From a basic Boy Scout knife and other simple pocketknives to rare Persian rugs, and from a strong interest in historic American clay jugs to fine Asian jade pieces, author Dr. John E. Burke has collected it all. In Never Enough, he describes his life journey through collecting, and at the same time explores why man is a collecting species.This memoir offers a look inside the mind of a passionate, knowledgeable collector as he discusses his progression from a curious neoph...

Capture the Rich Textures of Nature, Step by StepCapture nature's beauty as you never have before. Beloved artist and teacher Claudia Nice leads you on an inspired journey through the great outdoors. With paints in hand, she shares with you her best techniques for creating landscapes that come alive with richness, depth and textured detail.Open this guide and start painting right away. As you follow engaging, step-by-step demonstrations and...

Acrylic is often used as a substitute for oil paint or watercolor, but the real gold mine is in allowing the medium freedom to do what it does best. This book shows how today’s artists are doing exactly that. It’s loaded with original artwork and valuable insight from 64 artists, incredibly diverse in styles and subjects, each using acrylic in unique ways to create expressive and personal art.• 64 artists offer their individual ideas, approaches and inspirations for working with ac...

Featuring an extensive collection of full-color photographs, 150 Best Eco House Ideas features eco-friendly house designs created by internationally renowned architects and designers who have achieved practical, innovative, and stunning solutions adapted to the specific needs and tastes of their clients. Included here are the latest innovations in sustainable home design, including solar paneling, wind energy systems, environmentally-friendly heating and cooling solutions, thermal...

Keep a sketchbook journal and explore your world, preserve your thoughts and celebrate life!More than a diary of written words, a sketchbook journal allows you to indulge your imagination and exercise your artistic creativity. It is a personal, private place where you have unlimited freedom to express yourself, experiment, discover, dream and document your world. The possibilities are endless.In How to Keep a Sketchbook Journal, Claudia Nice shows ...

Watercolor is taking the art, fashion, and home décor worlds by storm. The result is an explosion of amazing new work by contemporary artists. This volume surveys the current revival of this loveliest of mediums, in portfolios from more than 20 of today's top watercolor artists from around the globe. From the evocative visual journals of Danny Gregory and Fabrice Moireau, through the fashion-inspired portraits of Samantha Hahn and Virginia Johnson, to the indie art stylings of Jane Mount a...

“I want to put the mystery back into the heart of garden design, where it needs to be. It’s what lures you in through the gate, keeps you moving through the landscape, and fills you with excitement along the way. The sense of mystery is what turns a mere display of plants, paths, and ornaments into an adventure.”—James van SwedenGuided by world-renowned landscape architect James van Sweden and horticulture expert Tom Christopher, any gardener can learn the s...

This revised and updated edition of The Wabi-Sabi House recounts the history of this aesthetic philosophy and reveals ways to introduce it into your home.The ancient Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi is about appreciating simplicity and letting go of the superficial—the perfect antidote to modern consumerism and perfectionism. In 2004, author Robyn Griggs Lawrence helped popularize wabi-sabi in North America with her book The Wabi-Sabi House....

"Jaw-dropping . . . a feast for the eyes that will appeal to a wide spectrum of readers, from professional paper cutters to casual observers of the art." — Adult Books 4 Teens ( School Library Journal)There's a renaissance underway in the art form of cut paper, with an explosion of raw talent and an abundance of amazing work produced in the medium in recent years. This gorgeous volume features work from twenty-six contemporary international artists...

From the country’s most popular interior design magazine comes a stylish, in-depth look at what it takes to make any room beautiful. House Beautiful Style Essentials: What Every Room Needs is an inspiring and hardworking handbook that shows readers how to create the rooms of their dreams by revealing what “every room needs.” Chapters like “Every Room Needs a Hiding Place” provide clever ideas for storage and organization, while sections like “Every Room Needs Something Shiny” give...

Keiko's unique approach to ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging, combines traditional techniques with modern tastes. Her influences—which range from sculpture to today's Western floral design—come together to create one-of-a-kind arrangements that are authentic and eye-catching, simple and graceful, and possible for anyone to achieve.This book presents step-by-step instructions for creating 20 stunning ikebana arrangements in a range of sizes and styles. Each of the flower...

Revel in the luminous and vibrant qualities of pastel with Ellen Eagle’s essential course in the history, techniques, and practices of the medium. In this comprehensive yet intimate guide, Eagle explores pastel’s rich but relatively unexamined past, reveals her own personal influences and approaches, and guides you toward the discovery and mastery of your own vision. In Pastel Painting Atelier, you will find:• Advice on basic materials: guidance on building, storing, and o...