Nature in the arts Books

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Book SynopsisLion follows internationally collected artist Mark Adlington's three-year mission to find lions in six very different habitats across East and Southern Africa. The resulting body of stunning paintings, drawings and sketchbooks represent the countless months of patient waiting, observation and interaction which have given the artist a unique insight into this most beautiful of big cats. With written contributions from frontline lion conservationists, without whose help and support the project would have been impossible, this is a book which will delight and inform art and nature lovers alike. Since the appearance of the Hohlenstein-Stadel Lion Man, the first ever human artwork, some 40,000 years ago, lions in art have surrounded us as symbols of royalty, power, evangelists, constellations and even the sun. Where lions are increasingly not, is living on this earth in the wild. While it may seem ambitious to take on such iconic subject matter, Adlington wanted to go back to source and create work that reflected the reality of the charismatic duality of this rapidly disappearing apex predator.Trade Review"This beautiful book brings these majestic creatures to life—you feel them stretch, hunt and fight as you turn every page." * Daily Mail (UK) *

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Book SynopsisThree decades of luminous cityscapes from downtown New York’s legendary painter-performer Multidisciplinary performer, designer and artist Tabboo! (born 1959) rose to prominence during the 1980s through New York City’s underground drag scene. When Tabboo! first moved to the city at age 23, he fell in love with the electrifying, scrappy downtown environment and began to paint cityscapes for the backdrops in his drag performances. Forty years later, the city has altered drastically but the artist’s ardor remains (he even lives in the same apartment in Alphabet City). The sweeping cityscapes gathered in this volume are reminiscent of Tabboo!’s early backdrops. Dramatic color fields render the city in moments of transition, from day into night and back again. Gleaming windows are sprinkled with glitter, scattering the sun’s brilliance as it sets. An indelible energy soaks these cityscapes, many of which depict the view from Tabboo!’s apartment window.

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Book SynopsisThe opening of the nineteenth century ushered in an age of unprecedented scientific discovery and artistry. As the development of the microscope allowed scientists access to a previously unimaginable world in miniature, and naturalists travelling the globe sent home reports of weird and wonderful species, there was a growing desire for knowledge of the natural world.Through the medium of popular botanical wall charts, botanical drawing was able to bring this new area of exploration out of the elite salons and universities and into classrooms and homes.This book is a celebration of these botanical wall charts, and the fantastic convergence of art and science they represent. With the artworks taking centre stage, accompanied by text that gives insight into the historical, botanical and artistic context, this unique collection will delight and fascinate botanists, devotees of beautiful vintage illustration, and all with an interest in the natural world.

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

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Book SynopsisFrom a turtle poking out of its egg to sloth sibs cuddling, this adorable collection highlights more than 150 youngsters across the animal kingdom. It's the latest in renowned photographer Joel Sartore's National GeographicPhoto Ark series. Fall in love with rambunctious cougar kittens and playful coyote pups, fluffy pandas and curious chimps, as you explore more than 120 photographs of the youngest animals in the remarkable Photo Ark. These incredible portraits capture the curiosity of an eight-week-old white Bengal tiger cub, peer inside the egg of a yet-to-be-born eyelash frog, reveal the watchful gaze of a five-day-old white-tailed deer fawn, and more. Along the way, you'll learn fascinating facts aboutparenting practices, family relationships,and complex behaviors that characterize various species from birth to fledging. Begun in 2005 with the goal of photographingevery animal species in human care, Joel Sartore's National Geographic Photo Arknow numbers more than 16,000 ani

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Book SynopsisA book of deeply personal and lush photographs, drawings, and writing, Blue Violet is Cig Harvey's celebration of the natural world and the senses. Blue Violet is a vibrant meditation on the procession of seasons, sensory abundance, and the magic in everyday life. Part art book, botanical guide, historical encyclopedia, and poetry collection, Blue Violet is a compendium of beauty, color, and the senses. Plants, flowers, and our experience of the natural world are the threads that tie this unique book together. Exploring the five senses, Blue Violet takes the reader on a personal journey through nature and the range of human emotions. As with her previous three titles - You Look At Me Like An Emergency, Gardening at Night, and You an Orchestra You a Bomb - this book invites the reader to pause, laugh, cry, create, and become more aware of the natural world. Images and text in a variety of forms (prose poetry, recipes, lists, research pieces, diagrams) focus on immediate experience to understand the vibrancy of the senses on memory and feelings.Trade Review'[A] new and noteworthy visual book.' - New York Times Book Review 'A glorious, sensual, poignant collection of botanical photographs, drawings and writings, which is part-art book, part-historical guide and part-poetry collection.' - Financial Times 'There is a pure sense of pleasure that comes from looking at Harvey’s work – a kind of mindful transcendence.' - Aesthetica 'An immersive experience of color, beauty, emotion and text.' - Lenscratch 'Blue Violet is Harvey’s very personal contemplation on plants, flowers and our experience of the natural world. Exploring a range of human emotions, the book offers images and text in a variety of forms (prose poetry, recipes, lists, research pieces, diagrams), focusing on immediate experience, and on the vibrancy of the senses on memory and feelings.' - GUP Magazine 'A gorgeous book . . . that also doubles as interesting decor on a coffee table. The book is filled with deeply personal and lush photographs, drawings, and writings, and is . . . unique and immersive, with an emphasis on plants and the natural world.' - Romper 'This book is a dream.' - Stella Bugbee, Editor-at-Large, The Cut 'In her highly creative new monograph, artist Cig Harvey uses her camera to capture the magic of everyday life and bring a new perspective to plants, flowers and nature. Combining art book, botanical guide, historical encyclopedia and poetry collection in one, Blue Violet is a real feast for the senses.' - Wildflower Magazine 'Blue Violet is an explosion of color and sensorial delight. Flip through and you’ll learn about Cig’s favorite color (pink), the secret to forcing blossoms in the middle of the winter (changing the water daily and loudly expressing a desperate desire for spring might play a role) and how to make delicious meals that, you guessed it, involve eating flowers. All wrapped among some of her most gorgeous imagery to-date.' - Loves Art Will Travel blog

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Book SynopsisThis notebook features a stunning cover with artwork by acclaimed nature artist Jane Smith. It contains lined paper, a head and-tail band, a ribbon marker and band to keep it securely fastened. This is one of a range of Birlinn nature notebooks with other iconic designs including the otter, red squirrel, puffin, seal and Highland cow.

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Book SynopsisA new title in the Flame Tree Foiled Quarto Journal collection, combining beautiful art with high-quality production: bleed-proof, acid-free FSC pages, a pocket, ribbon bookmarks and a magnetic flap. Perfect as a gift or for all notetakers, list-makers and journal users. A 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 w

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Book SynopsisA Dog A Day began life with a Facebook post in 2013: 'My name is Sally Muir and this is a new gallery where I will add a dog drawing/painting every day, adding up to a massive 365 day dogfest.' As the Facebook page grew in popularity, so did Sally's dog portraits, leading to commissions, exhibitions at prominent galleries, and dog sketching events at venues including Anthropologie – who went on to commission an incredibly successful collection of dog-a-day crockery and textile-based household accessories. Drawing on artworks from the site, A Dog A Day is a lovingly curated collection and celebration of dogs. Containing 365 beautiful artworks of dogs of all shapes and sizes (big, small, pedigree, cross breed), the book includes a range of exciting mediums from loosely worked sketches, lithographs and potato prints to finished oil paintings. Delightfully packaged, this is the perfect gift for all dog lovers.Trade Review'Muir’s dog portraiture ... demonstrates the artist’s technical range and her keen understanding of essential doggishness. ... Muir’s mastery of the expressive capacity of the canine eye in particular makes these paintings live and pant.' -- Claudia Massie * The Spectator *

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Book SynopsisBest known for his depictions of the human form, Schiele was also interested in portraying the beauty and structure of the world he inhabited. In fact, Schiele's paintings of the countryside and his native Vienna comprise a large proportion of his body of work. Nearly one hundred of the artist's landscapes are exquisitely reproduced in this handsome book and presented alongside photographs of the scenes he depicted, taken from the vantage point of the original works. This volume proves that Schiele's mastery extends beyond his radical renditions of the human figure and reveals themes that appear throughout his work. Schiele's landscapes represent an important facet of his career and are a valuable contribution to the school of European nature painting.

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Book SynopsisThe very best photographs from Bird Photographer of the Year.The Bird Photographer of the Year competition celebrates the artistry of bird photography, and this beautiful book reflects this. A celebration of avian beauty and diversity, it is a tribute to both the dedication and passion of the photographers as well as a reflection of the quality of today's modern digital imaging systems.The book includes the winning and short-listed images from the seventh year of this annual competition, showcasing some of the finest bird photography and with a foreword by birdwatcher and explorer, Steve Backshall. A proportion of the profits from the book goes directly to Birds on the Brink to support their conservation work.The advent of digital technology has revolutionised photography in recent years, and the book brings to life some of the most stunning bird photography currently on offer. It features a vast variety of photographs by hardened pros, keen amateurs and hobbyists alike, reflecting theTrade ReviewReview of Volume 6 (2021)‘Treat yourself to the latest lavish round-up of the best of the competition’s entries … [with] an excellent foreword by comedian and birder Bill Bailey … One to enjoy at your leisure over the long winter nights’ Bird Watching magazine Review of Volume 5 (2019)‘Even if you don’t know your corncrakes from your cornflakes, you’ll still be entranced.’ Irish Independent Review

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Book Synopsis"A painting must stand as a painting, made by human hand," wrote Caspar David Friedrich, "not seek to disguise itself as Nature." One of his generation's most popular painters, Friedrich imagined landscapes of powerful beauty and spirituality from within the confines of his studios. This breathtaking monograph, filled with glorious reproductions and details of his paintings, argues for Friedrich's reputation as a sublime artist and interpreter of nature. In his thoughtful and well-researched commentary, author Johannes Grave explores Friedrich's approach to landscape painting as well as his revolutionary thoughts about how these paintings should be received by their viewers. Looking closely at pieces such as Monk by the Sea, Abbey in the Oakwood, and the Tetschener Altar, Grave shows how Friedrich developed an innovative approach to landscape painting, one that communicated a new sense of space and time, and which draws the viewer into a unique aesthetic experience. Highly readable, insightful, and copiously illustrated, this compelling book sheds crucial light on Friedrich's celebrated body of work.Trade Review"The sumptuously illustrated Caspar David Friedrich...is a good guide to one of the major artists of the Romantic era." --Tulsa World"Luxuriant." -The Huffington Post "[Friedrich's] haunting and mysterious canvases are beautifully reproduced by Prestel in Caspar David Friedrich." - Publishers Weekly"Caspar David Freidrich stands out, primarily for its size and lavish reproductions...of paintings, drawings and prints by this great German Romantic. It conveys a fuller sense of Friedrich's enigmatic, landscape-centered art than any single museum or exhibition could possibly provide." - The New York Times "[B]y far the most sumptuous and historically informed text [on Friedrich]. Building on the insights of previous critics and scholars, Grave skillfully assesses Friedrich's canvases (reproduced here more beautifully than in any previous book), but his greater achievement is authoritatively placing Friedrich's work in its cultural, intellectual, and aesthetic context." - The Atlantic

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Book SynopsisFeaturing more than 600 sketches depicting a vast array of beautiful winged forms, Draw Like an Artist: 100 Birds, Butterflies, and Other Insects is a must-have visual reference for student and aspiring artists, fantasy and scientific illustrators, urban sketchers—anyone who’s seeking to improve their realistic drawing skills. This contemporary, step-by-step guidebook demonstrates fundamental art concepts like proportion, anatomy, and spatial relationships as you learn to draw a full range of winged creatures, all shown from a variety of perspectives. Each set of illustrations takes you from beginning sketch lines to a finished drawing. Author Melissa Washburn’s clear and elegant drawing stylewill make this a go-to sourcebook for years to come. Learn how to: Establish basic shapes and symmetry Articulate lines for body shapes, wing forms, and shading Add defining details Draw Like an Artist: 100 Birds, Butterflies, and Other Insects is a library essential for any artist interested in learning how to draw the fascinating forms of birds and winged insects. The books in the Draw Like an Artist series are richly visual references for learning how to draw classic subjects realistically through hundreds of step-by-step images created by expert artists and illustrators.Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION How to Use This Book SECTION 1: BIRDS Eagle, Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Gull, Sandpiper Cormorant, Tern, Pelican, Cuckoo, Emu, Spoonbill Stork, Turkey, Pheasant, Wood Duck, Canada Goose Loon, Puffin, Swan, Barn Owl, Toucan, Macaw, Cockatoo Cassowary, Kakapo, Bird of Paradise, Weaverbird, Honeycreeper Green Heron, Thrush, Cardinal, Cedar Waxwing, Quail Finch, Sparrow, Titmouse, Oriole, Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher Swallow, Peacock, Downy Woodpecker, Wren, Nuthatch Kingfisher, Warbler, Blue Jay, Crow, Mockingbird, Dove Vulture, Whip-Poor-Will, Feathers, Songbird Wing, Hawk/Raptor Wing Feet: Songbird, Feet: Shorebird/Water Bird, Feet: Bird of Prey Feet: Woodpecker, Hawk in Flight, Songbird in Flight SECTION 2: BUTTERFLIES Monarch Butterfly, Swallowtail Butterfly, Blue Butterfly, Question Mark Butterfly Skipper Butterfly, Buckeye Butterfly, Checkerspot Butterfly, Birdwing Butterfly Fritillary Butterfly, Sulphur Butterfly SECTION 3: MOTHS Cecropia Moth, Luna Moth, Tiger Moth, Underwing Moth Sphinx Moth, Flannel Moth SECTION 4: BEES AND WASPS Honeybee, Bumblebee, Sweat Bee, Wasp SECTION 5: BEETLES Ladybug, Longhorn Beetle, Scarab Beetle, Flower Beetle, Leatherwing Beetle Firefly, Rhinoceros Beetle, June Bug/Chafer Beetle, Weevil SECTION 6: OTHER INSECTS Leaf-Footed Bug, Lacewing, Cricket, Grasshopper Dragonfly, Damselfly, Housefly, Praying Mantis Katydid, Cicada, Stick Insect Acknowledgments About the Author

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Book SynopsisA practical guide to painting nature's flora and fauna from award-winning botanical painting authors Meriel Thurstan and Rosie Martin. Recording the wildlife that surrounds us is an age-old art. The authors, in collaboration with the Eden Project, show us how to accurately and beautifully capture the natural world on canvas and make the most of the revival of this art form. Step by step, they take you through the whole process of capturing the essence of some of the most beautiful things on earth. From dinosaur skeletons and fossils to birds, butterflies and frogs. Learn how to paint the subtle scales on a fish, the iridescence of a feather or the lustre on a shell. The authors take you through the full range of skills and techniques you need to undertake natural history drawing and painting. Key techniques are explained with practical step-by-step demonstrations. Beautiful illustrations by the authors are featured throughout and will inspire you and illuminate the techniques you are learning. Painting Nature’s Details is a stunning book on an art form that is fast becoming the new botanical illustration.Trade Review'I don’t care if you tell me you’d never want to paint these yourself, just buy the book and marvel at what Rosie and Meriel have found' * Art Book Review *

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Book SynopsisDraw colorful subjects with bestselling author Lee Hammond. This book is loaded with fun lessons and projects from popular instructor Lee Hammond on drawing brightly colored nature subjects realistically—more easily than you ever thought possible! The book includes basic colored-pencil drawing instruction on materials, using a grid to transfer a preliminary drawing from a photo, values, color, shadows, blending, and other key lessons for beginners. Twenty+ demonstrations show how to draw subjects from three different viewpoints, and how to draw detail from far away to super close. It includes fruit, flowers, leaves, butterflies, and birds.

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Book Synopsis ‘A sea breeze wafts up from every page. This book is a delight.’ – Nigel Slater Both grounding and uplifting, From Coast & Cove, the new book from author and acclaimed illustrator Anna Koska, walks us through the four seasons on the English coast. Beautifully observed, contemplative and deeply personal, Anna combines emotive and evocative tales of life beside the sea with her exquisitely detailed and intricate illustrations of the plants and wildlife found in the water and along the coastline. Anna and her family moved from East Sussex to Devon in 2020 and she now finds inspiration for her artworks in the ebb and flow of the tide throughout the year, the flotsam and jetsam washed up on the shore and the creatures spotted in the air, on land and tucked away in rockpools – whether it’s the haunting cry of the curlew heard while kayaking along the River Dart, the iridescent scales and pointed teeth of a hake, the mussel shells discarded by an oystercatcher, or the kelp, wrack and eelgrass strewn along the beach and pressed for posterity. A love letter to the natural world captured in materials ranging from pencil, pen and ink, watercolour and egg tempera, From Coast & Cove details an artist’s year spent beside the sea. A book to savour, and a wonderful celebration of nature’s cycles and minutiae.

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Book SynopsisIn their remarkable art project Eyes as Big as Plates, ongoing since 2011, the two artists Karoline Hjorth and Riitta Ikonen explore the relationship between humans and nature. To this end, they have travelled the world and created portraits of 52 people in diverging landscapes. The resulting series of photographs presents people whose age is typically over 50, wrapped in artistic, almost living sculptures made of the most diverse natural materials that Hjorth and Ikonen collected from the subjects’ surroundings: their floral, faunal, and fungal cohorts. The sensitively shot photographs open up new aesthetic worlds full of playful effortlessness that convey a strong message: We are nature! For the Norwegian-Finnish duo, it is not just about a successful photographic image. This second volume of the series consolidates these atmospheric portraits with concise descriptions of those portrayed, who, rather than remain solely as props in the picture, present themselves and their life stories. The Field Notes section compiles further photographic material composed around the portraits. The artists offer insights into the portraits’ process of creation and provide us with the opportunity to accompany the artists on their journeys.

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Book SynopsisThis inspiring sketchbook is part of the new 20 Ways series from Quarry Books, designed to offer artists, designers, and doodlers a fun and sophisticated collection of illustration fun. Each spread features 20 inspiring illustrated examples of a single item, such as a tree, tulip, shell, owl, peacock feather, mushroom, cloud, or berry.-with blank space for you to draw your take on "20 Ways to Draw a Tree." This is not a step-by-step technique book--rather, the stylized flowers, trees, leaves, and clouds are simplified, modernized, and reduced to the most basic elements, showing you how simple abstract shapes and forms meld to create the building blocks of any item that you want to draw. Each of the 20 interpretations provides a different, interesting approach to drawing a single item, providing loads of inspiration for your own drawing. Presented in the author's uniquely creative style, this engaging and motivational practice book provides a new take on the world of sketching, doodling, and designing. Get out your favorite drawing tool, and remember, there are not just 20 Ways to Draw a Tree!

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Book SynopsisRain Later, Good is the award winning story of Peter Collyer''s extraordinary journey around the Shipping Forecast areas. The Shipping Forecast is a national institution, relied upon by mariners but also strangely comforting and poetic to landlubbers. Published in 1998 to great acclaim, Rain Later, Good was chosen by the RNLI to celebrate their 175th anniversary, and has since sold over 25,000 copies. Fifteen years later, this gorgeous book will be available in paperback for the first time, completely revised and updated, with several new paintings.Peter Collyer''s brilliant and detailed paintings offer a series of images which help conjure up the most mythical locations, whilst his delightful idiosyncratic text provides a wealth of fascinating insights. He introduces us to the people who live and work in these areas, and passes on snippets of tantalising information to give a powerful impression of the place and convey a real feeling of being there. The beautiful paintiTrade ReviewPeter Collyer's brilliant and detailed paintings offer a series of images which help conjure up the most mythical locations, whilst his delightful idiosyncratic text provides a wealth of fascinating insights. ...This is a much-loved book celebrating an iconic broadcast, and its reissue will be welcomed by Peter's many admirers. * Yachting Life *Beautifully painted, engagingly written and ever so slightly forlorn in its celebration of a diminishing but much-loved national institution. * Sailing Today *a beautifully-produced tour of the sea areas in the UK Shipping Forecast. ...such a nice concept, and so well executed * The Telegraph *BOOK OF THE MONTH: Peter's idiosyncratic tales and evocative paintings help demystify a national institution. * Coast magazine *

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Book SynopsisThis beautiful book celebrates the artistry of bird photography and showcases the best of the best. It accompanies an annual competition, Bird Photographer of the Year, which brings together the most outstanding examples of recent bird imagery.The Bird Photographer of the Year competition celebrates the artistry of bird photography, and this large-format book is lavishly illustrated to reflect this. A celebration of avian beauty and diversity, it is a tribute to both the dedication and passion of the photographers as well as a reflection of the quality of today's modern digital imaging systems.The book includes the winning and short-listed images from the sixth year of this annual competition, showcasing some of the finest bird photography and with a foreword by long-term birdwatcher, Bill Bailey. A proportion of the profits from the book goes directly to Birds on the Brink to support their conservation work.The advent of digital technology has revolutionised photography in recent yearTrade Review‘Treat yourself to the latest lavish round-up of the best of the competition’s entries … [with] an excellent foreword by comedian and birder Bill Bailey … One to enjoy at your leisure over the long winter nights’ Bird Watching magazine

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Book SynopsisSee the world in a whole new way! Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world. Explore the anatomy of a jellyfish, the inside of a volcano, monarch butterfly migration, how sunsets work, and much more. Rothman's whimsical illustrations are paired with interactive activities that encourage curiosity and inspire you to look more closely at the world all around you.Nature Anatomy is the second book in Rothman's Anatomy series - you'll love Nature Anatomy Notebook, Ocean Anatomy, Food Anatomy, and Farm Anatomy, too!

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Book SynopsisThe Cabinet of Natural Curiosities is one of the 18th century’s greatest natural history achievements and remains one of the most prized natural history books of all time. Though scientists of his era often collected natural specimens for research purposes, Amsterdam-based pharmacist Albertus Seba (1665–1736) was unrivalled in his passion. His amazing collection of animals, plants and insects from all around the world gained international fame during his lifetime. In 1731, after decades of collecting, Seba commissioned careful and often scenic illustrations of every specimen. With these meticulous drawings, he arranged for the publication of a four-volume catalog, covering the entire collection from strange and exotic plants to snakes, frogs, crocodiles, shellfish, corals, birds, and butterflies, as well as now extinct creatures. This reproduction is taken from a rare, hand-colored original. The introduction supplies background information about the fascinating tradition of natural collections to which Seba’s curiosities belonged.Trade Review“A powerful testament to nature’s beauty and diversity.” * Chicago Tribune *“The eye-popping displays leave us in awe of the diversity of the natural world, as well as the engravers’ skill in producing these beautifully detailed plates.” * The Huffington Post *"Snakes alive! What a cabinet of creepy-crawly curiosities." * The Independent *

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the 2023 Highland Book PrizeJoyful and mindful, a powerful argument for being still and listening' Sunday TimesA book about birds, birdsong and the countryside they inhabit, from the critically acclaimed author of Raptor.In Wild Air, James Macdonald Lockhart sets out to write about a series of birds as though he has his granny's role of listening to birds' songs and calls and relaying what she heard to her aged and by then quite deaf father the famous naturalist Seton Gordon. From a nightjar's strange churring song on a heath in the south of England, to a lapwing displaying over the machair in the Outer Hebrides, he writes about eight different birds who he has spent most time with, returned to most often and relays what he hears.The eight species are all representative of a different habitat. Nightjars on a lowland heath; shearwaters on a mountain overlooking the sea; dippers on a river; skylarks in farmland; ravens in woodland; divers on a loch; lapwings on the coast

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Book SynopsisA charming collection of quotes about cats from our favourite authors, accompanied by artwork in the trademark style of Paul Magrs (author of The Panda, the Cat and the Dreadful Teddy).I love them, they are so nice and selfish' L.M. MontgomeryThis collection of quotes from the literary greats explores just why cats have fascinated, mesmerised and often infuriated writers for centuries. Celebrating the mystery of these daydreaming, snarky, selfish, watchful, contemplative and changeable creatures, Puss in Books helps cat and book lovers to understand these beings who have intrigued great thinkers and writers since the dawn of time.Quotes include:Time spent with a cat is never wasted' ColetteThose who play with cats must expect to get scratched' Miguel de CervantesIf cats could write history, their history would be mostly about cats' Eugen WeberTrade Review‘Cats are funny, feisty, loving and usually a little bit crazy. Paul has captured every one of those moods and more in his beautifully animated illustrations. Gorgeous.’ – Jane Fallon ‘This is a glorious marriage of wonderful words and illustrations. Cat-lovers everywhere will be clamouring for it.’ – Milly Johnson ‘As a lifelong cat fanatic and literature addict, this book couldn't be any more perfect for me if it tried.’ – Harper Ford ‘Famous cat quotes and Paul's paintings are the perfect match. He is one of the Kings of Cats and his book is the cat's whiskers of a cat book!’ – Antoine Laurain ‘Exquisitely beautiful and utterly fascinating.’ – Lisa Jewell ‘I read this book smiling at its wit and nodding in recognition of these universally acknowledged cat-truths that any person who is owned by cats will recognise.’ – Charlie Lyndhurst, author of The Cosy Cat Society ‘Transcending genre and age-appeal is not easy, but this delightful, freewheeling romp into the wisdom, weirdness and downright cheekiness of cat-kind does it beautifully’ – Alex Howard, author of The Ghost Cat

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Book SynopsisThis work, originally published in 1994, reshapes the direction of landscape studies by considering landscape not simply as an object to be seen or a text to be read, but as an instrument of cultural force, a central tool in the creation of national and social identity.

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Book SynopsisIt is exactly like Isaiah 11:6: “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid . . . ” Written by National Geographic magazine writer Jennifer Holland, Unlikely Friendships documents one heartwarming tale after another of animals who, with nothing else in common, bond in the most unexpected ways. A cat and a bird. A mare and a fawn. An elephant and a sheep. A snake and a hamster. The well-documented stories of Koko the gorilla and All Ball the kitten; and the hippo Owen and the tortoise Mzee. And almost inexplicable stories of predators befriending prey—an Indian leopard slips into a village every night to sleep with a calf. A lionness mothers a baby oryx. Ms. Holland narrates the details and arc of each story, and also offers insights into why—how the young leopard, probably motherless, sought maternal comfort with the calf, and how a baby oryx inspired the same mothering instinct in the lionness. Or, in the story of Kizzy, a nervous retired Greyhound, and Murphy, a red tabby, how cats and dogs actually understand each other’s body language. With Murphy’s friendship and support, Kizzy recovered from life as a racing dog and became a confident, loyal family pet.These are the most amazing friendships between species, collected from around the world and documented in a selection of full-color candid photographs.Trade Review“Jennifer S. Holland’s irresistible volume features heartwarming stories of interspecies love and adorable photographs that are heart-stopping in more than one sense.”— New York Times Book Review “The feel-good book of the summer—maybe the year—may very well be Unlikely Friendships.”— USA Today “Jennifer Holland documents one heartwarming tale after another of animals who, with nothing else in common, bond in the most unexpected ways.” — Reader's Digest “With aww-inducing photographs, the book highlights the most improbable animal connections.” — National Geographic“Jennifer S. Holland’s irresistible volume features heartwarming stories of interspecies love and adorable photographs that are heart-stopping in more than one sense.”— New York Times Book Review “The feel-good book of the summer—maybe the year—may very well be Unlikely Friendships.”— USA Today “Jennifer Holland documents one heartwarming tale after another of animals who, with nothing else in common, bond in the most unexpected ways.” — Reader's Digest “With aww-inducing photographs, the book highlights the most improbable animal connections.” — National Geographic

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Book SynopsisWhere''s Bob? On a mountaintop? In a wooded forest? Maybe a TV studio? Find the world''s favorite painting instructor in more than a dozen unique settings within this original search-and-find activity book. Where''s Bob? includes 15 full-color illustrated scenes to search for Bob Ross in sites reminiscent of his paintings, such as at a riverbank, the seaside, or woods, as well as settings inspired by the artist''s life experiences, including a TV studio and shopping mall. The book also invites you to find items like Peapod the squirrel, Bob''s paint palette, and his paintbrush within the illustrations. Happy searching!

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Book SynopsisOf all avian groups, birds of prey in particular have long been a prominent subject of fascination in many human societies. This book demonstrates that the art and materiality of human engagements with raptors has been significant through deep time and across the world, from earliest prehistory to Indigenous thinking in the present day. Drawing on a wide range of global case studies and a plurality of complementary perspectives, it explores the varied and fluid dynamics between humans and birds of prey as evidenced in this diverse art-historical and archaeological record. From their depictions as powerful beings in visual art and their important roles in Indigenous mythologies, to the significance of their body parts as active agents in religious rituals, the intentional deposition of their faunal remains and the display of their preserved bodies in museums, there is no doubt that birds of prey have been figures of great import for the shaping of human society and culture. H

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Book SynopsisA beautifully illustrated and informative anthology of coastal wildlife throughout the year.They say that no one in the British Isles lives more than an hour or two from the coast, a coastline of contrasts with scenery that changes from estuaries, shingle beaches, saltmarshes and sand dunes, to rocky shores, rugged cliffs, machair and bustling harbours.Our shores are teeming with wildlife, be it in the water, on the tideline, clinging to cliffs or in the skies above them, and this beautiful book you can learn more about familiar and favourite coastal species and some intriguing lesser-known marine creatures.Season by season, Celia Lewis''s wonderful illustrations show the flowers, birds, animals, fish and insects found at that time of year. Her craft projects, using driftwood, pebbles and shells, are suitable for all ages and will encourage you to put beachcombed mementos to surprising uses. Or get creative with food and work some foraged ingredients iTrade ReviewThe book is a veritable symphony of the sea. -- Lucy Jones * BBC Wildlife *Artist Celia Lewis's tone is fresh and breezy, but beneath the low-key charm lies a trove of riches and reminders about the UK coast. -- Lucy Jones * BBC Wildlife *Dotted throughout the book are celebrations of glorious British wildlife ... lovingly depicted in exquisite detail making them a joy to pore over. -- Lucy Jones * BBC Wildlife *Lewis captures the spectacular shades of the British coastline with a deft and colourful touch. * BBC Wildlife *This beautifully illustrated book will enhance any visit to the seaside. * Coast *Celia Lewis combines her own beautiful watercolours with informative text, showing how seasons change at the water's edge. Birds, animals, fish and insects - they are all here. * This England *This is an artistic look at life along the seashore. * Bird Watching *The seashore is uncovered season by season in this delightfully illustrated book ... the author's watercolours, linocuts and informative commentary highlight and identify what you might see or pick up during a walk along the tideline or a coastal path. * Choice *This is a visual delight of a book exploring the varied fauna and flora, from small to large, that can be found in the water and onshore around the British coast during the year ... It contains some beautiful watercolours of a wide variety of wildlife from otters and puffins, to porpoise and starfish. * Countryside *We all love spending time near the water's edge, so next time you feel like stretching your legs along a coastal path, fancy a day trip to the seaside or are planning balmy summer holidays, dip into An Illustrated Coastal Year and be inspired by the incredible diversity of wildlife to be found around our little archipelago. * Land Love magazine *A delightful book easy to dip in and out of, that both pleases the eye and educates at the same time. * The Landsman *Table of ContentsPreface Spring Summer Autumn Winter Useful websites Acknowledgements Index

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisAward-winning artist Angela Gaughan shares with you a life time's worth of experience in art. This book provides an insight into the distinctive techniques Angela Gaughan uses to achieve her amazingly detailed, life-like wildlife paintings. It is an inspirational guide to painting in acrylics; both for experienced artists who are interested in Angela’s methods, and those wishing to improve their skills. Sumptuous colour is at the heart of Angela's vivid, beautiful art work. Her unique techniques combine the advantages of acrylics and oils. In this inspirational book, Angela shares with you a lifetime's worth of experience in art. Learn her unique approach to using acrylics to produce depth and character in your own wildlife artwork, and follow the step-by-step demonstrations as you build up your skills. The book begins with detailed coverage of the materials, tools and media Angela uses. Chapters on colour and light, gathering reference, and composition build upon Angela's working method guiding you through her stages of working, from using photographic references, through completing a tonal drawing, to using transparent washes and opaque colours to create a full painting. The instructional techniques then connect into substantial chapters on colour, composition and finish off with masterwork techniques to help more advanced artists push their artwork further.Trade ReviewAngela Gaughan is a fantastic wildlife artist, I can say this with confidence because the reproduction in this large format book is supremely good. Angela works in acrylics and achieves levels of detail you'll find it hard to believe possible. Not only does she - when necessary - manage to depict individual hairs, but you can see them here, along with the brushstrokes she uses to create them. This is hyperrealism and, if that's your preference, this is a book to dive into with relish. There is an excellent balance between it being a showcase, which the work demands, an analysis of style and straightforward instruction. The level at which Angela works would never suggest a beginner's guide and this is much more of a masterclass. Demonstrations are few and assume a considerable amount of basic knowledge and experience. An advanced worker will never feel that they're being over-bothered with elementary details. -- Henry Malt * The Artist *There’s a variety of material in this utterly enthralling book, but by far the majority of it is of wildlife, and that’s what you’d buy it for. I’ve always been surprised by the success in the practical art market of books which deal with such sharp focus and fine detail. I don’t mean to denigrate the skills of amateur artists, but this kind of thing is almost certainly beyond the capabilities of more than a few. The truth is, I suspect, that it’s aspirational and you’d certainly be pleased if you could come up with something even half as good. Although there are demonstrations here, they aren’t really the focus of the book, which is much more of a masterclass aimed at those who already have quite a lot more than the basic skills. If you can already paint animals, you’ll be glad at the lack of rehearsal of the basics you already know. As far as materials are concerned, Angela works mostly in acrylics. The results are stunning. Angela absolutely understands form, colouring, posture and behaviour and here it’s not only her creatures that are believable, but their settings and their place in them. It’s true that she works a lot from photographs, but those don’t always give quite the right composition or feature the perfect specimen. The art is to provide what nature intended, rather in the way of the identification guide, which shows a typical rather than exact example. The majority of the subjects are large wildlife – apes, elephants, big cats – but there are some domestic ones as well as some figurative work that demonstrates similar skills. There’s not enough of this to make it a reason for purchase, but it adds variety and a further dimension. And now we must turn to the production, which is the jewel in the book’s crown. This is a slightly oversize volume and excellent use has been made of the space, both to showcase finished paintings and to feature details and stages at a good size. The quality of the reproduction is stunning. Angela’s work concentrates on fine detail and every hair and brushstroke are clearly visible. Going through, I started to wonder whether some of the images weren’t quite up to snuff and were perhaps not quite as sharp as they might be. Further inspection showed that this is absolutely not the case and that what I was actually seeing was the texture of the painting surface. Yes, it’s that good. Only a hundred years ago, colour reproduction was so coarse that you could see the individual dots of ink with the naked eye. Photo litho improved that and then mechanical tolerances in the printing presses themselves allowed much finer register and smaller dots, which you now need a powerful magnifier to see. For all that, there’s much that can go wrong and choice of paper is a major stumbling block. Search Press’s production department has been at the top of its game for some time, but this surpasses anything I’ve seen, even from more august publishing houses dealing with fine art. That they have achieved this with a cover price of just under £20 is barely credible and you have to suspect witchcraft may be involved! If you’re involved with book production, you should have a copy of this, just to remind yourself of what’s possible. You have nowhere to hide and there are no excuses for anything less. So, to sum up: an amazing book in every respect. -- Henry Malt * Artbookreview.net *I fell in love straightaway with the incredible art work in this book. Just beautiful. The book itself is a really good guide and resource for creating wildlife art- easy to follow, clear and helpful advice. I would recommend this for everyone- even ambitious beginners. The style of writing is pitched just right so as not to be off-putting for those who are just starting in their artistic journey. An inclusive book where the enthusiasm and compassion of the author just seeps through. I thoroughly recommend this gorgeous book and I cannot wait to get started painting! A super addition to my art book collection. -- Debi D * Amazon *Stunning wildlife paintings and inspiration for artists. A good balance of photos of beautiful paintings of wildlife to inspire, techniques and a brief history of the artist. I found it an enjoyable read as a stand-alone book, and know I will keep coming back to it as reference for my artworks going forward. In my opinion it would suit somebody with a bit of experience in painting rather than a raw beginner, but maybe that’s because Angela’s artwork is so exquisite! I love it. -- Christine Ingram * Amazon Customer Review *I fell in love straightaway with the incredible art work in this book. Just beautiful. The book itself is a really good guide and resource for creating wildlife art- easy to follow, clear and helpful advice. I would recommend this for everyone- even ambitious beginners. The style of writing is pitched just right so as not to be off-putting for those who are just starting in their artistic journey. An inclusive book where the enthusiasm and compassion of the author just seeps through. I thoroughly recommend this gorgeous book and I cannot wait to get started painting! A super addition to my art book collection. -- Kitty Luna * Amazon Customer Review *Table of ContentsForeword Introduction What I use to paint My approach Zebra – Creating an underpainting Preparing to paint Tiger Cub Creating your own paintings Colour and light Gathering reference Composing your paintings Masterwork techniques Afterword Index

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Book Synopsis An ABC adventure through the American Southwest, filled with vibrant art and playful rhymes for young children and their families. Discover the alphabet through a whimsical exploration of the scenic American Southwest! This magical book highlights canyons, monsoons, hats, animals, insects, boots, cacti, sweet treats, and other desert imagery with playful rhyming couplets that kids will love. Southwest ABCfeatures artworks from the collection of Phoenix Art Museum by well-known artists including Thomas Moran, Faith Ringgold, Charles Gaines, Elina Climent, Ed Mell, Tom Palmore, Mariana Yampolsky, and many others. This eye-catching learning resource inspires children to learn their letters, and practice imagination, critical thinking, and observational skills at home.

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Book SynopsisHorses have been the inspiration for hundreds of works of art over the centuries. This book celebrates the horse in all its glory, from its role as working animal in war and sport, to beloved pet. The horse's beauty and majesty is caught by artists as diverse as Stubbs, Toulouse-Lautrec, Picasso, Magritte, Frink and Freud. The Book of the Horse is a cool and quirky collection of equine art and illustration by artists from around the world. Interspersed through the illustrations are entertaining quotations and short texts on the artworks.

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Book SynopsisElegant and beautiful, rich in history and supremely useful, birches have played an extraordinary yet largely unrecognized part in shaping both our natural environment and the material culture and beliefs of millions of people around the world. For thousands of years they have given people of the northern forests and beyond raw materials in the form of leaves, twigs, branches and bark, as well as wood and sap, not simply to survive but to flourish and express their identity in practical and spiritual ways. Tough, waterproof and flexible, birch bark has been used for everything from basketry and clothing to housing and transport, musical instruments and medicines, as well as a means to communicate and record sacred beliefs: some of our most ancient Buddhist texts and other historic documents are written on birch bark. Birches have not only shaped regional cultures – creating, for example, the Native American wigwam and the birch bark canoe – but continue to supply raw materials of global economic importance today. Birch explores the multiple uses of these versatile trees as well as the ancient beliefs and folklore with which they are associated. Richly illustrated, this book presents a fascinating overview of their cultural and ecological significance, from botany to literature and art, as Anna Lewington looks both at the history of birches and what the future may hold in store for them.

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Book SynopsisCatherine Hyde follows the journey of the bee and the sun in a calendar of glorious full colour paintings that celebrate the sensory delights of herbs, seasoned with bee and plant lore. From the rising and setting of the Pleiades, from sunrise to sunset, the bee and the sun work in harmony, a miracle of nature, growth and new life. Beneath the shifting constellations, equinoxes and solstice markers, as the bee progresses from plant to flower, acclaimed artist Catherine Hyde pays tribute to the magic and mystery of nature. Snippets of ancient bee beliefs and plant folklore are complemented by paintings of wild thyme, saffron, meadow sweet, basil, mallow, lavender and many more delights. A book to treasure, and an ode to the wonder of nature. 'This is a treasure... Such a celebration of the wheel of the year' JACKIE MORRIS, CILIP Kate Greenaway winner of The Lost Words, on The Hare and the MoonTrade ReviewBlending beautifully vibrant paintings with the written word, this gorgeous calendar of art celebrates the magic of nature, as well as the sensory delights and etymology of herbs * Daily Mail *PRAISE FOR THE HARE AND THE MOON: 'This is a treasure by Catherine Hyde. It is a thing of beauty that traps time... Such a celebration of the wheel of the year' Jackie Morris, CILIP Kate Greenaway winner of The Lost Words. 'She is, if you will, a visual poet weaving images, symbols and archetypes into paintings that resonate in the subconscious and linger there like half-remembered dreams or the dark fairy stories with which she has such affiliation' Pip Palmer, Galleries Magazine. 'Share the joy of leafing through the beautiful book which contains a treasure trove of visual and oral language... Atmospheric, entrancing and sparing enough to act as stepping stones into endless daydreams' Cornwall Today. 'It is the vibrant and atmospheric paintings and the way they bring to life the flora and fauna of the British countryside that make this book one that resonates... A book to treasure' The Field. 'An absolutely exquisite calendar of paintings, it's gorgeous... A celebration of flora, fauna and country life, this simply stunning tome would make the perfect girft or coffee table book' * The Countryside *

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