Painting, drawing and art manuals Books

Book SynopsisEmbrace the spirit of Christmas with A Christmas Carol Colouring Book, including over 40 images inspired by Charles Dickens'' classic Christmas tale of goodwill.This enchanting colouring book brings the timeless tale of Ebenezer Scrooge to life in a vibrant and engaging way. Famous scenes from the A Christmas Carol have been wonderfully illustrated, accompanied by passages from the book itself to set the scene. As you colour each image, you''ll be transported to Victorian London and experience the magic of Christmas through the eyes of Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. For children and adults alike, A Christmas Carol Colouring Book is the perfect way to capture the joy of the holiday season and become more familiar with this classic tale. • Includes 45 designs• Printed on thick, high-quality paper• The images appear on single-sided pages to prevent bleed-t

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Book SynopsisBring the bright plumage of your favourite birds to life with this beautiful colouring book. From majestic eagles to colorful parrots, this book features a wide variety of feathered friends, beautifully stylized and waiting for you to add your own personal touch. Each page is filled with intricate patterns and details, perfect for adults looking for a relaxing and meditative colouring experience. Whether you''re an experienced artist or a beginner, this colouring book will help you to unwind, release stress, and let your imagination take flight. So grab your colouring tools and let the journey begin! • Includes 60 designs • Printed on thick, high-quality paper • The images appear on single-sided pages to prevent bleed-through 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, hi

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Book SynopsisCreate your own beautiful minimalist art with this collection of over 40 graceful, simple images that are a joy to colour. This stylish colouring book is inspired by the renowned minimalist art aesthetic, characterised by its bold forms, flowing lines and elegant subjects. This collection of images has been thoughtfully curated not only for their beauty but also their meditative qualities, inspiring a sense of calm and focus as you bring them to life with colour.Includes: • Nature-inspired motifs• Abstract and geometric forms• Faces, figures and profiles• Tranquil landscapesWhether you want to keep your finished creations or display them in your home, this colouring book is a wonderful way to unleash your creativity and enjoy the elegant beauty of minimalist style. ABOUT THE SERIES: The bestselling Arcturus Creative Colouring series brings together delightful colouring books designed to relax

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Book SynopsisFind peace and harmony with this entrancing colouring book, containing over 45 mystical patterns to bring to life with colour. Designed for reflection and relaxation, this inspiring colouring book includes of all kinds of patterns with mystical or spiritual links. A range of mandalas reveals their strict geometry while other patterns reflect elements such as the ''seeing eye'' or the moon, stars and planets. Concentrate on colouring these intricate shapes and allow your mind to relax, reset and gain clarity.• 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 A perfect gift for yourself or any colouring lover. ABOUT THE SERIES: The bestselling Arcturus Creative Colouring series brings together delightful colouring books designed to relax the mind and inspire creativity. Prin

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Book SynopsisTake a tour through the jungle with this wonderfully wild colouring book, packed with 45 images that conjure a luscious tropical wilderness.Inside you will find lounging leopards, brilliantly plumaged birds, snakes and lizards as well as tropical trees and vibrant plants. Some are rendered naturalistically; others take a more creative approach and are overlaid with intricate patterns. Lovers of colouring can find hours of pleasure and relaxation bringing these designs to life with colour.• 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 A perfect gift for yourself or any colouring lover. 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

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Book SynopsisMandalas are used throughout the world to unlock potential and promote a positive states of being. This beautiful collection with gold foil cover accents includes 45 beautiful mandala designs to inspire creativity and soothe the mind.Found in many cultures, mandalas are among the most enduring art forms. Their repeating patterns are perfect for those using colouring as a way to clear the mind - you can just concentrate on creating satisfying colour combinations and filling in the shapes as neatly as possible.• 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 markersChoose your favourite mandala, make a selection of coloured pencils or felt tips, select a quiet place where you can focus, and spend a couple of peaceful hours bringing your design to life with colour. ABOUT THE SERIES: The be

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Book SynopsisEmbark on a magical journey around the world with this stunning colouring book, the perfect way to relax this winter Inspired by moths of travelling the world, The Magical Journey explores some of our planet''s most beautiful landscapes and fascinating cities. This is an epic trip that will transport you from the depths of the Brazilian rainforest to the dizzying heights of the New Zealand mountains. Join Lizzie and faithful friend Paddy the Pug as they trek, fly, sail and swim through the wonders of the world, discovering hidden objects along the way. For fans of The Secret Garden and Animal Kingdom, this is the perfect companion to finding calm through creativity and mindfulness.

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Book SynopsisBring your own manga characters to life!With millions of fans around the world, manga is a beloved art form. Now you, too, can learn how to draw your favorite characters from Japanese comics and anime! Manga Art for Everyone shows you how to draw detailed clothing, facial expressions, and other features, like hair and accessories. With gradual steps and helpful tips, this book will have you creating your own colorful characters in no time at all!Learn to draw: Gothic Lolita Shonen Hero Bride Groom Nekojin ("cat people") Yokai Victorian Man Female Warrior The authors have done all the work for you. Just follow their simple, straightforward instructions, study the step-by-step drawings, and you'll soon have your own collection of fantastic manga characters!Trade ReviewPraise for Manga Art for Everyone:"Good characters are a key to good manga. If you’ve been trying to draw them, but still feel as though your drawings don’t look very manga-ish, this is a great book, with lots of good hints and idea templates with which to practice. Kudos to Danica Davidson and Rena Saiya for providing something very useful!”— Frederik L. Schodt, author of Manga! Manga! and Osamu Tezuka's English interpreter“Danica Davidson has done a fantastic job of expanding on Manga Art for Beginners in this lovely how-to guide, illustrated beautifully by Rena Saiya. It provides all the essential steps for the budding manga artist. Easy to understand explanations provide details on popular manga archetypes, giving the reader the tools they need to create their own dynamic manga characters.” —Robert McGuire, Publisher, One Peace BooksPraise for Manga Art for Beginners:"This manga instruction book focuses on character design and costume, devoting much more attention to details such as how to draw a rose or shoelaces, or which way a kimono crosses over, than proportion or anatomy. Much of that was covered in the previous book, Manga Art for Beginners (by Davidson and artist Melanie Westin). This is a solid selection for those who have mastered the basics and are ready to move on to character work." —School Library Journal

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Book SynopsisMath and art might seem like completely different worlds - especially to the number-phobic. But where they intersect, we can find the fractal growth of a snowflake, the spiral seeds of a sunflower, and dazzling abstract designs born of patterns and randomness. Here are 65 math-inspired illustrations to meditate on as you colour, from the Sri Yantra (an ancient Hindu mandala of nine entwined triangles) to a page full of Penrose tiles (two shapes that can cover an infinite surface - but in a sequence that never perfectly repeats)! These Patterns of the Universe reveal their underlying logic as they are filled in, so colouring becomes an act of discovery. Bestselling author Alex Bellos and mathematical illustrator Edmund Harriss include friendly explanations of the math that add to the wonder. Plus, 13 bonus activities at the back of the book invite colourists to help create their own one-of-a-kind designs!

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Book SynopsisWith Beginning Drawing, discover and master the fundamentals of drawing with professional tips and expert instruction.Designed especially for aspiring artists, Beginning Drawing offers a well-rounded introduction to the art of basic drawing. In this concept-and technique-driven approach, beginning artists will discover the fundamentals of the craft and how to put those skills into practice for creating realistic works of art. From showing how to select and work with the tools of the trade to demonstrating a range of basic techniques, Beginning Drawing provides a thorough, easily digestible overview of key drawing concepts, including lighting, shading, shadows, perspective, texture, and composition, and then demonstrates how these techniques intersect, both functionally and creatively, in a wider context within a complete piece of art. Step-by-step lessons encourage practice, focusing readers on the methods and techniques designed to enhance their overall skill level, before graduating on to more subject-specific works. Packed with professional tips and expert instruction, Beginning Drawing is the perfect book for anyone desiring to learn, and ultimately master, the art of drawing. The Portfolio series covers essential art techniques, core concepts, and media with an approach and format that’s perfect for aspiring, beginning, and intermediate artists.Also available from the series:Beginning Acrylic, Beginning Watercolor, Beginning Pastel, Beginning Colored Pencil, Beginning Color Mixing, Expressive Painting, Beginning Color Mixing, Beginning Pen & Ink, and Beginning Composition.

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Book SynopsisRelax and dive into the ultimate guide to creating watercolour paintings of your favourite flowers! From bright red roses to deep green cacti, this gorgeous, easy-to-follow book will show how anyone can paint luminous watercolour flowers and botanicals. Noted artist and instructor Rachel Eskandari details how anyone can paint a garden of bold, creative watercolour images. Featuring colourful step-by-step images, this book shows how to master the basics of watercolours and then expand your colour palette to create boldly unconventional floral artwork. Watercolour Botanical Garden features everything you need to know, including: Colour theory and mixing for unique shades Utilising the skills of blending, gradients, and shading Instruction for creating 20 different plants including roses, cacti, peonies, carnations, succulents, anemones, poppies, leaves, and more How to incorporate multiple botanical images for a gorgeous landscape painting

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Book Synopsis***Take your urban sketching skills to the next level with watercolour. Bestselling author and artist Phil Dean (@shoreditchsketcher) provides a step-by-step guide to creating beautiful urban artworks. Get started with the very basics of depicting cityscapes with a pencil or pen, including tips on perspective, measuring, and mark-making. Then move straight on to the core watercolour techniques you will need to introduce stunning colour and tone to your sketches.With 20 easy-to-follow exercises on everything from negative space to line & wash, Sketch Club: Urban Watercolour is your go-to guide to elevating your urban art. Chapters include:- Loosening Up- Urban Drawing 101- Getting Started with Watercolour- Taking Your Watercolour Further- Finishing Touches

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Book Synopsis28 different characters, poses and expressions that offer a dynamic selection of Manga-style male figures. Drawing boys 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.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 Synopsis28 different characters, poses and expressions that offer a dynamic selection of manga chibi figures. Chibis are a fun subject to explore, with large eyes, tiny bodies and very expressive emotions. This is a genre perfect for anyone seeking to learn a simpler form of manga and the basics of creating these delightful characters. Trade ReviewSo easy to understand with step by step instructions. This came in handy for my daughter who is studying art at school. She loved the book and took bits from it and made her own characters too. For anyone who loves to draw anime this book will show the basics and you will hunger to learn more * Jenny Cooper *spent a fun afternoon with my son drawing these little characters, the book makes it so easy to draw, step by step - a great place to start for budding manga artists, i think we will be moving on to some more advanced characters soon. A4 sized paperback book. * Sallyanne Rose *I received 'How To Draw: Manga Chibis' last month and it really is a great way of showing you how to get started when it comes to drawing manga characters. The book is made up almost exclusively of step-by-step figures which, in my opinion, is the best way to teach someone how to draw. I mean, who can learn to draw from superfluous paragraphs of text?! Each stage of the drawing process is clearly outlined, you simply start off with lines and circles as a guide, and you add a little more with each step. You'll be surprised at how quickly your character develops and you'll soon be able to draw without the aid of the book at all. With the run-up to Christmas, this would make an ideal gift for both kids and adults alike. Yishan Li really has provided a truly great resource for learning how to draw manga figures. Recommended. * Derek Wilson *I got this book with my 11 year old in mind. He loves to draw and is always practising. This book shows lots of different manga figures to draw broken down into simple easy to follow steps. My son loves it and has expanded his drawing skills. * Lisa Mayles *My stepson is a big Manga fan, and was trying to start drawing his own characters, this book, with its step-by-step illustrations has really helped him to improve. The book itself, with the eight-stage technique, is really easy to follow, even for beginners (I had a go myself!), and I'd recommend it for anyone wanting to have a go at Manga. * Susie Wilkinson *'How To Draw Manga Chibis' is a simple, yet very effective book which can help start you on your way to drawing brilliant manga figures. The book features very little text (apart from the first page) which makes it a very easy to understand book. There are plenty of figures (28) to practise drawing and these can be adapted to create your own manga chibis. Each page shows roughly seven or eight drawings, right from the basic circles and lines to start with, each picture then adding more detail next time. I haven't really tried drawing before I had this book and have practised using the figures in the book. I am very pleased with how simply it is set out and none of the pictures seems overwhelming. It is an A4 sized book of 32 pages. It is informative and well worth a try. * Kaiserin Maggs *This book was given to me to review and I found it to be very pleasing. I've tried drawing manga before now, and own several "How to books" by various authors, so was very pleased to receive this one to review. The book starts off with a short introduction about what Chiblis are and an explanation on how to understand the drawing stages that has been used in the book, to aid you in drawing them, followed by some recommendations on what to use to draw and colour each character. This book contains 28 cute little Chibis to draw, in several "how to draw" stages. These include a cute Cat Maid, a Sorceress, a delightfully fluffy, Polar Bear Mascot and a fun Footballer, besides many other wonderfully drawn, fun, cute and creative characters, to draw and colour yourself. The designs in this book, are suitable for any ability in drawing, as there are a few "easier" ones to draw and a few other more "challenging" ones to enjoy. Yishian uses several stages to show how to draw each Chibis, starting from the basic outline to get the sizing right, on limbs, heads etc. All the way up to the final finished stage - a complete Chibis. The stages are very easy to follow, with her using different coloured outlines to highlight the different stages of drawing, making it easy to follow and see how each layer goes on top of each prior layer, to build up to the final picture. This also gives you a wonderful insight on how to, maybe go on, and draw your own styled Chibis, using the same ideas as you get used to copying, throughout the book. I would personally recommend this book to anyone who enjoys drawing manga or anyone thinking about trying to learn how to draw it, as its gives you plenty of guidance and clear stages on how to draw these cute little characters. * Kelly Biss *Great book. Easy to understand and a great fun way to start drawing. * Jo Udall *

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Book SynopsisThis book is the culmination of various expeditions made by well-known artist and bestselling author David Bellamy to his beloved Arctic. His descriptions of his travels, written from an artist’s point of view, vividly bring to life the challenges he faced when painting outdoors in one of the harshest environments on the planet, and make for an exhilarating and captivating read. Filled with David’s watercolour paintings and sketches, made during his various expeditions, the book provides a fascinating insight into the wildlife and people that live within the Arctic Circle and captures perfectly the majesty and breathtaking beauty of the world’s final wilderness. Trade ReviewThis book is an absolute delight, to browse through, to absorb the superb and evocative images, sketches and watercolours that took me straight back to my own Arctic wanderings, to adorn your coffee table or to read for inspiration or a good laugh. * Sir Chris Bonington, renowned British mountaineer. *This is a magnificent book. David Bellamy’s art beautifully captures the sheer splendour and majesty of this great wilderness, its wildlife and people. And his narrative is at the same time informative and funny – he goes to great lengths to paint in this unforgiving landscape, watching out for polar bears, sketching while sledging at speed across rock-hard pack ice, or hanging precariously off inch-wide ice ledges, paintbrush (often frozen) in hand. David is an inspiration and this book is inspirational – I cannot recommend it highly enough. * Ranulph Fiennes *I first encountered David Bellamy almost by accident. The husband of a friend of my wife’s was a freelance designer and happened to remark that I ought to see the book he was working on, which was The Wild Places of Britain. It was amazing. I followed it up with the publisher, struck a deal and sold an awful lot of copies. I said of it then that David visits hidden and out-of-the-way places and brings back their atmosphere, people and stories. Since then, there have been many more books, mostly instructional, and the work he does for exhibition has only occasionally been seen in print. The Arctic is one of the world’s last great wildernesses and getting to it imposes a huge number of difficulties. Simply existing there is also a challenge and carries very real dangers. Imagine, then, trying to paint in freezing winds, snow and ice when your body and materials are as unwilling to co-operate as they can be. David has a reputation for painting on the edge and has been shown hanging off ropes on desolate crags before. This, however, is a whole different ballgame. If this was just a tale of endurance, it would have little to recommend it. Sure, learning that gin is a great antifreeze (for your painting water) is all part of the fun that David manages to make this seem, but if the art wasn’t up to scratch, the book would be meaningless. It’s therefore a pleasure to report that David is at the peak of his powers. The conditions that make the Arctic a challenge to visit also make photography difficult and painting captures the landscapes better than the camera ever can. Few of us will ever make it this far north, and that’s as it should be. Wildernesses like this can only be preserved by their remoteness and lack of visitors. The Antarctic is already being endangered by tourism. The value of the book, therefore, is the tale it tells, in both words and pictures, of a beautiful region that is filled with mystery, unfamiliar creatures, and inhabitants who live on the edge and have strange legends. This is both a traveller’s tale and a love story and David is perhaps the only person alive who can tell it so effectively. His paintings, all exquisitely reproduced, are breath-taking and the words he weaves round them create the nearest impression of actually being there that most of us will, or should, ever achieve. This is a major contribution to science as well as to art and a magnificent production of which all involved should be proud. * Artbookreview.net *Like JMW Turner, the artist whom he admits to being his greatest influence, David Bellamy prefers to his paintings outdoors and in all weathers. That's why you can alsmost feel the biting wind and vicious spindrift squalls in the watercolours in his latest sumptuos offering, in which describes his experiences in the Scandinavian Arctic. The author who provides our Golden Eagle award winning painting every year, explains his interest in the Arctic came late in life, following a trip to Iceland with his daughter Catherine. He soon found as he explains, that was his favoured medium of watercolour worked superbly well in rendering the subtle nuances and infinite variation of tone and colour in ice subjected to changing light and atmospheric conditions. As anyone who has been to iceland or the arctic can attest, weather conditions at those lattitudes are every bit as changeable as the Government's plan for Brexit. As the Icelanders are fond of telling you 'If you don't like our weather hang on five minutes and it'll change.' Bellamy's top Arctic watercolour painting tip? Use gin or vodka, with their low freezing points, instead of water. And why the often uncomfortable and long winded method of sketching the first scene, instead of just taking a photograph? The author's response? '...you see and learn so much more when spending even a few minutes sketching a subject.' The result is without a doubt the finest collection of paintings of the Arctic I have ever seen. Bellamy's senstive brush-work captures every nuance of mountain, glacier and fjord and leaves the reader with the intense desire to return to these magnificent unspoilt wildernesses. * Roly Smith - president of the Outdoor Writers' and Photographers' Guild *Artist David Bellamy transports us into the wild and wonderful lands of the Artic with his photographs, beautifully illustrated sketches and watercolour paintings. David has alweays loved exploring the world's incredible landscapes, wildlife and people, and loves caputing his discoveries through the means of art. During the making of this book he found himself doing his sketches on moving dog sledges, keeping a wary eye out for hungry polar bears, and sometimes it was so cold his paint would freeze up! The perfect combination of storytelling, entertaining anecdotes and imagery, this book is a delightful insigh into David's icy adventures. * Adventure Travel *The judges commented: “In a market-place seemingly full of 'personal accounts' of some journey or another, this book is singularly different, bringing a fascinating insight into the creative artistic process, and providing a readable, informative account of exploring one of the world's wildest places.” * OWPG Awards for Excellence *David Bellamy often finds himself in all sorts of predicaments when seeking an elusive sketch. Despite tripping over a crodile in Kenya and tumbling down a cliff, nothing seems to stop this 74-year-old from being in the great outdoors. Growing up in the West Wales countryside, he cultivated a love for nature, with a keen fascination for its moods and wild places. Seeing the raw landscapes of Iceland motivated him to venture further north, into the Arctic. After a dog-sledging trip to East Greenland his hunger to explore more paint worthy landscapes drew him back another seven times- backpacking across mountains on foot, sailing up the Svalbard coast in a 49-foot boat and cruising a Zodiac up and 81km fjord. Each visit exposed him to more facets of the Arctics natural charm, such as the moulins at Greenland's ice cap. His book David Bellamy's Arctic Light includes his most fearful moments, such as when the glacier beneath him broke up while he was sketching a natural ice bridge. While he revels in the atmopshere of the moment when sketching outdoors, the Arctic's subzero temperatures also means that brushes freeze when dipped in water- an artist's worst nightmare. Bellamy's witty solution Add gin to lower the freezing point. In exceptional circumstances he was even rubbed snow over dry watercolour pencil sketches. To Bellamy, 'the High Arctic can be a hostile and unforgiving place, but it will well reward lovers of truly wild places' Besides preparing for potential severe weather conditions, he encourages travellers to hire a local hunter-guide for any Arctic expedition. 'And take along a little luxury with you to relieve difficult moments, even if it's just a bar of your favourite chocolate' * Singapore Airlines *18 October 2017 In depicting the nature, atmosphere and attraction of the Arctic, the artist takes us on a most interesting visit to a land of snow, ice, storms and waste. But it is much more than this and has its own beauty which impels itself on the mind forever of those lucky enough to experience it. This is not just an artist's impressions, for behind those, are hints and explanations for any artist or would-be artist, of how he worked for and reached this wonderful display of the land in all its moods. His delight in experiencing and depicting this land that has so much to offer us comes through in all his work. This is a delightful book into which, because of a life-long interest in the Arctic I will dip into time and time again. * Yorkshire Gazette & Herald *Having had the privilege to venture within the Arctic Circle a few times, I was delighted to read David Bellamy’s book Arctic Light. In truth, the pleasure was more in looking at the pictures - some stunning and evocative images of those icy climes. I have always struggled to explain how a landscape of white can be so compelling and utterly beautiful. Bellamy’s paintings show us how; the subtle mix of blues, greys and purples that make up the arctic landscape, full of contrast. It is this clarity of light that we no longer see in most of the world that meets the eye in a stark and startling way. I can remember sitting outside a wooden cabin in Liverpool Land where Bellamy has done some of his paintings, gazing for hours at the mountains on each side and the glacier valley winding away into the distance. There was no plant or animal life to attract my attention, no bird nor arctic hare, no fox nor polar bear, nothing. Even our Greenland dog was curled up on his favourite stone, sunning himself. Yet it captivated. In the summer months the splashes of colour of the flowers and musk ox show a very different place, the green land that gave the sub continent its name. The book is principally a book for artists; Bellamy describes how the sketches and paintings were produced and narrates how they were obtained. He tells of the trials and tribulations, not to mention the fear, that artists sometimes encounter to create their own unique representation of a remote landscape. Bellamy vividly recounts being belayed into moulin, whereupon he commenced sketching. In all weathers he sketches and paints - when the paint doesn't freeze - and even then, he does. Apparently dipping brushes in gin helps! For the mountaineer, ski mountaineer and climber, this book is a journey of exploration from a different perspective. It tempts the reader to places such as Greenland, Iceland Norway and Svaalbard. For those who have already been, it is a memento of the landscapes, peoples and animals of the Arctic, all wonderfully captured in paintings. * Adele Long - Alpine Club *The British artist David Bellamy is known for his multiple teaching books of watercolor painting. But his great passion lies in the discovery of untouched landscapes, getting to know foreign cultures and their customs. “Arctic light” takes the reader in the rough and icy world of the Arctic with describable beautiful landscape images accompanied by photographs, drawings and anecdotes of his multiple adventurous expeditions into the eternal ice. In his early years David Bellamy thought like many people that the Arctic was a featureless landscape of snow and ice with no mountains. But on several travels to Iceland, Greenland and the High Arctic he was convinced of the contrary. David Bellamy understands like no other painter to capture the release of colour and atmosphere of this unreal landscape. He displays the variety of white and grey/black hues that contrasts with vibrant colours of details which catch the viewers eye. Snapshots of the Inuit’s hard life, menacing ice bear scenes as well as breathtaking sky colouring make every aquarelle worth seeing. Accompanying the drawings are humorous stories and exciting experiences. Aggressive ice bear and sudden treacherous weather made his travels often a dangerous adventure. Extreme temperatures demanded unusual painting techniques and improvisation. Quickly drawn sketches show impressions of the extreme painting positions and adverse weather conditions. Conclusion: The symbiosis of expressive aquarelle and exciting accompanying texts make “Arctic light “an extraordinary book which combines the art of painting and travel guide. https://kreativreview.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/arctic-light-by-david-bellamy.html * Kreative Review *Watercolorist David Bellamy recounts his recent trips to the Arctic in this beautiful book of words and pictures. Search Press don’t publish many hardback books so when they do you can be sure it will be a visual feast to make any coffee table proud to house it. Greenland, Norway, Iceland and Svalbard reveal their stunning landscapes, seascapes, wildlife and people in this talented artist’s work and although this is not a primer there is plenty here to inspire. He captures the chilly light perfectly, illuminating icy vistas, mountains, floe laded seas and skies full of snow. There are sketches of polar bears, walruses, musk oxen and other creatures in different poses and a few of the people he met but it is the landscapes that dominate and are this artist’s forte. His accounts of the trips are lively and amusing, filled with anecdotes and local color. Discover some of the traditional foods, unique history and the trials of travelling and painting in the freezing cold. Some instruction on how to achieve some of the beautiful effects in his work would have made a great book even better, but this is not the purpose of this handsomely illustrated travelogue. Perfect for dipping into as there is something to gaze at or read on every page. An ideal present if you can bear to part with it. * myshelf.com *David Bellamy is a watercolour artist, author of several books, teacher and, as it turns out, quite an adventurer. Having travelled previously to the Himalayas, Andes and Africa, chillier climes are sought out here. David recounts this expedition where he travelled to the Scandinavian Arctic in Greenland and Svalbard into Norway and Iceland. For those that read his account of what he saw, did and painted, this book is a perfect way of living life vicariously through the artist. David’s experiences are hilarious, breathtaking and terrifying in equal measure. He balances each out perfectly, taking you from humour to the grim reality of the cold, the danger and physical injuries. His descriptions of the environs are rich with imagery such as the ‘lava-black Icelandic moonscape, surrounded by blackened and distorted lava-demons, statuesque and eerie in the mist’ and poetic: ‘I peered…into light that transformed them into many-coloured jewels, sparkling where sunlight caught sharp edges, incandescent with breathtaking purity’. With descriptions like these, you also travel on a journey lit up by his words. It is a book of many different experiences of people, places and animals and all are reflected in the beautiful artwork that David Bellamy produces. Many sketches were produced under freezing conditions and it is fascinating to see pictures that were sketched whilst he was hanging from an icy crevasse or paintings where the colour froze as it was applied. Just flicking through to look at each of the pictures in turn, you can only guess the sense of wonder at seeing these places first hand when their interpretations are things of beauty. This is a book of many things and each sitting brings something new to the reader. An insight into the way of life for the people that live and work in the places David Bellamy has visited, the harshness of life but also a travelogue of one man’s experiences seeing polar bears, walruses, glaciers, volcanos and icebergs. Entertaining, informative and a thing of beauty. What more could we ask for? * Samantha Packer *Issue 10 - Jul 17 Usually reserved for nature documentaries, the incredible beauty of the Arctic is unlikely to be something you'll be painting on location anytime soon. But thanks to renowned teacher and artist David Bellamy, you can get a little closer to that breathtaking experience. In this book the intrepid David ventures into greenland and the Norwegian island and Svalbard. He mixes tales of biting winds, sub-zero temperatures and whiteout conditions with life studies of polar bears, seals and other fauna, as well as mountainous frozen landscapes, churning ice cold seas and wild skies. If you love embarking on sketching expeditions yourself, this is an exhilarating journey into the extremes that will put gripes such as erecting a tent in the drizzle, or getting a blister on a hike, firmly into perspective. David's elaborative writing style leads you through the trials and tribulations of his journey, with hand drawn maps and behind-the-scenes photos helping you feel part of the action. But the real star is the artwork itself, displayed proudly across whole spreads in places. * Paint & Draw *Summer 2017 David Bellamy has written numerous books on watercolour painting, but this latest David Bellamy's Arctic Light is something different. The culmination of various expeditions he's made over the years, David brings the life of the arctic vividly to life, not only through some amazing paintings, but with descriptions of his travels and annotated sketches that capture the maginificence of the harsh enviroment and the people and wildlife that inhabit it. The British Mountaineer Chris Bonnigton writes in the introduction 'This book is an absolute delight, to browse through, to absorb the superb and evocative images, sketches and watercolours that took me straight back to my own Arctic wanderings, to adorn your coffee table or to read for inspiration or a good laugh.' * The Leisure Painter *August 2017 Be under no illusion this is a major publication. The Arctic is one of the world's largest great wildernesses and one of the hardest to get to. Despite this, David has made several visits and this book is the story of the place, the adventure, the people and the wildlife. As his first book, The Wild Places of Britain, showed, David is an excellent storyteller, both in pictures and words, and this is an enthralling account of a region few of us will ever see. To have illustrated it with paintings adds further personality to the tale, showing David's interpretation rather than photographic recordings. Although it is not an instructional book, David does record some of the perils of painting in sub-zero conditions and you marvel at his persistence and ingenuity. Such a book needs the very best production and Search Press have rightly given it the treatment it deserves. * The Artist *I have always liked David Bellamy’s paintings, so when this came I was so excited. It exceeds my expectations, this is a book I love. Subtitled ‘An artist’s journey in a frozen wilderness’, the book is just that. David’s palette suits this subject perfectly. He makes full use of all his incredible skills to portray the glaciers, people and animals of the region. The text is David’s reactions to the landscape, the eeriness, the natural dangers – you almost feel as if you are standing beside him. It is an artist’s journal of a remarkable journey, with insight into this incredible world and its natural landscape with nesting villages or vast glaciers. Sketches, paintings, observations and travels all rolled into one. This book captures the essence of the Arctic perfectly. Illustrated throughout with fabulous watercolour paintings. Beautifully put together in a book that captivates the eye and and entertains the mind. Highly recommended. * Yarnsandfabrics.co.uk *This book is an absolute delight, a culmination of various expeditions made by well-known artist and author David Bellamy to his beloved Arctic. Filled with David’s watercolour paintings and sketches, it provides a fascinating insight into the wildlife and people that live within the Arctic Circle. * The People's Friend *

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Book SynopsisTempted to start painting but not sure where to start? Learn how to paint beautiful watercolour flowers using just 3 colours, 3 brushes, a plastic palette and a watercolour pad. This book will build your skills through easy exercises, starting from the simplest of tulips and working up to a stunning rose. Clear advice and step-by-step photography will show you exactly what to do at each stage. No drawing necessary – you can simply trace and transfer the basic drawings from the finished paintings, which are shown at full size. Colours used: cadmium yellow pale, ultramarine blue and permanent rose. Brushes used: Round brushes size 10 (Large), size 8 (Medium), and a size 4 (Small).Trade ReviewMany readers will remember using watercolor paint in childhood, but fine-art watercolor is a whole different thing and can feel intimidating for someone just beginning. King recognizes this and starts with a minimum of equipment, the most basic techniques, and a very common subject: flowers. Using just the three primary colors of paint, three brushes, and one pad of watercolor paper, the novice painter can get started with a nominal investment in materials. Starting with a single tulip and progressing through nine increasingly complex flowers, King teaches the reader three techniques in each painting, encouraging confidence and mastery along the way, and adding up to a well-rounded knowledge base. For those who find the blank page daunting, King also includes instructions for using tracing paper and pencil to transfer the outlines of her finished paintings onto watercolor paper. Terminology is explained as it comes up in “jargon buster” feature boxes, and a preview of what the reader will learn in the following project is offered at the end of each set of instructions. -- Anne Heidemann * Booklist *Flower painting being the tricky subject that it is, anything that simplifies the painting process has to be a good thing, just as long as it doesn’t over-simplify and trivialise. It’s therefore something of a relief to be able to say that Julie manages her task with considerable success. You will, I’m sure, be amazed by the variety of tints and hues she manages to achieve with just three base colours (the same ones throughout). Yes, if you look closely, the results lack some of the subtlety that could be achieved with more, but you wouldn’t feel dissatisfied with the results, for all that. I also have a feeling that the reproduction may not be as sharp as it could be, and that what you see on paper might be better that it is on the pages of the book. I also wouldn’t have chosen that sunflower as the cover illustration as it really doesn’t convey the variety of what you can achieve. Please don’t let it put you off. In keeping with the series style, there are plenty of generously-sized stage illustrations, short captions telling you what’s going on and sidebars that include a variety of tips and jargon busters. With 9 projects and clear instruction, this is the ideal place to start on a rewarding subject. You might also find it useful if you’ve already had a go, but are struggling. * Artbookreview.net *Keen to learn how to paint in watercolors from scratch but don’t want to spend too much in case it is not for you? Search Press’ Take Three Colours series is ideal as you only have to buy a few materials and each primer takes you through several skill building projects ideal for the complete beginner. I LOVE this idea and think you could do a series like this for most hobbies. Trying to work out the minimum amount you need to actually make something but worried you won’t take to it concerns everybody taking the plunge with a new interest. With this series you just buy three colors, three brushes, some paper and a cheap palette. The author takes you step by step with nine projects, each one teaching you several essential skills. The final painting is shown life size (A4) so you can trace it off and transfer it to your paper (instructions included). As well as Search Press’ trademark staged photographs there is a useful list of the skills covered, “jargon buster” boxes and even a closeup of a palette with the mixed colors on it. Also included is help on how to mix them and various tips. My only complaint is that the shot of the pencil tracing could be a bit easier to see; knowing how much detail has been included in a tracing is very helpful for a beginner. But this is a very minor gripe and the rest of the book gets an unreserved five stars for being a truly accessible primer a total beginner can actually learn from with no prior knowledge. Soon you can have a portfolio of lovely floral paintings including tulip, rose, passion flower, sunflower, poppies and more. At the front of the book is a helpful page showing thumbnails of all nine paintings and all for under a tenner (or under $15 US). More please, covering other types of paint and topics. Very highly recommended. * Myshelf.com *Always wanted to work with watercolours but don't know how to begin? This book shows you how to achieve good results with just three colours and three brushes. In this way it limits what you have to spend on materials and concentrates on getting you painting. It shows how to mix paints and has step-by-step guides throughout covering those popular features of landscape painting such as skies, water, woodland and mountains. There are nine easy projects to build your skills. In just a few simple steps, you will feel like a painter. A confidence-building book for anyone interested in watercolour. * Yarnsandfabrics.co.uk *August 2017 Watercolour Flowers by Leisure Painter contributor Julie King is part of the Take Three Colours series from Search Press (also includes Watercolour Landscapes by Geoff Kersey) which aims to encourage beginners to start painting using just three colours, three brushes and nine easy projects. Julie's book starts with a very simple picture of a tulip and works up to a more complicated rose. Jargon-free and pared down to the absolute essentials, this is the perfect book to get you started with clear advice and excellent step-by-step colour photographs. * The Leisure Painter *Table of ContentsIntroduction 6, Using the colours 8, Using the brushes 10 Projects 12 Tulips 12, Japanese Anemone 16, Geranium 20, Buttercups 24, Poppies 30, Sunflower 36, Pansies 42, Passion Flower 48, Rose 56 Transferring a drawing 64

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Book SynopsisFill your home with original, professional art - and learn to paint at the same time. This innovative new series is a poster book, an art pad and a step-by-step painting book all rolled into one! Each of the five A3 posters are ready to pull out, frame and display. In addition, you can enjoy the calming pursuit of painting each of the pictures yourself using the pre-printed outlines - so no drawing required. The large, landscape format of the book allows each stage of painting to be clearly and comprehensively explained with an innovative annotation approach. Simply pull out the simple, stage-by-stage tutorial pages and pin them to your easel, then paint directly onto the watercolour outline for fantastic results. In this title, Country Scenes, learn to paint a range of inspiring landscapes: journey to a tranquil New Forest stream, a rolling Tuscan hillside and a snowy mountain river, and enjoy 5 masterclasses in landscape painting. Trade ReviewIf you have always wanted to try your hand at painting but don’t know where to start, Search Press has come up with an innovative solution with this new series. Inside this large format (A3) book are five sheets of watercolor paper with outlines printed on them plus fully illustrated tutorials and a brief overview. Work through the projects and you will have a set of five elegant landscapes for your walls. I love this idea; surely the best one yet that Search Press has come up with for total beginners. It keeps the budget down as you don’t have to buy the paper, just the relevant paints and brushes listed, plus primer to prime the paper and some masking fluid. There are even suggestions as to further economy such as using an old plate instead of buying a palette and using an old brush rather than buying a masking tape version. At this time of year you could imagine that this book plus a few of the necessary items would make a wonderful present for a would-be artist. Subjects include a river in winter, tranquil clearing with a church and bluebells, a summer stream, farm in Tuscany and my favorite scene of a meadow in spring with blossoms, trees and a stream. Each picture is shown full sized to give you an idea of what it can look like completed, although it suggests that you can use the outlines for your own interpretation too. Instructions are in color and show up to four stages of the relevant painting with arrows to short sections of text telling you what to do next. This is a good approach to a practical task and eliminates ploughing through pages of text and encourages you to get on with the actual painting. You don’t even have to stick to watercolors, as these pictures can also be completed using pastels, colored pencils or acrylics. At the front there are tips on priming, using masking fluid and how to use the book. It is also ideal as a refresher course or for anybody who can already paint but wants to try a new medium, or a new subject. In short, I can recommend this new series to anybody who wants to have a go at painting without too much startup expense but plenty of foolproof instructions. More titles please! If landscapes aren’t your thing or you still have some blank walls to fill, the other title in the series is Flowers. This follows exactly the same pattern with five floral studies of tulips, irises, sunflowers, roses and poppies. ISBN:9781782217558. -- Rachel Hyde * myShelf.com *Search Press's new series, Paint Pad Poster Books offer a poster book, art pad and step-by-step painting book all in one. Country Scenes shows you how to paint landscapes, and each of the five pull-out A3 posters can be framed and displayed. The stage by stage tutorial pages can also be pulled out so that you can access the information easily, painting directly onto the watercolour outline for quick and satisfying results. The landscapes include the River Esk, a blossom meadow, the short cut tutorial, farm in Tuscany and New Forest Stream. * Leisure Painter, March 2020 *Table of Contents- Introduction to the book and some general instructions - 5 pull-out posters - River Esk tutorial - Blossom Meadow tutorial - The Short Cut tutorial - Farm in Tuscany tutorial - New Forest Stream tutorial - 5 ready-to-paint outlines on watercolour paper

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

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Book SynopsisDiscover how to bring polar animals to life in 6 easy steps. Award-winning artist Jonathan Newey teaches you to transform simple shapes into majestic polar bears, snowy reindeer and awe-inspiring whales. Choose from an albatross mid-flight, a tottering penguin chick and much more. There are 25 different animals to create, in a variety of poses and styles. Each project starts with a few basic outlines and progresses into a finished tonal drawing, and a final coloured version shows you how to develop your drawing even further. Perfect for beginners, as well as budding artists, you’ll be amazed how easily you too can draw polar animals with this inspiring guide. Trade ReviewThey might not be colourful but the Polar Regions contain some of our most popular animals. Stately polar bears, irresistible penguins, cute seals and mighty whales all call these chilly areas home (or at least visit them) and this book shows you how to draw them. Get those pencils sharpened ready for some step-by-step lessons and by Christmas you will be designing your own greetings cards. For those not au fait with the How to Draw series these books all follow a similar pattern making it possible to draw even quite complex subjects. The first step is shown in grey, with each subsequent step adding details in brown. Once the outline is complete there is a picture showing it shaded in graphite, with a final option shown in coloured pencil. Note that the term “beginner” is not present; anybody daunted by the final two steps might be better off getting a book on learning to draw before tackling this title. This book will appeal to anybody who is already familiar with the basic techniques but wants to have a go at drawing something new. There are 25 animals to tackle, including lynx, walrus, wolf, orca and narwhal as well as smaller subjects such as lemming, kittiwake, hare and arctic tern. This is a useful addition to a popular series. -- Rachel A Hyde * myshelf.com *I love these guides! They really are step-by-step instructions on how to draw animals. This one is for all those polar critters - think penguins, seals, walrus, polar bears etc. Starting with a few basic shapes the book guides you from start to finish and really helps you get the correct proportions for all the animals. Once you have your outline it then shows two options for a coloured or back and white finish. I'm not a natural artist but this book really helped me create pictures of animals that were instantly recognisable! -- Angela L Paull * Amazon *Clearly and simply set out steps. The use of the bubbles to define the initial shape of the animals is extremely helpful. Then building them up to define the animal more carefully. Finally filling in the details. Clearly and simply set out in a way that encourages even reluctant drawers to undertake quite intricate designs. -- Diane Whale * Amazon Customer Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction 4 Canada lynx 5 Kittiwake 6 Arctic wolf 7 Snowy owl 8 Harp seal pup 10 Atlantic puffin 11 Baby penguin 12 Penguin 13 Arctic fox 14 Arctic lemming 15 Polar bear cub 16 Polar bear 17 Musk ox 18 Humpback whale 19 Antarctic fur seal 20 Orca 21 Young leopard seal 22 Snowy reindeer 23 Walrus 24 Arctic hare 26 Narwhal 27 Beluga whale 28 Arctic tern 29 Albatross 30 Elephant seal 32

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Book SynopsisBotanical and scientific illustration share many common themes - the meticulous observation, the crucial composition, the precision of rendering and the accuracy of colour are all intrinsic to this niche genre of art. In this beautiful book, Sarah Jane Humphrey explains the techniques of the botanical artist but also introduces ideas for scientific illustration, so that the illustrator has a fuller understanding when rendering the natural world. Detailed instruction on all aspects of illustration is given, from application and materials to research and field trips. There is practical advice on using monochrome and colour theory to bring your illustration to life. Illustrated with over 200 of the author's exquisite illustrations, it is an invaluable companion for both beginners and experienced artists, as well as a source of inspiration and joy.

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Book SynopsisPainting buildings is an exciting and versatile genre - it allows you to enjoy the lines of architecture but also to add feeling and context to a picture. This practical book explains the full depth of the subject, from first sketches to final presentation. Using a range of examples, it is packed with advice and information, and follows the riches of painting the built landscape. Not just a handy reference, this is a beautiful and inspirational guide for every artist who wants to capture and interpret a scene. Topics covered include: Drawing - practise observation and sketching to identify the principal lines of view. Perspective - understand three-dimensional structures and their position to each other and in space. Oils - use the versatility of the paint to express and experiment with your ideas. Location - develop your paintings outdoors and in the studio. Style - add figures, weather and atmosphere to your work to give it character and mood. Finally, Inspiration - learn new ideas and themes from finished examples by a number of leading artists.Trade ReviewThis is a book that takes its readers as well as its subject seriously and, although there is the obligatory chapter on materials and equipment, it is by no means over-long and you’re quickly into the meat of painting, which is what you want. There’s nothing wrong in assuming that your readers have a level of competence gained from classes, experience or other books and then simply concentrating on the subject in hand, which James does with admirable thoroughness. -- Henry Malt * artbookreview The Artist *

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Book SynopsisAcrylic is the second book in the popular 'Do More Art' series, which explores the myriad creative possibilities of working with acrylic.Fans of this artistic powerhouse will discover everything from basic painting techniques to more creative applications, such as pouring, marbling and working with acrylic spray paint and markers.Examples by some of the world's greatest contemporary artists will demonstrate many of the techniques and ideas, providing plenty of creative inspiration. With its contemporary aesthetic and accessible content, Acrylic will appeal to artists of all abilities.

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Book SynopsisWhat if drawing could help you express and process your emotions? Emotions add depth to our experiences, but sometimes they can be overwhelming or challenging. In this beautifully illustrated guided journal, Almudena Rocca presents an amazing technique - intuitive drawing - which will help you to understand and work through your feelings by accessing your unconscious. You will learn essential intuitive drawing skills, from working with patterns to drawing objects, before diving into 11 core emotions, including anger, fear and trust. This journal is filled with thought-provoking drawing prompts and quotes, allowing you to explore memories, relationships and events that may still impact you today. You don't need to be an artist to enjoy this book - it is the perfect resource for anyone who enjoys creative self-care.

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Book SynopsisTHE SEQUEL TO THE MULTI-MILLION BESTSELLER DRAWING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BRAIN From the author of the world's most popular drawing instruction manual Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, this new book helps you discover a new way of drawing and problem solving. Betty Edwards reveals the role our dominant eye plays in how we perceive, create, and are seen by those around us. Research shows that much like being right-handed or left-handed, each of us has a dominant eye, corresponding to the dominant side of our brain - either verbal or perceptual. Once you learn the difference and try your hand at the simple drawing exercises, you'll gain fresh insights into how you perceive, think, and create. You'll learn how to not just look but truly see. Generously illustrated throughout, Drawing on the Dominant Eye offers a remarkable guided tour through art history, psychology, and the creative process; a must-read for anyone looking for a richer understanding of our art, our minds, and ourselves.Trade ReviewPraise for Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain -- :Think you can't draw? You absolutely can . . . You will quickly amaze and delight yourself. Hands down the best and most life-enhancing thing I've done in lockdown -- India Knight * Sunday Times *A guide to enhancing creativity and artistic confidence * Independent *A consciousness-expanding work * LA Times *A landmark in drawing tuition * Leisure Painter *

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Book SynopsisAccomplished artist Jean Haines shares her passion for watercolours in this wonderfully practical book. Known for her exciting techniques and love of colour, Jean takes you on an inspirational painting journey on which you’ll encounter, amongst other things, magical watercolour flow, glorious washes, sunbursts, and a magnificent ‘hotting it up’ finale. With her simple exercises, clear advice and easy-to-follow projects, Jean pushes the boundaries and will alter the way you think about watercolours and painting for ever. With a selection of popular subjects, including animals, landscapes, buildings,flowers and people, there is something for everyone here, whatever their artistic ability.Trade ReviewTHE ARTIST MAGAZINE : BOOK REVIEW Jean Haines' Atmospheric Watercolours The book is nothing less than a paean to the wet in wet technique. If that's your thing, prepare to be amazed. Jean Haines credits Jean Louis Morelle, and in many ways this book is the sequel to Morelle's remarkable, but very technical work, showing the wealth of creative possibilities the technique offers. A lot of the images are barely recognisable and yet you instinctively know what they are. I wish I knew how, because this is impressionism taken to its logical conclusion and reminiscent of some of the later work by JMW Turner. You will have to take it from me that "First signs of a face appearing magically from a first wash of watercolour" is pure alchemy. This is an extraordinary book. * The Artist Magazine *July 12 Nothing short of fantastic. I first fell in love with Jean's work when she wrote 'Colour and Light in Watercolour', I thought it was wonderful and still do. Yet with this new book, we've moved on ten steps ahead. You have to buy this book if you are remotely interested in watercolour. Known as a difficult medium to master, Jean shares her knowledge and style so that we can learn and improve. Her loose style won't be to everyone's taste, but you don't know until you try it. Painting this ways liberates your art. The book covers many subjects including flowers, portraits and animals so it has wide appeal. It will take you from first steps yet is still suitable for experienced watercolorists. I love it. * Karen Platt Yarnsandfabrics.co.uk/crafts *May 12 This is one of those books that you can’t help but pick up and flick through even if you are not a watercolourist. Beautifully put together with wonderful images throughout, with 176 pages full of tips, techniques, watercolour secrets, and chapters with titles like: Glorious washes, Magical water flow, Sunbursts, Hotting it up, Fabulous effects, and Suggestive seduction, etc, how can anyone not be enticed to want to read this??? Even though I have only skimmed through this book tonight, I already know this book will more than satisfy that hunger I have for this style. I will savour and enjoy more slowly the wonderful 33 image step by step showing how to paint a historic door in Venice, a 28 image step by step showing how to paint a three sheep composition, sections on textural effects with cling film and salt, etc, and lots... and lots more... I know this book will never make it to my art book shelf as it will be in constant use with me referring back to it frequently. * lauramoorewatercolourart.blogspot.co.uk *Summer 12 Encouraged by the saying 'don't be a sheep, be unique', Jean Haines hopes to bring the best out of all artists by being more creative with the colours they use, the freedom of their brushstrokes, or simply an attitude of mind. Techniques, such as using your brush to its full potential, applying washes and, in particular, using colour, are described in great detail with many step-by-step examples and projects to follow. If nothing else, Jean's work is sure to inspire you to let go of some of your inhibitions. It simply dazzles on the page and makes you want to grab your brushes and get going straight away. * Leisure Painter, The *July 12 Hi Jean, I have just bought your new book and love it!! I had to let you know that I think your work really is lovely and so atmospheric...........as the title says!!!! I also have your first book! Oh to be able to paint nearly as good as you do!! Warm Regards, Colleen. * Customer *July 12 Hi Jean, Just wanted to say that I bought your book "Atmospheric Watercolours" yesterday and what an absolutely fabulous book it is. I have dozens of art books but this is far and away the very best. As an artist, I know that you will understand if I tell you that it "moved me". I connected straight away when I read about how we need to create and not care about what anyone else thinks.....I have often worried that I might be doing something wrong or with the wrong techniques and yet I wanted to do my own thing ! (the rebel artist in me...lol) It reminded me of when I found a super freeform crochet book over 30 years ago, by the lovely Sylvia Cosh (sadly no longer with us). When I found her book , I knew that I had found what I had been looking for in my crochet and went on to spend many happy years designing beautiful knitwear. Sadly because of repetitive strain to my wrists from all the crochet, I had to give it up and so turned to art but couldn't find anything except the conventional style, and this wasn't what I was looking for. YOUR book has inspired me just like Sylvia's book did all those years ago. I have joined the SAA as there are no art groups near to me and try to paint every day. Thank you for such wonderful inspiration...I now can't wait to get painting and see what evolves. Thank you Brenda Cumming * Customer *Sept 12 Search Press doesn't publish many hardcover books, but when it does, I expect something a bit special. This is no exception to the rule, so prepare yourself for a large format coffee table book filled with sumptuous illustrations. Her is a book to get your creative juices flowing and make you abandon the coffee in favor of your easel. Well, maybe that is overdoing it a bit, but the subtitle of this book is painting with freedom, expression and style. Ms Haines' painting style verges on the abstract in many cases, and comes across as being free and spontaneous. East meets west here as the author talks about her love of Chinese brushwork and brings some of that to her work, as well as a lot of sheer enthusiasm and a throwing away of the rulebook. I'm always keen on people who do that, and there are lots of exercises to try out to free up one's hand and generally have fun with paint. Of course, you can expect all the usual topics found in books on watercolor painting: working with color, mixing washes, choosing materials etc. But here they are explored in unconventional ways, and I can recommend this book to all those who think they can't paint and find most painting styles too rigid and structured. There is a lot in here and all of it is suitable both for beginners and those who have painted for years but want to try something new. A lovely book that should have wide appeal, I enjoyed Ms Haines' huge enthusiasm for her subject. * Myshelf.com *Aug 12 WOW! is just a big understatement. Jean's latest book "Atmospheric Watercolors" is packed full of her gorgeous paintings which include florals, portraits, animals, street scenes and architecture as well as fabulous textures and stunning color palettes. Did I mention 'WOW?' I had a wonderful time, paging through the book, trying out some of Jean's techniques and following along with her step-by-step demos and lessons. She is not only a talented painter but a gifted instructor as well.-paintedheartstudio.blogspot.co.uk * Customer *Dear Jean, I am writing back to say I have now picked up Atmospheric Watercolours from the library - I had to wait for it to arrive in the country! I haven’t finished it yet but I love it already, and have ordered a copy of my own. It is hard to explain how wonderful your books are. It is partly your style of painting which is just amazing, and partly the way you write so enthusiastically. In any case I feel like I have found a way forward with my painting, and I am very excited about it!-Stephanie Parkes * Customer *Sept 12 Hi, Jean! I know you must read a lot of e-mails about your latest book, Atmospheric Watercolours, but I had to send you at least one more thanks for such a great book and inspiration!!!! I never took you seriously when I read, "If you don't wish to be addicted to watercolour as I am, now is the time to escape." I feel like the flood gates have been opened and I can't stop painting just one more! What I really appreciated was that you didn't start your watercolor book out with all the "don'ts" (don't use cadmiums, etc.)... but encouraged me to break all the rules, so to speak - and even paint for the bin... and I am having a ball! Sometimes I think a necessary step to "loosening up" is that one can actually paint in a tight, exact manner... then choose "not" to. Your book came at a perfect time for me, and I am really enjoying the journey! Thank you so much for such a well written, honest and inspirational book!~Linda Borch * Customer *Sept 12 Dear Jean, I felt that I had to contact you to express my gratitude for your book "Atmospheric Watercolours ". I have been struggling with watercolour for some time now without much success but after reading your book and trying out some of the exercises, I have managed to do some work that pleases me although I know I need a lot more practice. Thank you so much for the encouragement which your book gives!-Geri Bunting (retired teacher, Belfast ) * Customer *December 2014 DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK Unless you want to be completely addicted to painting watercolours. I never buy art books as most are an ABC on how to paint a tree, landscape, vase of flowers and everyone who reads the book produces almost identical paintings. This book will not do that. Jean teaches you techniques that you can apply to your own style of painting, so you unlock the artist within you and develop and grow as an authentic artist in your own right. I have painted subjects I never dreamt I could paint before I read this book. Jean is such a charismatic person, her enthusiasm for her subject is contagious. So, if you buy this book and cannot concentrate on anything for thinking of painting, or can't sleep for the same reason, don't blame me, I did try and warn you! p.s. The first painting I did after learning Jean's techniques helped me secure my first exhibition! * Laura Wilson - Waterstones *May 12 Well haven't finished it yet but am savouring every page!!!! It's stopped me eating and sleeping a good thing maybe??? Haven't done a book review before (and after reading this you may think "hope she never does one again!!!!") and maybe I should wait until it's finished but am just a lot excited about this one!!!!! It is full of Jean's secrets written in her own easy, inimitable, encouraging way, as if she is talking intimately to you, the reader. She shares moments and memories of her past..... a lovely insight into the Jean we don't get to hear about..... I have done the first few exercises in the book following just what she did and guess what?????? They turned out and I think the penny might finally be dropping. If any of you have been lucky enough to either see Jean demonstrate or go to a workshop, she makes things look so easy.... well we all know it isn't... right???? Easy comes from years of practice, experience and desire, but.... and this is what I really want to share, this book opens the door and certainly for me has given me those all so sought after glimpses of what I'm looking for...... that's why I was so excited about it and apart from everything else, retiring, exhibition on Saturday, holiday next Wednesday etc etc....... well you can now understand why I couldn't sleep. I said to my husband at 3:30 I think I might get up... he said "What are you going to do.... paint?" Of course I said no....... hmmmm thought she indignantly does he really think I was going to get up and paint at 3;30 in the morning, how ridiculous!!!!!! Am beginning to think he knows me too well (note to self... need to become more mysterious!!!) So hope to read and reread more today and the next weeks and months of course, I think Jean was wise to have this published in hardback as I think it will become one of those "bible" sort of books which in paperback may become too worn!!! Am sorry for those of you who have to wait for a copy, it will be worth the wait I promise!!! Will keep you updated and maybe write another review when I have had more chance to work through and digest... it is a treat for sure. I normally like to flick through books before I buy but I had faith that this one would be what I was looking for and it is ...... in bucket loads!!!!!! It is a book full of hope, colour and life and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do!! * judithfarnworthart.blogspot.co.uk *May 12 Dear Jean, I know we have never met but i wanted to write to express my thoughts to you. I received your stunning new book today and I simply cant wait to try out some ideas. I began working as an artist a year ago after a lot of personal trauma. Over the years I have dipped into a lot of art books, but I have to say that this is the most inspiring and liberating book that I have ever seen. Thank you so very much, and i wish you every success. Yours in gratitude, liz Bolloten * Customer *June 12 This is one of those books where the above-the-title billing for the author is actually more than just a conceit. To call this book just “Atmospheric Watercolours” would completely miss the point. Atmosphere is one of the hardest words to define in relation to art. On the one hand, we all know what we mean by it: it’s the sense of time and place that can be achieved by the use of washes, glazes and wet-in-wet, but also by composition and colour choice – pretty much the standard technical arsenal, in fact. On the other hand, it’s a woolly term that really means nothing except that the work has an essential quality of je ne sais quoi. So that’s a good start, then. And what do we actually have here? Well, it’s easy to say what Jean Haines’ work is. It’s definitely well into the spectrum of abstraction, and she uses a lot of washes to create a sense of what her subjects are about, more than just what they are. Is this “atmospheric”? Not really, if you buy my definition, but do please feel free to come up with a better word. I do think we’re getting there, though. I don’t think this could really be classed as an instruction manual, even though there are plenty of demonstrations and lots of discussions of how Jean works – for someone with such a personal style, she’s actually very good at this part. Yes, it’s practical, but the approach isn’t half so much do-this, do-that as an analysis of Jean’s own working methods and, through that, showing you how you can achieve not so much the same thing, as something similar. This is perhaps a first, and an invaluable aid for anyone wanting to move beyond representation and to develop their own way of describing what they see. If this sounds like the heart of abstraction, it is, and this book is probably one of the best ways of learning about a technique that so frequently defies description and really has to be absorbed rather than learnt. If you’ve followed what I’ve said, then I’m pretty sure you’ll like the book. If not, proceed with caution; it may be that you’re not ready for it yet – but persevere! * Artbookreview.net *Table of ContentsA unique and inspiring book suitable for people of all artistic abilities. Packed full of exercises, projects and easy-to-follow advice, as well as numerous finished paintings to excite and inspire you. Jean Haines’ techniques can be applied to flowers, landscapes, buildings, animals and people, so whatever subject you are interested in, you will find it in this book.

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Book SynopsisThe visualisation of mountain scenery from the mid-eighteenth century to the present day. Snowdonia became a subject for landscape artists comparatively early. Pictorial and written records of visits date from the middle of the eighteenth century. It was a combination of factors that made this region a favoured location for both artists and visitors.

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Book SynopsisOver the centuries, landscape painting has attracted countless artists. Its diversity, enhanced by the weather, special lighting conditions and seasonal change, offers the painter an infinite variety of subject matter. Oils are an extremely versatile and immediate medium, enabling artists to express themselves in a variety of creative ways. They are relatively easy to use, suitable for both the beginner and the more experienced painter.

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Book SynopsisArt has always been inspired by the wildlife around us. Since earliest times we have been continually fascinated by both wildlife and the challenge of representing it. This book sets the scene of how wildlife has been portrayed in art and guides the reader through the principles of practical drawing and painting wildlife. It covers recommended equipment, techniques, fieldcraft, composition and anatomy, and offers help for those wishing to exhibit their work.

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Book SynopsisDrawing the Nude is an exciting approach to drawing the human body. Divided into three parts, on structure, anatomy and observation, it introduces a set of principles and develops a treasury of ideas for the artist to follow. Whilst recognizing the importance of observation, it focuses more on a conceptual understanding of the construction of the body in anatomical terms. In doing so, it encourages the cultivation of more informed observation and accommodates those who work from memory, imagination and invention.

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Book SynopsisAn illustrated, comprehensive guide to botanical painting written by the Society of Botanical Artists. In this new book the Society of Botanical Artists provides a comprehensive guide to the different styles and methods of botanical painting, harvesting the talent of both Members and Distance Learning Diploma Course students around the world, past and present. Botanical Painting features techniques and materials for all levels and demonstrates how these skills can be used to develop your own expertise. There are chapters on drawing with graphite and metal point, coloured pencil, body and watercolour in plant portraiture and illustration as well as 'The Mixed Bunch'. The inclusion of the historic methods used for egg tempera and metal point, as well as the technique required for working on vellum, makes this a valuable source of advice on subjects not readily available elsewhere. An inspirational gallery of paintings at the end of the book provides a guided walk around an SBA exhibition. The book is beautifully illustrated throughout, with comprehensive critiques on the artworks and step-by-step demonstrations. It will be an invaluable and inspirational addition to the library of the more experienced botanical painter. Trade Review'This is a complex subject and it and its practitioners deserve to be given the serious attention they receive here.' * The Artist *

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Book SynopsisCharacter Design Quarterly (CDQ) is a lively, creative magazine bringing inspiration, expert insights, and leading techniques from professional illustrators, artists, and character art enthusiasts worldwide. Each issue provides detailed tutorials on creating diverse characters, enabling you to explore the processes and decision making that go into creating amazing characters. Learn new ways to develop your own ideas, and discover from the artists what it is like to work for prolific animation studios such as Disney, Warner Bros., and DreamWorks.

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Book SynopsisIntended for creative professionals, this book offers 100 tips, resources and techniques for those who want to take their drawing skills to the next level. Through the work of contemporary artists, amateurs and even children, the author gives the basic concepts of this art form: colour, line and style. With his characteristical sense of humor, clarity and direct style, his lessons and tips will engage the reader.

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Book SynopsisAt one time, most towns of any size had somewhere a small foundry that would undertake small casting jobs, often more out of interest and good neighbourliness than for commercial gain. Regrettably, those days are no more and the model engineer in many areas must either adapt commercially available castings or send away to a specialist foundry that will undertake small jobs, often at some expense and with some delay. The alternative is to make your own patterns and castings, which is in fact much easier than you may think. The Backyard Foundry covers basic principles, materials and techniques, pattern making, moulding boxes, cores and core-boxes, electric, gas and coke furnaces, and includes step-by-step procedures with examples of locomotive cylinders and wheels. Sources of specialised materials and even the design of an outdoor furnace suitable for small-scale commercial work are given. Each stage and subject is covered in detail so that even the inexperienced can undertake casting with confidence. Although the book is written primarily for the model engineer, anyone wishing to make mouldings or castings will profit from its pages.Table of ContentsPatterns. Plate Patterns. Cores, Core Boxes and Core Making. Casting Locomotive Cylinders. Wheels. Metal, the Furnace and Melting. Solid Fuel Furnace. Suppliers of Foundry Materials.

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Book SynopsisTen graded lessons to tackle beautiful colour in stunning botanical compositions. Building on Valerie Price’s previous and highly successful book, Botanical Illustration: The First Ten Lessons, this next volume provides a practical introduction to colour and composition in botanical illustrations. Formed of ten graded lessons, each chapter teaches a new skill that builds upon the last, with subjects that range from red tulips and pink roses to blackberries and green foliage. Full of handy information, and with easy-to-follow exercises, the book includes step-by-step instructions that show you how to produce beautiful colour in your compositions. This practical guide includes essential information on different watercolour techniques, how to arrange informative compositions and mix your own colours to achieve lifelike results.Trade Review[Botanical Illustration] is very accomplished and will certainly inspire any would-be botanical painters to get started. * Leisure Painter *Table of ContentsIntroduction Colour How to use watercolour Colours Composition Lesson 1: Green Lesson 2: White Lesson 3: Yellow Lesson 4: Red Lesson 5: Blue Lesson 6: Pink Lesson 7: Purple Lesson 8: Orange Lesson 9: Brown Lesson 10: Black Conclusion Preservation and presentation Further reading Suppliers Courses Online shopping Glossary Index

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Book SynopsisRock art is showing up everywhere—on Etsy, at craft shows, online and on hidden “kindness rocks” around your neighbourhood. And the good news is you can do it yourself! Just look in your own back garden, a nearby beach or the local gardening centre to find the perfect rock. Then with the help of a few colourful craft supplies and the tutorials in Rock Art Handbook, you’ll be on your way. Author Sam Sarles shares her favourite tips and techniques for transforming the humble rock into a work of art. Discover how to get great results with puffy paint, acrylics, oil pastels, alcohol inks, gelatos, art pens, embossing, stamping and more. With more than 30 step-by-step projects, this book is the comprehensive rock art resource.

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Book SynopsisA celebration of the diverse world of American watercolors from the late nineteenth through the twentieth century, featuring works from the Harvard Art Museums’ collection

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Book SynopsisFrom all-star sneakers to elephants, you can learn to draw anything . . . in just 15 minutes! If you want to draw but think you don't have the time to learn--or feel too intimidated to start-15-Minute Artist invites you to jump in. Bestselling author Catherine Holmes (How to Draw Cool Stuff) provides more than 60 step-by-step projects for depicting animals, food, plants, household items, and more--and you can complete each one in just 15 minutes. Her tutorials break the process down so you can achieve quick, satisfying results. In addition to pencil renderings, Catherine demonstrates techniques for working with charcoal, pen, and colored pencil, and provides tips and sidebars on blending, texture, perspective, and shading.

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Book SynopsisPainting a portrait of a child is one of the most complex challenges an artist will face. In this detailed and practical book, Simon Davis opens up his studio and explains his approach. As one of the country's leading portrait painters, he gives a unique insight into how to render a sympathetic portrait in oils, which avoids sentimentality and captures the essence of a child, in oils. Topics covered include the importance of composition and balance, tonality and palette, and atmosphere and advice on the complete process, from first ideas to putting down the paintbrush. There are step-by-step examples of a range of children, including different ages, backgrounds and groups and an interview with fellow Royal Society of Portrait Painters artist Andrew James.

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Book SynopsisThis beautiful book explores the world of colour in the plant kingdom and introduces the artist to effective practical methods of using colour in botanical painting. It focusses on the relevance of making accurate observations of colour in botanical specimens and recognizing the value and importance of using colour theory to achieve successful results. With over 500 images, this elaborately-illustrated guide uses the author's finished artwork, diagrams, and step-by-step tutorials to explain the important role of colour in this compelling genre. This book is a must for all aspiring botanical artists, illustrators and students.Trade ReviewThis is one of the most thorough guides I have seen. It has a depth that makes it both invaluable and, I believe, unique. Providing a deep knowledge and understanding, this is essential reading for any serious flower painter. -- Henry Malt - The Artist reviewer * The Artist *Leigh Ann’s style is clear and packed with knowledge - it is evident that her teaching experience has informed the tutorials and examples that she has chosen to include. I would recommend this for anyone who wishes to improve their underlying and scientific knowledge of colour, and for those who like books with clear tutorials to follow in order to improve their own practice. I like to have a deeper understanding of the materials and techniques I am using, and this book certainly gave me that. -- Elanor Wexler, Association of Botanical Artists * Association of Botanical Artists *

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