Arts and Culture

Hundreds of beautiful color pictures and recently-discovered, important information give this new study of 19th and 20th century Japanese porcelain a most refreshing approach. Visual comparisons of the major styles can be made even by the beginning student because there are so many fine color pictures of the examples.

Chinese pottery and porcelain has been admired, sought after, fought over, and emulated throughout the history of the civilized world. In form, color, and technique, China led the world in the ceramic arts. Its perfection of hard paste porcelain in the Ming Dynasty followed a fascinating record of ceramic production that is traceable back to 5,000 B.C.

This retrospective of Jims skateboard art bombards the reader with colorful decks, logos, ad art, ad layouts, photos, and stickers to illustrate the history of skateboarding, from the urethane revolution to the present. Take a ride with an inside view of Phillips Studios, to observe the wacky world of his crazed studio artists and examine their graphic assignments.

The iconic American guitar is the Gretsch model 6120, that Chet Atkins has endorsed and George Harrison, Pete Townshend, Brian Setzer, and other well known musicians used. 334 bold color images reveal its evolution into a highly collectible instrument produced in limited numbers. Fresh insights, compelling images, and significant new information explain what contributed to its development.

Tattooing is a very old and spiritually respected art form that has existed in many different cultures around the world. After many centuries of not being practiced in Europe, tattooing was re-introduced to the Western world through the inhabitants of the Pacific Ocean.

Instructive text and 275 color photos guide readers through all the necessary steps to create natural looking garden pools and swimming ponds. Imagine paradise in your own garden–a combination of bathing pleasure with the possibility of observing nature and recreation. A comprehensive guide to get to what you have dreamed about and how you can contribute directly to the project.

A rare opportunity to appreciate the incomparable beauty of Brazil’s women in the equally striking environs of this tropical paradise. Photographer Joaquim Nabuco’s collection of nude art photos creates a lush, whimsical, and sensual landscape that revolves around the feminine, exotic, and vibrant character of these women.

The most comprehensive review of the Provincetown Artist Colony to date, this two-volume set is complete with conversations with many artists, including Robert Motherwell, Jack Tworkov, Red Grooms, Raphael Soyer, and Chaim Gross, and nearly 300 images of works by those artists, as well as Childe Hassam, Hans Hofmann, Franz Kline, Adolph Gottlieb, Edward Hopper, and numerous others.

Images of the classical female figure are more prevalent in the contemporary figurative art world, as the nude male has been shunned as too potent or treated as a sex symbol. This book bravely showcases works by male and female artists from around the world that focus on this classic subject.

The mola is a multilayered textile art form and metaphor for the story of the Kuna, indigenous people of Panama. With over 890 images covering more than a century of molas, this book provides insights into design sources and influences for molas, perspectives on the aesthetic practices of women creating them, and hints for collecting and preserving this colorful textile art form.

In this new and revised second edition of the powerful alchemy of the soul, The Mary-El Tarot, revisit 78 magnificent Tarot cards, including 4 new and enchanting paintings and updated guidebook, Landscapes of the Abyss.

Here is the first book to cover all aspects of Native American equine tack/equipment as a single subject. It focuses on the equipment used by 19th century tribal men and women of North America. The dominant role of horses in these peoples' lives was reflected in the beautiful, practical, and artistic accoutrements made to decorate their prestigious and powerful animals.

A is for Anchor is a delightful illustrated alphabet inspired by classic images from traditional Western tattoo designs. Written and illustrated by renowned tattoo artist Paul Slifer, the book combines his love for classic tattoo art with his interest in children's books, which was piqued when he became the father of two girls.

The home goods market in the United States is the largest market in the world. So why do some interior design firms thrive while others barely survive? The answer lies in one powerful little word: brand. More than a pretty logo, it involves telling the story of your distinct point of view—who you want to serve and why you do business—and it's a process that happens from the inside out.

Pop-art connoisseurs are treated to a mind-bending journey through the blistering paintings of San Francisco artist Dirty Donny Gillies. Take a visual tour of his vibrant, hand-drawn and screen-printed poster art series "Blacklight Rebellion" and hand-painted solo art show "Fantastic Voyage.

Continuing the tradition of creating the next level of breathtaking pin-up girls in the modern world, internationally acclaimed photographer and pin-up artist Celeste Giuliano presents her classic style of pin-ups in stunning 3-D for the first time ever. The pin-up girl has been a staple of classic American culture since the 1920s.

With easy-to-follow guidance and more than 175 photos, this book helps mosaic artists meet the challenge of creating 3-D substrates. It explains various approaches to issues ranging from reaching the needed levels of density and strength to applying tesserae to coils, twists, and spheres.

The Nuclear Age properly began with the discovery of the nucleus by Ernest Rutherford in 1911, but its impact on civilization began with the use of atomic bombs against Japan in WWII. The development of atomic bombs forever changed the world.

This 1,000-piece puzzle featuring beautiful images from the book Birds in the Barnes Foundation lets you re-create a dozen of the collection's works of art. Finished puzzle is 27" x 20".