New Releases by Susie Hodge

Unpack the powerful visual symbols artists have used throughout history. From a single flower to a carefully placed skull, works of art across history are filled with symbols that carry powerful meanings. The Symbols of Art reveals how artists use these symbols to communicate ideas without relying on words. Why is there a lily in that religious painting? Why does a still life include an hourglass, a mirror, or a piece of fruit? In some cases, these symbols would have been immediately understood by contemporary viewers but now need decoding for a modern audience. In other instances, symbolism is more deliberately elusive, inviting viewers to look closer and think deeper. This richly illustrated visual reference includes: Over 100 key symbols drawn from art history Symbols from the natural world, the manmade world, the supernatural, and colors and shapes Famous artworks used as case studies to show symbolism in context How meanings change across cultures, movements, and centuries An easy-to-navigate, fully indexed structure designed for quick consultation as well as browsing Bringing together examples from across periods, cultures, and artistic movements, art historian Susie Hodge explains how symbolic meanings can shift depending on time, place, and intention, revealing layers of interpretation that radically deepen our understanding of artworks. Clearly organized and expertly written, The Symbols of Art is both an authoritative reference and an inviting guide for curious readers. Whether you’re visiting a gallery, studying art history, or simply want to see artworks with fresh eyes, this book gives you the tools to decode visual meaning and experience art more deeply.

Discover the destinations that have inspired the world’s greatest art, cinema, food, novels and music. Pure armchair travel, this book is for anyone with a sense of wanderlust and curiosity: immerse yourself in 100 places that have inspired a remarkable cultural environment. In Paris, visit the labyrinth streets of Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables and the charming streets of Montmartre, the backdrop of Amélie; in New York visit Brooklyn, home of Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing and Jean-Michel Basquiat’s stomping ground round the East Village. Split by continent, and with fascinating text and charming hand-drawn illustrations for each entry, this is the ultimate atlas of 100 cultural places every armchair traveller needs to know about.

Packed with useful tips for gallery browsing, The Elements of Art takes the world''s greatest artworks and makes them easy for anyone to understand.

Draw 30 amazing animals in just 8 easy stages! Learn how to draw a marvelous menagerie of 30 animals, from dogs, cats and horses to those on the wilder side, including majestic elephants, beautiful birds, lions, tigers and bears - to name but a few! Choose your favorite fauna, and build up their shapes from top to tail in seven simple sketches that culminate in a full-color drawing. With its easy-to-follow landscape format, you can see the creatures come to life across the page, then recreate them yourself on paper or in your sketchbook. This book contains material previously published in the How to Draw series, including Birds (2008), Cats (2008), Dogs (2009), Horses (2009) and Wild Animals (2010).

Take a look inside the homes of some of your favourite artists and explore how each one reflected their spirit and creativity. From William Morris and Pablo Picasso to Georgia O’Keeffe and Frida Kahlo, Artists at Home showcases the quiet retreats, creative hubs, lifelong homes, and holiday escapes of key artistic figures. Author Susie Hodge introduces readers to each artist''s life and work, placing the significance of the home at the heart of their practice before exploring how each residency both reflected and inspired the artist’s creative output. By delving into their homes – the architecture, interiors, the lives lived there, and the work created there – we can see these artists’ private spaces as reflections of their artistic output. For these inspiring people, homes are places where the boundaries between work, creativity and daily life are indistinct – they are as much as reflection of their artistic intention as the great artworks that made their name.

From Romanesque to Realism; Pop Art to Pluralism, in this series, Susie Hodge introduces the most important art ideas and concepts that form the foundations of Western art.

Learn to draw 28 playful puppies from scratch in 6 easy steps. Choose your new best friend from this cuddly collection of 28 playful puppies. Best-selling artist Susie Hodge teaches you to transform simple shapes into 28 cute and characterful puppies in a range of much-loved breeds. There are 28 different kittens to draw: each project starts with a few basic outlines and progresses into a finished tonal drawing with a final colored version showing you how to develop your drawing even further Perfect for beginners, as well as budding artists, you’ll be amazed how easily you too can bring these playful pooches to life with this inspiring guide.

Discover 100 wonderful and majestic creatures to draw! Whether you have your favourites already, or are looking for inspiration from a range of diverse habitats including rainforests, mountains, polar regions or the African savannah, you''re bound to discover an animal in this book that you will find irresistible ''Äì and you will just want to pick up your pencil and start drawing! Each animal is broken down into three or four simple stages that lead you effortlessly through to the finished drawing. There are no written instructions to follow ''Äì just basic shapes and pencil strokes. Even if you''Äôve never drawn anything before, you will be amazed at how quickly you will achieve incredibly impressive drawings. Every project also shows two finished examples of the animal ''Äì one shaded with pencil and the other with colour. This is the perfect book for budding artists yearning to draw their favourite animals. The material in this book is taken from the following books in Search Press''s successful How to Draw series: Mountain Animals, Polar Animals, Rainforest Animals, African Animals.

An alternative introduction to modern art, focusing on the stories of 50 key works that consciously questioned the boundaries, challenged the status quo and made shockwaves we are still feeling today.

I Know an Artist is a collection of 84 beautifully illustrated portraits that reveal the fascinating connections between famous artists throughout history.

Create effective portraits in a matter of minutes with this practical drawing guide, written by experienced art educator Susie Hodge. Producing portraits has always been considered an important skill for artists, so Just Draw! Faces in 15 Minutes explains the skills a budding artist needs so that you can try your hand at a variety of projects, all in easy, 15-minute periods. You''ll learn: • How to create quick sketches • How to convey age, tone and ethnicity • How to produce accurate features • The difference between drawing a person in profile and face-on With lots of projects to try your hand at, and no matter what your level of skill, this is the perfect way to improve or learn from scratch.

How do you sum up the amazing world of art in just 100 words? This striking book takes on the challenge From pottery to Pointillism, each of the carefully chosen 100 words has its own 100-word long description and quirky illustration, providing a fascinating introduction to art. Basically, everything you need to know in a nutshell. Along with some classic methods, such as painting and sketching, you''ll also discover less predictable aspects of art that will give you a fresh perspective. Featuring materials, elements, methods, art movements, styles, and places this book covers a wide range of topics and themes, as well as some key artists of the past and present. With a clean, contemporary design, each word occupies a page of its own. A large striking illustration neatly encapsulates the accompanying 100 words of text. Other titles in the 100 Things to Know About series include: Ancient World, World Politics, Inventions.

A sumptuous illustrated biography, history and gallery of the acclaimed artist of the late 19th and early 20th century.

The Short Story of Women Artists tells the full history - from the breakthroughs that women have made in pushing for parity with male artists, to the important contributions made to otherwise male-dominated artistic movements, and the forgotten and obscured artists who are now being rediscovered and reassessed. Accessible, concise and richly illustrated, the book reveals the connections between different periods, artists and styles, giving readers a thorough understanding and broad enjoyment of the full achievements that female artists have made.

Showcasing world-famous paintings from London''s National Gallery, this engaging interactive guide provides a first look at art--plus a free app that allows kids to create their own virtual gallery. Focusing primarily on the Western European tradition, each spread is filled with glorious images and informative, bite-sized chunks of information. "Did You Know?" and "Art Lesson" boxes (including projects) appear throughout.

Like having 100 of the world’s greatest painters at your side, giving you their own personal tips and advice – Painting Masterclass examines 100 paintings from art history: the way they were made, what they do well, and how and what we can learn from them. Throughout the history of painting, one of the best ways in which many great painters have developed their own personal approaches has been by copying other artists’ work. Learning from great artists helps to encourage a discerning eye, as well as an understanding of colour, materials and perspective, and can inspire further innovation. With the detailed analyses and instructive creative tips sections in this book, you can learn how to convey movement like Degas, apply acrylic like Twombly, and command colour like Matisse. With paintings comprising a broad variety of styles, approaches and materials, the book studies the techniques of many of the greatest painters who have worked across the globe from the 15th to the 21st centuries, using watercolour, gouache, tempera, fresco, oils, encaustic and mixed media, including: Titian, Francisco Goya, Gustave Courbet, Georges Seurat, Edvard Munch, Paul Gauguin, Gustav Klimt, Amedeo Modigliani, Jenny Saville, Caravaggio, Egon Schiele, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Paul Klee, Claude Monet, Edward Hopper, Georgia O’Keeffe, Leonardo da Vinci, Marlene Dumas, Mary Cassatt, Frida Kahlo, Marc Chagall, Sandro Botticelli and Jackson Pollock. Perfect for students as well as professional painters, and with a broad historical and global reach, this book is an indispensable introduction to the rich history and practice of painting. Organized by genre: nudes, figures, landscapes, still lifes, heads, fantasy, and abstraction. Includes practical tips and advice, allowing you to weave some of the great artists’ magic into your own work. Selected masterpieces serve as perfect examples of a particular quality in painting: light and shade, rhythm, form, space, contour, and composition are all covered in detail. Explores each artist’s creative vision, describing how they made the artwork. Use it as a guide, a confidence-booster, a workbook, a companion – or simply admire the paintings!

The Short Story of Modern Art explains the how, why and when of modern art – who introduced certain things, what they were, where they were produced, and why they matter. Simply constructed, the book explores 50 key works – from the realist painting of Courbet to a contemporary installation by Yayoi Kusama – and then links them to the most important movements, themes and techniques. Accessible, concise and richly illustrated, the book reveals the connections between different periods, artists and styles, giving readers a thorough understanding and broad enjoyment of modern art.

Drawing is easy - but you need to know the basics. Artist and writer Susie Hodge gets you drawing right away. With simple exercises to build your confidence, she quickly shows you how to grasp the fundamentals. Every exercise is made up of step-by-step instructions with clear, easy-to-follow illustrations. Line by line, you can see how it''s all done and soon you will be creating your own fantastic artworks. Step-by-step projects include: • A glass full of water • A forest on a Spring day • Faces and their proportions • Drawing draped and crumpled fabrics For anyone who''s ever wanted to try their hand at drawing, but hasn''t had the confidence, this thorough guide will provide you with the groundwork to get you sketching what you see.

Learn to draw 20 different, charming farm animals from scratch in a few easy steps. Learn how to draw all kinds of farm animals using this fun and easy step-by-step method. Starting with simple shapes, Susie Hodge shows you how easy it is to develop circles, rectangles, squares and ovals into an exciting selection of animals and birds including sheep, ponies, pigs and piglets, turkeys, hens, cows and ducks. If you have never drawn before this is definitely the book for you, and there is a lot here to inspire more experienced artists too.

Learn to draw 20 different, charming woodland animals from scratch in a few easy steps Learn how to draw all kinds of woodland animals using this fun and easy step-by-step method. Starting with simple shapes, Susie Hodge shows you how easy it is to develop circles, rectangles, squares and ovals into an exciting selection of animals and birds including rabbits, badgers, woodpeckers, wolves, squirrels and chipmunks. If you have never drawn before this is definitely the book for you, and there is a lot here to inspire more experienced artists too.

The author of Elements of Art demystifies the drawing of animals and birds to show that everything we see can be drawn using simple lines and shapes. Learn how to draw all kinds of woodland animals using this fun and easy step-by-step method. Starting with simple shapes, Susie Hodge shows you how easy it is to develop circles, rectangles, squares and ovals into an exciting selection of animals and birds including rabbits, badgers, woodpeckers, wolves, squirrels and chipmunks. If you have never drawn before this is definitely the book for you, and there is a lot here to inspire more experienced artists too.

Learn how to draw all kinds of farm animals using this fun and easy step-by-step method. Starting with simple shapes, Susie Hodge shows you how easy it is to develop circles, rectangles, squares and ovals into an exciting selection of animals and birds including sheep, ponies, pigs and piglets, turkeys, hens, cows and ducks. If you have never drawn before this is definitely the book for you, and there is a lot here to inspire more experienced artists too.

Everything you ever wanted to know about great art...in just 30 seconds! Jam-packed with fast facts, mini missions, and engaging artwork, this informative book takes kids on an exciting tour of some of the most famous art movements, artists and works of art from prehistoric to the 21st century. From from ancient civilisations to modern art, 30 fascinating topics are covered in 30-seconds summaries, 3-second soundbites, and 3-minute active missions making this the perfect book for youngsters interested in art!

This book has been compiled from the following titles: How to draw babies and children, How to draw faces, How to draw hands and feet, Hot to draw people, How to draw people in action.

In this concise and comprehensive guide to the world of architecture, art historian Susie Hodge outlines the history and theory of architecture, from the earliest structures and monuments to the cutting-edge concepts of the present day, and profiles dozens of key buildings and celebrated architects. Topics and concepts include the Greek orders, Roman engineering, Gothic architecture, the Renaissance, the Baroque era, Revivalism, Art Nouveau, Modernism, Futurism, and Dynamic architecture. Every concept is accompanied by an illustration.

This concise yet comprehensive guide to the history of art is the perfect handbook for all would-be art buffs. Art historian Susie Hodge takes you on a whistle-stop international tour of all the major philosophies, movements, phases, developments, artists, and themes, from prehistoric art to Hyperrealism. Other concepts covered include Greek classicism, Gothic art, the Renaissance, Baroque, Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism, Cubism, surrealism, Pop art, and Minimalism.

A biography and gallery of one of Spain''s great masters, stunningly illustrated throughout.

The Art of Fine Gifts: Twentieth-century painter, designer and wood engraver Eric Ravilious was responsible for a fascinating range of different works, from illustrations for books to designs for ceramics for the established Wedgwood pottery firm. This gorgeous new book features beautiful woodcut images of countryside life, watercolours of rolling landscapes and many of Ravilious'' acute and profound war paintings.