Christmas Is in the Air

But how can you tell?
Does the air smell of tangerines?
And Christmas greens?
Can you feel it in the wind? Or hear it in the sound of a song?

Experience the beauty and mystery of Christmas in this classic story told by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated with charming paintings by Anne Mortimer.

This complete beginner's guide to painting flowers in watercolour is ideal if you want to learn to paint but are short on time. Each of the 35 quick and easy exercises takes no more than 30 minutes to complete, and will teach you how to paint flowers of different shapes, colours and families - lilies, orchids and hellebores amongst others - or learn a key technique such as masking out, working wet in wet and colour-mixing. The exercises are all worked at postcard size - ideal for a 6 x 4in (A6) watercolour pad, and tracings are included for each study. The book is broken down into five chapters that focus, respectively, on working with watercolour, watercolour techniques, colour and tone, form and detail, and finally flowers in context. The final section of the book contains three complete paintings that demonstrate how to combine all the techniques and elements of painting flowers, as learned from the preceding chapters. These paintings, too, are accompanied by actual-size tracings.

From the author of classics such as Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny, Margaret Wise Brown, the perfect gift for cat lovers and beachgoers alike. On Sneakers' first trip to the beach, his curious paws find surprises in the sand. There's a mischievous crab, playful shrimp, and a shell that echoes the roar of the ocean. "Anne Mortimer's wonderful illustrations make this book a must have," said Children's Literature magazine. "Mortimer's depictions of Sneakers' wide face and his bright yellow eyes perfectly capture Sneakers' moods. They are also so lifelike that this cat seemingly could leap right off the book's pages, ready to prowl the sands of a sea shore near you."

Be inspired to paint beautiful flowers in watercolour by the four respected artists featured in this comprehensive guide. Each artist has their own individual style and provides detailed instruction on the tools, materials and techniques they use. Learn about painting wild flowers from Wendy Tait, including composition, sketching, painting backgrounds, and expert tips on how to improve your flower portraits. There's a fascinating section on achieving light in flower painting by Jackie Barrass, and an exploration of creative techniques with Richard Bolton. Finally, Ann Mortimer guides you through depicting flowers in the landscape with four stunning projects. With a total of 12 gorgeous projects to choose from, this highly practical book will provide all the instruction and inspiration you need to create amazing watercolour flower paintings in a range of styles. This book uses material previously published in the highly successful Step-by-Step Leisure Arts series and the Watercolour Tips and Techniques series.