Paintings and painting Books

Book SynopsisA sequel to Winifred Nicholson: Liberation of Colour, this book is the first monograph on this highly talented artist who deserves to be better known. This book explores the career of the St Ives artist Kate Nicholson, daughter of Ben and Winifred Nicholson. The contents range from her early landscapes, to the still lifes painted in Cumberland and St Ives, the abstracts – many of them inspired by her travels in Greece – to the late works made on the Isle of Eigg in the Hebrides. Also examined is her artistic relationship with her mother, with whom she painted side-by-side in Cumberland and Scotland, and on their many Greek travels. It discusses her creative relationship with her father with whom she lived in St Ives in the mid-1950s for two years, as well as her friendship with many of the St Ives artists and her role in the Penwith Society. Published to accompany the exhibition Kate Nicholson at Falmouth Art Gallery, this book illustrates many works from both public and private collections. It draws on ground-breaking new research, together with the author’s experience of travelling with Nicholson on painting trips.Table of ContentsKate Nicholson The Paintings Landscape To Still Lifes Abstraction And Movement Myth And Spirit Chronology Index Acknowledgements Picture Credits

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Book SynopsisFor Marc Chagall (1887–1985), painting was an intricate tapestry of dreams, tales, and traditions. His instantly recognizable visual language carved out a unique early 20th-century niche, often identified as one of the earliest expressions of psychic experience. Chagall’s canvases are characterized by loose brushwork, deep colors, a particular fondness for blue, and a repertoire of recurring tropes including musicians, roosters, rooftops, flowers, and floating lovers. For all their ethereal charms, his compositions were often rich and complex in their references. They wove together not only colors and forms, but also his Jewish roots with his present encounters in Paris, markers of faith with gestures of love and symbols of hope with testimonies of trauma. Across scenes of birth, love, marriage, and death, this dependable artist introduction explores the many versions of Chagall’s rich vocabulary. From visions of his native Vitebsk in modern-day Belarus to images of the Eiffel Tower, we explore the unique aesthetic of one of the most readily identifiable modern masters and one of the most influential Jewish artists of all time.

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Book SynopsisSplatter, stamp, scrape, repeat. A quick-start guide to beautifully layered and textured abstracts!

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Book SynopsisDinosaurs and other prehistoric animals have always fascinated people but they pose vast problems for the artist. How do you go about recreating the anatomy and behaviour of a creature we've never seen? How can we restore landscapes long lost to time? And where does the boundary between palaeontology - the science of understanding fossils- and artistic licence lie? In this outstanding book, Mark Witton shares his detailed paintings and great experience of drawing and painting extinct species. The approaches used in rendering these impressive creatures are discussed and demonstrate the problems, as well as the unexpected freedoms, that palaeontological artists are faced with. The book showcases over ninety scientifically credible paintings of some of the most spectacular animals in the Earth's history, as well as may less familiar species.Trade ReviewThis book is an enjoyable and at times humorous discussion of the artistic reconstruction of Mesozoic reptiles by palaeontologist and palaeoartist Mark Witton. -- Emma Askew reviewer * Open University Geological Society *

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Book SynopsisAfter flirtations with Realism, Impressionism, and Symbolism, Kiev-born Kazimir Malevich (1878–1935) found his métier in dissolving literal, representational figures and landscapes into pure emotionally-charged abstraction. In 1915, he created what is widely lauded as the first and ultimate abstract artwork: Black Square, a black rectangle on a white background, hailed as the “zero point of painting,” a seminal moment for modern and abstract practice. In this book, we follow Malevich’s key innovations and ideas and place his groundbreaking achievements within the context of both the Russian and global avant-garde. Through rich illustrations of his work, we explore the artist’s theory of Suprematism, based on severe geometric abstraction and “the supremacy of pure feeling in creative art”; his leading role in the development of Constructivism; as well as his interests in philosophy, literature, Russian folk art, and the fourth dimension.

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Book SynopsisWinner of the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, this is the biography of celebrated nineteenth-century artist Edward Burne-Jones, who - with William Morris - connects Victorian and modern art.''A triumph of biographical art.'' Independent''Magnificent.'' Guardian ''Rarely are biographies both as authoritative and engaging as this.'' Literary Review The angels on our Christmas cards, the stained glass in our churches, the great paintings in our galleries - Edward Burne-Jones''s work is all around us. The most admired British artist of his generation, he was a leading figure with Oscar Wilde in the aesthetic movement of the 1880s, inventing what became an iconic ''Burne-Jones look''. Widely recognised as the bridge between Victorian and modern art, he influenced not just his immediate circle but European artists such as Klimt and Picasso.In this gripping book, award-winning biographer Fiona Ma

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Book SynopsisPresented in a style as stunning as the prints it celebrates, this survey of Hiroshige tells the fascinating story of the last great practitioner of ukiyo-e, or "pictures of the floating world." Hiroshige is considered to be the tradition's most poetic artist and his work had a marked influence on Western painting towards the end of the 19th century. Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, Paul Ce zanne, and James Whistler were inspired by Hiroshige's serene depictions of the natural world. Arranged chronologically, this book illustrates through text and magnificent reproductions Hiroshige's youth and early career; his artistic development in the genre of landscape prints; his depictions of Edo and the provinces; the flower and bird prints; and his many popular books and paintings. It discusses the historic and cultural environment in which Hiroshige flourished and the many reasons his art continues to be revered and imitated. Filled with 300 color reproductions, and featuring a clamshell box and Japanese-style binding, this volume is destined to become the definitive examination of Hiroshige's oeuvre.Trade Review"This lavish chronically organized survey of his life and work is a jewel for art lovers, featuring Japanese-style binding and clamshell box. The 300 depictions of Hiroshige’s beloved prints, books and paintings, along with an examination of the historic and cultural environments in which he created them, crowns the oeuvre of a true artistic titan." -Bask

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Book SynopsisBridget Riley, one of the leading abstract painters of her generation, holds a unique position in contemporary art. She has developed and extended the range of her interests ever since her first success in the 1960s, creating a body of work which is both consistent and highly varied. This volume, now fully revised and updated, reveals the mind behind this remarkable achievement, drawing together the most important texts and interviews of the last fifty years. Riley's writings show a passionate engagement with her subjects and a great insight paired with a freshness of approach and an exceptional clarity of expression. Quite apart from providing a key to understanding her own work, this book is a fascinating document reflecting the issues and problems facing an artist in the 21st century.

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Book SynopsisCities provide endless exciting scenes for the artist, from sun-baked cafes, rain-soaked streets, illuminated nightscapes and busy squares to quiet, atmospheric corners. This practical book explains how to paint these scenes using water-based painting materials and new techniques. With invaluable tips and advice throughout, it encourages a looser, more colourful approach to painting and shares a range of ideas for style and interpretation.

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Book SynopsisLearning to Look at Paintings is an accessible guide to the study and appraisal of paintings, drawings and prints. Mary Acton shows how you can develop visual, analytical and historical skills in learning to look at and understand an image by analysing how it works, what its pictorial elements are and how they relate to each other. This fully revised and updated new edition is illustrated with over 100 images by a wide range of Western European and American artists, ranging from Rembrandt, Van Gogh and Botticelli to Picasso, Matisse and Rothko, and now includes modern and contemporary artists such as Georgia O'Keeffe, Anselm Kiefer, Tacita Dean and Marlene Dumas. In addition, Mary Acton presents new examples highlighting the survival and revival of painting in recent years.A new introduction situates the book in the wider context of recent changes in the approach to Art History. A glossary of critical and technical terms used in the language of Art History is also included, with an updated but still selective reading list. Trade Review'Each of the six chapters has a succint introduction and a short but useful summary... Recommended.' - CHOICE'Each of the six chapters has a succint introduction and a short but useful summary... Recommended.' – CHOICETable of ContentsIntroduction to the Second Edition List of Figures List of Plates Preface Acknowledgements Introduction 1. Composition 2. Space 3. Form 4. Tone 5. Colour 6. Subject Matter 7. Drawing and its Purposes 8. Looking at Prints. Conclusion: The Use of Comparison as an Aid to Looking. Appendix 1: Some Questions to Ask Yourself When Standing in Front of a Painting Appendix 2: Glossary of Art Terms. References and Further Reading. Index

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

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Book Synopsis"As a politically thinking person, I am not a morally thinking person.” While German painting of the postwar period essentially concerned itself with coming to terms with the past and presenting it in gestures ranging from the heroic to the ironic, Daniel Richter focuses on positioning himself in the present. Time and again he devises new ways of being “modern” in a medium that has long been labeled old-fashioned and anachronistic. His pictures constantly challenge the spectator by their painterly and contextually excessive demands, but they do not lecture on moral issues. In five chapters featuring more than 200 examples of his works, the author Eva Meyer-Hermann traces the chronological development of Richter’s artistic output for the first time. The turns from abstraction to figuration and back again that until now have been described as abrupt, prove on closer examination to be a logical consequence and a sign of conscious artistic action.

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Book SynopsisPocket Frida Kahlo Wisdom is an inspiring collection of some of her best quotes on love, style, life, art and more, and celebrates the Mexican icon's immense legacy.Frida Kahlo is undoubtedly one of the most innovative and influential painters of the 20th century and is widely considered a style icon thanks to her eclectic taste and love for colour, print and hauls of jewellery. From a young age, Kahlo forged her own path, overcoming polio as a child, and stoically battling the after-effects of a tragic road accident that left her with lifelong injuries.Some quotes from Frida Kahlo:“Nothing is worth more than laughter. It is strength to laugh and to abandon oneself, to be light.”“The only thing I know is that I paint because I need to, and I paint whatever passes through my head without any other consideration.”“I must fight with all my strength so that the little positive things that my health allows me to do might be pointed toward helping the revolution. The only real reason for living.”“I am my own muse, I am the subject I know best. The subject I want to know better.”

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Book SynopsisVern Blosum does not exist. The story can be told simply: in 1961 an artist paints five canvases inspired by pages in a horticulture book; then came parking meters, water hydrants, and animals. Some of them were shown at Leo Castelli Gallery, sold to collectors and public institutions, included in seminal exhibitions or books on Pop arta seemingly normal progression in an artist''s career, were it not for a rumor that emerged regarding his true identity. Alfred H. Barr, the legendary director of MoMA, started to worry about the rumor sometime in 1964 and, after extensive inquiries, came to the conclusion that Vern Blosum did not exist. His paintings were taken down or sent back to storage, and the artist''s name fell into oblivion. Vern Blosum does not exist, but his work does. This book retrieves the oeuvre of this particularly elusive artist.

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Book SynopsisLearn everything you need to know to get started with alcohol inks, with step-by-step techniques on creating incredible, bold and colourful, abstract art. As well as paintings, you'll discover inspiration and advice on using the techniques to decorate fashion and home accessories for striking handmade gifts.Table of ContentsForeword 6 BASICS 8 WHAT IS ALCOHOL INK? 10 KEY INFORMATION 14 MATERIALS & EQUIPMENT 20 COLOURS 28 COLOUR COMBINATIONS 32 BASIC TECHNIQUES 36 Paint surface preparation 38 Paint application and painting processes 40 Cloudy: cluster technique 42 Wispy: veil technique 44 Soak: dissolving technique 46 Drift: flow technique 48 Swivel: flourish technique 50 Drops: accent technique 52 SPECIAL MATERIALS 54 Metallic paints 56 White alcohol ink 58 Dark backgrounds 60 Forming circles 62 Stencils 64 PROJECTS 66 PAINTING IDEAS 68 Flowers 70 Goldfish 76 Masking fluid 78 MIXED MEDIA CREATIONS 80 Hand lettering 82 Line art 84 Pencil 86 Acrylic 88 Watercolour 90 Embossing 92 DIY MAKES 94 Resin 96 Ceramic 98 Wood 100 Glass 102 Plastic 104 Seasonal 106 ABOUT THE AUTHOR 108 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 110 INDEX 111

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Book SynopsisThe paintings, drawings, and mixed-media works of Joe Roberts are transportive in the cosmic sense. Through their intuitive blend of styles and subjects, they serve as portals into a welcomingly hallucinatory world: a place where gleeful mashups of childhood signifiers (comic book detritus, cartoon mascots) exist cozily alongside countercultural reference points (ouija boards, sci-fi paperbacks, UFOs) and earnest flashes of the personal (diaristic sketches, confessional trip reports). Reissued for the first time since 2015, LSD Worldpeace documents the extraordinary creativity and scrappy methods of Roberts’s early career, replete with collages, action figures, and dioramas, in addition to the paintings for which he’s become so celebrated. With introductory texts by Myla DalBesio and Matthew Ronay, LSD Worldpeace is the product of a wildly imaginative artist moving freely between modes, guided by a boundless vision.

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Book Synopsis“Revelatory and sublime…Her work remains conceptually open enough for viewers to draw their own conclusions, insert their own meaning and feel transported to other glorious worlds.” —The New York Times One of the most inventive artists of the twentieth century, Hilma af Klint was a pioneer of abstraction. Her first forays into her imaginative non-objective painting long preceded the work of Kandinsky and Mondrian and radically mined the fields of science and religion. Deeply interested in spiritualism and philosophy, af Klint developed an iconography that explores esoteric concepts in metaphysics, as demonstrated in Tree of Knowledge. This rarely seen series of watercolors renders orbital, enigmatic forms, visual allegories of unification and separateness, darkness and light, beginning and end, life and death, and spirit and matter. Published on the occasion of the exhibition Hilma af Klint: Tree of Knowledge at David Zwirner New York in 2021 and David Zwirner London in 2022, this catalogue features a text by the art historian Susan Aberth examining af Klint’s spiritual and anthroposophical influences. With a conversation between the curator Helen Molesworth and the US Poet Laureate Joy Harjo discussing connections between Tree of Knowledge and native theories about plant knowledge, the publication broadens the scope of philosophical interpretations of af Klint's timeless work. Also included is a newly commissioned essay by the celebrated af Klint scholar Julia Voss, a contribution by the artist Suzan Frecon, and a text by art historian Max Rosenberg that further develops the conversation around why af Klint’s work was not recognized in its time.

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Book SynopsisIn 1792, when he was forty-seven, the Spanish painter Francisco de Goya contracted a serious illness which left him stone deaf. In this extraordinary book Julia Blackburn follows Goya through the remaining thirty-five years of his life. It was a time of political turmoil, of war, violence and confusion, and Goya transformed what he saw happening in the world around him into his visionary paintings, drawings and etchings. These were also years of tenderness for Goya, of intimate relationships with the Duchess of Alba and with Leocadia, his mistress, who was with him to the end. Julia Blackburn writes of the elderly painter with the intimacy of an old friend, seeing through his eyes and sharing the silence in his head, capturing perfectly his ferocious energy, his passion and his genius.Trade ReviewSensitive and intelligent... Julia Blackburn has steeped herself in her subject and in the period * Irish Times *A near-perfect work... combines lyrical style with such exceptional imaginative power and intelligence * Sunday Times *Reading Ms Blackburn's work, you have the uncanny sensation that you have met Goya, felt his honest horny hands, watched him work * Economist *Julia Blackburn has developed her own technique for marrying the 'granite' of fact with the rainbow of personality... Her prose is elegant and precise, illuminated by intelligence, curiosity and a refined visual sense... When the book is closed, her evocation of the life and times of "old man Goya" lives on, a succession of brilliantly lit images in the mind's eye * Literary Review *Julia Blackburn has an extraordinary talent for thinking herself into other worlds... So vivid are her conjurings of lives lived elsewhere or long ago, you begin to suspect she sees ghosts -- Marina Benjamin * Evening Standard *

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Book SynopsisDürer''s Lost Masterpiece tracks the history of a turning point in the career of the celebrated German artist Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528), when he stopped painting altarpieces after arguing with a merchant patron over payment. As an eloquent homage to Dürers life, it brings us closer to the creation and meaning of his paintings than ever before.Dürer''s Lost Masterpiece considers the celebrated German artist Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528), his time and his legacy. It tracks the history of a crucial, and often overlooked, turning point in his career, when Dürer stopped painting altarpieces after falling out with the Frankfurt merchant Jacob Heller over a commission. The story of this painting, as Dürers lost masterpiece, functions as a lens through which to view the new relationship developing between art, collecting and commerce in Europe up to the Thirty Years War (1618-1648) when global trade and cultural exchanges were increasing. At the heart of the book is the argument that merchants, and their mentalities, were crucial for the making of Renaissance art and its legacy for modern art. The book draws on a decade of research, and uniquely draws the reader into the rich emotional worlds of three merchants each of whom typified the evolving relationship between art and commerce in that entrepreneurial, and often ruthless, age. It brings to life Dürers determined fight for creative makers to be adequately paid and explores the big questions about how European societies came to value the arts and crafts that remain relevant to our time.Trade ReviewUlinka Rublack's new book successfully combines a close reading of the sources for the life and work of Albrecht Dürer with a wide-ranging account of art as a luxury commodity at a time when the trade in luxuries was going global. * Peter Burke, Emmanuel College Cambridge *Ulinka Rublack masterfully recontextualizes Albrecht Dürer's lost Heller Altarpiece, it production, and its fate. Yet her fascinating account is equally about German material culture, the rise of artistic advisors and agents, notably Hans Fugger and Philipp Hainhofer, the emerging global marketplace, and discerning collectors in Bavaria and England. Rublack recenters German creativity and tastes within the broader movement of art, ideas, and individuals across Europe. * Jeffrey Chipps Smith, Kay Fortson Chair in European Art and Professor, University of Texas, Austin *A stunning achievement by a historian at the pinnacle of her craft-at once a sensitive portrait of Dürer's emotional life that allows us to understand as a whole his desire to show what he could do with and for art at a time of transformative change and conflict in German society, and a vivid depiction of the merchants and nobles locked in fateful embrace who fueled the burgeoning world of global commerce, awash in material things and exotica, and who made Dürer who he was both in his day and in ours. Quite simply a tour de force. * Pamela H. Smith, Columbia University *Ulinka Rublack's fascinating study reminds us of this rich interconnectedness of people, ideas, and the material world during the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. * Jeffrey Chipps Smith, University of Texas, Austin, Historian of Netherlandship Art Reviews *Ambitious and impressive... a remarkable story. * Peter Marshall, Literary Review *[Dürer's Lost Masterpiece] lays out methodically, with academic brilliance, the marketplace, techno-aware basis of the 'Dürer Renaissance' and the artist's rise to immortal fame. With a glorious accumulation of detail, assiduous research...a deluxe book. * Philip Hoare, The Spectator *Illuminating... In [Rublack's] hands, the narrative of Dürer's success...becomes something far more nuanced... A novel biography of an artist. * Francesca Peacock, Prospect *An outstanding portrayal of the merchant as a creative agent and a remarkable contribution to the history of the European art market as a whole. * Jenny Uglow, New York Review of Books *A rich cornucopia of the period, when art was joining exotic shells, potions, and unguents as an international commodity ... it has much to tell about how Dürer and his contemporaries lived. * David Platzer, New Criterion *Dürer's Lost Masterpiece, which analyzes that era minutely, is the product of over fifteen years of research in archives and collections...it is precisely that amassing and marshaling of detail that makes her book such an outstanding portrayal of the merchant as a creative agent and a remarkable contribution to the history of the European art market as a whole. * Jenny Uglow, The New York Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction Part One: Letters to Heller 1: What Few Can Do 2: Herr Jacob Heller 3: Dürer´s Revenge 4: A Trio of Unconventional Friends 5: Preparing to Paint 6: Apelles AD 7: Letter 3 8: Who Will See It? 9: Oil and Pigment 10: Colour 11: Delivering 12: Journey to the Netherlands 13: Becoming Lutheran Part Two: Tastemakers 1: Hans Fugger and the Age of Curiosity 2: Fugger´s Taste for Painting 3: In Style! 4: Spending on Style 5: The Court of Bavaria 6: The Flow of Things 7: The Debt Crisis Explodes 8: Wilhelm V, Duke of Bavaria Part Three: Trading Art 1: The Lives of Northern Painters 2: The Art Agent 3: Becoming Philipp Hainhofer 4: Networks for Success 5: Visiting Wilhelm´s Court 6: Trading Silks and a Fragile Career 7: The Old Lord 8: Material Presence 9: Agent for the Duke of Pomerania 10: The Garden of Eichstätt 11: The Age of Maximilian I 12: Hunting Dürer 13: The Chase: Buying the Heller Altarpiece 14: Special Things 15: A British Spy? Part Four: Shopping for Dürer in the Thirty Years´ War Epilogue

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Book SynopsisA survey of the history of Irish painting, encompassing the entire span from the Middle Ages to the mid-20th century. The volume includes both well-known and virtually unknown artists, Irish artists who worked abroad as well as in Ireland, and major foreign artists who worked in Ireland.

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Book SynopsisThe first substantial book on the French Neo-Romantics, a cosmopolitan group working in 1920s Paris who turned against modernist abstraction in favour of a new form of figurative painting.Table of ContentsAuthor’s note Prologue First act: 1926 1. Exiles 2. Leonid’s travels Second act: Against the tide 3. Gertrude Stein’s prevarications 4. Ten portraits 5. The ‘Bérard era’ 6. Tchelitchew: weightiness and grace 7. Transparent bodies 8. Eugene Berman: dreaming of architecture 9. A Paper Ball 10. Medusa Third act: Figures of style 11. Two minor arcana 12. The strange case of Waldemar-George 13. The invention of Neo-Romanticism 14. Neo-Humanism is a Neo-Mannerism 15. Fantasy landscapes 16. The theory of the saltimbanque Fourth act: Convergence lines 17. The lightness of being 18. The English scene 19. Kit Wood, the outsider 20. The art of nuance

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Book SynopsisPaul Joannides is Emeritus Professor at the History of Art at the University of Cambridge. His publications include The Drawings of Raphael; Masaccio and Masolino; and Titian to 1518: The Assumption of Genius. Rick Scorza is a writer and lecturer on the Renaissance. In 2012 he was the inaugural Senior Thaw Research Fellow at the Drawing Institute of the Morgan Library & Museum, New York. He is also President of the British Museum's British Art Medal Society.Table of ContentsPreface: Vasari’s Life of Raphael and the present translation • Vasari's Raphael: Knowledge and Interpretation • The Life of Raphael of Urbino, Painter and Architect

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Book SynopsisFascinating essays Nochlin is a woman of learning and accomplishment' Andrea DworkinTrade Review'Fascinating … Nochlin is a woman of learning and accomplishment' - Andrea Dworkin'A joy to read … blunt, funny, mischievous, learned, anything but dull and dogmatic' - London Review of Books'Outstanding … rich and methodologically sophisticated' - Art in America'Invaluable' - Art Journal'If you care about the representation of women, you need to read this … Nochlin’s direct, provocative and personal tone is a radical rewriting of women in art history' - ElephantTable of ContentsIntroduction: Memoirs of an Ad Hoc Art Historian • 1. The Myth of the Woman Warrior • 2. Géricault: The Absence of Women • 3. The Image of the Working Woman • 4. Courbet’s Real Allegory: Rereading The Painter’s Studio • 5. A House Is Not a Home: Degas and the Subversion of the Family • 6. Mary Cassatt’s Modernity • 7. Body Politics: Seurat’s Poseuses

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Book SynopsisA unique portrait of one of the creative geniuses of the 20th century, by the distinguished critic David Sylvester. Controversial in both life and art, Francis Bacon was one of the most important painters of the 20th century. His monumental, unsettling images have an extraordinary power to disturb, shock and haunt the spectator, to unlock the valves of feeling and therefore return the onlooker to life more violently'. Drawing on his personal knowledge of Bacon's inspirations, intentions and working methods, David Sylvester surveys the development of the work from 1933 to the early 1990s, and discusses critically a number of its crucial aspects. He also reproduces previously unpublished extracts from his celebrated conversations with Bacon in which the artist speaks about himself, modern painters and the art of the past. Finally, Sylvester gives a brief account of Bacon's life, correcting certain errors that elsewhere have been presented as facts. Divided into the sectTrade Review'Highly enjoyable, and sealed with insider authority … a primary document of Baconology … Sylvester brings out what was lovable in his great friend' - Julian Bell, London Review of Books'A measured look at the legacy of a great artist … Sylvester is Bacon's representative on this earth, a Boswell to his talk, a cicerone to his paintings' - Richard Shone, Guardian'Reading David Sylvester on art is like being provided for a while with the ideal companion in one's gallery of choice' - The Art Newspaper'An extended rumination on Bacon which throws a great deal of light, not only on what made the painter so good, but also on what makes Sylvester so good … as it is, it seems most unlikely that any text will ever get closer than this to the truth about Francis Bacon, as man and artist' - Martin Gayford, The Spectator'A triumphant distillation of Sylvester’s views on a painter he so rightly prized … Sylvester’s ability to make illuminating comparisons is superb, and he never forgets that Bacon was also nourished by photography, film and poetry. Above all, though, Sylvester focuses on the paintings themselves. No writer on art scrutinizes the work itself more closely, intently and thoughtfully. He never loses sight of his own, deeply felt response, and conveys it in words that recreate the intensity of looking at Bacon’s fierce, profoundly troubled paintings' - Richard Cork, The Times'[Contains] long stretches of gossipy intellectual sustenance' - RA Magazine'Every page offers something valuable. The reproductions are the best there are … anyone interested in Bacon will want this book' - Tom Lubbock, Evening Standard'A very interesting volume, full of useful and illuminating reflections and personal reminiscences' - William Packer, Literary Review'The best of the critic’s studies of the artist … It’s personal, retrospective and gloomy, combining art criticism with biography' - Tim Hilton, Independent on Sunday'Mr Sylvester’s book is an open invitation to look and look again … There is in Mr Sylvester’s writing this complete simplicity that succeeds in placing an idea, not so much in the mind, as in the heart, and thereby frees the reader to have his or her own experience of Bacon … Of most books on Francis Bacon, Mr Sylvester’s book stands head and shoulders above the rest' - Beate Perrey, The Art Newspaper

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Book SynopsisThe Tallowmere Annual is a unique collection of words, sound, and ink paintings by musician and artist Keaton Henson. This hardback, special limited edition, mixed-media book tells the fragmented story of a town that never existed.

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Book SynopsisThe story of the famous painting by Picasso and its diverse meanings from its conception to the present dayTrade Review'Enthralling ... This is high-action drama, told like the rest within a huge frame of reference, theme interlocked with theme ... A painting which began its life within a particular political context has emerged as a universal statement on the ever-present horror and suffering of war. Van Hensbergen has treated an extraordinary subject admirably' Evening Standard 'Brilliant' Observer 'Hensbergen shows how the history of art, world events and the drama of Picasso's own life came together on the canvas ... This is a fascinating biography, very gracefully handled' Miranda France, Daily Telegraph 'This is a dramatic story with all the twists and turns of a political thriller, all the danger of an action adventure, and all the sexual intrigue of a romantic novel. A racy narrative is combined with the fruits of encyclopaedic research' Sunday Herald

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Book SynopsisDiscover how easy, satisfying, and fun it is to create with acrylic paints and mediums in Creative Acrylics. Acrylics are one of the most versatile, affordable, and accessible art mediums, and you’ll learn all the tips, tricks, and techniques for blending colors and building texture, plus excellent instruction on how to paint a range of different subjects. Confused about which types of paints to use, and how to use them? Creative Acrylics cuts through the clutter and offers clear fundamentals for working with a variety of paints and mediums to produce beautiful results. Acrylic paint is water-soluble, dries quickly, and is forgiving, making it perfect for those starting out. Begin your acrylic painting journey with an expert who will guide you through enjoyable techniques and projects as you build confidence and ramp up your skills.Step-by-step techniques, lessons, and projects cover a wiTrade Review“An ideal instruction manual and guide for all skill levels [and] fun, practical, effective, and thoroughly art student friendly.” * Midwest Book Review *"Creative Acrylics takes the mystery out of working with acrylic paint, exploring basic techniques and demonstrating how to apply them to a variety of projects. It is inspiring and encouraging, with professional tips for new painters that will help them to get good results, even with their first projects." * Foreword Reviews *Table of Contents1 MATERIALS Acrylic Paints Substrates Brushes Mediums Miscellaneous Tools and Materials 2 GETTING STARTED Setting Up Your Workspace Color Theory Basic Painting Techniques 3 STILL LIFES A Simple Orange Purple Grapes Coffee Mug Colorful Donuts 4 FLOWERS Hydrangeas Roses Sunflowers Floral Cluster 5 LANDSCAPES AND SKIES Sky and Clouds Pastel Evening Sky Sunset Cityscape Snowy Mountains 6 ADORABLE ANIMALS Koi Fish Fluffy Puppy Colorful Parrot Tiger 7 PROJECTS Painted Clay Pot Cupcake Apron Koi Pond Wooden Bowl Floral Sneakers Leather Tote Bag Wooden Floral Brush Rest TEMPLATES RESOURCES ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ABOUT THE AUTHOR INDEX

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Book SynopsisPusheen by the Numbers offers artists of every age the chance to paint and display their favourite lazy, lovable feline no matter where or when inspiration strikes.- Specifications: Includes everything you need to create three 3-1/8 X 2-1/4 mini masterpieces including: 1 paintbrush, 8 paint pots, 3 pre-printed canvases, 1 easel, and a fold-out sheet with numbered sections and easy-to-follow instructions- Book Included: 16-page mini book with painting tips and instructions- A Perfect Gift: A fun, crafty, and creative gift for Pusheen fans of all ages- Portable: Small size allows for fun anytime, anywhere- Officially Licensed: An authentic Pusheen product

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Book SynopsisApril 1917. Eighteen-year-old Harold W. Pierce leaves school to join the U.S. Army, specifically the National Guard infantry company from heavily forested Warren County in northwestern Pennsylvania. He's big for his age and he's determined to serve his country. Thirteen months later, having trained at the steaming hot tent city of Camp Hancock in Georgia, Pierce and the rest of the 28th Division's 112th Infantry Regiment is on its way to England and then to France. He's one of the First Battalion's scouts so he'll see the war from a different perspective than the rest of the infantrymen, which includes his older brother Hugh. What Pierce sees, hears and feels will fill the small diary he keeps in his pocket. His descriptions become a diary of 79,000 words. His descriptions, his insights, his fears and his hopes bring the war to life as a young man experiences it. This young man, though, has a keen ability to express and describe that goes beyond his years: The abject terror of being

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Book SynopsisArtist Kathleen Hoffman shares her fascination with mandalas, sacred symbols and nature's wonder, through a collection of 12 step-by-step painting projects, accessible to painters of all abilities.

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Book Synopsis"Michaël Borremans may be the greatest living figurative painter." —John Vincler, The New York Times "'The Acrobat' provides an opportunity — all too rare on this side of the Atlantic — to see the genius of Borremans in the flesh...It’s painterly magic. A major New York museum retrospective is long overdue." —John Vincler, The New York Times Recalling classical painting, both through technical mastery and choice in subject matter, Borremans’s depictions of the surprising and the bizarre invites a second look. Uncanny scenes of figures looking at blurred acrobatic displays, hooded subjects rendered in Rembrandt-esque lighting, or solemn portraits demonstrate Borremans’s unique vision. In this recent body of work, Borremans continues to draw the viewer in closer with his intimately scaled paintings of mysterious figures in peculiar arenas. Accessible yet full of rich detail, this pocket-size book features fifteen masterful works offering a mystifying narrative. An illuminating text by Katya Tylevich mines the scenes Borremans sets, conjuring the multidimensionality of the works’ emotional power and their unique place in the lineage of art history.

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Book SynopsisThe Venetian painter Jacopo Tintoretto (1518-1594) is an ambiguous figure in the history of art. Critics and writers such as Vasari, Ruskin and Sartre all placed him in opposition to the established artistic practice of his time, noting that he had abandoned the values that typified the venerable Venetian Renaissance tradition. He was even expelled as an apprentice from the workshop of Titian. This informative and generously illustrated book offers a long-overdue re-evaluation of Tintoretto's unique work and entertaining life.

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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 SynopsisIn Watercolour Landscapes for the Absolute Beginner, artist and teacher Matthew Palmer guides beginners through their first steps in watercolour and shows what incredible landscapes can be achieved in this exciting medium. Step-by-step exercises, mini projects and six longer projects help you to build essential skills and allow you to produce a range of landscapes you will be proud of. Vital drawing skills are explained and demonstrated, along with key techniques such as how to use resists; colour mixing; painting natural-looking foliage; using the dry-brush technique to create intricate detail, and using scratch-out techniques to add sparkle and movement to water. The exercises are ideal for beginners and the main projects will also build skills for improving artists. Matthew has an accessible style, with plenty of tips and tricks for beginners to make things easier. A huge wealth of finished paintings provide ideas and inspiration for your own future watercolour landscapes. Full-size pull-out outlines are provided for the final projects. Includes material previously published in Matthew Palmer's Step-by-Step Guide to Watercolour Painting (2018), but with the addition of three brilliant new projects, many new illustrations and extensive textual revisions.Trade Review“There are no mistakes, only lessons,” says Matthew Palmer. With that attitude, he aims to take the complete novice and turn them into a painter. Could that be you? There are only six long step-by-step projects in here, because instead Matthew’s focus is on laying the foundations needed to succeed in painting watercolour landscapes. He takes the opening section of every watercolour guide and expands it. Leaving no stone unturned, from brush hairs to sketching chimneys, Matthew sets out to prepare you for everything. -- Andrew Turner * Papercrafter *Many artists tout their books as suitable for beginners; thirty-plus-year veteran watercolourist Palmer more than fulfils that promise. Every tool and material are scrutinized, with advice about buying the best, if possible. (One caveat: he tends to promote his own line of products heavily throughout.) Composition, through sketching, is first explained in terms of outlines and shapes, then expanded. Colour, of course, covers all the usual subjects (e.g., the colour wheel), then delves into the hues appropriate for water, sky, foliage, and the like. After all the preliminaries (including top techniques like salt and splattering), the six projects appear with every step documented, aligned with his "absolute beginner" guide. Foldout pages with outlines to copy start the painting process. Select from familiar pictures such as the northern lights, a waterfall in summer, a field of wildflowers. Tips proliferate, ranging from how to avoid ripping paper to an illustrated troubleshooting section. Could anyone flunk this beginner's school? Unlikely, if all directions are absorbed and followed. -- Barbara Jacobs * Booklist *This book has everything for the 'Absolute Beginner' and for those who have been painting for a while. It covers every aspect of watercolour painting from the beginning – materials, sketching the outline, perspective, colour, techniques, painting skies, water and trees – as well as troubleshooting. It takes the reader through each step, even giving outlines for the six projects it includes, so that if you do not know where to start it is all there for you. The quality of the tuition is second to none as is the quality of the illustrations. Another quality book not only from Matthew Palmer, but also from the publishers, Search Press. -- Barbara Marjoram * Customer Review *I absolutely love this watercolour book as I like to learn new skills or improve them when I get time to do so away from art college. The guides are simple and easily readable and as I am autistic so its important that all steps are clearly presented in order to further my understanding like everyone else. -- Chloe Elizabeth * Customer Review *Using material previously published in his Step-by-Step Guide to Watercolour Painting, 2018, Matthew Palmer's Watercolour Landscapes for the Absolute Beginner includes step-by-step exercises, mini projects and six longer projects to help you paint convincing landscapes in watercolour. Aimed specifically at the complete beginner, the instruction is clear and encouraging, with concise information on key techniques and plenty of tips and tricks to help along the way. Pull-out outlines of the main projects are included to get you started in colour straight away without the need for preparatory drawings. * Leisure Painter *In this thorough and enjoyable course, Matthew explains how to work from photographs, creating the basic sketch, the use of colour and washes and how to build a landscape in simple stages. Even if these are familiar to you, his simple explanations can provide new insights and he is particularly sound on the basics of perspective. * SAA Catalogue *Table of ContentsIntroduction 6, Materials 8, Inspiration 16, Sketching 22, Working outside 26, Useful drawings 28, Easy perspective 32, Colour 36, Building a scene 46, Top techniques 54, Painting skies 64, Painting water 68, Painting trees 73, Troubleshooting 82, The projects 86, Northern Lights – step by step 90, Venice in Monochrome – step by step 100, Hawaiian Sunset – step by step 114, Night-time Snow Scene – step by step 132, Waterfall in Summer – step by step 146, Wildflower Meadow – step by step 162, Index 176

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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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