Following the success of Fantasy Workshop, Fantasy Creatures and Manga, the ImagineFX team have turned their expertise to Sci-Fi art for digital artists who want to progress to the next level. With reference to creative painting programs (including Photoshop, Illustrator and Corel Painter), the book explains, with the help of step-by-step instructions, Q&A's, screen grabs, how to progress from basic 'pencil' roughs to first stage line art and, ultimately, finished colour art. Creating all sorts of amazing Sci-Fi characters, futurescapes and stunning scenarios using the very latest expert techniques, you'll soon be able to design your own digital paintings and first-class Sci-Fi art. Other titles in the Imagine FX series: Fantasy Workshop (9781843404729), Fantasy Creatures (9781843406020) and Manga (9781843405788), available August 2011. Word count: 25,000

The illustrations of Brian Cook from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s have become iconic. His heightened use of colour, in a flat colour poster style, is much imitated, but never surpassed. His jacket covers for the Batsford series of books that celebrated British life are now very collectable. This collection of his best work is a beautiful publication that should be enjoyed not only by collectors but all lovers of good design and illustration. Brian Cook describes his working processes, the then-new printing process that allowed him to pioneer his characteristic bold colours, and the design principles and practical methods of his craft. A stunning book for designers.

In the realm of amusing, deadpan greetings cards, Cath Tate is the original and best. In her thirty-year career she has created thousands of witty, original and often subversive cards, featuring grim-faced old ladies, ludicrously dressed 1920s gentlemen and bizarre-looking children, paired with text that perfectly captures her highly individual and devastatingly funny view on the world. This hilarious book - a perfect gift for the man in your life, or perhaps an unsuspecting bride-to-be - brings together the best of Cath's work on men. Packed with mirth-making images of men in all their ridiculous glory and insights into the mysterious way their minds work, this is a perfect reflection of modern-day manhood.

Character Design Quarterly (CDQ) is a lively, creative magazine bringing inspiration, expert insights, and leading techniques from professional illustrators, artists, and character art enthusiasts worldwide. Each issue provides detailed tutorials on creating diverse characters, enabling you to explore the processes and decision making that go into creating amazing characters. Learn new ways to develop your own ideas, and discover from the artists what it is like to work for prolific animation studios such as Disney, Warner Bros., and DreamWorks. Issue 14 is adorned by an enchanting cover by Rafael Mayani, and is jam-packed with playful content. It features the humorous development of a group of elderly horror characters by Dom Murphy, nostalgic designs from Glenn Thomas, and artwork from Maite Franchi, Design Lad, Mohammad Marz, and many others.

The ultimate celebration of the spectacular battle in the final Hobbit movie reveals in stunning detail the full creative vision of Peter Jackson and the filmmakers, together with extensive commentary from the director, cast, crew, and almost 2,000 exclusive photos, illustrations and visual effects imagery. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Chronicles - The Art of War goes behind the lines to explore how thousands of artisans brought the defining film of Peter Jackson's adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit to the screen. More than 1,000 intricate illustrations, stunning photographs and never-before-seen imagery illuminate fascinating insights shared by cast and crew, including exclusive content from the extended edition of the final film. Also included is an exclusive fold-out battle map illustrated by Weta Workshop Designer, Nick Keller! From the sorcerous ruins of Dol Guldur and the fiery conflagration of Lake-town, follow the filmmakers on to the blood-soaked battlefields of the Lonely Mountain, and climb the steps of Ravenhill to witness the final, tragic duel of Thorin Oakenshield and Azog, the Pale Orc. Discover the challenges and reactions of the stars of The Battle of the Five Armies as they recount their experiences and excitement. Join the choreographers of the film's action to examine the battle strategies and formations of each of the five armies, and learn how a dozen stunt performers became thousands of digital troops. Pore over archive-quality photography of staggeringly detailed weapons and armour and browse galleries of fearsome war beasts and monsters. As the story of The Hobbit reaches its shattering climax amidst an epic landscape of war and tragedy, join Weta Workshop senior concept designer Daniel Falconer behind the scenes one last time as this sumptuous final book in The Hobbit: Chronicles series celebrates the epic conclusion of The Hobbit film trilogy.

This fascinating collection of airline tickets spans the history of air travel. From flagship megabrands like Pan Am and BOAC to some of the least known airlines flying to the most obscure corners of the world. One thing they shared was a sharp eye for colour and design. This collection has been brought together by the author of Planely Schmitz and Interflug: East Germany's Airline, and prefaced with an in-depth essay by airline historian Charles Kennedy. Join us on a flight to a bygone age of travel and design.

In this follow-up to How to Draw Cars Like a Pro" and How to Draw Choppers Like a Pro," award-winning car designer Thom Taylor teams with kustom culture legend Ed Newton to reveal the tricks and techniques top artists past and present have used to render crazy cars and snarling drivers, warts-and-all. Chopped, slammed, channeled, blown . . . from the late '50s through the '70s all of these features and more lent themselves nicely to automotive art that caricaturized the already severe design traits associated with the cars of the period. More often than not, the whacked rods and muscle cars depicted in this art were piloted by slobbering, snaggle-toothed, wart-covered monsters with bulging, bloodshot eyes. Beginning with a brief history of the form, Newton himself traces the lineage of rod 'n' monster art to legends like Von Dutch, Stanley "Mouse" Miller, Dean Jefferies, and his former employer, Ed "Big Daddy" Roth. Taylor and Newton then proceed to chapters covering everything from equipment to perspective, light sources, and other technical considerations. Taylor also expands on the cartooning, people, proportion, and color chapters from his previous works, applying them to the subject at hand. In addition to art by Newton and Taylor, the authors include dozens of examples from current top automotive artists Darrell Mayabb, Dave Deal, John Bell, and Keith Weesner.

Packaging is something of a hot topic at the moment, but in our eagerness to get rid of as much of it as possible we need to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water. Wrapping It Up gives an account of the usefulness of packaging to all involved - manufacturer, wholesaler, retailer and consumer - beyond its commercial value as a marketing and advertising tool. Homage is paid to the many graphic artists and designers - whether employed by manufacturer or retailer, by a design studio or an advertising agency - whose ingenuity was so successfully applied to the problem of how to protect goods in transit and in storage as well as having them attract attention. A visit to a super-market or a daily check in kitchen cupboards will never be quite the same.

Victorian-era designs for borders, wreaths, cushion squares, sprays, etc. Patterns for verbena, strawberry, lily, many more.

The mid-20th century brought about an advertising renaissance in the western world. Technology boomed. Standards of living increased, innovation abounded, and 'luxury' consumer products such as TVs, fridges and gas heating became readily available to the public. In order to sell them, ads needed to be as quirky and appealing as the new commodities themselves. This compact yet comprehensive book, written by an experienced design historian, explores the hand-in-hand development of advertisement and the many household amenities that we take for granted today. This book began its life as an offshoot of another, also written by Ruth Artmonsky, but focusing on the advertising of furniture. Her research led her to discover the expansive genre of domestic appliance advertising - not relevant to her book, but more than interesting enough to merit a new text in its own right. Adverts that caught Ruth's eye include "an advertisement for a gas iron, and a rare one of a man admitting he might be able to do the laundry when the house purchased a washing machine." Discover all this and more in Powering the Home.

The Punch Drunk Moustache team is back, and the artists are coming out swinging! The original mustachioed maniacs head into the ring for a second round of never-before-seen visual stories. Prepare to be knocked out by magical warriors, Western dreamlands, enchanted dolls, courageous outlaws, and much, much more.

What is creature design? We all have a notion―mostly consisting of evocative images of otherworldly beings galloping, swimming, flying, and often attacking the hero of an epic film or story. But what makes a creature believable? In the follow-up to her bestseller, Animals Real and Imagined: The Fantasy of What Is and What Might Be, world-renowned artist Terryl Whitlatch reveals the secret behind believable creature design: anatomy. How anatomy applies practically to the natural history and story is the prime cornerstone on which successful creature design hangs, whether the creature is real or imaginary. Studying, understanding, drawing, and applying accurate anatomy to an imaginary creature will make viewers suspend their disbelief to welcome a new vision into their worlds. We invite you to immerse yourself in the intricate workings of numerous animal anatomies―and the beauty they possess―in the Science of Creature Design: Understanding Animal Anatomy. Whitlatch’s delightful and charismatic illustrations will inform and thrill readers with every turn of the page. She shares valuable techniques reaped from years working for Lucasfilm and Walt Disney Feature Animation, and on such films as Jumanji, Brother Bear, and The Polar Express. In addition, Whitlatch exemplifies an endless love for real animals that continues to inspire her fantastic imaginary creatures, which have captivated audiences around the world.

In this visually captivating volume, a vibrant selection of loved and revered children's book illustrators reveals the secrets of their narrative techniques. Divided into a series of enchanting sections each created by individual illustrators, this unique and gift-worthy book tells the story of how to successfully depict narrative and compel an audience through visual art. Marvel at how composition and environment can create suspense, and how color, visual hierarchy, and symbolism can tell a story beyond just the action. Learn how to inject dynamism and emotion into your illustrations to tell a tale that isn't just engaging, but is memorable and one that transcends generations. Lavishly illustrated and with a luxurious finish, How to Be a Children's Book Illustrator is ideal for book lovers in general as well as anyone looking to unlock the secrets of children's book illustration.

Nietzsche said all of life is a question of taste. And he was right. But nowadays all of life is also a question of branding. A brand is not something concocted by graphic designers and marketing consultants: it is "the intangible aspects of an intangible thing", as Massimo Vignelli (who re-branded the New York subway) explained. Brand values are the expectations and associations that all successful (and, indeed, unsuccessful) products and services possess. And now they are under threat from Health & Safety. Ugly, generic packaging for cigarettes will soon be mandatory. Bans on attractive presentation for sugar, alcohol and cars will logically follow. Simultaneously, brands are vulnerable as conventional advertising becomes redundant and younger affluent consumers suffer from consumer fatigue. With Signs of Life Stephen Bayley makes the case that far from being pernicious, manipulative voodoo, brands and branding should be regarded as the contemporary equivalent of folk-art.

Book of Ideas is just that: an outpouring of what one creative director and designer has discovered from many years working in the strange and endlessly fascinating world of the creative industry. Sharing advice on everything from inspiration to inbox control, facing your fears, finding happiness in your work, the art of self-promotion and beating creative block. It is also illustrated with some of the most important and resonant portfolio projects. Book of Ideas is an invaluable tool to any creative at any stage in their career.

LEGO® bricks meet art!

Share the LEGO® love with this delightful collection of 100 postcards. Featuring 50 images of everyday objects and scenes recreated with LEGO bricks, these postcards transform the mundane into beautiful works of art and are a fun way to share joy and creativity with friends and loved ones.

• These deceptively simple but meticulously executed constructions made from LEGO bricks transform the way you'll see this classic toy―and the world around you. Send the postcards to friends and family, or display them as playful, unique wall art.
• 4 3/8 x 6 1/4 x 2 ½-inch box with hinged lid, 100 postcards (50 full-color images, repeating twice)
• A perfect gift or stocking stuffer for adult fans of LEGO (AFOL) and art lovers alik

Guinness has attracted so much attention from advertising historians that many other brands, many illustrated by well-known artists and imbued with just as much humour, have been neglected. Drawn to Drink does something towards redressing this, covering some dozen drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, from whiskey and gin to tea and waters. Amongst the illustrations included are George Him's illustrations of Schweppshire, Ashley Havinden's 'Stick to Beer' for the Brewer's Society, and the 'little man' for John Jamieson, Ronald Searle's series of Mr. Lemon Harte for the rum company; and Edward Bawden's humorous offerings for tea. Other artists' work covered are David Gentleman's wood engravings for Harvey's and Edward Ardizzone's sketches for both advertising and his own book, along with that of the many artists who contributed to 'The Compleat Imbibe' .

The definitive and sumptuous biography of the one of the world's most collectible illustrators contains a richly detailed account of his life along with beautifully enchanting pictures Examining the work of the illustrator Arthur Rackham, this monograph traces his achievements throughout his illustrious career. Rackham's illustrations for such works as "Alice in Wonderland," "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens," and "Rip Van Winkle" have attained the classic status of the writings themselves--and indeed, in some cases, they have become synonymous with them. His works were also included in numerous exhibitions in his lifetime, including one at the Louvre in Paris in 1914. Rackham himself, however, has previously remained a shadowy figure. As well as featuring exquisite illustrations and sketches, extracts from Rackham's correspondence and insightful commentary shed new light on this much-collected illustrator.

Dazzling new, original collection by a master of the genre presents more than 260 high-impact, permission-free designs that exploit to their fullest the dramatic potential of squares, circles, triangles, rectangles, and other elements. Invaluable for wallpaper and textile design, packaging and computer art, these eye-catching forms provide artists and craftspeople with angular forms, pleasant symmetries, and other great images for immediate use and inspiration. More than 260 black-and-white designs.

Published to celebrate the life of Mike Peyton, `the world's greatest yachting cartoonist', this second edition features personal tributes from some 12 other successful and well-known sailors (including Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Sir Ben Ainslie and Tom Cunliffe). They all recognise Mike's observational talent and comment on how sailors see themselves (or their friends) in his cartoons. Along with 80 of his incomparable cartoons, Mike Peyton recounts how he became a yachting cartoonist and his fifty years of sailing. So as well as chuckling at the cartoons themselves there is the opportunity to learn from Peyton's 50 years of experience of sailing different boats, meeting a variety of sailors, and getting into - and out of - some truly hilarious situations.

The art form of fashion illustration goes back to the beginning of the 20th century and today's exponents are still benefiting from some of the styles, shapes and colours of fashion illustrators from decades ago. Whether they work with traditional pencils, crayons and watercolours or with a digital pen, fashion illustrators today will find inspiration from these stunning images. This volume collates the best fashion illustration that were captured in the pages of the iconic Harper's Bazaar magazine from 1930 to 1970. The publication has been at the forefront of fashion since the 19th century and it is no surprise that it published the best work in this art form. From the mannered shapes of Leon Benigni of the 1930s to the looser outlines of the late 1960s, the book is a beautiful resource for all illustrators.