"A Pot of Paint reconstructs the lost transcript and revisits the highly contested issues surrounding one of the most celebrated trials in the history of art. A libel suit brought in the London courts by American expatriate artist James McNeill Whistler against John Ruskin, England's most powerful art critic, the trial was essentially a debate of aesthetic theory conducted at a critical hour in the evolution of modern art." "After viewing an 1877 exhibition that included some of Whistler's most abstract works, Ruskin declared in print that the artist had flung "a pot of paint in the public's face." He called Whistler a "coxcomb" and said that it was the height of "cockney impudence" to ask two hundred guineas for a painting such as Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket. The dispute was fully covered in the popular press. Using those newspaper accounts, as well as letters, legal papers, Ruskin's instructions to his counsel, and Whistler's later rendition of events in The Gentle Art of Making Enemies, Linda Merrill reveals the deeply held, contrary aesthetic ideals of the two parties, and shows that, in many ways, the real litigants in Whistler v. Ruskin were traditional, representational art and art that tended toward abstraction." "During eighteen months of pretrial delays and two days of testimony from Whistler and several well-known figures in the art world, London debated the value and the meaning of art. A Pot of Paint retrieves these debates for a society that continues to argue the merits of innovation in art and the place of art in the modern world."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Add That Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi to Your Home, Effortlessly Rustic and elegant French décor never goes out of style—and with easy yet sophisticated accessories for your home, these 70 projects will transform your space and add that special touch to any room. Jamie Lundstrom’s projects use easy-to-find and recycled objects, as well as new materials, to bring her French vintage style into your life. Projects span every season and category, from sewing to painting and upholstery, including provincial antique baskets, a fantastique Trumeau mirror, a jolie gold leaf frame, boutique plaster of Paris–dipped flowers and a chic antique chair. Featuring simple step-by-step instructions with beautiful photos to help guide you, these projects can be created in just a few hours or less.

Thomas ignores a warning and gets inself sunk -- and all the engines are excited when they learn the Queen is to visit!

With this book in one hand and a brush in the other, you can learn how to create different finishes and effects with paint to change everyday rooms and furnishings into something special, all for the price of a pot of paint. The first section of the book tells you everything you need to know before you start - how to prepare surfaces properly, choose the right paint for the right place, use the best tools and select a colour scheme that will work with the room in question. 50 different techniques follow, with step-by-step photos showing you how to achieve the finished look, accompanied by inspirational photos showing the effect used on walls and doors, furniture and floors. Learn how to update old secondhand furniture, or how to give modern pieces a softly-aged appearance, all with the aid of a pot of paint and a brush. Whatever the style of your interiors, Quick and Easy Paint Transformations will show you the best way to makeover your home.By leading the decorative painting revolution over the last 20 years, Annie Sloan has become perhaps the world's most respected expert in decorative paint, colours, and techniques. Alongside her unique and versatile decorative paint, Chalk Paint, Annie has inspired generations with her accessible, lively, and creative approach to getting great results.

The Art of Letter Carving in Stone portrays the beauty of this age-old craft alongside practical instruction. Written by an eminent practitioner and teacher, it guides the novice through the basics of letter carving, drawn lettering and making simple designs, and for the more experienced it explains a new proportioning system for classical Roman capitals and demonstrates a useful approach to designing letterform variations.Topics include: the development of twentieth-century letter carving; detailed instruction for V-incising the key strokes of letters; tools, materials, stone and making a letter carving easel; drawing a range of alphabets for use in letter carving; making inscriptions, gilding and painting letters, and simple fixings for inscriptions; designing headstones and plaques, house names, alphabets and poetry texts. This beautiful book illustrates a wide range of exciting and creative pieces, and celebrates the inspiring work of contemporary letter carvers. Superbly illustrated with 380 colour photographs and diagrams.