Books published by publisher Search Press

Tim Fisher makes the most of the superbly versatile qualities of acrylics and demonstrates his own innovative and inspiring techniques for painting a gorgeous selection of popular flowers. The reader learns how to select the right paints and the best brushes for the great range of techniques, including negative painting, masking, washes, impasto methods, texturing and much more. There are richly illustrated sections on using colour and sketching and planning paintings, and many handy tips throughout. A fantastic book for artists of all skill levels who want to create atmosphere, experiment with colour and paint accomplished, beautiful paintings.

This gorgeous book shows you how to transform jelly roll scraps into stunning little quilts and wonderful patchwork gifts. Packed with 30 colourful and inventive projects - and all the techniques needed to create them - this book contains an abundance of guidance and inspiration for quilters and patchworkers of all abilities. The book is broken down into two sections: 'little quilts' and 'gifts'. Each section contains a comprehensive step-by-step photographic techniques section and each of the 30 projects contains inspiring photography and clear, helpful illustrations throughout, to ensure that the book is as accessible as possible.

The mandala is an ancient symbol used in ritual and religion as a centring device. Mandalas can be found in nature, architecture and design, and in 'Zendala', the mandala motif is a starting point for promoting calm and mindfulness. Few materials are needed to create stunning, centring mandalas: just paper, pens and imagination. The practice of drawing and colouring a mandala is one that can be undertaken when you feel stressed, or even when you have a small period of spare time in which to relax and find your zen. The mandalas are designed by therapist and art education professional Susanne Schaadt.

Geoff Kersey shows people who have never picked up a paintbrush how to paint convincing watercolour landscapes using just 3 colours, 3 brushes, a plastic palette and a watercolour pad. Only 3 affordable Students range watercolour paints are used: light red, cadmium yellow pale and ultramarine blue; yet from these, Geoff shows how 9 realistic watercolour scenes can be painted. There is no colour theory or long-winded mixing information to put off the first-time painter, but a practical absolute beginner's course that shows the three colours in action. Only 3 affordable brushes are needed: no. 10, no. 4 and no. 2 rounds in a synthetic range, to achieve all of the paintings shown. Starting from the simplest of scenes, Geoff Kersey builds skills through 9 easy exercises, resulting in landscapes to be proud of. Start with a simple sky and progress through a basic scene with a reflected sunset, to landscapes that include simple buildings and even a figure. Clear advice and step-by-step photographs show how to add a simple figure to a scene and how to trace and transfer the basic drawings from the finished paintings, which are shown full size in the book for this purpose. Readers have everything they need to get painting.

High-profile author, Linda Jones shows how to make gorgeous jewellery using only basic techniques and very few specialist materials. Hammering wire is easy and creates texture, form and toughness. Linda has launched her own brand of hammer for this technique, the Whammer, with Beadsmith in the US. It has three functions in one hammer, but everything in the book can easily be made with other jewellery hammers. The jewellery making techniques required are very basic, such as making jump rings, bead links, headpins and fish-hook clasps, so beginners can launch straight in. Twenty-five gorgeous projects are grouped under Feathers, Shapes and Scrunched Wire, with the Get Creative chapter combining all the techniques learned. Easy, accessible jewellery making for beginners or more advanced crafters.

Step-by-step photographs and easy-to-follow instructions show how to create an exciting selection of items - from a Grecian coaster, an African mask and an Egyptian eagle necklace to a celestial pot, an Aztec book cover and a seaside pebble frame. This inspiring book contains ten original projects and plenty of tips on how to create original mosaic designs.

Beverly Johnson s book is packed with scores of fun exercises that will really motivate young beginner artists who are just getting interested in drawing for animation, comic book art, or just for pleasure. In a series of beginner-friendly exercises, she explores how to conceptualize wonderful, convincing characters and shows how to translate ideas into great professional-looking drawings. The book is organized into key chapters associated with what makes engaging, three-dimensional characters. Read the advice and then work your way through the exercises and you will get to the end with a portfolio bursting with wonderful creations. This book demonstrates how to create diverse characters with strong personalities, unique mannerisms and interests; how to understand their motivations, find their passions and make them come alive. Split into 75, easy-to-follow and fun exercises, Bev leads the young reader through the techniques and skills needed to create their very own characters.

Aimed at anyone who has ever wanted to create their own garment from scratch or just fix a hem. Covers machine and hand sewing techniques, with over 180 sewing techniques explained. All techniques are meticulously demonstrated with step-by-step photographs to achieve a professional outcome. Readers are encouraged to develop their own creativity with plenty of hints and tips used by professional sewers. Includes sewing machine basics, equipment and supplies, working with patterns and fabrics and troubleshooting tips.

Packed with engaging projects for boys and girls, activities such as clay modeling, beadwork, decorative painting, papermaking, and paperfolding come to life in this bright, colorful guidebook. Showcasing step-by-step photographs and easy-to-follow instructions, this exciting exploration provides children with more than 50 fun projects. Blending classic crafting techniques with modern designs, all of the projects in this handbook can be made from common household items and are suitable for any level of crafter, including beginners.

An eye-opening look at Little Women author Louisa May Alcott's time as a Civil War nurse, and the far-reaching implications her service had on her writing and her activism Louisa on the Frontlines is the first narrative nonfiction book focusing on the least-known aspect of Louisa May Alcott's career - her time spent as a nurse during the Civil War. Though her service was brief, the dramatic experience was one that she considered pivotal in helping her write the beloved classic Little Women. It also deeply affected her tenuous relationship with her father, and inspired her commitment to abolitionism. Through it all, she kept a journal and wrote letters to her family and friends. These letters were published in the newspaper, and her subsequent book, Hospital Sketches spotlighted the dire conditions of the military hospitals and the suffering endured by the wounded soldiers she cared for. To this day, her work is considered a pioneering account of military nursing. Alcott's time as an Army nurse in the Civil War helped her find her authentic voice--and cemented her foundational belief system. Louisa on the Frontlines reveals the emergence of this prominent feminist and abolitionist--a woman whose life and work has inspired millions and continues to do so today,

Drawing should always be a fun pastime; it's a great way to relax and let your imagination run wild. It can also be a fantastic meditative exercise. All you need is some paper, some pens and pencils and you're ready to unwind. The Japanese word zen means meditation and when you combine this concept with these simple yet stunning drawings you get zendoodle. The projects are designed by therapist and art education professional Susanne Schaadt and are intended to bring calm and help focus the mind. The idea is that drawing simple and repetitive patterns relaxes the mind bringing about a sense of calm while allowing your creativity to flow.