In 1508, despite strong advice to the contrary, the powerful Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the newly restored Sistine Chapel. With little experience as a painter (though famed for his sculpture David), Michelangelo was reluctant to begin the massive project.Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling recounts the four extraordinary years Michelangelo spent laboring over the vast ceiling while the power politics and personal...

"This practical book guides you from choosing a design to applying the paint to the wall. It covers the principles of artistic practice before explaining how to approach a large-scale project. Throughout, it shares the tips and tricks behind this impressive art form. It covers in detail materials and equipment; color theory and building a palette; planning a design; translating a sketch onto a large wall or canvas; and specific techniques, including...

Stealing a Faberge egg. Surviving a double cross. And pulling off the most incredible robbery ever, for the world's most demanding, and dangerous collector. This will be the challenge of thief extraordinaire Riley Wolfe's life. In St. Petersburg, Riley steals a Fabergé egg, but is betrayed by the pilot he hired to help him get away. Now he's chained to a rock wall on a remote island-- the prisoner of an international arms dealer who wants Rile to...

An eccentric French shopkeeper turned documentary maker attempted to locate and befriend Banksy, only to have the artist turn the camera back on its owner with spectacular results. Banksy is a graffiti artist with a global reputation whose work can be seen on walls from post-hurricane New Orleans to the Palestinian segregation wall in the West Bank. Fiercely guarding his anonymity to avoid prosecution, Banksy has so far resisted all attempts to be...

"Naomi has always loved her vibrant neighborhood but things are changing quickly so, inspired by Mr. Ray, she paints murals to preserve her favorite memories." --

"Every once in a while, a person comes across something that brings them back to a memory they sincerely cherish - one they wish could be relived over and over again. For this long-time Pawtucket Red Sox fan, that 'something' was the collection of 95 hand painted and photographed player murals that adorn the winding concourses of McCoy Stadium. Although the Pawtucket Red Sox are gone and McCoy Stadium sits empty, this Rhode Islander’s passion for...

"Murals are a fantastic way to breathe new life into an interior or exterior space. This practical guide to mural painting explains all the key techniques and design styles so that you can get creative in your own home and start 'unsaming' your walls"--