Artist Tools

Make your own cute and fashionable clothes for girls with this easy-to-use sewing book.

Author, Yuki Araki is one of the most recognized names in the growing sewing-for-children movement. The mother of two daughters, Araki has become a DIY sewing favorite because she knows what young girls want. They like to wear stylish clothes that also let them play with ease. Moms adore the relaxed aesthetic of Araki's simple mix-and-match play clothes and accessories, and young girls are happy wearing them because they're both cute and comfortable.

Best suited for girls from two to five years old, the sewing patterns in this Japanese sewing book are simple, casual, and look good on any girl. Araki provides westernized patterns in four sizes, plus diagrams and instructions for twenty-two pieces. Simple lines give kids room to move, and the classic styles look good on any frame.

Sewing designs include:

Shoulder-tie camisole top and dress

Classic smock shirt and dress

Four variations of a basic elastic-waist skirt

Shorts and easy-breezy kid-style leggings to pair with any top

Button-front and pullover tops

Adorable bucket hat

Parents will love dressing their kids in these economical and easy-to-make clothes. Nothing could be simpler--or sweeter!

A comprehensive guide to watercolor painting that draws on the expertise of seven well-loved artists and includes a wide variety of techniques and styles.

This is a practical and comprehensive guide for all watercolor enthusiasts, from the beginner who wishes to explore this popular painting medium to the experienced artist looking for inspiration and ideas. Starting with advice on materials, colour and composition, the book goes on to describe basic and more advanced techniques and the wonderful effects they can produce. Fourteen easy-to-follow, step-by-sep demonstrations show the reader how to paint skies, trees, water, buildings and flowers, and each section is accompanied by a selection of inspirational paintings by the seven featured artists, in a rich variety of styles.

Originally published as 'Working with Watercolour', this book uses material from the 'Leisure Arts' series.

Award-winning animal artist Vic Bearcroft presents his versatile and complete guide to all aspects of drawing and painting wild animals of all types. Learn how to draw tigers, zebras, pandas, elephants, chimpanzees, wolves and even sloths- learning new techniques, selecting the right paint media and getting the essence of the animal in the wild.

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 realizing your favourite animals in your preferred medium.

A modern, easy-to-use, and authoritative guide to painting with gouache, including the basics on this exciting and centuries-old medium, techniques for all skill levels, and practice projects from an experienced author and illustrator.

This charming and contemporary step-by-step guide to gouache (pronounced gwash) is perfect for creative people who have dreamed of painting inspiring subjects from everyday life. Gouache is a water-based paint similar to watercolor that has the opacity and layerability of acrylic paints. It creates wonderful washes, allows for layering and texture, and dries quickly with a unique matte finish.

Illustrator Emma Block presents everything you need to know about this whimsical and fun medium, including expert guidance on tools and materials and techniques that will make it easy to use. Thirty lessons cover subjects from simple, such as your morning coffee cup and bright lemons, to advanced, such as fluffy animals and portraits of your friends and family. All of this is accompanied by her workshop-honed instructions and step-by-step illustrations, which will help you build the skills and confidence to finish beautiful pieces of your own.

Throughout the history of art, figure drawing has been regarded as the very foundation of an artist's education and the center of the art-making process. Bill Buchman's Expressive Figure Drawing presents the classic fundamentals of this genre, but with a distinctly contemporary twist--celebrating freedom, expressiveness, and creativity. This unique method incorporates more than 30 essential exercises, empowering you to draw the figure dramatically and with confidence, no matter your current level of skill. Filled with step-by-step demonstrations, inspiring images, and insightful text revealing a wide range of techniques and concepts, this book presents new ways to think about the figure and use your materials to free the artist within.

A beautifully visual and informative guide to drawing the human form from the bestselling and renowned Italian life-drawer Giovanni Civardi.

From the bestselling, world-renowned life-drawer Giovanni Civardi comes this latest edition of the concise guide to drawing the human form.

To become a successful artist in figure drawing, it is essential to understand the inner workings of the human body; but the complex nature of our anatomy makes the process of learning to draw it often daunting. In Drawing Human Anatomy, Giovanni Civardi breaks down the numerous components that make up our bodies into easy, absorbable chunks - from the skin right down to the skeleton. Beginning with easy-to-follow summaries on the makeup of human anatomy, along with advice on how to depict the human figure on paper, the book delves straight into our inner mechanics to get you started on your drawing journey right away. In addition, each muscle and skeletal structure is accompanied by a clear diagram indicating its location on the body, and a drawing of the form in Giovanni's much-loved drawing style.

With dozens of illustrations explaining the relationships between our bones and muscles, and with a wide range of body positions covered - front and back, and rest and motion - this is an exceptional, practical guide to producing anatomically correct drawings for artists of all abilities.

A revised edition of the classic bestselling how to draw book. A life-changing book, this fully revised and updated edition of Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain is destined to inspire generations of readers and artists to come.

Translated into more than seventeen languages, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain is the world's most widely used instructional drawing book. Whether you are drawing as a professional artist, as an artist in training, or as a hobby, this book will give you greater confidence in your ability and deepen your artistic perception, as well as foster a new appreciation of the world around you. This revised/updated fourth edition includes:

- a new introduction;
- crucial updates based on recent research on the brain's plasticity and the enormous value of learning new skills/ utilizing the right hemisphere of the brain;
- new focus on how the ability to draw on the strengths of the right hemisphere can serve as an antidote to the increasing left-brain emphasis in American life-the worship of all that is linear, analytic, digital, etc.;
- an informative section that addresses recent research linking early childhood scribbling to later language development and the importance of parental encouragement of this activity;
- and new reproductions of master drawings throughout

Andrew Forkner's book provides you with all you need to paint a range of birds in acrylics; taking in birds of prey, songbirds and waterbirds from all over the world. It contains information on the materials and preparation you will need to capture the delicacy and majesty of the subjects.

* Twenty-six striking and characterful bird species
* Clear and easy-to-follow step by step projects
* Includes guidance on composition, reference and important bird features

Captivating package designs are based on innovative ideas. Discover the secrets of how to use paper folding design tricks to create high-impact packaging in Captivating Forms.

Beautiful and unique package design makes a product stand out, attracting a customer's attention quickly and effectively. In this era of e-commerce, high-impact design is extremely important in recreating the in-store experience of seeing, touching and feeling the actual product virtually online. This book focuses on innovative "paper folding techniques" which create "captivating forms." The examples showcased in this book, together with detailed diagrams, are actual, successful product designs currently on the market. Designs are categorized into "Decorative Design" (introducing designs that focus on unique and decorative forms), "Motif Design" (showcasing package design that imitates objects and things) and "Design with a Handle".

This book is the best inspirational reference book for package designers, artists and others seeking to create captivating packages.

Screen printing is made accessible in this beautiful step-by-step guide featuring twelve projects.

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. Using modern techniques, screen printing is an accessible and affordable craft!

Discover how to print onto different surfaces such as wood, cork and fabric, and create twelve stunning, botanical and coastal-themed projects through bright and colourful step-by-step photography.

The photography, by Belgian talent Virginie De Man, is taken on location at Erin's own studio in St. Ives, Cornwall, as well as in and around the coastal town itself. The book includes full-size templates and inspiration on how to design your own templates and motifs.

Conceived by Instagram's daily sketch sensation @augustwren, this guided journal encourages carving out a moment of self-expression every day.

To conquer the intimidating prospect of filling 365 blank pages, Draw Every Day, Draw Every Way is divided into monthly themes, with undated daily prompts that suggest what to draw each day. You can work through the journal from front to back, or jump around and draw whatever appeals to you at the time. Monthly themes include:

A month of nature

A month of your favorite things

A month of characters

A month of print and patterns

Jennifer Orkin Lewis (aka @augustwren) encourages experimentation with a one-page tutorial at the beginning of each month that outlines accessible ways to draw with different materials, such as ballpoint pens, colored pencils, paint, and collage. Coupled with sections of varying paper types, there is an unlimited canvas available to flourish artistically; brown craft paper pairs well with black ink and white pencil, black paper is great for white and metallic gel pens, and heavy white paper is included for painting.

The journal is not only useful as a stress-reliever and as a mode of personal exploration, but also as a way of changing visual thinking. And when completed, it will serve as a reflection of its owner.

With prompts, tutorials, and unique packaging, Draw Every Day, Draw Every Way is a must-have for those looking to sketch and doodle their way out of an inspirational rut.

Learn to draw charming characters!

Filled with colorful illustrations and step-by-step explanations, How to Draw a Character is the perfect introduction to the art of sketching people. From babies to grandmothers, cyclists to shoppers, How to Draw a Character gives readers the skills to draw any kind of character in any setting. The easy tutorials break down seemingly complicated drawings into simple components, so even beginners will soon be drawing confidently.

The book begins with a handful of simple anatomical rules that lend life and realism to the drawings. It goes on to explore all the essential aspects of figure drawing, from capturing emotions to drawing your characters in motion. Equal parts inspiration and tutorial, the charming drawings are sure to spark the imagination. Soizic Mouton's How to Draw a Character will give anyone who's ever wanted to learn to draw the confidence to pick up a pencil and begin!

A unique collection of 100 writing and crafting papers (50 sheets set of 2), with both traditional, modern and also Kawaii Japanese designs.

All papers are original designs by 12 popular traditional Japanese paper (Washi) shops and artists. Shiny, glossy, rough, craft, this book is filled with various textured papers. You can use them to write letters, as wrapping paper, craft paper, and so on. Mini origami templates and examples showing how to use these papers are also included.

A magical collection of modern crewelwork embroidery designs inspired by fairytales.

Embroidery enthusiasts all over the world have been discovering the exquisite work of renowned Ukrainian embroiderer, Tatiana Popova. In this beautiful book she shows the reader how to create stunning crewelwork embroideries inspired by traditional fairytales, including The Wizard of Oz, Karolcia, the Wild Swans and Cinderella.

This magical collection takes as it central theme a magnificent embroidery depicting the 'Tree of Happiness'. Each part of the embroidery is then explored in detail through stitch diagrams, explanations of the threads used, and alternative ways of working. There are seven wonderful designs in total, each dedicated to one of Tatiana's favourite fairytales, and all illustrated with gorgeous photographs and informative diagrams.

In total, over 90 stitches are described in the book, all worked using stranded cotton and cotton pearl thread rather than traditional crewel wool, which gives the embroideries a fresh, modern appeal. Whether you are new to embroidery or an experienced embroiderer looking for inspiration and expert guidance, Tatiana's beautiful book is one you will turn to again and again.

Intended for creative professionals and amateurs alike, this book offers 100 tips, resources and techniques for those who want to take their drawing skills to the next level. Through the work of contemporary artists, amateurs and even children, the author gives the basic concepts of this art form: color, line and style. With his characteristical sense of humor, clarity and direct style, his lessons and tips will engage the reader.

Sketching has become an extremely popular pastime. For example, on YouTube, "Tips to Draw Better in 6 Minutes" has 1.7 million views, and "How to Draw Better in 2 Minutes", has 2 million views. Every day, the website @Sketch_Dailies tweets an "inspiration" to 45,000 followers who can upload their work for juried selection. Why the rage? Simply put, drawing is a fun, meaningful and inexpensive way to spend precious time. It's a renaissance of paper and pencil, an escape from digital overload.

5-Minute Sketching -- People can help artists of all abilities to nurture their creativity and to develop skills and speed. Each spread features six expert tips and ideas. Examples of amazing 5-minute sketches inspire readers who are short on time or short on ideas, showing how easy it is to make drawing a part of everyday life. There are tips on how to focus on the key elements of a scene, how to capture faces and features quickly, how a variety of techniques can help to create mood and movement.

Here is some of what the book's four sections cover:

How to See -- Perspective, scale, foreshortening, viewpoint and resources distance, basic shapes, perfect profiles, proportion, facial features, hair, posture, composition, background, negative space, how to deconstruct figures and faces quickly

Who to Draw -- Passers-by, crowd scenes, commuters, children, urban scenes, conversation, quick direct poses, master poses (seated, repetitive, dynamic), dance, sports

Useful Techniques -- Basic shapes, proportion, minimal lines, loose lines, tight lines, thick lines, mark-making, contour drawing, negative space, shading hatching and crosshatching, scribbling, texture, shading, light, tonal values, contrast, color

Tools and Materials -- Ink, pencil, graphite, colored pencils, markers, paint, pastels, watercolor wash, paper, digital sketching.

Sketching has gone global. The Urban Sketchers community has 62 chapters around the world plus 42,000 members on Facebook and 8,200 Twitter followers. The actual number is surely higher. 5-Minute Sketching -- People is an ideal introduction to a rewarding pastime and a source of inspiration for new, experienced and lapsed sketchers alike.

48 Sheets of origami paper, size 6 3/4" square

It's fun to fold!

Calligraphy--along with brush lettering, sign writing, and the chalkboard--is undergoing a surge in popularity. Examples of beautiful lettering and penmanship are all around us, and all over Instagram, depicted on book covers, posters, and invitations.

Perfect for anyone wanting to learn more about calligraphy and lettering, this practical introduction showcases many examples from the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection, and will offer a new understanding and appreciation of letterforms. Detailed instructions, complete with sample alphabets, lead you through the essentials of classic styles such as Gothic and Italic lettering, on to vintage- inspired sign writing and chalkboard design and even into the elegant, image-led worlds of illuminated capitals and zoomorphic calligraphy. Projects include a handmade booklet, banner, menu, gift tags, a monogram rubber stamp, greetings cards, and more.

Lettering often has a decorative as well as informative function, and with Calligraphy and Lettering and a bit of practice, it is possible for anyone to elevate their message, whatever it may be, into a personalized piece of art.

This easy-to-fold mini art museum comes with more than 16 classic works of art from world-renowned museums, ready for you to arrange and rearrange!

Escape into your own creative world! Open up The Tiniest Art Museum in the World to find easily foldable museum walls and more than a dozen masterpieces to place and rearrange in your very own tiny museum! Including classics such as:

- The Great Wave by Katsushika Hokusai
- Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat by Vincent Van Vogh
- The Thinker by August Rodin
- Esther before Ahasuerus by Artemisia Gentileschi
- Melencolia I by Albrecht Dürer
- Study for a Sunday on la Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat

This handsome paper box features a complete miniature museum, ready for you to curate. Contents include:

- Our comprehensive 48-page guidebook to the artworks included, The Tiniest Art Museum in the World Guidebook, plus step-by-step instructions for building your museum and how to keep your art safe and not wrinkled, bent, destroyed, etc.!
- Foldable museum walls
- 16+ pieces of classic art for your museum (both portrait and landscape) that attach to the walls so you can mix and match

Gift this miniature make-your-own museum to your favorite art lover--or yourself!