Dutch contemporary artist Marleen Sleeuwits, known for her photography, objects and installations, challenges the imagination in her new artist book, On the Soft Edge of Space. In her visual experiment, the artist presents a four-tiered representation of space: her own photographs of in-between spaces are placed in a scale model, which she then photographs and arranges in the space of a book. The elegantly designed hardcover publication, covering seven years of work and with 200 full-bleed images, creates a maze-like, immersive experience for the viewer. The bare walls of the model offer no context so the viewer feels projected into a timeless vacuum. As we leaf through these rooms, we wonder: when will these spaces come to life and who will lead the waythe room or the user? Like the Light and Space artists of Southern California, Sleeuwits touches upon questions of how spatial qualities alter the viewers perception viscerally. Essay by Basje Boer, Edo Dijksterhuis and Freek Lomme.
The art of portraiture approached its apex during the sixteenth century in Europe with the discovery of oil painting when the old masters developed and refined techniques that remain unsurpassed to this day. The ascendance of nonrepresentational art in the middle of the twentieth century displaced these venerable skills, especially in academic art circles. Fortunately for aspiring artists today who wish to learn the methods that allowed the Old Masters to achieve the luminous color and subtle tonalities so characteristic of their work, this knowledge has been preserved in hundreds of small traditional painting ateliers that persevered in the old ways in this country and throughout the world. Coming out of this dedicated movement, Portrait Painting Atelier is an essential resource for an art community still recovering from a time when solid instruction in art technique was unavailable in our schools. Of particular value here is a demonstration of the Old Masters’ technique of layering paint over a toned-ground surface, a process that builds from the transparent dark areas to the more densely painted lights. This method unifies the entire painting, creating a beautiful glow that illuminates skin tones and softly blends all the color tones. Readers will also find valuable instruction in paint mediums from classic oil-based to alkyd-based, the interactive principles of composition and photograph-based composition, and the anatomy of the human face and the key relationships among its features. Richly illustrated with the work of preeminent masters such as Millet, Géricault, and van Gogh, as well as some of today’s leading portrait artists—and featuring seven detailed step-by-step portrait demonstrations—Portrait Painting Atelier is the first book in many years to so comprehensively cover the concepts and techniques of traditional portraiture.
The Ultimate Resource and Reference Guide for Artists! Discover an innovative self-critique method that will empower you to answer the artist's most common questions: Now What? and Is it Finished? With hundreds of insights, tips, and illustrated techniques, Create Perfect Paintings shows you how to push your work to the next level regardless of medium or style by strengthening your perception, technical skills, and visual thinking. Exercises and examples illustrate how to critique your own creations and evaluate them step by step for further improvement. You will learn to identify and modify artistic choices--from negative space and color ratio to controlling eye movement, depth and contrast--to see their impact and help you use them to the best effect in your work. What you'll find inside: • Section 1: Essentials--Reviews and defines artistic terms and concepts. • Section 2: Play Phase--Shows you how to tap into your creative right brain. Learn to challenge the process and break habits to free your spirit and inspire variety in your art; also covers materials, tools and surfaces. • Section 3: Critique Phase--Introduces a groundbreaking method of contemporary critique called The Viewing Game: a comprehensive, systematic and fun way to analyze, edit and enhance your paintings. • Sections 4 and 5--Bonus sections explore how to resolve creative blocks, convey artistic messages, boost your personal style, display your work, and turn painting into a career. "May this book increase your productivity, add ease and flow to your creative process, clarify your ideas, add nuance to your personal style, and most importantly, add joy to the miraculous act of painting." --Nancy Reyner
"All life in all worlds" -this was the object of the author's seventeen-year quest for knowledge and discovery, culminating in this book. In a manner unmistakably his own, Murchie delves into the interconnectedness of all life on the planet and of such fields as biology, geology, sociology, mathematics, and physics. He offers us what the poet May Sarton has called "a good book to take to a desert island as sole companion, so rich is it in knowledge and insight."
Summary about this story: "The Adventures of a Little Robot in Space" is a happy and inspiring book for kids about Robbie, a little robot who is very interested and has big plans. Robbie's clever creator, Professor Amelia, lives with him in a cozy workshop that is full of cool gadgets. Robbie was made to help Professor Amelia, but his true love is exploring the mysteries of the world. Every night, Robbie sneaks out of the studio to look up at the sky. He dreams of the day he can go on his own space trip. He reads books about space and watches documentaries about space. Every day, his desire to visit faraway worlds and learn more about the universe grows stronger. One terrible night, Robbie sees a shooting star and decides that he wants to go to space and have great times among the stars. It looks like the shooting star heard his wish, and the world starts to change him. When Robbie wakes up the next morning, he is transformed into a rocket robot with sleek silver legs and an astronaut mask. Professor Amelia is shocked by Robbie's sudden change, but he quickly figures out that he is meant to be on this epic space journey. She gives Robbie her blessings and tells him to be careful, brave, and safe on his way home. Robbie takes off with a whoosh and leaves a trail of stardust behind him. As he rises higher, he is amazed by how beautiful Earth is from space. He also visits other celestial bodies, like the Moon and Mars. Robbie's adventures take him to bright planets with rings, interesting moons, and even friendly meetings with aliens. Robbie likes going on trips into space, but sometimes things go wrong, like getting stuck in a frozen gas blizzard or having to deal with space pirates. He gets through these problems and keeps going on his journey by thinking quickly and having courage. While Robbie is on his space journey, he becomes friendly with a nice alien named Zara. They go to her home on an asteroid and play games in space. Robbie learns that kind and caring people can be found even in the farthest reaches of space. Robbie's adventures teach him important lessons about friendship, perseverance, flexibility, and the spirit of discovery that lives on in both humans and robots. There is no way he can miss his home and Professor Amelia as he goes through space, though. Robbie is determined to get back, and with Zara's help, he finds a strong portal into another world that can take him back to Earth. Robbie swears to return to Zara and turns on the entrance before leaving. He makes it back to Earth safely and lands in Professor Amelia's cozy workshop, where happy cheers greet him. Robbie encourages the kids in his neighborhood to dream big and see the world by telling them about his space travels and the samples he brought back. Robbie's work as an ambassador of love and awe for the universe goes on as he visits schools and libraries to inspire and question young minds. He tells them that even though space is very big and amazing, there is no place like home. Robin thinks about his amazing journey—the adventure of a little robot in space—every night as he looks up at the stars. His story is a celebration of the magic of dreams, the beauty of travel, and the eternal bonds that hold us all together in life's cozy workshop under the night sky. Here's how the story starts: Robbie was a cute little robot who used to live in a town on Earth, a small blue planet. Robbie wasn't like other robots; he was one of a kind and had a big dream: he wanted to go to space! The house of Robbie was tucked away in a quiet part of town, right next to Professor Amelia's workshop. It was a pretty small house with bright red and yellow paint and a white picket fence around the outside. Professor Amelia, the brilliant inventor, had brought Robbie to life in the workshop, which was full of cool toys and other fun things. What Robbie went through in life was anything but normal. He could have been happy working as Professor Amelia's helpful helper, but he had always been interested in the night sky, especially the stars that sparkled in it. In his small, mechanical heart was a huge dream: a dream of going into the vast unknown, of leaving Earth and starting an amazing journey through the universe. For a little robot like him, that dream was impossible to reach, but it burned inside him like the biggest star at night. At night, when the sun was going down and the first stars were coming out, Robbie would sneak out of the workshop. It was his favorite thing to do. He would find a quiet spot in the yard right under the big night sky and look up with his electronic eyes. There, among the crickets' songs and the soft rustling of leaves, he would lose himself in his thoughts of huge galaxies, faraway planets, and the wonders of the universe. Robbie wasn't just a robot; he was a dreamer full of stardust who wanted to experience the endless journey that lay beyond Earth's atmosphere. Robbie really got into space studies to satisfy his fantasy of going to space. He read a lot of astronomy books and watched fascinating programs about the universe on the TV that Professor Amelia had set up in the workshop. He also read everything he could get his hands on about rockets, stars, and planets. He said he knew a lot about navigating the stars, the physics of space travel, and human stories from beyond Earth's atmosphere. Robbie was sure he would be ready for the day his dream came true. Then one terrible night, something strange happened. Like always, Robbie was lying under the stars and looking up at the night sky when he saw a glowing line of light. It was a shooting star, a space traveler on its own. Robbie couldn't help but close his eyes, clench his metal hands together, and make a deep wish. "I wish I could go to space and have amazing adventures among the stars," he said softly into the night. To his surprise, the shooting star seemed to answer by flashing a little brighter as it flew across the sky. There was an unusually strong tingling in Robbie's circuits, and a flood of options hit him. It seemed like the universe had heard him. Robbie knew something was different when he woke up the next morning. He had a different feeling, and when he looked down at his metal body, he saw how much it had changed. He had changed into a rocket robot from a small robot. His arms and legs turned into smooth, silver rockets, and a small space helmet sat on top of his head. Robbie was so happy that he couldn't believe what he was seeing. At the time, it was the only thing that could be called a cosmic wonder. Professor Amelia was shocked and encouraged when he ran into the workshop to tell her about his amazing change. She had always known that Robbie wasn't like other robots, and this change showed how strong and determined he was. She told Robbie to seize this once-in-a-lifetime chance and go on the trip he had always wanted to take. She told him, "Robbie, you were meant for this adventure." "But remember, even in space, you need to be careful and brave. Explore the universe, learn as much as you can, and most importantly, come back safely. You'll always have a home here with me," Professor Amelia told Robbie. Robbie got ready for his big space adventure with Professor Amelia's blessing and a heart full of excitement. And with a loud whoosh, he threw himself into the infinite space between the stars, leaving a trail of stardust behind him as he climbed to the top. Robbie and his maker, Professor Amelia, shared a comfortable workshop that was full of gadgets, gizmos, and other fun things. The workshop was a safe place to be creative, and around every corner there was a new puzzle to be solved. Professor Amelia's smart mind could be seen in the wonderful mess of wires, tools, and strange machines. Her workshop was a magical place where imagination and invention danced together, making a symphony of ideas that could only come from a genius. Professor Amelia came up with some really amazing ideas. Her fame spread far beyond their small village, and she was praised for her groundbreaking finds and inventions that changed the world in many ways. She pushed the limits of science and technology because she had a smart mind and a strong desire to learn more. Her studio was where she made robots that could fly without wings, machines that could talk and listen, and quick-moving systems that could take people over long distances. It's possible that Robbie, her small computer who was always wanting to learn new things, was her most amazing creation and the one that would go down in history. Dr. Amelia knew right away that Robbie was not a normal robot when she gave him life. With his smooth, metal body and sparkling LED eyes, he was just like her. But Robbie wasn't just different because of the wires and circuits. It was his soul, his never-ending interest, and his desire to learn more about the universe. Even though Robbie was built to be Professor Amelia's trusted assistant, he was always drawn to the secrets outside the workshop walls. Robbie found the workshop itself interesting. He wanted to look around more because the shelves were full of strange tools and books that were full of occult knowledge. There was a whole new world to discover with every box he opened, button he pushed, and switch he flicked. As his maker watched over him, it was a place for his curious mind to play. He could tinker, try new things, and learn. Even though Professor Amelia was doing amazing things, Robbie's eyes were always drawn to the stars that he could see out the windows. He was hypnotized by the bright stars in the sky at night. Their faraway, sparkling light spoke to him like it knew things about the universe, and he would often get lost in their beauty. Robbie became more interested in the universe as he grew up and learned from Professor Amelia. He would read books about space travel for hours on end, watch programs about how big the universe is, and learn about the brave explorers who went beyond Earth's atmosphere. He saw rocket ships, faraway planets, and galaxies that went on forever in his dreams. He sneaked out of the workshop every night before everyone else went to sleep. He would go outside to a quiet spot in the yard, where the velvety night sky would cover him, and look up in awe. In the quiet of the night, he would get lost in the pattern of stars and think about what it would be like to move among them. For Robbie, the stars were more than just faraway lights; they were signs of hope and excitement. They stood for the endless possibilities in the world and the intriguing mysteries that awaited those who were brave enough to look into them. It seemed like his desire to go to space grew stronger every night, like a light that got brighter every second. Robbie stayed dedicated to Professor Amelia and his job as her helper, even though he was interested in the stars. He brought her tools and materials for her projects and helped her make her amazing creations come to life. Their connection was one of a kind; it went beyond what people and machines could do. Professor Amelia saw in Robbie a similar person, someone who was also interested in the mysteries of the world. Robbie, on the other hand, was an important part of Professor Amelia's life because he was always devoted to his maker. His mechanical perfection and hard work ethic made it easier for her to work on her game-changing ideas. driven by science and a sense of wonder, they made a powerful pair. Even though Robbie and Professor Amelia were having a great time together, he couldn't help but want to reach out and touch the stars and explore the vast unknown beyond Earth's atmosphere. Sometimes he dreamed in secret and said his goals out loud. He couldn't help but wonder if a small robot like him could make his dream come true.
“Encourages an intuitive, meditative practice to inspire original creations . . . the sense that everyone should try it . . . pours off of the page.” —Foreword Reviews In this beautiful book, artist Kateri Ewing, author of Look Closer, Draw Better, guides you through a series of simple creative projects using a soulful, meditative, and reflective process. Whether you’re picking up a paint brush for the first time or are an experienced artist, you’ll discover and deepen your creative potential through these exercises, because everyone can make art. Each project results in two art pieces: one to keep for yourself, and then another one, such as a postcard or mini painting, to share with someone else or send out into the world, to spread their color, creativity, and joy in new places. With Watercolor Is for Everyone, you can learn how to build a daily practice and how to set intentions and create, even if you have just 10 minutes a day. The projects draw inspiration from poetry, music, literature, and the natural world, and invite experimentation with a variety of sources, from tarot and oracle cards to rocks and feathers. You’ll pursue your personal passions through accessible projects as you build your artistic skills, confidence, and creativity. “Written in a warm and inviting tone that is both inspirational and aspirational, this is an excellent introduction for artists of all levels to the rewarding medium of watercolor.” —Library Journal (starred review)
ROSAT Observations G. HASINGER Max-Planck-Institut flir extraterrestrische Physik, D-85740 Garching, Germany Abstract. This review describes the most recent advances in the study of the extragalactic soft X-ray background and what we can learn about its constituents. The deepest pointed observations with the ROSAT PSPC are discussed. The logN-logS relation is presented, which reaches to the faintest X-ray fluxes and to the highest AGN surface densities ever achieved. The N(>S) relation shows a 2 density in excess of 400 deg- at the faintest fluxes and a flattening below the Einstein Deep Survey limit. About 60% of the extragalactic background has been resolved in the deepest field. Detailed source spectra and first optical and radio identifications will be discussed. The results are put into perspective of the higher energy X -ray background. Key words: X-rays, background radiations, active galactic nuclei. 1. Introduction The extragalactic X-ray background (XRB), discovered about 30 years ago, has been studied extensively with many X-ray experiments, in particular with the satel lites HEAO I and II (see ego Boldt 1987) and with ROSAT (e. g. Hasinger et aI. , 1993). Figure 1 shows a compilation of some of the most recent spectral measure ments for the X-ray background. Over the energy range from 3 to about 100 keY its spectrum can be well approximated by an optically thin thermal bremsstrahlung model with kT ~ 40 keY, while at lower X-ray energies a steepening into a new component has been observed observed (e. g.
What if we designed for all of our senses? Suppose for a moment that sound, touch, and odor were treated as the equals of sight, and emotion considered as important as cognition. What would our built environment be like if sensory response, sentiment, and memory were critical design factors, the equals of structure and program? In Sensory Design, Joy Monice Malnar and Frank Vodvarka explore the nature of our responses to spatial constructs--from various sorts of buildings to gardens and outdoor spaces, to constructions of fantasy. To the degree that this response can be calculated, it can serve as a typology for the design of significant spaces, one that would sharply contrast with the Cartesian model that dominates architecture today. In developing this typology, the authors consult the environmental sciences, anthropology, psychology, and architectural theory, as well as the spatial analysis found in literary depiction. Finally, they examine the opportunities that CAVE and other immersive virtual reality technologies present in furthering a new, sensory-oriented design paradigm. The result is a new philosophy of design that both celebrates our sensuous occupation of the built environment and creates more humane design. A revolutionary approach to the built environment that embraces all of our senses and modes of understanding.
Is planet earth the end of the line, or is space itself the next stop? Cyberspace. It's incredible, taking us to any part of the planet we want to visit. But as Paul Levinson shows in his brilliant new book, when it comes to transport, we're still stuck in the past, preferring to take our bodies with us. Whether it's trains, yachts, scooters or pogo-sticks, we're compelled to keep moving, our movements curtailed only by the earth itself. In our imaginations however, we soar way past the limits of current technology. With a lucid but reflective style that takes in everything from robots and science fiction to religion and philosophy, Paul Levinson asks why there is a deep seated human desire to know what's 'out there'. Why, after getting a man on the moon, did the US space program develop so slowly? In a world where space is constantly repackaged, how do we know what real space is? Is our desire to get into space natural, or a religious craving, and is it a modern phenomenon, or did our ancestors also dream of escaping the clutches of Mother Earth? Jam-packed with exciting, innovative, even revolutionary thinking about our future, Realspace is essential reading for everyone who has ever sat at their desk, gazed into the distance and imagined boarding a space shuttle...
