The humble sketch is the foundation of great art, where thoughts and concepts first come to life as an image-but rarely are sketches celebrated like they deserve to be for their power to explore, inspire, and entertain. In Sketching from the Imagination: Sci-fi, a selection of fifty talented traditional and digital artists, ranging from industry legends to talented up-and-comers, have been chosen to share their sketches and reveal the ideas, inspirations, and techniques behind their creative processes. Continuing the high-quality format of 3dtotal Publishing's previous successes, Sketching from the Imagination: An Insight into Creative Drawing and Sketching from the Imagination: Fantasy, this new title is dedicated to fantasy's sibling genre, sci-fi, in all its forms. From doodles of robots and aliens to concept designs for spaceships and speculative life-forms, including rendered drawings of invented worlds, Sketching from the Imagination: Sci-fi presents a handpicked collection of the best sketches and drawings by sci-fi artists from across the globe-each with their own unique style and approach to the genre. Each artist presents an impressive showcase of images from their sketchbooks, accompanied by their own enlightening commentary, and page upon page of useful tips, techniques, creative insights, and invaluable advice for getting your ideas out of your brain and onto the page. Sketching from the Imagination: Sci-fi is not only a must-have resource for any concept designer's shelf, but a stunning compilation of drawings that will delight sci-fi fans and any admirer of beautiful artwork.

Let Jerry Yarnell teach you how to paint acrylic landscapes

You can master landscape painting with the help of popular painter Jerry Yarnell. Jerry starts by exploring different areas of landscape painting that often create problems for beginning and intermediate artists. He'll walk you through individual studies, so you can practice and explore new techniques without worrying about ruining a complete painting, then he'll show you how to apply those techniques to create finished works of art.

Learn how to:

• Work with the right materials
• Master all essential techniques
• Choose, mix and apply color

Andrew Loomis' hugely influential art instruction books have never been bettered and "Successful Drawing", the third in Titan's programme of facsimile editions, is among the finest. This is a superb resource, covering the fundamentals of proportion, perspective and pattern, through scale and light, to the mastery of construction, character and consistency. "Successful Drawing" is a masterclass for all.

In the past, slipcasting was primarily considered an industrial method. Today, however, ceramic artists are adapting its techniques to create a wide range of beautiful and highly individualised pieces. Sasha Wardell clearly explains and demonstrates the techniques involved and shows how they can be adapted for the studio workshop. This book gives the reader a thorough grounding in all aspects of mould making and slipcasting. Examples of the work of an international group of artists are used to illustrate the breadth and versatility of the work that can be created. The images in this second edition have been updated to colour, along with a revised chapter on individual approaches by well-known contemporary artists.

An essential and practical handbook on choosing and mixing colours successfully. Choosing and mixing colours successfully in different media is all about creating the maximum colour range from the minimum number of paints. In this comprehensive guide, the authors - all experts in the field - show you how to approach watercolours, acrylics and oils in terms of mixing, blending and diluting them to achieve a wide range of effects. Whether you are an amateur or a professional, The Art of Colour Mixing provides a handy source of invaluable information on how to get the most from your paints in terms of colour. This is a book that should be on all painter's reference shelves.

You Are an Artist is for everyone who wants to be an artist, but has been too afraid to take the plunge. It combines a thought-provoking meditation on art practice with a series of practical exercises and creative provocations that encourage everyone to fulfil their potential as an artist. The book is itself a kind of art school, helping the reader to work out what kind of artist they are, and what they can achieve. Drawing on the author's experience as an art school teacher, it playfully adapts the methods of art education, mixing these with the sideways approach to creativity popularized by the author's activist campaigns. Smith provides an array of ideas, tips and practical examples, illustrated with documentary photographs of his own specially made work. His riotous paintings and installations are set alongside discussions of time, place, looking, thinking, stealing and becoming, with enlightening forays into the history of art and creativity. A collection of hilarious, at times startling and often moving narratives bring to life a series of lessons about the nature of art and inspiration. Each lesson comes with a series of prompts to harness the reader's own artistic capabilities. Whether we like it or not, says Bob and Roberta Smith, we have been enrolled in the world, and the world is an art school. You are an artist, because every human being who has ever lived was once an artist.

"There are more than 50 creative prompts for the artist (or artist at heart) to explore. Take the title of this book as affirmation, and get started." -Fast Company More than 50 assignments, ideas, and prompts to expand your world and help you make outstanding new things to put into it Curator Sarah Urist Green left her office in the basement of an art museum to travel and visit a diverse range of artists, asking them to share prompts that relate to their own ways of working. The result is You Are an Artist, a journey of creation through which you'll invent imaginary friends, sort books, declare a cause, construct a landscape, find your band, and become someone else (or at least try). Your challenge is to filter these assignments through the lens of your own experience and make art that reflects the world as you see it. You don't have to know how to draw well, stretch a canvas, or mix a paint color that perfectly matches that of a mountain stream. This book is for anyone who wants to make art, regardless of experience level. The only materials you'll need are what you already have on hand or can source for free. Full of insights, techniques, and inspiration from art history, this book opens up the processes and practices of artists and proves that you, too, have what it takes to call yourself one. You Are an Artist brings together more than 50 assignments gathered from some of the most innovative creators working today, including Sonya Clark, Michelle Grabner, The Guerrilla Girls, Fritz Haeg, Pablo Helguera, Nina Katchadourian, Toyin Ojih Odutola, J. Morgan Puett, Dread Scott, Alec Soth, Gillian Wearing, and many others.

This pocket-size version of The Complete Color Harmony features the color explorations, insights, and palettes included in the original version in a handy, take-along size. It's the one color reference designers need. Get an introduction to using the color wheel and discover the key aspects of color, such as warm, cool, pale, and bright. Then, delve into moods and color and see how a wide variety of palettes can come across as earthy, powerful, regal, calm, dependable, and more. In this book you'll discover: Hundreds of organized color palettes that can be used for a variety of art and design projects. Why certain colors attract. How colors evoke certain moods. Advice on choosing the best colors to work with. A CMYK process color chart and color swatches to make choosing colors and palettes easy. With all the expert information in this convenient portable guide, you'll feel confident in every color choice.

Learn to create classic block print patterns for greeting cards, wallpaper, book illustrations and more with Andrea Lauren's easy step-by-step instruction! Artist and Designer Lauren shows you simple techniques for creating your own printing blocks out of art-foam. With no cutting and chiseling, these art-foam blocks can be made into shapes and patterns using only scissors and a pencil. Use these printing blocks, or purchased stamps, to create repeat patterns or bundled groupings to get that classic block print look for wallpaper, book illustrations, framing prints, greeting cards, gift wrap, fabric prints, and so much more! Throughout the book, find inspiration from selected works of block print artists from around the world. The new, easy-to-use block printing materials are great for beginners and skilled artists alike. Make your mark with Block Print!

Learn about key elements of character art from traditional and digital illustrator, Simone Grunewald. Simone, also known as "Schmoe", creates heart-felt and personal designs inspired by her everyday life experiences and passion for the arts. As a new mother, she also draws on her humorous experiences of bringing up a small child in the modern world. Discover in-depth visual breakdowns of Simone's techniques as well as a varied and extensive collection of Simone's stunning art. From linework advice to character design considerations, Simone generously shares her creative practice. A book that appeals to artists at every stage of their creative journey, this title teaches how to avoid common mistakes and pitfalls, as well as how to improve technique. Feel motivated to practice every day to develop engaging characters of all shapes, ages and sizes. With special focus on developing dynamic poses and expressions, Simone's advice will ensure that you create emotive characters with energy and personality.

A Beginner's Guide to Chinese Brush Painting teaches this ancient art form in an easy-to-understand way--no prior experience necessary! As one of the oldest continuous artistic traditions in the world, Chinese brush painting has been used for thousands of years to create images that harness the imagination, and capture the inner spirit of a subject--be it an animal, landscape or tree. All you need for this simple, but beautiful, art form is black watercolor paint, white paper, a brush and some creativity! An introduction tells you about the history of brush painting, and also gives tips for holding your brush, achieving different shades and collecting your materials. After that, the book takes you step-by-step through more than 35 hands-on activities--including basic strokes, putting them together to create an object or scene, the importance of leaving open space and even writing some Chinese calligraphy. With the help of this book, artists of all ages can learn to paint: Bamboo stalks, branches and leaf clusters A knotted pine tree and its delicate needles A snail with a spiral shell and little body peeking out from underneath A waterfall gliding down the side of a mountain And much more! You'll find that this activity will help you learn to center your mind and thoughts, and your masterpieces will be inspiring decorations or great gifts for friends and family. Get started learning this "soft martial art!"

Why do Japanese artists team up with engineers in order to create so-called "Device Art"? What is a nanoscientist's motivation in approaching the artworld? In the past few years, there has been a remarkable increase in attempts to foster the exchange between art, technology, and science - an exchange taking place in academies, museums, or even in research laboratories. Media art has proven especially important in the dialogue between these cultural fields. This book is a contribution to the current debate on "art & science", interdisciplinarity, and the discourse of innovation. It critically assesses artistic positions that appear as the ongoing attempt to localize art's position within technological and societal change - between now and the future.

Paperclay is an extremely versatile material for the contemporary potter. Now firmly established in the ceramics world, this mix of clay and paper fibers is remarkably flexible, strong, and easy to repair. This highly workable medium allows expressive freedom and imagination at every stage in the creative process, even after drying and firing. In Paperclay, artists will discover the world of possibilities offered by this blend of earth, paper, and water. Building on the success of her previous books, artist and teacher Rosette Gault explains how potters and clay sculptors can make, fire, and reshape paperclay. This comprehensive guide covers a range of methods from dry modeling to slurry state. Going beyond the basics, the book introduces advanced techniques for building armatures, sculpting figures, and forming wall hangings. It also includes information on recycled and sustainable ingredients. Paperclay features all-new color photographs and diagrams of techniques and tools, as well as inspiring works by today's leading international ceramicists. Packed with photographs and clear instructions, Gault's book is an essential introduction to paperclay for ceramics artists and educators.

The top-selling Sterling Sketchbook series now features the popular new Kraft-cover format! With their quality paper and sturdy binding, this is the sketchbook of choice for both amateur and professional artists. This beautiful sketchbook contains acid-free, medium-weight drawing paper with a vellum finish that's perfect for everything from charcoal and pencil to light washes with ink and watercolor. Perforated pages make it easy to tear out "masterpieces" for framing or gift giving. All the copy (title, paper description, size, page count) appears on an attractively designed removable sticker that you can either leave on or remove for a clean, blank front cover.

This book makes it easy to create and admire wonderful Japanese-style paintings and portraits! Modern Japanese-style paintings are recognizable by their restrained use of three-dimensionality and perspective, reliance upon expressive lines, and the bold use of color to direct the viewer's eye. There are other ways that artists imbue their work with Japanese- inspired attributes, including through the skillful use of shape, texture, and facial expression. Author Shinichi Fukui introduces readers to 7 notable modern Japanese artists (Kazuo Kawakami, Chiaki Takasugi, Miho Tanaka, Ryohei Nishiyama, Jose Franky, Ryohei Murata, and Keiji Yano) who specialize in shin hanga-style portraiture of Japanese women. He then presents instructions to create 21 different original paintings--from sketching models, preparing and mixing paints, blocking in color, and rendering fine details. Using these techniques, and a bit of acrylic paint, readers will be able to create eye-catching works of art that express a timeless Japanese aesthetic.

A companion volume to Lessons in Classical Drawing that breaks down the foundational skills and techniques of painting in a format that is accessible and manageable for all readers. With the same direct, easy-to-follow approach of Juliette Aristides's previous books, Lessons in Classical Painting presents aspiring artists with the fundamental skills and tools needed to master painting in the atelier style. With more than 15 years of experience in ateliers and as an art instructor, Aristides pairs personal examples and insights with theory, assignments and demonstrations for readers, discussions of technical issues and inspirational quotes. After taking a bird's eye look at painting as a whole, Aristides breaks down painting into big-picture topics like grisaille, temperature, colour and composition, demonstrating how these key subjects can be applied by all painters.

Take your plein air artwork to the next level through easy-to-understand workshop-style lessons and skill-building exercises. In Plein Air Techniques for Artists, award-winning artist and respected workshop instructor Aimee Erickson demystifies how to capture a variety of light effects and guides you in strengthening your plein air skills through practice. This accessible book covers: Materials and gear. Gain a basic knowledge of the possibilities so you can keep your options open and your plein air process fresh. Composition and value. Explore the impact of proportion, color, value, line, edges, shape, and texture. Color. Consider how knowledge and intention, your color palette, and what you see-your perspective-take turns being in charge of the color game, inventing rules and finding solutions. Light effects. Learn how conditions of the day-how much light there is, and whether it's soft, diffuse, golden, harsh, pale, or dusky-affect everything we see and how we paint. Design and the visual idea. Discover strategies for developing a visual idea, from creating serial studies to working with a camera to improvisation. Featuring exceptional still lifes, figures, and landscapes by other noted artists working in a range of mediums, Plein Air Techniques for Artists gives artists at all levels of experience the guidance they need to grow as a plein air artist. The For Artists series expertly guides and instructs artists at all skill levels who want to develop their classical drawing and painting skills and create realistic and representational art.

This essential publication reintroduces the importance of learning to 'see by hand', to visualize large-scale design schemes and explain them through drawing, before using the digital tools that are so crucial to efficient and cost-effective building solutions. Combining traditional drawing techniques with those from CAD rendering, Drawing for Landscape Architecture guides practitioners from their very first impression of a site, through concept and schematic design and client presentation to construction and site drawings, concluding with two case studies that show the final result. Just as hand-drawing returns to design courses around the world, this welcome publication celebrates the best aspects of traditional techniques while incorporating them into today's digital design methods.