Arts and Culture

Reborn in 1951, the Myasishchev design bureau made its mark by creating the M-4 strategic bomber. Yet, this subsonic aircraft was soon made obsolescent by supersonic fighter technology—any new strategic bomber would need supersonic performance to avoid being intercepted. Hence in 1952, Myasishchev started work on supersonic bomber projects, which led to the M-50 of 1955. Designed for sustained sup

Anzio Annie, Anzio Express, "Leopold"; known by many names, the German 8 cm Kanone 5 Eisenbahngeschütz (railway gun), commonly abbreviated K5(E), was the most successful and widely used of Germany's railway gun designs. Twenty-four of the weapons, capable of shelling England from positions in France, were built and were used by Germany on most of their fronts, including France, Italy, Russia, and

The PBY Catalina, designed and produced by Consolidated Aircraft, whose production was supplemented by that of Boeing Canada, Canadian Vickers, and the Naval Aircraft Factory, was the most widely used flying boat of all time. Developed in the 1930s, the famed patrol bomber was used around the world by the United States and its allies—the Soviets even produced hundreds of duplicates. The versatile

During WWII, Germany fielded a variety of six- and eight-wheeled armored cars, which were used in numerous ways, including reconnaissance, antitank, infantry support, and other roles.  The earliest of these vehicles, the 6-Rad, or six-wheeled vehicles, were based on 6 × 4 truck chassis. Once the limitations of this design became evident, later models utilized specially designed all-wheel-drive pow

SS United States was the flagship of the United States Lines and was representative of the apex of steam-engineering technology. Designed by William Francis Gibbs, the ship was designed to be both fast and safe, due to the use of new materials with an emphasis on being fireproof. This book chronicles the design, construction, and operation of the liner. Using many materials taken from the ship its

Do you love the look of fancy letters but think they are too hard to draw? Think again! Everyone’s favorite art teacher, Mrs. Arnold, is back with another super-fun guide that breaks popular art techniques down into bite-sized lessons. In this newest book, Mrs. Arnold will teach you how to draw 18 different alphabet styles! Trust her—you can do it! The book is conveniently organized into three mai

Reveals the contemporary art phenomenon of disrupted realism through the paintings of 43 artists at its core.

Profoundly shaped by the events, forces, and overflow of today's disjointed, social-media-heavy life, these artists' paintings are “disrupted” stylistically, thematically, or sometimes both.

With a midengined configuration, sturdy tricycle landing gear, and nose-mounted 37 mm cannon, the Bell P-39 was a thoughtful and innovative design. However, the plane lacked the all-out performance of some other key fighters available to Allied fliers (e.g., Spitfire, Hellcat, Mustang), particularly at altitude. Largely rejected by British and American combat squadrons, the Airacobra was much bett

A comprehensive how-to reference that teaches wet textile surface design techniques for making custom cloth.

Learn surface design for textiles, to create rich and personally expressive fabric surfaces. Projects by expert Susan Brandeis (author of the bestselling The Intentional Thread) help a range of levels--beginners to r

After occupying the Balkans early in the war, the Axis powers constantly struggled to police the region. The partisan presence was quite substantial, and while the various fractured guerrilla groups expended a great deal of energy fighting among themselves, they were still a threat to German/Italian control. The Germans and Italians were heavily engaged with the Allies across multiple fronts, so m

The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is one of the most successful fighter designs of the 20th century. The type first flew in 1972, transitioning directly from the drawing board to production with remarkably few hiccups. By late 1974, planes were already being delivered to operational units, and it remains on active duty with several major international militaries today, including the US Air Force. A

As of 2023, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird is the fastest manned jet aircraft ever produced. It set the record in 1976 and has been retired since the late 1990s. With its unrivaled speed and stunning appearance, the Blackbird has maintained an almost supernatural mystique to this day. The type entered service in the 1960s as a high-altitude (and obviously extremely high speed) military reconnaissanc

Hand lettering just got a whole lot more fun with this instructional guide from professional lettering artist Dawn Nicole Warnaar.

This comprehensive book, perfect for beginners and experienced lettering artists alike, begins with three foundational lettering styles and then expands to ten playful variations. Each style com

Learn how to lean in to your unique style of creativity with this fluid art instruction book that combines creative inspiration and soulful introspection with practical instruction.

Author and licensed psychotherapist Jessica Young is your expert, empathetic guide to developing your energy and feeding your creative flow. Th

In this hands-on introduction to one of the rarest of textile crafts, artist and designer Ashdown—one of the few remaining experts—shares its centuries-old methods and how to apply them to make contemporary ornamental trimmings. • 11 guided projects for home and wardrobe, from Chanel-style jacket fringe to braided edging for a window blind • For beginner and intermediate

This updated and expanded edition of Tommy at Fifty is the definitive illustrated companion to the album that made the Who one of the greatest and most influential bands of the rock era. Written by two leading experts on, and close associates of, the group—journalist and author Chris Charlesworth and original album cover designer Mike McInnerney—it considers the album from four distinct angles, ex

Learn surface design for textiles, to create rich and personally expressive fabric surfaces. Projects by expert Susan Brandeis (author of the bestselling The Intentional Thread) help novices and experts experiment with each method. • Covers dry techniques in detail: how to add color, pattern, and images to fabrics using cutting, piecing, layering, building, and embellishing. • Includes

Known for his ability to construct a signature mix of design elements,Foley draws on 30-plus years of experience to share how beautiful,effective design decisions can help you live well in your home. Foleyfocuses on tailoring spaces to suit clients´ needs while curating ablend of meaningful items and combining classic and contemporary styles. • Go room by room through your home, learning hel

Magnum photographer Patrick Zachmann was on the scene when the disastrous fire erupted in Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral on the evening of April 15, 2019. At the time he did not yet know that he would continue to document the events at the cathedral over the months that followed. Eventually, he clambered along scaffolding and up and down steep stairs, and he would, from atop an aerial work platfor

In 1897, Gus embarked on a four-year career as a merchant seaman. While traveling the world, he discovered the art of tattooing, learning to tattoo from tribesmen in Java and Borneo who showed him how to use traditional handmade tools. By 1901, Gus reportedly had 264 tattoos of his own (and over 800 by 1908), allowing him to promote himself as “the most artistically marked-up man in America.” Back