This is a step-by-step guide to creating Etegami, a Japanese postcard art that combines simple hand-painted images with handwritten words on washi postcards. The book is divided into 22 brief chapters that lead the reader through the origins, the materials, the process, and the possibilities of the art of Etegami. It includes links to online suppliers of etegami materials and tools. Please take note of the dimensions and be warned that it is a very SMALL book (60 pages), but it is packed to the gills with content.

For Julia Gray, silk is the finest of natural fibres and is full of life and shine. Embroidery on this beautiful fabric has been worked in many countries, but Julia finds the perfection aspired to in traditional Japanese embroidery a wonderful challenge. She learned in Japan by copying the work of a master, and found not only a way to stitch, but also a philosophy that allowed her to achieve balance and harmony in her everyday life. In this inspirational guide she shares her passion and in depth knowledge of the history and practice of this eastern art form. It covers everything from handling flat silk and twisting your own threads to working the different stitches and finishing off an embroidery. Japanese design is influenced by the four seasons, but traditional designs also use the colors and symbols associated with festivals—trees, dolls, fish, birds, and mythical figures. A series of simple step-by-step projects, which include the story behind each motif, help the reader to develop their techniques and learn about the symbolism of a great tradition.

Using the Japanese hake brush, obtainable from most art and craft shops, Ron Ranson demonstrates how, because of its nature and size, it forces the watercolourist to simplify the subject matter and thus distil the essence of a scene. He also discusses the dissecting and dramatizing of the subject.

Colour it in psychedelic colours, in tasteful tones, in all shades of orange! But just colour it! Recapture the purest sense of creativity by colouring in the most beautiful figurative designs – flowers, birds, butterflies – provided by a leading textile designer. By adding the key ingredient of colour you add your own spark of creativity to great designs. The design team, who work closely with Tate Modern in London, provide 24 postcards with six different designs to choose from. You can experiment with the colour combinations, using crayons, pencils, felt/fibre tip pens, and even paint on these uncoated postcards. A brief introduction gives some tips on using colours and suggests colour combinations to use on the specific designs, but you are encouraged to let your own creativity get to work! Great fun for all those looking for a burst of creative expression and useful for designers of all types who want to experiment with colour. The cards can be kept together in the book or detached, framed or posted to a friend.

Ideal for those new to watercolour painting, this book offers 50 fabulous motifs that can be painted in five simple steps. Among the motifs are trendy animals, popular plants and fun-to-paint fruits and include a flamingo, llama, cacti, succulents and watermelons. The basics of watercolour painting are explained clearly and simply, and the fifty motifs will give rise to limitless possibilities for designing posters, greetings cards, journal covers or simply as thoughtful, framed gifts.

Glenn Vilppu's famous Vilppu Drawing Manual, a book that takes you through drawing the human figure step-by-step, from gesture to construction, anatomy and light, teaching you to analyse and understand what you are seeing rather than copying. This gives you skills to bring your drawings to life whether done from the model or imagination.

Provides step-by-step instructions for lettering from top artists, including advice on the best tools, techniques and tips, and font samples.