Art Cure by Daisy Fancourt

Art Cure
by Daisy Fancourt

ISBN-13: 9781250364531
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Celadon Books
Released: February 3, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
From cradle to grave, engaging in the arts has remarkable effects on our health and well-being. Music supports the architectural development of children’s brains. Artistic hobbies help our brains to stay resilient against dementia. Dance and magic tricks build new neural pathways for people with brain injuries. Arts and music act just like drugs to decrease depression, stress, and pain, reducing our dependence on medication. Going to live music events, museums, exhibitions, and the theater decreases our risk of future loneliness and frailty. Engaging in the arts improves the functioning of every major organ system in the body, even helping us to live longer.

This isn’t sensationalism, it’s the results of decades of studies gathering data from neuroimaging, molecular biomarkers, wearable sensors, cognitive assessments, and electronic health records. From professor Daisy Fancourt, an award-winning scientist and science communicator and director of the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Centre for Arts and Health, this book will fundamentally change the way you value and engage with the arts in your daily life and give you the tools to optimize how, when, and what arts you engage in to achieve your health goals.


My Review:
Art Cure is about how doing art can help a person's health. The author has personally researched how arts can impact our health, from studies to see if more frequent arts engagement leads to better health outcomes over the years to specific experiments done to see how calming music can help in hospitals and similar ideas. She also included experiments done by others that show the impact that viewing or doing various arts (reading, dancing, making or listening to music, visiting the theater, etc.) can have on health outcomes. She gave examples, from singing to a premature baby to help the baby stay calm and thrive to teaching magic tricks as a way to make physical therapy fun for kids.

The author summarized how the various studies were set up and the results but also usually gave an example of a specific person to show how the principle has worked out in someone's actual, real life. She didn't get deep into the science except to explain just how much we could really conclude from the various studies. She ended each chapter by suggesting various ways we could practically use the information in that chapter: how long do we do an activity, how frequently, and what sort of arts might have the desired effect. I had no trouble following the author's points and found the information both interesting and something that I could easily act upon. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting book.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Wild Watercolour by Inga Buividavice

Wild Watercolour
by Inga Buividavice

ISBN-13: 9780711290297
Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: Leaping Hare Press
Released: April 2, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from NetGalley:
Wild Watercolour starts with an introduction to the basic techniques of watercolour, coaching you for painting success by showing you how to recreate nature’s wildlife and habitats. Each step-by-step project introduces a new watercolour technique. Learn the basics with guided exercises showing you how to depict your favourite animals in watercolour, including:

Dry brush on wet effect – red pandas
Wet brush on wet effect – beetles
Glazing – ladybirds
Blooms – hare silhouettes
Pulling technique – frogs
Watercolour and ink – koi fish
Using masking tape – snake
Using different textures – turtles
Expressive features – flamingos
Using space – dolphins
Different brush strokes – chameleons
Painting patterns – butterflies


My Review:
Wild Watercolour is a beginner guide to painting watercolor animals. The author began by giving advice about materials and supplies, explaining the basic techniques used in the projects and about color mixing, and talking about sketching the subject. Next came the projects, where you learn how to use a technique while creating a painting of an animal. These step-by-step projects included both text descriptions and illustrations and covered: ladybugs, beetles, pandas, frogs, hares, koi fish, flamingos, snakes, tortoise, chameleons, butterflies, and dolphins. The projects came across as doable, more about the principle and trying techniques out than perfectly replicating the painting in the book. Overall, I'd recommend this book to beginner watercolor painters.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Palette Knife Painting by Lisa Elley

Palette Knife Painting
by Lisa Elley

ISBN-13: 9780760382165
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Walter Foster Publishing
Released: May 23, 2023

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from NetGalley:
Learn how to create your own Deep Impasto® masterpieces using a palette knife and oil paints with this book featuring tips, techniques, and 8 complete step-by-step projects. Professional artist Lisa Elley works from her studio in the San Francisco Bay Area with the purpose of inspiring and bringing joy to people through her art. In Palette Knife Painting: Deep Impasto, Lisa shares her techniques with you through easy-to-follow step-by-step projects.

Also included in the book are:
Primers on the best palette knives and paints to use
Color mixing and color theory instructions
Beautiful, textured artwork that seems to lift off the page

Palette Knife Painting: Deep Impasto is ideal for artists of all skill levels looking to learn to paint and scrape with oil paint.


My Review:
Palette Knife Painting is an art instruction book on how to paint with palette knifes to create 3D, Deep Impasto paintings. The author used oil paints, but you can also use certain acrylic paints. The author started out with the basics like materials and supplies and the basic techniques used when painting with palette knifes. She had 8 step-by-step projects (wave, ocean shore, several flowers, trees, windowsill) that practiced these techniques. While the directions and pictures were good enough for me to feel confident in trying them, I also felt like it'd be easier to understand how to use a palette knife for painting if I could see it on video. Happily, she does have some short videos on YouTube that show these techniques. Overall, I'd recommend this book to artist interested in learning palette knife painting, especially in using really thick paint to create a 3D painting.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Brilliant Inks by Anna Sokolova

Brilliant Inks
by Anna Sokolova

ISBN-13: 9780760374511
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Quarry Books
Released: July 5, 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In Brilliant Inks, artist, illustrator, and top Skillshare teacher Anna Sokolova shares her own unique methods that get the most out of this versatile medium. With her guidance, create beginner-friendly florals and foliage, animals, still lifes, figures and portraits, and hand lettering. Learn about the various types of inks and the best tools and surfaces to use with them. Then, try basic techniques such as color mixing, creating visual texture, negative painting, and splattering. Work with a variety of brushes, dip pens, and droppers to get different looks, and see how adding common household supplies such as salt and bleach can create the most amazing effects.

Use these methods in lessons designed to improve skills and boost confidence. Be inspired to make projects such as a bracelet, paper art dolls, a tote bag, and a decorated book. Full instructions and templates make projects fun and stress free. Perfect for all skill levels, the books in the Art for Modern Makers series take a fun, practical approach to learning about and working with paints and other art mediums to create beautiful DIY projects and crafts.


My Review:
Brilliant Inks is an art instruction book on using inks, mainly with brushes. The author started by describing the different types of ink (acrylic, alcohol, etc.) and some tips about using them. She also talked about other materials (paper, brushes, ink droppers, dip pens, markers, etc.) and briefly covered basic concepts like color mixing. She then described some techniques for using inks (washes, spattering, etc.) and included step-by-step exercises for several of these techniques. She then had exercises that combined these skills, with step-by-step instructions and illustrations on how to paint a rose, mushrooms, butterfly, stylized bird, red panda, distant people, portrait, fashion figure, map, pomegranate, and dessert. She then had step-by-step directions for making several crafts: a cork bracelet, clay horse, alcohol ink "tie-dyed" tote, and accordion book of illustrations.

I've been painting with watercolors for years, so it was easy for me to understand her instructions as there were many similarities. She only briefly talked about alcohol ink markers, and she didn't seem to have the same problems with using them that I do so she didn't include tips that would help improve my results. However, I did find the ink selection and techniques part useful to help me use inks in my own painting projects. Overall, I'd recommend this resource to artists interested in painting with inks.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Mindful Artist: Birds and Botanicals by Monika Cilmi

Mindful Artist: Birds and Botanicals
by Monika Cilmi

ISBN-13: 9781600589263
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Walter Foster Publishing
Released: February 8th 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Mindful Artist: Birds and Botanicals features tips, techniques, and step-by-step projects for working mindfully with Japanese ink and brush pens to create elegant artwork featuring birds, flowers, plants, and more.

While harnessing the power of meditation, you will learn to create personalized pieces in black ink as well as color. There's no need to follow the instructions exactly; just make what inspires you. Begin with an introduction to mindfulness and the connections between art and meditation. Then dive into detailed sections on the tools and materials needed to create the art in the book, as well as inking and coloring techniques, including brushstrokes. The step-by-step projects that follow take you through the process of creating your own ink-and-brush art, with large images that illustrate the techniques and detailed, easy-to-follow instructions for brushwork, adding color, and more. The layout design is airy and contemporary to match the art style.

The Mindful Artist series from Walter Foster Publishing encourages artists to enjoy working in their favorite media to create relaxing, reflective art. With this series, artists of all skill levels can learn to focus on enjoying the creative process, rather than worrying about the end result.


My Review:
Mindful Artist: Birds and Botanicals described meditative brush pen drawing for 11 birds and 5 flowers. The projects didn't look like specific types of birds, though they were posed in a variety of positions. The flowers were also usually vague "flowers" rather than specific types. The author focused on describing how to make the experience meditative rather than on things like proportion. The point was the process, not the end result. The text and step-by-step illustrations showed what part to draw next. There were some tips on getting the stylized look using brush pens, but most of the instructions were along the lines of "draw a few short, curved strokes around the center." Most of the projects were in black ink, but some added bright colors. Overall, I'd recommend this book to people interested in "mindful" art.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

The Urban Sketching Handbook: Understanding Light by Katie Woodward

Understanding Light by Katie Woodward

ISBN-13: 9780760372036
Paperback: 118 pages
Publisher: Quarry Books
Released: December 28th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
The Urban Sketching Handbook: Understanding Light is an informative guide to heightening the impact of your artwork by capturing the look and subtleties of light in any scene. In settings ranging from fields and mountains at daybreak to neon cityscapes at midnight, learn how to express light effects through color and value to improve and refine your drawings and paintings.

Artist and urban sketcher Katie Woodward offers strategies for selectively translating values for maximum effect, using your sketchbook to experiment with the effects of natural as well as artificial light, and considering many options for visual solutions through work contributed by experienced urban sketchers.


My Review:
Understanding Light is an excellent guide on what to observe and consider to better create a realistic sense of light in your paintings or drawings. This is for any medium, but the illustrations were mainly watercolor, pencil, and pen. While the author provided tips on using value and such to create a sense of light, much of the focus was on making sure that you see what's actually there rather than using the colors you expect to see. She also gave useful tips for what to consider or change if you realize what you're doing isn't working. I've heard some of this advice before, but it never really clicked until I read it so clearly explained here. Overall, I'd highly recommend this book to artists who are getting the hang of the basic skills of their medium and now want to improve their portrayal of light in a scene (urban or not).


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Drawing and Painting Expressive Little Animals by Amarilys Henderson

Drawing and Painting Expressive Little Animals
by Amarilys Henderson

ISBN-13: 9781464214905
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Quarry Books
Released: July 6th 2021

Source: review copy from the publisher through Amazon.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Author, artist, and popular Skillshare instructor Amarylis Henderson presents her practical and creative techniques for drawing and painting animals in a variety of mediums and styles, from realistic to cartoon. Learn about the sketching and painting mediums you’ll use in your work, including watercolor, inks, and markers. Discover the scope of sizes and shapes of animal features from nose to tail. Basic shapes, postures, and poses to convey a range of animal emotions and expressions, from sly and sneaky to angry to curious. Draw and paint more than 30 animals--from dogs, cats, and horses to cheetah, bison, and platypus--and investigate 18 different styles and treatments, including using color in unique ways, enhancing cuteness, and combining watercolor with other mediums.

As you explore your creative options, you’ll find that working small is an easy way to relieve pressure and open yourself to play as well as to learning the techniques and approaches that Amarilys shares in this book.


My Review:
Drawing and Painting Expressive Little Animals shows how the author draws and watercolor paints 33 different animals, including some birds, marine animals, and reptiles. She started with a few pages providing tips about observing how different animals have different legs, eyes, etc. The "expressive" part seemed to be two pages pointing out how sloths and dogs appear happy while snakes and foxes look sly.

She then provided step-by-step instructions for drawing and painting an animal, with illustrations (about 8-10 steps per animal) along with some very basic text instructions like "add the front legs." Some of the painting illustrations were taken at an angle (showing her working), so the example we're supposed to mimic is not quite in correct proportion. The author assumed that you already knew how to draw and watercolor paint as she'd tell you to do certain techniques but never explained how to do them. She did point out some tips when painting animals, like make the spots random.

Contrary to most art instructors, she had you start with drawing the animals face (including eyes and mouth) before adding the neck, body, legs, and tail. For painting, she skipped sketching the basic proportions and just painted the body shape in step one. I used to do this, but my animals never were in proportion. I finally realized why most instructors have you start with basic body shapes (in proportion) for the entire animal before refining the details. So her instructions don't really work for me.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Mixed Media Color Studio by Kellee Wynne Conrad

Mixed Media Color Studio
by Kellee Wynne Conrad

ISBN-13: 9781631599965
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Quarry Books
Released: August 24th 2021

Source: review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Based on Kellee Wynne Conrad's popular former online True Colors Art Program, the lessons in Mixed Media Color Studio include color explorations designed to strengthen skills and confidence. You’ll learn how to develop your own unique style using acrylic paint, pastels, graphite, ink, and more. See how to mix colors to make signature palettes and get inspired to try new, exciting combinations of colors, materials, and methods that will take your artwork and imagination further.

The imaginative projects include expert information on how to work with colors to evoke moods, emotions, and energy for dynamic landscapes, calming seascapes, vibrant abstract florals, layered architectural pieces, and much more. Discover easy techniques that add texture, details, and interest to your artwork.


My Review:
Mixed Media Color Studio explores color theory while creating abstract, mixed media art. The author started by briefly covering tools and materials, the basic terms and ideas of color theory, and how to create a unique, signature color palette. She prefers using primary cyan, magenta, and yellow but did cover other combinations (some of which weren't really primary colors). She then had a series of step-by-step projects that explored color theory: making a color wheel using primary colors, acrylic painting with complementary colors, high-key/low-key schemes, grays and browns, contrasts, and then green, blue, orange, purple, red, black, and finally yellow as a focal color.

The painting was done in acrylic with inks, graphite, and pastels used along with other mixed media elements to create the finished project. The steps were more about explaining the actions and intent of each step rather than detailing how to make an exact replica of her painting. There were useful pictures illustrating each step. This book will appeal to abstract, mixed media artists who want to explore color theory.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

The New Oil Painting by Kimberly Brooks

The New Oil Painting
by Kimberly Brooks

ISBN-13: 9781452184791
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Released: May 18th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Oil painting is an exciting and adventurous medium, but aspiring artists can feel daunted by complex setups and the thought of using harsh chemicals. The New Oil Painting walks you step-by-step through oil painting fundamentals—which materials you actually need, how to mix paint, how to set up your painting space—and, most revolutionary of all, how to eliminate harmful solvents from your work and replace them with safe, effective substitutes. This instructional handbook is organized into chapters with helpful diagrams throughout illustrating various techniques and tools. Whether you're a true beginner or have been painting with oils for years, you will find that this book has everything you need to build a new, thriving, toxin-free practice.


My Review:
The New Oil Painting explains how you can do oil painting without needing harmful chemicals or solvents. Much of the book focused on supplies and materials rather than on painting techniques. The author explained how to thin colors, glaze, and clean brushes without needing harmful chemicals. She provided lists of where to find the supplies you need. She provided step-by-step instructions along with pictures showing the process of cleaning a brush, for example. She provided a lot of interesting information about how artists historically did these things before resins were added to paints, meaning solvents were then needed. The author also discussed things like why you paint with fat over lean (and what that means), layering, and color mixing as well as briefly talking about storing paintings, painting the sides for display, varnishing paintings, and safety measures. If you're interested in oil painting but have been been deterred by concerns about harmful fumes and chemicals, then I'd recommend this very useful and informative book. However, a complete beginner to painting might feel at a loss on how to apply the information since the author assumed a certain amount of familiarity with painting.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

En Plein Air: Light & Color by Iain Stewart

En Plein Air: Light & Color
by Iain Stewart

ISBN-13: 9781633228344
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Walter Foster Publishing
Released: April 13th 2021


Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Geared for beginning artists, En Plein Air: Light & Color introduces a variety of techniques for on-location watercolor painting. Following a brief introduction to the basics of painting en plein air and an overview of the necessary tools and materials, you will learn how to choose a subject and paint a compelling outdoor composition using the subtleties of watercolor to create beautifully expressive subjects and themes.

Other important topics include perspective, rendering the background and foreground, capturing both urban and pastoral landscapes, mastering color to convey weather and time of day, and much more. From choosing just the right subject to awaiting the perfect time of day, let En Plein Air: Light & Color guide you in your artistic travels as you explore this daring and expressive medium.


My Review:
En Plein Air: Light & Color is an art instruction book on watercolor painting. The author focused on urban landscapes and painting outside while viewing your subject. He provided useful tips on these topics (including useful tools and materials) and on watercolor painting in general. He provided several step-by-step exercises to teach various techniques, including perspective, creating good contrasts in value, and how to paint people, cars, and boats with minimal detail so that they don't distract the viewer from your focal point. He talked about choosing colors and creating a sense of light and dark to draw focus and create mood. I felt like he was able to clearly convey information and describe techniques. Overall, I'd recommend this book to watercolor painters who want to learn how to paint on location, urban landscapes.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

The Art of Paint Marbling by Rene Eisenbart

The Art of Paint Marbling
by Rene Eisenbart

ISBN-13: 9781600588761
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Walter Foster Publishing
Released: March 9th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Paint marbling uses a base of thickened water, onto which paint is poured and then swirled. Dipping paper directly into the paint creates beautiful, abstract art that’s easy to do at home using minimal, affordable supplies. Using step-by-step projects with thorough instructions, artists can use a variety of techniques to manipulate colored paint into intricate patterns and create marbled artwork on a variety of surfaces, including paper, cloth, and wood panels. Large, beautiful, and colorful photos accompany all of the projects and techniques. Paint marbling serves as a fun hobby for beginners, a new art form for more advanced artists looking for alternative techniques, and a family activity perfect for artists young and old.


My Review:
The Art of Paint Marbling is an acrylic paint art instruction book. I had thought paint marbling was relatively simple. The author made it sound like there were a number of challenging aspects and skills that took some practice before you got good results. You also need specialized ingredients and specific paints in order to get the correct buoyancy in the thickened water. If you're ready to buy a completely new set up to try it out, this book seems to thoroughly cover paint marbling.

She talked about the equipment, materials, and ingredients you'll need, the basic steps, and step-by-step demonstrations on how to do different techniques to get different marbled effects. She started with the easiest techniques and then built on those to create more elaborate designs. She also talked about troubleshooting problems and how to fix them as well as how to use abstract marbling with multimedia art (watercolor, collage, etc.) I'd recommend this book to anyone seriously interested in trying out paint marbling.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Watercolor Techniques for Artists and Illustrators by DK

Watercolor Techniques for Artists and Illustrators by DK ISBN-13: 9781465492333 Hardcover: 256 pages Publisher: DK Publishing Released: September 1st 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Trying your hand at watercolor painting? Or looking to advance your range of artistic skills? Watercolor Techniques for Artists and Illustrators is for you. Beginning with the basics - such as honing your observational skills, choosing a subject, and learning about composition - the book then takes a comprehensive, in-depth look at techniques to expand your repertoire. With expert advice from artists and illustrators working in a range of styles - from classic to cutting-edge contemporary -this book will equip you with the skills and confidence to develop your own style and grow as an artist.


My Review:
Watercolor Techniques for Artists and Illustrators covered watercolor techniques and tips from beginner to advanced level. They also covered a variety of styles of painting (realistic, abstract, etc.) as well as a variety of subjects (landscape, portrait, etc.). Each technique had some instruction and tips on how to do it, but the main part was a step-by-step project for each technique. This project used the new technique and some previous techniques, and the basic projects were much simpler than the more advanced ones (later in the book). Some of these projects were step-by-step instructions (use this color and this technique to get this result) while other projects were more tips of what to think about or look for in that step (mostly in the advanced section).

The focus was solely on watercolor, but they assumed that you could draw very well when it came to the advanced projects. For example, you draw the profile of a person for step one in the portrait "technique" project. The rest of the steps were loosely filling in certain parts of the drawing with watercolor. They did a good job of describing the techniques, providing tips, and choosing interesting projects. Overall, I recommend this book to beginners and intermediate watercolor artists.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Botanical Art Techniques by The American Society of Botanical Artists, Carol Woodin, and Robin A. Jess

Botanical Art Techniques by The American Society of Botanical Artists, Carol Woodin, and Robin A. Jess ISBN-13: 9781604697902 Hardback: 416 pages Publisher: Timber Press Released: September 16th 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Botanical Art Techniques is a beautifully illustrated and comprehensive guide to one of the most delicate art forms. From the experts at the American Society of Botanical Artists, this essential reference features how-to tutorials for all the major techniques, moving from basic to intermediate to advanced, so the reader can build on their skills as they progress. Media covered in detail include graphite, pen and ink, watercolor on paper and vellum, and colored pencil, with further tutorials on egg tempera oil, acrylic, gouache, silverpoint, etching, and more. Additional information includes a detailed overview of the necessary materials, basic information about the principles of composition, and advice on how to develop a personal style. Filled with 900 photographs, Botanical Art Techniques is a must-have for creative people everywhere.


My Review:
Botanical Art Techniques is an awesome, comprehensive guide to drawing or painting botanical art for anyone from a complete beginner on up. They started with the very basics and progressively worked up to projects suitable for more advanced artists. The different articles were written by different people, but the articles worked well together to teach about botanical art techniques. The authors covered the basics of the different mediums: graphite, pen and ink, colored pencil, watercolor on paper or on vellum, and more briefly on egg tempera, oil, acrylic, gouache, silverpoint, and etching. They also covered the basics specific to botanical art, like working in a studio or outside, how to keep the plant alive while you draw it, and things to consider in composition.

They also gave step-by-step demonstrations for drawing or painting a variety of subjects, like flowers, leaves, fruits and vegetables, roots, branches and stems. There were demonstrations for a cactus, kiwi vine, crab apple branch, slipper orchid, grapes, magnolia flower, and many more. The instructors did a very good job of teaching how to do these things rather than just telling you how to replicate a certain drawing. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn how to make realistic art in a wide variety of mediums, but also specifically to anyone interested in botanical art.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Wood Burn Book by Rachel Strauss

The Wood Burn Book by Rachel Strauss ISBN-13: 9781631598920 Paperback: 144 pages Publisher: Rockport Publishers Released: August 18th 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In The Wood Burn Book, Rachel Strauss (@woodburncorner) teaches you everything you’ll need to know to master pyrography, whether you're brand new to the hobby or you've been "writing with fire" for years.

This essential guide opens with a brief background to the art of wood burning, a list of tools and how to use them, basic techniques that can be used over and over again, and even what to burn and how to be safe doing it. You will also find a detailed explanation of the process from start to finish, with patterns, techniques for lettering and adding color, as well as dozens of projects ready for gifting, including picture frames, cutting boards, coasters, cards, wooden spoons, and jewelry.

Mastering the art of writing with fire begins with the ability to follow a line. If you can trace, you can burn.


My Review:
The Wood Burn Book teaches how to do wood-burning projects. The author started by describing the different equipment and materials you'll need, then she described various techniques for wood burning. She also discussed how to transfer a design onto the wood, how to add color to the wood-burned art, and how to finish a piece. She then provided step-by-step projects for adding decoration to various types objects made of wood. You can see examples of these projects on the cover. Overall, I'd recommend this book to those interested in learning how to do wood-burning.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Origami Fold-by-Fold by John Montroll

Origami Fold-by-Fold by John Montroll ISBN-13: 9780486842424 Paperback: 128 pages Publisher: Dover Publications Released: July 15th 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
This unique collection of 35 original origami models, presented in order of difficulty, is the invention of bestselling origami artist John Montroll. The projects start with simple one-star models (ladybug, angelfish, sailboat) and progress to very complex four-star models (grasshopper, wooly mammoth), with a crane, lion, peacock, and several geometric shapes in between. This comprehensive volume includes step-by-step instructions and full-color illustrations to allow folders at all levels to gradually develop their skills.

Internationally renowned author John Montroll has significantly increased the origami repertoire with his original designs. Best known as the inspiration behind the single-square, no-cuts, no-glue approach, the American origami master presents meticulously developed folding sequences that allow folders to create better models with fewer steps.


My Review:
Origami Fold-by-Fold teaches you how to fold 35 original origami models. The author started by explaining the different symbols that show where to fold and which direction to go as well as how to do the most common folds. He started the projects with simple models and worked up to the most complex so that you can learn the skills you need as you go along. He had 10 simple projects, 10 intermediate projects, 8 complex projects, and 7 very complex projects. For each step, he had an illustration as well as the symbols, but minimal to no text.

On the digital version, each step's illustration was rather small and it was sometimes difficult to see the difference between the symbol for folding forward and folding back. I had trouble following the directions even on the first project. I had to carefully study the picture (rather than the symbols) to catch on to what I was supposed to do since the symbols were not clear in one spot. He then had you go back and repeat several steps (starting with the wrong step) but doing it on the other side. If you have trouble flipping/reversing instructions, this could be challenging. If you are familiar with the folding symbols, I think this would be much simpler to follow. However, this may not actually be the best book for a complete beginner (like me) to start with.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Creative Woodburning by Bee Locke

Creative Woodburning by Bee Locke ISBN-13: 9781465492685 Paperback: 128 pages Publisher: Alpha Books Released: August 11th 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
If you're a crafter or an artist looking for something new and different, try pyrography. With this type of art, you use a heated instrument to burn images and words into wood. By using techniques from drawing, such as shading and stippling, you can also add depth and embellishments to your creations.

It's easy to get started with pyrography--and Creative Woodburning can help you jump into this hot new craft. This book features an introduction to pyrography and the tools you need to get started; expert advice on how to choose the right materials and how to create a safe working environment; 20 projects, including a jewelry box, a cutting board, a wooden egg, a clock, and a gourd birdhouse; more than 180 patterns--from animal and nature designs to borders and geometric and decorative shapes; and techniques for shading, adding color, and sealing your projects.


My Review:
Creative Woodburning is a guide on how to do wood-burning projects to make works of art. The author started by describing the different equipment you'll need for safe use during the wood burning and provided tips on the easiest-to-work-with wood. She described various techniques for wood burning, like shading, blackening, and stippling, in enough detail that I felt confident that I could do it. The author used templates to create her designs, and she provided the templates for the projects in the back of the book. She also described how to get the template onto the wood. She also talked about things like staining the wood or the different ways you can color the wood-burned art. She then provided a variety of projects, from decorating a jewelry box to a wooden egg or a clock face. While she described how you would do the project, it's not the usual step-by-step description with matching illustrations, but I felt the earlier techniques sections provided all that was needed to complete the projects. Overall, I'd recommend this book to those interested in learning how to do wood-burning art.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Drawing and Painting Botanicals for Artists by Karen Kluglein

Drawing and Painting Botanicals for Artists by Karen Kluglein ISBN-13: 9781631598579 Paperback: 144 pages Publisher: Rockport Publishers Released: June 16th 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In Drawing and Painting Botanicals for Artists, eminent botanical artist and veteran workshop instructor Karen Kluglein reveals her secrets for rendering leaves, flowers, berries, and branches both accurately and beautifully. The book begins with a brief history of the art form, followed by guidance on developing observational skills for this genre, key botanical terms and concepts, and the differences among botanical illustration, botanical art, and flower painting. The chapters that follow offer detailed guidance and demonstrations for drawing and painting botanicals in a variety of mediums:

Drawing. Explore loose gestural drawing, precise measuring and rendering, and working from photographs with graphite, colored pencil, finepoint markers, pen and ink, and silverpoint.

Painting. Master color mixing, washes, layering, gradations, values, and adding details in watercolor, gouache, and acrylic, plus guidance on adding “personality” to your work and knowing when a painting is done.


My Review:
Drawing and Painting Botanicals for Artists focused on how to draw or paint botanicals. For a book "for artists," she spent a lot of time describing the basic materials, tools, terms, and techniques needed for the different mediums – graphite pencils, colored pencils, fine point markers, silverpoint, watercolor, and gouache. She then provided step-by-step instruction on how to accurately draw or paint leaves, flowers and petals, fruits and berries, stems and branches. The instruction focused a lot on what things to look at and consider when trying to accurately replicate the live plant or a plant in a photograph. Overall, I'd recommend this book to those wanting to learn how to or improve their realistic, botanical drawings or paintings.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Illustration Studio: Inking Florals by Isa Down

Illustration Studio: Inking Florals by Isa Down ISBN-13: 9781633228368 Paperback: 128 pages Publisher: Walter Foster Publishing Released: June 16th 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
You will love learning to work with ink, pencil, and watercolor as you create your own favorite plants and flowers. Step-by-step projects feature popular flowers, including poppies, peonies, roses, freesias, snapdragons, and more, for a wide variety of well-loved plants. Illustration Studio: Inking Florals opens with an introduction to plant structure. Essential tools and materials are covered as well, and then you can learn all about drawing basics, ink shading tips, and watercolor techniques so that you have some basic knowledge before getting started on the more than 15 step-by-step drawing projects that round out the book.


My Review:
Illustration Studio: Inking Florals is an art instruction book on how to draw flowers. The author started by briefly covering materials and tools, then she described the basic steps she uses: study the reference photo in detail to see how the different parts (petals, stems, leaves, etc.) are shaped, use a pencil to draw the outline of the flower and the basic shapes, use an ink pen to draw over the shapes and then add details, then add color using watercolor. She assumed that you have a basic knowledge of watercolor as this was usually one step with general instructions like 'paint red over the petals.' There also wasn't much instruction specific to drawing with ink. Rather, the focus was on how to draw flowers.

There were step-by-step instructions for creating 16 different flowers. The first step of each showed the different shapes of the flower "pulled out" by themselves for you to trace or practice drawing before working on the actual flower. At the end of the book, there were some tips for creating bouquets or adding animals. This book seemed to be aimed at beginners who don't have much experience in drawing (since she suggests tracing) yet she also didn't do much hand-holding in terms of describing techniques. Probably the most useful step was where she demonstrated how to draw the different petal, stem, etc. shapes seen in a reference photo, so this may benefit people struggling with that.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Portrait Drawing for Kids by Angela Rizza

Portrait Drawing for Kids: A Step-by-Step Guide to Drawing Faces by Angela Rizza ISBN-13: 978-1641527255 Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Rockridge Press Released: May 19th 2020

Source: review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Anyone can take a picture―but drawing a person with recognizable likeness takes practice. Portrait drawing offers a completely unique interpretation of your subject, and Portrait Drawing for Kids gives budding artists the skill set they need to draw pictures of themselves, their family, and friends. Broken down into simple, step-by-step instructions, this book will teach you every aspect of portraiture, from features of the face, to capturing emotions, to techniques like shading and highlighting. This drawing for kids book will help you take your artistic talents to the next level―beginning with a sharpened pencil.


My Review:
Portrait Drawing for Kids is an art instruction book for beginners at drawing human faces with graphite pencil. The targeted age range is 9 to 12 years old, but I think it would be most useful for teenagers and adults since it assumes a certain level of focus and observational skills. In each chapter, she taught a new concept and then demonstrated how to draw it using six illustrated steps with brief text instructions for each step. She then provided three practice pages which simply showed the six steps with no new instructions. These practice faces would be at different angles and be both male and female and different ethnicities.

The author started by looking at the basic facial shape and how the face changes when you view it from the front, side, three quarters view, etc. Then she covered eyes and eyebrows, nose and mouth, different expressions, shading and how it changes based on the direction of the light source, adding ears, necks, hair, beards, and glasses. She then had you practice by doing different activities (with explanations on how to pose or otherwise do these activities), like drawing yourself, your friends, profiles, and group portraits. She also had you look at different portrait styles throughout history and try some of those styles. Overall, I would recommend this book to beginners at drawing faces, but I was confused by why she didn't better explain how to get an individuals facial portions correct.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Drawing and Painting Expressive Little Faces by Amarilys Henderson

Drawing and Painting Expressive Little Faces by Amarilys Henderson ISBN-13: 9781631598654 Paperback: 144 pages Publisher: Quarry Books Released: February 18, 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In Drawing and Painting Expressive Little Faces, artist and popular Skillshare instructor Amarilys Henderson shares her practical and creative techniques for drawing and painting faces with style and personality. Gather supplies, including watercolor, graphite pencils, ink, and markers. Use photos to simplify the face’s key elements, learn about facial proportions and factors and variables for placing facial features. Learn about the five basic facial shapes and how to modify the chin line, ears, and hairline, and how to draw and paint mouths, eyes, and noses and make alterations to show pose and personality. Navigate the process from start to finish, learn to adjust line quality to suggest different genders and ethnicities, and change up artistic styling to put a unique spin on your creations. Try out some project ideas: party invitations, repeat patterns, comic books, and more!


My Review:
Drawing and Painting Expressive Little Faces is an art instruction book about creating somewhat stylized faces with marker, pencil, and watercolor. For each part of the face, the author showed how to make a very simple version and then how to add detail with just another mark to create more and more detailed variations. She talked about the proportions of a face and how to create the basic facial shapes, ears, eyes, noses, mouths, and hair. She then showed how to put these elements together to create a unique face along with adding accessories. She talked some about how to create different skin tones, though she's not highly realistic with skin or hair color. She also suggested ways to use these expressive faces in urban sketching, personalized cards, etc. Overall, I'd recommend this book to teens and adults who want to learn how to draw and watercolor paint somewhat stylized but expressive faces.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.