The stunning debut fantasy novel from author Peter V. Brett. The Painted Man book one of the Demon Cycle is a captivating & ...

Stripped of her glittering facade... Athan Teodarkis knows her type well: women for whom designer dresses & priceless jewellery are paid for only in kind. But hes never been distracted by one
- until now. Suspecting his sisters husband of having an affair with the dangerously beautiful Marisa Milburne Athan determines to put a stop to it! Confident the Teodarkis millions will easily divert this gold-diggers attentions Athan has a simple plan: seduce then discard. But contrary to what the cynical Athan believes shy Marisa is no home-wrecker & her innocence is powerless to resist his vengeful seduction...A simmering tension which drew me in right from the start
- another excellent novel from Julia James.
- Victoria Retired Belfast


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Kitty Fane is the beautiful but shallow wife of Walter a bacteriologist stationed in Hong Kong. Unsatisfied by her marriage she starts an affair with charming attractive & exciting Charles Townsend. But when Walter discovers her deception he exacts a strange & terrible vengeance: Kitty must accompany him to his new posting in remote mainland China where a cholera epidemic rages... First published to a storm of protest The Painted Veil" is a classic story of a woman's spiritual awakening." ...

SHORTLISTED FOR THE ORANGE PRIZE FOR FICTION 2012 Iasi Romania the early 1950s. A nameless man is found on the steps of a hospital. Deaf & mute he is unable to communicate until a young nurse called Safta brings paper & pencils with which he can draw. Slowly painstakingly memories appear on the page. The memories are Safta's also. For the man is Augustin son of the cook at the manor house which was Safta's family home. Born six months apart they grew up with a connection that bypassed words. But while Augustin's world remained the same size Safta's expanded to embrace languages society
- & a fleeting love one long hot summer. But then came war & in its wake a brutal Stalinist regime & nothing would remain the same.
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Packed with need-to-know information this comprehensive handbook should be every painters companion in the studio. Chapters focus on essentials: colours required for a basic palette; preparing a support; which are the most vibrant & permanent pigments etc. while describing how materials & techniques have developed over the centuries & how to apply them for the best results. The emphasis on practical advice will appeal to artists who like to explore & experiment are economically minded or simply find satisfaction in doing it all themselves. The author

Includes:: recipes for making glazes acrylic ground gesso & pastel sticks; information on photographing & archiving work yourself; a guide to setting up a studio; & the results of the authors own extensive testing of materials from paints to papers. The Painters Studio Handbook is a complete resource for all artists working in oils acrylics watercolour pastel chalk or ink.

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Painting Accessible Abstracts is an inspirational but practical book that will help artists to paint in a less figurative way. Laura Reiter demonstrates different ways to approach an abstract painting from just a little bit abstract to completely abstract. She does this by focussing on ideas & themes as starting points looking at the creative processes involved & more unusual techniques. Laura Reiter also covers how to use materials creatively -- watercolour acrylics mixed media & collage -- & how to experiment with colour & composition. Several projects are included & in addition to Lauras vibrant colourful paintings the work of several other contemporary abstract artists is featured. ...

Terry Harrison shows how to paint landscapes in acrylics using a range of simple brush techniques & the authors own range of brushes. He introduces the brushes which he has designed to carry out specific techniques & also explains which other materials are required including using a limited palette of paint colours. He then describes what each of the brushes is suitable for before going on to explain acrylic painting techniques such as painting a tree close-up painting reflections & snow creating distance & using texture pastes glaze medium & palette knives. There are six beautiful demonstrations with easy to follow text & step by step photographs covering popular Terry Harrison subjects: a summer landscape a winter scene a coastal view a landscape with a barn a Venetian scene & a beautiful building covered in wisteria. Readers who loved Terrys Brush with Acrylics will enjoy this all new title in which Terrys brushes are put through their paces in a completely new range of illustrations & demonstrations. ...

An introduction to Italian painting in the 15th century & the social history behind it. The book covers the structure of the picture trade & its economic basis through contracts letters & accounts. The author also illustrates how art history can be used to give insights into social history by showing how the visual skills & activities of daily life can be related to the painters style. Renaissance painting is related for instance to experience of activities such as preaching dancing & gauging barrels. Finally 16 concepts used by a contemporary critic Cristoforo Landino in his description of Masaccio Filippo Lippi Andrea del Castagno & Fra Angelico are described & illustrated as a basis for looking at 15th century painting. In addition this new edition has an appendix of the original Latin & Italian texts referred to throughout the book providing access to the relevant authentic sources. ...

Painting & Understanding Abstract Art" is a practical book on how to paint abstracts but it also explains how to approach & understand abstract art. It moves the teaching of art from a doing level of painting a certain subject in a particular medium to a thinking level of what am I doing when I paint? & what am I trying to say in this painting? Using practical exercises with explanatory text John Lowry develops the thinking & doing processes together & leads the reader to a greater understanding & appreciation of this most exciting art genre." ...

The perfect antidote to his ' Black Dog' a depression that blighted his working life Churchill took to painting with gusto. Picking up a paintbrush for the first time at the age of forty Winston Churchill found in painting a passion that was to remain his constant companion. This glorious essay exudes his compulsion for a hobby that allowed him peace during his dark days & richly rewarded a nation with a treasure trove of work. ...