Art Techniques

As a beginning artist, it can be discouraging to look down at your work and not feel pleased by what you see. You have great ideas and breakthrough designs in mind, but knowing where to start can be daunting. It’s time to overcome those roadblocks and start expressing your creative ideas.

Based on a far-reaching study of thousands of individuals, Finding Flow contends that we often walk through our days unaware of and out of touch with our emotional lives. Our inattention makes us constantly bounce between two extremes: During much of the day, we live filled with the anxiety and pressures of our work and obligations, and during our leisure moments, we tend to live in passive boredom.

Part narrative, part practical, this adventure takes you to the foothills of Ethiopia and the ‘town of runners’; to the training grounds of world-record-holding marathon runners in Kenya; racing across the Arctic Circle and the mountains of Europe, through the sweltering sands of the Sahara and the hostility of a winter traverse of the Pennine Way, to witness the incredible natural movement of runners in these environments.

Esper worked closely with Meisner for 17 years and has spent decades developing his famous program for actor's training. The result is a rigorous system of exercises that builds a solid foundation of acting skills from the ground up, and that is flexible enough to be applied to any challenge an actor faces, from soap operas to Shakespeare.

Despite the ups and downs of his personal life and professional career—even in the face of deafness—Beethoven remained remarkably consistent in his most basic convictions about his art. This inner consistency, writes the music historian Mark Evan Bonds, provides the key to understanding the composer's life and works. Discarding tired myths about the composer, Bonds proposes a new way of listening to Beethoven by hearing his music as an expression of his entire self, not just his scowling self.

No one ever goes into an argument intending to lose. Indeed, it is no exaggeration to say that every single person on the face of the planet—every man, woman and child—has, at some moment or another, tried to win an argument. Because arguments are everywhere. Whether it is in the comments section on Facebook, or in the Houses of Parliament, or at the dinner table. We cannot escape the human urge, need, and—yes—desire to argue. But arguing itself tends to get a bad rap. It’s blamed for everything from political polarization to marital breakdown.

The forces of persuasion are all around us. What you might often consider a free choice is quite often the result of persuasion from one or any number of forces. Persuasion influences people to make decisions about what they buy, where they live, who they vote for, and who they love. Persuasion can change our views, change our acts, change our personality, and change our world.

Veteran script consultant Jill Chamberlain discovered in her work that an astounding 99 percent of first-time screenwriters don't know how to tell a story. What the 99 percent do instead is present a situation. In order to explain the difference, Chamberlain created the nutshell technique, a method whereby writers identify eight dynamic, interconnected elements that are required to successfully tell a story. Now, for the first time, Chamberlain presents her unique method in audiobook form with The Nutshell Technique: Crack the Secret of Successful Screenwriting.

Have you ever been put off by music theory or thought that is too hard to learn? If the answer is yes, then this book is the answer for you. It covers everything that anyone who plays (or wants to play) music, and wishes to become better as a musician, should know. This is the most comprehensive book on music theory that you can find today. Not only that, but this book is written in a way that is really easy to follow, understand and internalize all the concepts explained.

The key to winning arguments, owning debates, and becoming the most influential in the room! No matter how confident you are or whether you even consider yourself a leader or not. You see, we all know somebody who is able to speak the right words in the right moments. Whether they want something done or somehow are able to charm every person they meet. Luke Warren knows the power logical thinking has, affecting the outcome of even the most stressful situations, and how you can unlock that power.

The focus of this book is music practice, but these techniques and mindsets can be applied to any skill you want to improve. The Practice of Practice covers essential practice strategies and mindsets you won't find in any other book. You'll learn what research tells us about practice, but more importantly, you'll learn how great musicians in many genres of music think about practice, and you'll learn the strategies and techniques they use to improve.

Best-selling author, artist, and illustrator Lisa Congdon brings her expertise to this guide to the process of artistic self-discovery. Featuring advice from Congdon herself and interviews with a roster of established artists, illustrators, and creatives, this one-of-a-kind book will show listeners how to identify and nurture their own visual identity, navigate the influence of artists they admire, push through fear and insecurity, and appreciate the value of their personal journey.

If you thought music theory was dull, think again! With the right guidance, it can be woven into every practice – and you'll see astounding results straight away. Playing by ear will get you a long way – it certainly worked for Jimi Hendrix. But the world will only ever know one Hendrix… and for every inspirational story you’ve heard about a famous guitarist who knows nothing of music theory, there’s a whole host of other stories about musicians who do – they’re just not the ones who make the headlines.

Just about every human being knows how to listen to music, but what does it take to make music? Is musicality something we are born with? Or a skill that anyone can develop at any time? If you don't start piano at the age of six, is there any hope? Is skill learning best left to children or can anyone reinvent him-or herself at any time?

You would be surprised to learn how many of the world’s most famous CEOs are psychopaths. Their power and manipulative effect lies in their ability to hide. With this book, you will delve deep into the nature of the human mind, the good, the bad, and the ugly. There’s nothing to be afraid of. You will come out on the other side stronger, sharper, and ready to take on just about any challenge that comes your way!

Powerful techniques to influence decisions, Learn exactly what to say and convince people to get what you want do you struggle dealing with people to trigger desired action? Do you think you lack effective communication skills to convince people? Do people ignore or reject your offer and life seems unfair to you? Do you often dream about getting a magic wand that you show to people and get what you want from them? If answer to any or all of the above answers is yes, then you are on the right place now.

Discover the secrets behind the art of influence to control and manipulate people with brainwashing techniques, deception, body language, mind control, and hypnosis. This audiobook will give you a complete understanding of dark psychology and how this works in influencing people’s minds.

Prominent psychologist Angela Duckworth’s successive scientific studies show that perseverance in the face of challenges is a greater predictor of success than genetics.

This much-loved collection is full of action songs, calming songs for bedtime and happy songs to dance to – perfect for the classroom, choirs and for singing at home or in the car with mummy, daddy, grandma or granddad. In the magical world of Apusskidu, children learn about animals and birds, counting, colours, transport, history and tales from around the world, as well as experiencing the pure enjoyment of these wonderful songs that have been loved for generations.

Ear training is one of the most rewarding skills you can develop, and it’s one that you can work on every day. Which makes total sense: Music is an aural experience, after all. Ear training helps you turn the music you hear into music you make on your guitar. This works for your own musical ideas, too: When you dream up a great riff or chord progression, you naturally want to sit down and play it right away. Ear training helps you do just that.