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Here are just a few of the great Celtic books out there! The ones listed here are available online from Amazon Books, for pretty good rates too. Most orders are shipped within a couple of days, and the expected ship date is listed with each book title. Although I try to keep up to date with the prices listed here, Amazon Books can change them within a moment, so double check the price when you place your order. Celtic Knotwork Books   Celtic Art: From Its Beginnings to the Book of Kells Ruth Megaw and Vincent Megaw / Paperback / Published 2001 Usually ships in 24 hours Amazon Price: $24.47, Savings: $10.48 (30%) As a Celtic artist I'm always on the search for books speficially on Celtic art, not just the Celtic people in general. This book by the Megaw's is the best I've found yet, giving lots of impartial information without romantic colorings about 'mystical meanings' and such. Just a great overview of how the art style is thought to have evolved, how it changes throught history, and lots of great photos. And a word on the photos of artifacts... many of these photos are 'new', in the sense that they're not the same ten images you see in every other book about the Celts. New photos of new artifacts not often shared with in publications. Great for Celtic artists who enjoy checking out ancient artifacts to use as source material and to track the evolution of its design and patterns! I recommend this book very highly for anyone who wants to know more about Celtic art history. (-Cari) Celtic Mandalas Helena Paterson / Paperback / Published 1997 Usually ships in 1-2 days Amazon Price: $14.36, Savings: $3.59 (20%) I've seen this book and it's pretty cool! It's got tons of 'full panel' pieces to see in Courtney's usualy colorful style, and I've always been a fan of Helena, who did the Celtic Lunar Zodiac book as well. Even if you're not into meditation, the designs are great... nice big lush images, not just little snippits here and there. Great stuff! (-Cari) Celtic Designs from the British Museum Ian Stead / Karen Hughes (Illustrator) / Paperback / Published 1998 Out of Print Amazon Price: $7.99 (used) Wow! This is an absolutely great book for those looking for images from the La Tene and early Celtic art era! The book has 128 pages, with over 300 illustrations, with great detail...and it even tells you what the design is from! It shows stuff from torcs, shields, sword scabbards, pottery...tons of great designs! With there being so little out there on early Celtic artwork, this book is a savior for those interested in early Celtic art. Please note that early Celtic art is more spiral and loopy based than the later Christian style, so you won't find knotwork here. It has designs more like the 'La Tene Button and Banner Sets' found in my clip art collection. But if that style appeals to you too, then you won't find a book with more info than this one! My head was so full of ideas after looking through it that I've already got a painting sketched up based off of it (look for it in my gallery in a few months!) ;-) This book is now listed as 'out of print', but it's an amazing resource...grab a copy anyway you can! Amazon has a used book finding service (click the books link to find out more) which I've used before to find other books for myself. (-CB) Celtic Art : Methods of Construction George Bain / Paperback / Published 1973 Usually ships in 24 hours Amazon Price: $9.95 Celtic Art: the Methods of Construction by George Bain is a wonderful book, but for slightly advanced "knotworkers". Much previous knowledge is needed to fully appreciate the importance and the order of the images. It isn't very step-by-step, so as I said, the person needs to have enough knowledge to be able to work without so much direction as in the Aidan Meehan series. (-Jabell) Finally I have purchased a copy of this book...wow, what a great resource! George not only covers a wide variety of material in his book, but also gives references as to the sources such as ancient standind stones and manuscripts. Very helpful for finding out not only how a design looks but where it comes from. Jabell (above) is correct however...it is difficult to figure out his how-to instructions. But for reference and lots of great inspiring images, it's super! (-Cari) Celtic Borders Aidan Meehan / Paperback / Published 1999 Usually ships in 24 hours Amazon Price: $11.17 Savings: $4.78 (30%) Good old Aidan. He always comes through with great designs... this time you can see many different types of borders, from animals to vines and chalice 'tree of life' style borders, to knotwork designs. As always... clear designs, usually referenced to their source, and well made. (-Cari) Celtic Design : A Beginner's Manual Aidan Meehan / Paperback / Published 1991 Usually ships in 24 hours Amazon Price: $11.17 Savings: $4.78 (30%) The Aidan Meehan series is one of the best I've seen for learning to make celtic knots! :-) His method is fairly clear and simple, and he gives lots of diagrams. There is also a bit included in his books on where the knots are from, and common names for them. This book by Aidan has info on how to draw the basic knotwork types of key patterns, step patterns, and spirals. It also shows you how to do the Celtic "Uncial", the lettering used in the Book of Kells, and how to do some simple decorations with the lettering. (-Cari) Celtic Design : Knotwork : The Secret Method of the Scribes Aidan Meehan / Paperback / Published 1992 Ships in 2-3 days Amazon Price: $11.17 Savings: $4.78 (30%) This book is great for learning to do knotwork. It goes through a progression from simple knots to complex knots, and as well shows you a bunch of versions of freehanded 'Trinity' Knots. (-Cari) Celtic Design : Illuminated Letters Aidan Meehan / Paperback / Published 1992 Ships in 2-3 days Amazon Price: $11.17 Savings: $4.78 (30%) This book is only on Celtic lettering. It has sections on doing the runic letters, letters made with animal shapes, and filling the letters with knots. It doesn't really go through much of a how-to on making the letters, but it does give a huge number of examples, with references on what manuscript they are from. (-Cari) Celtic Design : Spiral Patterns Aidan Meehan / Paperback / Published 1993 Usually ships in 24 hours Amazon Price: $11.17 Savings: $4.78 (30%) This book is on making spirals. It shows how to make them using a grid pattern, and using a compass. I found the grid method very clear, with lots of how-to examples and ideas, but the compass part left me a bit confused. But then, I'm math challenged... ;-) (-Cari) Celtic Design : The Tree of Life Aidan Meehan / Paperback / Published 1995 Usually ships in 24 hours Amazon Price: $11.17 Savings: $4.78 (30%) I haven't read this one, but as his books are usually pretty good, it's probably a safe bet. I know there is a lot of interest in the Celtic Tree of Life, and I haven't seen to many books out there on it at all, so this one caught my eye. As I haven't seen it in real life, I'm not sure if it is a how-to or just a book about them, but it looks hopeful. (-Cari) I haven't been through the whole thing yet, but it's mostly an "about" book as opposed to a "how to". It's got a few illustrations to make his point. But it IS fascinating, and inspiring. (-K) Celtic Design : Maze Patterns Aidan Meehan / Paperback / Published 1994 Usually ships in 24 hours Amazon Price: $11.17 Savings: $4.78 (30%) This book is filled with lots of examples of how to make step and key patterns, as well as some historical info on them as well. The how-to parts follows a grid system, and they are very clear to understand and follow. Maze and Step patterns are great for making bands and borders with, so if you're into tattooing or henna application, you may want to check this out for ideas for armbands. (-Cari) Celtic Design : Animal Patterns Aidan Meehan / Paperback / Published 1992 Usually ships in 24 hours Amazon Price: $11.17 Savings: $4.78 (30%) It is predominantly a history of the use of animal patterns as they relate to Celtic art, including outside influences, and how they evolved over time. There is not a great deal of "How-To", but he does include lots of examples of each period. (-N.F.)  Can't find the book you're looking for? 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