In his New York Times bestseller Steal Like an Artist, Austin Kleon showed readers how to unlock their creativity by “stealing” from the community of other movers and shakers. Now, in an even more forward-thinking and necessary book, he shows how to take that critical next step on a creative journey—getting known. Show Your Work! is about why generosity trumps genius. It’s about getting findable, about using the network instead of wasting time “networking.” It’s not self-promotion, it’s self-discovery—let others into your process, then let them steal from you. Filled with illustrations, quotes, stories, and examples, Show Your Work! offers ten transformative rules for being open, generous, brave, productive. In chapters such as You Don’t Have to Be a Genius; Share Something Small Every Day; and Stick Around, Kleon creates a user’s manual for embracing the communal nature of creativity— what he calls the “ecology of talent.” From broader life lessons about work (you can’t find your voice if you don’t use it) to the etiquette of sharing—and the dangers of oversharing—to the practicalities of Internet life (build a good domain name; give credit when credit is due), it’s an inspiring manifesto for succeeding as any kind of artist or entrepreneur in the digital age. Read more

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When art conservator Chloe Harper is called to examine vandalized paintings of Seabrook's historic lighthouse, she expects a routine case of mindless destruction. Instead, she discovers the first thread in a century-ole mystery that will test her skills far beyond art restoration.The lighthouse is being renovated by wealthy developer Marcus Parker, whose family has dominated Seabrook for generations. But when the vandalism reveals connections to Parker's great-grandfather and a mysterious mermaid lamp, Chloe realizes someone is desperately trying to either expose or protect secrets hidden within the lighthouse walls.Joined by her faithful Bernese Mountain dog, Apollo, her best friend Fi, and the reluctant but intriguing Detective Ethan Callahan, Chloe follows a trail of clues through Seabrook's layered history. The investigation leads to Margaret Bennett Parker, an elderly woman with direct ties to the original lighthouse keeper's daughter and a story she's waited for decades to tell.As Chloe uncovers evidence of forbidden romance, broken treaties, and family betrayal, she finds herself drawn deeper into Seabrook's complex past and closer to Detective Callahan. But powerful interests will stop at nothing to keep some secrets buried, and Chloe soon discovers that even a lighthouse's beam can cast dangerous shadows.With time running out and the past colliding with the present, Chloe must decipher cryptic clues in a race to uncover the truth before history repeats its darkest chapter. In Seabrook, where the tide washes away footprints, but never secrets, Chloe will need all her skills to illuminate the past and chart a course toward justice.The Painted Lighthouse is the second installment in the captivating Seabrook Cozy Mystery series, perfect for fans of atmospheric settings, historical secrets, and mysteries where the past is never truly buried. Read more

New York Times bestseller Named one of the best books of the year by the New York Public Library, the Financial Times, the New York Post, Book Riot, and the Sunday Times (London). An “exquisite” (The Washington Post) “hauntingly beautiful” (Associated Press) portrait of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and its treasures by a former New Yorker staffer who spent a decade as a museum guard.Millions of people climb the grand marble staircase to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art every year. But only a select few have unrestricted access to every nook and cranny. They’re the guards who roam unobtrusively in dark blue suits, keeping a watchful eye on the two million square foot treasure house. Caught up in his glamourous fledgling career at The New Yorker, Patrick Bringley never thought that he’d be one of them. Then his older brother was diagnosed with fatal cancer and he found himself needing to escape the mundane clamor of daily life. So he quit The New Yorker and sought solace in the most beautiful place he knew. To his surprise and your delight, this temporary refuge becomes Bringley’s home away from home for a decade. We follow him as he guards delicate treasures from Egypt to Rome, strolls the labyrinths beneath the galleries, wears out nine pairs of company shoes, and marvels at the beautiful works in his care. Bringley enters the museum as a ghost, silent and almost invisible, but soon finds his voice and his tribe: the artworks and their creators and the lively subculture of museum guards—a gorgeous mosaic of artists, musicians, blue-collar stalwarts, immigrants, cutups, and dreamers. As his bonds with his colleagues and the art grow, he comes to understand how fortunate he is to be walled off in this little world, and how much it resembles the best aspects of the larger world to which he gradually, gratefully returns. In the tradition of classic workplace memoirs like Lab Girl and Working Stiff, All the Beauty in the World is an “empathic” (The New York Times Book Review), “moving” (NPR), “consoling, and beautiful” (The Guardian) portrait of a great museum, its hidden treasures, and the people who make it tick, by one of its most intimate observers. Read more

Learn how to use watercolor to soothe your soul with this beginner's guide to painting for relaxation. This fresh approach looks first at the process of painting as a means to de-stress and unwind. Many people love the idea of painting but hold themselves back from starting because they are worried about not being good enough or not feeling as though as are creative. In this guide for the absolute beginner, artist and teacher Sharone Stevens shows you that watercolor can be accessible to everyone and that just painting very simple lines, patterns and shapes in calming colors, concentrating on each brush stroke, can have a powerful meditative effect, while at the same time allowing you to create beautiful art you can be proud of. She also encourages you to connect more with the world around you, finding inspiration in your every-day life and discovering the beautiful textures found in nature, from tree trunks to fruit and butterflies! The aim of the techniques and projects in this book is to create art that relaxes both the artist and the viewer of the finished piece. Projects range from simple gift tags, bookmarks, cards and small wall pieces to larger art pieces that you never thought possible ; all done with a focus on relaxation ; which is so important in today's fast-paced, increasingly digital world. Learn how to mix a calming color palette, try simple painting exercises to get into a relaxed flow, and create beautiful artworks that will lift the spirits both during the painting process and beyond, as finished pieces of art. Author Sharone Stevens is an established art teacher and talented artist who is passionate about using art for relaxation and encouraging others to build a regular creative practice. Her gentle lessons and nurturing reassurance will guide even total beginners through the process of making soothing, soulful modern watercolor art. Read more

Make your portraits and character drawings even more realistic with these step-by-step instructions and tips. Grab your sketchbook, pens, and pencils, and follow along as this instructional drawing guide teaches you everything you need to know about creating true-to-life human faces. With more than 150 easy-to-follow illustrations, Drawing Faces is the perfect guide for aspiring artists looking to develop their portrait skills. Start off simple with learning how to draw basic facial features. By the end of the book, you will have gained the knowledge you need to make your characters’ faces as realistic as possible, including learning to draw: *Various facial expressions *Side profiles *Lifelike portraits *and much more! Whether you’re a beginner or a drawing pro, Drawing Faces is the perfect book to hone your technical drawing skills and take your illustrations to the next level. Read more

Book 4 -- Sanguine Necropolis being written on Patreon -- stormcrowproductionsNarrator of Nocturne -- Wayne Mitchell of Buymort and Path of the Berserker fame and many others. A man who was forced to become an Assassin is interrupted just as he was to kill the last impediment to get to the Senator who sent him down the path.Earth has been chosen for Integration into the Multi-Versal System and reality itself will shift to a post apocalyptic scenario. It will not stop him from keeping the promise to end the Senator and bring justice for the broken women he left behind.Similar in scope and theme to Primal Hunter and Defiance of the Fall...Gideon Sho -- The Umbral Savage.Excerpt from Book 1A man of wealth and means sits at an ornate table in a high end luxurious hotel speaking into a cell phone, a malicious glint to his eyes as he closes another million dollar pharmaceutical merger.He is blissfully unaware of the man behind him, in a black leather trench coat, a hood obscuring his face in deep shadow, a pistol with a suppressor aimed at the back of his head.Both are frozen within the moment of moments, between a breath and sift of sand, one with the anticipation of a killer, the other, riding high upon the arrogance of wealth.System Initializing….-- Romance-- Progression-- LitRPG-- Multi-Versal Factions-- Gods-- GrimDark-- Classes, Levels, Skills, Abilities-- Dragons-- Dragonling Companion-- Horror Read more

The Artist's Way for the 21st century—from esteemed creative counselor Beth Pickens.If you are an artist, you need to make your art. That's not an overstatement—it's a fact; if you stop doing your creative work, your quality of life is diminished. But what do you do when life gets in the way? In this down-to-earth handbook, experienced artist coach Beth Pickens offers practical advice for developing a lasting and meaningful artistic practice in the face of life's inevitable obstacles and distractions. This thoughtful volume suggests creative ways to address the challenges all artists must overcome—from making decisions about time, money, and education, to grappling with isolation, fear, and anxiety. No matter where you are in your art-making journey, this book will motivate and inspire you. Because not only do you need your art—the world needs it, too.• EXPERT ADVICE: Beth Pickens is an experienced and passionate arts advocate with extensive insight into working through creative obstacles. She has spent the last decade advising artists on everything from financial strategy to coping with grief.• PRACTICAL AND POSITIVE: This book is both a love letter to art and artists and a hands-on guide to approaching the thorniest problems those artists might face. Pickens offers a warm reminder that you are not alone, that what you do matters, and that someone out there wants you to succeed.• TIMELESS TOPIC: Like a trusted advisor, this book is an invaluable resource jam-packed with strategies for building a successful creative practice. From mixing business and friendship to marketing yourself on social media, this book can help. And it will—again and again.Perfect for:• Visual artists and makers• Writers, musicians, filmmakers, and other creatives• Art and design school graduates and grad-gift givers Read more

Keep Working. Keep Playing. Keep Creating. In his previous books Steal Like an Artist and Show Your Work!, both New York Times bestsellers, Austin Kleon gave readers the keys to unlock their creativity and showed them how to become known. Now he offers his most inspiring work yet, with ten simple rules for how to stay creative, focused, and true to yourself—for life. The creative life is not a linear journey to a finish line, it’s a loop—so find a daily routine, because today is the only day that matters. Disconnect from the world to connect with yourself—sometimes you just have to switch into airplane mode. Keep Going celebrates getting outdoors and taking a walk (as director Ingmar Bergman told his daughter, ”The demons hate fresh air”). Pay attention, and especially pay attention to what you pay attention to. Worry less about getting things done, and more about the worth of what you’re doing. Instead of focusing on making your mark, work to leave things better than you found them.Keep Going and its timeless, practical, and ethical principles are for anyone trying to sustain a meaningful and productive life.   Read more

GET YOUR POST APOCALYPSE ON!!!! Book 4 of the Best Selling Nocturne Series.Similar in Scope to Primal Hunter and Defiance of the Fall.Gideon has healed himself and escaped the assassination attempt by the System itself. He came out of it still Copper while all the movers and players were Iron with the System's last ditch effort to see him dead with time dilation tricks. The World Council happens and the list of adversaries keeps growing as does the number of possible allies.Little Shira is almost lost and everywhere they turn there are threats to not only their own lives but all those they care about. The secret of why Erebus and Gideon himself have caused the entire Multi-Verse and the Primordials themselves to scramble to control the new planet has been revealed and the Second Challenge has been unleashed -- Dungeons.All this and L'Sana is in dire danger. What is Gideon capable of when all chains have been released and the only thing on his mind is a copious amount of violence?Add in murderous Grandfathers, reappearing Uncles looking for redemption, lost Daughters found and Gods killing Gods. The entire cosmos sits on the cusp of death not seen since the Primordial War itself. What else is there to do but put it all in a blender, throw in some tequila, and get out the pinatas. It will be utter chaos or a kick ass party or both.Blood shall spill, corpses shall abound, love transcends and you can find it all within the legendary story of Nocturne. Buy a ticket, fasten your seatbelts and.....GET YOUR POST APOCALYPTIC ON!!!!-- Romance-- Progression-- LitRPG-- Multi-Versal Factions-- Gods-- GrimDark-- Classes, Levels, Skills, Abilities-- Dragons-- Dragonling Companion-- Horror Read more

A fun, modern, and practical approach with instructions on how to paint simple motifs, create elegant lettering, and embellish projects beautifully.Popular watercolor artist and workshop instructor Ana Victoria Calderón shares her step-by-step techniques for painting modern designs in this classic medium. All the fundamentals needed to get started in watercolor are here, allowing you to quickly learn how to create beautiful watercolor paintings. Through a series of easy tutorials and projects, you will:Discover basic materials and tools, plus options for embellishing your paintingsMaster essential techniques, starting with easy warm-up activities. Then, learn to layer, and get into the flow with watercolorGet an introduction to scanning and digital editing for making multiplesPaint a variety of simple, beautiful designs: flowers and leaves, butterflies and critters, fruits and vegetables, and delightful letteringUse what you’ve learned to create unique, stylish stationery, including beautiful invitations, place cards, menus, monograms, recipe gift cards, thank you notes—any project you can imagine, for any kind of event you can think of!There’s never been a better time to dive into the world of watercolor, so why wait? Grab a brush and get painting!Perfect for all skill levels, the books in the Art for Modern Makers series take a fun, practical approach to learning about and working with paints and other art mediums to create beautiful DIY projects and crafts. Read more

Overcome your creative blocks and fears and start painting with confidence with Your Year in Art: Watercolor! Filled with weekly art challenges, step-by-step watercolor lessons, helpful tips and techniques, and gorgeous artwork, this follow-up to the drawing-focused Your Year in Art is a must-have for any watercolor artist. Written and illustrated by Kristin Van Leuven, owner of the popular online art shop Hello Lovely People and author of Modern Watercolor (Walter Foster Publishing), Your Year in Art: Watercolor seeks to motivate and inspire. The book is divided into weekly art challenges and prompts that cover appealing themes like florals, birds, and portraits, as well as inspirational ideas for painting patterns, holiday decorations, scenery, and so much more. Lessons and prompts are guided but invite personalization so you can build your skills while celebrating your own unique style. If you're a beginning artist, you might feel intimidated by watercolor, a medium that doesn't allow for many errors. However, Kristin Van Leuven makes watercolor fun and approachable with her easy-to-follow tips and free-flowing, expressive style. With her guidance, you'll learn to embrace imperfection and use the lessons as inspiration, rather than something to imitate exactly. With Your Year in Art: Watercolor, develop your own painting style and express yourself using watercolor! Read more

Millions of people have learned to draw using the methods of Dr. Betty Edwards's bestseller The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. Now, much as artists progress from drawing to painting, Edwards moves from black-and-white into color. This much-awaited new guide distills the enormous existing knowledge about color theory into a practical method of working with color to produce harmonious combinations.Using techniques tested and honed in her five-day intensive color workshops, Edwards provides a basic understanding of how to see color, how to use it, and-for those involved in art, painting, or design-how to mix and combine hues. Including more than 125 color images and exercises that move from simple to challenging, this volume explains how to:see what is really there rather than what you "know" in your mind about colored objectsperceive how light affects color, and how colors affect one anothermanipulate hue, value, and intensity of color and transform colors into their oppositesbalance color in still-life, landscape, figure, and portrait paintingunderstand the psychology of colorharmonize color in your surroundingsWhile we recognize and treasure the beautiful use of color, reproducing what we see can be a challenge. Accessibly unweaving color's complexity, this must-have primer is destined to be an instant classic. Read more

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Learn how to draw and color your own adorable world with the simple illustrations and easy-to-follow drawing steps in How to Draw Super Cute Things with Bobbie Goods. Perfect for beginners of all ages and bursting with humor, sweetness, and imagination, this book is sure to put a smile on your face! Get cozy, grab a pencil and your markers, and draw anything you can imagine in the most adorable art style. With her large social media following on Instagram (@bobbiegoodsart) and TikTok (@bobbiegoods), Bobbie Goods shows off her simple techniques for drawing her super cute world. After selling thousands of coloring books since opening her online shop in 2021, Bobbie Goods now brings you an adorable how-to-draw book! You will learn how to:   Draw delightful characters, such as puppies, bears, and bunnies! Place them into scenes like a cozy coffee shop, a busy baker's kitchen, or a summertime pool party, and then color them in! Draw adorable objects to place in the scenes, such as plants, furniture, food, fashionable accessories, and decorations. Enjoy drawing and coloring the super cute world of Bobbie Goods! Read more

An exquisite visual celebration of the 2,500-year history of geometryIf you've ever thought that mathematics and art don't mix, this stunning visual history of geometry will change your mind. As much a work of art as a book about mathematics, Beautiful Geometry presents more than sixty exquisite color plates illustrating a wide range of geometric patterns and theorems, accompanied by brief accounts of the fascinating history and people behind each. With artwork by Swiss artist Eugen Jost and text by math historian Eli Maor, this unique celebration of geometry covers numerous subjects, from straightedge-and-compass constructions to intriguing configurations involving infinity. The result is a delightful and informative illustrated tour through the 2,500-year-old history of one of the most important branches of mathematics. Read more

An artist's unique voice is their calling card. It's what makes each of their works vital and particular. But developing such singular artistry requires effort and persistence. Bestselling author, artist, and illustrator Lisa Congdon brings her expertise to this guide to the process of artistic self-discovery. Featuring advice from Congdon herself and interviews with a roster of established artists, illustrators, and creatives, this one-of-a-kind book will show readers how to identify and nurture their own visual identity, navigate the influence of artists they admire, push through fear and insecurity, and appreciate the value of their personal journey. Read more

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Bold Exciting Powerful A new level of artistic expression! Every artist strives to achieve the kind of painting that commands attention from across the room and delights the eye up close. In this book, artist and workshop teacher Patti Mollica walks you through surprisingly simple and efficient strategies for achieving that kind of powerful composition, whatever your subject. Complete with timed exercises and start-to-finish painting demonstrations, this book is for any artist who feels overwhelmed by where to start or daunted by the urge to paint everything in sight. Patti Mollica's mindful approach will lead you to better, bolder results, as well as greater confidence and joy in the process. So load your palette with ample paint, grab some fat brushes and get ready to paint fast, paint loose, paint bold.   • Start with a strong, simple value statement   • Get expressive with color   • Be brave with your brushwork   • 5 technique exercises   • 5 start-to-finish painting demonstrationsPaint fearlessly! Read more