Pulsing with ideas, energy and inspiration, Sketchbook Confidential offers a rare peek inside the personal sketchbooks of 40+ master artists. From colorful painted sketches to spontaneous napkin doodles, from the intensely personal to the purely whimsical, most of the work here was produced quickly and never intended for public view. It is honest and immediate, fresh and fearless. In their own words, the artists share the intentions and inspirations behind their sketching. For some, it is a cherished, everyday habit—a way of wandering through the ideas in their mind, playing around with new subjects, or just having some anything-goes kind of fun. For others, sketching is a deliberate tool for problem-solving—working through a composition, capturing a moment's light or test-driving a color scheme. As you turn the pages you'll be immersed in the creative processes of these individuals, arriving on the other side with a feeling of kinship and a renewed desire to boldly capture life in your own sketchbooks!

More secrets from the private sketches of 38 master artists The idea may be derived from anything really--a flash of sunlight, the tilt of a head, a glass on the table...but the sketch is where it all begins, the point where inspiration meets artist. Gloriously free of the need to get it "right," the sketch is where possibilities are explored, compositions are found, and visions come to life. A brilliant follow-up to the first Sketchbook Confidential, this book grants you access to 38 of art's most creative minds via their sketchbooks. Whether created in studios, subways or the middle of a farmyard, these sketches represent art in its raw form. Up until now, this work has been tucked inside drawers or on studio bookshelves. Now the artists lay it out for all to see, along with intimate musings on the art of sketching and how it helps them commune with a subject, find their path to a finished piece or discover even greater rewards in the journey itself.

Publisher's description: In this ambitious publication, some one hundred of the world's leading graphic designers and illustrators open up their private sketchbooks to offer a privileged glimpse into their creative process.

A globe-trotting, behind-the-scenes look at the dazzling world of flowers and the fascinating industry it has created. Award-winning author Amy Stewart takes readers on an around-the-world, behind-the-scenes look at the flower industry and how it has sought—for better or worse—to achieve perfection. She tracks down the hybridizers, geneticists, farmers, and florists working to invent, manufacture, and sell flowers that are bigger, brighter, and sturdier than anything nature can provide. There's a scientist intent on developing the first genetically modified blue rose; an eccentric horticultural legend who created the most popular lily; a breeder of gerberas of every color imaginable; and an Ecuadorean farmer growing exquisite roses, the floral equivalent of a Tiffany diamond. And, at every turn she discovers the startling intersection of nature and technology, of sentiment and commerce.

Arranged by designer, it reveals how nearly 120 of the world's leading designers and typographers continually strive to find new and exciting ways of communicating through letters and words, and provides fascinating insights into their work.

Top Secrets for Beautiful Pastel Paintings Richard McKinley has been a professional artist for over 35 years. Factor in nearly as many years of teaching experience, and that adds up to a whole lot of know-how to share. In Pastel Pointers, he lays it all out: information on tools, materials, color, composition, landscape elements, finishes and more. • Compiles the best of McKinley's popular Pastel Pointers blog and Pastel Journal columns • Covers frequently asked questions ("How do I achieve natural-looking greens?") and simple solutions to common problems, such as excess pigment buildup • Includes a chapter on "The Business of Pastels"—tips for framing, shipping, preparing for gallery shows, and otherwise representing your work in a professional manner This book covers everything from the fundamentals to get you going (how to lay out your palette, create an underpainting, evoke luminous effects) to inspirations that will keep you growing (plein air painting, working in a series, keeping a painting journal). Whether you're a beginner or an experienced painter anxious to explore the expressive possibilities of pastel, this is your guide to making the most of the medium.

Have you ever seen something so moving you wished you had the ability to commit it to paper? Now you can with sketching school - an easy to learn as you go guide that helps you create works of art that can be enjoyed for years to come.

Ready to play? Whether you think of yourself as an artist, a doodler, a dreamer, or none of the above, this book will jump-start your creativity. Popular art instructor Carla Sonheim offers fun, engaging ideas on every page, from drawing upside down to imagining new worlds (down to their silly hats and strange animal species). All you need is a pencil or pen and your imagination.

A Korean-American girl travels to Seoul in hopes of debuting in a girl group at the same K-pop company behind the most popular boy band on the planet, in this romantic coming-of-age novel perfect for K-pop fans everywhere! Candace Park knows a lot about playing a role. For most of her life, she's been playing the role of the quiet Korean-American girl who takes advanced classes and plays a classical instrument, keeping her love of K-pop to herself. But she has a secret that she's been keeping from the world: she can sing. Like, really sing. So when Candace enters a global audition held by the biggest K-pop label in the world, she doesn't expect to actually win. And convincing her parents to go against everything they believe in is nothing compared to what's next. Under the strict supervision of her instructors at the label's headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Candace must hone her performance skills to within an inch of her life, learn to fluently speak Korean, and navigate the complex hierarchies of her teammates. And the number-one rule? NO DATING - which proves almost impossible after she meets superstar idol One.J and fellow Korean-American trainee YoungBae. And when Candace finds herself in the middle of an international K-pop scandal, she must decide whether a spot in the most hyped K-pop girl group of all time is really worth risking everything ...

The completely updated step-by-step guide to¿capturing experiences in sketch format—regardless of artistic ability Recording your ideas and observations primarily in pictures instead of words can help you become more creative and constructive on the job, no matter what your level of artistic ability. Featuring completely new coverage of visual note-taking in a digital world, Visual Notes for Architects and Designers, Second Edition demonstrates how to make rapid, notational sketches that serve as visual records for future reference, as well as improve understanding and facilitate the development of ideas. It shows you how to expand your knowledge of a subject beyond what is gained through observation or verbal representation alone. You gain access to simple techniques for collecting, analyzing, and applying information. Crowe and Laseau examine the relationship between note-taking, visualization, and creativity. They give practical guidance on how to develop: Visual acuity—the ability to see more in what you experience Visual literacy—expressing yourself clearly and accurately with sketches Graphic analysis—using sketches to analyze observations Numerous examples demonstrate some of the many uses of visual notes. They help you develop a keener awareness of environments, solve design problems, and even get more out of lectures and presentations. The authors also discuss types of notebooks suitable for taking visual notes. If you want to develop your perceptual and creative skills to their utmost, you will want to follow the strategies outlined in Visual Notes for Architects and Designers, Second Edition. It is a valuable guide for architects, landscape architects, designers, and anyone interested in recording experience in sketch form.