For thousands of years an enigmatic and astonishingly beautiful piece of Roman art has captivated those who have come in contact with it.Made before the birth of Christ, the Portland Vase, as it is called, is renowned for both its beauty and its mystery.

In "The Portland Vase," Robin Brooks takes us on a vivid journey across Europe and through the centuries, as this delicate piece of glass, less than ten inches in height, passes through the hands of a stunning cast of characters, including the first Roman emperor, Augustus; a notorious tomb raider; a reckless cardinal; a princess with a nasty gambling habit; the ceramics genius Josiah Wedgwood; the secretive Duchess of Portland; and a host of politicians, dilettantes, and scam artists.

Rich with passion, inspiration, jealousy, and endless speculation, the story of The Portland Vase spans more than two thousand years and remains one of the art world's greatest enigmas.

The first monograph and only substantial publication on the work of Patrick George (born 1923), this book will reveal to a largely unsuspecting public the lyrical paintings of a rare and original talent. George is better known as a teacher; he taught for forty years at the Slade School of Fine Art, University College, London before eventually becoming Director there. He has only shown his work infrequently, yet perceptive commentators have identified him as a School of London painter, to be viewed in the same context as Lucian Freud (a friendly rival), Frank Auerbach (a strong supporter of George's work), and Euan Uglow (George's close friend and colleague). For too long dismissed as a follower of Coldstream, Patrick George is in fact very much his own man, a Northern European landscape and figure painter, working in the tradition of Gainsborough and Constable. In this book, his unique contribution to the development of contemporary landscape painting is for the first time examined and evaluated.

A ground-breaking volume examining the transnational conditions of the European Enlightenment, Crafting Enlightenment argues that artisans of the long eighteenth-century on four different continents created and disseminated ideas that revolutionized how we understand modern-day craftsmanship, design, labor, and technology. Starting in Europe, this book journeys through France across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas and then on to Asia and Oceania. Highlighting diverse identities of artisans, the authors trace how these historical actors formed networks at local and global levels to assert their own forms of expertise and experience. These artisans - some anonymous, eminent, and outside the margins - translated European Enlightenment thinking into a number of disciplines and trades including architecture, botany, ceramics, construction, furniture, gardening, horology, interior design, manuscript illustration, and mining. In each thematic section of this illustrated volume, two leading scholars present contrasting case studies of artisans in different geographic contexts. These paired chapters are also followed by shorter commentary that reflects on pertinent themes from both chapters. Emphasizing how and why artisanal histories around the world impacted civic and private life, commerce, cultural engagement, and sense of place, this book introduces new richness and depth to the conversations around the ambivalent and fragmented nature of the Enlightenment.

Hey, kids!

If you liked learning the basics of three-dimensional drawing from Mark Kistler in his books Draw Squad and Imagination Station, you'll love his new book, Drawing in 3-D with Mark Kistler. Featuring a fun, action-filled tale about a family of lovable characters struggling through a series of breathtaking discoveries and hilarious adventures, Drawing in 3-D with Mark Kistler is all you need -- along with a sharpened pencil, a ready imagination, and Mark Kistler's Drawing in 3-D Wacky Workbook -- to draw cool creatures and awesome objects such as:

• Atomic Androids, Big Bug-Eyed Birds, and Colossal Castles
• Daring Driving Dogs, Early Egyptian Sphinx, and Kissing Kangaroos
• Magnificent Macaroni, Peaceful Pelicans, and Zapping Zombies

...as well as your own favorite fantasies and imagined adventures!

This book applies ecolinguistics and psychoanalysis to explore how films fictionalising environmental disasters provide spectacular warnings against the dangers of environmental apocalypse, while highlighting that even these apparently environmentally friendly films can still facilitate problematic real-world changes in how people treat the environment. Ecological Film Theory and Psychoanalysis argues that these films exploit cinema’s inherent Cartesian grammar to construct texts in which not only small groups of protagonist survivors, but also vicarious spectators, pleasurably transcend the fictionalised destruction. The ideological nature of the ‘lifeboats’ on which these survivors escape, moreover, is accompanied by additional elements that constitute contemporary Cartesian subjectivity, such as class and gender binaries, restored nuclear families, individual as opposed to social responsibilities for disasters, and so on. The book conducts extensive analyses of these processes, before considering alternative forms of filmmaking that might avoid the dangers of this existing form of storytelling. The book’s new ecosophy and film theory establishes that Cartesian subjectivity is an environmentally destructive ‘symptom’ that everyday linguistic activities like watching films reinforce. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of film studies, literary studies (specifically ecocriticism), cultural studies, ecolinguistics, and ecosophy.

A fun and easy way to learn the beautiful craft of calligraphy, Calligraphy Masterclass contains everything you need to practise this superb art form. The comprehensive 48-page Calligraphy Masterclass book contains instructions on how to master classic alphabet scripts and design letters to create your own individual calligraphic styles, as well as samples from well-known calligraphers and helpful tips from the author, professional calligrapher and teacher Peter Taylor.

This kit features all the tools you need to master calligraphy, including a calligraphic pen with three different sized nibs, 12 ink cartridges, a drafting pencil, a putty eraser and a practice pad. You'll be creating wedding invitations, birthday cards, scrapbooks, family documents, photo albums and exquisite scripted artworks in no time!

What's Included

- 48-page instructional book

- Calligraphy sketchpad

- Calligraphic pen with 3 nibs

- 12 cartridges

- Drafting pencil

- Putty eraser

Learning to draw has never been easier than with Drawing Fundementals. Author and artist Priscilla Heywood’s message is clear: everyone can draw - it's just a matter of learning the basic skills and techniques that will allow you to take what you see around you and translate it into beautiful artwork on the page.

In the informative 48-page book, Jacqui takes you through all the basics, including equipment, shading techniques, lighting, and achieving a sense of depth and distance. She then moves on to art lessons covering still life, human figures, animals, and landscapes. Whether you are just starting out or want to improve your creative skills, Drawing Fundamentals has everything you need to begin your journey into the amazing world of drawing.

With 10 artists’ colour pencils, 10 watercolour pencils, 10 graphite pencils and an artist's sketchbook, this kit has everything you need to get started right away. You'll be creating your own beautiful hand-drawn pictures with ease in no time at all.

What's Included

• 48-page book
• Artists' sketchbook
• 10 artists' colour pencils
• 10 watercolour pencils
• 10 graphite pencils

Welcome to the third and fabulous colouring book from the sensational Kerby Rosanes, Mythomorphia. Featuring his unique and intricate ink drawings, this book includes images of gorgeous mythological creatures morphing and shapeshifting to create Kerby's signature, breath-taking scenes. From magnificent dragons and a fiery phoenix to beautiful mermaids and mischievous goblins, this book is truly out of this world. Every super-detailed picture can be coloured in and all of them hide a selection of search objects to find. Readers will have to keep their eyes peeled for these items scattered throughout the pages. On top of the success of Animorphia and Imagimorphia, Kerby's skills have already earned him a solid fan base. His Sketchy Stories Facebook page has more than 1,000,000 likes, he has had 275,000 project views on Behance and his incredible website (www.kerbyrosanes.com) is getting more hits by the day. Other books in the colouring series include: 9781910552070 Animorphia 9781910552148 Imagimorphia 9781910552865 Fantomorphia 9781910552926 Geomorphia

Make your own gallery wall art with this Patterns book. This oversize book includes 27 easy tear-out pages that you can colour and add your own personal touch to. Personalize and customize your home with these beautiful colouring pages that you can frame and hang.

Host of public television's Mark Kistler's Imagination Station, shows young artists the cool and fun way to draw in 3-D!

Hey, you! Open this book and learn how to draw in three dimensions! Mark Kistler's Imagination Station has thirty-six exciting drawing adventures. Mark teaches you the different skills you need in order to create such masterpieces as:

* Dinosaurs in the Sky
* The Cool Cloud Colony
* The Magnificent Moon Base
* The Delightful Diving Dolphins
* Professional Pollution Patrollers
* Super Solar System
* And thirty other excellent adventures that will have you drawing like this:

There's also a special guide for parents and teachers at the end of the book.

Keep the page in your book with this gorgeous pack of 10 foiled bookmarks, printed on both sides, with a silky ribbon and featuring artwork by Vincent van Gogh. Demonstrating influence from Impressionism and Japanese prints, Almond Blossom was painted in response to the birth of Vincent van Gogh's nephew. Motivated by the occasion and moved by his brother Theo naming the child after him, Van Gogh painted Almond Blossom as a gift in celebration of the event. He had previously been greatly inspired by flowering trees, and appreciated their power as symbols of rebirth.

The work of counterculture artists Tim Noble and Sue Webster, whose art is a complex punk-rock take on modern consumer culture. Enormous neon signs, intricate silhouette portraits constructed of trash heaps, and a work titled Instant Gratification: British artists Tim Noble and Sue Webster thrive on the thrills of illumination, love, language, shadows, garbage, and cash. "British Rubbish" showcases their work in all its splashy glory. Their art evokes both gaudy Vegas culture and down-and-dirty punk rock: a combination of cynical extravagance and a defiant, rebellious sensibility. Extravagant, irreverent, sometimes coarse, and always sharply clever, "British Rubbish" is both a paean to and sly denunciation of conspicuous consumption.

Find inner calm and happiness in this beautiful, meditative and earthy watercolour instruction book from nature lover, teacher and artist Inga Buividavice. Art therapy and the act of painting is widely acknowledged to bringpositive mental health benefits, as it helps us centre ourselves, focus our intentions and engage creatively with the world around us. This beautiful guided watercolour book combines these aspects with the healing powers of nature to take you on a journey toward peace and tranquility. Even if you have no experience with watercolours or painting, Painting Calm’s accessible and easy-to-follow prompts will allow you to express yourself and create with ease and joy. Gather inspiration from artist Inga Buivadavice’s beautiful illustrations, designed to capture an emotional connection with the natural world through texture and colour, as you explore:   An overview of watercolour painting supplies and how to use them Basic watercolour techniques and colour theory Exercises for finding inspiration in nature Seasonal projects that include painting trees, leaves, flowers, natural light and patterns found in nature Tips for building a creative practice Discover your inner artist – and forge a new and powerful relationship to nature – in this calming project book, as you watercolour your way to mindful wellbeing.

A creative toolbox of techniques and ideas to take your painting to a new spiritual dimension. All of nature is permeated by a hidden geometric creative power. From the spiral growth of ferns, fractal branching systems in trees, and symmetries in leaves and flowers: everything in nature is connected and follows universal principles. In this exquisite book, artist Kathleen Hoffman shares her fascination with mandalas, sacred symbols such as the triskelion and the labyrinth, and nature's endless wonder, through a collection of 12 step-by-step painting projects, accessible to painters of all abilities. Hoffman begins with the basic techniques of acrylic painting and then builds on this with each project, showing new design elements that are used in her pictures and how she implements them in terms of colour and composition. This book is an invitation to connect with the power of nature and symbols; to discover the infinite variety of these structures, and to unfold this beauty in your painting.

The ultimate guide to journaling, packed with prompts and ideas to spark creativity. For many people who want to keep a journal, the fear of the blank page can be a very real stumbling block, but is definitely something that can be resolved. In this essential guide, journaling expert Helen Colebrook offers up all her knowledge, tips and tricks to ensure you get truly bitten by the journaling bug. Through 101 layout examples, Helen shows you how to approach the design of a myriad of different journal pages, from mood trackers to gratitude spreads, monthly cover pages, daily, weekly and monthly planners, lists, project planners and more. She also covers ideas for junk journaling, adding watercolour to your journal and other ways to develop the artistic side of your journaling. This is a book that will be a constant companion, that you can use for inspiration whenever you need some new ideas for a fresh layout. But it's not just about the aesthetics of your journal - alongside the layouts Helen gives helpful prompts that will make you think about what you are journaling as much as how. These include thoughtful prompts and exercises to get you started on self-reflection and help you make writing a daily habit, alongside creative prompts to get your creative juices flowing. There are no end of ways to get creative in your journal and it can become a hugely relaxing and rewarding part of the process. The beauty of journaling is that there is no right or wrong, but sometimes we all need a little help and inspiration to help us get the most of this fulfilling hobby. This beautiful book is the perfect companion to Helen's debut book, Journal with Purpose, and alongside her YouTube tutorials and blog, will ensure you have all the tools and ideas you need to make your journal a thing of beauty and personal truth. With 101 layout ideas and 500 journal prompts... there's nothing stopping you from journaling with purpose too!

Enter New York Times bestselling author Marjorie Sarnat's dazzling world of delightful house pets ready to be colored and adored! It's raining cats and dogs! People love their animals, and more than eighty million people in the United States alone are pet-owners. These loveable companions are members of the family, trusted and cherished confidants. People love to take their pictures, talk about them, and dress them up! Fun is never in short supply with a pet. Now, decorate your favorite four-legged friend within the pages of a coloring book. Designed by the bestselling coloring book artist Marjorie Sarnat, the book features an overflowing kennel with forty-nine amusing and intricate line illustrations. These specially crafted designs include a dazzling herd of friendly animals! They are adorned with florals, patterns, and dizzying design motifs that will engage your own inner animal and get your creativity off and running. These pages are perforated and printed on one side, allowing colorists to remove and display their finished designs easily. Whether you prefer to flex your creative capabilities with cats, dogs, pot-bellied pigs, or other animals, Marjorie Sarnat's Pampered Pets offers a fascinating and fun coloring experience with a plethora of pets!