The heyday of the Art Nouveau style was relatively short, spanning the decades immediately before and after 1900. However it was a tremendously important period, not only for its radical shift away from the academic and romantic movements of the late 19th century, but also for its embrace of nature and natural forms. This authoritative, accessible and beautifully illustrated book explores fifty of the most important works of the Art Nouveau style. From Mackmurdo's jacket design of Christopher Wren's City Churches to Sykes' sculpture, The Spirit of Ecstasy, each work is presented in double-page spreads that chronologically trace Art Nouveau's development and breadth-from architecture, Gaudi's Sagrada Familia, and from graphic arts, Toulouse-Lautrec's poster advertising the Divan Japonais, to home decor, lamps by Tiffany and Daum Freres and to painting, Munch's Madonnas and Walter Crane's Neptune's Horses. Each entry includes a full-page illustration and concise explanatory texts. An introductory essay on the history and legacy of Art Nouveau, along with brief biographies of the artists featured in the book, making this a comprehensive yet compact reference work.

Following on from her bestselling book How to Survive Modern Art, Susie Hodge once again tackles a dauntingly complex subject: how can we evaluate, explore and respond to art? With the power to affect us all, art can be enjoyed in many different ways. Its impact can be both straightforward and unexpected. It can change our minds or our attitudes, provoke anger or shock, or make us laugh or cry. It can intimidate, disconcert, pose conundrums or puzzles, or instruct or enlighten. Ultimately, it offers a window on society's values and ideals, and every work of art expresses the perceptions and memories of the artist who created it. In her characteristically engaging style, Susie Hodge shows us how to interpret and respond to a broad variety of artwork and artists' philosophies. This enormously stimulating book enriches our experience of art, and in the process enhances our own creativity.

This is a comprehensive guide for all artists who want to use photography to inspire and inform their work. It demonstrates the photographic skills required to use a camera as a sketchbook to gather information for your work. It takes you through the process of working from photographs, creating effective compositions and developing this to finished paintings.Six step demonstrations track a painting from initial photograph to finished artwork. This guide offers invaluable guidance on composing and painting images in watercolour, acrylic, coloured pencil and oil, making it perfect for artists of all skill levels.