Nature in the arts Books

Book Synopsis‘There is a certain feeling – standing between rows of richly dyed blue cloth – that you are within an enclave of protection, that within this ocean you can feel calm; a separation from the outside world.’ One summer, a mother and daughter are reunited in the small village of Betws Gwerful Goch in North Wales following the death of a father and grandfather. Ellie returned from studying at university, while Jeanette had been studying the art of indigo dyeing in Japan. In this lyrical memoir, Ellie Evelyn Orrell transports readers to their hillside garden, reflecting on a summer spent learning to work with indigo, and witnessing the power of creativity in moments of mourning and recovery. In it, she weaves together stories of resettling in a once-familiar landscape; the healing powers of art; the historical, mythological and present day properties of indigo; and the presence of this indelible colour within the Welsh landscape. An Indigo Summer is an absorbing meditation on art, rural life and roots, grief, creativity and the artistic process.

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Book SynopsisIn Soviet Seasons Kotov’s photographs reveal unfamiliar aspects of the post-Soviet terrain. From snow-blanketed Siberia in winter, to the mountains of the Caucasus in summer, these images show how a once powerful, utopian landscape has been affected by the weight of nature itself. This uniquely broad perspective could only be achieved by a photographer such as Kotov. Singularly dedicated to exploring every corner of his country, Kotov often hitch-hikes across vast distances. On these journeys he chronicles not only the architectural achievements of the Soviet empire, but also its overlooked or simply undocumented constructions. Arseniy Kotov: ‘In this book I reveal the beauty and diversity of this vast region, showing both cities and nature at different times of the year. I have travelled widely across Russia and its neighbouring countries, where I captured the landscape of post-Soviet cities and witnessed the seasonal changes.’Table of ContentsWinter – Siberia • Spring – Central Russia • Summer – Caucasus • Autumn – Ukraine

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

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Book SynopsisThe first comprehensive book in more than a century dedicated entirely to Yosemite's remarkable wild animal world. Countless books have been written about Yosemite National Park's renowned scenery, yet as incredible as it is to us,Half Dome is also someone's home. Social media is flooded with people all over the world sharing their excitement about the antics of the park's distinctive residents: black bears causing traffic in bear jams, mule deer grazing in Ahwahnee Meadow, and coyotes sauntering in the shadow of El Capitan.Yosemite Wildlifegoes beyond the field guides and offers extensive portraits of the park's creaturesa remarkable new publication sure to be welcomed by the more than 4 million annual park visitors and anyone interested in the Sierra Nevada. Readers will discover:150+ species, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects300+ photographs and archival imagesCommonly and rarely seen animalsRewilding success storiesProfiles of the park scientists and others who protect wildlifeThis lively and accessible blend of storytelling, the latest research, natural history, and compelling wildlife photographs fills a 100-year gap in publishing that will deeply connect people to this world-renowned national park in California. Crafted over decades by writer and conservation leader Beth Pratt, the book continues the legacy ofGrinnell & Storer's landmark 1924 work, Animal Life in the Yosemite. Beth's writing is accompanied by the work of naturalist-photographer Robb Hirsch, whospent many years in the field photographing animals so as not to impact them by his presence; his photography tells a distinctstory of the park's dazzling wildlife at its most undisturbed.Yosemite Wildlifeshines a spotlight on species that not only make their homes in the park but also come with only-in-Yosemite stories such as those charismatic bears, the peregrine falcons brought back from the brink of extinction in part by big-wall rock climbers, and the tiny amphibians that persist on the tallest peaks. The book celebrates decades of conservation and observation, by visitors and professionals, through highlighting charming and nostalgic pieces from the park's Archive, such as reproductions of handwritten wildlife observation cards and articles excerpted from the beloved Yosemite Nature Notes magazine. Some of this archival material has never been published!This image-rich, engagingly readable volume is a feast for the eyes and has been crafted to appeal to anyone eager to dip in and find out more about Yosemite's enchanting wildlife. Yet the breadth and depth of information will also serve as an excellent reference for educators and scientists. Yosemite is one of America's most precious resources.Yosemite Wildlifedoes this distinction proud, showcasing the creatures of the park that are as captivating as the spray of Yosemite Falls, the dizzying heights of Glacier Point, or the iconic Half Dome.

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Book SynopsisInspired by dioramas of wild flora and fauna found in natural history museums, Jim Naughten’s digital reimaginations of a familiar yet alien world, explore the idea of wildlife becoming a lost fantasy. From orangutans swinging through psychedelic forests, to deer roaming pastel-hued canyons—Naughten’s depictions of nature in an artificial color palette convey a distinct sense of dislocation and growing estrangement. His fantastical tableaus question our rose tinted image of the natural world that is largely fictional. In fact we are entering the Eremozoic—a term coined by biologist and writer E. O. Wilson to describe the current era of mass extinction triggered by human activity. Also referred to as The Age of Loneliness, the term alludes to the isolation that will follow the destruction of our deeply rooted relationships with other species.

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Book SynopsisChickadees amid cherry blossoms, peacocks nestled in wisteria branches, sleeping owls against a moonlit night sky and majestic cranes diving in the ocean waves—these are some of the transcendent pleasures offered in this exquisite collection of plates bound in an accordion style format that honors the Japanese bookbinding tradition. Every major artist of this genre is included—from Keisai, Keibun and Hokusai to Hiroshige and Koson—as the history of Japanese printmaking unfolds in stunning detail. An introductory booklet explores the centuries long role that nature has played in Japanese art, from Chinese influenced works of the Kano school, which depicted the bird as a Buddhist symbol, through to the ukiyo-e, when artists strove to capture fleeting moments of pure joy. Fans of Japanese art, lovers of birds, and anyone who enjoys beautiful depictions of the natural world will cherish this sumptuous, satisfying volume of earthly delights.

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Book SynopsisThe last great master of the ukiyo-e tradition, Hiroshige produced works of subtle yet intense color. This collection of prints, first published in the 1850s, contains images of each of Japan’s provinces. Created during Hiroshige’s highly productive later years, this series was an ambitious project that captured a crucial moment in Japan’s history, a decade before the Meiji Restoration would open the doors to industrialization and Western influence. One of its most striking characteristics is the vertical presentation, which allowed Hiroshige to experiment with perspective. His sweeping panoramas of the beautiful countryside combine the illusion of distance with a depth of detail that draws the viewer in. In addition to these glorious landscapes, Hiroshige’s depictions of busy urban centers provide a rare insight into daily life in the Edo era. This beautiful slip- cased edition includes two volumes: a complete set of seventy prints and a separate booklet that provides an introduction to Hiroshige’s life and art as well as descriptive captions of the prints. From thundering waterfalls and towering cliffs to wide beaches and bustling harbors, Hiroshige’s native land emerges in serene and exquisite detail—the perfect keepsake for fans of ukiyo-e, Japanese culture, and printmaking.

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Book SynopsisIn celebration of the world’s favorite animal, we bring you over 400 photographs of or about dogs. With pictures from the 19th century to today, the collection includes works by Man Ray, Eric Fischl, Wolfgang Tillmans, Donna Ruskin, Fatima NeJame, Vincent Versace, and of course Elliott Erwitt and William Wegman. Together, their pictures, unique in style but united in canine affection, are testimony if ever there was one that dogs are not only best friends, but also pure photographic inspiration. Forget #dogsofinstagram, this is real canine art, showing how the camera has been key witness to dogs in all their diversity, character, and friendship, from pensive pooch portraits to four-pawed action shots. As intellectually as it is visually stimulating, the book includes captivating essays tracing the presence of dogs in the history of photography and their relationship with humans across the decades.Trade Review“This book proves that canine photography has always been a thing.” * Garage *“A collection of the chicest canines through the ages.” * Tatler *“A thorough survey of the history of dog pics.” * mentalfloss.com *“Forget #dogsofinstagram: this is real canine art.” * The Independent *“The best dog-picture book yet.” * New York Magazine *

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Book SynopsisA one-of-a-kind visual reference with sketch studies for 100 different animals.Loaded with hundreds of tips and examples, this sourcebook contains sample sketches of a hundred different animal species—including mammals, amphibians, birds, reptiles and fish. In addition to notes, sidebars and anatomical diagrams, there are step-by-step drawing exercises, watercolor painting tutorials and an artist's gallery containing the author's own artworks that will surprise and inspire you to further develop your own drawing skills.This unique reference work includes creatures from all branches of the animal kingdom: Land Mammals including cats, dogs, monkeys, bears and horses Amphibians & Reptiles including komodo dragons, lizards and crocodiles Marine Mammals including dolphins and whales Birds including eagles, owls, cranes, parrots and penguins And dozens of others! Author Sadao Naito is a leading wildlife illustrator who has won numerous awards for his detailed and expressive animal drawings and paintings. He is a member of the World Wildlife Fund, the Wild Bird Society of Japan and the international Society of Animal Artists.

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Book SynopsisDiscover the transformative artistry of five leading landscape architects in North America as they redefine the beauty and serenity of Japanese-style gardens. Japanese gardens are found throughout the world todaytheir unique forms now considered a universal art form. This stunning Japanese gardening book examines the work of five leading landscape architects in North America who are exploring the extraordinary power of Japanese-style garden design to create an immersive experience promoting personal and social well-being. Master garden designers Hoichi Kurisu, Takeo Uesugi, David Slawson, Shin Abe and Marc Keane have each interpreted the style and meaning of the Japanese garden in unique ways in their innovative designs for private, commercial and public spaces. Several recent Japanese-style gardens by each designer are featured in this book with detailed descriptions and sumptuous color photos: Hoichi Kurisutransformative spaces for spiritual and physical equilibrium. Takeo Ues

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Book SynopsisOur world is built upon the fusion of opposites going back and forth until they harmonise. Like the poles of a magnet, these antithetical concepts define each other and cannot exist without each other. Contrasts, opposites and differences keep life interesting – even though keeping a balance between two opposing forces is often difficult, especially when we understand that one cannot be achieved without experiencing the other. Floral design, Ikebana in particular, is often a balancing act in itself. Ikebana pieces strive for harmony between straight and curved lines, a right balance between taking away and adding elements, between adhering to the rules and breaking them. Opposites Attract uses the idea of opposition and contrast as a starting point. Starting from an antonym pair, more than 150 international ikebanists created inspiring and powerful arrangements expressing two opposing feelings and concepts. The multifaceted ways in which these contrasts were given shape, attest to the creativity and ingenuity of our artists and the sheer versatility of Ikebana.

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Book SynopsisJames Midwinter's photography transcends the mere depiction of surfing; it delves into the temporal and spatial dimensions surrounding it. Rather than imposing a narrative, his work seeks to suggest, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in the ambiance he captures.

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Book SynopsisSunny cats, sad cats, grinning cats, bad cats, cats with scowls and cats with jowls ...hand-bound with a silk screened cover, "I Like Cats" features a gallery of irresistible feline characters from some of the best-known tribal and folk artists of India. A delight for cat lovers, art lovers, and artsy cat lovers!Trade ReviewPart lovely children's picture book, part priceless showcase of work by some of the best-known tribal and folk artists from various Indian traditions. -- Brain Pickings A multisensory delight, as pleasing to the hand as it is to the eye ... this lovely artifact will be received eagerly by both cat lovers and connoisseurs of bookmaking. -- Kirkus Reviews Another charming handbound and silkscreened book from Tara. -- Illustration A fun, hand-made book. -- Bibliodyssey blog Exquisite. -- The Observer

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Book SynopsisSumptuous and colorful new portraits, still lifes, landscapes and interior scenes from the beloved LA painter This volume provides a concise, comprehensive and intimate look at Jonas Wood’s 2022 solo exhibition at David Kordansky Gallery in Los Angeles. With illuminating texts by Wood that incorporate process notes, references and thoughts about his practice and artmaking in general, this richly illustrated monograph shows how he plans and executes his celebrated paintings from his own point of view. Jonas Wood: Plants and Animals features large full-color plates of the 14 paintings in the exhibition plus installation views and dozens of contextualizing images. These include drawings, collages, prints, photographs, previous paintings, research materials and studio shots; many are never-before-seen selections from Wood’s personal archive. Plants and Animals is a vivid and entertaining immersion in the world of an artist whose evocations of daily life, memories and invented scenes are both familiar and surprising, and whose paintings contain innumerable visual worlds of their own. Jonas Wood was born in Boston in 1977. He has been the subject of solo and two-person exhibitions at the Dallas Museum of Art (2019); Museum Voorlinden, Wassenaar, the Netherlands (with Shio Kusaka, 2017); Lever House, New York (2014); and Hammer Museum, Los Angeles (2010). His work is in the permanent collections of many institutions including the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, DC; Hammer Museum, Los Angeles; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; Guggenheim Museum, New York; The Broad, Los Angeles; Museum of Modern Art, New York; and Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.

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Book SynopsisA stunning box-set for all bird lovers, containing an illustrated hardback and 36 beautiful prints.

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Book SynopsisEach book presented here has been chosen for its scientific and artistic merit, and each one is accompanied by an essay from a museum expert, explaining its role in the development of natural history. The books featured include the oldest book in the Library, the 1469 edition of Pliny the Elder's Historia Naturalis; Albertus Seba's striking Locupletissimi Rerum published from 1734; Mark Catesby's The History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands, the first published account of the flora and fauna of this area; and the stunning line drawings from Napoleon's expedition to Egypt in 1798. The Library of the Natural History Museum contains one of the most exciting and comprehensive collections of natural history literature and artworks to be found anywhere in the world.Trade Review"Wondrous. Take a look and be seduced by fanciful, colourful and extraordinary drawings of the natural world . . . an authoritative work and one to restore the place of illustration in the story of natural history." --The Field

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Book SynopsisThis sumptuous volume reveals the lives of some of history's greatest explorers, using the specimens they collected, the letters they wrote and the art they created to record their discoveries. Superb artworks and photographs spanning three centuries have been specially chosen to illustrate each essay and many are published here for the first time.Trade Review‘A luxury coffee-table book, flick through it and wonder at the sumptuous colour paintings of plants, animals, landscapes and people.’ BBC Wildlife Magazine ‘Ten years ago I had the pleasure of spending a little time in the library at the Natural History Museum, London. One could have spent all day perusing the collection of historic natural history texts…. Fortunately, the museum’s publishing division regularly puts out books that showcase what’s in their collection and beyond… Nature Explorer’s, consists of chapters on 23 explorers and naturalists with full colour images of natural history illustrations, portraits, maps, or other drawings. There’s plenty to explore in the folks whose work “constituted what we might now look back on and recognise as a first broad survey of our planet, its life and its people”’ - The Dispersal of Darwin

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Book SynopsisCrochet your own adorable, jumbo-size amigurumi animals with Cute & Cuddly Crochet, featuring 12 beginner-friendly, photo-illustrated step-by-step patterns.Author and artist Lauren Bergstrom is your guide to creating great big, huggable crochet creatures—perfect for baby gifts, birthday gifts for kids, quirky home decor, and more. You’ll be surprised by how quickly you can create these cuties using bulky yarn and a large crochet hook!Cute & Cuddly Crochet begins with an introduction to tools and materials and a review of basic crochet techniques, followed by tips and tricks for stuffing your amigurumi, adding eyes, trying different sizes, making your circles rounder, and adding embellishments. Then leap right into crocheting these supercute critters: Flamingo French Bulldog Dinosaur Elephant Fox Lion Llama Octopus Platypus Sloth Red Panda<Trade Review“[An] adorable outing…The instructions are thorough and the projects are irresistible. This charms.” * Publishers Weekly *"An ideal introduction to the fun craft of crocheting!" * Midwest Book Review *"Perfect for amigurumi beginners...A good addition to any crochet collection." * Library Journal *Table of ContentsIntroduction Tools & Materials Crochet Basics Tips & Tricks Abbreviations Flamingo, French Bulldog, Dinosaur, Elephant, Fox, Lion, Llama, Octopus, Platypus, Sloth, Red Panda, Narwhal About the Artist

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Book SynopsisSarah Ross-Thompson was born in London. After many years in Dorset, she now lives and works in the south-west of Scotland, overlooking the sea. She specialises in hand-inked, collagraph prints and constructs her collage printing plates using materials such as string, salt, corrugated card, porridge oats and lichen. She has exhibited her work widely through the UK. Find out more at: www.rossthompsonprints.com.

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Book SynopsisThis fantastic book showcases the prestigious Embroiderers’ Guild’s huge collection of embroidered birds through the ages. Featuring photographs taken especially for the book, items are shown in full along with detailed images that show off the stunning birds at their best.Trade ReviewThis fabulous book highlights some of the exquisite works done using birds as their inspiration. This aesthetic book provides an eye opener into the surprisingly wide-ranging, attractive and interesting embroideries which can be created showcasing birds. Embroidered Treasures: Birds provides a real learning experience allied to the sheer pleasure of viewing the superbly photographed examples Dr Collinge has selected from the Collection. The embroideries range from small mats, sachets and panels through bags, tea cosies and cushion covers to wall hangings, sleeve bands and samplers. * SEW Region Magazine (December 2019) *You'll be amazed by the stunning array of colours inside this book! Sewing enthusiasts will be blown away by the history of the embroiderer's guild and its collection - learn all about the use of metal thread, birds in art and every stitch variation you could possibly think of! * Sew Magazine (December 2018) *Following on from Embroidered Treasures Flowers, which examined floral embroidery, Annette Collinge turns her attention to our feathered friends, selecting examples that intrigue as well as inspire. She highlights pieces from cultures around the world, dating from the 17th century to the modern era - from realist renderings to fanciful interpretations, from practical items to contemporary artworks - and which take in a whole wealth of techniques from Berlin wool work to modern machine embroidery. The Guild was founded in 1906 and since then its collection, now housed at Bucks Co Museum, has grown substantially. This book offers amazing insight into its many riches. * Embroidery, The Textile Art Magazine (Nov/Dec 2018) *Subtitled 'Exquisite Needlework of the Embroiderers' Guild Collection', this book showcases the best embroidered birds from the extensive collection. The embroideries cover a period dating from the 17th century to the present day. From abstract to naturalistic, the variety is wonderful and the book covers many forms of embroidery from crewelwork to contemporary. The imagination, skill and detail in portraying birds will provide much inspiration to everyone interested in this subject. There is a brief history of the Embroiderers' Guild followed by twelve chapters: Monochrome Embroidery; Metal Thread; Applied Materials; Machine Embroidery; Silk Embroidery; Evenweave Backgrounds; Bags; Art; Samplers; Fanciful; Birds From Many Lands and finally Stitches. A short paragraph of text opens each section, with each photographed piece of work having a title such as 'Crewelwork Panel' and descriptive text plus technique, date, place and size highlighted in a box. On some pieces, it also gives the maker's name and who gifted the piece to the collection. All pieces have a EG number. I found the techniques of most interest, but this is not a book of techniques - it merely informs us of the technique used. Work as varied as rug hooking, felt applique and numerous embroidery techniques are included from all over the world. There is some overlap of the chapters, for in Chapter One on Monochrome, you will find Metal Thread and Silk Embroidery even though these have chapters of their own. Almost every manner of bird is to be found. This is a wonderful resource on how birds have been used to inspire embroidery over the centuries. Recommended. -- Karen Platt * www.karenplatt.co.uk *Way back in January, I reviewed the book, Embroidered Treasures: Flowers, a wonderful compilation of embroidery pieces held by the Embroiderers’ Guild of the UK. Like the Flowers book, Embroidered Treasures: Birds promises to be an exciting and inspiring look at a wide array of embroidery projects from different eras that feature our feathered friends. If you love birds and you love embroidery, and if you’re fascinated by the history of embroidery, you will love having this book in your library! Better yet, it is such a pretty book that it doesn’t need to be consigned to a bookshelf. It’s a perfect “coffee table” book, one that you can pick up and browse through at leisure, gleaning striking bursts of beauty and helpful bits of information every time you meander through it. I’ve had the pleasure of perusing an advanced copy of the book, thanks to Search Press, and it is everything you’d want – beautiful, informative, and inspiring! Throughout the book, you’ll find embroidered birds from a wide spectrum of artistic eras, covering a wide variety of techniques. All sorts of birds populate the book, from stylized birds to realistic renditions of birds in needlework. With each featured embroidery, you’ll find dates, provenance, and all the details of techniques and materials used to create the embroidery. What I love about this new series of books from the Embroiderers’ Guild of the UK is that you can learn much from each book, just by studying the pieces in it. No, it’s not an instructional project book – you won’t learn how to recreate, step-by-step, the embroidery pieces you see. But you will learn a lot about the history and development of embroidery, and you’ll see, at a glance, what kinds of techniques can be used to produce a certain look or style of embroidery. This is very helpful, if you have ideas in mind for a project, but you’re not sure what techniques to use to get the look you want. Soooo…. bird lovers, historical needlework buffs, and general embroidery enthusiasts – this book’s for you! -- Mary Corbet * www.needlenthread.com *I was very keen to read this book being a member of the Embroiderers' Guild for about 25 years and a lover of bird embroideries in particular. The book does not disappoint. Stunning photography enhances every page with information about each piece, the technique, the date and place of origin, together with the actual size of the piece of work. It is pure joy discovering how each piece was formed in a plethora of techniques, including works gathered from across the world across the centuries up to the present-day including birds by the author Dr. Annette Collinge. Techniques are well explained but not in great depth so the book means you can dip into it for short or long spells of reading time. It is perfect to inspire you in making your own work or simply just to enjoy the skill and craftsmanship of the embroideries. As others have commented, it is not a book to tell you step by step how to do it yourself; it is a book to love for its amazing photography and know that it will give you hours of enjoyment by reading it. You cannot fail to be inspired by looking through this book, whether your love is for hand or machine embroidery, mixed media or traditional - this book has it all. Highly recommended. -- Jude Lovatt * Amazon *If you love birds and love embroidery, I highly recommend this book. It’s full of colourful eye candy in the form of quality images, along with interesting and useful text relating to the pieces. It covers a wide range of embroidery techniques and provides inspiration to anyone interested in the subject. It’s a wonderful resource book showing how birds have been used to inspire embroideries over the years. A definite favourite in my collection. -- Gwenda Culkin * Amazon *Beautiful coffee table book, full colour pictures and history of embroidery. Doesn’t have patterns or how to do any of the stitching but love it. -- Ellen Rose Perkins * Amazon *Lovely informative book, well written with excellent photography. -- Diana Connor * Customer review *'Embroidered Treasures - Birds' by Dr. Annette Collinge is truly a treasure to behold. The artwork and skill are absolutely stunning and something I imagine all artists strive to work towards with their own creative work. This book is made on behalf of the Embroiderers' Guild and displays some beautiful examples of the creativity of people through time. It has a large table of contents split into different sections, e.g. on bags, on silk, samplers, metal threads, etc. It also has an index. Each piece has an EG number, a date, size and a few paragraphs about the piece. The pieces range from intermediate to way, way, way advanced! It is a shame there are no mini tutorials in the book, but this is purely showing the historical pieces they have in their collection. I absolutely love the peacock piece on page 23, and the Berlin work Budgerigar on page 90. It gives you so much inspiration when you look at the pieces and how they have included birds in so many different ways. I love the Cockerel Sleeve Band with the two cockerels looking at each other, hand embroidered in bold silk threads. I would highly recommend this book if you enjoy looking at embroidery and are looking for some inspiration - there is a lot to be had from this book. 10/10 -- Kaiserin Maggs * Amazon *I loved the photography in this book and there are some exquisite pieces of work in it. If you want a reference book containing stunning pieces of art, then this is it. It’s also very informative about the history of embroidery and the different techniques used throughout the ages and from around the world. I especially liked the collage owl kit. The page explains how embroidery kits were very popular in the 1970’s and 1980’s and reminded me of my first embroidery project that I completed in the 80’s as a child. If you are unable to attend an exhibition, then this is the next best thing. -- Joanne Gardener * Amazon *This is such an informative book with some stunning photography of many pieces from the Embroidery Guild's collection that feature birds. Each piece is accompanied by information on technique, date of make and the area that it comes from. This is not a technique book that will teach you how to create these wonderful pieces, but certainly such a lot of inspiration here that will encourage you to experiment and find your own project to work on. As a needlecrafter and general crafter this book is right up my street, however it's the type of book to leave readily available as non crafters will find it just as interesting. It was interesting to see my husband, definitely a non crafter, pick the book up for a token flick through and half an hour later he was still engrossed and commenting on the photographs. Love it and will be looking out for more. -- Louise Blackah * Amazon *I have received my embroidered birds’ books. I am so pleased with the look of the covers, which are bright, colourful and eye-catching. The instructions are so clear and helpful that anyone can understand. Also, some are for beginners and you can do more intricate ones as you feel able. Lovely templates too. The birds are done in such beautiful colours, some of which I would never have thought of putting together which is so helpful as I am not good at selecting colours to put together. Great book all round well worth buying. -- Pam Butterfield * Facebook *Table of ContentsHistory of the Embroiderers' Guild and Its Collection Introduction Embroidered in Monochrome The Use of Metal Thread Applied Materials Made by Machine Embroidered in Silk Embroidery on Even-weave Backgrounds Embroidery on Bags Birds as Art Samplers and Samples Fanciful Birds Birds from Many Lands Stitches and More Stitches Index

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Book Synopsis"A stunning collection of photographs by Alex Saberi, which illustrate the rich diversity of wildlife in Richmond Park throughout the seasons." - Discover Wildlife.com "Alex's ethereal, fairy-tale-like images are a real wonder. His grasp of light, location and atmosphere make these photographs ones that border on the unique." - Amateur Photographer Sir David Attenborough has described Richmond Park as "A very special place" - and with good reason. This vast oasis of green, just eight miles from the centre of London, is an ecological pearl in the midst of sprawling urbanisation. The park, most famous for its herd of 630 Fallow and Red Deer, is not only Europe's largest park, but is as big as the seven other royal parks combined. Since King Charles I enclosed the park in 1637, it has provided a haven of tranquillity and diversion for all its visitors. Today, some 77 million people pass through its gates each year. In this beautiful book, Alex Saberi captures Richmond Park's unique blend of rare and diverse wildlife, plant life and rolling landscapes. From a crow perching on a bench in the morning haze to a foolhardy Labrador, breaking impatiently away from its owner, the photographs capture its inherent beauty as well as those rare moments of wildlife action and majesty that only yield themselves to the most patient and knowledgeable of observers.

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Book SynopsisDownlandis a unique collaboration celebrating the landscape of the Berkshire Downs as seen through the eyes of artist Anna Dillon and poet Jonathan Davidson.

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Book SynopsisRecord three years' worth of memories and thoughts worth remembering with this beautiful one-line-a-day memory journal featuring a whimsical design for all fungi and nature enthusiasts.

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Book SynopsisExamines the Hudson River School artists' practice of creating thematically related pairs and series of paintings. This volume reveals the subtleties of the works and discusses their shared iconography, the ways in which artists responded to one another's paintings, and how the paintings reflected 19th-century American cultural and social milieus.Trade ReviewAn expansive and beautifully presented anthology of the art and the artists who pioneered the first native style of American landscape painting...A perfect edition to personal, academic, and community library Art History collections, Different Views in Hudson River School Painting is very highly recommended and informative reading. -- Michael J. Carson The Midwest Book ReviewTable of ContentsPreface Introduction American Scenery Different Views I. Introductory Pair: Cole and Church II. Times of Day III. Weather Conditions, Atmosphere, and Mood IV. Seasons V.Nature without Man VI. Man's Activities in Nature: Pleasure VII. Man's Impact on Nature: The Machine in the Garden VIII. Interpretations of the Same Scene by Different Artists IX. Samplers Endnotes Selected Bibliography List of Paintings Acknowledgments

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Book SynopsisA groundbreaking insight into Gustave Courbet and his bold experiments in landscape paintingTrade Review“A brilliant and provocative tour-de-force that places these works on fertile new ground, with important consequences for following generations.”—James H. Rubin, author of Why Monet Matters: Meanings Among the Lily Pads“Highly original, engaging, and eloquent, Courbet’s Landscapes radically recasts our understanding of the painter of Ornans, offering a fresh insight into how one painted in nineteenth-century France.” – Ewa Lajer-Burcharth, Harvard University

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Book SynopsisTrade Review “A triumph of bookmaking.”—Christoph Irmscher, Wall Street Journal“In a detailed study of exemplary works by Friedrich and on the basis of an impressive knowledge of relevant natural-philosophical literature, Amstutz elaborates [her] thesis in her pleasantly readable and beautifully designed book. The lasting value of this monograph lies in the fact that it pursues the hypothesis of a natural-philosophical interpretation of Friedrich's works for the first time with consistency.”—Johannes Grave, Art Newspaper“A work of intellectual depth and subtlety, it models how art history can engage more creatively and expansively with scientific and philosophical ideas about the natural world. Amstutz enjoins us, like Friedrich, to seek out unexpected resemblances.”—Stephanie O’Rourke, Art HistoryWinner of the 2019 Novalis Prize for innovative research on European Romanticism in any field, sponsored by Novalis GesellschaftShortlisted for the Waterloo Centre for German Studies Book Prize, sponsored by the The University of WaterlooFinalist for the Klaus Heyne Prize for Research on German Romanticism, sponsored by Goethe-Universität Frankfurt“In beautiful and, at times, poetic prose, Nina Amstutz masterfully explores Friedrich’s late work through the lens of German Romantic nature philosophy and the life sciences. Her revisionary analysis establishes a new place of central importance for these paintings.”—Marsha Morton, author of Max Klinger and Wilhelmine Culture: On the Threshold of German Modernism“Amstutz persuades the reader that Friedrich’s paintings explore the mutual constitution of self and nature, of body and earth; that they do via Romantic philosophy’s blend of metaphysical and empirical inquiry.”—Alexander Nemerov, Stanford University

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Book SynopsisThe first book to study Vincent van Gogh’s fascination with cypresses, the “tall and dark trees” that feature in some of his most iconic pictures Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) immortalized the cypress tree in signature images that have become synonymous with his fiercely original power of expression. This richly illustrated publication illuminates the backstory of his invention for the first time, from his initial investigations of the motif in benchmark drawings from Arles to his realization of their full evocative potential in such iconic canvases as The Starry Night and Wheat Field with Cypresses, painted at the asylum in Saint-Rémy. Susan Alyson Stein retraces the Dutch artist’s inspired response to the flamelike evergreens as they gained ground in his works and artistic thinking over the course of his sojourn in the South of France. The volume provides further insight into Van Gogh’s creative process through a technical study focused on two celebrated works from the artist’s epic painting campaign of June 1889. The visual and literary heritage of the cypresses is featured in a compilation of images and excerpts from nineteenth-century poetry, novels, and travel writing—many translated into English for the first time. Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Distributed by Yale University Press Exhibition Schedule:The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (May 22–August 27, 2023)

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Book SynopsisIn this superbly illustrated book, Charles Watkins explores the myth and magic of arboreal art. Enter the groves of the classical world, from Daphne's metamorphosis into a laurel tree to the gardens of Pompeii. The tree in sacred art is represented in master works by Botticelli and Michelangelo. The oak as a symbol of nationhood and liberty across Europe is revealed. The mystery and drama of forest interiors, the formal beauty of avenues of trees, the representation of forestry over the ages and the world of `more than real' trees in the fantastic and surreal art of Arcimboldo, William Blake, Arthur Rackham and Salvador Dali are each illuminated in fascinating detail, coming right up to date with Giuseppe Penone and Ai Wei Wei. Watkins also elucidates the practice of genius in how artists learned to draw trees. Each thematic chapter takes a breathtaking journey through centuries of artists' engagement and fascination with a natural form that seems to allegorize or mirror the human journey through life. Drawing on the author's deep knowledge of the history and ecology of trees, Trees in Art shows that we can learn much about ourselves from the art of trees.

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Book SynopsisClare Leighton was one of the most prolific and highly regarded wood engravers of her time, leaving behind a body of work that reflected her rural life in Britain and North America. During the 1930s, as the world around her became increasingly technological, industrial, and urban, Leighton portrayed rural men and women and the ancient methods they used to work the land that would soon vanish forever. Her two best-loved publications, The Farmer’s Year and Four Hedges, reflect this passion for the British countryside. Less well known are her books illustrating and describing rural life in the United States of America, where she emigrated and became a naturalized citizen in 1945, including Southern Harvest and Where Land Meets Sea: The Tide Line of Cape Cod. Leighton also spent time in Canada with the logging community, winning the respect of Canadian lumberjacks by adopting their way of life. Her wood engravings depicting lumberjacks in the snow-covered forests of Canada are some of her most evocative prints. This lavish anthology includes beautifully reproduced extracts and a detailed introduction to the artist’s life and work, reflecting Leighton’s lifelong fascination with the virtues of the countryside and the people who worked the land.Trade ReviewA stunning tribute to a British-American artist who should be better known. * The Bay Magazine *'Here are her messages for our times, fresh as a boxwood shaving: "if I am defiant in my defence of the countryside, it is because I know it is the last hope for sanity…the strong, sane humour of the earth, without which there is no health. At no time has this been more needed, and at no time have we been at greater risk of losing it."' * Caught by the River *This beautiful book...will not only introduce a unique artist to a new audience, but serves to remind us of a bucolic world now lost. * The Lady *Table of ContentsIllustrations ix Introduction 1 1 The Farmer’s Year 15 2 Four Hedges 41 3 Canadian Lumber Camp 93 4 The Philosophy of Gardening 105 5 France & the Balkans 121 6 Traditional Skills 129 7 Country Matters 139 8 Southern Harvest 149 9 Where Land Meets Sea 155 Further Reading 173 Image Sources 177 Index 179

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Book SynopsisA revelatory study of one of the 18th century’s greatest artists, which places him in relation to the darker side of the English Enlightenment Joseph Wright of Derby (1734–1797), though conventionally known as a ‘painter of light’, returned repeatedly to nocturnal images. His essential preoccupations were dark and melancholy, and he had an enduring concern with death, ruin, old age, loss of innocence, isolation and tragedy. In this long-awaited book, Matthew Craske adopts a fresh approach to Wright, which takes seriously contemporary reports of his melancholia and nervous disposition, and goes on to question accepted understandings of the artist. Long seen as a quintessentially modern and progressive figure – one of the artistic icons of the English Enlightenment – Craske overturns this traditional view of the artist. He demonstrates the extent to which Wright, rather than being a spokesman for scientific progress, was actually a melancholic and sceptical outsider, who increasingly retreated into a solitary, rural world of philosophical and poetic reflection, and whose artistic vision was correspondingly dark and meditative. Craske offers a succession of new and powerful interpretations of the artist’s paintings, including some of his most famous masterpieces. In doing so, he recovers Wright’s deep engagement with the landscape, with the pleasures and sufferings of solitude, and with the themes of time, history and mortality. In this book, Joseph Wright of Derby emerges not only as one of Britain’s most ambitious and innovative artists, but also as one of its most profound.Distributed for the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British ArtTrade Review“A bold, punchy thesis, sure to ruffle academic feathers, and one that Craske, a reader in art history at Oxford Brookes, has been mulling for some time”—Alistair Sooke, The Daily Telegraph“In this beautifully illustrated volume Matthew Craske takes a fresh approach to one of Britain’s most exceptional and profoundly thoughtful painters.”—Rachel Campbell-Johnston, The Times ‘Best Art Books of the Year 2020’ “The “darkness” identified in the subtitle of this perception-shifting book was in the artist’s personality as well as on the canvas.”—Michael Prodger, The Sunday Times 'Best Art Books of 2020' "Matthew Craske's fascinating biography of Joseph Wright looks afresh at the artist known as the 'painter of light' [and] provides an alternative reading of this 'self-professed melancholic', drawing on neglected sources to mine the motivations and forces behind the creation of Wright's oeuvre...Craske's ambitious and innovative book invites the reader to reconsider this melancholy mind, this painter of darkness."—Emily Knight, Apollo Magazine"In this beautifully illustrated new book Matthew Craske overturns this view of the artist as a spokesman for scientific progress and reveals him to be someone very different."—ArtMag"[Joseph Wright's] most famous works show experiments and create the sense of wonder that must have accompanied them. He was much more than that, though, and this magnificently thorough biography and analysis includes a wide range of other figurative and landscape works."—Henry Malt, Artbookreview.net “Matthew Craske’s analysis of Wright’s life and art is clear and ample, with a combative streak that is an echo of Wright’s own demeanour...Craske does not merely address current scholarship; he also shakes it.”—James Hamilton, Literary Review“Matthew Craske’s spectacular new book directly challenges...our understanding of this enigmatic 18-century artist.”—Christopher Masters, World of Interiors“It is good to read a book so intent on its argument about a British painter, so sure that there is much at stake, so determined to break free of both neutral surveys and theoretical schemes...This intricate study leaves little doubt that Wright is not an intriguing minor artist with an attractive line in candlelit drama but among the great European painters of the eighteenth century.”—Alexandra Harris, Times Literary Supplement“Meticulous and eye-catching, [Wright’s] work is justly celebrated, and Matthew Craske goes to great lengths to explore his mindset and way of life.”—Elizabeth Fitzherbert, The Lady“Craske sees in Wright a much more complex and multifaceted character than previously portrayed.”—Mark Jones, Albion Magazine

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Book SynopsisFor the nature lover, comes Soul of the Woodland.Renowned illustrator Suzanne Joyner brings 34 calming, earthy images inspired by flora and fauna from forests around the world. Colouring pages features trees, pine cones, birds, and forest creatures illustrated by Suzy Joyner, ready for your inspired interpretation! Soul of the Woodlands includes: Forest colouring pages Fall colouring pages Woodland colouring pages Trees and Flora Forest Creatures and many more!This special Celebration Edition boasts heavy-weight, artist-grade paper that provides an unmatched colouring experience and allows for experimentation with different media.

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Book SynopsisThis beautiful publication presents a facsimile of a sketchbook by the Dutch artist and illustrator Peter Vos (1935-2010), along with a volume of introductory essays. The title derives from the sketchbook's detailed drawings of 333 birds.From time immemorial people have been fascinated by birds and have created images of their winged companions. The artist Peter Vos was one of them. He kept bird diaries in which he noted down the birds he came across and captured them in pen and ink and watercolour. He took pleasure in entrusting all elements of a bird to paper - their characteristics, but mostly their characters. Hunched down or in full stretch, in the water and on land, on their behinds, their necks turned ninety or a hundred and eighty degrees, foreshortened or in three-quarter view, preening their plumage and their wings poised for flight: Peter Vos often depicted his birds several times on one sheet so that you really get to know them.333 birds was a project, a task Vos set himself: fill an empty book with 333 birds drawn as beautifully as possible. He completed it over a period of eighteen months - from June 1980 to December 1981. He began by going to zoos to sketch the birds. Days later the sketches were worked out in the book. With the meticulous layout and the Latin names, Vos was referencing the field guides and the nineteenth-century books of plates. But he, unlike the creators of those books, was trying to draw the individual bird not the species. Crooked feathers are not straightened, an odd pose uncorrected and the blind eye simply drawn. Peter Vos's drawings are records of his encounters with individual birds. We should see 333 birds as an expression of curiosity for his companions. He loved those winged friends he presents to us in a long line in all their glory and individualities - true to nature and with an understanding of their characters, honestly, as befits friends.

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Book SynopsisA kaleidoscopic celebration of the USDA’s pomological collection, offering an engaging, biophillic meditation upon the sweetest of the earth’s produce The United States Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection encompasses 7,497 botanical watercolor paintings of evolving fruit and nut varieties, alongside specimens introduced by USDA plant explorers from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Assembled between 1886 and 1942, the collection's remarkable, botanically accurate watercolors were executed by some 21 professional artists (including nine women). Authored largely before the widespread application of photography, the watercolors were intended to aid accurate identification and examination of fruit varietals, for the nation’s fruit growers. Documenting the transformation of American pomology, the science of fruit breeding and production, and the horticultural innovations accountable for contemporary fruit cultivation and consumption, the USDA’s collection offers fascinating anthropological and horticultural insights concerning the fruits we ecstatically devour, and why. With an abundance of reproductions from the collection, this gorgeous volume encompasses fruit-suffused anecdotes and observations drawn from the fields of archaeology and anthropology, horticulture and literature, ancient representation and contemporary visual art. It includes contributions by authors Jacqueline Landy, John McPhee, Michael Pollan and Marina Vitaglione.Trade ReviewThe pictures are virtuosic... you feel you could reach out and pick from it. -- Sebastian Smee * Washington Post *These artists were in the business of rivaling color photography, not yet widely used. More than a picture book, this is a survey of visual learning; prior to the orange’s introduction in Europe during the Renaissance, Westerners went around calling the shade of the same name ‘yellow-red.’ -- Lizzy Harding * Bookforum *Not only visually arresting, but botanically accurate. -- Emily Gosling * Creative Boom *That the U.S. Department of Agriculture and art could be on speaking terms seems astonishing. Yet from 1886 to 1942 the agency commissioned artists to document fruits and nuts grown in the United States, to record the varieties and help with identification at a time when the use of color photography was not widespread. The beautiful new book exhibits but a fraction of the 7,584 botanical watercolor paintings in the collection. Lively, informative text accompanies the illustrations. -- Florence Fabricant * New York Times Cooking *A selection of the most delectable specimens. From the vivid green oranges grown in Florida to the delicate yellow cherries found in Michigan, the book provides a sumptuous journey of discovery. -- Baya Simmons * Financial Times *The book’s main attraction is its hundreds of lusciously detailed, full-color illustrations: the reader can almost taste and smell the bright, juicy fruits and nuts across its pages. But the catalogue’s accompanying texts by Adam Leith Goliner, Jaqueline Landey, John McPhee, and Michael Pollan about each fruit’s history and makeup — which encompass elements of archaeology, anthropology, botany, and the arts — are unexpectedly illuminating, and nearly as delightful. -- Lauren Moya Ford * Hyperallergic *Because color photography was not yet reliable in the 1890s, the division relied on the meticulous observation and brushwork of Newton and her colleagues to record the bounty harvested from the continent’s sprawling orchards and fields. Their stunning pictures of oranges and apples and strawberries and persimmons, which have long been a resource for specialists on the USDA website, have finally received the mainstream attention they deserve. -- Jonathon Keats * Forbes *The technical accuracy of these illustrations is a marvel, finding beauty even in the diseased and rotten... -- Holly Black * Elephant *

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Book SynopsisThis astonishing book illuminates the groundbreaking new science of whale cultures--with startlingly human parallels--across our oceans.

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Book SynopsisAndersson’s works embody a new genre of landscape painting that recalls late nineteenth-century romanticism while also embracing a contemporary interest in layered, psychological compositions. Her panoramic scenes draw inspiration from a wide range of archival photographic source materials, filmic imagery, theater sets, and period interiors, as well as the sparse topography of northern Sweden, where she grew up. The paintings utilize a selection of motifs from throughout her career: barren branches and thick-barked pine trees, domestic interiors, horses, and young women. Resembling still lifes, they further a tradition of quiet, dreamlike domestic scenes by Scandinavian artists such as Vilhelm Hammershøi (1864–1916) and Edvard Munch (1863–1944). Part of a self-conscious effort to capture an experience rather than a specific event, the compositions are freer and more abstract. Splendid color reproductions bring the textured brushstrokes, loose washes, and stark graphic lines to life on the page. The book also features a new essay by critically acclaimed author Karl Ove Knausgaard. The Lost Paradise is published on the occasion of an eponymous exhibition presented at David Zwirner, New York, in 2020.

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Book SynopsisThere is simply no other book out there that demonstrates - both visually and with detailed recipes - how to create the type of floral arrangement that is ubiquitous in design publications these days. And no other book offers so many styles of arrangements: novices can learn how to work with a single variety of flower to great effect, while the more adventurous can create a vase overflowing with layered blooms. On top of the 125 flower recipes, the book is packed with takeaway, such as ideas for unexpected vessels and techniques that can be employed to elevate any arrangement. The introduction and appendix alone are valuable resources, taking readers through the basics of flower arranging - from what to look for when selecting flowers to local and seasonal buying considerations.Trade Review“A pitch-perfect combination of beautiful and functional. . . . Showcasing over 100 floral creations, The Flower Recipe Book breaks down flower arrangements as if they were recipes: including ingredients, how-to steps and ideas for altering arrangements to suit your style.” —Design*Sponge“A beautifully illustrated and practical guide to the . . . art of fresh-flower arranging.” —The New York Times “Simple ways to arrange what’s in season” —Redbook “Full of easy how-tos for naturalistic, seasonal arrangements. It’s like one of the studio’s (always sold out) workshops in book form.” —Sunset Magazine “Required reading…A perfect spring gift.” —Gardenista “A jaw-dropping coffee-table tome . . . perfect for everyone from the DIY bride to the avid farmers market flower forager, this new book makes artful arrangements look doable — even for amateurs.” —PopSugar“A pitch-perfect combination of beautiful and functional. . . . Showcasing over 100 floral creations, The Flower Recipe Book breaks down flower arrangements as if they were recipes: including ingredients, how-to steps and ideas for altering arrangements to suit your style.” —Design*Sponge“A beautifully illustrated and practical guide to the . . . art of fresh-flower arranging.” —The New York Times “Simple ways to arrange what’s in season” —Redbook “Full of easy how-tos for naturalistic, seasonal arrangements. It’s like one of the studio’s (always sold out) workshops in book form.” —Sunset Magazine “Required reading…A perfect spring gift.” —Gardenista “A jaw-dropping coffee-table tome . . . perfect for everyone from the DIY bride to the avid farmers market flower forager, this new book makes artful arrangements look doable — even for amateurs.” —PopSugar

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