Book of The Week: Vitamin C: Clay and Ceramics in Contemporary Art.

This weeks book of the week is 'Vitamin C: Clay and Ceramics in Contemporary Art' 
738.0922 LIL



Featuring the work of Plymouth based artist Keith Harrison.
and with contributions by Plymouth Art Centre's curator, Ben Borthwick. Keith Harrison is a studio holder, at KARST in Plymouth. 

A global survey of 100 of today's most important clay and ceramic artists, chosen by leading art world professionals.

Vitamin C celebrates the revival of clay as a material for contemporary visual artists, featuring a wide range of global talent as selected by the world's leading curators, critics, and art professionals. Clay and ceramics have in recent years been elevated from craft to high art material, with the resulting artworks being coveted by collectors and exhibited in museums around the world. Packed with illustrations, Vitamin C is a vibrant and incredibly timely survey - the first of its kind.

Artists include: Caroline Achaintre, Ai Weiwei, Aaron Angell, Edmund de Waal, Theaster Gates, Marisa Merz, Ron Nagle, Gabriel Orozco, Grayson Perry, Sterling Ruby, Thomas Schütte, Richard Slee, Clare Twomey, Jesse Wine, and Betty Woodman.

Research Week Sessions Happening Today!

Sessions take place at 10am and 2pm.

We look forward to seeing you!

New books for Game Arts

Game character development  /  Antony Ward.  (c2008)

794.8 WAR

"Game Character Development" takes you through all the steps needed to create compelling, highly-detailed characters for games. This book is suitable for both beginner game artists and experienced designers who want to brush up their skills, and covers the latest character creation tools and technologies. Throughout this book you will work step-by-step to create a finished character that incorporates all of the methods presented. First you’ll examine the available modeling techniques and then create a base mesh. You’ll then incorporate UV mapping and virtual sculpting. With the basic model created, you’ll explore advanced techniques to add texture and detail, and finish up by optimizing and refining your character. The techniques presented can be applied with virtually any 3D software program, so you’re free to work within the application with which you’re most familiar. If a specific tool is introduced, a brief introduction will cover the basic information you need to utilize it. There’s even a chapter with suggestions on what you’ll need to add to your finished character before it gets introduced into the game production pipeline, including adding facial expression, rigging, and even animation. And a helpful reference section provides additional resources to help you with those next steps.

A practical guide to indie game marketing  /  Joel Dreskin.  (2016)

794.8146 DRE

For those who want to earn a regular income from making indie games, marketing can be nearly as vital to the success of the game as the game itself. A Practical Guide to Indie Game Marketing provides you with the tools needed to build visibility and sell your game. With special focus on developers with small budgets and limited staff and resources, this book is packed with recommendations and techniques that you can put to use immediately. As a seasoned marketing professional, author Joel Dreskin provides insight into practical, real-world experiences from marketing numerous successful games and also shares tips on mistakes to avoid. Presented in an easy to read format, A Practical Guide to Indie Game Marketing includes information on establishing an audience and increasing visibility so you can build successes with your studio and games.

How 2 become a Game Designer  /  Brown, Joshua  (2014)

794.8 BRO

How to become a Game Designer. The Ultimate guide for joining the video games industry and getting the exact Game Developer job you want. This comprehensive guide includes: Insider Information - the ins and outs of the game industry Job Roles - the types of jobs within the game industry and how to get them; How to Apply for game developer Jobs - using a step-by-step process; Application Process - Expert Cvs, Cover Letters and Interview Techniques; Interview Skills Guide - How to Pass Game Developer Interviews with actual sample questions and responses; Cvs / Resumes - Learn how to tailor your Cv with multiple templates and real successful examples; Portfolio - How to build a stunning professional portfolio; Education and Educational Institutions Networking - How to network effectively and gain invaluable contacts; Full of Insider Top Tips - perfect for aspiring game artists, game programmers, game writers, audio artists, games designers, game testers and those wanting to get ahead of other potential game developer candidates! The video game industry is an exciting and expanding modern industry that is attracting many creative people from all over the world. Due to the increasing competition for job roles it can be a difficult process. This book contains insider tips and advice on what you need to know to get your dream job working inside the video games industry. This book also includes information on becoming a freelance artist and setting up your own independent games company, including the legal considerations. Break into the video game industry today with this comprehensive insider's guide!

Never used the library?

Are you a second or third year student that has never used the library? 

Want to know where you can find interesting and relevant books?

Not sure what a database is, or what you can use it for?

Pop in to the library for a drop in session, to re-introduce you to the amazing resources you have access to!

Wednesday 1st of November, at 1pm - 4pm.

We hope to see you there!

Spooky New Titles.

The library has taken stock of several spooky new titles and put on a ghoulish display to celebrate Halloween! We have also acquired some new books on witchcraft and magic.

The art of horror : an illustrated history  /  edited by Stephen Jones ; foreword by Neil Gaiman.  (2015)

741.674 JON

Amazingly, there has never been a book quite like The Art of Horror- a celebration of frightful images, compiled and presented by some of the genre's most respected names. While acknowledging the beginnings of horror-related art in legends and folk tales, the focus of the book is on how the genre has presented itself to the world since the creations of Bram Stoker and Mary Shelley first became part of the public consciousness in the 19th century. It's all here: from early engravings-via dust jackets, book illustrations, pulp magazines, movie posters, comic books, and paintings-to today's artists working entirely in the digital realm. Editor Stephen Jones and his stellar team of contributors have sourced visuals from archives and private collections (including their own) worldwide, ensuring an unprecedented selection that is accessible to those discovering the genre, while also including many images that will be rare and unfamiliar to even the most committed fan. From the shockingly lurid to the hauntingly beautiful-including images of vampires, werewolves, zombies, ghosts, demons, serial killers, alien invaders, and more-every aspect of the genre is represented in ten themed chapters. Quotes from artists/illustrators, and a selection from writers and filmmakers, are featured throughout.

The Krampus and the old, dark Christmas : roots and rebirth of the folkloric devil  by  Al Ridenour.  (2016)

398.4 RID

With the appearance of the demonic Christmas character Krampus in contemporary Hollywood movies, television shows, advertisements, and greeting cards, medieval folklore has now been revisited in American culture. Krampus-related events and parades occur both in North America and Europe, and they are an ever-growing phenomenon.

Though the Krampus figure has once again become iconic, not much can be found about its history and meaning, thus calling for a book like Al Ridenour's The Krampus: Roots and Rebirth of the Folkloric Devil. With Krampus's wild, graphic history, Feral House has hired the awarded designer Sean Tejaratchi to take on Ridenour's book about this ever-so-curious figure.

Al Ridenour has lectured on Krampus at the Goethe Institutes in Los Angeles. He became somewhat of an internet phenomenon himself due to the hilarious hijinks he coordinated with the controversial Cacophony Societies.

The Occult, Witchcraft & Magic  by  Christopher Dell.  (2016)

133.409 DEL

From the earliest Paleolithic cave rituals, magic has gripped the imagination. Magic and magicians appear in early Babylonian texts, the Bible, Judaism and Islam. Secret words, spells and incantations lie at the heart of every mythological tradition. Today, magic means many things: contemporary Wicca is practised widely as a modern pagan religion in Europe and the US; ‘magic’ also evokes the cathartic rituals of Chaos magic, but stretches to include the non-spiritual, rapid-fire sleight of hand performed by slick stage magicians who fill vast arenas. 
The Occult, Witchcraft and Magic is packed with authoritative text and a huge and inspired selection of images, chosen from unusual and hidden sources. The material is presented in 100 entries, and includes some of the best-known representations of magic and the occult from around the world.

The Little Book of Witchcraft  by  Astrid Carvel.  (2017)

133.43 CAR

Are you in need of a little magic to entice love into your life?

Maybe someone you know could benefit from a good-luck spell?

Or perhaps you want to feel more in control of your destiny?

The Little Book of Witchcraft uncovers the mysteries of this ancient art and shows you how to tap into the positive natural energies of the cosmos to release your inner power. Learn about different kinds of witchcraft and its fascinating history, its symbolism and the building blocks of Wicca, and how to perform simple spells to attract good energy, luck, love, health and happiness.

New Animated Films!

The Library has purchased several animated films, whether you are looking for inspiration on storytelling and narrative, or just something to keep you occupied now the evenings are darker.



Finding Dory (2016)
791.4334 FIN

From the Academy Award–winning creators of Disney Pixar’s Finding Nemo (Best Animated Feature, 2003) comes an epic undersea adventure filled with imagination, humour and heart. When Dory, the forgetful blue tang, suddenly remembers she has a family who may be looking for her, she, Marlin and Nemo take off on a life-changing quest to find them with help from Hank, a cantankerous octopus; Bailey, a beluga whale who’s convinced his biological sonar skills are on the fritz; and Destiny, a nearsighted whale shark. Bring home the movie overflowing with unforgettable character and dazzling animation.



The Red Turtle (2017)
791.4334



From acclaimed director Michaël Dudok de Wit, and produced by the legendary Academy Award-winning animation house Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away), comes a magical castaway story that combines beauty, nature and mystery. Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated feature, The Red Turtle is a stunning and touching animation about the transience of life.




Zootropolis (2016)
791.4334 ZOO




Zootropolis is a city like no other. But when optimistic Judy Hopps arrives, she discovers that being a bunny on a police force of big, tough animals isn’t so easy. Determined to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a case, even if it means partnering with a fast-talking fox, Nick Wilde. Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 'Zootropolis,' is a comedy-adventure directed by Tangled’s Byron Howard and Wreck-It Ralph’s Rich Moore.






Kubo and the Two Strings
791.4334 KUB



Young Kubo's peaceful existence comes crashing down when he accidentally summons a vengeful spirit from the past. Now on the run, Kubo joins forces with Monkey and Beetle to unlock a secret legacy. Armed with a magical instrument, Kubo must battle the Moon King and other gods and monsters to save his family and solve the mystery of his fallen father, the greatest samurai warrior the world has ever known.



Come in to the library and take these away today!

Typography Titles.

How to Draw Type and Influence People : An Activity Book  /  Sarah Hyndman. (2017)

686.224 HYN




We are all type consumers and interact with type in our everyday lives. Typefaces in all shapes and sizes evoke an emotional response and trigger associated memories before we've even read the words. How to Draw Type and Influence People shows how we use type to understand different messages. Each typeface is introduced and explained and then creative exercises show the reader how to draw each font and invite them to explore the associations evoked by the styles, to reveal why they have come about and how to create their own versions. Ideal for all those who work with type daily, this book provides an accessible way in to the world of typefaces, for the general reader, but also graphic designers who want to explore fonts in more detail and design their own letterforms.



The visual history of type  /  Paul McNeil.  (2017)

686.22 MCN



'The Visual History of Type' is a comprehensive, detailed survey of the major typefaces produced since the advent of printing with movable type in the mid-fifteenth century to the present day. Arranged chronologically to provide context, more than 320 typefaces are displayed in the form of their original type specimens or earliest printing. Each entry is supported by a brief history and description of key characteristics of the typeface. This book will be the definitive publication in its

Black History Month.

To celebrate Black History Month this October, the library has put on a display of books and films.


Mandela : long walk to freedom  /  director, Justin Chadwick ; writer, William Nicholson.  (2014)

791.4372 MAN

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom celebrates Nelson Mandela's extraordinary journey from his childhood in a rural village through to his election as President of South Africa. It explores the Mandela unknown to most of the world - the lover of fancy cars, a lady's man, the boxing enthusiast and playboy, the skillful lawyer and a freedom fighter. The film is an intimate portrait of the making of a modern icon.





Moonlight

791.4372 MOO

Nominated for 8 Academy Awards and 4 BAFTA’s including Best Picture and Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Naomie Harris, Moonlight is a timeless story of human connection and self-discovery. The film chronicles the life of a young black man from childhood to adulthood as he struggles to find his place in the world while growing up in a rough neighbourhood of Miami.



Hidden Figures
791.4372 HID



As the United States raced against Russia to put a man in space, NASA found untapped talent in a group of African-American female mathematicians that served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in U.S. history. Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Katherine Johnson crossed all gender, race, and professional lines while their brilliance and desire to dream big, beyond anything ever accomplished before by the human race, firmly cemented them in U.S. history as true American heroes.

New Fashion Books.

Tudor Fashion : Dress at Court.

Eleri Lynn

391.0094109031 LYN

The captivating story of Tudor dress, its construction and symbolism, and the people who made and wore it
 
This book presents new information about the fashions of the Tudor dynasty, offering fresh insight into their social and political milieu. Histories of Kings and Queens complement stories of unsung dressmakers, laundresses, and officials charged with maintaining and transporting the immense Tudor wardrobes from palace to palace. Evidence from rare surviving garments and textiles, original documents, fine and decorative art, and archaeological findings enhance our understanding of the Tudors and their courts. Handsomely illustrated, this sumptuous book contextualises Tudor dress within the buildings in which it was worn and fills in gaps in our knowledge of the period and its fascinating historical figures.

Fashion & anti-fashion : an anthropology of clothing and adornment 

Ted Polhemus, Lynn Procter. 

391.00222 POL

Exploring adornment and dress from an anthropological perspective - a classic text from 1978 revised with a new introduction and postscript for the 21 century.

Fabric for Fashion : The Complete Guide,

Natural and Man-Made Fibres 

Clive Hallett and Amanda Johnston (2014)

746.92 HAL

Fabric For Fashion: The Complete Guide is the only book specifically for fashion designers to explain the behaviour and properties of different fabrics. Fashion design is largely determined by how the fabrics work, move, feel and look. The most successful fashion designers are those who understand their materials, who match design skill with technical knowledge. This book bridges that gap by providing a mix of practical information and industry vocabulary, visually examining generic fabric types, discussing the characteristics of fabrics and showing how to exploit materials to push the boundaries of design. With stunning colour photographs that show how fashion designers, both past and present, have worked with fabrics, the book's prime objective is to stimulate creative exploration of the relationship of fabrics to fashion.