Arts and Culture

Originally used by northern Italian aristocrats in complex games resembling bridge, tarot cards became more popular with the spread of printing in the sixteenth century and were eventually used by Freemasons, fortune-tellers, and mystics to reveal hidden truths about the past, present, and future. More recently, artists have used the imagery and potency of tarot as a springboard for creativity.

The real and authentic Tokyo: the craziest and trendiest megacity in the world in street photography. Part of the Unseen series. Text in English and German.

To the ancients, all things in nature had sacred or spiritual meaning. The world was inhabited by the higher beings, who took the form of fantastical creatures that were part animal, part human, and exceedingly powerful. These beings are the spirit guides who lead the departed to the next life, heal the sick, and restore balance and harmony to a troubled world. The tribal healers knew the animal

Edward Gorey’s chaotic, theater-inspired artwork, reproduced in this 1,000-piece puzzle, reflects his lifelong love for the stage. Known for his unique plays and Tony-nominated work on Broadway’s Dracula, this puzzle might offer a glimpse into his creative mind—or simply leave you delightfully puzzled.

Observe a quiet explosion of beautiful, humorous, and contemplative colorful images of two- and three-dimensional floral-themed artwork. Stunning pieces from more than fifty artists and designers, both well known, established, and emerging, from Ireland to Hungary, Finland, and Canada, and from coast to coast in the United States. This vibrant overview of the floral world includes photography, wat

The cabin is undoubtedly one of the most widely reproduced housing structures due to its simplicity and flexibility. This building played a crucial role in the formation of American culture and was the practical, snug dwelling choice for settling new lands. Travel back to the colonial era when Germans and Scandinavians developed the first log cabins. Read about how quickly the idea evolved and spr

For both the experienced and aspiring tattoo artist, as well as creative tattoo customers, this book of inspirational examples of script and banner lettering in a wide range of styles is the ideal cheat sheet. Beginning with traditional handwriting, the book moves into more complex script styles. Discover a range of banners for application on the chest or back, in styles that look elegant and orna

This one-of-a-kind compendium features a selection of women artists and architects who have made groundbreaking contributions to contemporary art. Profiling an international cross section of artists, 50 Contemporary Women Artists presents fresh perspectives on feminism and notions of cultural power. Using a variety of mediums, the artists in this book address themes of social, cultural, political,

Mythical creatures are cultural artifacts—creations of the human imagination from all around the world. From terrifying monsters to sacred mystical beasts, weird-looking humanoids, magical birds, and many other fantastic beings, the mythological creatures in this book are sure to enchant and amaze! Discover myths and legends spanning from ancient times to modern day from every corner of the globe.

In this informative and clearly illustrated guide to living in harmony with chi'i, the life-giving energy in and around us all, experts explain how to rebalance the flow of energy to bring health, happiness, and good fortune into your life. An introduction to the ancient guiding principles of traditional Chinese Feng Shui explains how the five elements combine in the home and workplace with step-b

Step-by-step instructions for 50 beautiful paintings  including plants, flowers, animals, & more! Love the look of watercolors but think you lack the skill? Think again! With Watercolor the Easy Way, you will paint beautiful masterpieces following the author's simple instructions. You'll learn to mix colors, apply brush strokes, and paint beautiful pictures in only thirty minutes or less. • 50 bea

A rare look at the exquisite world of Russian treasures that lies beyond Fabergé. Imperial Russia evokes images of a vanished court’s unparalleled splendor: magnificent tiaras, gem-encrusted necklaces, snuffboxes, and other diamond-studded baubles of the tsars and tsarinas. During that time, jewelry symbolized power and wealth, and no one knew this better than the Romanovs. The era marked the high

When artist Amy Zerner met author Monte Farber an enchanted relationship was formed. They are a bestselling husband and wife team whose expertise and inspiring approach to oracular wisdom is highly sought after. Since 1988, they have shared their distinctive brand of life mastery and artistic excellence through their unique, award-winning works, which have sold nearly three million copies and have

Delight your senses and your sense of humor with this colorful, whimsical, and rebelliously unique 78-card Tarot deck. With vibrant art created in the raw, intuitive "outsider art" or art brut style, this deck follows the traditional symbolism of the Tarot in a creatively quirky but highly accessible way. Here you will find pierced and pointy-breasted maidens questing on unicorns, double-faced sha

Get an insider's look at 70 beautiful, charming European cities that you may not have heard of. Kufstein, Lugano, Wroclaw . . . enchanting, unique, and all-but-hidden urban beauties of Europe, where you can stroll and marvel undisturbed. Lush photos and informative text bring to life cities like Salerno, Italy, with its medieval Old Town; Paphos, Cyprus, with its romantic beaches; Alkmaar, Holland

Outdoors; it’s always the best time of year! Especially when the whole world lies open before us. But where are the greatest experiences beckoning to adventure seekers and outdoor fans? Experiences such as being on an aurora borealis safari in Tromsø, Norway; taking a stand-up paddling trip on Italy’s Lago D’Idro; or mountain biking through Austria’s Salzburger Land with a view of the Alps. Follow

Jot, sketch, or doodle out your bold ideas in these vibrant blank journals. Let them brighten up your desk so you’ll never lose track of your inspirations.

This unique series of paintings takes the viewer on a graphic, visionary journey through the physical, metaphysical, and spiritual anatomy of the self. From anatomically correct rendering of the body systems, Grey moves to the spiritual/energetic systems with such images as "Universal Mind Lattice," envisioning the sacred and esoteric symbolism of the body and the forces that define its living fie

This definitive reference for beachcombers is also a beautiful addition to any coffee table. Pure Sea Glass surveys the history of glass manufacturing, explains the weathering process that creates frosted gems from fragile shards of old glass and tableware, and offers tips on how and where to find the best pieces. More than 200 exquisite photographs bring to light the luminous beauty of authentic

For the first time, Lucasfilm has opened its Archives to present the complete storyboards for the original Star Wars trilogy-the world-changing A New Hope and its operatic sequels, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi-as well as never-before-published art from early conceptual and deleted scenes.