'Drawing and Painting Insects' is a beautiful and inspiring guide. Whatever your experience, whether new to the subject or a seasoned entomologist, this title will help you capture the beauty of insects by helping you understand their structure and appreciate their behaviour, movement, colour and habitat.

Citysketch London provides instruction on sketching and doodling various parts of London's culture through more than 100 creative prompts and over 200 illustrations.

Illustrate your own storybooks with cute and playful characters, animals, and more, using the enjoyable techniques in Illustration School: Let's Draw a Story. Sachiko Umoto, one of Japan's most popular artists, teaches you how to create a fantasy world filled with animals, characters, castles, rainbows, and much more, all in the popular Japanese character style. No drawing experience is necessary to sketch playful elements and designs that make up these whimsical stories. Start with basic tools and supplies, then get tips for how to start and build a drawing. Learn how to create your own heartfelt stories featuring children and adults, animals, buildings, objects, and landscapes, all infused with your style. Be inspired by Sachiko's stories of a journey into the desert, a king and queen in a castle, and a monster island filled with cute creates. Trace or copy the drawings to invent your own tales and infuse them with color and details to make them unique. What better way to creatively express yourself? Make connections with friends and family by showing them your creations. As Sachiko says, "It's bound to make everyone happy." With this book you'll discover fun ways to: Add weather elements such as rain, wind, and dramatic skies Draw villages and towns with detailed doors, windows, balconies, and roofs Sketch facial expressions that give characters depth Become an imaginative storyteller Use your imagination to create vibrant fantasy worlds with no limits Illustration School: Let's Draw a Story will help you bring to life the stories you want to tell! Discover how the Illustration School series of books makes drawing enjoyable and stress-free. Using Sachiko Umoto's fun, easy techniques for sketching quirky animals, plants, landscapes, and people in the Japanese character style, you'll fill pages with charming illustrations that are uniquely you.

Adopt a spontaneous, bold, and fearless approach to painting as a process of discovery--one that results in lush and colorful finished works that will beg to be displayed. This inspiring and encouraging book for both novice and experienced painters teaches how to create colorful, exciting, expressive paintings through a variety of techniques, combining basic, practical painting principles with innovative personal self-expression.

Flora S. Bowley's fun and forgiving approach to painting is based on the notion that "You don't begin with a preconceived painting in mind; you allow the painting to unfold." Illustrating how to work in layers, Flora gives you the freedom to cover up, re-start, wipe away, and change courses many times along the way. Unexpected and unique compositions, color combinations, and subject matter appear as you allow your paintings to emerge in an organic, unplanned way while working from a place of curiosity and letting go of fear.

--Learn techniques for working with vibrant color and avoiding mud.

--Make rich and varied marks with a variety of unexpected tools.

--Break compositional rules.

--Embrace nonattachment as a way to keep exploring.

--Keep momentum by moving your body and staying positive.

--Work with what's working to let go of struggle.

--Connect more deeply to the world around you to stay inspired.

--Embrace layers to create rich complex paintings.

--Find rhythm by spiraling between chaos and order.

This title stimulates new ways to think about colour, generating responses that unlock personal creativity. It features 31 practical and stimulating lessons that teach how to use colour and composition to make paintings come alive. Colour is one of the never-ending mysteries of painting; there is always more to discover. Through clear, illuminating exercises, this brilliant book stimulates new ways to think about colour, generating responses that unlock personal creativity and allowing artists to express themselves with paint as never before. Colour is one of the never-ending mysteries of painting; there is always more to discover and explore. In thirty-one practical and stimulating lessons, author Jeanne Dobie offers insights into ways to use both colour and composition to make paintings come alive.

Draw the best portraits with form and spirit. Drawing techniques from a master! Mau-Kun Yim learned to draw as the Old Masters did and believes that to render the essence of life in portrait drawing, one must continue to pursue the old ways. This philosophy and methodology relies on a holistic approach to observation, analysis and critical-thinking honed through time and patience. Start with a solid foundation - Classical bust drawing is a must. These lessons aid in constructing volume in your drawing and introduce concepts of structure. Move on to sketching - The best way to train your observation skills. Anatomy, value and state of mind are the focus of these lessons. 12 step-by-step tutorials put it all together - Form and spirit combine along with more clearly defined details to bring life and dimension to your portraits. An extensive gallery of beautifully and classically executed portraits, figures, sketches and busts serves as inspiration.

Adding other mediums to your watercolour paintings is a fantastic way to take your work in new, more exciting directions. However, the vast array of painting mediums and materials on the market can be daunting, especially for the beginner. This book introduces the reader to the range of media that is available, explains briefly and clearly how to use the materials and provides six step-by-step projects and inspirational finished paintings to encourage you to take a definitive leap into the exciting world of mixed media art. Author Alison C Board covers a multitude of topics in her work, and this book features flowers, animal portraits, dancers in motion, cityscapes and landscapes. She explores how to combine wet and dry media, and how to create vibrant collages from man-made and natural found objects. There are no mistakes in mixed-media artwork, and Alison encourages the reader to be unafraid and embrace the experimental.

This title helps you learn the classic techniques of painting silk, with creative projects to do at home. There are exciting designs to create, including a Decorative Fan, a Lily Scarf, a Flowery Camisole and a Block-printed Blind. It features a gallery of exquisite silk painting treatments by leading contemporary artists. It includes information about materials, equipment and techniques such as using gutta and marbling. There are 25 original and easy-to-achieve projects presented step by step. It contains over 300 specially commissioned photographs, which clearly demonstrate each stage. This is the definitive approach to a traditional craft. The art of decorating textiles has been popular since ancient times and of all the natural fabrics silk is the most sought after. Increasingly sophisticated dyes have led to new and elaborate decorative techniques, but the real beauty of silk painting is that even simple designs produce outstanding results. This book shows how to create 25 decorative pieces, and contains all the information you need to get started. Types of silk and their suitability for different dyes are discussed, and many basic techniques - including tie-dye, dip-dye, salt scattering, gutta resist, marbling and batik - are explained. Once you have mastered these basics the projects will be easily achieved. The projects vary in complexity so you can start off with a dip-dyed handkerchief before tackling more involved techniques such as the gutta hand-painted parasol. The projects are presented step by step with photographs to take you through the stages. This book is a wonderful introduction to one of the world's most rewarding crafts.

Illustrates the essential wall finishes such as colour washing and ragging, patterned effects such as stencilling and stamping, and fabulous faux finishes such as granite and tortoiseshell. Over 150 original step-by-step projects to follow and adapt, from full-scale interior makeovers to smaller items, including a Scandinavian living room, a medieval hallway, a Provincial kitchen, a childs seaside room, a distressed table top, a crackle-glaze picture frame, stamped wrapping paper, and much, much more.

From the inspired mind of Dinara Mirtalipova comes Imagine a Forest, a drawing and design guide to creating your own Eastern European folklore inspired artwork. Escape to your own forested fairy tale. Imagine a Forest explores the unique style of illustrator Dinara Mirtalipova; a style which is rooted in the rich traditions of Eastern European folklore. This drawing and design guide features instructions and tips on how to draw your own beautiful art in a modern folklore style. Create charming flowers, birds, animals, fairy tale characters, mythical creatures and more. The lush and captivating illustrations and encouraging, easy-to-follow advice featured in these step-by-step tutorials will guide you through Dinara's gorgeous folk-art drawings and inspire you to create your own. Dinara even gives you design ideas and project suggestions so you can make and decorate practical things with your beautiful art. Don't spend every day in the boring real world--escape to a beautiful Eastern European fairy tale with Imagine a Forest. Who knows what you might find!

Accomplished artist Jean Haines shares her passion for watercolours in this wonderfully practical book. Known for her exciting techniques and love of colour, Jean takes you on an inspirational painting journey on which you'll encounter, amongst other things, magical watercolour flow, glorious washes, sunbursts, and a magnificent 'hotting it up' finale. With her simple exercises, clear advice and easy-to-follow projects, Jean pushes the boundaries and will alter the way you think about watercolours and painting for ever. With a selection of popular subjects, including animals, landscapes, buildings,flowers and people, there is something for everyone here, whatever their artistic ability.

Part of the infographic 4-Letter Word series, each containing 4 chapters to teach how to PLAN, MAKE, PLAY and GROW. The words are kept to a minimum as an expert author employs illuminating and entertaining illustrations, infographics, charts, tips and cheat-sheets, to guide you through all the essentials you need to discover and develop your new craft. DRAW is a complete, but easy to study, course in sketching and drawing - the perfect handbook for the aspiring artist. In a series of simple but beautifully illustrated steps, and with a focus on drawing the human form, our expert author describes and demonstrates all the essentials and more. You will discover how to PLAN your studies and plot your equipment; how to observe and understand proportion, and MAKE your first sketches; how to PLAY with different materials and techniques to develop your own style; and how to GROW your drawing and sketching into a business, a mindful meditation, a sociable pastime or a lifelong passion.

These pages practically glow with Kevin Macpherson's rich and powerful paintings He shares his techniques for quickly capturing the mood of a scene in bold, direct brushstrokes, with step-by-step instructions that make it easy--simply a matter of painting the colors you see. Follow his lead and you too, can create landscapes and still lives in a vibrant, impressionistic style.

Do something amazing and learn a new skill thanks to the Little Ways to Live a Big Life books! As children, when we learn to write, we gain an important life skill: a practical means of communicating that we end up using almost every day of our lives, if only to jot down a shopping list or dash out an email. As children, we also know instinctively that drawing is a great way to communicate, but later in life it isn't universally valued and nurtured in the way that writing is. It's not seen as a necessity, it's seen as a specialism. As a result, most of us stop drawing completely, apart from the odd doodling. More than that, we lose all confidence in our ability to draw. Yet drawing is an incredibly prac tical way of turning what's inside your head into something tangible and useful. It can equip you with new means of solving problems, sharing ideas and telling stories. How to Draw Anything sets out to repair our broken relationship with drawing. It will inspire you to pick up that pencil from where you left it all those years ago and start making pictures again. It will give you back the confidence and joy in drawing you never should have lost. And it will take drawing out of the art world and put it into your world, introducing you to drawing as a practical tool for everyday life that will change the way you work, think and communicate.

Learn to draw any animal and turn it into a sweet, delightful creature that always inspires a smile. You Can Draw Cute Animals features easy techniques for turning up the charm on 30 animals that run, fly, swim, slither, and waddle. Discover how to create sparkling eyes, blushing cheeks, joyful smiles, and button noses, transforming even the most ferocious beasts into delightful, appealing characters. This comprehensive guide to understanding the secrets of cute begins with basic drawing techniques and exercises and a rundown of what factors make things adorable. Yasmina Mattson of Yasmina Creates (Instagram: @yasminacreates) has devised a unique, easy, three-step drawing method that includes observation, simplification and exaggeration using simple shapes, and refining and adding details. Those techniques are incorporated in creating a diverse array of animals, including a panda, monkey, kangaroo, tiger, cat, goat, hedgehog, owl, crow, fox, deer, snail, butterfly, seal, duck, flamingo, and more. Even complete beginners will feel confident in their skills to draw any animal in a cute style. Explore ways to add vivid color with watercolor, pencils, and markers, to add even more personality and style. Play and experiment for a creatively satisfying experience. You Can Draw Cute Animals also features: An exploration of basic supplies and techniques Ideas and examples for fun variations Tips for adding accessories and backgrounds to create complete scenes Techniques for drawing animals in a variety of expressive poses Start creating your own menagerie of delightful creatures today!

Experience the freedom of watercolor painting and let go of fear! You'll have no excuse not to paint when you follow Gina Rossi Armfield as she shares her intuitive and inspirational approach to sketching and painting animals. Watercolor is the perfect medium for capturing the flowing textures, patterns and playful personalities of your favorite furry, feathered and farmyard friends. And it's fun using organic, sketchbook-style techniques to create soulful animal portraits. No intimidating exercises--just colorful and expressive works of art! The animal field guide is divided into 3 sections--Paws, Claws and Hooves--with 15 different animal projects that each include a photo reference, color palette and sketch template. Inside you'll find: Tricks for painting fur, feathers, beaks, claws, hooves and eyes Essential and easy paintbrush and watercolor instruction Guidance for working from photo reference Creative background and text overlay ideas

Basic Acrylic Instruction--Amazing Results

This resource is packed with the best of Lee Hammond's lessons and tips on working with acrylics, including more than 80 step-by-step exercises and demonstrations that will have you creating amazing paintings in no time flat.

Success is easy--just follow along with Lee

With just seven to nine pigments, you can paint anything. You'll learn how to add layers and details, one stroke at a time. Along the way, Lee 's friendly encouragement and quick tips will help you work past what she calls "the awkward stage," so you can complete your paintings with confidence.

In addition to detailed information on selecting materials and mixing colors, you'll also get complete visual instruction for painting subjects of all kinds, including:

• Still Life: Get proper proportions every time, using easy graphing techniques. You'll also find demonstrations for painting the tricky parts, such as glossy textures and reflective surfaces.
• Landscapes: Lee shares proven tips for creating depth and realism in subjects ranging from forests and mountains to prairies and seascapes. She also shows how to paint realistic clouds, trees, water and more.
• Animals: This chapter provides step-by-step guidance for painting all your favorite creatures. There's even extra instruction for getting the eyes, noses, fur and feathers just right.
• People: Painting people can be especially challenging, but success is easy with basic steps and practical guidance. One feature at a time, you'll learn simple techniques for painting faces of all kinds--male or female, young or old. You'll also find in-depth guidance for creating realistic fleshtones, eye color, hair and more.

Artist Ann Blockley is renowned for her innovative approach to traditional subjects. Following the huge success of her previous book, Experimental Flowers in Watercolour, she now explores ways to interpret landscape. Packed with stunning examples of her colourful, expressive work, this book encourages you to experiment with the same techniques in your own watercolour painting to develop a personal style. Techniques covered include combining water-based paint and ink with other media such as gesso and collage to create dramatic effects; manipulating paint with materials such as plastic wrap (clingfilm); tearing, layering and reassembling paintings into watercolour collages; and developing textures and marks made using fabrics and other found objects. Throughout the book Ann offers her personal commentary on how her paintings were created, giving us a unique insight into the mind of the artist. Both practical and inspirational, this glorious book is the ideal companion for watercolour painters who want to take their work a step further.

In this reissue of his popular book, Vic Bearcroft shares his love of drawing and painting wild animals, showing how to capture the personality and distinctive features of a variety of creatures. Using simple steps and plenty of detail, this guide shows you how to create beautiful artworks, from drawing the basic shapes through to realising your favourite animals in your preferred medium.

Everything you ever wanted to know about dragons, but were afraid to find out

Fantasy artists will breathe easier to discover a less perilous alternative to drawing dragons from life. "Dracopedia" grants you safe, easy access to the world's most prominent dragon species, from tiny, innocuous feydragons to the ferocious wyvern.

For years, artist William O'Connor has traveled the globe, studying dragons in their natural environments. His findings, field notes and sketches have been compiled for the first time into this single, beautifully illustrated compendium--a natural and cultural history of the beasts as well as a step-by-step drawing workshop.

• Details of the anatomy, behavior, habitats and legends of 13 major dragon families
• Heavily illustrated with field sketches, anatomical studies and gesture drawings
• Shows the start-to-finish creation of 13 striking paintings, illustrating key concepts that apply to every medium

Discover magic! Join the vibrant, prismatic world of luminous alcohol inks. Mercurial, versatile, inexpensive, and wildly colorful, alcohol inks are one of the newest mediums to hit the art community. This essential guide for working with alcohol inks has been greatly expanded, with new tips and techniques and more than 50 additional works from guest artists in an inspiring gallery. Discover how to choose which inks to use for each project and how to experiment with a wide variety of fascinating techniques and tools. Learn how to work on a variety of surfaces, including paper, glass, metal, fabric, and plastic, through detailed, step-by-step demos. Perfect for all levels, from the beginning craftsperson to the professional artist, Pigments of Your Imagination offers a broad insight into the expansive world of alcohol inks. Explore the limits of your artistic ingenuity, and jump-start your creativity!

Painting Light and Color in the Modern Landscape is a guidebook to help artists of all skill levels to create watercolors that are imbued with light and mood by working with value and color. For beginners, the basic materials and techniques are covered in detail, based largely on questions the author had when he was learning and the questions that his students ask him today. The remainder of the book is filled with practical lessons intended to advance the overall knowledge and confidence of the reader. One aspect that will be unique to this book is that the author will share personal, disastrous learning experiences with readers as a means of both encouragement and entertainment and to illustrate the point that anyone can learn, anyone can improve and anyone can master this particular subject matter. In addition to 12 individual step-by-step demonstrations , approximately 27 gallery pieces with detailed explanations of the painting techniques and concepts used to create the painting.

These beautiful pages invite you to pick up your brush and grow. Kristy Rices joy-focused approach to watercolor art has won the hearts of fans worldwide, and with this journal Rice offers ways for all levels of painters to make art for joys sake and simultaneously paint a personal keepsake or add beauty to your inspiration wall. Includes 9 illustrations ready to be watercolored on thick, textured paper, alongside full-color frameable reproductions of the same works painted by Kristy herself, demonstrating palette choices and brushwork. Enrich your art with prompt ideas to inspire your paintings growth; pages with no-stress exercises for techniques; inspirational artwork and quotations; and even a few recipes for nourishing your body along with your spirit! Each item in the Artisan series is designed to offer a specially crafted watercolor discovery glowing with Kristy Rices creative touch. Also in the series: Watercolor Cards: Illustrations by Kristy Rice.