ART BOOKS

Artist Toolbox - Painting Tools and Materials The Artist's Toolbox series provides easy-to-use reference guides for beginning and aspiring artists. While many instructional art books gloss over important concepts focusing instead on how to simply replicate a piece of art the Artist's Toolbox series breaks down the whats whens whys and hows of each relevant tool or technique clearly demonstrating its purpose and how to employ it to achieve desired effects. Author: Walter Foster Creative Team

A-Z of Flower Portraits Billy Showell is a well-respected contemporary artist whose watercolour flower portraits have earned her the respect of watercolour artists all over the world. Worked to the same degree of accuracy as traditional botanical paintings Billy's compositions are given a more contemporary twist combining her unique eye for design with her love of flowers. In this book 40 flower portraits are presented arranged in alphabetical order each one accompanied by small studies details step-by-step instructions and the colour mixes used to accomplish the finished work. At the start of the book there are useful sections on the materials and equipment needed and the main techniques used including wet-into-wet colour blending lifting out layering glazes dry brushing and colour mixing and at the end of the book Billy gives her own unique slant on composition and discusses the importance of creating a sketchbook. Whether you love to paint or simply love flowers this book will delight and inspire you. Author: Billy Showell

Be Calm and Colour Find the calm within the storm! In this guided mindful colouring book for anxiety-burdened adults art therapist Lacy Mucklow and artist Angela Porter offer over 50 colouring pages all designed to help you release stress and find peace. Author: Lacy Mucklow

Projects, techniques and inspiration to get you started

Author: Tim Fisher

Screen printing is a print process involving the forcing of ink through a screen of fine material to create a picture or pattern. It has been around for many years and has long been perceived as a specialist subject accessible only to professional printers and textile artists due to the high cost of the screens and inks. Recently however screen printing has entered the mainstream and the equipment and tools have become more affordable and accessible. In this Beginner's Guide to Screen Printing Erin Lacy shows you how to make your own screen using an embroidery hoop and silk fabric and demonstrates how to create beautiful designs that are easy to achieve. Discover how to print onto different surfaces such as wood cork and fabric and create twelve stunning coastal and botanical-themed projects through bright and colourful step-by-step photography. The book includes templates and inspiration on how to design your own screen printing motifs.

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!