Art & Photography

***Stocked 28/05/13***This is a fascinating exploration of the mystery that surrounds of Ruben's most well-known and intriguing drawings. (read more)

***Stocked 28/05/13***This is a fascinating exploration of the mystery that surrounds of Ruben's most well-known and intriguing drawings. Peter Paul Rubens was one of the most talented and successful artists working in 17th-century Europe. During his illustrious career as a court painter and diplomat, Rubens expressed a fascination with exotic costumes and headdresses.

With his masterful handling of black chalk and touches of red, Rubens executed a compelling drawing that features a figure wearing Asian costume - a depiction that has recently been identified as Man in Korean Costume. Despite the drawings renown - both during Ruben's own lifetime and in contemporary art scholarship - the reasons why it was made and whether it actually depicts a specific Asian person remain a mystery. The intriguing story that develops involves a shipwreck, an unusual hat, the earliest trade between Europe and Asia, the trafficking of Asian slave, and Jesuit missionaries. (hide)

This is a beautiful new colouring book that takes you on a magical journey beneath the waves, from the creator of the worldwide bestsellers, (read more)

This is a beautiful new colouring book that takes you on a magical journey beneath the waves, from the creator of the worldwide bestsellers, Secret Garden and Enchanted Forest. Also features a large double-sided pull-out poster to colour and keep. With Lost Ocean, Johanna Basford invites colour-inners of all ages to discover an enchanting underwater world hidden within the depths of the sea.

With intricate pen and ink illustrations to complete, colour and embellish, readers will meet shoals of exotic fish, curious octopuses and delicately penned seahorses, visit coral reefs and barnacle-studded shipwrecks, and discover intricate shells and pirate treasure. Secret Garden and Enchanted Forest fans and newcomers alike will delight in this creative journey into an inky new world. (hide)

A fantastic, all-new, third volume of tattoo art - both tattoos and original artworks - showcasing the best recent work of the world's (read more)

A fantastic, all-new, third volume of tattoo art - both tattoos and original artworks - showcasing the best recent work of the world's most outstanding tattoo artists. The format is compact, but contains over 600 full-colour photographs of the work of international tattoo art stars, including Frank Carter, Camila Rocha, Dan Smith and Horikazu (see full list of contributing artists below), representing outstanding value-for-money. Over the past 20 years, tattoos have emphatically entered the mainstream, perhaps most notably on the person of UK prime minister David Cameron's wife Samantha.

Whether celebratory tattoos, local landmarks, weddings, gravestones, timepieces, song lyrics, club colours, the Olympic rings, something World Cup-related or even a flight of plaster ducks, more and more people are sporting tattoos. There are also ever more artists who have turned their hands to tattooing, and vice versa. Tattoo styles are changing, too, under the influence of other art forms as traditional methods of designing tattoos - using pencil, marker, ink and pain - are joined by computer-generated art and Photoshop creations. (hide)

The latest edition of the bestselling guide to running a successful gallery, told from the expert perspective of art-world insiders (read more)

The latest edition of the bestselling guide to running a successful gallery, told from the expert perspective of art-world insiders What makes an art gallery successful? How do galleries ensure their marketing is right? How should galleries best approach new markets and customers, while still serving their loyal clientele? Based on the results of an anonymous survey sent to more than 8,000 galleries in the US, UK, and Germany, Magnus Resch's insightful examination of the business of selling art, newly updated and revised, is a compelling read, with an approach that is both aspirational and practical.
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The mandala is a design motif that has intrigued people throughout cultures around the world. Mandalas in Mixed Media features a (read more)

The mandala is a design motif that has intrigued people throughout cultures around the world. Mandalas in Mixed Media features a fresh and unique approach to making these motifs in a variety of mediums (watercolor, Inktense pencils, collage ...) and modern techniques (using decorative papers with acrylic paint; combining markers and charcoal; painting on rocks, maps and other surfaces ...), all delivered to the reader in clear step-by-step instruction. But this book doesn't stop at the mechanics of making these beautiful designs; mandala work is also incredibly useful and the reader will see how to use mandalas to solve problems, let go of fear, lean into love and gain clarity and insight-powerful results for such a fun and relaxing activity! Finally, inspiring gallery pieces from artists all over the world (including well-known names such as Alisa Burke, Tiffany Lovering, Anahata Katkin, Jane LaFazio and Louise Gale) further illustrate the possibilities of this sacred circle. (hide)

Discover the meditative power of the mandala. In this book there is a collection of 50 unique designs, including mesmerising geometric (read more)

Discover the meditative power of the mandala. In this book there is a collection of 50 unique designs, including mesmerising geometric patterns, calming nature-inspired motifs and spiritual symbols. Each colourful mandala is created by painting dots onto a stone or pebble - a simple yet soothingly effective process.

With no specialist tools or skills required, you can immerse yourself in the process of creating these intricate designs. The stresses of modern life can be left behind, and meaningful, tactile pieces of art can be created to present as a perfect gift, to decorate the home, or to keep as a personal talisman. With clear and easy-to-follow instructions and beautiful photography, you will soon be gently crafting your way to a calmer, more creative self.
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With more than 250 characters across all the popular genres, this is the big, must-have book for every aspiring manga artist! Drawing (read more)

With more than 250 characters across all the popular genres, this is the big, must-have book for every aspiring manga artist! Drawing on the mega-success of Christopher Hart's Manga Mania series, Manga Mania Universe combines curated content from each of his previous Manga Mania books (Girl Power!, Romance, and Shonen) into one giant, breathtaking volume. It showcases the best in capturing manga girls, romantic characters and scenes, and action and adventure. (hide)

Published on 03/12/2015 - A stunning collection of hundreds of rare and unseen photographs, behind-the-scenes notes, and interviews (read more)

Published on 03/12/2015 - A stunning collection of hundreds of rare and unseen photographs, behind-the-scenes notes, and interviews chronicling the media's lifelong love affair with Marilyn, created by the acclaimed curator and author of Marilyn Monroe: Metamorphosis. Though Hollywood goddess Marilyn Monroe was married three times, her longest lasting relationship was with the press-the photographers, reporters, and press agents who followed her every move for nearly two decades, and made her into the greatest icon in Hollywood history. One of the most publicized actresses of her time, Marilyn actively sought out the press, carefully crafting her public image and using events from her private life to further her career.

Her romances with baseball legend Joe DiMaggio, playwright Arthur Miller, and others made her a daily feature for newspapers, magazines, and wire services; new images of the star were guaranteed to boost sales. Drawing on unseen troves from dozens of photographers, archives, and collectors, acclaimed photography expert David Wills brings together an unprecedented array of press photos from throughout Marilyn's career-including hundreds of unpublished and rare photographs that have been beautifully restored; uncropped and unretouched outtakes; handwritten notations; period captions; clippings; and more. With a foreword by Robert J. Wagner and interviews from key press agents and others, this portfolio of images offers a fresh, indelible portrait of one of the most enduring icons in history and illuminates the special alliance she shared with the press as never before. (hide)

Highly acclaimed wedding photographer Mark Cleghorn discusses how to photograph all types of weddings. It offers invaluable advice (read more)

Highly acclaimed wedding photographer Mark Cleghorn discusses how to photograph all types of weddings. It offers invaluable advice on the best poses and explains the full-post production process. It is packed with inspirational photographs and pro tips throughout.

Mastering Wedding Photography is packed with expert advice and top tips on capturing those treasured memories. Acclaimed wedding photographer, Mark Cleghorn offers comprehensive information on choosing equipment, manipulating the light, taking candid shots and organizing formal portraits, as well as clearly explaining all the key photographic techniques. Mark also gives plenty of suggestions on what to capture before, during and after the ceremony and how to go about it, plus tips for post-production. (hide)

For centuries carved writings and artworks in churches lay largely unnoticed. So archaeologist Matthew Champion started a nationwide (read more)

For centuries carved writings and artworks in churches lay largely unnoticed. So archaeologist Matthew Champion started a nationwide survey to gather the best examples. In this book he shines a spotlight on a forgotten world of ships, prayers for good fortune, satirical cartoons, charms, curses, windmills, word puzzles, architectural plans and heraldic designs.

Drawing on examples from surviving medieval churches in England, the author gives a voice to the secret graffiti artists: from the lord of the manor and the parish priest to the people who built the church itself. Here are strange medieval beasts, knights battling unseen dragons, ships sailing across lime-washed oceans and demons who stalk the walls. Latin prayers for the dead jostle with medieval curses, builders accounts and slanderous comments concerning a long-dead archdeacon.
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