Name: Drawing Fantastic Female Fighters
Brand: Hisashi Kagawa
Price: 19.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Caricature Drawing Made Easy

$17.99

A structured, creative course for the comic artist and the wider Fan Art community.

features both digital and analogue art techniques
coaches the artist to develop fun, engaging artworks of friends, family and the famous
guidance on going professional and for commercial gain at corporate events or shows
includes profiles and insight from leading caricature artists from all around the world

Packed with expert tips and step by steps, you too can learn to draw quickly and develop your Fan Art skills.

Cover image for Caricature Drawing Made Easy, isbn: 9781446315965

Learn to Draw in an Hour a Day

$17.99

The complete guide to learning how to draw at your own pace, from just an hour a day or over the course of a weekend.

Packed with techniques, exercises and practice project
Boost your creativity and artistic skills at your own pace
Written by Richard Taylor, a prolific author and art tutor, well-known for his tutorial style and artistic ability

Give your creativity a boost with a complete drawing course that can be achieved in just an hour a day!

Cover image for Learn to Draw in an Hour a Day, isbn: 9781446315897

Complete Guide to Drawing Action Manga

$16.99

Whether your character is jumping for joy or grappling with an opponent, this book provides all the essential techniques to draw more lifelike action figures in the classic Japanese manga style.

The comprehensive introduction first shows the reader the physical anatomy of male vs. female figures and gives important tips on proportions, perspective and small but often-overlooked details such as the relative differences between male and female hands, fingers and feet.

Five subsequent chapters cover over 40 action poses in the following categories:

Chapter 1: Action (e.g. running and jumping)
Chapter 2: Martial Arts (e.g. punching and kicking)
Chapter 3: Interacting (e.g. judo holds and high fives)
Chapter 4: Weapons (e.g. swords and knives)
Chapter 5: Reacting (e.g. dodging a punch or taking a punch)

Each pose and movement is illustrated with a rough sketch outline followed by a highlighted manga drawing containing detailed annotations by the author. After studying the sketches, you practice the drawing techniques at the end of each chapter. Each chapter also provides professional tips on the use of color and shading for greater realism.

Special sections contain information and tips on particular topics of interest, such as how to draw clothes, hair and facial expressions or how to create special effects. At the end of the book, an actual 6-page comic strip gives readers the opportunity to practice what they have learned by filling in the missing elements.

Cover image for Complete Guide to Drawing Action Manga, isbn: 9781462920891

Chinese Symbolism and Art Motifs Fourth Revised Edition

$18.99

Written with reader accessibility in mind, this comprehensive handbook of symbolism in Chinese art and culture will be an invaluable resource for any student of Eastern art history, Chinese arts and crafts, and anyone interested in commonly held Chinese beliefs and their origins.

In Chinese Symbolism & Art Motifs Fourth Edition, scholar C.A.S. Williams offers concise explanations of the essential symbols and motifs relevant to Chinese literature, arts & crafts, and architecture. This reference book has been a standard among students of Chinese culture and history since 1941 and, in its Fourth Edition, has been completely reset with Pinyin pronunciation of Chinese names and words.

Organized alphabetically, enhanced by over 400 illustrations, and clearly written for accessibility across a variety of fields, this book not only explains symbols and motifs essential to any designer, art collector, or historian, but delves into ancient customs in religion, food, agriculture, and medicine.

Some of the symbols and motifs explicated are:

The Eight Immortals
The Five Elements
The Dragon
The Phoenix
Yin and Yang

With Chinese Symbolism & Art Motifs, you can access hidden insights into the intentions behind works of Chinese craftsmanship, and the thorough explanations of each symbol accompanied by the historical origins from which they arose. It will complement your existing knowledge of any area of Chinese culture, or help you confidently explore new topics within the realm of Asian art and history.

Cover image for Chinese Symbolism and Art Motifs Fourth Revised Edition, isbn: 9781462903146

Drawing Fantastic Female Fighters

$19.99

Two superstars of anime and manga open their studio doors and spill their secrets in this private master class.

Join Hisashi Kagawa, an animation director for Sailor Moon, and Yoshihiko Umakoshi, a character developer for My Hero Academia, as they show you how to bring your battle heroines boldly to life.

Helpful sidebars and tips appear in dialogue bubbles throughout this book, as the artists guide aspiring illustrators from initial idea to finished artworks, pointing out common missteps and pitfalls that can easily frustrate beginning artists along the way.

The essential techniques and design elements needed to create engaging female-led battle scenes are first reviewed in detail. Then each author walks the reader through their entire creative process of developing an original story from beginning to end.

Along the way the authors give you hundreds of helpful tips on how to create compelling characters and render realistic expressions and poses, showing you how practiced professionals work. Starting from a storyboard sequence of simple sketches you'll progress to a polished finished drawing.

By learning from two artists with different styles at the same time, readers get twice the advice and emerge doubly prepared to create scenes, stories and battle heroines of their own.

Cover image for Drawing Fantastic Female Fighters, isbn: 9781462921485

Arts of Japan

$24.99

Arts of Japan is a classic and informative text that explores the rich cultural heritage and history of Japanese Art.

This art history text examines the various influences that have shaped the course of Japanese art history in the fields of painting, sculpture, architecture, and handicrafts. Discussed with challenging insight are the impact of the various Indian and Chinese schools, the pervasive influence of Zen philosophy, and the many other artistic developments, giving the reader a well-rounded picture of the great significance and contribution of Japanese art.

Special features of the book are sections on handicrafts and a chapter on prehistoric art. The book comes at a time when there is an awakened interest in Asian art throughout the world. In the past, due to linguistic barriers, political upheavals, and the limited number of specialists, misconceptions have been especially numerous in the field of Japanese art. The Arts of Japan admirably corrects these misinterpretations, consolidates the results of the most recent scholarship, and in one compact volume presents an up-to-date, authoritative survey of Japanese and throughout its long history and in all its colorful diversity.

Cover image for Arts of Japan, isbn: 9781462908851

Draw Amazing Manga Characters

$17.99

Set your manga characters in motion!

Draw Amazing Manga Characters combines the strengths, talents, and perspectives of five different manga artists over 81 lessons that increase in detail and complexity. Key building blocks allow you to progress as you move through the book and "Take a Closer Look" sidebars offer tips so developing artists can avoid frustrating obstacles and roadblocks.

This essential handbook shows you how to:

Draw action characters from every possible angle, perspective, and viewpoint
Progress logically from concept to character and from sketch to finished drawing
Create well-balanced and proportioned characters to tell your story
Create scenes with real depth and three-dimensional appeal

The illustrators guide you through an easy four-step figure drawing process:
1. Block-in the basic shapes, using the techniques of figure drawing to set down the rough outline of your character.
2. Sketch in the formal details, as your creation starts to take on form and shape
3. Now it's time to lay down the next layers of features and tweaks that will make your character come to life and stand apart.
4. Finally the finishing touches, the shading and nuances that add depth, complexity and three-dimensional appeal. Now look what's sprung to life on the page—your very own manga character!

Cover image for Draw Amazing Manga Characters, isbn: 9781462922857

History of Japanese Art

$24.95

A History of Japanese Art offers readers a comprehensive view of Japanese art through Japanese eyes—a view that is the most revealing of all perspectives. At the same time, it provides readers with a guide to the places in Japan where the best and most representative creations of Japanese art are to be seen.

Cover image for History of Japanese Art, isbn: 9781462916788

Introduction to Netsuke

$12.99

With dozens of photos and illustrations, A Introduction to Netsuke is a readable and thorough guide to Japanese miniature art.

Among the many Japanese fine arts, few have aroused greater admiration than the netsuke. This miniature piece of Japanese sculpture, approximately 1 1/2 inches in size, was designed (in the absence of pockets on kimonos) as an aid in suspending articles such as tobacco pouches from the sash of a kimono. It developed in ancient times as a utilitarian object, but became in the 16th century an artistic one as well, and flourished as such until 1926. No longer commonly worn, the netsuke is now a collectors' item, avidly sought throughout the world by those sensitive to its fine qualities.

This book opens the miniature world of netsuke to those who have hitherto been unaware of its existence. In a delightfully lucid manner, the basics of the netsuke are presented-definition, origin, development, materials, statistics, and photographs. This book admirably fulfills its task of introducing the netsuke to the layman, irresistibly drawing him to new pleasures in aestheticism and culture.

Cover image for Introduction to Netsuke, isbn: 9781462902378

Sho Japanese Calligraphy

$12.99

Master calligrapher Christopher Earnshaw illuminates the techniques, history and philosophy of calligraphy with over 300 illustrations in Sho: Japanese Calligraphy. Calligraphy, along with poetry and painting, has been for centuries a discipline that all students of culture had to master. Brush writing reflected inner character, and many great masters of calligraphy were respected Zen priests, warriors and emperors. From practical lessons on brushwork to hints about exhibiting finished work, this beautiful volume is the fledgling calligrapher's best reference source. Its meditations on the philosophy of calligraphy will also offer new insights to students of Japanese culture and character.

Cover image for Sho Japanese Calligraphy, isbn: 9781462907823

Asmat Art

$29.99

Asmat Art features the world renowned woodcarvings of the Asmat, former head-hunters who live in the western half of New Guinea

This book presents a full range of Asmat woodcarving art, but emphasizes the rare early shields and figure sculptures. Drums, canoe prowheads and the larger, more dramatic "objects" are also shown.

Together with bisj poles, war shields are perhaps the most famous creation of Asmat artists, and these were carved throughout the region. It is in the design and construction of the shields that the variations in style region can most clearly be seen. Figure sculptures, of varying styles, are also well represented here, and a limited number of the huge ceremonial carvings, such as bisj poles and basu suangkus, have also been included. The cultural context in which these items play their part is described in detail in the introductory chapters. But it is not the intention of this book to be an ethnography. The focus is on the art pieces themselves.

Cover image for Asmat Art, isbn: 9781462909643

How to Create Manga: Drawing Dynamic Hand & Body Movements

$19.99

An indispensable reference guide for manga artists presenting hundreds of different body positions, actions, movements and hand gestures!

This complete guide shows you how to draw your characters with the right proportions and perspectives when performing all sorts of actions. With useful tips on depicting dynamic motions and movements more accurately you can make your drawings look more realistic! Are your characters opening an umbrella? Fussing with their phones? Or talking with their hands? Or are they flying through the air and landing blows in the midst of a fight?

With 480 body positions, movements and hand gestures and over 1,100 illustrations to guide you, this book helps you draw your characters with the right proportions and perspectives while doing all sorts of different things:

Making hand gestures ranging from a peace sign to a heart to a fist bump
Sitting, kneeling, crouching, walking, running or jumping with legs extended
Putting on gloves, pushing up glasses, taking a drink or fixing their hair
Executing flying kicks and complicated martial arts maneuvers
And hundreds of other different actions and movements!

Start with basic hand gestures before moving onto more complex movements and poses involving the entire body. This comprehensive guide offers you a thousand options for adding powerful perspective and emotional expression to your characters and the stories you tell!

Cover image for How to Create Manga: Drawing Dynamic Hand & Body Movements, isbn: 9781462925261

Drawing Cute Manga Chibi

$16.99

This guide introduces aspiring manga artists to drawing chibi characters—wide-eyed caricatures beloved for their cartoonish exaggeration.

Drawing Cute Manga Chibi walks you through the steps needed to draw these adorable characters, while sidebars offer expert tips, pointers on the pitfalls to avoid, and how to use details to bring your drawings to life.

In this book, readers will learn how to imagine and express:

Facial expressions
Body posture
Hairstyles
Different ages
Poses
Bringing your characters into full-color
Different character identities—from a punk rocker to a samurai

Author and Japanese manga artist Ryusuke Hamamoto (Ryu Moto) is best known for his design and creation of the Petit Eva character—who even makes an appearance in this book! In Drawing Cute Manga Chibi, he shares his personal tips, showing you how to break the "rules" of figure drawing in order to create these bobbleheaded cuties.

Artists of all ages and levels will have fun creating original characters or reimagining their friends and family as kawaii chibi drawings.

Cover image for Drawing Cute Manga Chibi, isbn: 9781462921829

Instant Talent

$9.99

Learn to draw the best, most creative doodles, with this fun art book!

Instant Talent is indeed an unusual book! Is it for kindergarten children? Teenagers? Adults? The author says it's for people who claim they can't "draw a straight line" as well as for those who doodle.

It's silly, but great fun! And it's useful, too. Doodles can be decorative on place cards, memo pads, invitations, stationery, meeting notices, and posters.

Cover image for Instant Talent, isbn: 9781462912698

How to Draw Anything Anytime

$14.99

Author and artist Kamo is back with her ever-popular doodles!

Cute, funny and simple drawings—alongside step-by-step instructions—are sure to inspire readers of all ages to sit down and start doodling. Begin with a line or squiggle, and then turn it into a face, animal or anything else that your imagination conjures up. The point is just to draw—anytime, anywhere, anything—and, most of all, to have fun while you are doing it!

With more than 1000 examples, How to Draw Anything Anytime includes:

People of all ages
Animals from sea otters to giraffes and sloths to turtles
Food and drinks including coffee, popcorn, sushi and lots of other appetizing treats
Transportation, whether traveling by submarine, UFO or bus
Astrological signs and zodiac animals
Japanese and latin alphabet lettering
Clever borders for decorating edges

The adorable images throughout the book provide inspiration. Whether doodling digitally or on paper, use your drawings to decorate bookmarks, office supplies, bags, cards, invitations, notebooks, mobiles, window hangings and more. Sample cartoon strips show you how to incorporate your doodles into a bigger project.

Fans of Kamo's other doodle books love her instantly recognizable style. Unlike serious art books, there are no rules to follow and no classes to take. All that's needed is a free hand and a free spirit—follow your lines and see where they take you.

Cover image for How to Draw Anything Anytime, isbn: 9781462922345

Japanese Yokai and Other Supernatural Beings

$29.99

Superb Yokai images from the world's leading museums and private collections!

Japan's vast pantheon of supernatural creatures includes demons (yokai), monsters, ogres (oni), ghosts (yurei) and magicians—mythical beings from folklore and popular culture which continue to thrill readers of traditional stories and manga today.

This richly illustrated book by Andreas Marks, the leading authority on Japanese woodblock prints, presents authentic illustrations and descriptions of 100 different creatures, including:

Bakeneko: Monster cats in human form who lick lamp oil and prey on humans born in the year of the Rat
Han'nya: Female demons with sharp and pointed horns, metallic eyes and a smirking smile
Hihi: Large ape-like monsters who live in the mountains and have superhuman strength, enabling them to kidnap and kill humans
Mikoshi-nyudo: Yokai with an enormously extended necks who appear only at night
And many more!

The striking visual examples in this book are drawn from the rich canon of early Japanese prints, books, and paintings—sourced from leading museums, libraries and private collections worldwide. They show the "original" forms and appearances of the creatures which form the basis for all subsequent depictions.

Also included are two long handscrolls from the Minneapolis Institute of Art (A Collection of Monsters and Night Parade of One Hundred Demons) which are reproduced here for the very first time.

Prints and Paintings sourced from the following list of museums, libraries and private collections:
Art Institute of Chicago
Christie's, London & New York
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University
Kyoto University, Main Library
Library of Congress
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Minneapolis Institute of Art
National Museum of Japanese History
Princeton University Library
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Smithsonian Libraries

Cover image for Japanese Yokai and Other Supernatural Beings, isbn: 9781462923830

Learn to Draw Manga Men

$16.99

The male form is the focus here—twisting, leaping and tumbling in dramatic action sequences!

Master manga and anime artist Kyachi shows you the secrets professional Japanese artists use to create dynamic motion on the page. A series of detailed tutorials show you how to draw the male form in every possible position.

Individual lessons cover standing, sitting, reclining, walking, running, kicking, pitching, swimming, dribbling and sparring. A rogues' gallery is also presented, showing how to create dastardly villains, armed with weapons and ready to rumble.

With the help of this complete guide, you'll be able to:

Populate the page or screen with eye-catching movement and powerful action poses
Master Kyachi's methods through step-by-step progressions—before it's time to try it on your own
Follow along with charming caricature guides who offer essential tips and steer you clear of pitfalls

It can be intimidating to draw people as a beginning artist, but Learn to Draw Manga Men is meant to dispel those exact fears and wipe away any hesitations you may have. Begin with a blank page or empty screen and start populating it with people. Before you know it, your characters will come to life before you!

Kyachi has distilled her specialized knowledge of the skeleton, muscles and physical structures, explaining and analyzing the most difficult aspects of figure drawing and presenting it to you in a clear and simple way. With the help of this fantastic resource, you'll soon master detailed male characters to include in your own comic strip or graphic novel!

*Recommended for artists 16 & up*

Cover image for Learn to Draw Manga Men, isbn: 9781462922291

Complete Guide to Drawing Dynamic Manga Sword Fighters

$19.99

The legendary Samurai, and the sharp-edged katanas they mastered, are the point of this thrill-seeking guide to drawing swordfights, battle scenes and skirmishes.

The Complete Guide to Drawing Dynamic Manga Sword Fighters provides a highly detailed series of lessons—ideal for digital artists—starting with the body, the fighter's stance and the various ways your characters can be twisted, torqued and turned into powerful poses. No detail is overlooked: from the grip on the weapon to the intense look on your character's face. Also included is an entire chapter devoted to the various razor-sharp weapons your characters can come armed with.

This invaluable manga drawing guide then concludes with a gallery of full-color scenes, poses and anime stills showing important, aspirational details: captivating scenes, compelling characters and powerful weapons at the ready.

With this book, intermediate artists of all ages can refine their style and add intensity, authenticity and drama to their stories. Enjoy as your characters slash, fence and fight their way through your own custom-designed action manga.

Cover image for Complete Guide to Drawing Dynamic Manga Sword Fighters, isbn: 9781462921775

Art of Chinese Brush Painting

$16.95

The Art of Chinese Brush Painting is an excellent way for newcomers to experience this ancient Chinese art form.

The book introduces traditional Chinese ink painting techniques developed over a thousand years ago. In 35 simple and intermediate lessons, readers will learn to paint towering landscapes; the elegant Four Generals: bamboo, orchid, plum blossom and chrysanthemum; rugged, steadfast pine; animals from the Chinese Zodiac; and basic strokes used in Chinese calligraphy.

To better understand "the soft martial art," the book includes an introduction to the Chinese ink painting tradition and detailed discussion of brushes, paper and other tools and accessories. The lessons are instructive for artists at any level of expertise but are directed to the dedicated beginner.

Cover image for Art of Chinese Brush Painting, isbn: 9781462905812

Manga Artist's Guide to Digital Color & Lighting

$18.99

Make your manga pop with captivating colors and striking shadows!

Color, lighting and shadows are critical components of effective manga and anime illustrations. From basic principles to step-by-step tutorials, learn the techniques the pros use to create powerful palettes and bold or subtle atmospheric effects.

In this highly detailed book, you'll learn how to:

Create natural-looking color schemes with the right balance of light and dark areas
Control the reader's gaze through the use of specific colors and shadow areas
Create three-dimensional effects using lighting, shadows and color
Finish your illustrations with color and shading to give them a strong sense of unity
And much more!

Creative, cohesive color choices. Bold and eye-catching shadows and lighting effects. Raise your manga and anime illustrations to a whole new level by learning these professional-level color and lighting techniques!

Cover image for Manga Artist's Guide to Digital Color & Lighting, isbn: 9781462925353

Drawing Manga Faces & Expressions

$18.99

Learn to draw expressive faces which communicate thoughts, feelings and emotions

Drawing characters with realistic facial expressions is a challenging and critical skill for every manga artist and storyteller. Drawing Manga Faces & Expressions is an invaluable practical guide for illustrators who wish to bring their drawing skills to the next level!

This book contains over 175 detailed step-by-step lessons and 1,200 drawings, with practical advice and helpful tips on every page.

The tutorials covered in this comprehensive guide include:

How to draw realistically consistent faces from every possible angle
How to draw attractive eyes, noses, mouths, ears and hairlines for any age or gender
How to apply shading to make your characters' faces appear three-dimensional
How to express emotions like joy, anger, fear, surprise, sadness, wonder, confusion and calm
And so much more!

Cover image for Drawing Manga Faces & Expressions, isbn: 9781462923281

Divine Felines: The Cat in Japanese Art

$19.99

From Hello Kitty to Maneki Neko—Japan is the epicentre of global cat culture!

Whether lurking in corners or taking center stage, cats are a ubiquitous presence in Japanese art. Depending on the situation, they may invite good fortune, prompt the viewer to meditate on a tale or provide evidence of an unseen world of magic and supernatural happenings.

In 200 charming woodblock prints, paintings, screens and figurines spanning three centuries, Japanese art expert Rhiannon Paget celebrates the rich symbolism and surprising stories surrounding the feline image in Japan.

This collection features works from over 30 museums and institions across the world, and contains essays on the following fascinating topics:

Domestic Companion or Household God? Japanese artists represent the great affection and sense of pride which bonds cat owners to their pets
The Feline Muse: Feline figures as ideal subjects for artists to explore in fluid lines and organic forms, their glossy fur and markings lending themselves to the interplay of textures and materials
Lucky Cats: Auspicious creatures in Japanese culture, symbolizing health, longevity and prosperity
Mischief and Mayhem: Japan's rich visual record of cats as witches and feline monsters
Philosophers' Cats, Teachers' Pets and Moggies with Messages: The felines deployed to illustrate philosophical and religious ideas, and as conveyors of folk wisdom
Plus much more!

This delightful book will appeal to anyone with an interest in Japanese art and culture, plus of course to all cat lovers!

Cover image for Divine Felines: The Cat in Japanese Art, isbn: 9781462924080

Complete Guide to Drawing Manga & Anime

$19.99

The complete manga, anime and video game "art school" course for beginners!

The Complete Guide to Drawing Manga & Anime offers a structured 13-week lesson plan that is typically found in professional drawing classes. With 65 detailed lessons arranged into 13 weekly topics, it's simple to learn the essentials and then progress to higher levels. You can create your own personalized learning experience as the structured lessons can be followed in sequence on a strict daily schedule or as an easy learn-at-your-own-pace course. With a hybrid focus this book offers skills for both digital and traditional artists learning to create manga and anime.

This book's unique progressively structured lessons offer:

Essential basic instructions on drawing bodies, clothes, facial expressions, movements and poses with 3D composition for animation
Hundreds of sample illustrations and full-color examples that make it easy to learn
Detailed lessons that teach poses, dress styles and life-like expressions that match each character's personality
Star ratings for each lesson that indicate difficulty and allow the aspiring artist to follow and understand their own learning progress
Professional tips and tricks that make learning fun and memorable
Free downloadable practice materials, templates and guides

The Complete Guide to Drawing Manga & Anime offers all the essential information needed to acquire basic drawing skills—creating a solid foundation for future learning!

Cover image for Complete Guide to Drawing Manga & Anime, isbn: 9781462924066

Things Japanese

$4.99

Traditional Japanese design imbues objects with a sense of history and artistry that easily reaches across cultural boundaries. In Things Japanese: Everyday Objects of Extraordinary Beauty and Significance, author Nicholas Bornoff and photographer Michael Freeman examine over 60 traditional objects that are uniquely Japanese, deftly illustrating their beauty and significance.

Beautifully crafted samurai swords
Elegant wooden tansu chests
Elaborate tea ceremony implements
Exquisitely carved netsuke toggles
Fabulous silk-and-gold embroidered kimonos

Each item is described in loving detail alongside lovely full-color photographs that highlight the great artistry and craftsmanship in everyday items used by real people in traditional Japan. Things Japanese is the perfect book for Japanese antique collectors or anyone interested in Japanese art and the culture and history of Japan.

Cover image for Things Japanese, isbn: 9781462913817

Foolproof Sketching & Painting Techniques for Beginners

$19.99

An inspiring guide to sketching and painting the world around you!

Packed with practical tips and advice, this book shows you how to fill your sketchbook or watercolor pad with a variety of everyday items that catch your eye, such as:

Kitchen items like cups, teapots and silverware
Toys like Rubik's Cubes and model cars
Tea sandwiches and roll cakes
Colorful bottles and containers
Household items like umbrellas, bottles and candles
Clothing and acessories including shirts, hats and umbrellas
And so much more!

Author Tomoko Kuramae provides clear step-by-step instructions on the proportions and perspective of basic objects and clearly explains how to draw dozens of items based on cubes, cylinders and flat shapes from a variety of angles. She then shows you how to bring your finished sketches alive with the use of brilliant transparent watercolors.

Cover image for Foolproof Sketching & Painting Techniques for Beginners, isbn: 9781462923755

Glimpse at Art of Japan

$9.99

First published in 1876, when many considered Japanese art a mere curiosity, A Glimpse at the Art of Japan presents Jarves remarkable examination of the problems of Japanese aesthetics, offering a penetrating analysis of the historical, religious, and social influences on the development of art in Japan. Supporting the thesis that art gives true expression to the aspirations of a nation, Jarves discusses such issues as: the influence of Shintoism and Buddhism on Japanese art; Buddhism as the "nursery of art"; the Japanese aesthetic ideal and the Grecian form; the literature and poetry of Japan; Japanese decorative and ornamental art; and the Japanese conception of Natureall in addition to a continuing discussion of the distinguishing characteristics of Japanese aesthetics.

Cover image for Glimpse at Art of Japan, isbn: 9781462908806

How to Create Manga: Drawing the Human Body

$17.99

Anatomy and art combine in this incredibly detailed manga drawing guide that offers an in-depth look at the human body.

Manga artists of every level will benefit from this essential anatomical overview. Step-by-step instructions bring manga characters to life and provide a clearly defined and easy-to-follow art course on drawing the human body. With more than 1,500 highly-detailed drawings and useful tips from a manga artist actually working in the business, this book is a self-contained art class in a single volume.

In this book, the body is covered head-to-toe—from various angles and positions with versions for men, women and children all provided. How to Create Manga: Drawing the Human Body is a must-have for budding manga artists and an essential reference for experienced artists looking to hone their ability to draw certain parts of their characters with greater accuracy.

Tuttle's How to Create Manga series guides users through the process of reaching a professional-looking final drawing through actual sketch progressions, practical tips and common missteps to avoid. Other books in the series include How to Create Manga: Drawing Facial Expressions, How to Create Manga: Drawing Clothing and Accessories and How to Create Manga: Drawing Action Scenes and Characters.

Cover image for How to Create Manga: Drawing the Human Body, isbn: 9781462921379

Step-by-Step Guide to Botanical Drawing & Painting

$19.99

Bring the glory of the outdoors into your home with colorful, stylish, frame-worthy paintings!

In this lushly illustrated book, master painter and art teacher Hidenari Kobayashi provides step-by-step instructions to show you how to create attractive drawings and paintings in the popular French botanical style. He details all the tools and materials needed, describes the techniques you'll use, and walks you through the creative process of drawing and painting 18 different botanical subjects.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Botanical Drawing & Painting provides everything you need to learn this charming style of artistic expression—from first sketch to final brushstroke!

Detailed step-by-step lessons show you how to draw and paint a wide variety of subjects, including:

Lovely flowers, such as velvety roses, satiny tulips, frilly hydrangeas, exotic lilies and festive wildflowers
Familiar vegetables, fruits and nuts such as red onions, green peppers, lemons, kumquats and walnuts
Various other interesting botanical subjects, including pine cones, holly leaves and berries, succulents and various types of leaves

Cover image for Step-by-Step Guide to Botanical Drawing & Painting, isbn: 9781462924387

Complete Guide to Drawing for Beginners

$16.99

An easy-to-follow, yet comprehensive beginner's guide to drawing .

In The Complete Guide to Drawing for Beginners, experienced art instructor Yoshiko Ogura explains the basics of pencil drawing through a series of lessons that provide insights on artistic composition, simulating highlights and shadows, depicting realistic forms, rendering texture and creating a sense of depth in your artwork. At the beginning of the book, she provides you with all the information you need to get started—what materials to buy, how to prepare your work surface, pencils and erasers—even how to sit correctly when drawing.

Once you know these, Ogura provides a series of easy and clear step-by-step lessons showing you how to draw simple objects while gaining an understanding of the essential concepts of perspective, how to convey hard and soft surfaces and textures, composition and balance. From here, you progress to more complex shapes and objects including landscapes and portraits of people and animals, as she explains all the additional concepts needed to draw these realistically.

This book teaches you how to draw the following interesting subjects:

Simple forms (an apple, a milk carton, an egg, a mug)
Hard & soft surfaces (a cloth, a loaf of bread, a stone, a book)
Transparent objects (water droplets, a glass)
Complex objects (a pumpkin slice with seeds and pulp, a sunflower)
Human figures (hands, portraits)
Landscape (trees, buildings)
Animals (a cat, a parakeet)
Still life (fruit, flowers)
Plus, many other inspirational examples and ideas!

By the end, all your drawings will begin to look impressively polished and realistic! As you work through the lessons, you'll master all the skills and knowledge that seasoned artists demonstrate in their work.

Cover image for Complete Guide to Drawing for Beginners, isbn: 9781462921249

Modern Colors of Japan

$19.99

An indispensable guide to the colors and combinations of contemporary Japanese design--by one of Japan's leading colorists!

Color consultant Teruko Sakurai finds inspiration everywhere--in the foods, landscapes and everyday objects of her native land. Flipping through the pages of this book is like taking a tour through modern Japan. The tones, hues and palettes will dazzle and inspire you.

Over 3,300 different color combinations are presented in over 125 different themes. Each two-page section in this book presents a different theme with the following information:

An introduction giving a brief background on the color scheme and a description of how it can be used
A number-coded nine-color palette board showing the range of shades and hues that complement and comprise the scheme
CMYK, RGB and HEX (the color code used in Japan) references for all nine colors
26 examples including two- and three-color combinations with photos and illustrations

This is an indispensable guide for graphic designers, illustrators, decorators, artists and publishing professionals. It will also be enjoyable and inspiring for readers planning their own home design or art projects.

Cover image for Modern Colors of Japan, isbn: 9781462922710

Sketching Men

$19.99

In Sketching Men, veteran art instructor Koichi Hagawa, PhD explains how to quickly capture the dynamic male form through two distinct styles of sketching:

Very rapid (1-3 minute) line drawings that capture the essence of the subject's posture and movement—perfect for recording athletic action poses in the moment
More finished tonal drawings, which take a bit longer to render (7-10 minutes), but fill in lots of interesting texture and wonderfully realistic details and nuances, including the play of light and shadow, three-dimensional form and a sense of mass and balance

Learn to sketch the following:

Individual body parts and their bones and muscles
Objects held in the hands and with both arms
Standing and sitting poses
Transitions from prone and sitting poses to a standing pose
Bending, reaching and leaning poses
Pushing, throwing and dancing poses
Folds, gathers and drape of clothing

This book contains hundreds of detailed studies and helpful examples. Your sketches will improve rapidly as you learn all about how human anatomy—the skeleton, muscles and posture—all come together to express the uniquely male form. When you hone your line and tonal drawing skills with this book, all of your artwork will improve as a result, no matter the application: storyboarding, cartooning and graphic novels, illustration, formal drawings, painting and more!

Cover image for Sketching Men, isbn: 9781462922109

Painted Fans of Japan

$9.99

Noh Fans are an essential element element of Japanese theater and this collection of fans is a rare example of this fine Japanese art.

The chief purpose of Painted Fans of Japan is to present for Westerners some of the gorgeous paintings found on fans used in the traditional Japanese Non drama. Painting as limited to conform to the fan shape has teen practiced for hundreds of years in Japan, even by such immortal artists as Sotatsu and Korin. Until now, however, there has been no popularly available volume of reproductions to reveal the almost limitless possibilities in color, design, and perspective within this restricted form of painting.

The artists whose works are reproduced in this book are unknown, and the time when the works were painted can only he estimated as early (1601-1741), middle (1742-1791), or late (1792-1867) Tokugawa, the period of Japanese history that extended from the beginning of the seventeenth century to well past the middle of the nineteenth.

Cover image for Painted Fans of Japan, isbn: 9781462911417

Fantasy Characters & Creatures: An Artist's Sourcebook

$19.99

Learn to draw mind-bending fantasy characters from an expert video game character designer!

This captivating book presents a treasure trove of ideas for hundreds of different fantasy characters and creatures. Experienced video game character designer Satoshi Matsuura explains his method for designing characters to play specific roles in fantasy world video games, graphic novels, anime films and fine art illustrations.

This extraordinary sourcebook contains over 600 different character designs as well as an exclusive tutorial showing you how to conceptualize and draw new, believable characters with clearly defined features matching their individual motivations and actions.

The hundreds of characters in this book include:

Majestic dragons, dinosaurs, monsters and anthropomorphic creatures
Fairytale ogres, orcs, trolls, giants, elves, fairies, hobbits and dwarves
Kawaii critters like the Owl Bear, Werechipmunk, Cat Fairy and Mouse Knight
Zombies, Yokai, demons and oddballs like the Death Mole and Sushi Monster
Kings, generals, monks, shamans, knights, rogues, assassins, mercenaries and more!

Indispensable for fantasy world artists, this book is an endlessly fascinating storehouse of creative ideas!

Cover image for Fantasy Characters & Creatures: An Artist's Sourcebook, isbn: 9781462924530

Hiroshige's Japan

$29.99

Journey along the famed Tokaido Road—an ancient thoroughfare with a modern twist.

The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido is the best-known work of the great 19th century Japanese woodblock artist Utagawa Hiroshige. The series of 53 masterful woodblock prints depicts stops along the ancient Tokaido road—which, from the eleventh to the nineteenth century, was the main thoroughfare between Tokyo and Kyoto.

Though the road itself is now submerged under Japan's twenty-first-century urban landscape, French artist Philippe Delord set out to see if he could find the original locations, with just a moped, sketchbook, watercolors and a book of Hiroshige's prints.

Hiroshige's Japan allows readers to make the journey alongside Delord, venturing from Tokyo and Mount Fuji to mountain passes and rugged coastlines. Inside are all 53 original scenery prints made by Hiroshige, alongside their modern-day equivalent by Delord. A lively commentary about his experiences as he tries to locate each of the 53 scenes (without speaking Japanese!) offers readers an insightful, and often humorous, look into both modern and historical Japan.

Part travelogue, part work of art, this book is sure to delight armchair travelers, history buffs, art enthusiasts and Japanophiles alike!

Cover image for Hiroshige's Japan, isbn: 9781462922772

Copybook for Japanese Ink

$7.99

A Copybook for Japanese Ink Painting is designed for artists who are eager to find a new outlet for his talents.

The paintings are the work of Shutei Ota, an artist who has had a long career of introducing Japanese ink-painting to Westerners. As a teacher, she has found the language barrier to be no handicap. She teaches by showing, by example, and by holding the hands of her students-beginning immediately with strokes and foregoing preliminary sketches. "Paint now" is her philosophy. She likes to think of her paintings as written compositions. Each stroke is a sentence, and each sentence builds up to a complete message or picture.

In this book, examples graded from easy to difficult are given. Westerners will no doubt make practical use of the art to create place cards, greeting cards, Christmas cards, and the like for personal use. Beyond this, of course, the study of Japanese ink painting will lead to better understanding of the discipline of Asian arts in general.

Cover image for Copybook for Japanese Ink, isbn: 9781462903757

Ultimate Guide to Drawing Manga Action Furries

$18.99

Bring your own anthropomorphic fantasy characters to life!

Furries fuse human and animal characteristics to create unique and fantastical hybrid forms. This book contains everything you need to start drawing furries for the printed page, for the screen, or for cosplay characters.

Follow the lead of 14 professional Japanese artists as they show you how to create scores of unique human-animal hybrid characters.

In the hands of these expert teachers, you'll learn to draw:

Fierce reptilian fighters and beastmen
Cute chibi versions of your favorite pet animals
Furries seen from every possible angle and perspective
Realistic poses with believable motions performing dynamic actions
Characters based on cats, dogs, wolves, foxes, goats, birds, whales, sharks, horses, crocodiles, dragons—and many more!

Create furries for every situation and scenario and learn how to develop compelling and complex characters for the stories you want to tell. Let your imagination run wild as your anthropomorphic creations come to life, spring into action, and leap off the page!

Cover image for Ultimate Guide to Drawing Manga Action Furries, isbn: 9781462923519

Sketching Women

$19.99

In Sketching Women, three professional studio artists (Kozo Ueda, PhD, Takahiro Okada, PhD and Minoru Hirota, PhD) join forces to show you how to sketch the female figure through 55 step-by-step drawing lessons.

Each instructor walks you through their philosophy for croquis sketching. Croquis sketches are quickly-rendered drawings that capture the essentials of a subject's form and pose with relatively few expressive lines.

There are four levels of sketching described in the book:

1-minute croquis: very rapid gesture drawings that capture only the artist's impressions of the form, and where the pencil stays in contact with the paper for practically the entire session
2-minute croquis: another quick sketch, but with more attention paid to the character and rhythm of the lines and how they help to express the essence of the form
5-minute croquis: a more finished drawing where added tonal variations suggest volume and anatomical details
10-minute croquis: more of a finished drawing than true croquis, the longer session allows the luxury of adding fine details such as the facial expression, the character of the hands and clothing texture

Learn to sketch the following:

Individual body parts (including faces) and their bone structure and muscles
Standing and sitting poses
Nudes and clothed figures
Light and dark tonal variations
Dynamic poses
Color drawings

You'll quickly hone your sketching skills with this life-drawing classroom-in-a-book. The expert advice and observations, dozens of poses to study, as well as easy-to-understand notes and tips make it easy to understand how the skeleton, muscles and posture all come together to express the uniquely female form.

Cover image for Sketching Women, isbn: 9781462922116

Sesshu's Long Scroll

$9.99

Sesshu's Long Sroll is the masterwork of the 15th-century Japanese artist, Susshuconsidered by many Japanese to be their greatest.

Famed not only as a painter but also as a Zen priest and a great traveler, Sesshu found inspiration for his wonderful landscapes both in China and Japan. This magnificent scroll, which pictures the procession of the seasons, is essentially religious painting with a strong atmosphere of Zen Buddhism. Nature, rather than man, is dominant, although the human touch is charmingly evident from time to time. One can take this fascinating Zen landscape journey again and again, and always find new delights.

Cover image for Sesshu's Long Scroll, isbn: 9781462904198

How to Create Manga: Drawing Action Scenes and Characters

$17.99

Learn the skills to set any scene or capture any mood. With this book, your manga drawings will spring to life and leap off the page!

Drawing Action Scenes and Characters is most suited to digital artists, but the tips and techniques in this book are applicable to illustrators of all schools and persuasions. No matter where you're at in your development as a manga master, this companion volume helps bring your skills to the next level. Follow along through the forty mini-lessons, created and guided by experts tapping into years of experience in the Japanese animation and entertainment industries.

Open new pathways to your visual storytelling possibilities as your characters find themselves in increasingly complex and compellingly rendered scenarios.

Tuttle's How to Create Manga series guides users through the process of reaching a professional-looking final drawing through actual sketch progressions, practical tips and caution on common missteps to avoid. Other books in the series include How to Create Manga: Drawing the Human Body, How to Create Manga: Drawing Facial Expressions and How to Create Manga: Drawing Clothing and Accessories.

Cover image for How to Create Manga: Drawing Action Scenes and Characters, isbn: 9781462921911

Anime & Manga Digital Coloring Guide

$19.99

A color science expert's must-have coloring guide for manga and anime artists!

Author Teruko Sakurai, Japan's leading colorist, applies her expert knowledge of color to drawing effective anime and manga. Starting with the basics, Sakurai shares her secrets on how to provide your characters and scenes with the right colors to accurately express their moods and actions. This all-in-one guide allows you to become a skilled colorist in just a few easy lessons.

Here are just some of the key topics presented in this all-in-one handbook:

How to select the right hair and eye colors to express the personality and mood of a character
The basics of color theory and how to match the color palette of a scene with the story being told
Color's role in conveying emotion— and the essential colors used to capture a particular mood
Hundreds of palette color combinations and swatches with CMYK and RGB percentages

This book shows you how to become a skilled digital colorist just by following a few simple guidelines—and how to refine your illustrations further using professional-level digital shading and coloration techniques. With hundreds of tips and sample palettes to refer to, Anime & Manga Digital Coloring Guide is a book every manga and anime artist will want to have!

Cover image for Anime & Manga Digital Coloring Guide, isbn: 9781462923960

Beginner's Guide to Sumi-e

$19.99

This practical guide is perfect for those looking to try this ancient art form for the first time!

In this book, Japanese master artist Shozo Koike reveals the simple secrets of Sumi-e, offering step-by-step instructions with clear photographs and online video tutorials showing you how to paint 19 traditional subjects.

Sumi-e is the meditative Japanese form of ink painting taught by Zen Buddhist monks to encourage mindfulness and an awareness of our surroundings. It uses only ink, water, a brush and paper to capture natural objects and landscapes in a vivid, spontaneous fashion.

Koike begins with the basics—what to buy and how to prepare the ink in a traditional inkstone. Next, he shows you how to practice the 11 basic brushstrokes used for all Sumi-e paintings.

The 19 traditional subjects taught in this book include:

Flowers like orchids, chrysanthemums, camellias, roses and peonies
Plants and fruits including bamboo, eggplants, grapes and chestnuts
Animal figures including small birds, butterflies, chicks, crabs and goldfish

Koike also explains the philosophy of Sumi-e, which emerges from the use of negative white space to enhance the painted forms. Readers will enter into a world not just of black and white, but of infinite shades of gray which are capable of evoking all the sensations of color using these techniques.

Cover image for Beginner's Guide to Sumi-e, isbn: 9781462922789

Manga Character Design

$19.99

Learn how to develop unique manga characters in just a few easy lessons!

This all-in-one guide by master manga illustrator Shun Akagi teaches you the basics of figure drawing and character creation—from hairstyles and clothing to facial expressions and body poses. You'll then be immersed in the elements needed to bring to your story to life: coloration, light and shadow, angles and perspective, composition and storytelling techniques.

Shun offers you all the tips and information you need in a series of detailed, hands-on lessons:

Tutorials in analogue and digital character design covering topics like anatomy and body structure; facial features and expressions; clothing and accessories; composition and narrative techniques
Detailed case studies covering the full range of challenges faced by manga artists — from combat scenes to furries — so you can master the processes and practices you need to know!
Dynamic examples focusing on fine details as well as big-picture, broad-stroke basics
Over 800 sample illustrations produced by a professional artist to guide you!

Manga Character Design offers you all the techniques used by the pros—whether you draw digitally or manually.

**Recommended for artists ages 12+

Cover image for Manga Character Design, isbn: 9781462925032

Pro Tips & Techniques for Drawing Animals

$19.99

Learn to draw lifelike versions of 63 different animals!

This richly illustrated guide teaches you about the skeletal structures, musculatures and movements of various animals and how to draw them realistically. Each lesson in the book focuses on a different animal and is designed to expand your repertoire and develop your drawing skills. The techniques needed to capture these animals are demonstrated in hundreds of illustrations by 26 professional artists.

This comprehensive reference work covers a wide range of different animals:

Mammals including dogs, lions, bears, elephants and 25 others
Amphibians & Reptiles including snakes, turtles, frogs and crocodiles
Aquatic Animals including dolphins, penguins, seals, squid and whales
Flying Animals including crows, owls, bats and sparrows
Insects & Arthropods including beetles, spiders, dragonflies, butterflies and ladybugs

Once you understand the internal structures and movements of each creature, you'll be able to confidently draw it in a more realistic way! This is a reference work that all artists will refer to again and again to explore the entire animal kingdom.

Cover image for Pro Tips & Techniques for Drawing Animals, isbn: 9781462923717

Create Kemonomimi Characters for Cosplay, Anime & Manga

$18.99

Learn to create amazing kemonomimi with realistic animal features and matching accessories!

Long, swishing tails and pointy animal ears or maybe antlers, horns, wings and feathers if you prefer—this is the ultimate furry handbook for manga and anime artists as well as cosplay enthusiasts. Choose your favorite animal then fuse its salient features with a fabulous human form and animal-specific clothing.

Shugao shows you how! She teaches you to combine authentic animal details with original fashions to create new and exciting characters. And she provides hundreds of amazing examples, including:

A hip-hop horse hybrid with a puffy coat, tousled mane and horseshoe sneakers
A goth dobermann girl draped in black satin with a punk hairdo and dog muzzle
A not-so-cowardly lion showing off his wild mane and tufted tail
A cool cowgirl with a lasso tail and ten-gallon hat that sits atop her horns
A long-legged lamb with an eared cap—his fuzzy fleece tied with a bell
And hundreds of other fabulous character ideas!

Whether you're inspired by furry characters or looking for a way to draw authentic kemonomimi, this is the book you have to get!

Cover image for Create Kemonomimi Characters for Cosplay, Anime & Manga, isbn: 9781462924509

Guide to Drawing Manga Fantasy Furries

$19.99

Part human, part animal — all fantastic!

Veteran illustrator Ryo Sumiyoshi stretches the boundaries of fantasy human-animal hybrids in his new book—presenting not just the usual jungle beasties but a fascinating array of strange and unusual creatures found nowhere else! Sumiyoshi's extensive sketchbook ideas, drawing tips and full-color examples combine insights on body structures and movement with conceptual sketches and notes linking physical attributes to personality and behavior.

The hundreds of drawings in this book show you how to create a rich menagerie of fantasy characters:

Anthropomorphic furries based on the classic dog, cat, fox and werewolf-type characters
Humans with animal features like a hunter with a bushy tail and the crafty face of a cat
Animals with human features, for example a six-legged tiger with a human face
Animal-to-animal hybrids including a snake-fox and a griffinesque chimera

These creatures boast mix-and-match fangs, beaks, paws, claws, fur, fins, feathers, scales and plates paired with expressive human attributes. And they come from every branch of the animal kingdom—from mammals to birds, reptiles, fish and insects—and everything in between.

This is the ultimate sourcebook for anyone interested in fantasy creature design!

Cover image for Guide to Drawing Manga Fantasy Furries, isbn: 9781462923823

Japanese Costume & Makers

$12.99

With dozens of photographs and expertly written text, this Japanese clothing book is the authoritative guide on the kimono.

Japanese Costume invites the reader to explore the world of Japan’s textile arts and costume decorationfrom its origins in legendary times, through its brilliant development in the intervening centuries, to its emergence into the modern era. The book which is the first in English to present the full sweep of Japanese achievement in the costume arts, is essential the story of the kimono and its evolution.

The text is accompanied by a generous selection of fine illustrations and photographs: 54 in full color, 119 in black and white, and 12 line drawings. They include not only pictures from contemporary sourcessuch as the picture scrolls and woodblock prints but also photographs of kimono masterpieces and representative textiles.

Cover image for Japanese Costume & Makers, isbn: 9781462908943

Manga Muscles

$17.99

A must-have guide to drawing muscular physiques—from professional manga illustrators!

Manga Muscles teaches you how to draw powerful male bodies in dynamic styles—from athletic to bodybuilder to fantasy superhero—in hundreds of different situations and from all possible angles. Plus, you'll learn to adjust the physical attributes of each character so they don't all look the same, and how to drape clothes on their bodies in a realistic way.

Every muscular male body type you'll want to draw is described in great detail:

Super-Fit Lean: "Spiderman" physiques for strong and agile characters
Athletic Muscular: Beefy "Special Forces" physiques with harnessed strength and balance
Bodybuilder Ripped: Competitive heavyweight "Mr. Universe" physiques with high-definition musculature
Fantasy Superhero: over-the-top "The Hulk" physiques that push the limits of anatomy

The authors—professional illustrators with deep anatomical knowledge—break down the skeletal and muscular systems to show how structure and posture work together to create bold, expressive figures. With over 500 detailed illustrations and tips on how to emphasize key muscle groups, vary character designs, and suggest different moods through physical form, this book offers both technical guidance and artistic inspiration.

This is an essential reference for artists drawing strong, dynamic characters in manga and beyond!

Cover image for Manga Muscles, isbn: 9781462925506

Arts of Thailand

$19.99

The Arts of Thailand examines the stunning visual history of Art in Thailand.

Blending a multiplicity of cultural influences with their own artistic genius, the Thai people have created some of the world's finest art. In this definitive introduction to Thai art, author Steve Van Beek takes a wide-ranging look at how these diverse forces were fused into a wealth of art forms which are uniquely Thai. As a means to a fuller understanding of Thai culture, he explores the symbolism of architecture, sculptures, and painting. The Arts of Thailand also covers contemporary art and the minor arts.

The text by Steve Van Beek, a 30 year resident of Asia with a special interest in art, is based on exhaustive research in museums, libraries, architectural sites and Thai temples, as well as interviews with collectors and art historians.

Cover image for Arts of Thailand, isbn: 9781462906765

Manga & Anime Digital Illustration Guide

$18.99

The complete guide to amazing digital illustration techniques!

Are you an animator, an illustrator, a designer? Or an artist working in multiple digital fields at once? If so, this is the book for you! Manga & Anime Digital Illustration Guide takes you inside the studios of 12 professional Japanese artists and animators. In this book, you will learn the techniques used by the pros to draw and design characters for a variety of commercial and creative platforms. Follow the step-by-step lessons to learn how to create amazing characters and illustrations, and forge your own pathway in the world of creative careers

Learn the pro techniques for a wide variety of modern applications, such as:

Smartphone apps, anime films and video games
Posters, covers, advertisements and special effects
Fan art and fantasy fiction illustrations
Illustrated books, manga and graphic novels

Pull up a chair for this collection of private tutorials and let the experts show you how they work. Learn the tips and techniques that lead to unforgettable illustrations!

Cover image for Manga & Anime Digital Illustration Guide, isbn: 9781462923847

Making of a Japanese Print

$8.99

This unique Japanese art book shows step-by-step how a Japanese woodblock prints are produced in layers.

Woodblock printing is at the same time a very simple and a very complicated art. It is simple by modern standards because no machinery, not even a press, is used. The finished print in this book and the pages which so graphically present its development in color are produced by photo-offset from original woodblocks.

Cover image for Making of a Japanese Print, isbn: 9781462904044

Learn to Draw Manga Women

$16.99

Learn to create detailed female characters to include in your own comic strip or graphic novel!

Professional manga and anime artist Kyachi offers aspiring artists an easy-to-follow approach to drawing manga women. For beginners, it can be intimidating to know where to start when drawing the human form. This book is meant to dispel those fears and wipe away any hesitation, so you can begin with a blank page or empty screen and start populating it with people. Soon your simple forms will take on greater detail and your characters will come to life before you!

Kyachi has distilled her specialized knowledge of the skeleton, muscles and physical structures, explaining and analyzing the most difficult aspects of figure drawing and presenting it to you in a clear and simple way.

With this all-in-one, how-to guide you'll:

Create compelling characters and eye-catching action poses
Learn about contrapposto (a specialized art term, meaning that most of the body's weight rests on either the left or right leg, achieving an angular or asymmetrical stance)
Master traditional freehand, as well as digital techniques
Follow along with the step-by-step progressions, before it's time to try it on your own
Consult the cartoon guide who pops up and chimes in when expert tips are needed most

A series of detailed lessons shows you how to draw the female form in every possible position. Individual chapters cover standing, sitting, reclining, walking, running and jumping. Essential details are then added—such as realistic creases to clothing and colorizing with brightness, contrast and saturation effects.

Lovers of action manga and those hoping to create original, complex female characters will find this book absolutely indispensable!

*Recommended for artists 16 & up*

Cover image for Learn to Draw Manga Women, isbn: 9781462922246

Complete Guide to Manga Composition

$18.99

A comprehensive guide that every manga illustrator needs to have—with scores of full-color examples from dozens of professional illustrators!

In this beautifully illustrated book and complete coursebook, award-winning illustrator Shinji Matsuoka presents 80 striking case studies from leading Japanese manga artists. He explains in detail how these artists use the time-honored principles of composition, framing, cropping, color use, perspective and character posing!

In hundreds of detailed notes and tips, Matsuoka also teaches you how to use color, shapes, framing, shadows and focal points to communicate your stories in a clear and engaging way.

The illustrated case studies in this book show you how to:

Ground your illustrations by using time-tested compositional principles as you position elements on the canvas
Make the main character stand out through the use of framing to direct the viewer's gaze
Create a sense of dynamism by using the lines formed by elements on the page to form a flowing path around the canvas
Depict scenes from unexpected angles like low angle, telephoto and bird's-eye views to make a dramatic impression
And much more!

Cover image for Complete Guide to Manga Composition, isbn: 9781462924875

How to Create Manga: Drawing Facial Expressions

$17.99

This book shows you how to accurately render human faces and emotions to create complex characters and add compelling immediacy to your work.

The ability to draw realistic and powerful facial expressions is essential for every manga artist. All artists will tell you that human faces are the most important and challenging element of any drawing. How to Create Manga: Drawing Facial Expressions is an essential resource for artists who want to bring their skills to the next level.

Thirteen professional Japanese artists have contributed their expertise to this book, which contains 1,250 drawings, with several detailed tips and comments on every drawing. It includes a comprehensive opening section on all the basic expressions budding manga artists need to master. Sections dedicated to detailed emotions and playing up the intensity and drama of more animated facial expressions follow.

Tuttle's How to Create Manga series guides users through the process of reaching a professional-looking final drawing through actual sketch progressions, practical tips and common missteps to avoid. Other books in the series include How to Create Manga: Drawing the Human Body, How to Create Manga: Drawing Clothing and Accessories and How to Create Manga: Drawing Action Scenes and Characters.

Cover image for How to Create Manga: Drawing Facial Expressions, isbn: 9781462921362

Japanese Design

$19.99

**Winner, Choice Magazine Outstanding Academic Title 2015**

This Japanese design book presents the arts, aesthetics and culture of Japan with over 160 stunning color photos and extensive historical and cultural commentary .

The Japanese sensibility often possesses an intuitive, emotional appeal, whether it's a silk kimono, a carefully raked garden path, an architectural marvel, a teapot, or a contemporary work of art. This allure has come to permeate the entire culture of Japan—it is manifest in the most mundane utensil and snack food packaging, as well as in Japanese architecture and fine art.

In Japanese Design, Asian art expert and author Patricia J. Graham explains how Japanese aesthetics based on fine craftsmanship and simplicity developed. Her unusual, full-color presentation reveals this design aesthetic in an absorbing way. Focusing on ten elements of Japanese design, Graham explores how visual qualities, the cultural parameters and the Japanese religious traditions of Buddhism and Shinto have impacted the appearance of its arts.

Japanese Design is a handbook for the millions of us who have felt the special allure of Japanese art, culture and crafts. Art and design fans and professionals have been clamoring for this—a book that fills the need for an intelligent, culture-rich overview of what Japanese design is and means.

Topics explored in Japanese Design include:

The Aesthetics of Japanese Design
The Cultural Parameters of Japanese Design
Early Promoters of "Artistic Japan" 1830s-1950s

Cover image for Japanese Design, isbn: 9781462916092

Japanese Ink Painting

$16.95

Japanese Ink Painting: Lessons in Suiboku Technique teaches beginners the fundamental techniques of suiboku, a form of Japanese ink painting.

Suiboku is considered to be a type of Japanese painting known as sumi-e. It adds water to emphasize the shading of black into gray in one brush-stroke. With origins in China and a spiritual basis in Zen Buddhism, this form of brush painting—expressing nature's colors through shades of black ink monochrome—has been enjoyed throughout the centuries in Japan as a hobby for the amateur.

This Japanese painting book offers step-by-step lessons with easy-to-understand explanations through nearly 60 illustrations. The numerous photographs at the end of the book, in addition to the works of great masters in the art of suiboku, include several paintings by the author's pupils to prove what the amateur can achieve through careful observance of instructions and patient practice. As the author points out, this book is designed for the beginner, and "even the amateur can learn by himself and enjoy suiboku as a hobby."

Cover image for Japanese Ink Painting, isbn: 9781462907229

Modern Japanese Painting Techniques

$18.99

This book makes it easy to create and admire wonderful Japanese-style paintings and portraits!

Modern Japanese-style paintings are recognizable by their restrained use of three-dimensionality and perspective, reliance upon expressive lines, and the bold use of color to direct the viewer's eye. There are other ways that artists imbue their work with Japanese- inspired attributes, including through the skillful use of shape, texture, and facial expression.

Author Shinichi Fukui introduces readers to 7 notable modern Japanese artists (Kazuo Kawakami, Chiaki Takasugi, Miho Tanaka, Ryohei Nishiyama, Jose Franky, Ryohei Murata, and Keiji Yano) who specialize in shin hanga-style portraiture of Japanese women. He then presents instructions to create 21 different original paintings—from sketching models, preparing and mixing paints, blocking in color, and rendering fine details.

Using these techniques, and a bit of acrylic paint, readers will be able to create eye-catching works of art that express a timeless Japanese aesthetic.

Cover image for Modern Japanese Painting Techniques, isbn: 9781462922918

Way of the Brush

$34.99

The Way of the Brush: Painting Techniques of China and Japan examines the technique, style, traditions, and methods of Chinese ink painting and how they were interpreted in Japanese art. Illustrated with over 250 images and packed with instructions, The Way of the Brush covers every aspect of brush painting, from brushstrokes, composition and the painting surface to meaning, perspective and artistic philosophy.

Part One is a study of the techniques of Chinese painting and explains the elements, techniques and principles which eventually carried over into Japanese painting.
Part Two is devoted to technical challenges and basic problems associated with the art, including the issue of fakes and forgeries of Chinese art in Japan.
Also included are three appendices and a full bibliography.

Cover image for Way of the Brush, isbn: 9781462902927

Shodo

$34.95

In this beautiful and extraordinary zen calligraphy book, Shozo Sato, an internationally recognized master of traditional Zen arts, teaches the art of Japanese calligraphy through the power and wisdom of Zen poetry.

Single-line Zen Buddhist koan aphorisms, or zengo, are one of the most common subjects for the traditional Japanese brush calligraphy known as shodo. Regarded as one of the key disciplines in fostering the focused, meditative state of mind so essential to Zen, shodo calligraphy is practiced regularly by all students of Zen Buddhism in Japan. After providing a brief history of Japanese calligraphy and its close relationship with the teachings of Zen Buddhism, Sato explains the basic supplies and fundamental brushstroke skills that you'll need. He goes on to present thirty zengo, each featuring:

An example by a skilled Zen monk or master calligrapher
An explanation of the individual characters and the Zen koan as a whole
Step-by-step instructions on how to paint the phrase in a number of styles (Kaisho, Gyosho, Sosho)

A stunning volume on the intersection of Japanese aesthetics and Zen Buddhist thought, Shodo: The Quiet Art of Japanese Zen Calligraphy guides beginning and advanced students alike to a deeper understanding of the unique brush painting art form of shodo calligraphy.

Shodo calligraphy topics include:

The Art of Kanji
The Four Treasures of Shodo
Ideogram Zengo
Students of Shodo

Cover image for Shodo, isbn: 9781462911882

Drawing Manga

$19.99

Bring your manga to life with awesome action, powerful poses, body basics: IT'S ALL HERE!

Learn the essentials of manga drawing from professional Japanese illustrators, and let them show you how to tell better stories with your manga art. Start with anatomy and body structure to create compelling characters in a few simple head-to-toe steps. Then it's time to build your world and tell your story. With this all-in-one guide, your characters, drawing, and storytelling abilities will quickly soar!

In this book you'll learn not only the basics, but the insider tips and secrets only the professionals know. You'll also learn to avoid common pitfalls and overcome obstacles that might otherwise lessen the impact of your work and prevent you from becoming a successful artist!

Here are just some of the features of this practical handbook:

A complete art course in one volume—from anatomy and body structure to facial features and expressions, clothing and accessories, action poses and narrative techniques
A guide to world-building and storytelling in the authentic Japanese manga style
Two professional Japanese illustrators share their expertise in figure drawing and composition as well as two- and three-dimensional design and perspective
Hundreds of dynamic examples and tips show you how to master the details that make a difference and the effects that can elevate your work to another level
Over 1,000 color illustrations help to guide you on your path to becoming a better artist!

Drawing Manga gives you the tips and tools you need to develop your skills and tell the stories you want to tell effectively— just like the pros!

*Recommended for artists 16 & up*

Cover image for Drawing Manga, isbn: 9781462923793

Landscape Painting of China and Japan

$19.99

The Landscape Painting of China and Japan presents for the first time in English a full and lucid account of the remarkable art form which, as a distinct tradition in Oriental art, has come to be universally recognized as one of the greatest in the world.

The author points out how essential it is to an understanding of the Orient when he says: "In China alone, landscape painting has religious as well as philosophical significance…and in consequence is one of the great manifestations of the human spirit, as well as the most remarkable creation of the Chinese artistic genius." And it was this same artistic tradition which, brought to Japan, was transmuted by the intense Japanese love of nature into paintings that "for sheer beauty of color and design have few equals," leading at last to the simplicity and grandeur of the uniquely Japanese woodblock print.

Writing for scholar and layman alike, the author carefully traces the evolution of the art throughout its long history, discusses the major artistic personalities against their cultural backgrounds, and systematically describes the development and forms of the landscape. The text is thoroughly illustrated with over a hundred carefully selected plates and a colored frontispiece.

Cover image for Landscape Painting of China and Japan, isbn: 9781462913121

Beginner's Guide to Colored Pencil Drawing

$19.99

Learn to create vividly realistic colored pencil drawings in just a few lessons!

A Beginner's Guide to Colored Pencil Drawing provides instructions for creating brilliantly realistic drawings featuring rich shadows, bright highlights, smooth gradients, and glowing colors. Learn at your own pace over the course of 14 easy-to-follow lessons!

This complete all-in-one guide starts with the basics—drawing lines, adding colors, drawing shapes and creating gradations. Then, it provides a series of detailed lessons teaching you how to draw colorful, everyday objects, such as:

Food items like burgers, breakfasts, cookies, pickles, tarts, melons, apples, asparagus and cocktails
Flowers & plants such as hydrangeas, succulents, roses and carnations
Household items like silverware, bottles, toys, handkerchiefs, gemstones and dolls
A variety of animals including parakeets, kittens and dogs

Each lesson includes blank sketch of the subject so you can focus on coloring techniques, and Faber-Castell color codes are provided so you can faithfully reproduce the example illustrations. Each lesson also includes a tear-out practice sheet with the full sketch so you can dive right in and try your hand at rendering these objects yourself! The practice template sheets are also available online to download and print at home.

This book has everything you need to master a dynamic art that is affordable and satisfying. Take the 14 lessons in 14 days, like a crash course in colored pencil mastery—or take your time. Colored pencils are a favorite medium of hobbyists and increasingly embraced by fine artists as well!

Cover image for Beginner's Guide to Colored Pencil Drawing, isbn: 9781462923625

Collecting Modern Japanese Prints

$19.99

Collecting Modern Japanese Prints is an authoritative guide to the contemporary Japanese art form of printmaking

Authors, Mary and Norman Tolman have been involved with modern Japanese prints on every level for the past thirty years. They number among their close friends a great many contemporary Japanese printmakers.

This Japanese print book contains several bodies of information. An introductory essay puts Japanese prints into historical perspective and gives a brief outline of techniques.

All of the prints are in full color, in as large a format as possible, so that the art lover can savor the details of each work.

Cover image for Collecting Modern Japanese Prints, isbn: 9781462903740

Asylum Earth

$8.99

Artist, Charles Bragg brings us a view of his own special reality—and sheds new light on what we know of our own.

In Asylum Earth, nothing is quite as it seems. Toulouse-Laurec shares a room with El Greco in "Art Heaven," while back among the living, an irate "Letter to the Editor" demands that someone go in and finish "all those impressionist paintings—why leave just an impression?"

Irrelevant and brilliantly funny, Bragg brings us a view of his own special reality—and sheds new light on what we know of our own. Witticisms, satire, and irony abound, and no profession or institution escapes Bragg's sharp eye. Often compared to Daumier, Nast, and Bosch, Bragg is a master of observation. Once our human frailties are scrutinized by his myopic gaze, we may never see ourselves in quite the same way again!

Illustrated throughout with Bragg's paintings and etchings.

Cover image for Asylum Earth, isbn: 9781462911318

Introduction to Japanese Kanji Calligraphy

$24.95

This step-by-step Japanese calligraphy book explains the systems of Japanese language and delves into details of written Japanese characters and techniques of kanji calligraphy.

The word calligraphy literally means "beautiful writing." It is an art form that can be found in most civilizations with a written script. Originally developed to stress the importance of culture, religion and philosophy, over time calligraphy in most languages has developed into a purely artistic expression.

In Japanese culture, kanji characters from the Japanese writing system are used in calligraphy. An Introduction to Japanese Kanji Calligraphy is an exploration of this Asian art form and examines how calligraphic poetry developed in Japan. Written by a Japanese shodo master, it is a wonderful introduction to the beautiful art of Japanese calligraphy.

Japanese Kanji Calligraphy includes:

An introduction to Japanese calligraphy
Background information on the modern Japanese language
Hiragana and katakana charts
An explanation of the tools of calligraphy
A guide to correct calligraphy techniques
Step-by-step calligraphy instructions
An extensive kanji character library

Cover image for Introduction to Japanese Kanji Calligraphy, isbn: 9781462905928

Through Japan with Brush & Ink

$5.99

This Japanese ink painting guide is presented by master painter, Chiura Obata, a well-known Japanese artist.

Obata has traveled throughout Japan, recording with charm and insight the beauty of the country. Using the traditional brush-and-ink technique, he skillfully presents the varied aspects of Japan: a mountain landscape enveloped in mist, an intimate Japanese garden, the hustle of the busy city of Tokyo, the fleeting cherry blossoms, an ancient temple compound, a festive group of holiday sightseers. The artist captures with his deft sketches the special quality of Japan that attracts the visitor and resident alike.

This is far more than a picture of Japan; it is rather a perceptive interpretation by one who knows and loves the country.

Cover image for Through Japan with Brush & Ink, isbn: 9781462912865

Forgotten Islands of Indonesia

$28.99

This beautiful book contains fascinating text and over 170 unique photographs of one of the most interesting but least well known cultures in the Indonesian Archipelago.

The traditional art of Maluku Tenggara, the Southeast Moluccas, is among the most sophisticated and expressive in the world. Simple tools were used to create masterpieces in wood, stone, textiles and precious metals, while the plaited work and earthenware of these islands are also of the very highest quality.

the colonial period plunged the region into hopeless isolation. During the harsh rule of the Dutch many traditional woks of art, especially ancestor statues, were destroyed. Later, collectors stripped the islands of their masterpieces and the culture of Maluka Tenggara was forgotten.

Forgotten Islands of Indonesia presents a unique survey of the finest examples of Southeast Moluccan art. This volume contains many photographs and descriptions which have never before been published. Set against the cultural background and supplemented by rare photographs taken in the field, the material culture of Maluku Tenggara, which is regarded as one of the most fascinating areas of Indonesia, is presented here comprehensively for the first time.

Cover image for Forgotten Islands of Indonesia, isbn: 9781462909469

How to Doodle Year-Round

$12.99

Create simple seasonal and holiday doodles using multicolored pens!

Want to draw a jack-o'-lantern with a toothy smile? How about a silly Santa out cruising in his sleigh? How to Doodle Year-Round helps you create these sweet and sensational designs—no previous artistic training required!

Kamo provides hundreds of examples, unlocking the simple secrets to drawing freewheeling, lively and amusing doodles. Unlike fine-art or manga, there are no rules and no art-school techniques to master. All you need is a free hand and a free spirit.

This book encourages doodlers to pick up a pen and start artfully scribbling whenever and wherever they are. Doodles can be dashed off on a piece of scrap paper or permanently enshrined on a T-shirt, bookmark, invitation or gift.

*Recommended for artists 16 & up*

Cover image for How to Doodle Year-Round, isbn: 9781462921928

Photorealistic Colored Pencil Drawing Techniques

$19.99

Learn how to create photorealistic colored pencil drawings that are convincing enough to fool the eye!

This book shows you how to make incredibly realistic colored pencil drawings in 10 easy step-by-step lessons. Follow along as author Cocomaru explains how to depict highlights, shadows and refractions, how to render photorealistic textures, and how to create a sense of depth in your drawings that makes them appear truly real!

Photorealistic Colored Pencil Drawing Techniques provides all the information needed to get you started—which materials to get, how to set up your workspace, how to prepare the underdrawings, and all of Cocomaru's trademark techniques on how to achieve maximum realism!

Learn to draw objects with sparkling realism, for example:

A sliced orange with juicy, mouthwatering sections
A glossy blue marble with a beautiful light refraction
A kinetically sloshing glass of red wine
An adorably fluffy cat and a sweet-looking corgi
And much more!

You'll begin with simple drawings and progress to more advanced ones as you learn all the amazing techniques for creating photorealistic colored pencil drawings!

Cover image for Photorealistic Colored Pencil Drawing Techniques, isbn: 9781462924349

Traditional Colors of Japan

$19.99

Expert colorist Teruko Sakurai takes you to the end of the rainbow--and beyond--in this inspiring color dictionary!

Over 2,750 traditional Japanese color combinations are presented, organized into 100 different themes associated with the seasons, landscapes and artistic heritage of Japan. Whether it's a shower of pink cherry blossoms, the flutter of a carp flap or the austere and cool tones of Mt. Fuji, flipping the pages of this color dictionary is like taking a stroll through the sensual delights of Japanese culture in all its dazzling tones, hues and palettes.

Each two-page section in this richly-illustrated book presents a different theme with the following information:

An introduction to the color scheme and a description of how it can be used
A number-coded nine-color palette board showing the range of shades and hues that complement and comprise the scheme
CMYK, RGB and HEX (the color code used in Japan) references for all nine colors
26 examples including two- and three-color combinations with photos and illustrations

This is an indispensable guide for graphic designers, illustrators, decorators, artists and publishing professionals. It will also be enjoyable and inspiring for readers planning their own home design or art projects.

Cover image for Traditional Colors of Japan, isbn: 9781462922673

Beginner's Guide to Chinese Brush Painting

$12.99

A Beginner's Guide to Chinese Brush Painting teaches this ancient art form in an easy-to-understand way—no prior experience necessary!

As one of the oldest continuous artistic traditions in the world, Chinese brush painting has been used for thousands of years to create images that harness the imagination, and capture the inner spirit of a subject—be it an animal, landscape or tree. All you need for this simple, but beautiful, art form is black watercolor paint, white paper, a brush and some creativity!

An introduction tells you about the history of brush painting, and also gives tips for holding your brush, achieving different shades and collecting your materials. After that, the book takes you step-by-step through more than 35 hands-on activities—including basic strokes, putting them together to create an object or scene, the importance of leaving open space and even writing some Chinese calligraphy.

With the help of this book, artists of all ages can learn to paint:

Bamboo stalks, branches and leaf clusters
A knotted pine tree and its delicate needles
A snail with a spiral shell and little body peeking out from underneath
A waterfall gliding down the side of a mountain
And much more!

You'll find that this activity will help you learn to center your mind and thoughts, and your masterpieces will be inspiring decorations or great gifts for friends and family. Get started learning this "soft martial art!"

Cover image for Beginner's Guide to Chinese Brush Painting, isbn: 9781462921744

Chinese Art

$34.95

With over 630 striking color photos and illustrations, this Chinese art guide focuses on the rich tapestry of symbolism which makes up the basis of traditional Chinese art.

Chinese Art: A Guide to Motifs and Visual Imagery includes detailed commentary and historical background information for the images that continuously reappear in the arts of China, including specific plants and animals, religious beings, mortals and inanimate objects. The book thoroughly illuminates the origins, common usages and diverse applications of popular Chinese symbols in a tone that is both engaging and authoritative.

Chinese Art: A Guide to Motifs and Visual Imagery is an essential reference for collectors, museum-goers, guides, students and anyone else with a serious interest in the culture and history of China.

Cover image for Chinese Art, isbn: 9781462906895

Beginner's Guide to Drawing Manga Chibi Girls

$15.99

Expressive eyes, oversized heads and doll-like cuteness—chibi are beloved in the world of manga!

Beginner's Guide to Drawing Manga Chibi Girls shows artists of all ages and abilities how to create their own kawaii characters in six, easy-to-follow lessons. Step-by-step instructions walk you through the basics every aspiring artist needs to learn, like body proportions and facial expressions. Once you've mastered those, learn how to add different hats, hairstyles and costumes to your chibi girls or pose them in fun positions—from jumping for joy to hugging a friend.

This all-in-one guide includes everything you need to start drawing these adorably exaggerated manga characters:

Photo-illustrated tutorials let you look over the authors' shoulders as they create original chibi characters from scratch, right before your eyes!
Before-and-after comparisons help you pinpoint mistakes and avoid common pitfalls
Step-by-step progressions that help you master a range of head-to-body ratios and create charming figures that pop off the page

Professional manga artists and chibi experts Mosoko Miyatsuki and Tsubura Kadomaru guide you through the drawing process and essential steps as your characters take shape. Follow along as they offer a trove of tips and examples, which help you to track and assess your progress. Before you know it, you'll be creating super cute chibi girls all on your own!

Cover image for Beginner's Guide to Drawing Manga Chibi Girls, isbn: 9781462922307

Japanese Tattoos

$17.95

Thinking of getting a Japanese-style tattoo? Want to avoid a permanent mistake? Japanese Tattoos is an insider's look at the world of Japanese irezumi (tattoos).

Japanese Tattoos explains the imagery featured in Japanese tattoos so that readers can avoid getting ink they don't understand or, worse, that they'll regret. This photo-heavy book will also trace the history of Japanese tattooing, putting the iconography and kanji symbols in their proper context so readers will be better informed as to what they mean and have a deeper understanding of irezumi. Tattoos featured will range from traditional tebori (hand-poked) and kanji tattoos to anime-inspired and modern works—as well as everything in between. For the first time, Japanese tattooing will be put together in a visually attractive, informative, and authoritative way.

Along with the 350+ photos of tattoos, Japanese Tattoos will also feature interviews with Japanese tattoo artists on a variety of topics. What's more, there will be interviews with clients, who are typically overlooked in similar books, allowing them to discuss what their Japanese tattoos mean to them. Those who read this informative tattoo guide will be more knowledgeable about Japanese tattoos should they want to get inked or if they are simply interested in Japanese art and culture.

Cover image for Japanese Tattoos, isbn: 9781462918591

Art and Technique of Sumi-e Japanese Ink Painting

$15.99

Explore the ancient technique of Japanese ink painting.

The art of sumi-e, which means "ink picture," combines calligraphy and ink-painting to produce brush painting compositions of rare beauty. This beauty is paradoxical—ancient but modern, simple but sophisticated, bold but subdued—no doubt reflecting the art's spiritual basis in Zen Buddhism. At the same time, sumi-e painting is firmly rooted in the natural world, its various techniques serving as the painter's language for describing the wonders of nature.

Buddhist priests brought the ink stick and the bamboo-handled brush to Japan from China in the sixth century, and over the past fourteen centuries, Japan has developed a rich heritage of ink-painting. Today the artistry of sumi-e can be admired in books, reproductions, and museums, but the techniques of the art have been much less accessible. As a result, little information has been available to the inquisitive Western artist attracted to Japanese sumi-e. This book, designed to help remedy that deficiency, is the product of the author's study with her teacher, Ukai Uchiyama, master calligraphist and artist. It contains extensive explanations of technique as well as detailed painting instructions and diagrams.

Cover image for Art and Technique of Sumi-e Japanese Ink Painting, isbn: 9781462908561

Sketch Your World

$14.99

An inspiring, interactive guide for drawing people, places, food, and things you come across in your travels.

This book offers aspiring urban sketchers a series of 40 step-by-step lessons showing you how to draw everything from the meal you ordered at a cafe to a map of highlights from your latest road trip. You'll get all the tips and advice you need for drawing what you see during your day and while out and about.

Learn to sketch interesting subjects from everyday life and travel, such as:

Fruits, vegetables, meals, and desserts
Bottles, boxes, baskets, and bags
Cups, glasses, appliances, and utensils
Clothing and furniture
Signs and storefronts
Maps and floor plans
People, locations, landmarks, and more!

This beginner's guide is the perfect companion to toss into your backpack, artist's tote, or portfolio along with your sketch journal and pens!

Cover image for Sketch Your World, isbn: 9781462922895

Ukiyo-e

$34.95

The art of Japanese woodblock printing, known as ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world"), reflects the rich history and way of life in Japan hundreds of years ago. Ukiyo-e: The Art of the Japanese Print takes a thematic approach to this iconic Japanese art form, considering prints by subject matter: geisha and courtesans, kabuki actors, sumo wrestlers, erotica, nature, historical subjects and even images of foreigners in Japan.

An artist himself, author Frederick Harris—a well-known American collector who lived in Japan for 50 years—pays special attention to the methods and materials employed in Japanese printmaking. The book traces the evolution of ukiyo-e from its origins in metropolitan Edo (Tokyo) art culture as black and white illustrations, to delicate two-color prints and multicolored designs. Advice to admirers on how to collect, care for, view and buy Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints rounds out this book of charming, carefully selected prints.

Cover image for Ukiyo-e, isbn: 9781462906147

Balinese Art

$49.95

Balinese Art is the first comprehensive survey of Balinese painting from its origins in the traditional Balinese village to its present position at the forefront of the high-priced Asian art scene.

Balinese art has been popular and widely collected around the world for many decades. In fact, the contemporary painter who commands the highest prices in Southeast Asia's hot art market is Bali-born Nyoman Masriadi (1973-). This book demonstrates that his work draws on a long and deeply-rooted tradition of the Bali art scene.

Balinese painting has deep local roots and has followed its own distinctive trajectory, yet has been heavily influenced by outsiders. Indian artistic and religious traditions were introduced to Bali over a thousand years ago through the prism of ancient Javanese culture. Beyond the world of Indonesian art, Balinese artists and craftsmen have also interacted with other Asian artists, particularly those of China, and later Western artists. From these sources, an aesthetic tradition developed that depicts stories from the ancient Indian epics as well as themes from Javanese mythology and the religious and communal life of the Balinese themselves.

Starting with a discussion of the island's aesthetic traditions and how Balinese art should be viewed and understood, this book goes on to present pre-colonial painting traditions, some of which are still practiced in the village of Kamasan—the home of "classical" Balinese art. However, the main focus is the development of new styles starting in the 1930s and how these gradually evolved in response to the tourist industry that has come to dominate the island. Balinese Art acquaints readers with the masterpieces and master artists of Bali, and the final chapter presents the most important artists who are active today and serves as an introduction to their work.

Cover image for Balinese Art, isbn: 9781462909988

Collecting Japanese Antiques

$34.95

Collecting Japanese Antiques is an excellent overview of the uniquely Japanese aesthetic and how it relates to Japanese culture.

From the time Japan started trading with the West in the sixteenth century, Japanese arts and crafts have intrigued and delighted Westerners, especially lacquer, screens, swords and porcelain.

Antique hunters will benefit from the practical and cautionary advice in this book; newcomers will appreciate information on the basics of collecting Japanese antiques; while other sections might reawaken interest in experienced collectors. Striking photographs throughout make this art and antiques book a must for collectors and lovers of Japanese art.

Chapters include:

Japan's Art Heritage
Collecting for Fun and with Wisdom
Screens and Scrolls
Ukiyo-e and Other Prints
Sagemono
Ceramics
Furniture
Textiles
Lacquerware
Cloisonne
Sculpture and Metalwork
Swords and Armor
Tea Ceremony Utensils
Dolls
Flower Baskets

Cover image for Collecting Japanese Antiques, isbn: 9781462905881

Beginner's Guide to Sketching Buildings & Landscapes

$19.99

The key to creating a powerful drawing is to start with the right concept!

In this book, sketching and painting expert Masao Yamada provides dozens of examples showing you how to establish accurate perspective guidelines and proportions for your initial pencil sketches, setting your drawings up to succeed right from the start. If a sketch's perspective and proportions are correct, your finished work will look crisp and beautiful. If not, you'll have a frustrating time trying to correct the problems at a later stage—and the finished work will never look quite right. A Beginner's Guide to Sketching Buildings & Landscapes is here to help you avoid those frustrations and set up your composition for a finished piece that will make you proud.

The detailed step-by-step lessons in this indispensable guide teach you how to:

Establish a composition's point of view correctly
Locate the horizon line, dividing land and sky
Break down complicated scenes into simple component shapes
Create the right relationship between foreground and background
Express 3D imagery using 2-point and 3-point perspective

Experience the satisfaction of creating well-formed and well-balanced landscape and architectural illustrations of churches, castles, houses, mountains, bridges, waterways, gardens, and much more!

Cover image for Beginner's Guide to Sketching Buildings & Landscapes, isbn: 9781462924028

Complete Guide to Chinese Brush Painting

$19.99

Paint the classic subjects that inspired ancient Chinese masters.

This book introduces the venerable art of painting with ink on rice paper using traditional techniques developed over a thousand years ago. It is ideal for a beginner hoping to practice a large variety of techniques and subjects.

With this practical guide, you will learn to paint:

Towering landscapes
The elegant Four Gentlemen
Plants like bamboo, orchids, plum blossoms, and chrysanthemums
Five animals from the Chinese Zodiac
The basic strokes used in calligraphy
And more!

Known as a "soft martial art," brush painting is as meditative as it is artistic. As you move through the lessons and exercises, you'll gain insight into and appreciation for the symbolism, historical context, techniques, and mindfulness associated with this ancient art form.

Cover image for Complete Guide to Chinese Brush Painting, isbn: 9781462922826

Arts of India

$8.99

This revised and enlarged edition of The Arts of India has over 150 impressive gravure and full-color illustrations. These include various important objects and monuments not usually seen in general surveys to supplement the many essential art milestones that this book features. It is also unique in beginning its visual survey with relics of India's stone age and in concluding the book with works from the nation's great folk tradition and selected paintings by modern artists.

Here is a book with captions and a text that are highly readable blends of scholarly information and informal comment by an Indian art expert. This grants the reader special insights into the concepts that lie behind art so different from that of the West.

Author Mookerjee has judiciously selected photographs which present the vast panorama of Indian art from its earliest beginnings. Examples of Indian folk arts and some works by 20th-century Indian artists round out this rich historic survey of over 5,000 years of continuous creativitya collection of paintings, reliefs, statues, and architectural monuments from this sprawling sub-continent now divided into the lands of India, Pakistan, Ceylon, Burma and Afghanistan.

Cover image for Arts of India, isbn: 9781462912636

How to Draw Bold Manga Characters

$16.99

Elevate your manga drawings to the next level with help from a Japanese professional!

Manga drawing expert and author Ebimo is an action film junkie who taught herself to draw by studying martial arts films. In this book, she brings those techniques, tips, and tricks to you! Learn how to draw every detail of exciting action characters—from the muscles used in fight scenes to the 3-D arc of a flying frontal kick.

What sets Ebimo apart is her fusion of the basics of figure drawing and proper posing with cutting-edge digital-age illustration and coloration techniques. Artists working on paper or a screen will learn to bring greater depth and complexity to their characters with these expert tutorials.

This all-in-one guide is unlike any other, offering:

Dual-format step-by-step tutorials for those who draw on paper, on screen, or both
Up-close "studio visits" where you can follow along as characters are drawn
An essential reference guide to all the key poses in action scenes and sequences
Dynamic full-color examples with single, dual and multiple characters
Over 1,350 sample illustrations to study and learn from!

How to Draw Bold Manga Characters presents the best of both worlds—hand-drawn detail with digital dynamics—in one essential volume.

*Recommended for artists 14 and up*

Cover image for How to Draw Bold Manga Characters, isbn: 9781462922901

Beginner's Guide to Watercolor Painting

$19.99

An easy introduction to the enjoyable art of watercolor sketching!

A Beginner's Guide to Watercolor Painting is the perfect book for anyone who wants to experience the spontaneity of watercolor sketching with a water brush pen—a rewarding hobby that enables you to paint anytime, anywhere with very simple materials. The beginner-friendly lessons in this book contain all the information you need—detailed tips and instructions along with step-by-step photos to walk you through the process of painting everything from still life to portraits and landscapes.

The 15 lessons in the book show you how to paint the following popular subjects:

Lifelike fruits and vegetables such as zesty lemons, sweet cherry tomatoes and crisp sugar snap peas
Beautiful flowers like brilliant yellow sunflowers, pastel pink roses and stunning floral bouquets
Adorable pets like friendly calico cats and fluffy Shibu Inu dogs
Tasty treats including indulgent strawberry shortcakes, coffees and teas
Charming buildings and landscapes such as quaint canal-side buildings and exotic tiered pagodas
And much more!

Each lesson opens with a reference photo and suggested color palette, followed by the step-by-step process of creating an underdrawing and applying brilliant watercolor paints. This handy book is the perfect companion for vacations and weekends. Toss it into your bag with your paper, paints and brushes—and go out and capture interesting subjects in the world around you!

Cover image for Beginner's Guide to Watercolor Painting, isbn: 9781462924035

Ultimate Guide to Manga Fashion

$18.99

The ultimate fashion bible for manga and anime artists!

Create realistic-looking outfits and one-of-a-kind looks for your manga and anime characters, or design amazing creations for any cosplay event. Author Rabimaru is Japan's leading fashion illustrator and she teaches you how to develop your own unique manga fashion vocabulary!

In this comprehensive fashion sourcebook, you'll learn to create an array of stunning outfits including stylish separates and original ensembles. Rabimaru then shows you how to add realistic details, folds, creases, contours and shadows that will make your characters truly come alive!

From casual classics to high fashion, The Ultimate Guide to Manga Fashion does it all—in style!

Streetwear and basics from T-shirts and hoodies to the frilliest of skirts
Business and formalwear for polished professionals and fashionistas
School uniforms and sailor suits for casual cosplay inspiration
Sneakers, shoes and accessories to complete each look

Whether you're looking to develop your own signature style or to design an eye-catching costume for a cosplay event, this is the one guide you'll definitely want to have!

Cover image for Ultimate Guide to Manga Fashion, isbn: 9781462924783

Arts of China

$19.99

The arts of China explores the world's oldest continuous artistic tradition as well as one of its most brilliant.

In this stimulating art history, noted Oriental art authority Dr. Hugo Munsterberg traces the history of Chinese art dynasty by dynasty, elucidating the origins and development of major movements in Chinese painting, ceramics, bronzes, sculpture, and architecture.

He clearly describes and defines the important trends and influences that culminated in the brilliant sculpture of the Tang Dynasty, the enchanting landscape paintings of the Song Dynasty, and the exquisite ceramics of the Ming Dynasty. Outstanding examples of each genre are presented in over one hundred superb color and black-and-white photographs.

Cover image for Arts of China, isbn: 9781462902958

Fantasy Costumes for Manga, Anime & Cosplay

$18.99

Create one-of-a-kind outfits with this essential guide to Japanese-style fantasy fashion!

Using the authors' unique Costume Matrix, you will learn how to develop new and daring designs for your anime and manga characters and cosplay creations. First, choose a look to serve as your fashion foundation. Then select an alternate style and fuse it with the first fashion theme to create an unexpected ensemble combining elements have never before been seen together!

Mixing and matching basic themes and styles in this way results in one-of-a-kind mashups and hybrids, for example:

School Uniforms & Military Apparel
Casual Basics & Gothic Formal Wear
Japanese Fashion & Folk Costumes
Plant Motifs & Animal Motifs
Nature Motifs & Mechanical Objects
Seasonal Motifs & all of the above!
Using the Costume Matrix, the fashion mashup possibilities are endless!

Here are just some of the unique combos made possible by applying the Costume Matrix technique:

A Folk Costume crossed with a snake motif that results in a Scheherazade vixen with veils transforming into slinky scarf-like vipers!
A Gothic Lolita paired with a Rabbit for a fun and furry character with fuzzy paws for boots and a crazy carrot-top hairdo!
A Sailor Girl School Uniform combined with a Female Ninja fighting outfit—with a throwing star as the perfect accessory!
A mashup of Casual Basics and Plant Motifs creates a head-turning Sunflower Girl complete with a green-leaf collar and flared-petal skirt

Fantasy Costumes for Manga, Anime & Cosplay presents over 55 fantasy fashion mashup examples and provides you with the key to designing your own totally original characters and styles!

Cover image for Fantasy Costumes for Manga, Anime & Cosplay, isbn: 9781462924110

Learn to Draw Exciting Anime & Manga Characters

$19.99

This complete guide provides lessons and insights from 100 professional artists!

Imagine an art class taught by 100 professional Japanese manga and anime illustrators. In much the same way, this essential guide gathers the collective knowledge, tips and techniques from over 100 anime and manga artists. The lessons cover everything from the basics of figure drawing and posing to advanced cutting-edge digital illustration and coloration techniques.

The 200 step-by-step lessons include:

Anatomy and body structure
Facial features and expressions
Drawing Clothing and accessories
Digital painting and coloration techniques
Composition and narrative structure
And much more!

Learn to Draw Exciting Anime & Manga Characters features full-color examples that focus on the ?ne details as well as the big-picture, broad-stroke basics. With over 600 sample illustrations to guide the reader, this book offers tips and techniques for traditional hand-drawing and digital design alike. This is the anime and manga drawing guide that all aspiring artists need!

Cover image for Learn to Draw Exciting Anime & Manga Characters, isbn: 9781462923397

Chinese Jade Throughout Ages

$19.99

This classic guide to Chinese jade is of great interest to art collectors and casual readers alike.

First published in 1936 and since then a collector's item of increasing rarity, Chinese Jade Throughout the Ages comprises a review of the characteristics, decorations, folklore, and symbolism of this esteemed mineral that has always held a proud place among gems of the world. The book presents a full descriptive account of the significance and meaning of the carvings produced in this prize stone by Chinese craftsmen from the earliest times, through the Chou and succeeding dynasties, down to the twentieth century.

The text is illustrated with a magnificent series of more than 350 reproductions in color, black and white, and line drawings of choice pieces selected from the chief Asian, European, and American collections. In addition the Chinese art history book explains no only the wealth of symbolic designs used in the decoration of jade but also a large number of the marks and devices by which collectors identify the origin and the date of valued pieces.

Cover image for Chinese Jade Throughout Ages, isbn: 9781462909667

Hiroshige's One Hundred Famous Views of Edo

$39.99

A landmark book presenting the early "deluxe" versions of Hiroshige's Edo prints for the first time!

Utagawa Hiroshige's unique landscape series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (modern-day Tokyo), first published in the 1850s, is among the best-known collections of Japanese prints and was revolutionary in its day. Individual prints from this collection are regarded as among the finest works in all of Japanese art.

In this series, Hiroshige captures 118 locations in and around Edo, today's Tokyo, during all four seasons and often from hitherto unknown and unique perspectives. These views were first printed in exquisite luxury versions, incorporating innovative woodblock printing features like color gradation. No complete set of the early versions exists today and this is the first book to present a complete set of the deluxe early printings, sourced from 32 different museums and private collections.

Author Andreas Marks consulted 4,700 prints in order to compile this definitive guide to Hiroshige's One Hundred Famous Views of Edo. Marks presents the various printed versions along with reference images showing how and where Hiroshige sourced his ideas for each view—from previous books and illustrations. The result is a definitive guide to understanding the complexity of Hiroshige's great work as well as the dynamics of the Japanese print market during this period.

Marks' introduction discusses the genesis of the series in the context of Japanese landscape art as well as Hiroshige's personal biography. The book then presents all 118 prints together with their source materials and a map showing the locations of each view, followed by a detailed appendix discussing the great color variations found in subsequent printings of the series.

Cover image for Hiroshige's One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, isbn: 9781462924448

Japanese Prints Michener

$24.99

Featuring hundreds of illustrations, Japanese Prints: From Early Masters to the Modern is a comprehensive history and survey of Japan’s most famous visual art form.

The author, Mr. Michener has illustrated the book with lesser-known masterpieces rather than with those few prints that have been reproduced almost ad nauseam. Unlike earlier books, this does not stop with the past century, but brings the subject completely up to date, introducing, in the modern Japanese print, some of the most exciting art being created in Japanand in the worldtoday.

Japanese Prints also becomes a revealing account of the collecting of Japanese prints, with many valuable hints to collectors based upon the author's own experiences in gathering together one of the best print collections of recent years: it is a collecting field in which many hints are needed, with prices varying from $5 to $5,000 per print, and with forgeries and doubtful attributions on every hand.

Cover image for Japanese Prints Michener, isbn: 9781462903900

Colors in Japanese Art

$29.99

How color is used in the most famous works of Japanese art—from the 16th century to the present.

From the vibrant reds of traditional kimonos to the serene blues of tarashikomi riverscapes and woodblock prints, Colors in Japanese Art invites you to explore the rich tapestry of Japanese visual culture through the lens of color.

Whether you are a collector of Japanese art, a student of art history, or simply captivated by the rich shades, tones and hues that Japanese art presents, this book is your key to understanding this extraordinary artistic tradition.

This book presents over 120 great works of fine and decorative art and discusses the color schemes used in each work, including:

The vibrant red, gold, multi-hued kimonos from the 18th and 19th century Edo period
The gold, green and deep-blue season-themed screens of Tohaku and Sesshu
The elegant pinks and blues in the landscape prints of Hiroshige and Hokusai
The blues, reds and yellows in the Ko-Kutani and Imari porcelains of the Edo and Meiji periods
Earthy golds in fine lacquerwares dating as far back as the Heian period
And so many more colors in over 120 magnificent examples!

A detailed analysis of each work shows how these color schemes evolved; how their popularity waxed and waned over time; the social and spiritual significance of certain color combinations; and the pigments and dyes used to create them.

Color swatches accompany the featured artworks to show readers how colors were used in subtle combinations, including many hues, tones and tints unique to the Japanese arts. A color chart at the end of the book summarizes the beautiful colors that are most characteristic of this tradition.

Cover image for Colors in Japanese Art, isbn: 9781462924851

Hokusai's Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji

$39.99

The full set of 46 glorious prints of Mt Fuji by Japan's most famous artist!

This beautiful Japanese-bound volume presents the complete set of prints Thirty-six Views of Fuji, one of the most famous series created by Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), including ten prints he added to the series at a later date. Mt Fuji is magnificently represented by the master thanks to his highly personal conception that combines the sacred dimensions of the mountain with earthly views representing many different human activities. Each print is accompanied by a technical explanation that helps the reader to understand the image, with descriptions where possible of the actual places depicted.

Cover image for Hokusai's Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, isbn: 9781462925247

Modern Japanese Prints - Statler

$19.99

Featuring over 100 unique prints, Modern Japanese Prints is a testament to the continuity of Japanese art and creativity.

By far the most vitally creative group of artists working in Japan today, modern print-makers are truly international in appeal. Although they owe much of their heritage to the famous ukiyoe techniques of the past, they depart from their forebears in at least two important respects. In the first place, whereas in the ancient ukiyoe tradition a print was the joint production of three men the artist-designer, the artisan who carved the blocks, and the printerthese modern artists perform all these functions themselves, thus satisfying their demands for individual artistic expression at every step of the creative process. Another distinguishing feature of this artistic school is that its inspiration is derived neither solely from its own Japanese past nor solely from the West.

This book carefully traces the history of the modern print movement through detailed discussions of the life and work of twenty-nine of its most noteworthy and representative artists. It describes vicissitudes which the movement has undergone and the high artistic ideals which have motivated its members in spite of public apathy and the hostility of the traditionalists.

Cover image for Modern Japanese Prints - Statler, isbn: 9781462909551

Digital Manga Composition & Perspective

$18.99

Learn to apply basic principles of composition and perspective to make your artwork more powerful!

In this unique book, author and illustrator Rui Tomono provides detailed case studies showing you how to create more compelling illustrations using the time-honored principles of composition and perspective. Follow Rui's examples, notes and tips as you learn to create dynamic compositions that will thrill readers and keep them turning the page.

When you use the right perspective, framing and focal points, you lead the viewer's eye and communicate your stories in a clear and engaging way. Rui also explains how to add color to your B&W sketches to create spectacular finished artworks.

The in-depth case studies in this book show you how to:

Establish the point of view of an illustration correctly
Position elements in a balanced way using the rule of thirds, the golden ratio, and more
Express a sense of dynamic flow for moving subjects
Create clearly defined foregrounds and backgrounds
And much more!

Cover image for Digital Manga Composition & Perspective, isbn: 9781462924516

Japan's Manga Revolution

$29.99

Journey through Japan's illustrated history and discover the roots of manga before it took the world by storm.

In this compelling survey, art historian Andreas Marks traces the development of Japanese illustrated books in premodern times. As early as the 17th century, Japanese publishers were producing thousands of illustrated titles on subjects ranging from religion and poetry to celebrated beauties, famous kabuki actors, farting warriors, and adventure tales. This flourishing book culture laid the foundation for the vibrant manga and comics industry of today.

Marks explores this evolution through five key works, including:

Kitagawa Utamaro's Illustrated Book of Selected Creatures (1788) — a beautifully illustrated collection of plants and animals paired with poetry.
Hokusai's Sketchbooks (early 1800s) — featuring hundreds of innovative drawing and design ideas by Katsushika Hokusai, whose work influenced many renowned European artists.
The New Illustrated Water Margin — Hokusai's adaptation of a Chinese novel about a band of fictional heroes with superpowers, offering a bold reimagining of the story.
The Tale of Shiranui (1849 - 1910) — an adventure novel serialized over six decades.
The early-20th-century Current Affairs Manga — the first periodical to use the word "manga" in its title, providing illustrated commentary on contemporary political events.

Japan's Manga Revolution offers the first comprehensive overview of Japan's rich tradition of illustrated storytelling and its lasting impact on visual culture worldwide.

Cover image for Japan's Manga Revolution, isbn: 9781462925490

Golden Age of Chinese Art

$29.99

For almost three hundred years the noble T'ang Dynasty fostered a period of artistic and intellectual endeavor which has never been equaled in the history of China. Sculpture, ceramics, glass, and textiles were some of the major artifacts that emerged from this glorious renaissance of Chinese taste and skill.

This book is the story of the T'ang told through objects in the author's collection, one of the most representative in private hands. It includes a marvelous array of gold and silver mirrors, jade, jewelry and gilt bronzes.

The 124 illustrations, 24 in full color are accompanied by a history of the T'ang era, and a chapter on each of the categories in the collection gives a comprehensive background to the illustrations.

The knowledgeable comments of a well-known collector are authoritative, and will be invaluable to other collectors, was well as to all connosseurs of Chinese art.

Cover image for Golden Age of Chinese Art, isbn: 9781462903788

Japanese Woodblock Prints in Miniature: The Genre of Surimon

$8.99

With dozens of classic miniature Japanese woodblock prints and informative text, this Japanese art book is an essential for print collectors.

Of the many genres of ukio-e, perhaps the least known is that of the diminutive surimono produced by Utamaro, Kiyonaga, Hokusai, Hiroshige, and others. They were the small, relatively little-known woodblock prints of the Tokugawa era, produced in smaller numbers and better quality than the ukiyo-e prints as we know them today.

This beautifully illustrated book, a collector's item, is based on the author's private collection of more than sixty years. It is a unique introduction to the background and aesthetic appreciation of the rare and elegant art form. Included in the pages are notes on technique, terminology, surimono collecting and commissioning, as well as biographies of known surimono artists, and a detailed list of surimono catalogs and exhibitions. The text is supplemented by 33 color plates, Index Glossary, and Annotated Bibliography.

Cover image for Japanese Woodblock Prints in Miniature: The Genre of Surimon, isbn: 9781462912551

Modern Japanese Print - Michener

$19.99

This is an ebook version of a very rare Japanese woodblock print collection. Originally published in 1962 in a limited edition of 475 copies, The Modern Japanese Print soon became a collector's item.

Included in the folio-sized volume were ten original woodblock prints by contemporary Japanese artists. The idea for this unique presentation had originated with author, James Michener who hoped to assist this little known group of dedicated men achieve wider recognition. The original works of art in The Modern Japanese Print were selected in a contest judged by art experts in the United States and Japan who sought to find the best examples representing " the richness and power of the modern Japanese print movement ."

The ten original woodblock prints are reproduced in full color; Mr. Michener's text is retained completely. Aside from the artists whose works are shown, the author discusses many others who are contributing to the continuing development of this art form. James Michener's perceptive, informative introduction to modern Japanese printmaking, with commentary on each of the works, including full technical details, is written with critical acumen and notable prose.

Cover image for Modern Japanese Print - Michener, isbn: 9781462904051

Japanese Screens in Miniature

$8.99

Japanese Screens in Miniature is a collection of six of Japan's masterpieces reproduced as actual miniature screens, with an introduction to this most colorful, exuberant, and decorative aspects of the Golden Age of Japanese art.

The development of the Japanese screen as an ant form in the Momoyama period (1575-1615) presents a fascinating example of the converging influences of art traditions,history, politics, religion, and architecture.

Cover image for Japanese Screens in Miniature, isbn: 9781462903917

Dragon's Eye

$12.99

This collection of artwork and writings by renowned artist, Duncan Regehr is a gem.

Never one to be bewitched by the appearance of things, Duncan Regehr has devoted his life to going below the surface, reaching into the depths of psychology and the unconscious. His paintings and poetry explore his well-thought-out and penetrating assessment of humanity and the evolution of his social consciousness.

Here he looks back at his relationship to nature, society, and the human condition. In series such as "Geoscapes," "Smokin Gun," and "The Grand Theme," he depicts environmental and societal changeswhere we have come from and where we are headed. In the spectacular paintings presented here, Regehr's clarity of thought about our complex world is characteristically rendered with jewel-like use of color and many-faceted imagery.

The accompanying poetry reveals a man of sensitivity to human experience and to the order of nature.