Crafts

Adebanji Alade believes that everything in art begins as a sketch, and his mission is always the same - to instil his work with the power and immediacy of the sketch. This book will show you how.

Giving an insight into how this inspiring and talented artist works, The Addictive Sketcher passes on Adebanji Alade's infectious enthusiasm and will have the reader reaching for a pencil or pen to have a go. Adebanji has a skill and a passion for speaking and motivating his audience in a fun and engaging way, and this is reflected in his writing style.

Lively, stimulating and instructive, it is packed with numerous examples of the author's sketches as well as examples of his vibrant finished paintings. Covering pencils, coloured pencils, charcoal and graphite, along with finished oil paintings, this book provides a fascinating insight into the author's techniques.

Adebanji's work covers a broad range of subjects, including landscapes, portraits, crowd scenes, urban scenes and seascapes. He's particularly well known for his portraits and scenes of London. This book includes examples from a range of subject areas.

An instructive guide to creating an illustrated journal based on artist and Instagram sensation Samantha Dion Baker's unique creative process, featuring information on materials, creative inspiration and instruction, prompts, and helpful tips and tricks.

Samantha Dion Baker is a widely admired and followed artist on Instagram, where she shares her "sketch journal," an illustrated daily record of her life, drawn in a fresh, modern style. In Draw Your Day, Baker guides you through her inspirational practice and provides guidance for starting your own. Part instructional guide and part encouraging manifesto about how making art--even art that's not museum-worthy--can make your life more mindful and meaningful, Draw Your Day is ideal for both seasoned artists looking for fresh inspiration, as well as aspiring artists who need a friendly nudge to get started.

Writing exercises and creativity advice from Lynda Barry's pioneering, life-changing workshop.

Drawn from Life offers bite-size lessons that will help anyone master the classic practice of life drawing. Over 100 pieces of art by contemporary artists illustrate fundamentals such as line, contour, and color, plus surprising and innovative techniques that will take your drawings to the next level. Showcasing a wide range of styles and methods, this is a refreshing new guide to a timeless art form.

This gorgeous volume offers readers everything they need to know to capture, in paper, the perfect geometry and delicate beauty of snowflakes, sunbursts, and stars. Ayako Brodek (Origami and Kirigami) and Shannon Voigt (Quilling), two of today's leading papercrafters, provide all the techniques for creating seventy-five exquisite shapes that can then be used to fashion a multitude of decorative and practical pieces.

The book opens with an overview of the three different styles and goes on to explain, in detail, the core techniques of each. Step-by-step photos complement the instructional text, covering paper selection, fundamental skills, and tools. The next section is organized by style (Origami, Kirigami, Quilling), with designs for the three motifs, as well as twenty-five projects for each style.

The last section is an Inspiration Gallery, with beautiful, full-color photographs showcasing the finished works and providing a list of supplies and detailed instructions. Here the reader will learn how to use strings or ribbons to turn their crafted shapes into gift tags and toppers, napkin rings, and garlands; how to paste their snowflakes, sunbursts, and stars onto greeting cards, canvas bags, glass, etc. Also in this section are instructions for making stencils and wearable art such as earrings, pins, and other accessories.

Read This if You Want to Take Great Photographs is ideal for the new wave of snapshooters using DSLR, compact system and bridge cameras, looking for top photography tips.

- A bestselling photography book with over 300,000 copies sold!
- Learn top photography tips from 50 famous photographers
- A must-have guide for amateur photographers and professional photographers

Read This if You Want to Take Great Photographs contains no graphs, no techie diagrams and no camera-club jargon. Instead, it inspires readers through iconic images and playful copy, packed with hands-on tips.

Split into five sections, the book covers composition, exposure, light, lenses and the art of seeing. Masterpieces by acclaimed photographers - including Henri Cartier-Bresson, Sebastião Salgado, Fay Godwin, Nadav Kander, Daido Moriyama and Martin Parr - serve to illustrate points and encourage readers to try out new ideas.

Today's aspiring photographers want immediacy and see photography as an affordable way of expressing themselves quickly and creatively. This handbook meets their needs, teaching them how to take photographs using professional techniques.

Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs is part of the internationally-bestselling 'Read This' series, which has sold over half-a-million books worldwide and has been translated into over 20 languages.

More titles in the 'Read This' series:

Read This if You Want to Take Great Photographs of People by Henry Carroll (9781780676241)

Read This if You Want to Take Great Photographs of Places by Henry Carroll (9781780679051)

Use This if You Want to Take Great Photographs: A Photo Journal by Henry Carroll (9781780678887)

Read This if You Want to Be Great at Drawing by Selwyn Leamy (9781786270542)

Use This if You Want to Be Great at Drawing by Selwyn Leamy (9781786274052)

Read This if You Want to Be Great at Drawing People by Selwyn Leamy (9781786275127)

Read This if You Want to Be a Great Writer by Ross Raisin (9781786271976)

Read This if You Want to Be Instagram Famous edited by Henry Carroll (9781780679679)

Read This If You Want to Be YouTube Famous by Will Eagle (9781786275134)

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

Complete impressive origami projects in just 10 steps with this beautiful and easy origami book.

10-Fold Origami features a completely original take on a very classic subject in this papercraft book, which features beautiful full-colored illustrations and easy-to-follow diagrams for 26 wide-ranging origami models.

This origami book includes:

96 page, full-color origami book

26 original origami projects

Easy-to-follow directions

Helpful diagrams and photographs

Paper folding basics and tips

A difficulty rating is assigned to each paper crafts project, so you choose how advanced your next piece will be. For a rewarding craft that calms the spirit and sharpens the mind, look no further than 10-fold Origami.

Origami projects include:

Pinwheel

Sunny Side Up

Picture Frame

Wedding Ring

Goose and Golden Egg

Fabulous Paperfolds You Can Make in Just 10 Steps!: Origami Book with 26 Projects: Perfect for Origami Beginners, Children

A visual guide to beautiful botanic watercolour painting from life for artists.

Botanical artists hold a unique status: they can record plants and show them to the world, unlocking science for people outside that world, enabling them to be seduced by the most beautiful images, drawn and painted by very skilled hands.

In this beautiful book, award-winning botanical artist, Işık Güner, shares with you her experiences of looking at wild species from around the world, how she does her research, and how she composes her illustrations from live specimens. She will guide you on your own journey, show you how to look for plant samples, and then record them. Straddling the scientific and art worlds, Isik's illustrations help to raise awareness of the valuable knowledge that scientists have been researching and discovering for many years and provide a wonderful inspiration for budding botanical artists.

Observe, draw, paint, explore and master this wonderful art under Işık's careful guidance. Being inspired by the nature around you is the first step to becoming a botanical artist.

The essential beginner's guide to knitting know-how, with more than 150 illustrated knitting stitches and techniques.

Knit Step by Step shows you everything you need to craft stunning knitted pieces. Master basic stitches and classic techniques, including ribs, Fair Isle, and intarsia, or try your hand at one of eight eye-catching projects.

Fully illustrated and easy to use, Knit Step by Step will have you knitting with confidence in no time.

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.

Not sure how to start your drawing of a flamingo or a flying squirrel? Businessman? Bat? Baobab tree? How to Draw Almost Everything is here to help!

With over 2,000 images, this visual reference book offers instructions for drawing animals, people, plants, food, everyday objects, buildings, vehicles, clothing, and more. The section on people gives simple tricks for showing emotion (angry, surprised) and action (skipping, doing a handstand). There's also a section on clothing that shows how to draw coats and jackets, shoes and boots, bell-bottoms and skinny jeans. From tricycles to tanker trucks, the book gives tips on drawing all kinds of moving vehicles.

At then end of each chapter, author and artist Chika Miyata challenges you to synthesize what you've learned and create a scene. At the end of the chapter on animals, the challenge is to draw a zoo. At the end of the chapter on food, the challenge is to keep an illustrated food journal.

Each entry is broken down with step-by-step illustrations, making this book perfect for beginners or experienced artists in need of a quick refresher and a great resource for those who want to express themselves through illustration or cartooning.

Each book in the Almost Everything series offers readers a fun, comprehensive, and charmingly illustrated visual directory of ideas to inspire skill building in their creative endeavors.

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.

Artist Tim Pond's lively and engaging book fuses science with art, providing the reader with the skills, techniques and knowledge they need to create sketches of animals filled with life and movement.

There are some very good books written on life drawing, yet when it comes to drawing wildlife, illustrators and artists often revert to working solely from photographs, which can leave the artwork looking lifeless and flat. In this inspirational book, artist Tim Pond shows you how to observe and draw animals in zoos, farms, wildlife parks and aquariums, teaching you some fascinating facts about the animals along the way and ultimately bringing you closer to nature.

One of the challenges with sketching wildlife is that animals are constantly moving, however having some basic understanding of the biology of an animal, such as knowing that a duck has a cheek or that a cheetah can't retract its claws, can influence how you might sketch them, and results in a lively drawing that captures the form, movement and ultimately the spirit of the animal in question. Combining scientific knowledge with expert practical guidance is key to creating successful drawings of animals, and Tim's ability to convey this in a way that is both accessible and engaging makes this a unique and inspiring guide suitable for artists of all levels.

Tim's book takes you on a journey of discovery that will enable you to develop the skills, techniques and knowledge you need to sketch a broad range of wildlife, encompassing mammals, reptiles, birds, fish and insects. It includes quick, gestural sketches as well as linear and tonal studies, in a variety of media - pencil, pen and ink, and watercolour. There are numerous studies comprising how to represent the different patterns of animals' coats, how to capture the plumage of an exotic bird in watercolour, and how to sketch a hippo's hooves, as well as guidance on tools, materials and basic techniques. The result is a treasure chest of fascinating facts, studies, sketches and annotated drawings that will not fail to ignite your enthusiasm for drawing animals from life.

Tracebook brings a whole new dimension to our Grids & Guides family. Each Tracebook set includes two books filled with tracing paper. The covers feature two distinct grids, classic on one side and isometric on the other; cover flaps fold inside the book, providing handy structure for your sketches, designs, or lists. Remove the flaps, and your design remains, while the grid disappears. Tracing sheets are perforated for easy tear out. As useful as it is revolutionary.

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.

Decorate your desk, home, wedding or next get-together with these professional looking paper blossoms!

This stunning book presents detailed instructions for eleven elegant and lifelike paper flower projects that will enhance any home or occasion. Paper flower expert Naomiki Sato starts by showing you how to fold seven types of paper roses using a variety of techniques for four- and five-sided blossoms, along with their stems, thorns and leaves, and how to assemble them.

Four equally exciting papercraft projects follow, showing you how to make Japanese Cherry Blossoms, Bellflowers, tropical Plumeria (Frangipani) and Bougainvillea.

Each of the eleven projects has detailed step-by-step photographs, diagrams and instructions that make these sophisticated-looking blossoms easy to make even for beginning origami folders. The book includes basic guides to paper and tools, as well as an introduction to basic origami folding techniques for novices.

These fine-quality tear-out wrapping sheets feature six Asian-inspired prints, suitable for craft projects as well as for gift wrapping. An introduction details the history and meaning behind the designs and provides some wrapping inspiration.

Tuttle Gift Wrapping Papers are an excellent value—a fraction of the price of single sheet gift wrap paper from stationery shops

• Each sheet is removable by tearing along a perforated line
• Six individual sheets with six different patterns
• Perfect gift wrap for any occasion—birthdays, anniversaries & various holidays

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.

Create your own elegant greeting cards with the beauty of lifelike paper flowers!

Paper Flower Note Cards provides all the information you need. With just scissors, craft glue and a few sheets of colorful heavyweight paper, anyone can create stunning floral gift cards, gift toppers and place cards in no time at all!

Emiko Yamamoto's simple step-by-step instructions explain how to cut and assemble each card for flawless results every time. Templates provided in the back of the book are reusable and allow you to reproduce the designs many times.

This collection includes more than 30 dazzling designs for creative notes and floral decorations:

Pop-up cards with petals that gently splay when the card is opened

Decorative cards with three-dimensional flowers across the surface

Elegant & subtle floral silhouette cards

Cards for specific occasions like birthdays, weddings, baby showers, Father's Day, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, Halloween or Christmas

Seasonal cards that can be customized for any occasion year round

At the heart of each design is a beautiful flower, and there are many to choose from

Rose

Peony

Carnation

Hydrangea

Cosmos

Morning glory

Sunflower

Poinsettia

And more!

You'll dazzle your friends and family with these handmade works of art!