Release Date: 07/01/13
SYNOPSIS:
Create lots of loveable pets and animals from around the world!
Simple step-by-step instructions make it quick and easy to create miniature animals with felt. From elephants and polar bears to cats and sheep, these adorable projects are perfect for all ages!
All you need is some felt, a handful of stuffing and a few simple stitches to get started.
REVIEW:
OK, I love things that are not only fun to play with but also allows you to get your arts and crafts on. This book by Tomomi Maeda really does all that with a full range of creatures that you can make for not only your own zoo but also household pets. But what makes these so incredible is a stitch pattern, wonderful instructions and of course a step by step guide to make each of the animals within.
Yes its going to take time to create but the results are so rewarding especially when I saw my nephews ignoring the plastic animals that they have and each demanding their own felt animal to play with. (As such I now have a huge order of a set for each of them to be completed as soon as possible.) So whilst in some respects I love this book, in others I may have overdone things with my promises. So thanks Tomomi. LOL
Stitched Safari is available from StichCraftCreateUK.
Release Date: 01/06/11
SYNOPSIS:
This title covers Victorian charm and steam-powered machinery parts with modern day elements and technology. Whether a converted steampunk enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, this funky and fabulous book is the perfect practical introduction to the whimsical world of steampunk jewelry. Each of the five themed chapters has its own imaginative story, and the 20 different projects allow you to make characteristic pieces from decadent jewellery to wine charms. This highly visual book is packed with photography and design elements to give a real flavour of the steampunk process and readers are taught the beginning-level jewellery and related techniques.
REVIEW:
Whilst there’s been roleplayers for years dressing as fantasy Barbarians or otherworldly creatures such as Orcs, Goblins or even skeletons, one of the more recent trends has been the addition of Steampunk, where the elegance of Victoriana meets cog work science. It’s quirky, there’s plenty of things that can be done and theres even some wonderful PC’s out there that allow you to have that special elegance within your own home.
This title by Jema, will help you create some additional fashionable creations for your character or a little something quirky to help you stand out in a crowd. It’s fun, it has tips and tricks and the sheer volume of projects within will allow you to get a full flavour of the scene, enough to create your own pieces. Its inspirational, it has something for everyone and the sheer availability of a lot of the key pieces will have you wondering round junk shops for ages. All in a great piece of fun and definitely something that I know a lot of people will have fun with.
Release Date: 26/04/11
SYNOPSIS:
Today's newest and most popular needlecraft, stitchery, is an ingenious combination of good old fashioned embroidery, modern quirkiness and contemporary projects. Mandy Shaw's unmistakeable style provides a gorgeous collection of stitches and projects, all in natural fabrics in the stylish cream and red colour palette. It includes a perfect introduction to eleven simple stitches, with step-by-step instruction for both right and left handers. It allows the crafter to create stunning gifts and home accessories which are personal and unique, and also leaving room for inspiration and creativity.
REVIEW:
Arts and crafts is a wonderful thing to be able to do and when you’re looking for projects it can, at times, feel a little daunting. This title by David and Charles takes the reader through a number of easy to follow stitches and also presents them with a host of small projects that can make wonderful gifts for friends and relatives that don’t cost the earth to either make or in time. Add to this patterns, easy to follow steps and a number of great projects including some Christmas themed ones and if you can get them into it, a great way to help keep children occupied as well as to learn skills that will last a lifetime.
Release Date: 25/10/10
BOOK BLURB:
Literally meaning pictures of the floating world , ukiyo-e refers to the famous Japanese woodblock print genre that originated in the 17th century and is practically synonymous with the Western world's visual characterization of Japan. Because they could be mass produced, ukiyo-e works were often used as designs for fans, New Year's greeting cards, single prints, and book illustrations, and traditionally they depicted city life, entertainment, beautiful women, kabuki actors, and landscapes. The influence of ukiyo-e in Europe and the USA, often referred to as Japonisme, can be seen in everything from impressionist painting to today's manga and anime illustration.Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) was one of the last great artists in the ukiyo-e tradition. Though he captured a variety of subjects, his greatest talent was in creating landscapes of his native Edo (modern-day Tokyo) and his final masterpiece was a series known as 100 Famous Views of Edo (1856-1858). This resplendent complete reprint pairs each of the 120 large-scale illustrations with a description, allowing readers to plunge themselves into Hiroshige's beautifully vibrant landscapes.
REVIEW:
Art work from the east has long since been coveted by western collectors and whilst some of the names aren’t that well known, there is one stands out from a great many. That of Hiroshige, a ukiyo-e artist born in 1797. Within this title is a whole set of beautiful artwork that has inspired artists such as Van Gogh as well as a large proportion of modern tattooist artists. This title is beautifully presented with a great selection of prints recreated from the original woodblocks held within the Ota Memorial Museum in Tokyo and backed with the authoritative voices of Lorenz Bichler as well as Melanie Trede who really brings the artwork to a modern audience.
All in a great title and one that will be treasured by any who have the chance to view this beautiful selection. I can guarantee that a great many pieces may well end up being tattooed in the near future which makes this a spellbinding coffee table title.
Release Date: 29/10/10
BOOK BLURB:
This is the ultimate practical dragon art book from fantasy art legend Bob Eggleton, designed specially to introduce readers to the materials and techniques they will need to paint amazing dragons and monsters. It is packed with photographs, design drawings and notes, step-by-step projects and final artworks to help beginner artists master the essential techniques. Detailed Dragon Workshops show the development of Bob's classic dragon paintings, from conceptualisation through to final execution, including Eastern and Western dragons, sea dragons, space dragons, elemental dragons and other fantastic beasts. Fan favourites from Bob's back catalogue, as well as a wide selection of pieces painted specially for the book, make this a truly-must have title for dragon lovers everywhere.
REVIEW:
Impact, is a publisher who brings books to the artist that will not only improve their skill set but also aid them in improving their art to the next level with lessons that have taken years to learn. This time, the artist is Bob Eggleton who is very well known as well as one to set standards by. Unfortunately, with such an established and famed artist, the skill set required to begin this offering is a lot higher than a number of other titles. Beginners may still learn the lessons within, but they will soon become lost until they have a grasp of the techniques from earlier books. For example if you want to learn to draw dragons you may want to start with J “Neon Dragon” Pfeffer’s Dragon Evolution which is a great book to help you get started.
It is definitely a great book for reference as well as step by step guides for the each part of the piece in order to create something that you’ll be proud to hang on your wall. However, please remember it is for those who’ve advanced to a certain level even though a large number of the lessons within are beautifully constructed as well as demonstrated to back up each point made which overall makes this a title set for inspiration as well as aiding those further along the art trail than myself. Which means that overall it will be a title that I will return to as I gain more skills of my own from other Impact titles.
Release Date: 24/09/10
BOOK BLURB:
This title includes easy-to-follow techniques, tips and step-by-step demonstrations that provide guidance and encouragement for beginning artists to paint with oils. Familiar subjects, simple compositions and a realistic style build confidence in beginning artists giving them the skills they need to create finished oil paintings. The reader will enjoy the 10 mini demonstrations and 12 complete painting demonstrations. The bonus DVD features a complete painting workshop with the authors.
REVIEW:
To a lot of people, art has always been something that completely escapes them, not that they don’t have an interest but the question of where to begin feels to big a piece for them to tackle. Looking at it in the perspective of a mountain that has to be moved rather than looking for the first rock and going from there.
What Mark and Mary do in this title is break it all down into manageable chunks so that the reader has a chance to get started and begin to get their own footing into the world of oil painting. This title covers everything from gathering your materials (which includes help setting you up with paints alongside brushes and easel etc.) through to some basic art principles so that you can break your subject down and make a start. Add practical techniques and then step by step guides to some paintings and you can see how it all begins to work and gather a useful set of skills to begin learning on your own. Finally add a comprehensive DVD to help and its pretty much an ideal tutor.
All in, I found this a great book, it was informative, the subject matter was easily broken down and comprehensive to understand and I’ve gained a few new skills (alongside some paint stains on clothing) to begin my own exploration. It’s a great way to get started and if I’m honest will open the way so that many people can start to create their own artwork which will make ideal presents for friends and family.
Release Date: 30/07/10
BOOK BLURB:
Ten extremely gradual step by step fantasy art projects show artists how to conceptualize, draw and paint a great selection of warrior hero characters. The projects include all classic male and female warrior archetypes - from Thor, Achilles and Conan to a Ronin Samurai and female Amazon. First part of the book provides general guidelines on basic concepts and art techniques such as rendering combat, armour, weapons and wounds. This book is filled with Alan's high-impact art to create a true celebration of the heroic might of the warrior, and is suitable for all fantasy artists, from young teens up.
REVIEW:
As a fan of these how to draw titles, I really do love getting a new title in order to help improve my understanding of the craft. Not only do you get taught how to improve the skills that you have with lessons from modern masters of the craft who make a living from their talent, but you also get invaluable advice that would have taken years to learn. Its really a spectacular title and one that really will help the artist to improve.
What I will say about this title before we go much further is that this is not one for those just starting out, its quite advanced and to be honest whilst a little above my current skill level there are invaluable lessons that will hopefully get you up there sooner rather than later. If you’re a beginner I’d advise that you start with Fantasy Art for Beginners by John Hodgson before moving up to this book.
Finally with advice on differing techniques, organisational tips as well as different tacks for the medium of choice and it’s a title that will see use time and again, a solid reference guide for the heroic fantasy artist which also gives lessons on perspective that will prove invaluable for all.
Release Date: 27/08/10
BOOK BLURB:
This title features all-new dragons and instruction with a combination of beautiful, inspiring art, easy-to-follow instruction, and pure entertainment as the author's friendly and funny voice is heard in the character Dolosus. Readers will be able to draw every part of dragon anatomy by the end of this book and will be able to assemble those pieces into dragons of their very own.
REVIEW:
An all new, scale sparkling tutorial from one of the nets best known Dragon Artists. Add to this a manga style and you know that the author will help you with these fantastical creatures.
Firstly, the author deals with breaking the various shapes used in the overall creation of these fabulous beasts which allows the reader to practice and see an easier way to adapt their own talents alongside style to accommodate the lessons within this title. The author then breaks down the individual components that help create the overall creature with special features on things like overbite, eyes, horns, scales etc which makes this not only fun but a pretty comprehensive guide to the creatures.
Finally, there are tips for everyone from novice to expert that would take years to learn. My only real criticism of the title is that it would have been improved had it been printed in a ring binder style so that the title will remain open on the relevant section that the artist wishes to practice from. A real find.
Release Date: 07/01/13
