Master the basic skills develop your style & expand your creativity with this ultimate guide to core drawing & painting techniques brought to you by renowned artist author & teacher Trudy Friend. Explore the essential techniques that Trudy has developed over the years from the key line & brush strokes that form the basis of her art to essential advice on observation composition lighting & adding colour to your work. Each technique is clearly explained with annotated exercises & step demonstrations. Complete the practical case studies to experiment with a wide range of media including pencil charcoal watercolour pastels gouache & acrylic. The book is divided into four distinct parts: Basic Mark-making
- many artists in particular beginners find it daunting to make the first marks on a fresh piece of paper but by using eight basic stroke applications as guided by Trudy you will find it easier to make a plan first of just how you will proceed choosing the marks that will fit your purpose helping you to make a confident start. Developing Your Skills
- with the eight basic strokes mastered you will be ready to move on to experiment with different subjects & media. In this section learning about line tone & texture & how to handle them in different media will set you on the path to make further experiments on your own to explore your developing skills. Problems & Solutions
- While you will learn from your own mistakes learning from someone else's will help you to avoid making many yourself. This chapter looks at common errors & will highlight the importance of faithful observation of the subject & how vital it is to make sketches first. Composition
- No matter how faithfully you represent a subject for a whole picture to work successfully you need to create a strong composition or design. In this section you will learn how to work with guidelines to help you to place the elements of your picture successfully & how to use the 'rule of thirds' to position your point of focus in the most pleasing area compositionally. Follow Trudy's indispensable advice for beginners & improvers to develop your own style & produce great representational art with complete confidence.



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The Ultimate Edition Eloise
- all four books in one fabulous volume for the most demanding of fans. If you love love love Eloise
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This is a practical family reference guide to keeping pet birds with expert advice on buying understanding breeding & exhibiting birds. This is a complete reference guide to caring for pet birds in the home or outdoor aviary beautifully illustrated with more than 800 colour photographs. It shows how to select the right bird for your lifestyle including advice on buying birds for novices for breeding & for showing & a complete directory of caged & aviary birds of the world. It features all the essential equipment you will need to house feed & handle your pet bird correctly. It helps you in maintaining your birds health: how to keep pet birds alert & in the best condition; common bird diseases; & what to do when problems occur. It also features waxbills weavers wydahs canaries & related finches quails & pheasants softbills Australian parakeets cockatiels cockatoos lories & lorikeets parrots doves & pigeons. It

Includes:: clear accessible informative text from one of the subjects leading experts. This fantastic illustrated directory & practical reference book is an essential manual for bird-keepers of all levels
- from the novice looking to keep a single pet bird indoors to the seasoned breeder wishing to extend an existing aviary collection. The first half of the book takes a practical look at the subject of bird care: every aspect of bird husbandry is discussed & there are expert tips & instructions to make learning new techniques clear & straightforward. Choosing the right bird & understanding the nature of birds you own is highly rewarding. Each bird breed has its own needs & a directory of more than 250 representative examples provides a fascinating insight into the colours characteristics weaknesses & breeding habits of each of the major groups. This is an invaluable reference book for bird-keepers everywhere.


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An invaluable guide to all the main cat breeds of the world; from the exotic longhaired Persian to the hairless Sphynx; the ever-popular Shorthair to the tail-less Manx; & rarer breeds such as the Singapura & Bengal. Fascinating descriptions of each breed include essential information on grooming needs as well as insights into each breeds typical character & temperament. An invaluable guide to all the main cat breeds of the world; from the exotic longhaired Persian to the hairless Sphynx; the ever-popular Shorthair to the tail-less Manx; & rarer breeds such as the Singapura & Bengal. Fascinating descriptions of each breed include essential information on grooming needs as well as insights into each breeds typical character & temperament. ...

This dog encyclopedia is a comprehensive visual guide to more than 180 breeds from all over the world
- from the loveable Labrador
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This title deals with the myths & legends of the ancient worlds from Greece Rome & Egypt to the Norse & Celtic lands through Persia & India to China & the Far East. It is a comprehensive A to Z of the classic stories of gods & goddesses heroes warriors & mythical beasts with copious cross-references. Over 1000 alphabetical entries describe the central mythical figures of each culture & their importance to the ancient civilizations of their day. It is beautifully illustrated with over 1000 images spanning fifteen centuries of fine art from the ancient world to the present including specially commissioned artworks. It presents superb pictorial spreads on the mythical themes & symbols central to each culture. Timeless in scope & appeal it is a classic & enduring reference work by two expert authorities. In this important volume the mythologies of the ancient world are brought to life. In the first half author Arthur Cotterell describes the central mythical figures of classical Greece & Rome the Celtic heroes & the Nordic gods. In the second part author Rachel Storm expertly leads us through the powerful pantheon of gods & goddesses of the East from Ancient Egypt through Central Asia to the dragon festivals of eastern lands. Pictorial features focus on recurring mythological themes including heroes oracles & prophecies. This comprehensive guide to the myths & legends of two great continents is timeless in its universal appeal. ...

Carole Maggios Facercise has helped many thousands of people look younger without surgery through her scientifically-designed precision exercises. Now using the most advanced face technology Carole has devised the Ultimate Facercise" a programme that is even quicker & more efficient than the original. By working the muscles harder & more effectively it offers more dramatic results. In just eight minutes twice a day you can open up your entire eye area & reduce puffiness & bags lift your eyebrows define your cheeks plump up the lips turn the corners of your mouth up smooth out lines & firm your entire neck & jawline. She also has chapters on the most advanced (non surgical) beauty treatments & advises on how Facercise can help get rid of the hard lumps left under the skin by collagen or fillers & can smooth out the effects of botched cosmetic surgery. " One of the 100 best beauty products in the world". (" Harpers & Queen"). " The programme really does work". (" Daily Mail")." ...

A collection of thrilling fishing tales that will take you to 100 remarkable fishing destinations from Alaska to Australia From epic offshore battles to the peace & calm of fly fishing this stunning coffee-table book will inspire & excite with tales of adventure ranging from secret African rivers to idyllic tropical islands. Follow along as fishermen fight monsters from the depths of the Pacific or compete against the best in competitive fishing in the US. Anglers of every sort with treasure this masterful collection of the world's most exciting fishing adventures. ...

Ultimate Flexibility" is the book youve been waiting for. More than a collection of exercises or an explanation of technique " Ultimate Flexibility" is a complete guide to stretching for martial arts from the very basics of why you should stretch to detailed workout guidelines for every style & level of martial arts practice. Written by acclaimed author & martial artist Sang H Kim " Ultimate Flexibility" is your guide to achieving maximum flexibility in your training. Begin with an in depth look at the hows & whys of flexibility & stretching. Learn about the many types of stretching which methods are best for beginners when to graduate to advanced techniques & why you should completely avoid certain types of exercises. Youll also find information that you wont find in any other martial art book including a detailed exploration of how your body works for or against you in your training & how flexibility can make you stronger & faster. Building on this foundation Sang H Kim teaches you nearly 200 flexibility exercises that he has personally used to achieve the highest levels of flexibility. Youll get detailed instructions workout planning guides goal setting tips difficulty levels injury prevention & recovery & over 400 photos to guide you. Special bonus sections: 10 Tips for Full Splits 20 Tips for High Kicks & 10 workouts for specific martial art types." ...

The Ultimate Floral Collection is without a doubt the comprehensive flower design bible covering every aspect of the art of flower arranging. Easy-to-follow step-by-step projects make this book accessible to the beginner while stunning arrangements provide inspiration for more seasoned florists. Showcasing a wealth of beautiful designs The Ultimate Floral Collection indicates once again why Paula Pryke is one of the most respected & imitated floral designers in the world. The Colourful Creations section provides inspiration & advice on selecting & designing with flowers within a particular palette & on the best colour combinations. Decorating the Home guides the reader through a wonderful selection of containers & arrangements to use around the home. For special occasions there are sections on both Flowers for Giving covering portable arrangements that can be presented as gifts plus full-scale floral decorations for events including birthdays Christmas & weddings. Finally an extensive Techniques section with 24 step-by-step projects arms readers with the skills they need to become confident flower designers from the essential h&-tied bouquet to wiring arranging in foam & decorating containers. The Ultimate Floral Collection contains an unprecedented selection of different designs all packed into a single invaluable source book. It is guaranteed to inspire. ...