full-colour photography, comprehensive specifications of every model from the early DB right up to the V8 Vantage Roadster, and production statistics and racing results Aston Martin: Power, Beauty and Soul is an indispensable reference for motor enthusiasts and a book that truly does justice to the Aston Martin name.
£36.85
Cambridge University Press The Economics of Cultural Policy
Book SynopsisCultural policy is changing. Traditionally, cultural policies have been concerned with providing financial support for the arts, for cultural heritage and for institutions such as museums and galleries. In recent years, around the world, interest has grown in the creative industries as a source of innovation and economic dynamism. This book argues that an understanding of the nature of both the economic and the cultural value created by the cultural sector is essential to good policy-making. The book is the first comprehensive account of the application of economic theory and analysis to the broad field of cultural policy. It deals with general principles of policy-making in the cultural arena as seen from an economic point of view, and goes on to examine a range of specific cultural policy areas, including the arts, heritage, the cultural industries, urban development, tourism, education, trade, cultural diversity, economic development, intellectual property and cultural statistics.Trade Review'As is to be expected of this leading writer on the economics of the arts, this book is yet another valuable contribution. It covers areas not previously well trodden and covers a subject of vital importance for the flourishing of the arts. Well written, as pieces by Throsby always are, it will add to the enjoyment as well as knowledge and understanding of its readers.' William J. Baumol, Harold Price Professor of Entrepreneurship, New York University'David Throsby has again met the challenge of making cultural economics accessible to non-specialists while maintaining the interest of more specialised readers. His summaries of the various theories and their application to cultural policy could not be bettered and demonstrate his thorough understanding of both. I can recommend the book to everyone concerned with cultural economics and with cultural policy.' Ruth Towse, Professor of Economics of Creative Industries, Bournemouth University and Professor Emerita, Erasmus University Rotterdam'Drawing on the best traditions of classical political economy, Throsby shows how the processes of cultural policy-making can be illuminated by the application of economic theory. In its insistence on a distinction between economic and cultural value, the book offers little support to those who see culture as just another branch of economic activity. What Throsby gives us is a rigorously worked out framework for economic analysis, but one that remains receptive to other intellectual influences. Written with great lucidity, using language that non-economists will understand, this is essential reading for anyone engaged in the study or making of cultural policies.' Oliver Bennett, Professor of Cultural Policy Studies, University of Warwick, and Editor, International Journal of Cultural Policy'David Throsby promises to provide a comprehensive synopsis of all economic contributions to the analysis of cultural policy while extending the discussion beyond the usual questions, inviting non-economists and specialists alike to join the conversation … [He] identifies important aspects of cultural policy and argues that it can be enriched rather than debased by economic logic. He persuasively argues this by elaborating on various theories and their application to broader areas of cultural interest.' Lyudmila Petrova, Journal of Cultural EconomicsTable of ContentsList of abbreviations; Preface; Acknowledgements; 1. Introduction; 2. The scope of cultural policy; 3. The policy process; 4. Arts policy; 5. Cultural industries; 6. Cultural heritage; 7. Culture in urban and regional development; 8. Tourism; 9. Culture in the international economy; 10. Cultural diversity; 11. Arts education; 12. Culture in economic development; 13. Intellectual property; 14. Cultural statistics; 15. Conclusions; References; Index.
£36.99
Dover Publications Inc. Rackhams Color Illustrations for Wagners Ring
Book Synopsis
£12.14
Orion Publishing Co Giacometti: A Biography
Book SynopsisThe definitive biography of a fascinating and enigmatic figure'Succeeds in every way as one of the most readable, fascinating and informative documents, not just on an artist, but on art and artists in general' WASHINGTON TIMES'The most moving biography of a modern artist I've read' NEWSWEEKAlberto Giacometti is one of the best-known artists of the twentieth century. Born in a Swiss village, he moved to pre-war Paris and went on to play a leading role in the art world, alongside characters such as Picasso, Balthus, Samuel Beckett and Sartre.His passionate and strange life reflects the genius of his works - his gaunt and haunting sculptures and his unsettling paintings. As someone who was personally acquainted with Giacometti and his peers, and who has consolidated his personal knowledge with extensive research, James Lord is uniquely qualified to write Giacometti's biography.Trade ReviewSucceeds in every way as one of the most readable, fascinating and informative documents, not just on an artist, but on art and artists in general * WASHINGTON TIMES *Lord has written the most moving biography of a modern artist I've read * NEWSWEEK *
£13.49
Reaktion Books Chromophobia
Book SynopsisThe central argument of "Chromophobia" is that a chromophobic impulse - a fear of corruption or contamination through colour - lurks within much Western cultural and intellectual thought. This is apparent in the many and varied attempts to purge colour, either by making it the property of some 'foreign body' - the oriental, the feminine, the infantile, the vulgar, or the pathological - or by relegating it to the realm of the superficial, the supplementary, the inessential, or the cosmetic. Chromophobia has been a cultural phenomenon since ancient Greek times; this book is concerned with forms of resistance to it. Writers have tended to look no further than the end of the nineteenth century. David Batchelor seeks to go beyond the limits of earlier studies, analysing the motivations behind chromophobia and considering the work of writers and artists who have been prepared to look at colour as a positive value. Exploring a wide range of imagery including Melville's "Great White Whale", Huxley's "Reflections on Mescaline", and Le Corbusier's "Journey to the East", Batchelor also discusses the use of colour in Pop, Minimal, and more recent art.Trade ReviewFull of good writing, good anecdotes, devastating quotes, deft arguments, and just the sort of mysterious anomalies one would expect from an artist writing about the enemies of his practice -- Dave Hickey Bookforum A hugely entertaining guide to our ongoing obsession with white' Time Out A provocative contribution to the discourse of color theory -- James Meyer Artforum This beautifully produced book is an intelligent and provocative essay on why Western culture hates and fears colour. The prose is cumulative and passionate in its effect and widely referential - from Barthes to Melville, Wim Wenders to Huysmans ... you cannot fail to be stimulated by his thoughts RA (Royal Academy Magazine) Switching from novels and movies to art and architecture, Batchelor clearly and cleverly traces the cultural implications of the 100 year-plus Colour War between Chromophobes like Le Corbusier, with their hosannas to whiteness, and Chromophiliacs like Warhol, the great artist of cosmetics. A succinct book of art theory which goes down smoothly i-D Magazine Batchelor has found an irresistible selection of anecdotes and quotes relating to the experience of color ... thoughtful and entertaining -- Tema Celeste a theoretical and cultural banquet ... The book's narrative quality goes beyond the telling of color theory's history and other approaches to color, coming to read like a psychological thriller: how the West crushed color - or at least thought it did so New Art Examiner, Chicago
£14.20
Oratia Media New Zealand Tattoo: in the Home of the Tattooists
Book Synopsis
£43.49
University of Texas Press Amazigh Arts in Morocco
Book SynopsisIn southeastern Morocco, around the oasis of Tafilalet, the Ait Khabbash people weave brightly colored carpets, embroider indigo head coverings, paint their faces with saffron, and wear ornate jewelry. Their extraordinarily detailed arts are rich in cultural symbolism; they are always breathtakingly beautiful—and they are typically made by women. Like other Amazigh (Berber) groups (but in contrast to the Arab societies of North Africa), the Ait Khabbash have entrusted their artistic responsibilities to women. Cynthia Becker spent years in Morocco living among these women and, through family connections and female fellowship, achieved unprecedented access to the artistic rituals of the Ait Khabbash. The result is more than a stunning examination of the arts themselves, it is also an illumination of women''s roles in Islamic North Africa and the many ways in which women negotiate complex social and religious issues.One of the reasons Amazigh women are artists is that the Table of Contents A Note on Transcription and Transliteration Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter One. Ait Khabbash Textiles: Weaving Metaphors of Identity Chapter Two. The Art of Dressing the Body Chapter Three. Dance Performances: Negotiating Gender and Social Change Chapter Four. Women as Public Symbols of Identity: The Adornment of the Bride and Groom Chapter Five. Performing Amazigh Gender Roles: Wedding Ceremonies Chapter Six. Oh, My Sudanese Mother: The Legacy of Slavery in Ait Khabbash Art Chapter Seven. Contemporary Amazigh Arts: Giving Material Form to Amazigh Consciousness Appendix 1. Selected Songs from Ait Khabbash Weddings Notes References Index
£17.99
Oxford University Press Inc The Timeless Way of Building
Book SynopsisThe theory of architecture implicit in our world today, Christopher Alexander believes, is bankrupt. More and more people are aware that something is deeply wrong. Yet the power of present-day ideas is so great that many feel uncomfortable, even afraid, to say openly that they dislike what is happening, because they are afraid to seem foolish, afraid perhaps that they will be laughed at. Now, at last, there is a coherent theory which describesin modern terms an architecture as ancient as human society itself. The Timeless Way of Building is the introductory volume in the Center for Environmental Structure series,Christopher Alexander presents in it a new theory of architecture, building, and planning which has at its core that age-old process by which the people of a society have always pulled the order of their world from their own being. Alexander writes, There is one timeless way of building. It is thousands of years old, and the same today as it has always been. The great traditionTrade ReviewThis book is more a philosophy of life than an architectural commentary. David Abbott gave it to me some years ago and I constantly refer to it. It is full of wisdom and inspiration, written in Alexander's beautiful prose style ... anyone who cares about the spaces we inhabit should read it. * Mike Dempsey, founding partner of CDT Design, Creative Review *
£47.60
3DTotal Publishing Ltd Sketching from the Imagination: Fantasy
Book SynopsisDrawings are the foundations of great fantasy art where concepts, thoughts, and inspirations first become an image. In Sketching from the Imagination: Fantasy, fifty talented traditional and digital artists have been chosen to share their sketchbook works and describe their artistic practices when forging new ideas as beautiful sketches. Ranging from Hollywood film concept designers to talented students, each artist is handpicked from a vibrant international art community and from a wide spectrum of styles and mediums. This exquisite new title explores how fifty artists develop their ideas, drawing on diverse sources and their own imaginations to create incredible images. In each article, artists share their love for fantasy drawing, exploring the inspirations and processes behind their practices. Packed with tips, tricks, and creative insights, the artists reveal how they developed their skills, exercise their talents, and explore new fantasy ideas through the forum of drawing. From doodles and sketches of creative creatures to fully rendered drawings of invented worlds, each collection is a compendium of concepts to intrigue and inspire the creatively minded. Following the runaway success of Sketching from the Imagination: An Insight into Creative Drawing, 3DTotal Publishing's new title Sketching from the Imagination: Fantasy focuses on designing concepts for one of the most popular genres for artists and audiences alike. A visually stunning collection packed with useful advice, Sketching from the Imagination: Fantasy is an excellent value resource for concept design that will inspire artists of all abilities, as well as those that simply admire beautiful art.
£17.09
Pearson Education (US) Sketchnote Handbook The
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Entertaining and memorable (just like sketchnotes), this fast-reading, fact-packed book by the godfather of sketchnoting provides everything you and your team need to know about the creative, mnemonic, and business benefits of this brilliant new method of note taking." -Jeffrey Zeldman, author of Designing with Web Standards "The perfect introduction to visual note taking and the most useful how-to guide I've ever read, no contest." -Josh Kaufman, author of The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business "Mike Rohde has taken his original, fun, and smart approach to note taking and broken it down into simple, clear steps. Now anyone can use sketchnotes to capture ideas-even you and me." -Chris Guillebeau, author of The $100 Startup "I hear a lot of people talk about sketchnoting, visual thinking, and how best to harness your ideas. Mike Rohde is the real deal. When Mike Rohde puts pencil and ink to paper, you should damn well be paying attention." -Shawn O'Keefe, SXSW Interactive Festival Producer "Anyone who utilizes the practical methodology Mike demonstrates in this book will not only improve their retention regarding the collating of notes, they'll fundamentally increase their overall creative potential as well. As Saul Bass so eloquently stated, 'Design is thinking made visual,' and sketchnotes are an ideal way to archive intellectual assets and flesh them out via simple drawing methods. This is a profoundly simple book, yet the results will be simply profound because it equips anyone to be able to do this." -Von Glitschka, Glitschka Studios "Sketchnotes are a great way to capture the highlights of an idea in a way that'll naturally work for your brain. Nobody will teach you how to do it better than Mike. -David Heinemeier Hansson, 37signals and co-author of REWORK "I use sketchnoting as a way to calm my brain-and help me focus on the task at hand-while it is trying to run off without me. With The Sketchnote Handbook, Mike gives you the backstory and the method to creating truly beautiful notes. It's a marvel to behold." -Myke Hurley, founder of the 70Decibels network "Mike Rohde practices what he preaches. This beautiful, simple book has everything you need to sketchnote like a pro! The Sketchnote Handbook is destined to be the definitive guide to a new, practical, and innovative discipline." -Dave Gray, X-PLANE, author of The Connected Company and co-author of Gamestorming "Something magical happens when you take notes with pictures and words together. In this friendly, encouraging book, sketchnote wizard Mike Rohde shares his secrets so that anybody can steal his tricks for capturing ideas with pen and paper." -Austin Kleon, author of Steal Like an Artist "The Sketchnote Handbook is an informative, hands-on book designed to quickly share the principles of sketchnoting, so you can get right to creating sketchnotes for yourself. Mike's fun, illustrative style energizes you to pick up a pen and sketchnote!" -Nancy Duarte, CEO Duarte Inc, best-selling author of Resonate and Slide:ology "This book is not really a book. It's a tool kit for learning a new and better way of capturing and understanding information, and it's perfectly aligned with the way our brains actually work. If you're a student, or a teacher, or a businessperson, this book has the potential to change the way you learn, and the way you think." -Daniel Coyle, The New York Times best-selling author of The Talent Code and The Little Book of Talent "Never fear note taking again. Rohde demystifies the practice and makes it accessible to everyone. Your brain will thank him later." -Sunni Brown, co-author of Gamestorming "The Sketchnote Handbook is a call to fully engage and enhance the big concepts and key ideas we are exposed to at conferences, in meetings, and daily life. Doodles are no longer a dirty word! Mike Rohde's easy examples and straightforward explanations make it accessible for anyone. This is a revolution that takes simple note taking to another plateau, turning it into actionable art." -Patrick Rhone, author of Keeping It Straight and enough "For The Sketchnoting Handbook, Mike uses his famous talent of distilling and illustrating other people's ideas, and he shares some ideas of his own-how to create your own awesome sketchnotes. Not only is Mike a clever illustrator, he's also an approachable and clear communicator. His book is equal parts fun and instruction." -Shawn Blanc, shawnblanc.net "There are great storytellers, and there are great artists. And then there is Mike Rohde: a magnificent blend of the two. What Mike has made into a professional art form we once did as children-rely on a blend of visuals and words to communicate. We've since been pulled too far in the direction of words, and Mike's book is here to help us reawaken the full range of our abilities." -Leslie Bradshaw, co-founder, president, and COO of JESS3 "The Sketchnote Handbook is neither about sketching nor is it about note taking. It's about receiving and processing the world in a more complete and insightful way. It's a software upgrade for your brain. For those who've been shamed into thinking that drawing is either beyond them or beneath them, this book offers a whole new way of mastering the daily onslaught of information and turning it into raw material for discovery. (For those of us who've done this all our lives, the book provides a beautifully conceived and lovingly illustrated treat, and a great gift for our left-brained friends.)" -Stefan G. Bucher, creator of dailymonster.com, author of 344 Questions: The Creative Person's Do-It-Yourself Guide to Insight, Survival, and Artistic FulfillmentTable of ContentsChapter 1: What Are Sketchnotes?Chapter 2: Why Sketchnote?Chapter 3: Listen UpChapter 4: The Sketchnoting Process Chapter 5: Types of SketchnotesChapter 6: Sketchnote StrategiesChapter 7: Sketchnoting Techniques
£27.54
Royal Academy of Arts A Shetland Notebook
Book SynopsisNorman Ackroyd CBE RA has spent over four decades recording the coastal landscapes of the British archipelago. All his watercolours and many of his etchings are executed en plein air, mainly from chartered boats chosen for their skippers' local knowledge and expertise in landing on the more remote rocks and islands. These journeys, which can last up to fourteen hours, are the result of extensive reading and research. A Shetland Notebook contains 39 watercolours selected from several journeys to the edges of Shetland in the spring and summer of 2012. From the verdant flora of the southern isles to the rugged northern cliffs of Unst and Esha Ness, the book paints a vivid portrait of one of the most intriguing yet inhospitable corners of the British Isles. Each sketch is accompanied by a brief but engaging commentary by the artist.
£17.06
Papadakis Pollen
Book SynopsisThis title is the IP Book Awards 2007 Gold Medal winner for Outstanding Book of the Year - Most Original Concept. Never before seen SEM images are unique to the book. It will appeal to scientists, artists and photographers alike. The extraordinary beauty and structure of pollen grains invisible to the naked eye. This book is the result of the shared fascination of an artist and a scientist with the perfect design of organisms too small to be seen without a microscope. Pollen is ubiquitous; its tiny forms have fascinated the scientifically curious since the seventeenth century. Its tiny grains are enclosed beyond the accessible beauty of the flower until the moment of release, when they are carried by wind, water or animal vectors to achieve their purpose, which is procreation. A clear explanation of the structure and form of pollen, the remarkable events from pollination to fertilization, and the many ways in which pollen impacts unseen on our lives is interwoven with a dazzling array of original images created especially for the book.
£19.00
Siglio Press Dorothy Iannone: You Who Read Me With Passion Now
Book SynopsisIannone’s image–text works celebrate a joyful sexuality and spirituality For over five decades, Dorothy Iannone has been making exuberantly sexual and joyfully transgressive image–text works. Karen Rosenberg wrote of her in The New York Times: “High priestess, matriarch, sex goddess: the self-taught American artist Dorothy Iannone has been called all these things and more. Since the early 1960s she has been making paintings, sculptures and artist’s books that advocate ‘ecstatic unity,’ most often achieved through lovemaking.” Beginning with the famous “An Icelandic Saga,” in which Iannone narrates her journey to Iceland (where she meets Dieter Roth and leaves her husband to live with him), this singular volume traces Iannone’s search for “ecstatic unity” from its carnal beginnings in her relationships with Roth and other men into its spiritual incarnation as she becomes a practicing Buddhist. Reproducing several previously unpublished or long-out-of-print works in their entirety (such as Danger in Düsseldorf, The Whip, “An Explosive Interlude”), as well as longer excerpts from rarely-seen works like A Cookbook and Berlin Beauties, this volume gives readers the chance to read her work with sustained attention, and enjoy the sophistication of the stories she tells and the visual–textual embellishments that make them so irresistible. Associated with Fluxus through her close friendships with Emmett Williams, Robert Filliou and Ben Vautier, as well as most well-known for her relationship with Dieter Roth, Dorothy Iannone (born 1933) nevertheless has her own distinct aesthetic style and substantive concerns. Her first major museum show in the U.S. came when she was 75 in 2008 at the New Museum, shortly after her “orgasm box” titled “I Was Thinking of You” was included in the Whitney Biennial in 2006, and she has recently attained more recognition with solo shows at the Camden Arts Centre, Palais de Tokyo and the Berlinischer Galerie.Trade ReviewIn a landscape dominated by "concepts," and the idea that femininity is reduced to an object when depicted iconically, Iannone's work has for decades been either censored or ignored. Perhaps at last we can overcome these limitations, and revel in the glory that (still) is Dorothy. -- Christine Wertheim * Bomb Magazine *Iannone was always a little too silly to be contemporary and too sybaritic to be feminist, yet her gaze stays proudly female, secure enough to be benevolent, even godlike. -- Sarah Nicole Prickett * Bookforum *You Who Read Me With Passion Now Must Forever Be My Friends is a unique, exhilarating work of nonfiction told through bold art and raw language. The eroticism in Iannone’s work is expressed not just in her daring and beautiful sexual images, but also in the risks she takes. Iannone reveals herself entirely, allowing the reader to see the artist exposed. This creates a thrilling and intimate relationship: her narrative is told in a voice so rare in its honesty, it's tantric. Indulging in You Who Read Me... is to be immersed fully in Iannone’s story. It’s an extremely active mode of reading, wherein the reader is so highly involved—sometimes scouring for words within images—that the story becomes the reader’s own. In this way, Iannone’s bravery is contagious: the reader takes a solo journey and finds unity with and peace from a narrative full of heart and color. -- Kate Eelman * The Improbable *"Grande dame," "sex," "Dieter Roth," "femininity," "proximity," "censored," "folkloric": these are but a handful of platitudinous words that often describe American Dorothy Isnnone's decade-long practice. For Iannone, it is precisely the subjective, biographical and narrative approach to her practice that continues to be so revelational. -- Karen Archey * Flash Art *
£34.00
HarperCollins Publishers Sleuth The Amazing Quest for Lost Art Treasures
Book SynopsisCSI meets Who Do You Think You Are? meets Time Team meets The Antiques Roadshow. Two-dimensional works of art become three-dimensional thrillers.Philip Mould is an international art dealer who has lived the high stakes game of art sleuthing for twenty years. In Sleuth, we encounter the fascinating dealers, experts, auctioneers and restorers who risk fortunes and reputations to turn overlooked artworks into coveted treasures.Sleuth is laced with dramas: Gainsborough''s earliest picture emerges in a Los Angeles saleroom - the author has three days to find the missing facts and decide what to pay. The most powerful man in the art establishment, with the influence to elevate a copy into a priceless original, is asked to look at a ''fake'' Rembrandt self portrait: if he says yes a 5,000 picture turns into 5 million masterpiece. A Vermont professor unlocks the door of a defunct Catholic church to reveal a hidden cache of 300 portraits. An auctioneer notices from the upper story of a bus thatTrade Review“Reviewing can make you hate books – the grim spectre of the copy deadline means that other tasks (cleaning the fridge is popular) can seem attractive compared with just getting on reading the book. Sleuth was different. I could not wait to get back to it” Sunday Telegraph ‘timely … exciting’ Country Life ‘a fast-paced and fascinating account of the race to uncover ‘lost’ treasures’ Independent on Sunday ‘this absorbing and fast-paced narrative … an extremely enjoyable read’ British Art Journal ‘This is no dry treatise and Mould is a first-class scene setter … There is an immediacy to much of the writing, which draws the reader in … the sort of book that may well do more to attract future talent to the world of art dealing than any number of university art history courses’ Antiques Trade Gazette
£11.24
Search Press Ltd The Oil Painter's Bible: An Essential Reference
Book SynopsisOil paint is such a responsive and versatile medium that no two painters need use it in exactly the same way, and since its invention in Renaissance times it has never lost its popularity with artists. Amateurs also find it appealing, both because it is enjoyable to use and because mistakes can be so easily rectified. This compact book explains all the materials, techniques and different approaches to painting with oils. Step-by-step sequences show how to paint a range of themes, from still life to portraits and landscapes, with advice on more difficult subjects. There are also suggestions for presenting your finished paintings and how to go about getting your work seen and exhibited.Trade ReviewI received this book from Search Press in return for an unbiased and honest review. It's been a long time since I dabbled in Oils so this book was a nice refresher for the returning amaturer oil painter. The book is aimed primarily at those who are new to oil painting and Amateurs' rather than the professional Oil painter. I found it well laid out and easy to understand. It talks about the paints themselves and how amatur and professional paints are different in shade and amount of pigment they contain. It covers tools required and how to use them and also how the paint itself can look different depending on the painting surface. I was impressed with how well it covers mixing colours for skin tone, sunsets, water and skies to name but a few. It is certainly a book that is well worth purchasing for anyone wishing to start or improve their skills with oil paints, Art students who need a backup or just those wishing to learn more techniques than the mere basics. * Laura Mackenzie-Hawkins *A great guide for the beginner in oils I received this book from Search Press in return for an unbiased and honest review. I am a long-term painter in oils, so I was very interested in seeing how this book came across. Subtitled “An essential reference for the practising artist”, this book is aimed primarily at those new to oil painting, although the more experienced will also find parts of the book useful. This is a 2016 reprint of the original 2005 edition. I’m not sure whether there have been any updates to the original but the book does not feel out of date in any way. The book is about A5 in size and printed on high quality paper with easy to read text. A two-page introduction gives a well presented precis of the contents and how they are organised. There are four main section to the book: Materials, Colour, Techniques and Subjects. I shall deal with each in turn. Many of the subjects include an analysis and tips for the artist. Materials Straight away, the author highlights the difference between artist and student quality paint and the benefits of buying only the tubes you need, rather than a boxed set. The different types of brush shape and composition are well covered, with illustrations to back-up the text. There are sections on painting knives, surfaces, painting mediums and surface preparation. Each is well presented in just a couple of pages with good quality supporting illustrations. This section will be of great use to the beginner, with the occasional snippet for the more experienced. Colour Making sense of the multitude of colours available can be a daunting task for all of us. However, the author, Marylin Scott, presents the various aspects of the colour wheel and the differing characteristics of the various colours in a clear and methodical way. Once again, the accompanying illustrations are of a high quality and support the text extremely well. Advice is given on choosing an initial palette, with examples of the mixes that could be achieved from the selection. The author goes on to cover the mixing of greens, browns etc, with pictorial examples of how one might use the mixes. Techniques One term often bandied around is “Fat over Lean”. Marlin gets straight to the point and illustrates how the technique is used, why it is used and the results. An excellent description in my view and one that could be of use to many painters. The section continues with basic and advanced subjects. Basic techniques cover painting Alla Prima (and what that means), blending, building up, underdrawing, brushwork, dry brush, hard and soft edges, coloured grounds (including what we men by a ‘ground’), we-in-wet, wet-on-dry, and corrections. Advanced techniques cover glazing, impasto, knife painting, finger painting, sponge painting, scumbling, tonking, scraping back, sgraffito, texturing, underpainting, imprinting, masking, mono printing, and mixed media. Useful hints and tips The author discusses the various materials used to create a painting, how to create darks and adjust perceived colours, preparing a surface, and painting on location. Subjects In this section, Marylin considers a variety of subjects: landscape, still life, buildings etc., with supporting tutorials to follow. Each item has well presented examples of the subject being discussed, helping the reader understand the reasoning behind the text. Conclusion I found this book easy to read and quite interesting. I certainly found snippets that I will refer to and use in my own work. A member of my art group has just started to use oils and I can see that this book would be an extremely useful resource for her. Find a place for this book on your shelves; it will repay your investment. * David Raison *I am an amateur painter and had recently taken up oil paints. I was struggling a bit so switched back to acrylics. This book has made me look at returning to oils as there are many tips, examples and lessons that I have not seen elsewhere. For example I was surprised to see finger painting as I have never encountered this before in any books. The book is well laid out and the content is clear; set out in four comprehensive sections. I particularly like the colour chapter on “Mixing and Using Colours” as I struggle with colours and looking at this I am sure it will be a great help. There is a page on Useful Extra Colours that I found very interesting but feel it could have been expanded on as it was very brief. I was given this book by Search Press Art to provide a review of the book within one week of receipt so I have not been able to use the book on a practical level but am looking forward now to returning to oil painting and using it as it is loaded with useful, interesting information. All in all a nice little bible. * Grace McCarron *
£13.49
Search Press Ltd Compendium of Acrylic Painting Techniques
Book SynopsisAimed at all painters, from beginners to the more experienced, this book is packed with expert advice on all aspects of acrylic painting: what to do, and what not to do. Learn how to choose and mix colours, and create a multitude of effects using only one set of tubes. Discover how to make your own equipment, set up a "studio" space, and use household materials to save money. Beginners can follow processes stage-by-stage, while more experienced artists can dip in and out for help with specific problems. A unique section on how to develop your art and take it to a wider public is full of professional secrets which can bring you success much more quickly. “Try it” and “Fix it” panels placed throughout the book suggest ways of practising and developing new skills, and avoiding or correcting common painting errors.Trade ReviewJan 14 Acrylics combine the versatility of oils with the translucence of watercolors as well as being their own unique medium. If you want to paint with them here is a guide on most aspects of acrylics. Divided into three sections Setting Up, Designing The Painting and Techniques this book is certainly a good guide to the subject for the beginner onwards. After a useful page on how to get the most out of the book you can discover why painting with acrylics is a good idea. I like the parts about economizing (quite a few of these), which include making your own things such as a stay wet palette and painting supports. There are lots of handy bite-sized bits of information on the pages which make learning easy and fast, plus the author has a good grasp of what beginners in a medium really want to know. This is not a book on how to draw or paint for the total beginner in case you are wondering, but a book on how to begin with acrylics. Expect plenty about what colors to buy, brushes to choose, what to paint on, what mediums do etc as well as advice about where to work and “choosing a studio” which can be a shed. Tables in the corner of a room don’t appear to figure, so this is truly a book for the dedicated amateur/would-be professional. There are also sections on the inevitable composition, what to paint, various techniques to try etc including framing. There are no step-by-step projects to work through, this is for those beyond all that. If this is you, then expect a good basic grounding in the subject. * Myshelf.com *Jan 14 This is a fine compendium for all those who want to explore acrylic painting techniques. With over 300 tips, techniques and secrets, you should find everything you are looking for in this book. The beginner will find it very useful, but even the seasoned user of acrylics, might find this book handy. Acrylic is a versatile medium and Gill explores it fully. Contents include Setting Up; Designing the Painting and Techniques but the chapter titles do not convey the wealth of material inside this book. This book is packed with information and filled with excellent photographs of works. There are step by step demonstrations too. An excellent buy. * Karen Platt Yarnsandfabrics.co.uk/crafts *Feb 14 Gill Barron tells you all you need to know about the medium, from choosing and mixing colours to making your own equipment and setting up a studio space. Suitable for both beginners and more experienced painters, there's something here for everyone. Beginners can follow step-by-step exercises, while the more experienced can dip in and out of sections to solve specific problems. There are lots of professional secrets revealed and the Try It and Fix It panels throughout the book give useful advice and help for avoiding problems on the way. * Leisure Painter, The *July 14 The subtitle promises “300 tips, techniques and trade secrets”. If I was being pedantic, I’d take issue with that last bit – are there really any “trade secrets” left to acrylic painting? I know, a list of three things looks better and the alliteration is irresistible. And anyway, you do get 300 very good ideas, some of which you’ll know, many of which may be new. This is one of those portmanteau books that throws a lot of stuff into an overnight bag and heads for a thoroughly good weekend away. It packs for all weathers and occasions and is as happy tramping the hills in a rainstorm as it is rocking it up in a ballgown at a five star hotel in the evening. It might even shove in a little je ne sais quoi in case it gets lucky. Some of the ideas are simple: Make a mahl-stick; some more adventurous: Using tone in context – for instance (I’ve given up on the travel metaphor now, let’s not milk it). It’s one of those books to have on the shelf and pull down when you just want something not too demanding to browse. Maybe you don’t want to make a mahl-stick, maybe you’ve got glazing off to a T, but there’s loads to ingest and enjoy, nothing’s too long (some tips come four to a page) and there are bags of illustrations. You might find something new, you might get some ideas or you might simply find your creative juices refreshed. I can guarantee you won’t be bored or disappointed, though. * Artbookreview.net *September 2014 Readers will probably not need to be told that the word 'palette' can refer to both a set of colours and the things they are laid out on. This compendious guide is about more than triviality, however. It goes from the basic, such as the difference between transparent and opaque colours, to the less obvious idea of converting an urban landscape into a 'found still life'. I'm not convinced by that one, either, but the fact that it made me think counts in the book's favour. With 300 ideas condensed into short paragraphs and arranged broadly into materials, subjects and techniques, this is an all-embracing book. Not everything is for everyone, but few will find nothing at all to inspire or divert them. * Artist, The *Table of ContentsPrelims 5 Introduction 4 Getting to Know Acrylics 70 The Techniques 68 Trade Secrets for Fame and Fortune 24 Resources 28 Glossary, Index, and Credits 38
£11.69
Laurence King Publishing Complete Pleats: Pleating Techniques for Fashion,
Book SynopsisPaul Jackson''s major new title Complete Pleats is the most comprehensive book about pleating on the market. It explains how pleating systems can be stretched, compressed, flared, skewed, multiplied and mirrored, showing how from simple ideas, a huge number of original pleat forms can be created. Each technique is explained with a series of step-by-step photographs and line illustrations, enabling the designer to work through the basic principles of pleating and then adapt them to their specific needs. Complete Pleats also features more than 60 examples of pleats from the worlds of architecture, fashion and product design. Paul Jackson has taught pleating techniques to students of Fashion Design for 30 years, in both paper and fabric. Complete Pleats is the definitive practical guide for anyone wishing to create and make pleats
£25.49
HarperCollins Publishers HOLY BIBLE King James Version KJV White
Book SynopsisWith an attractive new slipcase and binding, this compact white Bible is an ideal gift for any special occasion, including confirmation, weddings or first communion.The full text of the ever-popular Authorized King James Version Bible, with all its literary beauty and poetic grandeur, in an attractive size and with beautiful binding and slipcasemaking it an ideal gift.Trade Review‘There is no doubt in my mind that the King James Bible and not Shakespeare set this language on its path to become a universal language on a scale unprecedented before or since.’- Melvyn Bragg
£15.29
