Taking on the myth of France's creative exhaustion following World War II, this collection of essays brings together an international team of scholars, whose research offers English readers a rich and complex overview of the place of France and French artists in the visual arts since 1945. Addressing a wide range of artistic practices, spanning over seven decades, and using different methodologies, their contributions cover ground charted and unknown. They introduce greater depth and specificity to familiar artists and movements, such as Lettrism, Situationist International or Nouveau Realisme, while bringing to the fore lesser known artists and groups, including GRAPUS, the Sociological Art Collective, and Nicolas Schoeffer. Collectively, they stress the political dimensions and social ambitions of the art produced in France at the time, deconstruct the traditional geography of the French art world, and highlight the multiculturalism of the French art scene that resulted from its colonial past and the constant flux of artistic travels and migrations. Ultimately, the book contributes to a story of postwar art in which France can be inscribed not as a main or sub chapter, but rather as a vector in the wider constellation of modern and contemporary art.

Expressive Sketchbooks shares a host of creative ideas and prompts, tools and techniques, methods for working around obstacles and barriers, and tons of visual inspiration to help you grow in your sketchbooking practice. An expressive sketchbook is a place for you to explore, express, and enjoy your own innate creativity on your own terms. It is a safe playground for the imagination-a place to mess about, play, and experiment-and to gain confidence in your abilities as you develop your skills. Expressive Sketchbooks offers techniques and creative exercises that incorporate mark making, watercolor, mixed media, collage, words and text, and more. It unpacks some of the obstacles and barriers that you may face along the way and offers wisdom and encouragement to help you decide why and how to start your sketchbook and how to develop and expand your artistic practice. This book is packed with ideas and exercises, including: Exploratory drawing exercises How to utilize color in your sketchbook How to create dynamic and varied sketchbook pages How to find inspiration in nature and in your everyday life Ways to mix media and art supplies Ways to kickstart your creativity How to find and develop a process that feels personal to you Through this book, you'll find out what lights you up, what makes you curious and fascinated, and what makes you expansive. Discover how to magnify your creativity and enliven your art skills by using an expressive sketchbook as your daily companion.

Deepen your relationship with God with this prompted prayer journal that invites you to a quiet place of prayer, reflection and calming coloring. Thoughtful prayer prompts accompany specially selected Scripture verses on prayer that have been designed for you to color. The ample lined pages provide space to express your heartfelt prayers and thanksgiving to God.

Zentangle Basics introduces you to today's hottest trend in drawing meditation. Using only pencil, pen and paper, you'll learn how to draw 25 original tangles and discover inspiring ideas for incorporating these designs into your art. This expanded workbook edition includes a bonus section where you can get started with warm-up exercises, practice tangling, and experiment with strings and shading. With benefits including stress relief, inspiration and improved self-esteem, Zentangle can be done anywhere and no special 'artistic' talent is required. Tangles can be used to decorate wearables and home decor objects as well as cards, scrapbook pages and journals. Best of all, you can tangle even if you have never drawn anything before.

Painting and Understanding Abstract Art is a practical book on how to paint abstracts but it also explains how to approach and understand abstract art. It moves the teaching of art from a doing level of painting a certain subject in a particular medium to a thinking level of 'what am I doing when I paint?' and 'what am I trying to say in this painting?' Using practical exercises with explanatory text, John Lowry develops the thinking and doing processes together and leads the reader to a greater understanding and appreciation of this most exciting art genre. Advice on moving from figurative painting towards abstraction Tools to abstraction explained - simplifying and exaggerating; eliminating curves and straights; changing colours, lines and items ; emphasising positive and negative shapes; and using contrast Practical exercises to help develop your own style and understand the techniques of the masters Overview of the lives and times of artists involved in the stage-by-stage evolution from realism to abstraction

A Christmas-themed mix-and-match rubber stamp set for adults to create endless festive combinations. Jingle Stamps is a jolly collection of twenty-two shapes and textures waiting to be mixed and matched into any festive Christmas scene you can dream up. Triangles become santa hats or, when stacked vertically, evergreen trees. Dots and squares become wrapped gifts. The pieces of a candle can be repurposed into a decorative ornament. An assortment of shapes and textures offer infinite combinations and endless fun.

Grab your practice book, paint brushes, and discover the beautiful art of watercolor - no experience required! The ultimate beginner's guide, Watercolor Success in Four Steps will teach you how to perfectly paint 150 objects, from fruits and flowers to animals, household items, and more! Understand the basics of watercolor with tried-and-true techniques and create beautiful watercolor paintings in just four simple steps. Each project offers a sample selection of colors to get you started, followed by approachable, step-by-step painting instructions to complete each design. Once you've accomplished each project, you'll be equipped with all the skills and techniques you need to design and create your own watercolor works of art!