Rich in tradition and history; the art of batik has been a deeply integrated facet of Chinese folk art for over 2;000 years. Using molten beeswax; skilled artisans paint patterns onto white cloth; which is then dipped into indigo dye. When the wax is removed with boiling water; unique designs of great harmony and beauty remain. The themes depicted in batik decoration have a strong native flavor; and are distinctive of the Chinese provinces and districts where they were created. In Huangping; mountains; trees; and birds are represented. In the Miao district; the concentration is on flowers and butterflies; while in the Yunnan Province; designs of peacocks; monkeys; and elephants abound. In this stunning pictorial archive; more than 110 authentic designs have been carefully reproduced from a rare; early collection of batik art. Collected from the remote areas of Chinas southwestern provinces; each decorative pattern is rich in beauty and meaning. This royalty-free volume will be an invaluable resource for artists; designers; craftspeople; and any lover of traditional Chinese folk art.
#544286 in eBooks 2012-04-19 2012-04-19File Name: B00A7359MY
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great book by great artiest who studied zoo animalsBy Paul WheelerGreat book by great artiest who studied zoo animals... not pictures. His talents were merged with those of scientists interested in showing how dinosaurs looked.18 of 19 people found the following review helpful. Ive worn out three copies of this classic!By Robert A. SloanAnimal Drawing; Anatomy and Action for Artists is not a modern art instruction book with step by step demonstrations. Instead; its a collection of splendid original drawings by master nature painter Charles R. Knight with tight; well-written short essays on drawing the creatures and using their skeletal and muscular anatomy to give them lifelike; accurate proportions.If I need to draw any animal; bird or reptile; I consult this book first. Its concentrated; very concise; lots of information packed into every drawing and every short essay. Birds; reptiles and amphibians are touched on. Representative examples of every general type of animal are included; although every time I go through it I find myself wishing hed done about three or four volumes and gone into more different species.Charles R. Knight is the muralist responsible for many of the gorgeous dinosaur and prehistoric life paintings in natural history museums across the country. I first found his paintings at Chicagos Field Museum; but there are more in the Smithsonian and in Toronto and many other museums. His work is brilliant and gorgeous. Some of it has been rendered obsolete by modern dinosaur discoveries; but his mammals extinct and otherwise are still accurate and lifelike.I have been studying this book since my twenties and still not run out of times I need to go back and reference it for cat joints; birds wings or cow proportions. A must-have for anyone who likes drawing and painting animals; a fun read for anyone who enjoys natural history. When my copy gets battered and starts losing pages; I replace it and pass the ratty one on to a student. Ive done this three times and my fourth copy is starting to show wear.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. This is a classic!By BonnieGreat sketches and narrative about animals.