A practical and inspirational guide to help embroiderers and textile artists make the most of sketchbooks to inform their creative work. The artist’s sketchbook offers an exciting platform to explore a host of mixed media techniques. Using a combination of paper, textiles, found objects, pencil, ink and paint, Shelley Rhodes shows how a sketchbook can act as an illustrated diary, a visual catalogue of a journey or experience or as a starting point for more developed work. Whether out on location or in the studio, Rhodes explores every stage of the creative process, from initial inspiration to overcoming the fear of a blank page, manipulating paper and images and incorporating ‘found’ objects to build a sketchbook that is both beautiful and inspiring. Sketchbook Explorations is the ideal companion for everyone from the beginner to the more experienced artist looking for exciting techniques to expand their repertoire in mixed media. The book explores: Why work in sketchbooks? The importance and joy of working in a sketchbook. Ways of recording and investigating ideas that inspire. Techniques in mixed media from found objects and layers to three-dimensional sketching. Creating on location. Using electronic devices to develop ideas.

Discover the rich creative possibilities of fragmentation and repair in textile art. Fragmentation and repair are two of the biggest buzzwords in textile and mixed-media art. In this fascinating book, renowned artist Shelley Rhodes explores both concepts, with a wealth of fresh ideas and practical advice. Drawing on her own practice, Shelley explains how she reconstructs and reassembles cloth, paper and other materials to create new pieces, often incorporating found objects and items she has collected over the years to add depth and emotional resonance. From piercing and devoré to patching and darning, techniques include: Fragmentation of materials, text and image. Repair using darning and patching along with pins, tape, adhesive and plaster. The Japanese concepts of wabi-sabi (finding beauty in imperfection) and mottainai (using every last scrap). Using salvaged and recycled materials, and repurposing household items. Methods of distressing and manipulating surfaces including weathering, abrasion, burning, piercing, staining and burying. Collage, working in a series and collecting fragments. Beautifully illustrated with Shelley's own pieces alongside those of other leading artists, this fascinating book is the ideal companion for any textile artist wanting to bring notions of fragility, fragmentation and repair into their own work.

The history of art is inseparable from the history of color. And what a fascinating story they tell together: one that brims with an all-star cast of characters, eye-opening details, and unexpected detours through the annals of human civilization and scientific discovery. Enter critically acclaimed writer and popular journalist Victoria Finlay, who here takes readers across the globe and over the centuries on an unforgettable tour through the brilliant history of color in art. Written for newcomers to the subject and aspiring young artists alike, Finlay’s quest to uncover the origins and science of color will beguile readers of all ages with its warm and conversational style. Her rich narrative is illustrated in full color throughout with 166 major works of art—most from the collections of the J. Paul Getty Museum. Readers of this book will revel in a treasure trove of fun-filled facts and anecdotes. Were it not for Cleopatra, for instance, purple might not have become the royal color of the Western world. Without Napoleon, the black graphite pencil might never have found its way into the hands of Cézanne. Without mango-eating cows, the sunsets of Turner might have lost their shimmering glow. And were it not for the pigment cobalt blue, the halls of museums worldwide might still be filled with forged Vermeers. Red ocher, green earth, Indian yellow, lead white—no pigment from the artist’s broad and diverse palette escapes Finlay’s shrewd eye in this breathtaking exploration.

Collects excerpts from the personal travel journal sketchbooks of forty-three artists, illustrators, and designers.

Publisher's description: In this ambitious publication, some one hundred of the world's leading graphic designers and illustrators open up their private sketchbooks to offer a privileged glimpse into their creative process.

Many people would love to learn to draw for pleasure, but don't know where to start. Being faced with a blank page can be daunting – even for a professional artist. In Sketchbook Challenge, illustrator Molly Egan shares prompts and ideas to get you started, encouraging risk-taking and experimentation. The book is split into three sections: Warm Up, for 5- to 10-minute exercises designed to stretch your muscles; Weekday, for guided creative drawing prompts for limited time; and Weekend, for open-ended, in-depth creative explorations. In addition to the exercises, Molly provides details on how to build an art kit and encourages artistic exploration beyond the pages of the book. Sketching is fun and therapeutic, and Sketchbook Challenge will be the springboard to unleash your creativity and discover your own style.