Weimin He's 324 ink drawings, pen sketches and woodblock prints comprise an intimate record of the progress of construction in the newly designed Ashmolean Museum that opened late last year. An unusual approach to documentation in the age of digital photography, the catalogue provides a delightful art experience for readers who will never set foot in the Ashmolean, which is the museum for the University of Oxford. Weimin has drawn workers lifting roof beams, welding metal rods and pouring cement into the mixer. He gives us behind-the-scenes portraits of museum personnel, making each individual come alive, for example, an objects conservator at her work and a researcher in the prints room at his. An artist-in-residence at the museum and an art scholar, Weimin employed Chinese drawing and woodblock printmaking methods. His portraits were drawn on pi, xuan papers or album leaves, with Chinese brushes and inks that have been used for over a millennium. Seven of the prints and the catalogue were presented to Queen Elizabeth for the museum's opening.

Discover your artistic talents with this guide to practicing and expanding your watercolor pencil techniques. For beginners as well as experienced artists wanting to explore a new medium, an introduction covers the basics, explains techniques, and offers tips and tricks to help you achieve your visions. The 62 full-page outline drawings allow learners to practice the techniques of their choice, including gradients; shading; color theory; using salt, coffee grounds, alcohol, and sugar water; and dry brushing. Printed on watercolor paper, the images can be removed from the book for painting and framing. They cover a variety of themes, including animals, seasons, nautical motifs, food, faces, and many others.