Painting, drawing and art manuals Books

Book SynopsisEvery person is unique, and in this book you'll find the skills to draw each person's distinctive facial features, like the expression on their face or the years of experience held in their wrinkles. This books also features tips on drawing accessories like spectacles and hats. The How To Draw series takes a highly visual and practical approach to drawing, featuring step-by-step instructions for each art project. Duotone lines highlight each step. Each title includes information on the drawing materials you can use and where to use them most effectively. Pencil, pen, crayon, paints and charcoal and more are all covered in detail. The series covers a comprehensive range of rudimentary techniques - with sections on materials, composition and perspective. The How To Draw series is an excellent way to introduce the concepts of drawing to child and adult alike.

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Book SynopsisEven if you have never picked up a paintbrush before, professional watercolour teacher and artist Stephen Coates will show you how to paint lakes and rivers in watercolour using just three brushes, three colours, a plastic palette and a watercolour pad. Using just red, blue and yellow paint Stephen shows you how to paint nine realistic watercolour scenes. There is no off-putting colour theory or long-winded mixing information, just a practical absolute beginner’s course that shows the three colours in action. Build your skills through each of the nine easy paintings, starting from the simplest of scenes and ending with a more challenging, stunning picture you’ll be proud to have painted. There are step-by-step photographs for each project, clear instruction and advice throughout, and handy tips and jargon busters. Each of Stephen’s finished paintings is shown at full size for easy reference, which you can even use to trace from for a stress-free painting experience. This is a straightforward, economical, practical progressive course to painting lakes and river scenes in watercolour. Stephen uses the following paints and brushes in this book: Winsor & Newton Cotman watercolours - Raw Sienna, Light Red and Ultramarine. Brushes - Proarte Series 101 round size 2, Series 101 round size 8, Proarte 3/4inch Mini hake flat goat hair brush. Trade ReviewTo build anew, you first have to take apart what was there and this delightful book will help you see the world through fresh eyes. * Paint Magazine *From the oopular Take Three Colours series comes Stephen's Coate's Water Lakes & Rivers. Using just three colours- red,blue and yellow- Stephen shows us how to paint lakes and rivers in watercolour. And it's not just the colours that are limited: a plastic palette and watercolour pad and three brushes are all you need to begin. The projects have been carefully chosen so that even the most novice painter will be able to achieve encouraging results straight away. Clear step-by-step photographs cover each stage of the process and the finished paintings are shown full size so that you can trace over them to further ease your journey. * Leisure Painter *Take 3 Colours is a brilliantly simple idea that’s been brilliantly presented. All of the authors so far have understood the brief impeccably and Stephen Coates is no exception. The strapline is “3 colours, 3 brushes, 9 easy projects” and it’s not just a superb way to get started with painting, but also an approach that strips your technique back to essentials if you’re feeling it’s got just too complicated and that you may be over-working. -- Henry Malt * Art Book Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction 6 Using the colours 8 Using the brushes 10 Projects - Derwent Water 12 - Swans on The Broads 16 - Highland Lake 21 - Autumn Trees by the Riverside 26 - Eilean Donan Castle 32 - River Tweed in Winter 38 - River Brathay 43 - Bridge over the Stream 49 - Brograve Windmill 56 Transferring a drawing 64

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Book SynopsisTansy Willow is a bestselling colouring book compiler with a taste for all things bold, beautiful and perfect for colouring. From intricate mandalas to stunning landscape scenes, she selects designs that inspire a sense of peace and wonder and tap into the mindful benefits of colouring. She is based in London, UK.

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Book SynopsisRelax and unwind with this stress-relieving colouring book of intricate patterns. The art of colouring can help to focus the mind and still the mental chatter that saps our energy and causes stress and negative feelings. As you start to colour in these designs you will unleash your inner creativity and find yourself gradually moving to a more peaceful and calming state of mind. You can colour in as little or as much as you like, taking your time to develop your picture the way you want it. There are no hard or fast rules, you are truly free to create your own unique designs using pencils, pens or paints. Start colouring today and enjoy the still, quiet voice of calm this simple meditative practice will bring.

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Book SynopsisMany people crave a creative outlet, but more often than not, don't know where to start. In Green, Valentina Zucchi and Angela Leon invite you to nurture your creativity and build your confidence by taking inspiration from works of art that celebrate green – the colour of fertility, abundance and life.Green imparts energy, relaxes, refreshes, cleanses and heals. It is ultimately a colour that belongs to nature and has always been loved by artists. Throughout the book, Valentina and Angela provide creative and fun prompts – many based on famous works of art – which will encourage you to draw or paint on the pages using various techniques. Packed with inspiration from the world's most celebrated artists, including Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, Georges Seurat and more, you will discover the many meanings of green and just some of the ways it can be used to express your creative passion.Green is a short course in unlocking your creative self – perfect for budding artists of all ages who are keen to try out different techniques and materials and begin their artistic journey.Table of ContentsIllustrated text - Exploring the world of colour through the eyes of great artists and their masterpieces.Exercises - Questions and practical challenges for the reader to discover the effect and impact in the way we observe and play with colour.

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Book SynopsisAn elegantly minimalistic how-to guide to drawing flowers, cacti, succulents, floral arrangements and more—now in a mini size that's perfect for drawing on the go! Turn simple doodles into beautifully designed floral illustrations with How To Draw Modern Florals, a step-by-step guide that teaches everything you need to know about drawing modern florals, including: • Tools of the trade • The anatomy of a flower • The basic shapes for drawing a flower • Where to find inspiration You’ll feel as though you’re sitting down with author Alli Koch at a coffee shop as she walks you through the process of drawing and designing classic favourites like the rose to today’s trendiest florals, as well as succulents and cacti. How to Draw Modern Florals is an introduction to drawing, so no experience is needed! If you can draw an S or a C with a pen, then Alli can teach you how to draw a beautiful, modern floral design!

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Book SynopsisIn this book, Michel Lauricella presents both his artistic and systematic methods for drawing the human body--with drawing techniques from the corch (showing the musculature underneath the skin) to sketches of models in action. In more than 1000 illustrations, the human body is shown from a new perspective--from bone structure to musculature, fro

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Book SynopsisEnlarged edition of a classic reference features clear directions for drawing horses, dogs, cats, lions, cattle, deer, and other creatures. Covers muscles, skeleton, and full external views. 288 illustrations.

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Book SynopsisThis richly illustrated book celebrates in words and pictures the beautiful work that award-winning artist Alan Lee produced for J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, and includes dozens of brand-new paintings and pencil drawings exploring the world of Bilbo Baggins.Since The Hobbit was first published in 1937, generations of readers have fallen under its spell. That magic was reignited sixty years later, when Alan Lee was commissioned to produce a special illustrated edition, and his delicate pencil drawings and beautiful watercolour paintings have become for many the definitive vision of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.In this sumptuous, large-format hardback Alan Lee reveals in pictures and in words how he created these images, which would prove so powerful, matching perfectly with Tolkien's own vision, that they would eventually define the look of Peter Jackson's film adaptations and earn Alan a coveted Academy Award.The Hobbit Sketchbook is filled with more than 100 of his sketches and earlyTrade Review‘Alan Lee’s artwork has a beauty and lyricism about it. His art captured what I hoped to capture with the films.’Peter Jackson Praise for the ‘Great Tales’ trilogy:‘[The Children of Húrin is] the darkest of all Tolkien’s tales. Alan Lee’s illustrations complement the writing splendidly.’Times Literary Supllement ‘Critical moments are caught [in Beren and Lúthien], as in The Children of Húrin, by Alan Lee’s nine outstanding colour plates.’Times Literary Supplement

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Book Synopsis'Kimon Nicolaides' The Natural Way to Draw is a sure bet . . . will improve your technique no end' Artists & Illustrators This essential guide to drawing by renowned art teacher Kimon Nicolaides is valued by both early students of art and accomplished artists alike. Consisting of 64 exercises, The Natural Way to Draw offers in-depth studies to be completed over the course of a year. Extensively illustrated with reproductions of the work of the Old Masters (including Rubens, Titian and Raphael) to the work of Van Gogh and Picasso, as well as the work of his students, these exercises help you begin to look at people and objects in a fresh way that will be the foundation of your drawing. Concentrating on mastering the key concepts of drawing that will make a drawing come alive, Nicolaides teaches how to convey gesture and action, expression and feeling in your work. Regarded as an inspiration to a generation of devoted young artists, The Natural Way to Draw captures Nicolaides' concrete system of art teaching.Trade ReviewRenowned art teacher Kimon Nicolaides (explores) a system for teaching how to draw that anyone can follow . . . Used by thousands of students looking to improve their drawing skills * Times Educational Supplement *Learning to draw is really a matter of learning to see, claims Kimon Nicolaides in his seminal how-to book . . . (a) masterpiece * Camden New Journal *Will improve your technique no end * Artists & Illustrators *Not only the best how-to book on drawing, it is the best how-to book we've seen on any subject * Whole Earth Catalog *

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Book SynopsisThe whys and hows of the various aspects of landscape painting: angles and consequent values, perspective, painting of trees, more. 34 black-and-white reproductions of paintings by Carlson. 58 explanatory diagrams.

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Book SynopsisA practical guide to learn painting individual people and crowds, with simple exercises and step-by-step demonstrations. Bestselling artist and writer Hazel Soan has distilled her art teaching into the things that matter most and can be digested in a short period of time. Learning to paint is one of the life-long aspirations of many of us and the techniques of painting lively crowd scenes or portraits of loved ones can be picked up faster than you think. In this concise book, Hazel Soan explains everything you need to know about figurative painting in an accessible way. She advises on how to paint people in a variety of poses and settings, dealing with the theories of colour and light in a way that beginners will understand and more experienced painters will find invaluable. She also guides you through ways to insert people into your pre-existing painting to bring them to life; scenes like urban streets and on the beach are explored. Subjects like how to paint portraits and getting to grips with body proportion and perspective are also covered. Both media of watercolours and oils are covered, making this the perfect book for any type of artist. Filled with easy-to-follow exercises and demonstrations, this is a practical and helpful guide to learning to paint people very quickly.Trade Review‘This excellent series from Batsford continues to impress’ ‘This is about as user-friendly as you can get’ * Art Book Review *

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Book SynopsisLearn to draw and paint more than 100 of your favorite everyday items! Step-by-step projects, prompts, and creative inspiration make it fun and easy to draw your outfit, your favorite foods, your garden, and much more using drawing and painting tools you already have on hand. From learning to draw and paint plants, flowers, and bicycles to the neighborhood café and the contents of the kitchen cabinet, Draw Every Little Thing demonstrates just how easy it is to render the world around you with little more than a pencil, paper, and paint. Following a brief introduction to the joys of simplistic drawing and painting, this aesthetically pleasing book familiarizes you with a range of drawing tools and materials, including graphite pencil, pen and ink, colored pencil, and gouache, before offering a quick overview of basic color theory. Each subsequent chapter is then devoted to a specific theme—kitchenalia, hobbies, neighborhood haunts, and much more—and packed with simple step-by-step drawing projects. This accessible book encourages you to jump around so you can draw what immediately inspires you. Interactive prompts, creative exercises, and inspiring ideas make the process fun and engaging. Easy techniques and helpful instructions show you how to develop your own personal style, as well as add color to your drawings using gouache and colored pencil. Crafty projects round out the book, allowing you to use your newfound drawing and painting skills. Filled to the brim with whimsical artwork and loads of creative ideas, Draw Every Little Thing encourages artists of all skill levels to draw any time inspiration strikes. The Inspired Artist series invites art hobbyists and casual art enthusiasts to have fun learning basic art concepts, relaxing into the creative process to make art in a playful, contemporary style. Expand your creative exploration of the everyday with the fun follow-up book, Inspired Artist: Paint Every Little Thing (September 2021). Also from the series, find even more artistic inspiration with Block Print for Beginners (March 2021) and Watercolor Painting at Home (October 2021).Trade Review"Charming...A fine starting point for fledgling artists and a handy reference for more experienced illustrators seeking a fresh jolt of creativity." * ForeWord Reviews *

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisUnsurpassed as a manual for students, this Atlas includes sections on bones, muscles, surface anatomy, proportion, equilibrium, and locomotion. Other unique features are sections on the types of human physique, anatomy from birth to old age, an orientation on racial anatomy, and an analysis of facial expressions.Trade Review"An exhaustive but absorbingly interesting treatise.... The artist will find it planned and written with a completeness and orderliness which make it the perfect reference book."--Art News and Review "Ingeniously edited, well-organized, and illustrated with almost a thousand excellent factual three-dimensional renderings."--Los Angeles Times "A very clear presentation. The schematic drawings are particularly useful in teaching introductory anatomy to students."--Terry Morrow, Texas Tech University "I have used the book regularly for about 35 years and have found the mix of 'clinical' type renderings, clear 'muscle' charts, description and sectional graphic structural sketch pages to be excellent and to the point."-- "Very good illustrations/explanations--very helpful for students to understand such a complex system."--J.P. Manlapaz, North Virginia Community CollegeTable of ContentsPreface The Language of Anatomy Part I: Bones Skeleton (The Unit) Regional Classification of Bones Joints Head Spine Chest Shoulder Upper Extremity Hip Lower Extremity Part II: Muscles Musculature Head and Neck Torso Upper Extremity Lower Extremity Translation from Nature Part III. Surface Anatomy Fat Veins Skin Hair Features Surface Landmarks Part IV: Proportion Proportion Varieties of Physique Part V: Equilibrium and Locomotion Equilibrium Locomotion Part VI: Dinstinctions of Age, Sex, and Race Distinctions of Age Distinctions of Sex Distinctions of Race Part VII: Agents of Expression Agents of Expression Pronunciation of Terms Index

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Book SynopsisCreative Watercolor offers beginners a fun, modern, and practical approach to a timeless medium with instructions on how to paint simple motifs, create elegant lettering, and embellish projects beautifully. Popular watercolor artist and workshop instructor Ana Victoria Calderon shares her step-by-step techniques for painting modern designs in this classic medium. All the fundamentals needed to get started in watercolor are here, allowing you to quickly learn how to create beautiful watercolor paintings. Through a series of easy tutorials and projects, you will: Discover basic materials and tools, plus options for embellishing your paintings Master essential techniques, starting with easy warm-up activities. Then, learn to layer, and get into the flow with watercolor Get an introduction to scanning and digital editing for making multiples Paint a variety of simple, beautiful designs: flowers and leaves, butterflies and critters, fruits and vegetables, and delightful lettering Use what you’ve learned to create unique, stylish stationery, including beautiful invitations, place cards, menus, monograms, recipe gift cards, thank you notes—any project you can imagine, for any kind of event you can think of! There’s never been a better time to dive into the world of watercolor, so why wait? Grab a brush and get painting! Perfect for all skill levels, the books in the Art for Modern Makers series take a fun, practical approach to learning about and working with paints and other art mediums to create beautiful DIY projects and crafts.

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Book SynopsisShows artists how to recognize the basic shape of an object - cube, cylinder, cone, or sphere - and use that shape to draw the object, no matter how much detail it contains.

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Book SynopsisBilly Showell is a well-respected contemporary artist whose watercolour flower portraits have earned her the respect of watercolour artists all over the world. Worked to the same degree of accuracy as traditional botanical paintings, Billy's compositions are given a more contemporary twist, combining her unique eye for design with her love of flowers. In this book, 40 flower portraits are presented, arranged in alphabetical order, each one accompanied by small studies, details, step-by-step instructions and the colour mixes used to accomplish the finished work. At the start of the book there are useful sections on the materials and equipment needed and the main techniques used, including wet-into-wet, colour blending, lifting out, layering glazes, dry brushing and colour mixing, and at the end of the book Billy gives her own unique slant on composition and discusses the importance of creating a sketchbook. Whether you love to paint, or simply love flowers, this book will delight and inspire you.Trade ReviewBilly shows you how to complete beautiful flower portraits with the same degree of accuracy as traditional botanical paintings but with a unique contemporary feel. Guiding you through 40 flower portraits, each one is accompanied by small studies, details, colour mixes and step-by-step instructions. -- The SAA * The SAA Catalogue 19/20 *Dec 10 If you want to paint professional and attractive botanical pictures of flowers, here is a good place to start. Ms Showell’s earlier book on Watercolor Fruit and Vegetable Portraits (also reviewed on this site) showed how lovely even the humble spud could look when transformed into the sort of painting you could encounter in a priceless 18th century book. Now this talented artist turns her hand to flower painting, and it is time to get those watercolors out once again. Actually you can also find my review of Watercolour Flower Portraits in our archives as well, so prepare for more beautiful floral studies. Search Press is not known for their hardcover books but this is one, which will perhaps give you a clue that this is going to be something special. I love the way the flowers look so three-dimensional against the starkness of the white paper, and if your watercolors manage to look insipid then this is one lesson you can learn from this book to start with. There is good advice about composition, keeping a sketchbook and of course what to buy as well as mastering techniques such as wet-in-wet, color mixing, masking etc. Of course much of this is common to watercolor painting of any type, but I liked how it was all applied to florals with plenty of examples. Here too is advice on veining your leaves; painting fine hairs on stems, creating realistic water droplets and what colors you need to buy for flower painting. The flowers chosen are all garden favourites, ranging from traditional roses and lilies to daffodils and fritillaries, as well as yuccas, pitcher plants and quesnelia. Each project features a large, whole page study of the bloom along with a pencil sketch of part of it with some color added. There are instructions (not the type with staged photographs but just in writing) as well as a color swatch of all the paints you need to buy and what they look like mixed into the relevant shades. A short piece about the flowers together with the artist’s own reason for choosing them completes the entry, making it eminently suitable for all those watercolorists who have progressed beyond beginner primers and are wanting something more intermediate and relevant to their chosen subject. This is also just a lovely book to gaze at, a celebration of flowers and a handsome addition to bookshelves (and coffee tables) everywhere. Highly recommended. * Myshelf.com *Oct 10 Billy Showell approaches her subjects with the same level of accuracy as botanical artists. Her flowers are meticulous and realistic, but infused with her distinctive sense of design to give them a modern twist. This book gives information on materials and equipment needed, as well as clear instructions on the main techniques used, including wet-in-wet, laying glazes, dry brushing, lifting out, using body colour, masking and creating texture and pattern. There are details on colour mixing and on how to get the best out of brushes as well as insights into composition ideas and on keeping a sketchbook. There are also detailed step-by-step instructions showing how to paint 40 specific flower portraits, each accompanied by small studies, including a colour swatch illustrating the palette and paint mixes used for the work. Billy Showell's fans will need no further recommendation. If you are new to her work, you will be delighted at the clarity of instruction, the delicacy and vibrancy of the paintings, and the invaluable advice and inspiration this book offers. * Artist, The *Oct 10 Following her successful volumes on flowers, fruit and veg, Billy Showell returns with a collection of step-by-step instructions for painting a variety of plant species, alongside information on specific techniques like masking out and glazing. Showell doesn't aim for strict botanical accuracy, instead opting for a fresher artistic flourish in her work. While the practical aspect of the book is undebiably useful, this is also a great chance to see the artist's intricate flower portraits reproduced across many of the spreads. From anemone seeds to spots on the petals of a Stargazer, the level of detail she has achieved is astonishing, particulary considering these are watercolours. It all confirms Showell not just as an impressive floral painter, but also as one of the UK's leading watercolour artists in any genre. * Artists & Illustrators, The *Oct 10 Billy Showell is a fantastic watercolour artist. When I first saw her work I was amazed at how she takes the subject and renders is with an almost botanical attention to detail and yet has that magic touch that transforms work from what could be a somewhat stilted reproduction of flower, fruit or vegetable into a stunning and attractive work of art. Needless to say – I simply love her work and as very excited to read about her new book. In this book she takes 40 different flowers and shows us simple touches from simply observing closely tiny details specific to each flower, to the colour mixes she uses to create works, and different techniques such as wet in wet and lifting out. Its the clever extra touches such as the tulips on page 9 where she has used their natural tendency to curve and bend to form a heart shape from two stems that make her works so special. Of course its Billy's love for flowers and constant observation that allows her to know these differing characteristics to each plant. By observing plants around us and using a sketchbook as she advises we can learn this too. The paintings themselves are not quite the usual step by step paintings so common to art books but present a bit more of a challenge. I'm sure that will appeal to many artist who want to develop their own style rather than just follow other peoples instructions. Its certainly one of the things that make her books so exciting for me. Billy tells us the colour mixes needed for each flower and from observing the full page illustration we follow her instructions to complete that flower. With some of the more complex flowers she gives additional “mini demos” to show the best way to render the petals. The beauty of working this way is that it allows the artist to become a participant in the painting rather than simply a follower of instruction, and once confident that your rose or tulip you've painted following her advice is competent you will feel encouraged to do it again with one from the garden or supermarket with new colours and shapes. A superb book, full of exciting ideas for the artist who wants to do more than just follow instructions. * JeannieZelos.com *Dec 10 Following her first two books on painting flowers – Watercolour Flower Portraits and Watercolour Fruit & Vegetable Portraits, Billy Showell brings us her A-Z of Flower Portraits. The book opens with a section on composition, followed by useful advice on keeping a sketchbook, placing the flowers on the paper, and the importance of lighting. A chapter on materials and equipment precedes several pages on techniques, including such subjects as colour blending, lifting out, negative veining (a way of creating pale veins by lifting out fine, bright lines), layering glazes, masking out and texture and pattern. Billy realises that most of us don’t have endless time to experiment with colour mixes and helps us on our way by giving us details of her own mixes resulting from hours of trial and error. The colour mixes (which are beautifully reproduced by the publisher) start each section, describing the colours you need to combine to get the desired subtlety of colour for your subject. Less experienced artists can work through these preliminary sections, while more experienced artists may prefer to go straight to the projects. Forty painting projects are included, with subjects ranging from flower names of every letter of the alphabet, starting with anemones and aquilegia and ending with the zantedeschia (white arum lily to you and me). Billy is an inspirational flower painter, taking the best of the traditions of botanical painting yet imbuing her work with her own contemporary signature - a skill that has earned her five certificates of botanical merit from the Society of Botanical Artists. * Leisure Painter, The *Summer Catalogue 2014 This enchanting book and DVD set is bursting with top tips & detailed demonstrations to help you paint 40 breathtaking blooms. * SAA *Table of ContentsIntroduction 6 Composition 10 Materials & equipment 22 Techniques 24 Index 128 The Flowers Anemone 48, Aquilegia 46, Bergenia 50, Camellia 52, Clematis 54, Dicentra 56, Erythronium 58, Freesia 60, Fritillaria 62, 64, Galanthus 66, Gerbera 68, Helleborus 70, Hydrangea 72 & 74, Iris 76, Jasminum 78, Knautia 80, Lathyrus 82, Lilium 84, Lonicera 86, Magnolia 88, Narcissus 90, Nerine 92, Ornithogalum 94, Philadelphus 96, Podranea 98, Quesnelia 100, Rosa 102, Sarracenia 104, Spathiphyllum 106, Trachelospermum 108, Tulipa 110 & 112, Uvularia 114, Verbena 116, Weigela 118, Wisteria 120, Xeranthemum 122, Yucca 124, Zantedeschia 126

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Book SynopsisMeditative, peaceful and calming, watercolour painting offers a sense of control and self-worth to everyone, with no judgement or goal beyond the joy of painting itself. This book shows you how to calm and enhance your outlook through the movement of brush on paper. Master artist Jean Haines leads you on a journey through paint, showing you how to wipe away your worries with the soothing, gentle strokes of watercolour paint.Trade ReviewI am a crafter, but not a painterm so I wondered if I would like this book, From its opening of "colourful, creative mindfulness through watercolour" to "finding energy and strength... red is a powerful colour", it grabbed my attention. I like how Jean describes the different colours and, as the rainbow is seen all around at the moment, it was nice to start "...thinking about colours as blankets to wrap around you." I decided to follow Jean's guidance and paint a poppy. I read it through and immediately wanted to paint one. With clear instructions, nice anecdotes, and no pressure for it to be a certain way, I enjoyed going with the flow. While we are being peaceful and mindful (using calming blues and greens), it is important to remember we also need to re-energise (energising red, orange, yellow). This is an uplifting and calming book for stressful times. * Third Age Matters *This book is absolutely beautiful, full of gorgeous images, colour and inspiring quotes, 'Anyone can paint. Not only anyone, but everyone.' In Paint Yourself Calm, Jean has created an inspiring and uplifting book that will encourage anyone to pick up a paintbrush, dip it in your favourite colour and experiment. Magical! * Hot Brands Cool Places *Longtime watercolor art instructor and painting how-to author Haines (Jean Haines’ World of Watercolour) tries something a bit different in her latest title. Starting from the premise that everyone can paint, Haines frees readers of the goals and expectations of end results, and encourages simply enjoyment of painting. Open-ended, detailed exercises guide readers through experimenting with paint to gain a sense of control; to relieve stress; to escape; or to be in a better mood. The emotional and psychological properties of color are discussed as are obstacles to creativity and happiness. VERDICT Open-minded readers of all ages and skill levels can benefit from the unique blend of self-care and expression offered here. * Library Journal *September 2016 This is a really beautiful book about learning to paint, but with a real difference. Jean takes you on her own personal journey, revealing how her career has brought her to a magical realisation: that painting is therapeutic and calming for the soul. This book shows you how you can calm and enhance your outlook thorugh the movement of a brush. Jean leads you page-by-page on a journey through paint, showing you how to wip away your worries with the soothing gentle strokes of watercolour paint. She says 'Painting is something that you can do at any stage in your life... and no painting experience is necessary * Love to Make *Anyone can escape a stressful life and find inner peace, simply by playing with colors. These words of introduction by the artist Jean Haines describe aptly the content of her latest book. This time it is not the teachings of her fascinating watercolour technique in the foreground, but the process of painting itself. Many people believe they cannot meet the high demands of painting because they consider themselves untalented. But Jean Haines believes we do not paint to please others, but we should paint to relieve stress and find peace. In addition to her expressive watercolors we find meditative texts that reflect the personal attitude of the artist to the creative process in aptly. It is therefore worth the thorough reading before the first drawing exercises. The lessons build progressively on each other. We learn the ink flow to control and observe the interaction of two colors. Each chapter impressed by one hand, color-rich, on the other hand also by delicate screens. The accompanying texts are easy to understand and fun and with the heart and soul of the painter incorporated. Now the most impressive chapters of the book follow: The calming effect of nature. Each section covers a different color. From experience we know that red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet evoke certain moods in us. Jean Haines explains the effect of each color on the viewer. It shows step by step - instructions the watercolors of large-sized flowers, delicate grasses, feathery painted plants and the creation of sky blue. With this acquired knowledge we can apply this to a delicate landscape. In the final pages, the artist note summarizes the positive effect of painting on the inner peace of mind. Conclusion: The therapeutic effect of relaxing learning is generally known and is practiced in many rehabilitation facilities. Jean Haines shows us that every person can find by simple drawing exercises an oasis of calm, allay fears and worries can forget. Without having the coercive attend a painting class, succeed with simple exercises in a very short time stunning images. For advanced watercolor artist, this book is recommended as we can free ourselves from the pressure of expectations of a perfect view through the learning of a loose brushwork. Originally publishing in german: http://kreativreview.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/paint-yourself-calm-von-jean-haines.html * Kreative Review *Summer 2016, Issue 2 There are many of us who just don't do art, for whatever reason. The beauty of this book is that it coaxes us into painting for therapeutic purposes and takes away the pressure and takes away the pressue of any self judgement for what we create. I can't recommend this book highly enough. It is large format and rich in stunning illustration (of course). The author was a painter first, then she became a painting teacher and now she is teaching calm through painting. When you become fully absorbed in an activity - and painting is a supreme example of this - your mind becomes much quieter. * Cygnus Review *This book should appeal to both the beginner who would like to paint but doesn't know where to begin and the 'improver' like myself. I found painting relaxing and exciting when I started some years ago but now tend to get bogged down in the complexities of techniques and different media. This book takes you back to colour and 'playing'. Not trying to create anything for exhibition or sale but just enjoying painting. Jean has suggested just the basic materials required and that is ample to get started. The book is very readable and would make an excellent gift. beautifully illustrated. The text contains descriptions and simple exercises with the emphasis on easy methods and keeping yourself relaxed and calm. I particularly liked the sections on herbs at the end as I felt it introduced a sense of reality with looking at and painting an object. The fragrance of herbs around is well known for providing a calming atmosphere. This would make an excellent gift for any painter. * Dorothy Barton *This is a visually stunning book. My first thought when I opened my parcel was of the impact of it's gorgeous colour. Inside the beautiful watercolour painting continues. Jean Haines strives to make her reader comfortable with the concept of simply 'playing with colour' and the wonderful examples of abstract painting which fill the beginning of the book help with that - they look so playful and not at all intimidating. While I understand Haines' need to make her reader comfortable, I do find the intro pages a little repetitive - really trying to drive the point home that anyone can pick up a brush, it could be a fantastic experience, etc. I do love her concept of 'playing with colour', though, it takes a step back from 'Art' with a capital 'A' and introduces an idea that one can simply play and experiment - what better way to learn? Even better, it sounds far more relaxing that launching in with the idea that you'll be creating beautiful masterpieces. I do love the materials section as well - it's very concise and to the point: you don't need masses of expensive materials and equipment, just two brushes, an old white plate, a clear jar, and three tubes of paint will do. That makes things less intimidating for a beginner. I've read several 'beginners' art books that contain pages and pages of different materials and tools that leave even someone with experience wondering where to begin. The practical section starts with 'Colour Experiments', getting you used to different techniques, the way the colours flow - the 'playful' part. It's about building up confidence. It flows almost seamlessly into the more complex and less abstract exercises. Again, the art is beautiful yet not intimidating - encouraging the reader to 'give it a go'. The step-by-step instructions are clear and easy to follow. At the end of the book, there's a quick summary about 'painting yourself calm' and positive thinking, and a useful index, and yet more wonderful watercolour paintings. Even just flicking through the pages is a lovely experience. Looking forward to working my way through the book! * Leanne Cane *With no painting experience necessary, Jean proves that anyone can put paint to paper with the object of relieving stress and exploring emotion to achieve a sense of calm. I can most heartily verify that painting is calming, because I feel that myself when I paint. It is all about the experience of painting and not the end result. The exercises are rather simple and basic shown as step-by-step. All in all, if you want some very basic ideas to get you into the routine of painting without taxing the mind, and to use painting as a way to find solace, you will find this book useful. It covers techniques such as salt, clingfilm, pouring and some ideas on colour. Jean's excellent use of colour and her finished paintings hold this book together * Karen Platt -yarnsandfabrics.co.uk *As I have been reading about the preparation and build up for this book the overall impression I have had is that it would be different and that is just what it is.... different! Not the usual format of materials, techniques, step by steps.... there is a small section on materials where Jean talks about what you will need to get started and how good paper is the most important thing, but this book doesn't dwell too much on things mundane!! It does however dwell on the joy and happiness we can find by pursuing this lovely pastime, how painting somehow helps us find a special place unknown to us before we painted. Since reading it I have been trying to think where it might fit into the painting population at large and I have come to the conclusion that although it isn't an instructional painting book per se it actually transcends all abilities and levels and I found myself once again inspired by Jean Haines, this time in a totally different way. As I am a painter who teaches, sells my work and occasionally exhibits I have worked hard on the techniques I have been taught by Jean and a number of other artists to the point where I have more recently been finding my own way but decided that as I have all Jean's other books I "needed" this one to add to my collection. While it isn't a teaching book in the way her others are, it has some wonderful inspiration, some beautiful illustrations ( I do like pictures in a book!!) and it gives a "can do " message to its' readers which a lot of painters need. I had read some of Jeans' blogs where she has talked about the book and how it was a departure from her previous publications and I honestly think this book is one which would be a fit for artists at any level including complete beginners. I have always felt that painting is available to anyone and everyone and it is very encouraging to read Jean's conviction that anyone can paint, how painting can enrich lives beyond comprehension and that no-one needs any special talent or skill to start. Joy to my ears! Art Therapy is known to have very beneficial effects and while we're not actually talking about that here Jean talks about aspects of colour and it's mood enhancing qualities, about the joy of creating, not for a finished masterpiece, but for the sole purpose of enjoyment and how painting for it's own sake can bring about a wonderful calmness and contentment. She very eloquently puts into words what a lot of us who are passionate about our art feel as we are creating and have the brush in our hand. As for my own inspiration, I don't tend to spend as much time playing with my paint as I once did and have had some art work I want to do for my own home which has been on the back burner for some time. Having read this book and looked at some of the simple exercises Jean has put together to get people started I have had lots of ideas as to how I might go about creating this illusive work!! The exercises look quite simple but the end results in turn look so effective leading me to feel that the book is worth buying for these little studies alone. I don't want to say anything frivolous about this book as it carries a more serious message beyond that of regular painting books. It talks about the mental benefits of painting, how we can escape to our little painting havens and become completely consumed and absorbed during the time we spend watching the paint and water do their magic on the paper. It also provides very persuasive arguments for allowing us to spend time painting... Finally, I loved the quote "It was only when I made a conscious decision to treat painting like eating, as part of my daily routine that my life and art career changed" That really struck a chord and separates the artists from the wannabes and something I need to incorporate into my daily routine too, another snippet of inspiration. * Judith Farnworth Art *July 2016 Jean Haines' Paint Yourself Calm shows you how to use the medium of watercolour to overcome anxiety and escape the stresses of everyday life. Aimed at the complete beginner, Jean describes how the action applying paint to paper can help you control your life, enhance your mood and improve watercolour painting at the same time. Illustrated with watercolour paintings this is a truly 'feel good' book. * The Leisure Painter *It’s hard to convey just how much I hate all that new-agey stuff. Most of it’s just an excuse for a load of self-obsessed navel gazing. And it’s never cheap, either. Do please feel free to disagree with me, but please read the rest of this before you write in! It would be a shame to dismiss this on the basis I’ve outlined, or even to regard it as having nothing to do with practical art. It has everything to do with the practice of painting and, above all, of getting yourself into the state of mind where you can put down on paper what you feel in your head and see with your mind’s eye. If you want a book that explains the creative process in a way that’s completely relevant and comprehensible, this is it. It may or may not be Jean’s prime purpose, but, for the artist at least, it’s the result she’s produced. The thing about painting is that it’s so much more than a mechanical process. Sure, there are things you have to do, such as prepare grounds, mix colours and lay washes, but these can take on Zen-like properties if you let them. A lot of people say that routine helps set them in the right frame of mind for what comes next, which is pretty much the same thing. A lot of the content of this genuinely intriguing book is what might be called pure watercolour. This isn’t a step-by-step how-to manual at all, not one that tells you how to paint specific subjects. Rather, it’s about the use and application of colour to create a state of mind. Jean’s intention, I think, is that this should be within yourself, but the thing is that paintings have an audience: other people will see them and that state can be induced in them as well. Art, as Edgar Degas said, is not what you see but what you make others see. It’s not exactly abstraction – most of the illustrations are entirely recognisable – but the form is definitely more important than the function. If you know how to paint, but want to understand why, and why that why is important, read this book. It’s beautiful, rewarding and full of insights. * Artbookreview.net *Table of ContentsTAKING A LEAP 10 Anyone can paint 12 Why you should paint 16 Mood changing 22 What we need 28 COLOUR FLOW 32 Simple landscapes 34 Simple colour flow exercises 38 Facing obstacles 44 Nature’s calming influence 54 Calming thoughts 60 THE PEACEFUL ZONE 64 What is the peaceful zone? 66 Lifting the mood 70 Finding energy and strength 74 Sands of time 82 Colour from the sun 88 Healing herbs 94 Nothing but blue skies 100 Healing lavender 104 Well-being 110 INNER PEACE 116 That peaceful feeling 118 Life experiences 120 A positive attitude 124 Index 128

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Book Synopsis'A beautiful, joyful book from cover to cover. Start Painting Now is packed full of brilliant and empowering creative advice that will compel you to shout from the rooftops I AM AN ARTIST. ' – Lorna Scobie, creator of the 365 Days of Art seriesStart Painting Now is an inspiring, practical, accessible guide to discovering your creative spirit, giving you brilliant new tools for relaxation and self-care. Renowned artist Emily Powell and her GP sister, doctor Sarah Moore, will guide you through the process of learning to ignore your inner critic and unwind from the stresses of daily life through painting.Whether you're returning to art after a long break or starting as a complete beginner, this book will motivate and encourage you to just pick up a brush and see where it takes you. Backed by the latest research on the benefits of art for mental health and wellbeing, Start Painting Now will empower you to put aside the fear of failure, turn off your phone and throw yourself into the joy of creativity.Complete with inspiring examples from a range of female artists and set alongside examples of Emily and Sarah’s own work, this book will give you all the tools you need to start painting now!Trade ReviewInspiring and informative. A joy to read! -- Annie McGrath, comedian and host of 'Secret Artists' podcastEmily Powell is known for her colourful, warm paintings that lift the spirits when the world feels grey. -- Harper's BazaarSarah and Emily have created such an accessible, friendly, inspiring, colourful and practical way to get us all painting. It’s a book for everyone, from the complete beginner to the practicing artist. I’ve taken so much from it and know that I’ll be referring back to it time and again! -- Anita Mangan, Graphic Designer and Illustrator of Escape the Rooms and The Chinese ZodiacA beautiful, joyful book from cover to cover. Start Painting Now is packed full of brilliant and empowering creative advice that will compel you to shout from the rooftops "I AM AN ARTIST." -- Lorna Scobie, creator of the 365 Days of Art series

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Book SynopsisLearn how to draw cute household pets, impressive wild animals and amazing birds using this fun and easy step-by-step method. Starting with simple shapes, four popular artists show how easy it is to develop circles, rectangles, squares and ovals into an exciting selection of creatures including cats, dogs, horses, lions, elephants, monkeys, penguins and eagles. If you have never drawn before this is definitely the book for you, and there is a lot here to inspire more experienced artists too. Uses material from the How to Draw series.Trade ReviewThis is a compilation of five previous books on drawing cats, dogs, wild animals, birds and horses, not a brand new book. If you don't have these previous titles you can now obtain them in one handy volume with nothing omitted. Each page (larger than UK size A4) shows you how to draw an animal or bird, starting with a rough outline and adding more in subsequent diagrams (usually six). The last two show the drawing shaded in pencil and finally with paint added for a colored study. One helpful aspect of this is that each additional drawing shows what has been added to it in a different colored pencil, although in some cases more stages would have made the book even more user-friendly. For a beginner it is not always obvious how to get from a simple line drawing to the fully shaded study next in line, but working it all out is perhaps part of the fun. Certainly this is a beautifully simple approach to drawing, where there are no captions - they frankly just aren't necessary - just steps to work through. I enjoyed using it, and anybody who wants to learn how to draw a range of different creatures will too.-Myshelf.com Another one from the popular How to Draw range, this time a compilation of individual books brought together to cover cats, dogs, birds, wild animals and my favourite section - horses. The artists show us in a series of simple steps how to create a selection of different animals in a variety of characteristic poses. They use a simple method of shapes, mainly circles and ovals joined together by lines to show us how easy it is to draw these, in a step by step format from the initial step to the finished portrait. The beauty of this book is that like all the How to Draw series it's so simple to follow each step. The first step is drawn in one pencil colour and subsequent steps in a different one, with the last step changing back to original colour. Its incredibly easy for even a very beginner to create great drawings following these simple instructions. Although all the poses are very typical of the individual animal( and birds!) my favourite are the horse ones. Having tried so many times to photograph my own horse moving and failed - I really only get a good picture when she's grazing - using this book I'll hopefully be able to tailor the poses into some lovely paintings of her. And of course use the individual portraits to bring some life into other paintings. If you'd love to draw but think you can't this book is the one you want, it demystifies all those problems and shows you just how simple drawing is by following a few key instructions.-JeannieZelos.com The ability to draw has many uses, including creating patterns for machine knitting. Learn how to draw cute household pets, wild animals and amazing birds using this fun and easy step-by-step method. If you've never drawn before this is definitely the book for you and there's a lot here to inspire more experienced artists too.-Machine Knitting MonthlyTable of ContentsIntroduction Cats 8 Dogs 37 Horses 65 Wild Animals 93 Birds 121

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Book SynopsisColor your way around Paris with this coloring-book-meets-travel-journal featuring 30 expertly curated sites to learn about, color, and record so you can experience the city whether you’re already there, planning a trip, or dreaming about your next adventure. Grab your pen and colored pencils—and get ready to travel the world! Whether your flights are booked or you’ll only be traveling in your mind, Paris takes you on an interactive, colorful tour of France’s capital city. This travel journal features 30 Parisian sites to discover—from the bucket-list worthy must-sees like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame to lesser-known gems (like where the locals go for the city’s best baguette). Learn about each landmark with fascinating histories, fun facts, and travel tips. Accompanying journal pages allow space to record, plan, or imagine a dream vacation. Plus, all 30 landmarks feature beautifully rendered coloring pages to share in while taking in the sites.Paris is the perfect airplane take-along or gift for those dreaming about the city of love.Trade Review"This gift combines two ways to help others practice self-care: through travel and coloring." —Essence"A whole new take on travel guidebooks...and a great gift." —Forbes

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Book SynopsisTansy Willow is a bestselling coloring book compiler with a taste for all things bold, beautiful and perfect for coloring. From intricate mandalas to stunning landscape scenes, she selects designs that inspire a sense of peace and wonder and tap into the mindful benefits of coloring. She is based in London, UK.

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Book SynopsisColor your way around New York City with this coloring-book-meets-travel-journal featuring 30 expertly curated sites to learn about, color, and record so you can experience the city whether you’re already there, planning a trip, or dreaming about your next adventure. Grab your pen and colored pencils—and get ready to travel the world! Whether your flights are booked or you’ll only be traveling in your mind, New York City takes you on an interactive, colorful tour of the metropolis. This travel journal features 30 sites within the city to discover—from the bucket-list worthy must-sees like the Statue of Liberty and Times Square to lesser-known gems in the boroughs outside of Manhattan. Learn about each landmark with fascinating histories, fun facts, and travel tips. Accompanying journal pages allow space to record, plan, or imagine a dream vacation. Plus, all 30 landmarks feature beautifully rendered coloring pages to shade in while taking in the sites.New York City is the perfect airplane take-along or gift for those dreaming about the city that never sleeps.Trade Review"These will become meaningful keepsakes." —Forbes"A whole new take on travel guidebooks...and a great gift." —Forbes

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Book SynopsisThis is a clear, comprehensive guide to colour mixing in the three most popular mediums: watercolour, acrylics and oils. This portable, pocket-sized companion introduces simple colour theory and colour wheels, with templates provided so that readers can paint their own. The Colour Mixing Companion then shows the reader how to mix the perfect colour in all three mediums through a vast array of swatches and explanations of colour relationships. There is vividly illustrated guidance on complementary, warm and cool colours, tone, using a limited palette, dull and bright colours and factoring in local colour, followed by an array of essential colour mixes using widely available paints. The Colour Mixing Companion is a beautifully presented and practical guide to understanding and mixing colours; artists from beginners to more experienced painters will find this a handy, comprehensive guide. The contents of this book have been compiled and refreshed from the hugely popular Colour Mixing Guides, which have sold 40k copies globally.Trade ReviewThis is definitely a ‘no fuss guide’, what an ease to wander through the pages. I love the size of the book, just longer than the length of my hand and just wider so it sits comfortably in my hands.The quality of the paper is really good and feel like they will withstand a lot of flicking through to where I want to look. I like the inclusion of the colour wheel templates, they will come in useful. I like the exercise examples and the right and wrong explanations. There’s a nice section about oils, which I’ve yet to try, solvents and mediums which will be my go to reference when I do get around to trying oil painting. I absolutely love the colour swatch pages and I definitely want to create my own. This book will be a great colour reference guide for me in my painting journey. I’m not a complete beginner at watercolour and acrylic painting, there’s still a lot for me to learn from this beautiful book. -- Pamela Hainsworth * Customer Review *The Colour Mixing Companion is designed to provide a no-fuss guide to mixing watercolour, acrylics and oils – and is small enough to fit in your pocket. Information included on complementary, warm and cool colours, tone, using a limited palette and dull and bright colours. A useful section on essential colour mixes using widely available paints is also included. This is a well-presented and practical guide that will appeal to beginners as well as more experienced artists * Leisure Painter, August 2023 *Table of ContentsIntroduction 6 MIXING WATERCOLOURS 8 Materials 10, Colours used in this section 14, Colour 18, Colour tone 30, Using a limited palette 32, Dull and bright colours 38, Local colour 40, Colour mixes 42 MIXING ACRYLICS 62 Materials 64, Colours used in this section 68, Colour 72, Colour tone 82,Using a limited palette 84, Dull and bright colours 88, Local colour 89, Colour mixes 90 MIXING OILS 110 Materials 110, Colours used in this section 115, Colour 118, Colour tone 128, Using a limited palette 130, Dull and bright colours 134, Local colour 136, Colour mixes 138 Glossary 158

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Book SynopsisLearn how to draw a lion or a tiger. See how easy it is to draw an elephant. There is a great selection of wild animals in this book, including more big cats, zebra. a giraffe, a white rhino and a magnificent stag. Amazing results can be achieved in no time using Jonathan Newey's simple step-by-step techniques. From simple shapes to each final image, he demystifies the process, making drawing achievable and fun to do.Trade ReviewMay 2015 I am in awe of anyone who can draw. With this book I don't need to be in awe anymore. It is an amazing collection of drawings that you are taken through step-by-step so that you will be able to draw them as well. You start off with the step-by-step of drawing the general shape of the animal. From there you then add one detail on another so that you can complete the picture. You are given guidance on everything so it makes it seem so easy to create the amazing pictures. Not only are you given examples of plain pencil drawings you are also given pictures in colour. The book offers amazing value for money. I'm using it myself and my son has already expressed an interest. * Crochet Addict UK *Jan 11 Animals are a perennially popular subject for artwork, whether it is a drawing of a favorite pet or a study of a wild animal. Learn how to capture those creatures on paper with this latest entry in Search Press’ popular How To Draw series. The animals in here are all of the type you would find in a zoo, and you can take your pick from elephants, big cats, primates, meerkats, lemurs, rhinos and more. The author has a good understanding of what is popular from the animal kingdom right now (no dolphins but everything else) and you are sure to find some of your favorites in here. As with all the titles in this series the author devotes one page at the front of the book to tell you how to use the book and give ideas as to how to find more subjects and convey his enthusiasm for his art. Each page has an animal on it rendered down first to a series of easily drawn rough shapes, and then each subsequent stage adds a few details in brown pencil so you can see how the drawing builds up. This usually takes three or four stages and then the final pair of drawings show the creature in graphite pencil, then in colored pencil. The first steps are easy to tackle and make learning to draw seem fun and reassuringly simple, but there is quite a jump from the final basic sketch to one of the finished drawings. This series is aimed at beginners, and I felt that a couple more drawings would make a lot of difference. However, nobody said that art was easy and anybody keen enough is sure to study those final two pictures and be able to work out what is going on with a bit of thought, sorting those who are serious about learning to draw from those who are not! I had some fun with this book and so will any other animal lover who wants to make some sketches of their favorite beasties. * Myshelf.com *Table of Contents From simple shapes to realistic drawings in easy stages Popular subject Extremely simple step-by-step drawing method Great for absolute beginners or any artist wanting to brush up their drawing skills

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Book SynopsisCreate your own kawaii world with Pic Candle and Kawaii Doodle Class! The Japanese word kawaiitranslates to “cute,” and this how-to book is chock-full of super-adorable images of tacos, sushi, smoothies, clouds, rainbows, cacti, doodle monsters, Christmas trees, lipsticks, teacups, and more for your adoration. Popular kawaii artist Zainab Khan—known for her YouTube channel, Pic Candle—gives you simple step-by-step illustrations and instructions for drawing 75 supercute characters, organized into these fun categories: Adorable Food & Drinks Lovable Nature Cheerful Doodle Monsters Everyday Cute Charming Holiday Decorations She also shares captivating search-and-find puzzles that you can also use as coloring pages, and inspiration boards that show you how to give your characters different facial expressions and zany accessories. If you know Pic Candle, then you already love her cute, simple drawings, and no doubt want to doodle right along with her. Now is your chance! Thanks to this adorable crash course in doodling all things kawaii, soon you will be enhancing your notebooks, stationery, artwork, and anything else you can put a marker to—you'll just need a little help from Kawaii Doodle Class! Also available from Pic Candle’s Kawaii Doodle series, doodle to your heart’s content with:Kawaii Doodle Cuties,Kawaii Doodle World, Mini Kawaii Doodle Class, and Mini Kawaii Doodle Cuties.Trade Review"Packed full of delightful motifs to colour, the perfect pick-me-up." * Papercrafter Magazine *

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Book SynopsisTake your art in a bold new direction—go gouache! In Creative Gouache, artist Ruth Wilshaw shares her step-by-step techniques for creating brilliantly vibrant effects with this easy-to-master medium, a perfect companion for transparent watercolor. In this comprehensive guide to gouache, you’ll: Get an overview of essential materials and surfaces. Learn basic handling and coloring-mixing techniques, including layering, creating blends, and adjusting opacity, plus troubleshooting tips for common challenges, such as dealing with shifts in color and value from wet to dry. Explore how to paint fun, simple motifs, flowers, butterflies, landscapes, and lettering. Discover fun gouache techniques, such as adding texture and painting gradients and blends. Learn how to incorporate other mediums with gouache, including paint pens, colored pencil, and watercolor. Use what you learn to create inspiring projects such as dimensional artwork, clay décor pieces, and cheerful banners. See what you can create with gorgeous, wall-to-wall color with Creative Gouache! Perfect for creative beginners, the books in the Art for Modern Makers series take a fun, practical approach to learning about and working with paints and other art mediums to create beautiful DIY projects and crafts. Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES Types of gouache, paper, brushes, other materials, alternative surfaces, and protecting gouache 2 BASIC TECHNIQUES The unusual properties of gouache, layering, finding the perfect consistency, and blending 3 INSPIRED BY NATURE 4 LANDSCAPES 5 LETTERING 6 GOUACHE AND MIXED MEDIA 7 PROJECTS Bullet Journal Spread Wrapping Paper and Gift Tag Notebook Cover Leaf Triptych Night Garden Dimensional Painting Butterfly Case Campfire Panel Celebration Garland Painted Jewelry Dish TEMPLATES ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ABOUT THE AUTHOR INDEX

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Book SynopsisTake your first steps with pastels and learn how to produce modern, lively and colourful artwork with this exciting medium. 'This thorough guide to the rewarding medium of pastel will teach you much more than just the basics and may be the only pastel book you'll ever need!' - The SAA Artist and teacher Rebecca de Mendonça offers the beginner a complete course in using pastels. Easy-to-follow techniques for soft and hard pastels. 8 projects broken down into simple steps. Includes a wealth of finished paintings to provide ideas and inspiration. Step-by-step exercises and longer projects help you to build essential skills and allow you to produce a range of pictures, including landscapes, still life, portraits and animals. Vital drawing skills are explained and demonstrated, along with an easy-to-follow guide to colour theory, and a huge wealth of finished paintings provide ideas and inspiration for your own future pastel work.Trade ReviewThis thorough guide to the rewarding medium of pastel will teach you much more than just the basics and may be the only pastel book you'll ever need! Rebecca introduces new techniques in an eminently practical way, demonstrating detail and loose styles of working, giving you the chance to explore the medium as widely as possible. * The SAA *Although this is a superb introduction to the rewarding medium of pastels, it’s also a whole lot more. Rebecca is a versatile artist whose skills run to just about any subject. Her results are breath-taking and this is one of the most thorough guides I’ve ever seen. I’d even go so far as to say it might be the only book you’ll ever need. After the obligatory introduction to materials and basic techniques, the book immediately starts to get practical and you might be forgiven for thinking you’ve moved on to the exercises and demonstrations. In fact, you’re still practising techniques, shading and textures, just not through the sort of geometric shapes that many books subject you to. Once you’re confident and competent, you’ll move on to full-scale demonstrations that cover landscapes, waterscapes, trees, skies, buildings, animals and people (I told you it was comprehensive!). There are plenty of steps and concise but thorough instructions, as well as hints and tips galore. I really can’t praise this enough. It’s so much more than the title suggests and a must for any pastellist. -- Henry Malt * SAA Paint Magazine *Leisure Painter contributor, Rebecca de Mendoca, introduces pastels to the complete beginner in her new book, Pastels for the Absolute Beginner. Rebecca is an experienced tutor and understands the problems many people face when starting a new medium. Using clear step-by-step exercises she will show you how to begin-from setting up your workspace, and basic pastel techniques-to using colour, composition and adding life to your paintings. The range of subjects covered includes still life, landscapes, portraits and animals, and the many examples of Rebecca's works are sure to inspire you. * Leisure Painter *The idea of an Absolute Beginner series is a good one. Anyone taking up painting, or starting with a new medium needs a sound guide that is well-grounded in the basics and assumes no previous knowledge. The book is certainly thorough. Subjects include landscapes, waterscapes, people and animals, with skies, trees and waves thrown in along the way. Rebecca is primarily a portrait and equestrian artist and this shows – these are easily her strongest subjects. However, she is thoroughly at home with her medium and handles everything well. Her demonstrations and explanations are concise, but easy to follow. They will, I think, be of value to anyone – at whatever level – working with pastel. -- Henry Malt * Art Book Review *This unassuming, but not insubstantial book is a bit of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Although billed as an introduction it is actually one of the best and most comprehensive books on pastel there has been in a long time – possibly ever. Books on pastel usually either cover landscapes, because that’s the most popular subject and sales volumes matter, or are fairly simple technical introductions that can lack any real sense of creative endeavour. Rebecca de Mendonça, whose first book this is, is an artist of very considerable ability who is up to the task of tackling subjects that range from landscapes and beach scenes to figures, animals and still life’s. There is plenty of technical information, but also demonstrations and exercises a-plenty and so much to get your teeth into that you’ll never be stuck for inspiration or left feeling you want more. -- Henry Malt * The Artist *Table of ContentsIntroduction 6 Materials 8 Setting up your workspace 12 Starting to draw 16 Pastel techniques 28 Bauble – step by step 36 Teasel – step by step 46 Colour 56 Rolling Fields – step by step 62 Landscapes 70 Rocky Tor – step by step 74 Billowing Clouds – step by step 92 The Birches – step by step 104 Life in your paintings 110 Child with Fishing Net – step by step 120 Toby – step by step 130 Composition 140 Index 144

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Book SynopsisThis extensive guide to figure drawing brings together seven books from the successful Art of Drawing series: Drawing Techniques, Heads and Faces, Sketching People, Understanding Human Form and Structure, The Nude, Drawing Hands and Feet and Clothing on Figures. This is an essential guide for anyone particularly interested in figure drawing, and includes in-depth studies of human anatomy by master artist Civardi. Civardi's technical advice and practical tips, accompanied by his own outstanding drawings, make this an invaluable resource for any portrait artist.Trade ReviewFantastic value for money. Giovanni always delivers with such detail and focus and offers tips and advice to achieve skill in drawing figures. A great resource for any artist with numerous examples of work. Includes anatomical drawing, form, hatching, proportion, structure, perspective, foreshortening, poses, drapery, parts of the body and step-by-step examples. The format is small, the type is small, everything is in black and white and the contents are superb. * YarnsandFabrics.co.uk *I’m not normally a fan of smaller-format bind-ups. The original books were the way they were for a reason and smaller pages and thick spines can make for difficult reading. All too often, they look like the sort of bumper value nonsense someone else would buy for you and which just sits on the shelf taking up space. So, it’s a pleasure to be able to welcome this one. The Giovanni Civardi drawing books are a valuable resource, and there are a lot of them. This compilation includes seven, which would cost you the wrong side of sixty quid to buy individually. £12.99 for a bulk deal is a real bargain, especially as the result is actually usable. I’d like to say that Search Press have taken my previous criticisms of this kind of thing on board, but it’s probably more to do with the happenstance of production. What seems to have happened is that thinner paper and cover card have been used, meaning that the book falls open easily and isn’t too heavy to hold. It’ll even, more or less, lay flat by itself without breaking the spine. The smaller format also adds to the manageability: 440 A4 pages would make for a coffee table book, which this emphatically isn’t. So, what do you get? Well, not Giovanni’s complete output, for sure. However, the selection is nicely thought-out and makes for a book that lives up to its own billing of being the complete guide. Drawing Techniques is a useful introduction. Further chapters are Understanding Human Form & Structure, The Nude, Sketching People, Heads & Faces, Drawing Hands & Feet and Clothing on Figures. It’s worth a complete list to show just how nicely this progresses. If you haven’t already got an extensive collection of the separate volumes, and you’re looking for a good primer on figure drawing, buy this. It’s very reasonably priced and so practical as to be ridiculously good value. * Artbookreview.net *Wow, what more can I say? This is the definitive guide to have with you at all times, regardless of what level you are at in your life drawing/figure drawing career. With hundreds of fantastic images by the artist, illustrating each point he makes-and rather excitingly I thought, there's a complete anatomical drawing section at the beginning of the book-detailing skeletal structure, muscule striations and even naming the areas and showing their thickness beneath the skin! As a former scientist and current art student, I found this blend of anatomy and drawing techniques to be incredibl pleasing. I've only had this book a few days but I have a feeling that I will be using this book again and again throughout my artistic life. I was impressed overall by the reader friendly writing, and the advice given throughout-I could hear my tutors at uni speaking as I read the words '' Get into the habit of always carring a pencil and small sketchbook around". I would recommend this book to other students and artists and anone who has an interest in form or anatomy. * Rachel Kelly * can honestly say, hand on heart, that this is one of the best, if not THE best book, I have ever read on figure drawing. I have just begun a fine art degree, and a big part of the course is figure drawing. Our tutors recommended some books for us to look up, but none of them were as good as this. This book is truly fascinating, it starts with the skeleton, and builds layer upon layer. It covers everything from the skeleton, to muscles, balance, hands and feet, it also has a section on heads and faces and the clothed figure too. With 100`s of illustrations, this book is cram packed with everything you need to know about drawing the human figure. There is a large section on drawing materials, and the different marks you can make using different mediums. This book is very informative, and very easy to understand. I would highly recommend it to anyone. * Sharon Douglas *Table of ContentsDrawing Techniques: Pencil, Charcoal and Ink Understanding Human Form and Structure The Nude: Understanding the elements of life drawing Sketching People: Faces and figures Heads and Faces with character and expression Drawing Hands & Feet: Form, proportions, gestures and actions Clothing on Figures: How to draw folds, fabrics and drapery

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Book SynopsisA fresh new guide to palette knife painting for today's painting enthusiasts, featuring step-by-step tutorials for colour mixing, mark making, and a variety of painting techniques to create your own unique abstract, landscape, and floral paintings..

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Book SynopsisIn Mythical Beasts: An Artist's Field Guide to Designing Fantasy Creatures, thirty talented artists show you how to sketch, draw, and render thirty mythical creatures. Learn how to create some of the best-known fantasy creatures including the werewolf, unicorn, and of course the fantasy staple—the dragon. Also included are lesser-known mythical beasts such as the Slavic Leshy, Japanese Jorogumo, and the Congolese Dingonek. Each creature has its own chapter which covers its history, how to render main elements, and variations, and one large final illustration. If you are a fan of mythology and fantasy, then Mythical Beasts is the book for you!Table of Contents1. Aswang 2. Barghest 3. Boggart 4. Bunyip 5. Chimera 6. Chupacabra 7. Cockatrice 8. Dingonek 9. Eastern Dragon 10. Faun 11. Gorgon 12. Harpy 13. Jackalope 14. Jormungandr 15. Jorogumo 16. Kelpie 17. Kraken 18. Krampus 19. Leshy 20. Manticore 21. Merman 22. Mothman 23. Nue 24. Ox-Head 25. Phoenix 26. Unicorn 27. Werewolf 28. Western Dragon 29. Wyvern 30. Yeti

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Book SynopsisLearn how to draw with colored pencils by following this easy and accessible guide, in which award-winning artist Kendra Ferreira demonstrates the creative potential of an exciting and highly versatile artistic medium. Colored pencils combine the expressiveness of painting with the control of drawing. They allow for really rich and luminous color, with finished drawings being so detailed and pigmented that they resemble paintings. With 10 step-by-step tutorials, Kendra helps beginners learn: the fundamentals of drawing and colored-pencil techniques. tutorials covering a range of subject matter, including still lifes, portraits, clouds and landscapes. advice on tools, materials and techniques, plenty of tips throughout and ideas on how to take each tutorial a step further. special features on drawing skies, adding figures to a scene and how to create colorful greys and shadows. Skills developed include: making marks, sketching and composition, creating tone, light and shade, mixing colors, layering, optical mixing, burnishing, underpainting, creating texture and using solvents for painterly effects.

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Book SynopsisThis is the definitive instructional guide to the art of botanical illustration, published in association with The Society of Botanical Artists and featuring detailed step-by-step demonstrations by members of the Society.Botanical illustration has been a popular art form for many centuries, with its appealing traditions of detail and beauty. This beautifully illustrated book covers all aspects of the subject and is an essential book for all serious students of botanical painting.The book includes useful information about materials, basic plant anatomy, flower and leaf shapes, and then explores the techniques for drawing and coloured pencil work, as well as painting with watercolour and gouache. Subjects include exotic and common plants, flowers, fruit and vegetables, as well as flowers in the garden. Packed with step-by-step demonstrations and stunning illustrations, this is an inspiring, practical guide, as well as a visual treat.

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Book SynopsisThe Watercolour Sourcebook is a compilation of four selected titles from the What to Paint series, chosen specially to illustrate the wide range of scenes and subjects that can be captured in watercolour. The works of four master watercolourists – Geoff Kersey, Terry Harrison, Peter Woolley and Wendy Tait – are brought together in a collection of 60 beautiful, detailed projects on the subjects of trees, woodlands and forests; landscapes; hills and mountains and flowers respectively. Each project results in a full painting that is accompanied at the end of the book by a full-size outline that can be copied and applied to the artist's own watercolour paper using tracedown paper and pencil. The Watercolour Sourcebook aims to provide a wealth of inspiration to the painter who struggles to decide upon their subject matter, and arms the artist with everything they need to know about what they're about to paint, from colour palette to useful techniques.Trade ReviewIn this exciting and informative book, four of your favourite artists present easy to follow demonstrations of landscapes, flowers, trees and mountains. Each one is accompanied by an outline drawing for you to trace onto watercolour paper, getting the composition right every time. By keeping everything simple, the instructions can be kept to a single two-page spread. In this way, you're not constantly switching about and trying to work out where you are. You can see everything from the colour palette to the finished result at all times, with highlights of the important details picked out just where you need them. Terry Harrison works with rural scenes that include buildings, water, sunshine, clouds and snow. Wendy Tait's flowers demonstrate single varieties as well as settings and bouquets, taking full advantage of the variety of colours available. Geoff Kersey paints trees in all seasons from bare branches to full canopy and he includes spring flowers as well as boats and figures. Peter Woolley illustrates wide mountain vistas and single crags and shows you how to create effective foregrounds and skies in a variety of weather conditions. This is packed with subjects, projects and ideas and will give you as much material to work with as you could wish. * SAA Catalogue *The Watercolour Sourcebook contains material previously published in Search Press's What to Paint series, including the work of four popular watercolourists, Geoff Kersey, Terry Harrison, Peter Wooley and Wendy Tait. This new book contains 60 detailed projects, each of them resulting in a full painting, in a range of subject, from trees, woodlands and landscapes to hills, mountains and flowers. Full-size outlines are included at the end of the book so that you can get painting straight away. The book follows a well-tested formula, that allows painters to build their confidence and produce work they are proud of with helpful tips, techniques and colour palette information shred along the way. * Leisure Painter *Another great release! This book has given me the renewed interest to try painting subjects other than landscapes, such as different flowers, woods and cottages. So many to choose from, with sketches in the back of the book to get you started and advice at the front of the book. You can even merge two pictures so that you have different flowers in one picture. I’ve regained my interest in painting, have purchased new paintbrushes, I’m going to try in both watercolour and acrylic paints, even my mum and sister have read with interest and want to give it a go. I’d recommend this book as it offers great pictures and advice. Search Press have excelled again in releasing a great book. -- Jenny Nixon * Customer Review *With 60 images ready to trace and get the composition right before you start, there’s plenty of variety in this attractive compilation. It’s also worth saying that the material comes from the What to Paint series, so, if you have those, you probably won’t need this. If you haven’t, however, you’ll find Terry Harrison on landscapes, Wendy Tait on flowers, Geoff Kersey on trees and woodlands and Peter Woolley on hills and mountains. All these experienced and popular teachers include more than just the basics, with surroundings, perspectives and settings, providing images that should satisfy the most demanding student. * Paint Magazine (SAA) *Table of ContentsIntroduction 6 Transferring the image 8, Composing from the outlines 10, Techniques and effects 12 Landscapes 16 Poppies by the Track 18, Millstream Cottage 20, Winter's Day 22, First Footprints 24, After the Rain 26, Tide Mill 28, A Walk Along the Lane 30, Cornish Harbour 32, Waterside Walk 34, Cooling Off 36, Hard Day's Work 38, Castle Combe 40, The Village Gossips 42, Another Winter 44, The Mountain Stream 46 Flowers 48 Tulips 50, Snake's Head Fritillary 52, Anemones 54, Pansies 56, Canary Bird Roses 58, Fuchsias 60, Sweet Peas 62, Cherry Blossom in Glass Jar 64, Oriental Poppies 66, Snowdrops 68, Golden Lilies 70, Pink & White Roses 72, Hollyhocks 74, Japanese Anemones & Lavender 76, Sunflowers 78 Trees, Woodlands & Forests 80 Woodland Stream 82, Manhattan Park 84, Footbridge in the Woods 86, Winter Silhouettes 88, Rowing Boats 90, Winter Walkers 92, Golden Light 94, Kensington Gardens 96, Autumn at Chatsworth 98, Winter Glow 100, Woodland Bridge 102, Bluebell Wood 104, Forest Firs 106, New Forest Ponies 108, Woodland Reflections 110 Hills & Mountains 112 Mountain Mist 114, Snowy Peaks 116, Sea of Cloud 118, Winter Crags 120, The View from the Summit 122, The Last of the Sun 124, Rocks and Scree 126, Mountain Stream 128, Traversing the Ridge 130, Sunset: Best Time of Day 132, Snow and Shadows 134, The Illusion of Space 136, Hills and Lakes 138, The Weather in the Hills 140, Iconic Peak 142 Index & Outlines 144

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Book SynopsisDelve into the enchanting world of dragons, wizards, and warriors with Beginner’s Guide to Fantasy Drawing – an accessible, entertaining introduction to creating fantasy concepts with only a few simple traditional tools and no prior drawing knowledge needed. Beginning with the key subjects of draftsmanship, anatomy, and poses, before venturing into the step-by-step creation of quintessential fantasy subjects such as elves and orcs, this book enables readers of any skill level to draw magical characters and epic monsters with confidence. Packed with insightful tips, exciting tutorial projects, and fundamental art theory simply explained by industry professionals, this attractive volume is a perfect beginning to your fantasy art journey.

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Book SynopsisBest-selling author Christopher Hart goes 'manga chic' with this guide to drawing the edgy fashions found in the popular Japanese genre. Packed with tutorials, his stylish drawing bible offers many enticing projects for aspiring artists, from creating classic outfits worn by popular manga characters to depicting the newest trends emerging from Tokyo. Chris explains how to draw eyes and hairstyles as well as figures, body types and poses; mix and match movement to the image, and design complementary colour schemes, add a sense of movement to the image and design exciting wardrobes for all seasons. He demystifies topics that typically puzzle beginners, from capturing the creases and folds of clothing to drawing patterns on fabric. A troubleshooting guide covers common problem areas so fans will quickly learn how to transform their basic manga characters into compelling fashion plates.

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Book SynopsisAngela Lord invites readers to develop their own colour insights with materials and techniques, exploring colours, painting rainbows, colour clashes, complementary colours, after-images, painting the colour circle and complementary colours, enhancing colours, a new colour circle, the interplay of light and dark, sunrise and sunset, colour dynamics and composition, an overview of colour through history, watercolour painting and the Steiner Waldorf curriculum, resources, glossary and references.

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Book SynopsisQuiet your mind and colour your way to peace, while nurturing your love of Tudor history.Trade ReviewA stunningly intricate colouring book that no Tudor fan should be without! -- Hayley Nolan

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Book SynopsisINTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING SERIES, now in English! More than 2.3 million copies sold in 23 languages!Big School of Drawing allows beginning artists to get started drawing anything and everything, from flowers and still life to animals, people, landscapes, and more! Learn to develop your sketches from basic shapes, adding texture and shading step by step to create realistic, three-dimensional drawings. Perfect for beginners, this 192-page reference guide explains everything you need to get started, from choosing the right materials to basic drawing techniques and step-by-step lessons. Experiment with different pencils, drawing tools, and erasers as you learn to create depth and realism with shading techniques, perspective, and texture. Then follow along as you use those pencil techniques to create detailed drawings, step by easy step. With more than 1,000 step-by-step drawings for you to reference, Big STable of ContentsContents Basics Tools & Materials Getting Started Learning to See Starting with Sketches Beginning with Basic Shapes Warming Up Form & Shadow Simple Shapes Flowers Sketching Flowers Basic Flower Shapes Simple Flowers Tulips Rose & Water Drops Daffodil Carnation Dendrobium Fuchsia Primrose Hibiscus Hybrid Tea Rose Floribunda Rose Bearded Iris Landscapes Surfaces & Textures Perspective Tree Basics Tree Shapes Tree Trunks Root Patterns Branches & Boughs Majestic Oak Sycamore Lane Clouds Rocks Creek with Rocks Mountains Deserts Animals Drawing from Photographs Drawing from Life Drawing Animals Shading Techniques Rabbit Guinea Pig Squirrel Kangaroo Toucan Budgerigars Iguana Giraffe Elephant Baboon Chimpanzees Giant Panda Parrot Cats Feline Features Paws & Tails Tabby Cat Persian Cat Adult Cats Kittens Common Cat Behaviors Dogs Proportion & Anatomy Muzzles Doberman Pinscher Great Dane

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Book SynopsisDrawing On Grief is a uniquely creative journal and mindful keepsake which draws on the therapeutic power of drawing to soothe and support loss.

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Book SynopsisA practical reference for every amateur artist looking to hone their skills in oils, pastels, acrylics, watercolours, charcoals or coloured pencils

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Book SynopsisLet your creativity bloom with this dazzling selection of 45 floral images, ready to be filled with vibrant colour. Floral designs, from realistic representations to geometric designs, are at the heart of this lovely coloring book. You''ll find roses and ranunculus, pansies and peonies along with lilies and lavender. All the images have been chosen for maximum inspiration and creativity, whatever your preference. Choose a selection of colored pencils, and set to work creating your own floral masterpiece. • Includes 45 designs • Printed on thick, high-quality paper • The images appear on single-sided pages to prevent bleed-through • Suitable for pencils, felt-tips or markers ABOUT THE SERIES: The bestselling Arcturus Creative Colouring series brings together delightful colouring books designed to relax the mind and inspire creativity. Printed on thick, high-quality paper, these bold and beautiful artworks

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Book SynopsisThe fairies in this romantic collection of more than 60 images are inspired by the delicate winged creatures beloved of illustrators such as Arthur Rackham, Edmund Dulac, and Margaret Tarrant, as well as the beautiful artworks created by Pre-Raphaelite painters such as Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Edward Burne-Jones. You can choose to colour them any way you wish, whether your preference is for pastels or bolder tones. Just choose your favourite place to relax, make a selection of colored pencils or pens and begin to create your own fairytale image.ABOUT THE SERIES: The bestselling Arcturus Creative Colouring series brings together delightful colouring books designed to relax the mind and inspire creativity. Printed on thick, high-quality paper, these bold and beautiful artworks present a wonderful colouring challenge.

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Book SynopsisA stunningly illustrated, project-based book on drawing and painting for the beginner. Divided into three sections: drawing, watercolour, and oil painting, it includes more than 30 original projects for you to try, such as a vase of flowers in pencils, a stormy scene using watercolours, and a Tuscan terrace in oils. It presents practical and easy-to-follow text with over 475 step-by-step photographs clearly showing the creation of each picture.

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Book SynopsisThis easy-to-use easel format book is ideal for both complete beginners and more experienced artists who want to expand their skills. It contains clear instructions, reliable advice and friendly encouragement to unleash your creativity. It features over 600 illustrations and photographs lead you step by step through each project. It features carefully planned lessons that teach you how to draw the detailed features of people and pets. It offers easy-to-follow guidance on composition, perspective, medium, and the best sitting position for drawing. In this title, projects include household objects, winter tree, Victorian house, portrait of a girl, and ducks on the pond. From flowers and still lifes to landscape and family portraits - you can learn how to draw in just 15 simple, fun lessons. All you need to get started is some basic equipment and a sketchbook. Then just follow the step-by-step directions to learn time-tested techniques for using pencils, pens, pastels and charcoal, and watch your artwork form before your eyes. A useful introduction contains guidance on types of easel, sitting positions, basic equipment and choosing a sketchbook, as well as simple instructions for basic shapes. The chapters that follow cover Still Life, Flowers and Trees, Landscape, People and Portraits, and Animals. Each project is illustrated with detailed stage-by-stage pictures, including close-ups of difficult sections. The practical easel format makes this book easy to use by any aspiring artist.

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Book Synopsis Artists & Illustrators magazine's Book of the Month Taking inspiration from iconic paintings in the Tate collection, discover the techniques of the masters and improve your own painting skills with 30 guided projects. As you work through the exercises, you'll learn how to work 'wet into wet' with Maggi Hambling, master colour temperature with John Singer Sargent and create rhythm and unity in your paintings with John Nash.Whether you are looking to reinvigorate your watercolour practice with new techniques, try your hand at a wide variety of painting styles, or discover a new, inspiring master of the art, this book offers something new for every watercolourist.

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