Arttalk by Rosalind Ragans

$98.95 NZD

Category: Crafts

Dynamic Acrylics by Soraya French

$56.00 NZD

Category: Crafts

The versatility of acrylics has made it one of the most popular media among amateur artists. Here Soraya French explores the medium in detail, encouraging readers to work with acrylics creatively and to experiment with different techniques to achieve exciting and dramatic effects. Exploring the medium of acrylics in detail, Soraya French explains the various types of acrylics - paints and inks - and the different ways they can be used, covering the techniques for both watercolour and opaque style. With the use of practical exercises, studio tips and step-by-step demonstrations, French focuses on a broad range of subjects, from flowers and still life, to animals, birds and landscapes. She also introduces the works of several other professional artists to provide a broader view of different styles of acrylic painting. ...Show more

Homemade by Ros Badger

$54.99 NZD

Category: Crafts

A contemporary take on gorgeous things to make Making it yourself rather than buying it off the shelf has never been trendier. Whether driven by eco considerations and anti-consumerism or by the desire to own or give something personal rather than uniform, many more of us are getting out the knitting n eedles and sewing kit, and taking pleasure in lavishing some TLC on our homes, our friends, our children and ourselves. Homemade is packed full of ideas for things to make that make life that little bit better. From crocheted coat-hangers to cordials and cupcakes, from cushion covers made from vintage blankets, old shirts cut up to make summer bunting or beautifully simple decorating ideas for an old-fashioned Christmas tree, here are over a hundred ways of adding individuality to your home and to the things you give. You'll save some money along the way - and using materials you have to hand not only saves the cash, it also means building a little bit of your history, whether from a favourite worn-out skirt or pebbles you've collected on holiday, into the things that surround you.While the book is practical and project-based, covering everything from knitting gloves to making natural moth repellents and devising the most gorgeous hand-made gift wrapping, it is also aspirational and chic - a key requirement is that the finished result has to look better and more desirable than a shop-bought version. ...Show more

Botanical Painting with Coloured Pencils by Ann Swan

$46.00 NZD

Category: Crafts

This beautifully illustrated book is the first practical step-by-step guide to using coloured pencils in botanical painting and is written by Ann Swan, one of the top exponents of the genre. Water-soluble and oil-based coloured pencils are becoming increasingly popular for botanical painting as they are easier to use than traditional watercolour and are more forgiving, yet they produce the same stunning effects. They are especially suitable for the accuracy needed to paint in the botanical style of illustration. In this book Ann Swan gives helpful advice on all aspects of working with coloured pencils, including the techniques you will have to master - underpainting, layering and burnishing. She also demontrates how to mix and build up colour, and how to add those finishing touches that will complete your painting successfully. Several full step-by-step demonstrations are included to show how these techniques are put into practice. The book concludes with a gallery of coloured pencil works by the author, students of botanical painting and other professional botanical painters, providing a wonderful source of reference and inspiration. ...Show more

Collins 30-minute Acrylics by Soraya French

$24.99 NZD

Category: Crafts

This is one of the first titles in a brand-new series of practical and inspirational guides in a handy sketchbook format. Aimed at the practised beginner, it will show how to achieve successful acrylics in just 30 minutes -- ideal for the busy amateur artist. Many people think they don't have enough ti me to paint, but in this attractive guide Soraya French encourages quick and simple learning. By working with just a few materials and focusing on just the key techniques it is possible to achieve successful paintings in no more than half an hour. And for those artists who already have a little painting experience, learning to work more quickly enables them to free up their style and paint more spontaneously. With clear, easy-to-follow advice and ideas presented in a simple approachable way, this book provides a perfect introduction to painting acrylics quickly and easily. Key features include: / Quick tips / Handy checklists / Practical projects / Step-by-step exercises / Half-hour demonstrations CONTENTS Introduction Essential Equipment Colour and Tone Techniques Creating Textures Quick Studies Composing your Picture The Complete Picture Further Information Index ...Show more

You Can Paint - Acrylics by Melanie Cambridge

$19.99 NZD

Category: Crafts

Relaunched in paperback, this book assumes no prior knowledge or experience and guides the beginner painter step-by-step through the basics of painting in acrylics. Full of easy-to-follow exercises and demonstrations, 'You Can Paint Acrylics' will give even the most hesitant of beginners the enthusiasm and confidence to start painting in acrylics. Melanie Cambridge takes the reader by the hand, explaining the basic acrylic painting materials and mark-making techniques. All the demonstrations are broken down into easy-to-follow step-by-step exercises, allowing the reader to build up their acrylic painting expertise gradually. Covering a broad range of subjects, from flowers and skies to people and animals, this book teaches the beginner everything they need to know to learn to paint in this popular and versatile medium. ...Show more

Watercolour Textures by Ann Blockley

$54.99 NZD

Category: Crafts

This is the fourth title in Collins' Artist's Studio series for the intermediate painter. Ann Blockley is a very successful artist, known for the innovative way in which she uses texture as a key element in her work, and this book looks specifically at how she achieves her stunning effects. Creating tex ture in watercolour can be quite a challenge but this book provides a fresh approach to the subject. It focuses on a wide range of unusual techniques, some of which depart from the more conventional methods, revealing how to portray texture by a variety of means. Ann explains how to manipulate the paint by lifting out colour, scraping and scratching the paint, and by using additional materials such as wax, clingfilm, salt and metallic pigments. She also explains how the surface itself can play an important role in the effects that can be achieved, and experiments with acrylics, inks, gouache and collage as well as watercolour. In later chapters Ann looks at the creative process and provides insights into how to develop ideas, then concentrates on how to portray texture in specific subjects, such as flowers and foliage, animals, still life, buildings and landscapes. ...Show more

Vibrant Watercolours by Hazel Soan

$30.99 NZD

Category: Crafts

This best-selling title will be relaunched in September 05 with a fresh new cover design. Hazel Soan, with her colourful and lively style of painting, offers an exciting, contemporary approach to working in watercolour, the most popular medium of all. Every painter wants to paint vibrant pictures but so metimes it can be difficult to capture that special quality on paper. In Learn to Paint Vibrant Watercolours Hazel Soan provides plenty of helpful advice on how to use watercolour in a bold and lively way, emphasizing the importance of using colour confidently, creating a strong composition, and evoking a powerful sense of atmosphere in your paintings. Contents include: / tips on choosing painting materials / clear, practical advice on watercolour techniques / guidelines on using colour effectively and creating atmosphere / a range of popular subjects, including landscapes, still life, flowers and people / stage-by-stage demonstration paintings ...Show more

Origami by Anon

$15.99 NZD

Category: Crafts

A practical, highly illustrated guide to the ancient art of origami. Though highly illustrated, with step-by-step instructions, the Gem enables you to make a range of models. Collins Gem Origami outlines all the tools and skills necessary to making up to 200 models from the very simple to the complex. F or each model there are illustrated, step-by-step diagrams to show you what to do along with a photograph of the finished result. With around 200 illustrations, this guide will give anyone the confidence to make some origami models. ...Show more

The Artist's Watercolour Problem Solver

$49.99 NZD

Category: Crafts

Collins Learn to Paint: with a Chinese Brush by Jane Evans

$36.99 NZD

Category: Crafts

Beginner's Guide to Blackwork by Lesley Wilkins

$24.99 NZD

Category: Crafts

Blackwork is a timeless, classic sixteenth-century embroidery technique in which beautiful designs are created by stitching geometric designs on to evenweave fabric. Inspired by the past, Lesley Wilkins illustrates her techniques with a whole host of wonderful designs