Painting, drawing and art manuals Books

Book SynopsisEtching can seem mysterious and inaccessible, but this practical book guides you through the process to reveal the potential of this distinctive means of creating artists' prints. With clear instructions and visual guides, it explains the many ways that marks are first made on a metal plate before ink is applied and the image transferred onto a sheet of paper. The book goes on to introduce a broad menu of techniques, allowing the visual artist to develop a uniquely personal approach. Topics include the materials and equipment needed to get started, from the simple etching needle and scraper-burnisher to the etching press. Explanations are given for photo-etching, aquatint, as well as related intaglio processes such as drypoint and photopolymer. This new book encourages artists to experiment and try combining techniques to explore their potential, and includes interviews with leading artists explaining their approaches.Trade ReviewThis book is a great guide for anyone who is new to the wonders of intaglio printmaking. The attraction to this book is the clear language that is used with excellent photographs to help explain each process. A must-have book for every print studio! * Printmaking Today *" While comprehensive and authoritative, this is a welcoming introduction to the equipment and working methods of etching. " * The Artist *

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Book SynopsisLearn to draw expressive, characterful manga faces using this simple step-by-step book. Manga artist Yishan Li teaches you to transform simple shapes into eyes, mouths, hairstyles and fully formed manga faces. There are 38 exercises to choose from including 18 complete manga faces, or you can use the facial features as building blocks to create your own unique characters. Each project starts with a few basic outlines and progresses into a finished drawing in eight easy steps; a final coloured version shows you how to develop your artwork even further. Perfect for beginners, as well as budding manga artists, you’ll be amazed how easily you too can create your own manga faces using this simple book.Table of ContentsEyes 5 Mouths 8 Faces 11 Hair 19 Heads 23

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Book SynopsisMany people would love to learn to draw for pleasure, but don't know where to start. Being faced with a blank page can be daunting – even for a professional artist. In Sketchbook Challenge, illustrator Molly Egan shares prompts and ideas to get you started, encouraging risk-taking and experimentation.The book is split into three sections: Warm Up, for 5- to 10-minute exercises designed to stretch your muscles; Weekday, for guided creative drawing prompts for limited time; and Weekend, for open-ended, in-depth creative explorations. In addition to the exercises, Molly provides details on how to build an art kit and encourages artistic exploration beyond the pages of the book.Sketching is fun and therapeutic, and Sketchbook Challenge will be the springboard to unleash your creativity and discover your own style.

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Book SynopsisThe perfect book for budding artists, How to Draw Almost Every Day challenges and inspires you to draw one simple illustration each day of the year. Don't let your artistic aspirations come to an end before they start! Everyone wants to draw stylish, evocative pictures, but between busy schedules, not knowing basic techniques, and simply feeling like their art isn't "good enough," many people quickly give up on learning to draw. This is where How to Draw Almost Every Day comes in! Each image in this technique-driven book is broken down with step-by-step diagrams, making the process of creating the image easy to understand. You’ll learn to draw items from everyday life, like food and clothing, as well as seasonal images, including snowmen and pumpkins. We have also included inspiring project photos to show you how to incorporate the doodles into greeting cards, calendars, invitations, gift wrap, and just about anything you can imagine. So stop putting it off and get drawing! Each book in the Almost Everything series offers readers a fun, comprehensive, and charmingly illustrated visual directory of ideas to inspire skill building in their creative endeavors.

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Book SynopsisExplore and create expressive palettes and paintings with Color Harmony for Artists. Watercolor author, artist, and teacher Ana Victoria Calderon guides you through choosing, mixing, and using color with watercolor and mixed media to create the most expressive and appealing combinations and effects for a wide range of moods and subjects. You'll explore a variety of subjects and themes, including flowers, foliage, landscapes, skies, cities, figures, art movements, and historical eras. Begin with a quick overview of the basics of color, color mixing, and mixed media. Explore a variety of color and media combinations, including brilliant brights, muted neutrals, high-contrast complements, and special effects. Find inspiration in evocative photos, abundant palettes, and beautiful paintings. With Color Harmony for Artists, every artist, from beginner to advanced, will be inspired to embrace the creative possibilities of color and paint!Table of ContentsPREFACE HANDS-ON COLOR THEORY The Color Wheel Color Harmonies Color & Temperature Warm & Cool Variations Watercolor Paints for Swatching INSPIRED PALETTES Capturing moods and playing with textures in beautiful swatches of watercolor mixes that reflect a variety of visual inspirations Notable Art Movements Expressive Skies Colorful Cultures Animal Wonders Cities, Towns & Destinations Influential Eras Remarkable Landscapes Florals & Still Life Mineral Riches Human Hues TEMPLATE RESOURCES ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ABOUT THE AUTHOR INDEX

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Book SynopsisWith Creative Portraits in Watercolor, you’ll learn creative techniques for capturing a unique and stunning likeness using watercolor and other art mediums.

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Book SynopsisWhen the proportions are right, the drawing looks right! Most artists whose work features the human head and figure don't have the time or opportunity to draw directly from models, so it's essential that they acquire the skills and tools to draw them accurately without using direct reference. Now, thanks to Chris Hart's foolproof method, even beginners can quick-check the proportions of their head and figure drawings, identify errors and swiftly fix mistakes. Richly illustrated with drawings from various angles, this follow-up to Hart's bestselling Figure It Out! includes step-by-step demonstrations and lessons that lead readers through the process.

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Book SynopsisThis popular book provides all the information you need to get started in watercolour painting. Full of clear, simple advice and more than 70 step-by-step demonstrations, Watercolour for the Absolute Beginner will teach even the least confident of beginners the skills and techniques needed to start painting.In this easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide, three professional artists explain all the basic watercolour techniques.Top TV artist Alwyn Crawshaw demonstrates the basic techniques including brushstrokes, colour mixing and depicting distance and foreground to get you started in watercolour.Lecturer and Artist Sharon Finmark explains how you can paint realistic figures, covering scale and proportion, mixing convincing skin colours and portraying movement and light effectively.Artist and teacher Trevor Waugh demonstrates techniques for painting animals - domestic, farmyard and wild. Starting with simple animal shapes, Trevor takes you through the rudiments of 3D shapes, tone and colour Table of ContentsTop TV artist Alwyn Crawshaw teaches you the basic watercolour techniques Artist and lecturer Sharon Finmark shows you how to paint people in a variety of poses and settings Artist and teacher Trevor Waugh shows yu how to paint pets, farmyard and wild animals

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Book SynopsisAn essential guide demonstrating the universal oil painting techniques that allow artists to expand their horizons, break out of ruts, and master a variety of subjects, including figures, portraits, still life, landscapes, and interiors. Gregg Kreutz reveals how connected oil painting techniques are no matter what subject an artist tackles.Trade Review“Gregg Kreutz encourages learning to see with clarity and insight,and that’s exactly what this book achieves. I’m an art observer,not an artist, but even I can follow—and admire—Kreutz’s logical,step-by-step approach to making paintings look better.”—PETER TRIPPI, editor-in-chief, Fine Art Connoisseur magazine“In Oil Painting Essentials, Gregg Kreutz expands on the teachingsand ideas that he brought forth first in Problem Solving for OilPainters. This new book is rich and colorful with Gregg’s paintings,showing examples of what to strive for and what to avoid whenlearning to paint. The writing is wonderfully clear, providing manyinsights for solving the essential problems art students confront.”—DAVID A LEFFEL, artist and teacherTable of ContentsINTRODUCTION 1CHAPTER 1 ENGAGING THE ESSENTIALS:CONCEPT AND PROCESS IN OIL PAINTING 11CHAPTER 2 PORTRAITS 47CHAPTER 3 FIGURES 67CHAPTER 4 STILL LIFES 83CHAPTER 5 LANDSCAPES 101-Plein Air Landscapes 107-Studio Landscapes 116CHAPTER 6 INTERIORS 127AFTERWORD: A FEW FINAL THOUGHTS . . . 145ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 149INDEX 150

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Book SynopsisClassic treatment by a master teacher features 430 pencil and charcoal illustrations depicting fundamental features of human anatomy. Topics include shading, curvature, proportion, foreshortening, muscular tension, and much more.

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Book SynopsisA brand new edition of the bestselling book, endorsed by the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew, by renowned watercolour artist Adelene Fletcher. From azalea to zantedeschia, this unique watercolour artist's guide offers easy-to-follow, plant-specific information on how to paint over 50 of the most popular species of flower in a crisp and natural style. Adelene teaches you the essential skills of creating a realistic structure and form of a flower by close observation of the pattern of light and shade on petals and foliage. Included are step-by-step photographs, details, and instructions on capturing the individual essence of the flower, together with comprehensive information on the appropriate techniques and colour mixes to use. Glorious full-colour photographs of the finished watercolour show the depth and variety of the plant portraits, from the exquisitely executed passion flower to the bold luminosity of the oriental poppy. Finally, a handy colour key is included for every flower, helping you prepare your palette before delving into your floral portait. If you have never painted flowers before, or have always wanted to capture that specific species on canvas that you've never managed to grow in your own garden, this is the book for you.Trade ReviewEach demonstration occupies a single spread and covers the palette, working sequence and further examination of the detailed areas, covering 50 popular flowers. The full-page illustrations of the finished results show you exactly what you are trying to achieve and the enlarged detail photographs ensure that you'll get the fine work right every time. -- The SAA * The SAA Catalogue 19/20 *'Re-publication has brought this under the umbrella of Search Press’s relationship with Kew, and this is no bad thing. Kew are a world authority and don’t issue their imprimatur lightly, so there’s considerable added authority here. The crispness of the illustrations also suggests re-origination, so there’s really rather a lot to like here.' Read the full review here. -- Henry Malt * Artbookreview.net *Paint lovely studies of fifty popular flowers with this useful primer. Every book sold donates money to the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, funding their vital work. Aimed at anybody who has some basic skills but wants to extend their art repertoire to include flowers, there is a useful lesson in every project. As it says on the cover this is an “illustrated directory of techniques” and if you work your way through all the flowers you will amass a wealth of useful watercolor skills. Start by learning what colors you need to buy plus a brief overview of other materials, and progress though some short techniques which are particularly associated with painting flowers. Most of these are common to all watercolor work but the examples shown are all of plants so you can discover how to use them in context with floral depiction. A true beginner will probably require more in-depth instruction for basics such as wet-in-wet, dry brushing, masking out etc but anybody of at least improver level used to painting other subjects will find it useful. The rest of the book mostly consists of the fifty projects, taking you from agapanthus to zantedeschia. Each project covers two pages, one showing a picture of the finished work plus a few enlarged areas with notes and the other the method. Colors are listed with a blob of each which is helpful. These are all mentioned in the method, which is separated into a staged “Sequence” and at the bottom “Special Detail” which highlights a particular technique which you can learn or perfect with the project. At the back of the book is further help on composing floral groups plus a glossary and index. The glossary contains both watercolor and botanical terms, and each flower has a short piece describing it. Choose from a large range of garden and house favorites such as roses, sunflower, waterlily, poppies, tulip, nasturtium, passion flower, bird of paradise, poinsettia, carnation and many more. The rewards will not only include a wealth of lovely paintings and new skills but also the knowledge that buying this book has helped Kew Gardens’ important work including their Seed Bank. A good book for anybody who wants to learn how to paint flowers in watercolor. -- Rachel Hyde * myshelf.com *Table of ContentsIntroduction Essentials Directory of Flowers Composition Glossary Index

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Book SynopsisDraw with Confidence and Creativity!

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Book SynopsisThe enduring Figure It Out! series turns its focus to drawing the face and facial expressions! Christopher Hart's bestselling Figure It Out! books have taught thousands of artists to draw the human figure. His clear step-by-step illustrations and instructions make drawing people accessible, easy, and fun! In Figure It Out! Faces & Expressions, he uses the same approach to demystify the head and facial features. Topics include the basic head types and shapes, facial features, facial hair, hairstyles, and eyeglasses and sunglasses. Hart then shows how to draw more than 40 different common facial expressions, which will bring portraits to life.

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Book SynopsisUnwind and get creative as you learn all about watercolor painting one of the fastest-growing activities for everyday adults who are looking for a hobby to easily relax and relieve stress! Modern Watercolor Botanicals is a comprehensive guide for all skill levels beginner to advanced that teaches everything you need to know about watercolor using easy-to-follow diagrams, pictures, and instructions. Learn how to paint and advance your skills using pieces of beautiful, traceable artwork, including detailed wildflowers, shade tropical leaves, eucalyptus wreaths, and more. Lessons in Modern Watercolor Botanicals include: Instructions for every skill level: beginner, intermediate, and advanced Easy-to-follow diagrams, pictures, and instructions Each lesson builds upon skills learned in the previous lessons 15 pieces of traceable artwork to paint, no drawing experience required! Lessons that promote focus and mindfulness and help you reduce stress through the enjoyment of the artistic process All you need to know to create frame-worthy masterpieces and thoughtful gifts Prompts, challenges, and ideas to take your creativity to the next level Author Sarah Simon (@themintgardener), a Seattle-based artist who leads sold-out watercolor workshops across the U.S., shares everything she teaches her students in this book. She also answers some of the most common questions from watercolor artists at all levels: What tools do I need? How do I mix interesting colors? How do I create shape, movement, and definition in my piece? How do I find my own creative style? Delve into Modern Watercolor Botanicals to develop your skills and form your own unique artistic approach to the world of modern watercolor!Trade Review"If you're thinking about experimenting with watercolor and/or gouache, look no further. Sarah's stunning imagery paired with thorough and extensive direction will bring you back again and again. It's a must-have staple for both beginners, hobbyists, and professional creatives." -Peggy Dean, Best-selling Author, Illustrator, Designer, Founder of The Pigeon Letters "Sarah has penned (and painted) the complete book of watercolor & gouache for anyone ready to dive into the wonderful world of painting. From mindfulness to technique, this book is not only an introduction to painting but a complete guide to the skilled art of color movement and blending. Sarah's botanical imagery is captivating and her descriptive instructions dance across the page as fluidly as her art. What a wonderful way to spend a season immersed in watercolor, what an incredibly inspiring how-to book." -The Crafter's Box

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Book SynopsisPractical instruction for beginners to intermediates, with step-by-step guidance on drawing techniques to principles of composition and colour, with example projects.

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Book SynopsisConjure a world of enchantment with The Magic Spells Colouring Book, with images to colour-in accompanied by spells, potions and notes on the history of magic. Inside you''ll find a collection of over 60 intricate and mystical illustrations, presented alongside written spells, potions and information on witchcraft. From love spells to crystal healing, each page is designed to help you tap into your own inner magic, and to explore the fascinating world of ancient spells and rituals. This colouring book is perfect for anyone interested in the mystical and magical arts, and is a great way to relax and unwind while learning more about yourself and the world around you.• Includes 60 designs • Printed on thick, high-quality paper • The images appear on single-sided pages to prevent bleed-throughABOUT THE SERIES: The bestselling Arcturus Creative Colouring series brings together delightful colouring

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Book SynopsisDiego Vaisberg is an art director and illustrator with a degree in graphic design, based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He has worked on visual design with world-renowned companies but his passion for cartoons and children's books has led him to work almost exclusively in illustration, both fiction and non-fiction. Diego has also written several of his own stories, which he has illustrated and published. He teaches Illustration Design at the University of Palermo as well as leading a team of artists at DGPH illustration studio and working on digital illustrations for books, games and animation.

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Book Synopsis28 different characters, poses and expressions that offer a dynamic selection of Manga-style female figures. Drawing girls is a very popular subject within the manga genre and this book is perfect for anyone seeking to learn the basics of creating these delightful characters. Suitable for adults and children of all ages and abilities.Trade ReviewJuly 2015 These two titles from artist Li (Mecha Manga) provide text-free, step-by-step guidance for drawing manga characters. Sequential color-coded sketches walk the reader through illustrating many charming human manga personalities. A simple exercise per page ends with a full-color, finished character illustration. Aside from the author’s short introduction, no other words are found in these guides. Li takes similar approaches to depicting girls and boys, emphasizing energetic poses and narrative suggestion in both books. Portraying a range of emotions and facial expressions in the manga style is demonstrated throughout. VERDICT Ideal for children and younger teens * Library Journal, USA *

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Book SynopsisThe complete manual for acrylic painting. Marylin Scott provides over 100 step-by-step demonstrations showing how to tackle tricky subjects, accompanied by full-colour photography. Even though, acrylic is used by many well-known professional artists, it is rather less popular with amateurs. This is surprising, because acrylic is not only the most versatile of all the painting media, but is also highly forgiving. You can paint out mistakes as you work, even making major changes to the colour scheme and composition. Each new painting can become a springboard for ideas and the range of different effects is vast.Trade ReviewJune 2016 Described as the 'complete manuals', this seris of books from Search Press offers painters essntial information in their chosen medium, whether it's watercolour, acrylic, pastel, sketching and drawing or oil painitng. Each book contains over 100 step-by-step demonstrations, with visual sequences to show you exactly how to tackle tricky subjects - from watercolour skies to faces and figures. In the Acrylic Artist's bible Marylin advocates the use of acrylics by beginners as the medium is much more versatile than others and also very forgiving! Here she describes exactly how the medium can be used for best effect, plenty of practical advice on how to present your finished paintings, and how to set about exhibiting your work to a wider audience. * Love to Make *

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Book SynopsisThis is a practical and comprehensive guide for all watercolour enthusiasts, from the beginner who wishes to explore this popular painting medium to the experienced artist looking for inspiration and ideas. Starting with advice on materials, colour and composition, the book goes on to describe basic and more advanced techniques and the wonderful effects they can produce. Fourteen easy-to-follow, step-by-step demonstrations show the reader how to paint skies, trees, water, buildings and flowers, and each section is accompanied by a selection of inspirational paintings by the seven featured artists, in a rich variety of styles. Originally published as 'Working with Watercolour', this book uses material from the 'Leisure Arts' series.Trade ReviewIdeal for budding artists, Search Press is publishing Watercolour Painting Step-by-Step and Painting Step-by-Step. Both titles feature a variety of styles and subjects, as well as advice from well-known art world figures. Demonstrations, photographs and instructions are included. Each title retails at £9.99. * Craft Focus *Table of ContentsIntroduction Materials Colour Techniques Composition and perspective Understanding tone Farmhouse step-by-step Skies Cumulus clouds step-by-step A wet-into-wet sky step-by-step Trees Old oak tree step-by-step Early morning step-by-step Country Lane step-by-step Water and reflections Scottish Loch step-by-step Farm Pond step-by-step Chub stream step-by-step Buildings Chapel at last light step-by-step Flowers Daffodils and catkins step-by-step Roses step-by-step Backlit lily step-by-step Irises step-by-step Index

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Book SynopsisCapturing Light is a must for artists who wish to investigate the subtle qualities of light with an emphasis on creating dramatic, imaginative landscapes. Loving the fluidity of watercolours, Catherine has developed a painting technique by experimenting with, and exploring, modern watercolour pigments and the boundaries of the medium. The method uses lots of water on a sloping board which Catherine calls gravity painting, which creates a natural way of working, keeping colours luminous and mobile without any ‘muddying’. The book starts with an explanation of the technique, the materials and colours used and the importance of capturing the essence of a landscape. There are numerous progressively challenging small exercises, demonstrations and inspirational finished pictures illustrating the alluring effects of reflections, mists and shadows and showing the dramatic effects of different skies. Developments of ideas for landscapes are introduced as the book progresses, plus nine projects exploring how to build up light-filled effects. Catherine’s method will free up your painting style, embolden your colour choices and show you how to create vibrant pictures full of dramatic light.Trade ReviewThe Innovative Artist: Capturing Light by Catherine Beale is a great comprehensive book. It covers everything you will need to know about capturing light in your paintings. The book is set in chapters which then cover the different stages of each section whether it be observation and imagination, times of day, inspiration, camera and developing ones style. The first chapter is about how Catherine gets her inspiration, then onto materials and tools then colour, and different ways of creating texture. After that she shares techniques and more advanced techniques. It then goes onto projects for you to try. Catherine paints in a mostly wet in wet style which is lovely. This book really does cover everything you will need to know about creating radiant landscapes in watercolour. Well worth getting for either beginners or more advanced artists. A book that you will be able to refer back to time and time again and learn something new each time. -- Carol Archdale * Customer Review *Catherine Beale is known for her light-filled watercolours and here she shares with us techniques she uses to make the most of the subtle qualities of light when creating dramatic landscapes in watercolour. From many years of practice, Catherine has developed her own method, using plenty of water on a sloping board, which keeps the colours luminous without muddying. Materials and techniques are clearly explained in the opening chapters in small exercises run throughout the book, becoming progressively more challenging as you progress. Nine projects are included, exploring how to build up effects and make the most of the medium. This is a well-written and beautifully presented book, that will appeal to those with some experience of watercolour as well as those who are comparatively new to the medium. * Leisure Painter, September 2023 *This book came at exactly the right time for me, as I was just off on travels with a box of brand new watercolours. I'm an oil painter, but I know nothing about this medium and I've always been scared of it! It was reassuring to read that the author was keen on intense colour and opacity, as reflected in her work. I'm not so interested in washy, formless landscapes - happily, the author's paintings glow with light and are a pleasure to look through. There's a generous well of information on tools and technique in here, and I loved the chapter on colour with the innovative colour wheel. I was especially interested to see how a convincing illusion of light could be created without an opaque white. I learned a lot from the beautiful step by step paintings, on brushwork, masking, edges, lifting off - it's just packed with useful tips and info. -- Jenny Aitken * Author of 'Painting into the Light' *Capturing Light is an inspiring book about Catherine Beale’s approach to her watercolour painting. Her work is radiant and bright and here she generously shares much advice on her working methods. A great book for any keen watercolourist and would appeal to beginners and intermediate painter. The book is well laid out, with clear and practical information that the reader can use. This is very helpful and informative. The watercolour techniques and paintings are bright and fresh and will help the reader to keep their work clean and bright. It is an inspiring and accessible book and I’m sure will encourage the reader not to over work their watercolours and let the paint do the work for them. -- Julie Collins * Author of 'The Colour Mixing Companion' *Table of ContentsIntroduction 6 My inspiration 12 Materials & tools 28 Colour 40 Light & shade 50 Techniques 62 More advanced techniques 94 Projects 110 Aerial Perspective 112, Mists 120, Clouds, Storms & Rain 128, Bleached by High Summer Sun 134, Blinding Sun & Hard Shadows 140, Dappled Woodland Light 146, Sparkling Light on the Sea 152, Sunset 158, Artificial Light 164 Index 176

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Book SynopsisAn exciting new approach to flower painting with step-by-step demonstrations for creating contemporary flower portraits and landscapes that are truly unique. This is more than a ‘how-to’ on flower painting. It is a guide encouraging artists to explore new and exciting ways to create flower paintings bursting with individuality and moving towards a contemporary and impressionist style. Mixed-media artist Soraya French, well known for her gloriously vibrant flower paintings, shares the secrets of her work, with expert advice on all aspects of this endlessly rewarding subject. The book covers: Colours, shapes, patterns and textures particular to various flowers through the seasons, from fresh green foliage in the spring to rich red and gold hues in the autumn. How to incorporate flowers in both still life and landscape paintings, pictured in woodlands, seascapes, meadows and hedgerows as well as vases. How to assemble the perfect palette for flower painting and how to mix vibrant secondary colours, subtle tints and natural greens. The huge range of painting materials available today, from traditional watercolour to vividly coloured wax pastels to innovative textural mediums such as crackle paste and glass bead gel. The secrets of good composition and how to lead the eye around a painting, giving a sense of rhythm and movement while maintaining unity and harmony. Packed with exciting new ideas and illustrated with stunning examples of Soraya’s own work, this book will take your flower painting to a new level and help you find your unique visual voice.Trade Review‘A thoroughly thought through guide to flower painting … a book that will lift your spirits’ -- Art Book Review‘There is so much to like about this impressive volume … This is a book that’s a riot of colour, instruction and inspiration’ -- Henry Malt * The Artist *Table of ContentsWelcome Exploring the media Dynamic design strategies The language of colour Seductive surfaces Explore further Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisWhether you?re an aspiring artist or new to the medium, seasoned instructor and accomplished artist Nathan Fowkes makes drawing portraits in charcoal not only accessible, but also a real pleasure! From stocking the best supplies to using them effectively, and composing a portrait while avoiding common mistakes, How to Draw Portraits in Charcoal by Nathan Fowkes will place you firmly on the path to producing the charcoal portraits you''ve dreamed of creating. His easy-to-follow tips, in-depth tutorials, and valuable exercises make this guide your first step toward building an understanding and appreciation for every face you draw. This handy book will equip you with the skills to capture them in beautiful charcoal fashion.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Lewis’s many illustrations are sweet and her drawing ideas can be adorable. Draw a face on a sofa-shape! Or on a painted turnip! . . .It’s a lighthearted, playful book that will entertain children.” * artsandactivities.com *

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Book SynopsisFollowing on from the hit Painting Happiness, quirky and super-popular Instagram artist Terry Runyan presents a playful follow-up in her same charming, unique style – Painting Cats.Trade Review"Painting Cats is exceptionally 'user friendly' for watercolor artists of all skill levels to embrace techniques and lessons in creative mindfulness." * Midwest Book Review *"A true joy." * GeekDad *"A joyful book will inspire cat-loving creatives to pick up their paint brushes." * Library Journal *Table of ContentsIntroduction Why Cats? Why Watercolor? Supplies Let’s Paint Cats Color Let’s Play with Some Techniques Storytelling with Cats Exploring Further Resources Acknowledgments

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Book SynopsisGet up close to the beauty and detail of nature through the artwork of award-winning UK artist, Julia Trickey. See how ordinary and sometimes overlooked subjects, such as leaves and fading flowers, can be centre stage and come to life in this beautiful showcase of some of Julia's best-loved botanical watercolours. Having been a tutor of botanical art for many years, teaching as far afield as Moscow and New York, Julia loves to help others explore the potential of watercolour and to discover the keys to a good botanical portrait. In this book she shares some of these insights as well as the motivation behind her favourite projects, together with some of the processes and watercolour techniques involved. Take inspiration from these glowing, contemporary watercolours in a book that is both beautiful and useful.

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Book SynopsisChris Hart has a head for figures - human figures, that is. Not only does he draw them with incredible style and flair, he also has a friendly, accessible teaching style that makes his how-to books super-sellers. In this unique figure-drawing course, Chris avoids the usual anatomy lessons that intimidate aspiring artists and gets right down to the basics young illustrators need to get started. Beginning with heads and facial expressions; he moves on to full figures; male and female, ideal and average, some in fashion poses and others in dynamic action. On every page, his practical advice and clear examples will help readers achieve terrific results - and have fun every step of the way.Trade Review"This entertaining book is aimed at the amateur who simply wants to sketch people. Authored by one of the most prolific and successful cartoon artists, it eschews the bones-and-muscles approach. This should prove popular with the general public." —Library Journal "This entertaining book is aimed at the amateur who simply wants to sketch people. Authored by one of the most prolific and successful cartoon artists, it eschews the bones-and-muscles approach. This should prove popular with the general public." —Library Journal

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Book SynopsisCreating engaging and believable creature designs is a difficult and enjoyable task. The monsters, aliens and fantasy animals that grace our TV and cinema screens represent the hard work and dedication of a team of incredibly talented artists and designers. This book aims to unlock their world and introduce the fundamentals skills of creating movie quality designs. Covering key topics like animal anatomy and functionality as well as techniques to create unique and engaging designs, this expansive book will be packed full of advice and guidance from some of the most impressive and renowned artists working in this field in the world today.

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Book SynopsisLearn how to create realistic 3D art with this collection of step-by-step techniques and tutorials for creating hyperrealistic art using coloured pencils.The trend for hyper realistic artworks featuring high shine subjects is inspiring a new generation of artists. Take your art to the next level with this collection of step-by-step techniques and tutorials for creating hyper realistic artwork. Artist and author, Amie Howard, is an expert in how to get the most from coloured pencils and she takes you through all the key techniques for rendering realistic representations of everything from pets to water. The first part of the book explores basic drawing techniques including blending, shading, glazing and scumbling - a technique used to create a slick surface texture. There are simple practise exercises for each of the techniques sections so that you can experiment and get comfortable with the different methods before trying them out on a final artwork. This section includes advice about how to get the perfect blend of colours and textures as well as tips about adding in the fine details that make all the difference.The step-by-step tutorials feature a wide range of subjects including animals, portraits, food and drink so you will learn how to recreate a large number of different surfaces and textures. The chapters are broken up into sections: Surfaces; Animals; Birds, People and Other Textures which looks at a range of different natural and synthetic textures including tree bark, grass, a soft drink can and a shiny sweet wrapper.All of the tutorials have multiple step-by-step images so you can see how the forms and textures are built up over a series of stages. Amie shares her tips and tricks for creating incredibly realistic representations of textures including feathers and fur and there are up close studies for a cat''s eye, a dog''s nose and a single feather so you can the details involved in these projects. Other up close studies include lips and a nose and a bird''s beak and eye. The instructions will allow you tackle challenging subjects such as ripples on water and ice in glass by breaking down the drawing process into clear step-by-step instructions and photographs, allowing you to follow the artist at each step.Table of ContentsIntroduction–short description of hyper realism and what makes it different from other types of art form, why choose coloured pencils? Materials –explain a few differences between wax and oil based coloured pencils, paper types (surfaces), other materials (erasers, sharpening tools) The Approach Reference Material, drawing from photographs Composition Colour Theory Values Tone Shading–Basic application of coloured pencil Small practise exercise Layering–Demo of layering with coloured pencils Small practise exercise Blending–Explanation of blending methods -both dry and wet (solvent) based blending for different results Small Studies Project (Bell Pepper) ReflectiveSurfaces– looking at reflections and how they differ in different types of surface Eyes–Project (human eye study) Metallic Objects –Project(spoon) Creating Fur and Animals –Breakdown of creating fur lines and layering and animal anatomy Project (dog nose) Project (cat ear) Project(cat eye study) Project (full body dog) Feathers and Birds–Close look at different feather patterns and aspects of birds Project (beaks) Project (bird eyes) Project(single feather study) Project(parrot) People–Different human anatomy studies Project (creating skin tone) Project(lips) Project (full face) Other Textures–tips on creating different types of texture to use for subject context/background Leaves Bark/Trees Grass Rocks Tips for Improving–a quick word about practicing, making time for your art and self-critique

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Book SynopsisBe inspired by this fun compilation sketchbook of four favorite volumes from Quarry Books' 20 Ways series!Designed to offer artists, designers, and doodlers a fun and sophisticated collection of illustration fun, each spread features 20 inspiring illustrated examples of 135 themes, over 3600 drawings total! From trees and flowers to animals and sea creatures and everything in between. Don't worry, there's tons of room for you to draw your own versions of these amazing doodles right on the pages.This is not a step-by-step technique book - within the pages you'll find drawings simplified, modernized, and reduced to the most basic elements, showing you how simple abstract shapes and forms create the building blocks of any item that you want to draw. Each of the 20 interpretations provides a different, interesting approach to drawing a single item, providing loads of inspiration for your own drawing. These four artists each have a uniquely creative style, resulting in an engaging and motivational practice book that provides a new take on the world of sketching, doodling, and designing.

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Book SynopsisIn this new and extended edition of her best-selling book in the 'How to Paint' series: 'Colour and Light in Watercolour' (first published 2010), Jean Haines has produced a book even more inspirational than the first. With 40 per cent new material in the form of new hands-on demonstrations, examples of her work and extended text, Jean provides a valuable insight into the materials and techniques she uses to inject colour and light into her stunningly beautiful, award-winning watercolour paintings. Jean's enthusiasm and passion for art is evident throughout the book, which is packed full of ideas, useful tips, expert advice and over 20 step-by-step demonstrations. with subjects ranging from atmospheric winter landscapes to bright colourful cockerels, all painted in Jean's loose and expressive style, artists of all tastes and abilities will not fail to be inspired by her imaginative and exciting use of light and colour.Trade ReviewSummer 2016, Issue 2 This is a new edition of Jean Haine's first and bestselling title.We have included it for people who want to go a little bit deeper into painting and learn more skills and techniques. Just like Paint Yourself Calm, this is also large format and full of colour. It's not intended for absolute beginners but there are certainly no concepts or requirements that make this impentrable to someone new to watercolour painting. * Cygnus Review *July 2016 This is a reissue of Jean's first book which originally appeared as part of a series aimed at beginners. It was never well suited to the format and length always made the artist's work feel constrained. A redesigned and more than doubled extent have give it wings that are more in keeping with her later books. Extended re-issues do not work, authors move on a what they wanted to say on the subject in question was usually there in the original. Additions can feel at best bolted on or, at worst out-takes that should have stayed on the cutting room floor. This emphatically is not the case here. The original has promise and that has been realised now, the result being a triumph. * The Leisure Painter *The range of its capabilities, it shows in numerous illustrations, instructions and important advice on watercolours. We see exotic dressed people, foreign cityscapes, delicate flowers, fruits and animals repeatedly. But looking at the sun-drenched images, the indicated details, the harmony of color selection arouses enthusiasm. However, learning this particular style of painting requires fundamental knowledge. Painters who represent very realistically and in detail, will have difficulties with the implementation. The experimental artist, however, will have the courage to do so and the casual use of the brush is love, this technique can be learned easily. The prerequisite is to develop each chapter of the book. To better understand the painting Jean Haines shows detailed examples to brush selection and their handling. Many mixtures of their eleven favorite colors are presented, with which it has this book also painted most of the pictures. In the chapter "light and how we see it" it gives an insight into their distinctive way of representation of light and strong contrasts. Known techniques such as wet-on-wet, glazes, salt, negative painting, spraying technique, are demonstrated. But what good is the perfect mastery of basic skills, if in the end produced a boring image? Only the composition makes the picture into a unique and unusual artwork. From their many years of painting experience knows the artist that before painting the thinking is. First we have to decide what we want to paint. As the object is lively and compelling? What foreground and background should we choose? What colors cause a harmonious whole? How are the brush strokes are performed? Only after these preliminary we should start painting. In the penultimate chapter "Summary" shows Jean Haines progressive image formation on the example of two taps, a fleeing rabbit and a Seascape with boats. The detailed imaging that brief but informative texts and useful tips make Technique clearly and comprehensibly. What I personally have missed something, is the lack of photographic pictures. I would have been interested in whether the artist paints with no pictures or sketches and photos to help take the reaction of light and shadow, the search for interesting details not easy for me without visual aids. For the advanced experimental watercolourist looking for a loose style of painting, the book is recommended "Colour and light". In der überarbeiteten Neuauflage ihres Buches „Colour and light“ widmet sich die Künstlerin Jean Haines dem Thema „Farbe und Licht“. Die Bandbreite ihres Könnens zeigt sie in zahlreichen Abbildungen, Anleitungen und wichtigen Tipps zum Aquarellmalen.Die vielfältigen Eindrücke ihrer Fernreisen lässt sie in ihre impressionistisch wirkenden Bilder einfließen. Wir sehen exotische gekleidete Menschen, fremde Stadtansichten, zarte Blumen, Früchte und immer wieder Tiere. * Kreative review *Jean's passion for art shows as she guides you through a variety of exciting projects. With subjects ranging from atmospheric winter landscapes to bright colourful cockerels you are sure to be inspired! -- The SAA * The SAA Catalogue 19/20 *I'm not normally a fan of revised re-issues. Artists move on and what they wanted to say on a subject was pretty much perfectly formed at the time. Unpicking a thread and trying to make it into sommething else all to often lands up with a mess. But... and it's a very big but. Jean Haines and Search Press have done a superb job here. This was Jean's first book and it appeared in a beginner's series to which it and her style, were never really suited. Jean belongs to the broder canvas, as it were and her loose impressionistic style needs room to breathe. Basic instruction and 48 pages felt more like an eagle in a cage - you could see the potential, but not the spread of the wings. For this version which has enlarged the format and more than doubled the extent, there's been a complete redesign that's in keeping with the later books. The paper is bright white just like the original paintings and it shows the colour and its subtle tints, hues and washes much better. The larger paint size means that nothing's reduced down to where you can't see the brushwork. On top of that there's additional material and more demonstrations. This is no longer a book that hints at what might be possible, but one which celebrates Jean's work and what can be done if you're brave with watercolour. The result is a triumph and something you'll want even if you have the first version. * SAA Paint *Well, this is a first! I've seen books dragged out of well-deserved retirement, kept current by revamped covers and re-issued as "classics", but I've never seen one given a complete makeover that doubles the original extent. I had reservations about this when it first appeared. It's not that it wasn't good, or that I didn't like it, just that I didn't feel that Jean's loose and somewhat idiosyncratic style fitted comfortably into a series of what were largely technical manuals. All that clearly didn't harm sales and Jean has, of course, gone on to become a bestselling and highly respected author. Later volumes have given her work the freedom it needs and it's blossomed as a result. Re-workings of what for the moment we'll call juvenilia are rarely successful. Authors move on, their style develops and things that are largely historical are best left as pieces of history. If that means they're a footnote, so be it. It's often better than being something everyone comes to regret and has to make excuses for later. And now, gentle reader, I'm going to eat my words: both my previous reservations and my suspicion of the re-vamp. This is everything the book should have been in the first place. It hasn't been shoe-horned into a series format, for a start. Series are great and are often a way of introducing new authors who may not have the gravitas to stand alone, but can be carried on by the momentum a series provides and given a toe-hold in the water (yes, I do know that's a mixed metaphor, but it was kind of you to mention it). It's also been completely re-designed and there are vastly more illustrations. Now, it has room to spread its wings and to breathe, which is exactly what Jean's work needs. She's not about small illustrations that populate a detailed text, she's about illustrations, illustrations and illustrations. You need to see her work full-page and preferably on a crisp white background and that's what you have here. I haven't done a word-by-word comparison, but I'm pretty sure this is the original text and it now becomes an adjunct to the pictures, rather than the other way round. The best art books usually lead on the paintings and use the text just as a caption to explain what you're looking at when you need a nudge or it isn't immediately obvious. This is a hard trick to pull off because, if the original book was any good, it'll have been properly put together and be a perfect sphere it's very hard to pull apart. No matter how much you want to, it is, as I've hinted above, usually better to leave well alone and start something new from scratch. So, congratulations to Search Press, whose editorial and design teams are on a bit of a roll at the moment, and to Jean too. With this many new illustrations, she's had a pretty large part in the exercise as well. You need this book. * Artbookreview.net *

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Book SynopsisIn Geninne’s Art: Birds in Watercolor, Collage, and Ink, popular Santa Fe artist Geninne Zlatkis presents a personal field guide to how she creates her charming paintings and collages of birds and nature. Brimming with inspiring examples of the artist’s work, this beautiful book takes you inside Geninne’s studio for an in-depth look at how she creates. You will discover, step by step, how this devoted artist spends time photographing nature, selecting her materials, and developing her personal imagery. Explore: How her studio is set up, how she works, and what materials and tools she uses How she captures nature with both a camera and phone for reference Her artistic process through the step-by-step creation of 5 watercolor paintings, 5 collages, and 5 ink drawings, with notes on each medium and technique As a special bonus, the book includes 32 pages of collage papers, painted and selected by Geninne, for you to use as you explore and develop your own artistic voice. Vibrant, detailed, and richly imaginative, Geninne’s interpretation of the birds she has observed so closely will inspire you to use the natural world as fodder for your paintings, drawings, and collages.Trade ReviewLovely...If you're a playful artist avid about collage or ink drawing, you might be smitten. * Arts & Activities *

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Book SynopsisThis collection of 13 dragons is loaded with sketches, drawings, anatomical studies, detailed diagrams, brief natural histories and step-by-step colour art demonstrations for each animal showing the process of making dragon images from start to finish. A cross between an encyclopaedia of dragons and an artist's reference book, readers will enjoy learning all about dragons and the process of their creation. Table of ContentsDragons continue to be the favourite mythological beast, and their popularity is still strong Includes a unique foldout colour poster of all the dragons included in the book

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Book SynopsisIn this book, gouache, a classic technique—used by Turner, Toulouse-Lautrec, Bonnard, Picasso, Gris, Braque, Matisse and Miró, among many others often compared to watercolour, acquires a new dimension, as it offers a bolder approach to contemporary artists, illustrators and graphic designers. Gouache erases the boundaries between ‘proper painting’ and the spontaneous charm of watercolour, combining the advantages of both techniques. Diluted, gouache is almost like watercolour, but when used on its own, it can be applied in opaque layers with a matte surface reminiscent of pastels. Soluble in water, it is rather forgiving and allows for corrections and revisions, and finally, the fine grain of the pigment it contains makes detailed drawings possible. Award-winning illustrator Aljoscha Blau shares his many years of experience, offers material recommendations, tips for swift success, suggestions on composition, the use of colour, tools and processes. And he spices it all up with his own illustrations, which are both an incentive and a feast for the eyes...

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Book SynopsisThe purpose of this book is to dispel any concerns that many people have over kiln building and give them the confidence needed to build their own kilns, thus saving money and giving themselves great satisfaction and a better understanding of the workings of a kiln. This book is a comprehensive guide to building kilns. Kiln Construction serves as a guide to kiln-building in a user-friendly way. It offers a thorough grounding in the basics and then examines three kilns in depth - brick by brick. These designs, showing gas, oil and wood-fired kilns, have been thoroughly tried and tested and are in regular use by well-known potters. Each of the kilns has diagrams and photos showing every step along the way. This comprehensive guide to building kilns contains not only information on kiln building including methods, materials, fuels and kiln furniture, but it is also filled with step-by-step illustrations and instructions showing every f

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Book Synopsis'If you thought oil pastels were just something for children, prepare to think again.' The Artist '...look on in wonder as Tim shows you how you can use this neglected but simple medium to create real works of art...Just open this book at random and you'll be hooked.' Paint Magazine Learn to paint with oil pastels in this colourful, accessible book for newcomers to the medium. Tim Fisher demonstrates how to use the oil pastels on their own, or in conjunction with acrylic inks and paints, and watercolours, on a variety of surfaces, to create beautiful paintings that will maintain their vibrancy for years to come. The Beginner's Guide to Painting with Oil Pastels features six full step-by-step projects covering a variety of subjects including animal portraits, street scenes, boats and harbours, buildings and glorious landscapes. Tim introduces the reader to mark-making with oil pastels, explains the history of the medium, and how to protect and keep an oil pastel painting once it is complete. Trade ReviewIf you thought oil pastels were just something for your children, think again. As Tim makes clear in his introduction, they were invented 100 years ago as a means of combining the convenience of wax crayons with the quality of pigments suited to more serious art. They have, however struggled to escape the schoolroom connection and have been too frequently overlooked. This book is aimed at the beginner, so you'll need to balance this approach and detailed step-by-step demonstrations against the quality of work that Tim produces and adapt the way you use this, one of the very few books on this subject. Persistence will be rewarded and, with a minimal amount of equipment, you can discover a medium that, while perfect for outdoor sketching, is capable of the subtle effects more often associated with chalk pastels or even watercolour. * The Artist, February 2019 *If you think that oil pastels are just a pricier version of the wax crayon this book will show you how they have really come of age. From their invention in the early 20th century to the acid-free and non-yellowing type we use today they are surprisingly versatile, and mix well with other art media. I confess to having no idea of their origins so found the short history very interesting. This book will particularly appeal to anybody who possesses existing art skills (and materials) but wants to discover how to incorporate oil pastels in their work. It is a beginner’s guide to this and not a primer on how to draw and paint. Discover what brand the author buys and what else he suggests you can use. A surprising array of different materials and tools come into play, from a hairdryer to a scalpel, acrylic and watercolour paints, and inks, encaustic iron, hot glue gun and many more. Prepare a variety of surfaces and work through several exercises on mark making, sgraffito, stencilling, masking, using solvents, working with other types of paint and more. Each exercise will produce a painting, the best way of learning any art technique. After the basics there are several projects, which show in classic Search Press style (ie many captioned photographs for a foolproof learning experience) what to do. Paint flowers, a street scene in Venice, trees, a harbour, a dog and a country cottage. Learn too how to frame your work and look after it. It shows how art doesn’t have to be about just one medium, but mixing it up a bit can produce some excellent results and also how versatile modern materials can be. -- Rachel Hyde * myshelf.com *Oil pastels have a hard time of it in the art world. Often regarded as mere child’s toys, they were invented in Japan some 100 years ago (Tim includes a fascinating history) as a means of combining wax crayons with the better quality pigments demanded by the serious artist. As a medium, they have much to recommend them, being easy to carry and requiring little in the way of ancillary equipment. They don’t drop colour, have no drying time and the images they create are thoroughly robust. If nothing else, therefore, they’re worthy of consideration as a lightweight sketching medium. However, as Tim amply and ably demonstrates here, they’re capable of considerable subtlety and the results he produces could easily be taken for soft pastel or even watercolour. This is, as the title suggests, aimed at the beginner and includes a very straightforward introduction and a series of detailed demonstrations that make the medium’s capabilities clear. For the more experienced artist, this might be a little more than is required, but it may still prove helpful if you are trying something that is unfamiliar. If I were to tell you that this is easily the best book on oil pastels I’ve seen, you’d rightly point out that it’s probably the only one. This isn’t quite true – I’m pretty sure I remember another – but Tim hasn’t taken the easy route and has put a lot of trouble into producing a book it will be hard to better. -- artbookreview.net * Henry Malt *Well-known to Leisure Painter readers, Tim Fisher demonstrates how to use oil pastels in this Beginner's Guide to Painting with Oil Pastels. The book includes history of oil pastels as well as the materials and tools you will need. Six full step-by-step projects, covering a variety of subjects show readers how to create vibrant oil pastel paintings, and demonstrate how they can be used in conjunction with acrylic inks and paints, as well as watercolours. * Leisure Painter, January 2019 *Tim's use of line, colour and economy of shape, make it one of the best books on painting, period. * Paint magazine (November 2018) *In a series of full-colour demonstrations, Tim shows you how to work with subjects as diverse as landscapes, buildings, boats, dogs, trees and flowers. He will also show you how to achieve subtle effects with your oil pastels by using blenders and by combining them with other media such as acrylics and inks. -- The SAA * The SAA Catalogue 19/20 *Table of ContentsIntroduction The history of oil pastels Materials and tools oil pastels Additional materials and tools Surfaces Surface preparation Getting started Painting a red pepper Techniques Mark-making Special effects Using solvents Using oil pastels with other media Projects Flowers: Poppy Field Trees and foliage: Norfolk Lane Street scenes: Venice Buildings: Staithes Cottages harbour scene: ‘Le Fantasque’ Animal portraits: Freyja Care and framing of your artwork Index

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Book SynopsisNew and experimental ways to capture landscape in acrylics. Landscape artist Paul Bailey's fascination with the natural world is sensationally conveyed in his colourful and semi-abstract paintings. In Experimental Nature in Acrylics, he reveals his techniques for the first time – making it simple for readers to produce their own work that is abstract, evocative and full of vivid colour. Through easy-to-follow explanations and step-by-step demonstrations, Paul describes how to manipulate the medium in surprising – yet often simple – ways. Readers will learn how distil craggy cliffs, rolling farmland hills, tidal rivers or flat, open-skied wilderness in striking and unusual colour palettes. There are tips on how to paint organic shapes and using abstract elements in the natural landscape as the basis for a painting, and how to create a compositional sense of rhythm. Paul’s beautiful and contemporary work appears throughout the book and acts as a masterclass in scraping, pulling, weathering and splattering the paint. As well as showing how to build layer upon layer, the process of construction and how to tease a sense of movement from a static image. This essential guide is a must for anyone wishing to augment their understanding of the acrylic medium and appreciation of composition and colour, and to liberate their own beautiful paintings.

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Book SynopsisTake your plein air artwork to the next level through easy-to-understand workshop-style lessons and skill-building exercises. In Plein Air Techniques for Artists, award-winning artist and respected workshop instructor Aimee Erickson demystifies how to capture a variety of light effects and guides you in strengthening your plein air skills through practice. This accessible book covers:   Materials and gear. Gain a basic knowledge of the possibilities so you can keep your options open and your plein air process fresh. Composition and value. Explore the impact of proportion, color, value, line, edges, shape, and texture. Color. Consider how knowledge and intention, your color palette, and what you see—your perspective—take turns being in charge of the color game, inventing rules and finding solutions. Light effects. Learn how conditions of the day—how much light there is, Trade Review"Award-winning oil painter Erickson’s devotion to sharing her love of plein air painting techniques is clear from the first pages of this book. This resource is a great addition to crafts collections. Suitable for both experienced artists and novices interested in this artistic practice." * Library Journal *"Aimee Erickson demystifies how to capture a variety of light effects—from sunlight and shadow to nighttime—and every glisten and glimmer in between. Her friendly tone and accessible workshop-syyle lessons and skill-building exercises offer artists down-to-earth guidance on painting more effectively in natural light. Exceptional still lifes, figures and landscapes by noted contemporary plein air artists provide endless inspiration." * Artists Magazine *Table of ContentsCONTENTS Introduction Finding “The Zone” 1 MATERIALS AND GEAR What’s Your Medium? Brushes and Brushstrokes Supports: Canvas, Panels, and Paper Plein Air Painting Kit 2 COMPOSITION AND VALUE Making Interesting Compositions Black and White Sketchbook Exercise: Notan Value Exercise: Simplified Value Studies 3 COLOR Speaking of Color . . . Color Exercises Exercise: A Color Chart, Emphasizing Value Exercise: Color Ladders Limited Palettes Color Development of Value Studies SUNLIGHT AND SHADOW Seeing Skills: Shift Your Perception Light, Shadow, and Color Demonstration: Light and Shadow on Architecture Where to Start Exercise: The Color of Light Raking Light Technique: Stain It, Draw It, Paint It Perspective Foreground Solutions 5 INDIRECT LIGHT Dappled and Filtered Light Technique: Starting with a Mid-Tone Canvas Demonstration: Large Scale Work Demonstration: Dappled Afternoon Light Overcast Light Demonstration: A Two-Session Painting Technique: Cutting In Painting Makeover: Light and Shadow Relationships Technique: Using a Broad Brush Shade and Reflected Light 6 BACKLIGHT Rim Light Contre-Jour: Against the Light Transmitted Light Technique: A Loose Start Painting Makeover: Perspective

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Book SynopsisMidoriya inherits the superpower of the world’s greatest hero, but greatness won’t come easy. Take your art PLUS ULTRA with My Hero Academia: The Official Easy Illustration Guide. Superartist Mika Fujisawa is here to teach you the quickest and most fun way to draw your favourite heroes, whether you’ve never picked up a pencil or you’re already a manga master!

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Book SynopsisCollage is an innovative and exciting technique that invigorates the artistic process through unusual associations and dislocated imagery. This practical book shows how collage can be used to portray the figure in new and challenging ways. Written for both novices and experienced artists, it explains the fundamental techniques used to manipulate different paints and collage, whilst encouraging experimentation and individual development.

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Book SynopsisFinely rendered line drawings, based on photographs of authentic Victorian and Edwardian era designs, depict lovely floral and foliate motifs, a remarkable array of geometrics, transitional designs showing Art Nouveau influence, and much more all in a wide range of sizes and shapes.

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Book SynopsisAlli Koch has mastered the art of turning simple doodles into beautifully designed floral illustrations. She shares her expertise in this book, a step-by-step guide that teaches everything you need to know about modern florals. You'll learn designs from classic favourites like the rose to today’s trendiest florals, as well as succulents and cacti. 'How to Draw Modern Florals' is an introduction, so no experience is needed!

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Book SynopsisDrawing and Painting Insects is a beautiful and inspiring guide. Whatever your experience, whether new to the subject or a seasoned entomologist, this book will help you capture the beauty of insects by helping you understand their structure and appreciate their behaviour, movement, colour and habitat.

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Book SynopsisBy the time you finish this book, you'll have all the skills you need to achieve a striking likeness in a drawn portrait. From understanding and constructing the head and shaping the hair, to checking the relationships of the features and achieving a lifelike expression, every aspect of the portrait process is examined, along with advice on what materials to use and how to find a model. Learn to draw facial features Understand the angles of the head Develop textures for the skin Experiment with light and tone

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Book SynopsisThere are some areas of watercolour painting that beginners often have trouble with, and one of these is skies. A sky can make or break a landscape painting. In this invaluable guide, Stephen Coates leads you through some highly effective techniques that will demystify sky painting and turn a good watercolour landscape into a brilliant one. Stephen takes a unique, no-fuss approach to watercolour, emphasizing the importance of planning, preparation and practise and explaining clearly which tools and materials you need, and how to prepare your palette before embarking on a painting. He then guides you through seven awe-inspiring skies, from blue summer skies to dramatic sunsets and storm clouds, introducing new skills and techniques as you progress through the book. With numerous handy tips and many examples of Stephen’s stunning landscapes throughout, this book will both instruct and inspire you to create beautiful, realistic skies with confidence.Trade ReviewStephen Coates will be well known to many amateur painters for his courses to art societies all over England and his articles in Leisure Painter. His new book, The Easy Guide to Painting Skies in Watercolour, addresses the problem of skies – a common issue for beginners. All-important to a landscape painting, a successfully painted sky can turn an average painting into a fantastic one. In his clear and concise style, Stephen shows you how to plan ahead for success, exploring materials and techniques, including watercolour, brushes and paper, so that you are prepared to make those first marks with confidence. There is also useful advice on working from photographs before Stephen embarks on describing how to paint skies of all kinds, from white clouds and sunbeams to the drama of stormy clouds, mist and sunsets. * Leisure Painter *Books on skies are not too hard to find and this important element (arguably the most important) of any landscape has been well-covered. The danger, of course, is of producing a masterclass that only serves to muddy the waters with over-complication. Regular readers will know how wary I am about “easy” guides. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it and it wouldn’t take a lifetime of study. Intelligently approached, however, they can be reassuring and progress in simple, straightforward steps that don’t tax the beginner or those struggling a bit to keep up. On those counts, this is absolutely admirable. Stephen starts with an analysis and explanations of materials and equipment, moving quickly to basic techniques, of which the first is a large, blended wash. The initial exercise uses one colour, then we move to two. It’s simple and progressive and we’re ready to start looking at white clouds. Nothing to frighten the horses, results that will satisfy and I think we’re ready to agree that, yes, it was pretty easy. Moving on, you’ll find heavy clouds, sunsets, storms, shafts of sunlight and mists as well as a look at perspective and focal points. Throughout, you’re really only painting skies, with rudimentary foregrounds that add only balance, without becoming an exercise in themselves – actually, if you want lessons in simplicity, you have them right there, an unexpected Brucie bonus. Easy? Well, maybe. Not too taxing? Absolutely. -- Henry Malt * Artbookreview.net *This book gives you a better view on painting many different skies. Easy to understand and in pictorial format. Step-by-step guide that holds your hand through every brush stroke. Thoroughly enjoyed reading the book, giving me a better view on those dramatic skies, I could never work out. I know now with Stephen's guidelines, I can produce a much better sky. This is a must have book. -- Jean Scott * Customer Review *I was given this book in exchange for an honest review, so as a beginner to watercolour I was looking forward to the contents of this book and I was really pleased with it. Firstly it is a very visual guide; not only do you get lots of photographs of the painting process but the Author has included pencil sketches to guide you and also source photographs so you can see the view that's been used to develop the painting. The author also has dotted the text with teaching points and these have pictures of how the effects should be accomplished and also what happens if you don't follow the author's advice. He even provides pictures of the consistency of different mixes of paint to water. Although the books is aimed at painting skies There is plenty of help to turn these skies into simple landscapes and seascapes that any beginner would be proud to produce. This is an excellent book, well written for the beginner to painting skies and I highly recommend it. -- Christine Jones * Customer Review *Books on skies appear from time to time, and most are based around a particular artist's methods of interpretation. Anyone with a reasonably comprehensive library will probably have Norman Battershill's and Ron Ranson's and refer to them for both information and pleasure. The practical approach is more usually a chapter in a wider guide to landscapes. So, do you, gentle reader of this august journal, need something that is clearly a beginners' guide? Well, there will be plenty there that you'll check off as 'knew that', but if I added the word comprehensive to the description, I'd probably have at least half your attention. There's light here, there are clouds, composition and balance as well as washes, wet-in-wet, perspective and recession. The book is a pleasure to read and full of ideas and information. Even if you are well experienced, the clear layout and excellent execution make it all worthwile. -- Henry Malt * The Artist *The sky is probably the most important part of any landscape painting. Stephen will show you not just how to look at colours and clouds, but also how to use washes and all the properties of your palette to capture look, feel and aesthetics. Stephen is well-versed in the techniques required to do all this, and he explains them clearly and concisely. This is a thorough and complete guide that will tell you everything you need and want to know. * SAA Catalogue *Table of ContentsIntroduction 6 The challenge of watercolour skies 8 Planning 9 Understanding the paint 10 Brushes and brushing techniques 16 Watercolour paper 21 Tools and materials 24 Working from photographs 26 SKIES Large Blended Washes 30, White Clouds 38, Sunset Skies 50, Sunbeams 60, Stormy Skies 70, Low Clouds and Mist 84, Perspective and Focal Points 94 Building your repertoire of skies 106 Index 112

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