A comprehensive workshop approach presented by a master watercolorist, this guide features 11 step-by-step demonstrations filled with valuable methods and techniques for achieving striking on-site watercolor compositions. Beautiful examples and locations — including the Greek island of Santorini, a desert oasis, and a Midwest farmhouse — provide a wealth of...

A Pulitzer Prize–winning critic reflects on the meaning and emotional impact of a Bach masterwork.

As his mother was dying, Philip Kennicott began to listen to the music of Bach obsessively. It was the only music that didn’t seem trivial or irrelevant, and it enabled him to both experience her death and remove himself from it. For him, Bach’s music held the...

Following the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945, an uneasy standoff developed between the US-led NATO Allies and a Soviet Union-dominated Eastern Bloc. For the next four decades the two sides prepared for a conflict that thankfully never happened. This ‘Cold War’ came to an end following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, but decades later traces of...

An illustrated story of grief, love, and hope.

When the author's brother dies overseas, she embarks on a journey to bring him home. Through memories and dreams of all they shared and through her Dene traditions, the author finds comfort and strength. The lyrical art and story leave readers with a universal message of hope and love.

In this unique and...

Artists’ Letters is a treasure trove of carefully selected letters written by great artists, providing the reader with a unique insight into their characters and a glimpse into their lives. Arranged thematically, it includes writings and musings on love, work, daily life, money, travel and the creative process. 
On the theme of friendship, for example...

Just show up, that's all. Show up for me and I'll show up for you. Show up. Everything else is added detail to the canvas. Luxury. You're the painting. And I want to blend in with your colours. Your oils, your textures. Your stains and your dyes,

Our love will transcend space and time, and they'll call us a masterpiece,

You're the painting. The original,

And...

An absolute must-have guide for beginners, this is an interactive workbook designed to teach you how to create gorgeous lettering with any pen on any surface, no brush pen or calligraphy nib necessary! You’ll learn how to draw letters, words, inspirational phrases, and bible verses in multiple alphabet styles by practicing outlining letters and thickening...

The first-ever comprehensive guide to creating wooden jewelry, learn and practice several woodworking skills - including jointing, turning, steaming, polishing, staining, painting, beveling, inlaying, and more - to discover a brand new art perspective! Combining wood with other media, from silver to silicon, you’ll create 20 beautiful and accessible jewelry...

There is nothing like the vibrant colors and crisp Autumn air to make you excited to thrive. In the cycles of the earth, glory rises and falls in the vintage breezes. Let all things autumn slip under your skin in the rakishness of dying blooms.

A harvest time souvenir, Ah, Autumn is a deep breath of colorful joy. Inhaling the pages will fill you with...

A fascinating account of the music and epic social change of 1973, a defining year for David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd, Elton John, the Rolling Stones, Eagles, Elvis Presley, and the former members of The Beatles.

1973 was the year rock hit its peak while splintering—just like the rest of the world. Ziggy Stardust travelled to America in David...

Use Dingbatz to add flair to whatever you're working on—they provide a wonderful complement to any hand lettering, scrapbook, or art journaling project. Small enough to provide a sense of instant gratification when you make them, these "Zenbellishments" require few materials, making them accessible to all skill levels from beginner to advanced. This book...

You too can enjoy yourself in the process of learning to relax and free your mind. And there’s no better way to do it than with “Learn How to Draw for the Non-Artist”.

“Learn How to Draw for the Non-Artist” was published for those who want to learn how to draw as well for those who want to improve their drawing skills. What I mean by Non-Artist is that any...

Atlanta Underground presents a city history through the lens of its buried and paved-over urban landscape. Contemporary photos of this urban spelunking landscape will illustrate this telling of Atlanta’s history: how it came to be where it is, how it acquired its unique name, and how its colliding street grids were established.

"Dyson's incisive analysis of JAY-Z's brilliance not only offers a brief history of hip-hop's critical place in American culture, but also hints at how we can best move forward." —Questlove

JAY-Z: Made in America is the fruit of Michael Eric Dyson’s decade of teaching the work of one of the greatest poets this nation has produced, as gifted a wordsmith as...

Do energy-efficient cars have to be boring? Are green buildings necessarily unsightly? Is sustainability incompatible with beauty? Lance Hosey's answer is a resounding "no," and in The Shape of Green he argues that for far too long sustainable design has neglected aesthetics. If green is to fulfill its promise, it must be both efficient and appealing. Hosey...

This beautifully illustrated short e-book explores the idea that to create vibrant, sustainable urban areas for the long term, we must first understand what happens naturally when people congregate in cities—innate, unprompted interactions of urban dwellers with each other and their surrounding urban and physical environment. Wolfe elaborates on the...

Despite an uncertain economy, the market for green building is exploding. The US green building market has expanded dramatically since 2008 and is projected to double in size by 2015 (from $42 billion in construction starts to $135 billion). But green-building pioneer Sim Van der Ryn says, “greening” our buildings is not enough. He advocates for “empathic...

In the twenty-first century, cities worldwide must respond to a growing and diverse population, ever-shifting economic conditions, new technologies, and a changing climate. Short-term, community-based projects—from pop-up parks to open streets initiatives—have become a powerful and adaptable new tool of urban activists, planners, and policy-makers seeking...

NOTE: Because of its beautiful design and large file size, this uncorrected proof only includes Chapters 2-3.
Can nature—in all its unruly wildness—be an integral part of creative landscape design? In her beautifully illustrated book, Wild by Design, award-winning designer Margie Ruddick urges designers to look beyond the rules often imposed by both...

The best cities become an ingrained part of their residents' identities. Urban design is the key to this process, but all too often, citizens abandon it to professionals, unable to see a way to express what they love and value in their own neighborhoods. New in paperback, this visually rich book by Alexandros Washburn, former Chief Urban Designer of the...

Humans have always been influenced by natural landscapes, and always will be—even as we create ever-larger cities and our developments fundamentally change the nature of the earth around us. In Human Ecology, noted city planner and landscape architect Frederick Steiner encourages us to consider how human cultures have been shaped by natural forces...

“. . .thoughtful, beautiful, and enlightening...”
—Jane Jacobs
 
“This book will have a lasting infl uence on the future quality of public open spaces. By helping us better understand the larger public life of cities, Life between Buildings can only move us toward more lively and healthy public places. Buy this book, fi nd a...

What if, even in the heart of a densely developed city, people could have meaningful encounters with nature? While parks, street trees, and green roofs are increasingly appreciated for their technical services like stormwater reduction, from a biophilic viewpoint, they also facilitate experiences that contribute to better physical and mental health: natural...

What makes a great city? Not a good city or a functional city but a great city. A city that people admire, learn from, and replicate. City planner and architect Alexander Garvin set out to answer this question by observing cities, largely in North America and Europe, with special attention to Paris, London, New York, and Vienna.

For Garvin, greatness is not...

At its most basic, historic preservation is about keeping old places alive, in active use, and relevant to the needs of communities today. As cities across America experience a remarkable renaissance, and more and more young, diverse families choose to live, work, and play in historic neighborhoods, the promise and potential of using our older and historic...