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Art & Culture

Culture and art is many things and at Tales you find a wide selection of art and culture books. If you enjoy a trip to the museum or an evening at the theatre this is the place for you. If you are more into architecture or a well written song, fear not you also find books about that. Lastly design and fashion is also part of our art and culture selection, so what are you waiting for? Set your inner creativity free and get inspired by some of the world’s best artists, musicians, designers or architects.
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  • Save 13%
    - The Ultimate Guide to Achieving a Professional Sound
    by Billy Decker
    £12.99

    Featuring the full template and used on fifteen No 1 records!

  • - Step-by-Step From Lines to Perspective
    by David Drazil
    £24.49

    Master the basics of architectural sketching with this proven & easy-to-follow 6-step framework guiding you from the first lines to full perspective sketches. The book includes 40+ specific tips, 15 worksheets, and countless examples.

  • Save 10%
    - The ultimate practical reference to watercolor mixes and dilutions
    by Julie (Author) Collins
    £8.99

    A practical and inspirational manual that shows you a huge range of color mixes in watercolor. Use the book as a handy reference when you want to know how to mix a specific color, or as a catalog of inspiration when seeking ideas to try in your work. The handy color viewing card included can be used to view each color swatch in isolation.

  • - In Simple Steps
    by Yishan Li
    £5.99

    Draw 28 amazingly cute kawaii-style characters in just 8 easy stages.

  • Save 15%
    - The Wit and Wisdom of Coco Chanel
    by Jean-Christophe Napias & Patrick Mauries
    £10.99

    An elegant collection of legendary designer Coco Chanel's maxims on style, women and life, presented in a fashionable gift format.

  • Save 21%
    - Create Frame-Worthy Art in Just a Few Simple Steps
    by Anna Koliadych
    £14.99

    15-Minute Watercolor Masterpieces is an enchanting book by the talented Anna Koliadych. Published by Page Street Publishing Co. in 2020, this book has quickly gained recognition in the art community. It belongs to the genre of instructional art books, but it stands out with its unique approach. The book guides you through creating stunning watercolor artworks in just 15 minutes. It's perfect for both beginners who want to learn watercolor painting and experienced artists looking for new techniques or quick practice exercises. Koliadych's easy-to-follow instructions and beautiful illustrations make this book a must-have for anyone interested in watercolor painting. Page Street Publishing Co. has indeed brought a gem to the market with this publication.

  • Save 26%
    by Jessica Julius
    £21.49

    An exclusive look at the artistry behind Disney Animation Studio's upcoming film FROZEN 2

  • Save 11%
    - Embroidery and the Making of the Feminine
    by Rozsika Parker
    £16.99

    Uses household accounts, women's magazines, letters, novels and the works of art themselves to trace through history how the separation of the craft of embroidery from the fine arts came to be a major force in the marginalisation of women's work. This book also discusses the contradictory nature of women's experience of embroidery.

  • Save 19%
    - The beginner's guide to flower painting for journal pages, handmade stationery and more
    by Marie (Author) Boudon
    £12.99

    DIY Watercolor Flowers is a captivating book by Marie Boudon, published in 2019 by David & Charles. This book falls under the genre of Art and Craft, specifically focusing on watercolor painting. The book guides the reader through the beautiful world of watercolor flowers, teaching them how to create their own masterpieces. The author, Marie Boudon, beautifully explains the techniques and nuances of watercolor painting, making it simple and accessible for everyone, regardless of their painting experience. The publication year, 2019, marks the year when this treasure trove of artistic knowledge was shared with the world. The publisher, David & Charles, is known for their high-quality art books, and this one is no exception. DIY Watercolor Flowers is a must-have for every art enthusiast's library.

  • Save 20%
    - The Story of Human Creativity across Time and Space (mini format - includes 600 of the world's greatest works)
    by Phaidon Editors
    £19.99

    An accessible, comprehensive, freshly-updated celebration of the vast range of human artistry from 28,000 BC to today

  • Save 18%
    - 50 Years of Signs, Symbols, Banners, Logos, and Graphic Art of LGBTQ
    by Andy Campbell
    £17.99

    Published in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Stonewall and the Gay Pride Parade, this is the first-ever illustrated history of the iconic art, symbols, and design that represent more than 5 decades of LGBTQ pride and activism-from the evolution of Gilbert Baker's rainbow flag to the NYC Pride typeface launched in 2017.

  • Save 27%
    by Rebeka Elizegi
    £21.99

  • Save 27%
    - Understanding and Using Light in Art & Design
    by Richard Yot
    £21.99

    ¿¿ Enthält neue, überarbeitete Mini-Tutorials¿¿ Mit Diagrammen und Illustrationen sowie Computerspielenund Film-StillsDiese Einführung für Studierende und bildende Künstler in dasThema Licht untersucht, wie Licht eingesetzt werden kann,um realistische und fantastische Effekte in einer Vielzahl vonMedien zu erzeugen. In drei Teilen erklärt der klar formulierteText die grundlegenden Eigenschaften von natürlichemund künstlichem Licht, wie man realistische Bilder durchBeobachtung von Mensch und Umwelt erzeugt und denkreativen Einsatz von Licht in Komposition und Design.Aktualisiert mit überarbeiteten Fotos und Grafiken sowie15 praktischen Übungen und neuem Online-Videomaterial,ist diese zweite Auflage eine unverzichtbare Ressource fürGrafikdesigner, Maler, Fotografen und Künstler.

  • Save 31%
    - Designer of Dreams
    by Oliver Gabet
    £44.99

    A magnificent showcase of one of France's greatest couture houses.

  • Save 21%
    by Oliver Sin
    £14.99

    Drawing the Head for Artists is the definitive modern guide to drawing the human head and portrait, featuring the classic mediums and methods of the Old Masters. Written by celebrated portrait artist and veteran studio instructor Oliver Sin, this richly informative and beautifully illustrated volume leads readers step-by-step through his method, from establishing a point of view to applying the timeless principles for creating an accurate and expressive likeness. Among the topics covered: Essential Materials & Techniques:Learn about necessary supplies and basic drawing techniques, including hatching, various stroke styles, and blending.Applying the Essentials:Explore how the concepts of sight-sizing, value, negative space/shapes, and plane changes factor into a portrait's underlying structure.Techniques for Creating Depth & Dimension:Investigate how contrasting shapes, overlapping forms, and linear and atmospheric perspective are used to enhance depth.Creating the Illusion of Three Dimensions:Examine how edgescontours as well as changes in valueare used to convey three-dimensional form. Brimming with striking images that document all the phases and details of the author's process, Drawing the Head for Artistsinspires and informs all artists, from aspiring to accomplished, on how to successfully portray the physical subtleties and emotional eloquence of the human face. The For Artists series expertly guides and instructs artists at all skill levels who want to develop their classical drawing and painting skills and create realistic and representational art.

  • Save 29%
    by Unknown
    £35.49

    Produced in collaboration with The Andy Warhol Foundation and Jean-Michel Basquiat's estate, this book explores the artists' complex personal and professional relationship through hundreds of never-before-published photographs of Basquiat by Warhol, excerpts from the legendary Andy Warhol Diaries, rarely seen archival material and examples of...

  • Save 31%
    by Paul Nicklen
    £54.99

    Selecting his most evocative and thought-provoking imagery, this BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year, top Instagram photography influencer, and speaker takes you deeply into a world he loves. Text in English, German and French.

  • by Emmanuel Cooper
    £23.49

    This guide provides a short introduction to glazes with basic instructions on making your own, followed by a comprehensive collection of glaze recipes, covering a wide range of temperatures and variations. The book should be of use to any potter or ceramicist.

  • Save 20%
    by Daniel Wallace
    £11.99

    A repository of Alliance intelligence, The Rebel Files weaves together classified documents, intercepted transmissions, and gathered communications to trace the formation of the Rebel Alliance.

  • Save 23%
    by Philip Jodidio
    £15.49

    Sprouting with fresh ideas and sunny outlooks, this compact edition brings together the best examples of contemporary green buildings today. Well-known architects like Frank Gehry and Norman Foster sit alongside young, up-and-coming creators. Each entry introduces a key project through plans, photos, and a close reading of the sustainable and...

  • Save 21%
    by Professor Katherine Willis
    £13.49

    This large-format poster book lets you decorate your walls with images from Katie Scott's Botanicum. Featuring plantlife of all kinds, from right around the world, it's a stunning celebration of all things botanical.

  • Save 25%
    - More than 1100 New Palettes with CMYK and RGB Formulas for Designers and Artists
    by Jim Krause
    £20.99

  • Save 24%
    by Christopher Herwig
    £18.99

  • Save 21%
    by William Wegman
    £14.99

    The ultimate collection of William Wegman's Weimaraner photographs, in an accessibly priced format, with over 250 brilliant and witty images from across five decades.

  • Save 13%
    - A Celebration of Girls Being Themselves
    by Kate T. Parker
    £12.99

    Inspired by the popular photo project of the same title that went viral in the spring of 2015, Strong Is the New Pretty is a photo-driven book comprised of 100 high-quality black-and-white and color images (with minimal text) of fierce and joyful girls--a celebration of what it means to be strong.

  • Save 27%
    - The Complete Hipgnosis Catalogue
    by Aubrey Powell
    £21.99

    The complete catalogue of seminal design collective Hipgnosis, showcasing ground-breaking cover art created for the all-time greatest rock & roll bands, including the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd.

  • Save 29%
    - Modern Color
    by David Campany
    £28.49

    Pioneer of color photography: comprehensive overview with unreleased photo material

  • Save 21%
    by Jessica Fellowes
    £13.49

    The best one-liners and caustic quips from all six series of Downton Abbey.

  • Save 27%
     
    £21.99

    Clear thematic structure offering an extensive overview on the subject.

  • Save 24%
    - The Character Vault
    by Jody Revenson
    £18.99

    Unlock new information about your favourite characters from the Harry Potter movies with this definitive coffeetable book profiling the good, the bad, and everything in between.

Culture
What defines culture you might ask? The answer is culture is what defines you. It is what makes us humans human and differentiate us from all other species on the planet. Art and culture is what we share with others, whether it is so called high culture or pop culture. High culture is typically associated with the ‘finer’, classical art forms such as opera, classical music, visual art, ballet and plays. Works that often have a certain age and artistic acknowledgement begin it, but fine culture is also sometimes seen as “high-brow” and not something everyone can understand and that’s sad, because culture and cultural books are for everyone no matter the kind. On the other end of the spectrum we have pop culture that typically is associated with more modern, popular and mainstream forms of culture. It can be pop music, cartoons or big blockbuster movies. We have cultural books from each side of the spectrum, but the best thing is that a change between the two concepts is coming and people are more open about mixing high culture and pop culture, because they are not that different at all. The most important thing about culture is that it connects us and is part of who we are. It can create communities and friendships, but also let us reflect upon ourselves. You can get wiser on that topic in some of our selection’s culture books. 

Art
In our selection you find some of the finest art books featuring some of the greatest artists in history and now. Art is a very important part of our culture. In art you have the possibility of getting engrossed in a wonderful painting, a provocative sculpture, a brilliant play or a beautiful ballet. 
In art you can get lost in the most wonderful stories and themes and identify yourself with someone who doesn’t necessarily look and act like you. By experiencing that you improve your ability of empathy. At the same time you can learn about yourself through art and art books especially when it comes to feelings that can be difficult to describe. In art the themes and problematics are universal and that’s why we feel recognized when experiencing a play, listening to a symphony, studying a great painting or reading a good art book. The art books are best enjoyed in a relaxed setting giving the art room to speak. 
Another beautiful thing about art is that it needs interpretation. When a person meets a well painted painting, a classical sculpture, or a provocative installation it makes us reflect about what it means, and what the art will tell us about society, life or yourself. Everyone can get something different out of a good artwork, because it speaks directly to you and functions as a dialog, where you will have to finish the sentence with your interpretation taking our own life and experiences into the artwork.
We also have a lot of artist books. One of the most talented and popular artists right now are the world famous Dane Vilhelm Hammershøi. Hammershøi has a very significant way of painting giving voice to the melankolic side of the world and of us humans. The painter is famous for his artworks of especially white doors in his apartment in Copenhagen. In the paintings Hammershøi plays with light and shadow in a brilliant way giving room to both sides, which also could be seen as a reflection of life that contains both. The motive also makes the art watcher wonder what is on the other side of the doors or corridors making them compose a continuation of the painting. You can read about Hammershøi in an European context in the artist book Hammershoi and Europe

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