Art & Photography Books

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Book SynopsisA-Frame constructions emerged in the mid-20th century and have been forgotten for decades. In recent years we are seeing how the spirit of A-Frame style houses is gradually being revived by avant-garde architects who have adapted this approach to more modern times. It is not uncommon nowadays to find examples of modern houses with A-Frame architecture as a hallmark in leading design magazines. The book includes: . A-Frame renovations . Mountaineer's refuge . Lake house . House at the Pyrenees AND SO MUCH MORE! This type of construction stands out for its structural simplicity, which in most cases reduces costs, and for its great capacity for thermal and acoustic insulation, greater speed of construction, elimination of the need for columns, greater strength and structural consistency, among many other benefits. A-Frame homes have a better environmental impact due to energy savings in both construction and utility costs, not to mention a smaller carbon footprint for the environment. Perfect for architectural enthusiasts, those looking to improve their sustainability and anyone looking to renovate their property! AUTHOR: Anna Minguet is a creative based in Barcelona. She helps with the production department of Monsa Publishing House, preparing layouts and organizing the editorial schedule.

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Book SynopsisThe definitive, full-career retrospective of the life and work of Chris Killip (1946-2020), one of the UK's most important and influential post-war documentary photographers. I didn't set out to be the photographer of the English de-Industrial Revolution. It happened all around me during the time I was photographing' Chris Killip, 2019 Grounded in sustained immersion and participation in the communities he photographed, Chris Killip's keenly observed work chronicled ordinary people's lives in stark, yet sympathetic, detail. His photographs are recognized as some of the most important visual records of 1980s Britain; as editor of this book Ken Grant reflects, they tell the story of those who had history done to them, who felt its malicious disregard and yet, like the photographer with whom they shared so much of their lives, refused to yield or look away.' Published to coincide with the first full retrospective of Killip's life and work at the Photographers' Gallery, London,Table of ContentsForeword by Brett Rogers, Director of the Photographers’ Gallery 1. Essay by Ken Grant covering: Isle of Man Graveyard of the Ships / Early years / The Manx Peasant culture / The Sea / London-New York/ The Isle of Man Book Folio Section 1: Isle of Man TT Racers Huddersfield 2. Essay by Ken Grant covering: Huddersfield, Travels of England, the North, Amber-Side Gallery, Seacoal, Askam and Skinningrove Folio Section 2: Askam Skinningrove Seacoal The Station folio Folio Section 3: Here Comes Everybody Folio Section 4: Pirelli Factory 3. Essay by Ken Grant covering: The Page and the Wall: Another Country, The Miner's Strike, The Politics of Photography, The Station, In Flagrante, British Photography from the Thatcher Years (MoMA Exhibition) Folio Section 4: North East Photographs 2 4. Essay by Ken Grant covering: Chris Killip in America, Chris Killip in Ireland (Here Comes Everybody), Storytellers, Writer, Steidl books, Zines, Cafe Royal Books (The Seaside), The Portrait, Pirelli, Shipbuilding, Revisiting the Region, The Photography of Deindustrialisation, The Last Ships, Finish

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Book SynopsisTake your doodles to a whole new level with this best-selling and preeminent guidebook to the meditative art of the Zentangle, featuring the incredibly beautiful and inspiring artwork of author Beckah Krahula. This step-by-step book is divided into six chapters, each with seven daily exercises. The Zentangle method was created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas as a way to practice focus and meditation through drawing by using repetitive lines, marks, circles, and shapes. Each mark is called a "tangle," and you combine various tangles into patterns to create "tiles," or small square drawings. Each of the six chapters explores a different aspect of Zentangle: Basics and Enhancements Tangles and Value Patterns Geometric and Organic Patterns Understanding and Using Color Defining and Using Style Creating the Rest of Your Zentangle Journey Each exercise includes new tangles to draw in sketchbooks or on Tiepolo (an Italian-made paper), teaches daily tile design, offers tips on related art principles, and contains an inspirational "ZIA" (Zentangle Inspired Art) project that incorporates patterns, art principals, and new techniques. Drawing Zentangles is a relaxing and replenishing diversion that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. In addition to its soothing benefits, a Zentangle practice can also help with self-image, phobias, addictions, pain management, conflict resolution, and coping with grief. Step away from the daily hustle and untangle with a Zentangle.Table of ContentsIntroductionZentangle in PracticeWhat is Zentangle?Chapter One: Basics and EnhancementsChapter Two: Tangles and Value PatternsChapter Three: Geometric and Organic PatternsChapter Four: Understanding and Using ColorChapter Five: Defining and Using StyleChapter Six: Creating the Rest of Your Zentangle JourneyInspiration GalleryAppendixResourcesArtist ContributorsAbout the AuthorAcknowledgements

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Book SynopsisA guide to capturing the beauty of birds using modern, expressive watercolour painting techniques. Painting watercolours in a loose style is a technique admired by many artists, yet there are a range of skills to master in order to achieve a sense of freedom and lightness of touch. Birds present us with a vibrant array of colours and textures – from the iridescent plumage of the hummingbird to the zingy turquoise blue of the kingfisher – and with such varied and lively characters they are a wonderful subject to paint. Supported by instructional photos throughout, experienced artist Sarah encourages you to let go of the detail whilst providing you with all the techniques required to paint beautiful and characterful portraits of birds with colour and verve. - 10 step-by-step projects accessible to complete beginners and more experienced artists alike. Learn the importance of shape and tone in depicting form. - Discover how watercolour works through experimentation and play with different tools and techniques. - Explore various colour palettes, composition techniques and background basics. - Develop your approach to key features such as feathers, feet, wingspans and faces and other tricky areas such as creating texture, adding shadows and achieving translucency.Trade ReviewThere’s much to learn and enjoy here. * The Artist *Table of ContentsIntroduction Part 1: Fundamentals 1. Importance of Shape and Tone - Project 1: Exploring tone – drawing a coal tit in charcoal 2. Exploring Watercolour Paint - Project 2: Discovering how watercolour works through experimentation and play 3. Introduction to Composition, Layering and Expressive Mark Making - Project 3: Mixing expressive and controlled techniques – painting a stork in flight 4. Introduction to Colour - Project 4: Exploring a Limited Colour Palette 5. Painting a Bird Using Three Colours and Black - Project 5: Controlling colours – painting a peacock 6. The Importance of Edges - Project 6: Depicting feathers, capturing light and movement – painting a hummingbird Part 2: Advanced Techniques 7. Developing a Loose, Intuitive Style - Project 7: Using watercolour pencils – ‘painting’ carmines 8. Rendering Details in an Expressive Fashion - Project 8: Creating wing markings intuitively – painting a barn owl 9. Painting Black Birds and Incorporating Environmental Aspects - Project 9: Utilising the blue/orange colour palette for a dynamic composition – painting a raven in flight 10. Depicting White Birds, and Creating Environmental Elements - Project 10: Exploiting shadow colours and supporting features - painting a swan 11. Making Your Mark and Finding Your Voice

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Book SynopsisRoughly half the world's population speaks languages derived from a shared linguistic source known as Proto-Indo-European. But who were the early speakers of this ancient mother tongue, and how did they manage to spread it around the globe? This title reveals how their domestication of horses and use of the wheel spread language.Trade ReviewWinner of the 2010 Book Award, Society for American Archaeology "David W. Anthony argues that we speak English not just because our parents taught it to us but because wild horses used to roam the steppes of central Eurasia, because steppedwellers invented the spoked wheel and because poetry once had real power... Anthony is not the first scholar to make the case that Proto-Indo-European came from this region [Ukraine/Russia], but given the immense array of evidence he presents, he may be the last one who has to... The Horse, the Wheel, and Language brings together the work of historical linguists and archaeologists, researchers who have traditionally been suspicious of each other's methods. [The book] lays out in intricate detail the complicated genealogy of history's most successful language."--Christine Kenneally, The New York Times Book Review "[A]uthoritative ... "--John Noble Wilford, New York Times "A thorough look at the cutting edge of anthropology, Anthony's book is a fascinating look into the origins of modern man."--Publishers Weekly (Online Reviews Annex) "In the age of Borat it may come as a surprise to learn that the grasslands between Ukraine and Kazakhstan were once regarded as an early crucible of civilisation. This idea is revisited in a major new study by David Anthony."--Times Higher Education "Starting with a history of research on Proto-Indo-Europeans and exploring how this field for obvious reasons assumed an ethno-political dimension early on, leading PIE scholar Anthony moves on to established facts ... then shifts his focus to the interrelation of the three essential elements of horse, chariot, and language and how the first and second provided the means for the spread of Indo-European languages from India to Ireland. The bulk of the book contains the factual evidence, mainly archaeological, to support this argument. But a strength of the book is its rich historical linguistic approach. The combination of the two provides a remarkable work that should appeal to everyone with an interest not just in Indo-Europeans, but in the history of humanity in general."--K. Abdi, Dartmouth College, for CHOICE "David Anthony's book is a masterpiece. A professor of anthropology, Anthony brings together archaeology, linguistics, and rare knowledge of Russian scholarship and the history of climate change to recast our understanding of the formation of early human society."--Martin Walker, Wilson Quarterly "The Horse, the Wheel, and Language brings together the work of historical linguists and archaeologists, researchers who have traditionally been suspicious of each other's methods. Though parts of the book will be penetrable only by scholars, it lays out in intricate detail the complicated genealogy of history's most successful language."--Christine Kenneally, International Herald Tribune "The Horse, the Wheel and Language maps the early geography of the Russian steppes to re-create the lost world of Indo-European culture that is as fascinating as any mystery novel."--Arthur Krim, Geographical Reviews "In its integration of language and archaeology, this book represents an outstanding synthesis of what today can be known with some certainty about the origin and early history of the Indo-European languages. In my view, it supersedes all previous attempts on the subject."--Kristian Kristiansen, Antiquity "A key book."--David Keys, IndependentTable of ContentsAcknowledgments xi PART ONE: Language and Archaeology 1 Chapter One: The Promise and Politics of the Mother Tongue 3 Ancestors 3 Linguists and Chauvinists 6 The Lure of the Mother Tongue 11 A New Solution for an Old Problem 15 Language Extinction and Thought 19 Chapter Two: How to Reconstruct a Dead Language 21 Language Change and Time 22 Phonology: How to Reconstruct a Dead Sound 24 The Lexicon: How to Reconstruct Dead Meanings 32 Syntax and Morphology: The Shape of a Dead Language 36 Conclusion: Raising a Language from the Dead 38 Chapter Three: Language and Time 1: The Last Speakers of Proto-Indo-European 39 The Size of the Chronological Window: How Long Do Languages Last? 39 The Terminal Date for Proto-Indo-European: The Mother Becomes Her Daughters 42 The Oldest and Strangest Daughter (or Cousin?): Anatolian 43 The Next Oldest Inscriptions: Greek and Old Indic 48 Counting the Relatives: How Many in 1500 BCE? 50 Chapter Four: Language and Time 2: Wool, Wheels, and Proto-Indo-European 59 The Wool Vocabulary 59 The Wheel Vocabulary 63 When Was the Wheel Invented 65 The Signifi cance of the Wheel 72 Wagons and the Anatolian Homeland Hypothesis 75 The Birth and Death of Proto-Indo-European 81 Chapter Five: Language and Place: The Location of the Proto-Indo-Europe an Homeland 83 Problems with the Concept of "the Homeland" 83 Finding the Homeland: Ecology and Environment 89 Finding the Homeland: The Economic and Social Setting 91 Finding the Homeland: Uralic and Caucasian Connections 93 The Location of the Proto-Indo-European Homeland 98 Chapter Six: The Archaeology of Language 102 Persistent Frontiers 104 Migration as a Cause of Persistent Material-Culture Frontiers 108 Ecological Frontiers: Different Ways of Making a Living 114 Small-scale Migrations, Elite Recruitment, and Language Shift 117 PART TWO: The Opening of the Eurasian Steppes 121 Chapter Seven: How to Reconstruct a Dead Culture 123 The Three Ages in the Pontic-Caspian Steppes 125 Dating and the Radiocarbon Revolution 126 What Did They Eat? 128 Archaeological Cultures and Living Cultures 130 The Big Questions Ahead 132 Chapter Eight: First Farmers and Herders: The Pontic-Caspian Neolithic 134 Domesticated Animals and Pontic-Caspian Ecol ogy 135 The First Farmer-Forager Frontier in the Pontic- Caspian Region 138 Farmer Meets Forager: The Bug-Dniester Culture 147 Beyond the Frontier: Pontic-Caspian Foragers before Cattle Arrived 154 The Gods Give Cattle 158 Chapter Nine: Cows, Copper, and Chiefs 160 The Early Copper Age in Old Europe 162 The Cucuteni-Tripolye Culture 164 The Dnieper-Donets II Culture 174 The Khvalynsk Culture on the Volga 182 Nalchik and North Caucasian Cultures 186 The Lower Don and North Caspian Steppes 188 The Forest Frontier: The Samara Culture 189 Cows, Social Power, and the Emergence of Tribes 190 Chapter Ten: The Domestication of the Horse and the Origins of Riding: The Tale of the Teeth 193 Where Were Horses First Domesticated? 196 Why Were Horses Domesticated? 200 What Is a Domesticated Horse? 201 Bit Wear and Horse back Riding 206 Indo-European Migrations and Bit Wear at Dereivka 213 Botai and Eneolithic Horseback Riding 216 The Origin of Horse back Riding 221 The Economic and Military Effects of Horseback Riding 222 Chapter Eleven: The End of Old Europe and the Rise of the Steppe 225 Warfare and Alliance: The Cucuteni-Tripolye Culture and the Steppes 230 The Sredni Stog Culture: Horses and Rituals from the East 239 Migrations into the Danube Valley: The Suvorovo-Novodanilovka Complex 249 Warfare, Climate Change, and Language Shift in the Lower Danube Valley 258 After the Collapse 260 Chapter Twelve: Seeds of Change on the Steppe Borders: Maikop Chiefs and Tripolye Towns 263 The Five Cultures of the Final Eneolithic in the Steppes 265 Crisis and Change on the Tripolye Frontier: Towns Bigger Than Cities 277 The First Cities and Their Connection to the Steppes 282 The North Caucasus Piedmont: Eneolithic Farmers before Maikop 285 The Maikop Culture 287 Maikop-Novosvobodnaya in the Steppes: Contacts with the North 295 Proto-Indo-European as a Regional Language in a Changing World 299 Chapter Thirteen: Wagon Dwellers of the Steppe: The Speakers of Proto-Indo-European 300 Why Not a Kurgan Culture? 306 Beyond the Eastern Frontier: The Afanasievo Migration to the Altai 307 Wagon Graves in the Steppes 311 Where Did the Yamnaya Horizon Begin? 317 When Did the Yamnaya Horizon Begin? 321 Were the Yamnaya People Nomads? 321 Yamnaya Social Organization 328 The Stone Stelae of the North Pontic Steppes 336 Chapter Fourteen: The Western Indo-European Languages 340 The End of the Cucuteni-Tripolye Culture and the Roots of the Western Branches 343 Steppe Overlords and Tripolye Clients: The Usatovo Culture 349 The Yamnaya Migration up the Danube Valley 361 Yamnaya Contacts with the Corded Ware Horizon 367 The Origins of Greek 368 Conclusion: The Early Western Indo-European Languages Disperse 369 Chapter Fifteen: Chariot Warriors of the Northern Steppes 371 The End of the Forest Frontier: Corded Ware Herders in the Forest 375 Pre-Sintashta Cultures of the Eastern Steppes 385 The Origin of the Sintashta Culture 389 Warfare in the Sintashta Culture: Fortifications and Weapons 393 Tournaments of Value 405 Sintashta and the Origins of the Aryans 408 Chapter Sixteen: The Opening of the Eurasian Steppes 412 Bronze Age Empires and the Horse Trade 412 The Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex 421 The Opening of the Eurasian Steppes 435 The Srubnaya Culture: Herding and Gathering in the Western Steppes 437 East of the Urals, Phase I: The Petrovka Culture 441 The Seima-Turbino Horizon in the Forest-Steppe Zone 443 East of the Urals, Phase II: The Andronovo Horizon 448 Proto-Vedic Cultures in the Central Asian Contact Zone 452 The Steppes Become a Bridge across Eurasia 456 Chapter Seventeen: Words and Deeds 458 The Horse and the Wheel 459 Archaeology and Language 463 Appendix: Author's Note on Radiocarbon Dates 467 Notes 471 References 507 Index 547

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Book SynopsisPart of a series of exciting and luxurious Flame Tree Notebooks. Combining high-quality production with magnificent fine art, the covers are printed on foil in five colours, embossed then foil stamped. And they're powerfully practical: a pocket at the back for receipts and scraps, two bookmarks and a solid magnetic side flap. These are perfect for personal use and make a dazzling gift. This example is based on a detail from Almond Blossom, 1890 by Vincent van Gogh (1853–90), and printed on silver.

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Book SynopsisFor decades, anyone who cared about product design looked to the Braun label when choosing their appliances, radios, and other consumer items. Dieter Rams, the guiding force behind the Braun look, breaks down his design principles and processes in this elegant new paperback edition. Enumerating each of his ten principles such as good design is innovative; good design is aesthetic; good design is useful, etc., this book presents one hundred items that embody these guidelines. Readers will find items that are familiar such as the ubiquitous coffee grinder but also those that are more unusual such as shelving systems and cigarette lighters. A fascinating essay places Dieter Rams in the context of modern design, from Bauhaus to Philip Johnson. Archival materials include photos of Rams’ design team and excerpts from his publications and speeches.

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Book SynopsisGet a feel for your art—literally! 101 Textures in Colored Pencil teaches you every technique you’ll need to give your colored-pencil drawings realistic, palpable texture. *Named One of the 54 Best Colored Pencil Drawing Books of All Time by BookAuthority* There has never been a better opportunity to master textures. Knowing how to make your surfaces and textures look real is one of the most challenging aspects of creating art in colored pencil, even for experienced artists. 101 Textures in Colored Pencil provides artists with step-by-step instructions for drawing a wide variety of the most common textures and surfaces, including sand, water, metals, foliage, wood, fabrics, stone, grass, hair, and many more. To get you started, this comprehensive guide opens with a review of tools and materials as well as basic skills, such as strokes, effects, and color mixing. Each page of instruction is a comprehensive resource on how to create a specific texture, complete with two to three easy-to-follow steps and a final, detailed image of the finished artwork. Plus, the book is organized into sections based on subject matter, so you can easily find the specific texture you're looking for. An artist's gallery in the back of the book provides examples of the textures in completed works of art. Just a sample of the textures you will learn to render: People: smooth skin; aged skin; straight, curly, and wavy hair; lips Animals & Insects: smooth, curly, and course canine fur; elephant skin; feather; fish scales Fabrics & Textiles: burlap, tweed, silk, velvet, leather, lace, sequins Glass, Stone, Ceramics, Wood & Metal: porcelain, polished silver, hammered brass, peeling paint Food & Beverage: red wine, cut citrus fruit, coconut, peach, dark chocolate Nature: smooth and rough bark, moss, river pebbles, still and rippled lake, clouds 101 Textures in Colored Pencil includes all the textures you need to create realistic masterpieces in colored pencil.

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive introduction to the use of additions in clay bodies, from stones and glass to fibre, metals and colour. Clay body additions can introduce remarkable new forms and textures in ceramic work. With an emphasis on creativity and experimentation, ceramicist Kathleen Standen advises you on a range of possible effects, and profiles the extraordinary work of contemporary makers using additions in their practice. Beginning with an introduction to collecting local clay and making your own clay bodies, the book moves on to cover the array of additions being used by artists today, from hard materials like stones, glass and rust, to combustible matter and fibre, metals including wire and mesh, and colour in various forms. The book is lavishly illustrated throughout with both unique making methods and the beautiful finished works of ceramic artists from around the world. Additions to Clay Bodies is an inspiring introduction to the art of using additions and an essential companion for anyone wishing to expand their practice.Trade ReviewStanden was a science teacher in her earlier career. This gives her the perfect background to pen a book of this nature. Her experience is evident in the text which has a clear and comprehensive voice in the step-by-step instructions on how to implement the techniques... Standen uses a warm narrative that softens the technical writing of the book. -- Tina Darb O'Sullivan * Irish Examiner *A very practical book for ideas with which to spend many hours in the workshop. -- Wladimir Vivas * InfoCeramica *The clay used at Aylesford Pottery comes prepared for use. But that can be just the starting point. Too often students are concentrating on how to make shapes and decorate them. This book takes you to a new experimental level by encouraging you to think about the actual texture of the clay itself. And what a revelation that can be. This book will take your creativity to a whole new level. -- Billy Byles, Aylesford Pottery * Aylesford School of Ceramics Newsletter *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction 1. Clays 2. Hard materials 3. Combustible materials 4. Impressions, imprints and dipping 5. Fibres 6. Metal 7. Colour Glossary Suppliers Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisLucie Rie (1902–1995) is one of the finest modern potters of the 20th century. Born and trained in Vienna, her successful early career came to a halt in 1938 when forced to leave Austria to escape the persecution of Jewish people. In exile in London, Rie established a new workshop and over five decades created highly individual bowls, vases and tableware which continue to amaze and inspire today. With over 150 photographs and five new essays, Lucie Rie: The Adventure of Pottery celebrates an exceptional life of creative invention and experiment. With texts by Edmund de Waal, Tanya Harrod, Helen Ritchie, Eliza Spindel, Kimberley Chandler and Nigel Wood. Trade Review"Lucie Rie review – the genius ceramicist who refused to be boxed in." - The Guardian

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Book SynopsisThis charmingly illustrated book is an ideal guide to the art of botanical drawing and painting. You should never hesitate to pull a flower apart to understand how it fits together, to turn the subject round until you are satisfied with its position, or to do pencil sketches of it in various positions. From sketching basic shapes and making volumes to creating textures and visualising the colour spectrum, this book is here to teach you how to look and observe, since you can only properly transcribe what you understand. Through step-by-step demonstrations and with colourful illustrations, Agathe Ravet-Haevermans teaches you how to recognise and draw a wide variety of flowers and leaves, and covers the textures and structural elements of a range of different plants including succulents, vegetables, trees and grasses. Practical as well as beautiful, The Art of Botanical Drawing is a necessary addition to the bookshelves of anyone interested in botanical art.Trade ReviewThis book has great visual appeal * Leisure Painter (August 2009) *Ideal for the beginner * Amateur Gardening (August 2009) *...much to inspire... * Wild Flower Magazine (Summer 2009) *...a starting point for the artistically and botanically curious... * www.artbookreview.net (July 2009) *Anyone who has trouble deciphering their field sketches would learn something from the importance of observation stressed in this book. * The Orchid Review (September 2009) *Table of ContentsPreface by Stéphane Marie A Brief History Materials Learning to Draw Anatomy of a Plant Different Media Enhancement Glossary Selected Works to Consult

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Book SynopsisMegan Hess: The Bag is an illustrated love story about the most timeless and useful of accessories, from internationally renowned fashion illustrator Megan Hess. A piece of fashion is so much more than an object. To the designer who creates it, the muse who inspires it or the fashion lover who lusts after it, that piece is part of a story. A beautiful bag is the ultimate fashion investment. From the Hermès Birkin to the Chanel Classic, the Lady Dior to the Louis Vuitton Trunk, the Valentino Rockstud to the Fendi Baguette, these iconic bags are not just the perfect way to carry your lipstick and book – and complete your outfit. They are works of art and craftsmanship. Megan Hess: The Bag is the latest in the Ultimate Fashion Wardrobe series, filled with fascinating information and stunning illustrations and packaged up in a beautiful hardback: the ideal accessory for any creative life.

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Book SynopsisThrough the turbulent passage of time, graphic design—with its vivid, neat synthesis of image and idea—has distilled the spirit of each age. Surrounding us every minute of every day, from minimalist packaging to colorful adverts, smart environmental graphics to sleek interfaces: graphic design is as much about transmitting information as it is about reflecting society’s cultural aspirations and values. This second volume rounds off our in-depth exploration of graphic design, spanning from the 1960s until today. About 3,500 seminal designs from across the globe guide us in this visual map through contemporary history, from the establishment of the International Style to the rise of the groundbreaking digital age. Around 80 key pieces go under the microscope in detailed analyses besides 118 biographies of the era’s most important designers, including Massimo Vignelli (New York subway wayfinding system), Otl Aicher (Lufthansa identity), Paula Scher (Citibank brand identity), Neville Brody (The Face magazine), Kashiwa Sato (Uniqlo brand identity), and Stefan Sagmeister (handwriting posters). With his sweeping knowledge of the field, author Jens Müller curates the standout designs for each year alongside a running sequence of design milestones. Organized chronologically, each decade is prefaced by a succinct overview as well as a stunning visual timeline, offering a vivid display of the variety of graphic production in each decade as well as the global landscape which it at once described and defined. This collection of important graphic works represents a long-overdue reflection on the development of a creative field constantly changing and challenging itself. These key pieces act as coordinates through contemporary history, helping us trace the sheer influence of graphic design on our daily lives. Combined with Volume One—which spans from the field’s very beginnings until 1959—the tomes offer the most comprehensive exploration of graphic design to date.Trade Review“Jens Müller ambitiously traces not only the evolution of an industry, but also the arc of our aesthetics.” * TIME *“Chronicle, treasure of pictures, source of ideas—and above all, great fun.” * spiegel.de *“Graphic design history is a cultural, political, social, and technological history. Since it is impossible to understand one without the other, this book, which looks at the legacy and heritage of graphic design, is an essential portal to our appreciation of the world’s history.” * Steven Heller *

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Book SynopsisRecognized as a major figure in postwar American painting, Richard Diebenkorn (1922-1993) was an artist strongly identified with California but whose work is beloved throughout the United States and the rest of the world. This catalogue covers Diebenkorn's career and focuses on the artist's inner life and purposes as revealed in his paintings.

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Book SynopsisA practical and inspirational manual that shows you a huge range of color mixes in watercolor. Use the book as a handy reference when you want to know how to mix a specific color, or as a catalog of inspiration when seeking ideas to try in your work. The handy color viewing card included can be used to view each color swatch in isolation.Table of ContentsIntroduction How to use this book About color and color mixing Warm and cool colors Blacks and grays Relating to color Color in a painting Materials Color mixing recipes Diluting colors

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Book SynopsisFor the 26th book in his highly successful P&Q series, Kaffe has chosen a bucolic English farm as the inspiration for his new collection of quilts. The green fields, lush fruit trees, charming farm animals, and rustic beauty of a classic English farm serve as the perfect backdrop for the visual feast only Kaffe Fassett can serve.

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Book SynopsisPhotographer of excellence, and among the most appreciated in the contemporary art scene, the Dutch photographer Erwin Olaf (1959) is to be considered one of the greatest interpreters of modern portrait photography: he is known all over the world for a photographic style dominated by mysterious and contemplative atmospheres, for his mise en scène and theatrical compositions. In his shots Olaf weaves complex and dramatic narratives. His works are striking in their strangeness, their will to provoke, their sense of solitude and restlessness: they catch glimpses of truth, which reveal the imperfection and the fictitious nature of an apparently perfect world. This rich catalogue represents a journey through the artist's entire production, offering a complete overview of his work: from the beginning with Chessmen, the series that made him internationally famous, awarded at the Young European Photographer competition in 1988, up to the recent Palm Springs project (2018). The volume includes a critical text by Walter Guadagnini and a conversation with the artist. Text in English and Italian.

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Book SynopsisA Modern Master   Robert E. McGinnis began his career in 1947 as a cartoonist, and produced his first cover illustrations for 1956 issues of the magazines True Detective and Master Detective. Then in 1958, he painted his first paperback book cover, and from that day forward his work was in demand.   The emergence of the “McGinnis Woman”—long-legged, intelligent, alluring, and enigmatic—established him as the go-to artist for detective novels. His work appeared on Mike Shayne titles and the Perry Mason series, and he produced 100 paintings for the Carter Brown adventures. Yet McGinnis became famous for his work in other genres as well: espionage, romance, historicals, gothics, and Westerns.   McGinnis’s first major magazine assignments were for The Saturday Evening Post, and his work has graced the pages of Cosmopolitan, National Geographic, Good Housekeeping, Guideposts

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Book SynopsisThere is an astonishing world just waiting to be photographed underwater. With marine biologist Dr Alexander Mustard as your guide you can learn all you need to know to explore the amazing creatures and landscapes that lie beneath the surface. From information about diving equipment and cameras, to crucial advice on understanding and controlling light underwater, this book provides all the background you need before you take the plunge. Topics covered include wide-angle light, macro lighting, ambient light and macro techniques. All this is illustrated, of course, with stunning images of the weird and wonderful animals and sights he has encountered beneath the waves.

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Book SynopsisThis elegant, collectible book presents the powerful concept art created for Destiny, featuring breathtaking imagery that captures the cinematic feel of its universe. Covering everything from the earliest sketches of the Guardians' armor to dilapidated cities on distant planets, this exploration of the art behind the year's biggest new gaming franchise details the incredible artistic development of each class, vehicle, and planet. With hundreds of stunning sketches, character illustrations, pieces of concept art, environments, and more, The Art of Destiny will explore the game's sweeping world, grand scope, and vibrant visuals.

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Book SynopsisDave White introduces the simple but effective techniques that he uses to paint stunning, dramatic seascapes with beautiful and realistic skies. He demonstrates spattering, blending backgrounds, painting horizons, finger painting clouds and foam. There is expert advice on the anatomy of waves and how they rise and collapse, creating ripples, surf, foam and spray. Clear instructions show how to paint effective reflections and beaches to improve your seascapes. The sky section shows effective techniques for painting all types of cloud, with some innovative methods such as tipping up the surface to let dilute paint run, to create cirrus clouds. Dave's method of creating depth in sea, beach and sky using lines projected from the vanishing point will radically improve readers' seascapes. There is a section of moods and sunsets full of beautiful, dramatic examples. Finally three step by step projects show how to paint a beach panorama with a rolling wave, a spectacular sunset over a calm sea and waves crashing on rocks.Trade ReviewIt's difficult for many painters to achieve realistic looking skies and water. Dave demonstrates how to paint both so that you can refine your skills. Simple techniques that any can follow. Take a closer look at waves and cloud formations, I really enjoyed these two sections. There are three step-by-step projects and examples of finished work. Discover how to add a little drama to your acrylic paintings. * Karen Platt- yarnsandfabrics.co.uk *Few artists can resist the temptation to introduce a bit of drama when it comes to painting the sea, and Dave White is no exception. It is, after all, a bit boring if you just paint flat calm and there’s nothing like a good storm to get the juices flowing. Add a nice ripe sunset and you’ll be getting through your dark greens, rich blues and deep reds like there’s no tomorrow! It’s perhaps unfair to start a review like that as this is one of the most thorough and useful books on painting seascapes that I’ve seen in a long time. Dave White is more than sound on achieving that tricky balance between solidity and fluidity in breaking waves and I particularly like his trick of using gulls that skim the surface (as they do) to give scale. His clouds are similarly light, fluffy and ethereal without looking half-hearted or like clumps of cotton wool stuck onto a Cerulean wash. For all that, it’s the drama that’ll strike you on a quick flick through, but you shouldn’t let it put you off. The sea is dramatic and, as I hinted earlier, it should be. Some of the treatments here are a bit over the top for me but, equally, they might be just what you want. In terms of technique and presentation, though, this one’s hard to beat. * Artbookreview.net *January 2016 Painting the sea is one of the greatest challenges for the artist. Constantly in motion, it has far more substance than other types of water that simply flow, or are completely still. To freeze a moment in time while still maintaining that sense of fluidity is not an easy thing to do. Almost all books on painting the sea tend at some point to be a trifle dramatic, and this is no exception. Dave white includes night-time scenes, sunsets and the last rays breaking through backlit clouds, even a helicopter rescue. On waves, spray, translucency and the rather neat trick of including low flying gulls to provide scale, Dave is solidly sound. There’s plenty of variety demonstrations and good solid instruction. * The Artist *Living near the coast in Hampshire, Dave White finds constant inspiration from the sea and skies around him, and in his latest book, sea and sky in acrylics, he shares with us some of the essential elements off of capturing a subject that is constantly moving and changing. Using his preferred medium of acrylics he opens the book with a brief description of the materials you will need, then moves swiftly on to colour and the specific colours you will need to follow the demonstrations in this book, including colour mixes for sky, sea, rocks and beaches for example. The first part concentrates on the sea, describing the techniques to create the rising and falling waves, show wind direction, ripples splashes and reflections. The middle section looks at the sky; clouds, moods and sunsets; then the rest of the book is devoted to projects – a beach panorama, a sunset and waves crashing on the rocks – all with excellent step-by-step diagrams and clear photography. * The Leisure Painter *Table of ContentsIntroduction Materials Colour and opacity Techniques SEA: The splash zone A rising wave A falling wave Surf and ripples Reflections Beaches Wind direction SKY: Selecting a vanishing point Clouds Moods and Sunsets PROJECTS: Beachcomber The Heavens Declare Barton Corner

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Book SynopsisBehind the Blue Door presents the decor of pioneering beauty-industry entrepreneur John Demsey’s six-story townhouse on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, an explosion of color, pattern, and art.“A riot of color, pattern, and art, beauty exec John Demsey’s six-story townhouse on Manhattan’s Upper East Side bursts with exuberant life.”—Architectural Digest The muted, understated exterior of the townhouse on a tree-lined New York City street belies the sumptuous feast for the eyes that hits you upon opening its blue front door. Every room of its five main floors has its own saturated color scheme, filled with a David Hicks-inspired geometrically patterned rug, vibrant fabrics, new and vintage furniture, art and photographs covering walls, and sculptures and knickknacks topping tables and filling shelves. For the owner, John Demsey, the starting point was a pair of multicolored Louboutin boots, which inspired the palette of the living room rug. Working with interior decorator and friend Bibi Monnahan, he carefully chose and positioned each piece of furniture, work of art, and decorative object, and mounted his enormous photography collection. The result is a tour de force of maximalist design, now captured for all to see in Douglas Friedman’s luminous photographs and with Emmy Award-winning journalist Alina Cho as our eyewitness guide in a slipcased gift book featuring three gatefolds.

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Book SynopsisThe Art of Borderlands explores the creation and iconic design of Gearbox Software's award-winning hit video game series. The Art of Borderlands is a breathtaking celebration of Gearbox Software's critically acclaimed role-playing shooter video game series. Featuring hundreds of pieces of dynamic concept art, this book includes full-colour images that illustrate how the Borderlands team brought the game's larger-than-life characters, expansive world, and diverse array of weapons to life. Experience the danger and distinctive beauty of Pandora like never before with this comprehensive collection of sketches, paintings, character studies, and more. Featuring exclusive interviews with the artists and developers who created Pandora, The Art of Borderlands is a must-have collector's item for every Vault Hunter.

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Book SynopsisNorman Rockwell gave us a picture of America that was familiar - astonishingly so - and at the same time unique, because only he could bring it to life with such authority.Rockwell best expressed this vision of America in his justly famous cover illustrations for the Saturday Evening Post, painted between 1916 and 1963. All of his Post covers are reproduced in splendid full colour in this oversized volume, with commentaries by Christopher Finch, the noted writer on art and popular culture.Table of ContentsTable of Contents from Norman Rockwell: 332 Magazine Covers Norman Rockwell Portrayed Americans as Americans Chose to See Themselves Color Plates Catalog of Covers

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive course in landscape painting with acrylics by popular author and tutor Charles Evans. Charles' no-nonsense techniques and engaging writing style bring acrylic painting within the grasp of anyone keen to get started in this versatile and popular medium. The book begins with excellent advice for the beginner, including easy drawing for painting, composition, easy perspective, light and shade, colour, and how to use acrylics with different painting styles. There are six full step-by-step painting projects ranging from simple skies to snowy landscapes with horses, each of which is supported by additional exercises and techniques. The step-by-step projects allow aspiring artists to put into practice their new-found skills, and produce six stunning paintings of their own, in a range of styles. A pull-out outline drawing is provided for every project, and Charles shows how to transfer these onto the painting surface. Charles' accessible and irreverent style makes learning to paint with acrylics easy and fun.Trade ReviewFebruary 2018 For those wanting to try acrylics but nervous of starting a new medium, Charles Evan's Acrylics for the Absolute Beginner will be just what you need. Popular artist and tutor, Charles has an engaging style of painting and writing that makes it all seem so easy. There's advice on drawing for painting, composition, perspective, light and shade, colour and different painting styles. The main part of the book comprises six step-by-step projects for you to work through, as well as extra exercises and techniques as appropriate. A pull-out outline drawing for every project is provided, which does the hard work for you so you can simply get on with the painting. * The Leisure Painter *This book begins with an explanation of basic brushstrokes, exercises in simple shapes and hints on working from photographs, moving quickly on to trees, figures, animals and boats. The book is based around a series of 12 pre-printed outlines that provide the basis for complete demonstrations, practising composition, perspective, glazing and texture along the way. -- The SAA * The SAA Catalogue 19/20 *Table of ContentsIntroduction Materials Easy drawing for painting Light and shade Getting started Painting in the watercolour style Step-by-step project: Sunlit field Painting in the oil style Step-by-step project Step-by-step project: Woodland on paper Painting buildings and rocks Step-by-step project: Buildings Painting water Step-by-step project: Waterfall on paper Painting animals Step-by-step project: Horses in snow Index

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Book Synopsis'This is, I think, the best book on drawing animals I’ve seen. The sheer breadth of the coverage and the amount of detail that Tim goes into is breathtaking.' Henry Malt, Artbookreview.net 'Tim is a genius in every respect and this really could be the only book on animal drawing you'll ever need.' Paint Magazine Artist Tim Pond’s lively and engaging book fuses science with art, providing you with the skills, techniques and knowledge you need to create sketches of animals filled with life and movement. Tim shows you how to observe and draw animals in zoos, farms, wildlife parks and aquariums, teaching you some fascinating facts about the animals along the way and ultimately bringing you closer to nature. One of the challenges with sketching wildlife is that animals are constantly moving. However, having some basic understanding of biology can help you capture the form, movement and ultimately the spirit of the animal in question. This combination of scientific knowledge and practical guidance is key to creating lively drawings and Tim’s ability to convey this in an accessible and engaging way makes this a unique and inspiring guide.Trade ReviewThis is, without doubt, the best book on animal drawing I have ever seen. Not only are the results attractive and the very thing you'd want to be able to draw yourself, the comprehensive coverage and simple explanations are second to none. Simplicity is the key to Tim's approach, both in working and teaching. His creatures frequently stand alone, and never have more props or background than is absolutely necessary. That way, they leap off the page, both in monochrome and colour. As well as some neat 'widgets and gizmos' - simple shape-based ways of getting started - Tim also uses colour shading to handle the tricky subject of musculature and underlying structure. Finally, there's a way of getting to grips with this necessary topic. Subjects include birds, mammals, fish and crustaceans and there are sketches, studies and a variety of poses throughout. This book is always exciting, inspiring and thoroughly informative. * The Artist, June 2019 *This remarkable comprehensive guide will tell you all you need to know about drawing everything from amphibians to primates. If that sounds like an overwhelming and perhaps breathless task, Tim is completely at home with his subject and breaks it all down into manageable chunks. I particularly like his "widgets and gizmos" - little sidebars that contain tricks that include the use of geometric shapes, grids and outlines that get structure and proportion right first time and, above all, painlessly. This is a lot more than sleight of hand, though, and there's a lot of real science (as well as art) behind what suddenly seems easy. Tim uses shading to show how structure works beneath the skin - anatomical lessons suddenly become about art rather than anatomy. So far, I haven't mentioned the sheer quality of the work that Tim produces. While remaining faithfully accurate to shape and structure, there's a pleasant looseness to his style. It gives instant character and that sense of potential movement animals possess even at rest. Most of the illustrations don't have backgrounds but, where they do appear, they don't dominate and are always appropriate. The focus is always on the main subject, as it should be. Although the title might suggest that this is a pen and pencil book, there's plenty of colour and Tim shows you how to use watercolour to add shape, texture and tone to your outlines. I hope I've conveyed to you how much I love this. It's a visual feast that makes it impossible not to want to get started, even if you've never thought of drawing animals before. Even better, it fulfils its promise and takes you right through the process. Tim is a genius in every respect and this really could be the only book on animal drawing you'll ever need. * Paint magazine (March 2019) *In this practical guide to drawing and sketching animals, Tim Pond shows us how to observe animals in natural environments - from zoos and farms to wildlife parks and aquariums. To cope with animals' constant movement, Tim explains how a basic knowledge of biology can help you to capture the spirit of your subject as well as its form. Fascinating facts about animals are included along the way, making this a lively as well as inspiring guide to better sketching techniques. * Leisure Painter, April 2019 *This comprehensive guide to drawing animals will give you everything you need to know. Tim suggests ways of simplifying your approach to shape, form, structure and physical features so that you'll get perfect results every time. He calls these little tricks Widgets and Gizmos and they do seem to work like magic. In practice, they're just simple grids and block outlines that point you in the right direction before you can overthink the problem. You'll wonder why no-one's ever told you about them before! Every type of animal is here, from primates to ungulates and shellfish to amphibians. You've never wanted to draw a shrimp? Tim's approach is so enticing and encouraging that you'll be itching to do so the moment you see what's possible. Although thorough, Tim's approach is straightforward and never intimidating. In the anatomical diagrams, the differently coloured shading makes it easy to follow the structure that underlies the outward appearance of your subject. The whole book is a work of art that will have you producing your own in a very short time. * The SAA *'This is, I think, the best book on drawing animals I've seen. The sheer breadth of the coverage and the amount of detail that Tim goes into is breathtaking. More than that, though, it remains at all times completely accessible and you’re never left feeling bewildered by the amount of information on every page.' Read the full review here. -- Henry Malt * Artbookreview.net *Tim Pond's Field Guide to Drawing & Sketching Animals is a keystone book for anyone wishing to draw animals that are both scientfically accurate and full of life. He does a deep dive into the anatomy and structure of animals but with a keen understanding of what the artist needs to see and understand. He has cut through irrelevant chatter to emphasise what you need to get the beast onto paper. His approach supports drawings that show the behaviour, mannerisms, and character, transforming a sketch from a generic diagram to an intimate portrait, the breadth of his examples, from sponges to gorillas is a celebration of the biodiversity of the Earth and an inspiration to naturalist-artists. * John Muir Laws *Table of ContentsIntroduction 6; The blank page 8; Study sheets 16; The sea, and life 20; Connections 22; Common features 24; Anatomical adaptation 32; Welcome to the animal kingdom 34; Sponges 36; Jellyfish 38; Corals 40; Cephalopods 42; Octopuses 44; Slugs and snails 46; Arthropods 48; Habitat: Coast 50; Shrimp 52; Insects 54; Praying mantises 58; Metamorphosis 60; Butterflies and moths 62; Monarch butterflies 64; Spiders and scorpions 66; Fish 68; Sharks 72; Boxfish 74; Symbiosis 76; Seahorses 78; Seadragons 80; Habitat: Coral reefs 82; Porcupine fish 84; Common goldfish 86; Amphibians and reptiles 88; Frogs and toads 90; Green iguanas 92; Crocodilians 94; Crocodiles 96; Tortoises, turtles and terrapins 98; Dinosaurs 100; Mammals 102; Red deer 104; Fallow deer 106; Red river hogs 108; Warthogs 110; Hippopotamuses 112; Giraffes 114; Pivot points 116; Malayan tapirs 118; Rhinoceroses 120; Zebras 122; Habitat: The farm 124; Elephants 126; Sloths 130; Cats 132; Jaguars 134; Cheetahs 136; Lions 138; Tigers 140; Habitat: Woodlands 142; African hunting dogs 144; Bears 148; South American coatis 150; Red kangaroos 152; Primates 154; Lemurs 156; Monkeys 158; Gorillas 160; Chimpanzees 162; Movement through water 164; Pinnipeds 166; Otters 168; Blue whales 170; Movement through air 172; Bats 174; Birds 176; Bird origins 178; Bird anatomy 180; Owls 184; Greater flamingos 188; Penguins 190; Index 192.

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Book SynopsisHandbook of Tyranny portrays the routine cruelties of the twenty-first century through a series of detailed non-fictional graphic illustrations. None of these cruelties represent extraordinary violence – they reflect the day-to-day implementation of laws and regulations around the globe. Every page of the book questions our current world of walls and fences, police tactics and prison cells, crowd control and refugee camps. The dry and factual style of storytelling through technical drawings is the graphic equivalent to bureaucratic rigidity born of laws and regulations. The level of detail depicted in the illustrations of the book mirror the repressive efforts taken by authorities around the globe. The twenty-first century shows a general striving for an ever more regulated and protective society. Yet the scale of authoritarian interventions and their stealth design adds to the growing difficulty of linking cause and effect. Handbook of Tyranny gives a profound insight into the relationship between political power, territoriality and systematic cruelties.

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Book SynopsisHaving taken players all the way to the gateway to the modern world in Syndicate, Assassin's Creed once again takes fans on an adventure through history. The Art of Assassin's Creed Origins collates hundreds of concept arts, including sketches, final paintings, and 3D Renders, alongside in-depth commentary from the artists and developers, representing the ultimate insight into the design processes behind the game.Trade Review“gorgeously made” - Gamers Sphere “an incredible compilation of images” Adventures In Poor Taste“a comprehensive and breathtaking look at the world Ubisoft has brought to life...It’s a beautiful companion that gives backstory to the living world of Bayek the Medjay” - Gaming Trend“perhaps the best [art of book] I’ve come across” - Nerdspan“The Art of Assassin’s Creed origins will surely give fans a larger appreciation for all of the details within the game, large and small, and is a great gift for fans of the series...the quality Titan Books put into its products is unmatched, and the content within is fascinating, making the purchase absolutely worth it.” - XBox Addict

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Book SynopsisStart with a heart shape . . . and end with a beautiful finished piece of art!You’ll love Jane Davenport’s fabulous, fun, and amazingly easy technique for drawing figures. For aspiring artists, drawing people can be intimidating—but it doesn’t have to be. Over years working as a fashion illustrator, Jane Davenport devised her own method of creating in-proportion figures. Her clever core technique involves using equal-size hearts to build the body’s structure. And Jane’s results have been astounding: her students go from “I can’t draw a stick figure” to producing gorgeous, well-proportioned illustrations. After laying out the basics, her imaginative guide walks you through working with different mediums; drawing the head, face, clothing, hair, and features; and constructing figures inspired by fashion, fantasy, life drawing, and more.

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Book SynopsisWith his geometric structures perched upon the hillsides, beaches, and deserts of California, John Lautner (1911–1994) was behind some of the most striking and innovative architectural designs in mid-20th-century America. This introductory book brings together the most important of Lautner’s projects to explore his his ingenious use of modern building materials and his bold stylistic repertoire of sweeping rooflines, glass-paneled walls, and steel beams. From commercial buildings to such iconic homes as the Chemosphere, we look at Lautner’s sensitivity to a building’s surroundings and his unique capacity to integrate structures into the Californian landscape. With several of Lautner’s houses now labeled Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments, we’ll also consider the architect’s cultural legacy, as much as his pioneering of a visual paradigm of 1950s optimism, economic growth, and space-age adventure.

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Book SynopsisA FLAME TREE NOTEBOOK. Beautiful and luxurious the Foiled Quarto Journals combine high-quality production and FSC pages with magnificent art. Perfect as a gift, and an essential personal choice for writers, notetakers, list-makers, travellers, students, poets and diarists. Features a wide range of well-known and modern artists, with new artworks published throughout the year.A NEW SERIES. The Quarto format is named after the earliest form of European printed publication, dating back to the 1400s when Gutenberg invented the first moveable-type printing press, heralding a revolution in mass communication, spreading ideas of literature, science and philosophy of the Renaissance. We celebrate this with our range of fine art and contemporary illustrations.BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED. The highly crafted covers are printed on foil paper, embossed then foil stamped, complemented by the luxury binding and rose red end-papers. The covers are created by our artists and designers who spe

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Book SynopsisLearn to create strikingly realistic animal drawings in colored pencil beginning with basic shapes.Drawing: Animals in Colored Pencil shows you how to render a variety of beautiful animals in graphite pencil, with tips on choosing drawing materials, building with basic shapes, and shading and coloring to develop form and realism. In this comprehensive, 40-page book, accomplished artist Debra Kauffman Yaun shares her artistic insights and techniques. The book opens with essential information on choosing art tools and materials, understanding color theory, and creating basic pencil strokes. It then covers special colored pencil techniques, such as hatching, burnishing, layering, and blending. Finally, the author demonstrates how to accurately depict an assortment of adorable animals––including favorite family pets, wildlife, and birds––in a series of clear, step-by-step lessons. In-depth, easy-to-follow instructions allow aspiring artists to develop their drawing skills, guiding them from simple sketches to the final flourishes.The included drawing projects are: Rooster Shetland sheepdog Gray squirrel Horse Lory bird Leopard Maine coon cat Alpaca Box turtle Red fox The How to Draw & Paint series offers an easy-to-follow guide that introduces artists to basic tools and materials and includes simple step-by-step lessons for a variety of projects suitable for the aspiring artist. Drawing: Animals in Colored Pencil allows artists to develop their drawing skills, demonstrating how to start with basic shapes and use pencil and shading techniques to create varied textures, values, and details for a realistic, completed drawing.

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Book SynopsisGumshoe is new series of architectural books, introducing a new approach to the writing of architectural history. It returns the focus of architectural discourse back onto buildings, in a style and form that is original and scholarly but also easy and enjoyable to read. It emulates the detective novel a form of writing beloved by many, but also one that has enjoyed a parallel academic life in disciplines and by writers as diverse as psychoanalysis (Sigmund Freud), film (Sigfried Kracauer), and art history (Carlo Ginzburg) but, significantly, not yet by architecture. Each volume will investigate a singular building as if it were a mystery waiting to be solved.Written by distinguished French architectural critic and historian Françoise Fromonot, the first case The House of Doctor Koolhaas is about the Villa dall'Ava, a private residence in Saint-Cloud, a suburb of Paris. Fromonot brilliantly unpicks, explains and interprets the very first building completed by Rem Koolhaas, who is universally regarded as the world's most celebrated architect, and his Rotterdam-based firm Office for Metropolitan Architecture.

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Book SynopsisA charming illustrated collection that sheds light on the creative process by one of the most inventive designers working today

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Book SynopsisThis beautiful and inspirational book written by a doyenne of British textile design explores the art of painting and making patterns on cloth. Fabrics bring colour and vibrance to our lives, adding inventiveness and charm to both our clothes and our domestic interiors. In this book, lifelong textile designer Sarah Campbell takes you through her world of pattern and colour to uncover the joys of design from dots, stripes and checks to more surprising decorative solutions. Painting straight onto fabric is a very different experience to designing for digital production. Everything is unique, the placing of the patterns and colours is in your hands. The beauty is that the pattern doesn’t have to repeat - there can be just one bird or just one square, if it’s in the right place. Beautifully illustrated with Sarah’s colourful and internationally acclaimed work, her fabric designs show the comforting rhythm and universal language of pattern. - Learn how to create your own unique designs using a range of tools and techniques including brushes and potato-cuts, stencils and simple ‘kitchen cupboard’ resists. - Explore the delights of painting on different fabrics such as cotton, linen, silk and calico/muslin. - Develop your understanding of scale, colour, tonality and the organisation of pattern ideas, alongside suggestions on how to use your finished fabrics.Trade ReviewI cannot think of a better artist than Sarah Campbell to introduce would-be designers to produce hand-painted textiles. Sarah has made a career focusing on the delights of pattern in simple, but deliciously varied, directions. Anyone who notices pattern will have spotted her witty designs on so many furnishing items. Here she stimulates her readers to play with basic brushstrokes, creating bold geometry, and arming them with techniques to create endless personal flights of fancy. My fingers itch to play with all the possibilities that dance in my head each time I thumb through this delightful book. * Kaffe Fassett MBE, Artist & Author *Hand-painted Textiles by Sarah Campbell is just the sort of book I’ve wanted. Jam-packed with Sarah’s signature hand-painted style, giving all her techniques and inspiration to inspire anyone to have a go. My eye is dancing with possibility. * Brandon Mably, Designer & Author *This book is the perfect result of Sarah’s ability to create uplifting and joyful patterns combined with her passion for sharing her enthusiasm for making them. Sarah embraces hand painting and printing, guiding the reader through wide ranging techniques and considerations for design projects. Visually rich and highly accessible, the pages are full of flowers, geometrics, birds & beasts to inspire the reader. With an impressive back catalogue of highly successful textile designs for industry some of which are included, Sarah helps you to be brave and playful, sharing in her joy of colour, rhythm and motif on cloth. * Kate Farley, Designer & Academic *with brush, paint and fabric [Sarah] shows us how to get hands-on with joyful and playful pattern * UPPERCASE Magazine *Flicking through the pages of this book makes you want to grab your brushes and get painting. * Handprinted *Table of ContentsIntroduction The Tools of My Trade 1. Making a Start with Making a Mark 2. Potatoes 3. Masking Tapes 4. Stencils 5. Freezer Paper Stencils 6. Stencils and Paste Resist 7. Silks 8. Pattern and Colour Placement 9. A Pattern to Match a Pattern 10. Painting with Bleach 11. Painting a T-shirt 12. Freehand Painting 13. Pieced and Patched 14. Painted Fabric as a Base for Decorative Stitching 15. In the Theatre of Pattern Conclusion Sources & Materials

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Book SynopsisFollowing on from Dinosaur Art, this new volume showcases 10 amazing artists whose work represents the cutting edge of paleoart. Many are rising stars in the field; others have embraced digital technology and continue to assert long-standing reputations as leaders in the discipline. This volume also includes state-of-the-art modellers, allowing the reader to explore restoring prehistoric animals in three as well as two dimensions. All accompanied by insights into the cutting of paleontological researcher and the very latest discoveries, with commentaries by respected scientists at the top of their fields.Trade Review"Writer/editor (and very talented artist himself) Steve White has done it again with another beautiful, large format, coffee table book packed with some of the best prehistoric animal art of our time....The book is accompanied by insights into paleontological research and the very latest discoveries, with commentaries by respected scientists at the top of their fields. A must for your library." -- Prehistoric Times

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Book Synopsis 100 UNIQUE CARDS: A unique set of 100 cards with over 200 challenges for you to shoot and upload, from lip synchs, dances and dares to ridiculous pranks. SOLO OUR IN GROUPS: Use the cards for solo TikTok inspiration or assemble your friends and family and play them competitively to determine the best TikToker. RANGE OF LEVELS: Different levels of challenge included on each card. SIMPLE SET-UP: Grab your phone, draw a card, and get shooting! THE CHALLENGE IS ON! Want to determine who shoots the best videos among your friends? Then take on the TikTok challenge!

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Book SynopsisFrom geometry in motion to the possibilities of pi, this stunning volume reveals how art inspired the beauty and poetry of mathematical principles.

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Book SynopsisAfter Egon Schiele (1890–1918) freed himself from the shadow of his mentor and role model Gustav Klimt, he had just ten years to inscribe his signature style into the annals of modernity before the Spanish flu claimed his life. Being a child prodigy quite aware of his own genius and a passionate provocateur, this didn’t prove to be too big a challenge. His haggard, overstretched figures, extreme depiction of sexuality and self-portraits, in which he staged himself with emaciated facial expressions bordering between brilliance and madness, had none of the decorative quality of Klimt’s hymns of love, sexuality and yearning devotion. Instead, Schiele’s work spoke of a brutal honesty, one that would upset and irreversibly change Viennese society. Although his works were later defamed as “degenerate” and for a time were almost forgotten altogether, they influenced generations of artists—from Günter Brus and Francis Bacon to Tracey Emin. Today, his then misunderstood oeuvre continues to fetch exorbitant prices on the international art market. This monograph features the paintings and drawings that retrace the fertile last decade of Schiele’s life. These works are accompanied by essays introducing his life and oeuvre, situating the Austrian master in the context of European Expressionism and charting his extraordinary legacy.Trade Review“The definitive work on Schiele’s cosmos.” * Frankfurter Rundschau *“Schiele fans will love it.” * The Spectator *

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Book SynopsisThis sumptuous and inspiring book, written by needlework expert Trish Burr and created in association with The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is a stunning, contemporary guide to embroidering flowers. All the reusable iron-on transfers needed are kept safely together with the book in an attractive hardback folder. Focusing mainly on long-and-short stitch and Trish's delicate, considered use of silk shading, the book contains all the clearly-illustrated stitches needed, and gives thorough advice on preparation and choosing fabrics and threads – including a handy thread conversion chart. The embroideries are reworkings of botanical artworks from Kew's Art Collection. There is one 'starter' project to encourage readers to try out the techniques, one large sampler containing 18 small elements that can be worked individually or as a group, and nine further projects – including a striking spider chrysanthemum, an elegant waterlily and an opulent magnolia. All the projects are shown step-by-step, with an order of work diagram given where appropriate. The enclosed reusable iron-on transfer papers offer embroiderers a fast and accurate method of transferring the designs - the transfers simply need ironing on to fabric so that the reader can start embroidering straight away. The templates are also included at full size at the back of the book. This stunning yet practical book is a must-have for anyone interested in capturing flowers in thread.Trade ReviewTake inspiration from the natural world with needlework expert Trish Burr's embroidery guide, made in association with The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Learn new stitching methods while creating intricate spider chrysanthemums, striking magnolias and much more. The book also comes with reusable iron-on transfer papers so you can get started straight away. * Sew Magazine *Another fantastic Search Press craft book. The photos are beautiful and detailed and the instructions are clear to follow. The author has given step-by-step instructions for beginners but the projects will appeal to more experienced embroiders too. A gorgeous book with lovely projects to make. -- Louise Coyle * Amazon *This is a beautifully written and illustrated book, very clear instructions for beginners and improvers! Lots of information about threads and stitches before you start on a new project, can’t wait for my new threads to come to start on a simple project, as I have only done a little hand embroidery in the past I look forward to accomplishing some more intricate projects in the future. -- Sandra Wood * Amazon *We have to admit, we will never get enough of Trish’s exquisite needlepainting, and this book doesn’t disappoint. This time, she’s combined her prodigious talent with the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, England, to bring you 11 gorgeous floral projects rendered in her easy-to-follow yet photographically perfect way. For the Kew Book of Embroidered Flowers, Trish has chosen a range of unusual designs which can be worked individually or as one spectacular botanical study, packed with colour and life. Trish’s books are known for their uncomplicated instructions and the gentle progression from simple to complex, and this book is no different. You can begin with the starter project – a vivid purple Japanese Anemone, then work, step-by-step through the book, mastering flowers, plants and insects until you reach the magnificent Magnolia and intricate Poppy sampler at the end. Beautifully presented in a hardcover folder, the book also comes with a set of reusable iron-on transfers tucked into the elegant cover slip, so you don’t have to hand draw your patterns on to your fabric. Naturally, if you prefer, all of the patterns are also provided for you in the back of the book so you are really spoilt for choice. It is difficult to decide which of these striking botanical studies is our favourite, so taken are we by each and every piece. This is a must for any Trish Burr lover, as well as any lover of floral and botanical imagery. Make sure to secure your copy now. * Inspirations *The Kew Book of Embroidered Flowers is a beautiful book exploring botanical textile art through needle painting (a form of surface embroidery). The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew have a special place in my heart (after I got engaged there) so I had high expectations of this book to do justice to such a beautiful setting with a vast collection of botanicals and botanical illustrations. The botanical illustrations within Kew’s Library, Art and Archives collection have offered inspiration for many makers, crafters and artists since it was established in the mid-19th century. Trish Burr offers a new and inspiring insight into Kew’s botanical illustrations through her 11 embroidery projects. The book starts off with a beautifully detailed section explaining terminologies, materials, tools, and preparation activities. Trish then begins to explain the different stitches. I found these pages not only visually stunning, but clear and accessible. Each stitch is explained with clear tips, methods, diagrams, and photos both how-to for the stitch and for the finished flower using that stitch. Once all these areas have been covered, Trish then starts to guide you through the projects! These projects are grouped according to their difficulty and range from “simple projects” through to “advanced projects”. Each project is so sumptuously presented with beautiful stitching, a clear information list (about materials, project size), information about the illustration that inspired Trish’s textile interpretation and a step-by-step guide for stitching the botanical for yourself. I love how each project also has an accompanying, reusable transfer sheet (with information about how to use the transfer sheet) so that you don’t have to worry about getting the botanical shape correct… you can just start stitching! This really is a breath-taking book and the photography, the information, the projects, and the overall feel of the book is absolutely flawless! A true 5* book which is going to be a beautiful book for anyone interested in art, making, botanicals, Kew, sewing and creating! -- Naomi Clarke * naomialice.com *As well as sewing and quilting, I am very interested in botanical painting and I often indulge myself in painting flowers and botanical subjects. I also love flowers and gardening, so I was very excited to see Trish's interpretation of the Kew collection of fine art botanical subjects in embroidery. When the book arrived, I was struck by the luxury of it - a sumptuous edition with the book wrapped in a practical hard-backed folder to store all the embroidery transfers you need for the projects in the book. There is an elastic closure on the folder to hold the book and transfers neatly in place. Beautiful it certainly is, but it's also a highly practical source book, packed with techniques for you to re-create Trish's stunning embroideries in stitch. As well as sewing and quilting, I am very interested in botanical painting and I often indulge myself in painting flowers and botanical subjects. I also love flowers and gardening, so I was very excited to see Trish's interpretation of the Kew collection of fine art botanical subjects in embroidery. When the book arrived, I was struck by the luxury of it - a sumptuous edition with the book wrapped in a practical hard-backed folder to store all the embroidery transfers you need for the projects in the book. There is an elastic closure on the folder to hold the book and transfers neatly in place. Beautiful it certainly is, but it's also a highly practical source book, packed with techniques for you to re-create Trish's stunning embroideries in stitch. The book includes eleven wonderful projects for beginners and beyond, including embroideries of a camellia, waterlily, and magnolia. I particularly love the Flower Sampler that consists of eighteen small elements in a stunning completed project, or that can be stitched individually. I decided I'm going to have a go at stitching the blackberry. For a small design, it uses twelve colours of thread to build up a stunning design and richness of colour. The folder edition of the book includes all the iron-on transfers you need plus outlines of each design. The iron-on transfers are on thick paper and can be stored in the cellophane envelope that comes with the book. I used the iron-on transfer to get the blackberry design onto a piece of fabric I had actually dyed with real blackberry juice! I will be using this in a special book about the hedgerows that I am making. The instructions for using the transfers are at the end of the book and were very clear to follow. The iron-on design is useable more than once as I prepared a second blackberry for my project. Each design in the book is photographed in excellent detail with step-by-step images to guide you through each stage. The final project in the book is a poppy sampler in the style of a botanical plate and is exquisite. You can achieve this yourself with the comprehensive instructions in the book. I am in awe of this book - it is stunning to look at in itself for anyone with a love of flowers and gardening, but the designs within are so well illustrated and explained that, with some practice, anyone who loves to embroider will be able to achieve them. -- Julie Briggs * The Sewing Directory *In association with The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, here's the ultimate guide to embroidering flowers. The reusable iron-on transfers are in a hardback folder, ready to use. Full size templates are also included. This stunning, practical book is a must-have for anyone interested in capturing flowers in thread. * Machine Knitting Monthly *Trish Burr reinterprets botanical artworks from the archives at Kew Gardens through her delicate and detailed needle paintings; bringing out their colours and giving them a three dimensional quality. A must-have for anyone interested in capturing flowers in thread. * Stitch *Every once in a while a book arrives that you cannot wait to open – The Kew Book of Embroidered Flowers by Trish Burr is such a book, this is a beautiful book, everything from the actual production and presentation of the book, to the illustrations inside, is truly inspiring. Kew’s Library, Art & Archives was established in the 1850’s and now forms one of the greatest collections of botanical information found anywhere.As well as supporting the work of Kew’s scientists and horticulturalists it is also accessed by thousands of researchers, garden enthusiasts, historians and the general public around the world. It is from this collection that Trish Burr’s beautiful embroideries have taken their inspiration. The illustrations are exquisite and the detailed instructions contain everything to encourage any embroiderer to want to create their own examples. The contents include a Foreword by Kew detailing their work. An Introduction from Trish explaining her own journey and encouraging everyone from beginner to advanced to become involved in creating their own work. Trish uses a technique called needle painting, this is a technique of surface embroidery like painting a picture on fabric with a needle and thread, this is also known as silk shading, long-and-short shading, or thread painting. She also includes very comprehensive details including everything you need to know to enable you to get started; including tools and materials, preparation, stitch instructions, how to practise the stitches, outlines, raised embroidery, anatomy of a flower, and useful advice before you start. The projects are then divided into: Simple projects including: Japanese anemone, Flower sampler, Clematis, Camellia Intermediate projects including: Rhododendron, Waterlily, Iris, Spider chrysanthemum Advanced projects including: Rose, Magnolia, Poppy Finally there are details on thread substitutes, the collection of templates and how to use the iron-on transfers. The detail is so helpful, the step-by-step instructions take you through each stage of creating the pieces and the illustrations themselves are outstanding. Embroidery is such a satisfying and wonderful activity and this gorgeous book is destined to become a beautiful heirloom providing inspiration for many generations to come, we absolutely adored it! Highly Recommended! * Beautiful Heirloom Home *Trish Burr is a needlework designer in South Africa, and she has written many, many books, most notably about needlepainting, which is her specialty. With her vast experience, her ever-developing style and approach, and her exquisite sense of colour combinations for shading, it is no wonder that Trish would be the needle artist to delve into the Kew Archives (from the Royal Botanic Gardens), in order to reproduce some of their botanical illustrations in needle and thread. The resulting book, published by Search Press as part of their 50th Anniversary line-up of stellar art and craft books, is a wonderful collection of floral and garden-related cameos for the embroiderer to stitch. The book is extra-special, thanks to a few nuances and extras that we don’t often find in this type of embroidery book. So, let’s take a look at it! First, let’s talk about what’s different. The physical properties of the folio edition of the book are different. Most of us, if we are getting the book now, are most likely going to go for this folio edition, which is the one that’s available for pre-order. The other edition – it’s a straightforward hardbound edition for libraries – lacks this outer folder that holds both the soft-bound version of the book and a packet of iron-on transfers, to make your journey into the projects much easier! The hard-board folio cover protects the book and the transfers and closes with an elastic band. It’s a lot like a moleskin notebook… a very large moleskin notebook. The folio cover and the presence of iron-on transfers are probably the greatest differences you’ll notice right away with this book, but there are other nuances within the book itself that are slightly different from Trish’s previous books. You might not notice it right off the bat, because many art and craft books these days have morphed into this approach, but some of the photos in here are larger than life. They are big, making it easy to see the details of the embroidery. The little berry element, for example, which is part of the Floral Sampler found under Simple Projects, is about 1.5″ high from the tip of the stem to the base of the berry when transferred at the given size. In the book, the photo of the berry is around 5.5 – 6″ from tip of stem to base of berry. So, it’s super enlarged, and you can’t miss the details! This is a good thing, I think. Seeing details is helpful when it comes to exploring a technique, especially as a beginner. But it can give you a sense of discombobulation when you set about embroidering. You don’t necessarily realize that the item you’re about to embroider is significantly smaller than the image of it, until you transfer it. This is one of the problems I run into with blogging, too. Close-up photos of embroidery shown on a website tend to give the sense that the piece is much larger than it actually is, and when you sit down to stitch it, there’s a period of adjustment while you get used to the difference in the real size versus the perceived size. Still, I’d rather have too much detail than too little, especially when I’m learning something new! Ok, let’s look at what’s in the book! The Kew book is both an instructional book and a project book. The projects range from simple to advanced. If you are a beginner in needlepainting, you can start at the beginning of the book to get your feet wet, and then move into deeper waters. If you are experienced, you can jump in anywhere. At the beginning of the book, you’ll find introductions to Kew, to Trish and the book’s contents, and to needlepainting in general. Before getting into the projects, you’ll find the background information for getting started, from fabrics, threads, tools, and basic techniques. Much of the preliminary instruction is offered via diagrams and via close-up photos that demonstrate the techniques. It’s all very clear, as you would expect. Trish goes into detail demonstrating approaches to shading, to colour combinations, stitch direction, and so forth. There are ‘11 inspiring projects’ within the book… technically. Really, there are 28. There are two projects in the book that really excite me the most, although they are all beautiful in their own way. The first is under ‘Simple Projects’, and it’s called the ‘Flower Sampler’. It encompasses 18 embroidered elements (20, if you count each individual embroidered element), each of which can be taken out of sampler context and used as its own little practice project. I love this sampler. I love the idea of it. I love the beauty of the finished, whole sampler. And I love the fact that each element could really stand on its own as a mini project. For each element in the sampler – some of which are not necessarily flowers – you get a materials list, the design, and step-by-step instructions on how to stitch it. You’ll also get a larger-than-life photo with clear details of the embroidery, which will serve well to help you successfully stitch your version. There’s a magnificent bee, by the way… Now, this is where Trish’s artistry really shines. I mean, it shines everywhere, but I’m especially besotted with the bee. Check out the bee wing. It’s solidly embroidered. There’s no translucent anything there – the threads are solid colours. But it is a wonder to behold. It looks translucent, thanks to her subtle shading, drawing in the colours behind the wing and bringing them to the forefront while stitching it. It’s fabulous! There are many simple projects in the book, then, if you consider the sampler as individual projects, too. Then, there are intermediate projects that build on the knowledge and skills you’ve gleaned from the first section of the book. There are four intermediate projects, including studies of the rhododendron, the waterlily, the iris, and the spider chrysanthemum which graces the cover of the book. For those of you who have followed Trish for years, you’ll probably notice some slight adjustments in her style and approach here and there throughout the book. The rhododendron, for example, has a definite contemporary and somewhat trendy look to it. So, you can expect to see some variation in Trish’s interpretations – they are not necessarily all sketchy-botanical looking. Some pieces are very boldly contemporary. There are three advanced projects: a rose, a magnolia, and a poppy sampler. The poppy sampler is my second favourite in the book! It’s just lovely. And it would be a wonderful study in long and short shading. I think I have A Thing for things called samplers. The poppy sampler can also be broken down into at least two – if not more – projects. In the more advanced projects, you’ll see that Au Ver a Soie silks enter the materials lists. Yay! I’m a huge fan of needlepainting with silk. I know there is a school of thought out there that favours stranded cotton for needlepainting (also called “silk shading”) but I’ve always thought that there’s nothing quite as beautiful as silk shading worked with silk! In the back of the book, Trish offers a list of thread substitutions for those who wish to work some of the projects in silk. This is handy! Thread substitutions are never absolutely exact, but it’s a nice springboard for those who like to adjust their own colour palettes and thread types. Finally, of course, there’s the pattern section. If you have the folio edition of the book, though, thankfully, you won’t have to go through a meticulous transfer process! Wow! Heaven! I’m not going to pro and con this book. If you love needlepainting, if you want to explore needlepainting fully, if you love botanicals, you’re going to love this book. You’re going to want the special folio edition. And you’ll find it a treasure. -- Mary Corbet * Needle 'n' Thread *Sometimes Search Press really goes the whole nine yards and produces a book with extra wow factor. From its larger format, sturdy colourful covers, and elastic to keep it closed like a box you know that something special hides within, and you won’t be disappointed. Inside is a pocket full of transfers for stitching eleven stunning studies of flowers from Kew Garden’s botanical illustration collection. The lush colours and elegant layouts of 18th and 19th century botanical art are just made to be captured in embroidery, especially the thread painting style worked mostly in long and short stitch. The author promises that this is not too difficult for even a beginner to master, and there are not many stitches to learn. Mostly it is a case of practising getting the shading right and there are quite a few staged photographs to show the right way. You won’t need many tools and materials; a slate frame or hoop, six stranded cotton floss and fabric is most of what you will require. You can learn how to work the various stitches as well as prepare a hoop, use transfers, choose materials and care for your finished work. To limber you up for the actual projects there are several simple pieces, all with captioned photographs as well as a diagram showing the order of work, list of threads and anything else you need. All sizes are given in both imperial and metric, and after the first project there is an option of working a sampler featuring another 18 small studies plus two simpler larger projects. Following this are two more chapters containing the intermediate and advanced projects, the latter of which concludes with another sampler. Full projects typically have photographic stages with arrows indicating what colour floss, essential when working on complex, variegated flowers with a lot of different shades. Each finished piece is shown in a large format, often over two pages so you can appreciate its beauty and see what you are working to achieve. At the back is a handy table of thread substitutes so you can opt for DMC instead of the more costly and harder to source (at least in the UK) Au Ver A Soie thread. When your transfers have worn out, or you want to work on a dark background there are also full-sized outlines for tracing, showing that the author has thought of everything! This is one of my top choices for this year and a book to treasure. -- Rachel A Hyde * myshelf.com *I was delighted to be asked to review this book. Having grown up less than seven miles from Kew gardens I have happy memories of family visits to Kew. I have been aware of Trish’s books for a while. I was always a bit daunted by the pictures I had seen. How could I possibly even think about starting one of her projects and achieve such amazing results? With this book think that it might just be possible! The book itself starts with hints and tips for stitching, predominantly using silk shading (also known as needle painting). The most beautiful flower projects are given, all inspired by the library of art and archives at Kew Gardens, the largest collection of its type. Trish begins with good explanation of the types of fabrics you could use for your project, setting out the pros and cons of each. She goes on to explain the threads used and how to use them. Also covered is the types of frames, needles, and other accessories to use as well as tips for when you have finished such as how to wash, block and mount your completed work. There are detailed instructions, photos and line drawings explaining the stitches used, with tips for those perhaps new silk shading – starting with simple leaves and petals, showing direction of stitch and colour changes. This then builds to introduce additional stitches to enhance your embroidery – French knots, satin stitch, padding and outlining. Next on to the set projects – starting with a lovely Japanese anemone. It is so well photographed at every stage, that a flower could otherwise appear daunting, is achievable. The projects then build as you work through the book. There is a sampler with 18 separate elements including some insects as wells as flowers that could be stitched individually or as the intended sampler. Trish then moves onto the intermediate projects which begin to use silks rather than stranded cottons but could be completed with stranded cotton if wished. Finally, we have advanced projects, rose, magnolia, and poppy all with comprehensive shading instructions and photos including very detailed close up pictures. Everything is so clearly illustrated with instructions and pictures, even the advanced projects seem achievable. In the winter when I personally find stitching more difficult with lack of natural light, I can see myself just sitting down and turning its pages. It is beautiful, inspiring, well put together and every purchase supports the work of Kew saving plants and fungi around the world. -- Alison Cross * The SEW Region Magazine - Book Threads *A beautifully illustrated book that will inspire all embroiderers, this book is the result of an invitation to Trish Burr from the Royal Botanic Gardens to examine their extensive collection of botanical illustrations and to reproduce a selection of the illustrations as embroideries. While principally a book on thread painting, the author has used other stitches where appropriate to bring the subjects to life. The details found in the botanical illustrations have been faithfully reproduced in the embroidered works. Rather than being too prescriptive with respect to the materials required to complete the projects, the author provides a good discussion on the pros and cons on background fabric, thread and hoop/frame options. This book has been designed for use by embroiderers of all skill levels. There is an excellent tutorial at the beginning of the book covering the stitches required to complete the projects. The illustrations are excellent and there are examples of petal shapes that can be used to practise shading and colour blending before starting a project. There are 11 projects divided into beginner, intermediate and advanced sections. The photos of the finished projects leap off the page. They are all well presented with easy to follow step-by-step directions and beautiful macro photos of each of the steps, providing excellent guidance on stitch and colour placement. Trish has used the silk threads of Au Ver à Soie in a number of the projects and the subtle colour movement across the embroidered petals gives the smooth, lush appearance of newly unfurled petals just before they are damaged by weathering and insects. The intricate details recorded in the original botanical illustrations have been superbly translated into stitch and the choice of colours and subtle blending of colour throughout the projects is true to nature. There is one particularly good illustration of this in the selection of colours for the bee wings. By selecting a lighter shade of the same tones as the rest of the abdomen of the bee and then outlining the edges and veins of the wings with straight stitch, the wings appear to be transparent. It looks amazing. Each project references the botanical illustration and artist, but I love botanical and zoological drawings as they help you focus on the details in the original subject material and would have loved to see the original illustration beside the embroidered reproduction. (Editor: To see these visit Kew’s website). For anyone who wants to learn or further develop their thread painting skills, this book will help give you the confidence to develop your own projects. -- Sue Swann * Threads *Table of ContentsForeword by Kew 6 Introduction 8 What is needle painting? 10 Tools and materials 10 Preparation 16 Stitch instructions 20 Securing your thread Long-and-short stitch Split stitch Satin stitch French knots Bullion stitch Practise the stitches Outlines 30 Raised embroidery 32 Anatomy of a flower 34 Useful advice before you start 35 Simple projects 36 Japanese anemone 38 Flower sampler 44 Clematis 94 Camellia 100 Intermediate projects 106 Rhododendron 108 Waterlily 116 Iris 122 Spider chrysanthemum 128 Advanced projects 134 Rose 136 Magnolia 144 Poppy 154 Thread substitutes 163 The templates 164 Using the iron-on transfers 176

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