Watercolor Textures For Artists - Book Review

 

Title: Watercolor Textures For Artists

Author: Ana Victoria Calderon

Publisher: Quarry Books

Publication Date: March 5, 2024

Length: 70 Pages

About the Author
Ana Victoria Calderon is a Mexican/American watercolor artist and teacher with a bachelor's degree in Information Design and continued studies in Fine Arts. Ana teaches in-person workshops and hosts creative retreats in Tulum, Mexico, as well as more than 40,000 students on Skillshare, where she is a Top Teacher. 

Textures and Techniques
This art book is divided into the following sections;

• Watercolor Basics
• Texture Swatching
• Inspired Textures
• Mindful Painting
• Mystical Landscapes and Skyscapes
• Templates

My Thoughts
The author begins this book with an introduction to basic watercolor supplies and techniques. I have had limited experience using watercolors so I found this introduction very helpful.
Ms. Calderon introduces textures using a variety of watercolor methods and alternate drawing tools, such as gel pens, paint markers, and colored pencils. The color illustrations are outstanding and offer a great deal of ideas and inspiration.

Some illustrations explain the difference between "wet on dry" and "wet on wet" watercolor techniques. 

The print edition of this book offers templates that can be used to try the more advanced projects in the last chapter of this book. These projects are beautiful but appear to be too complicated for my skill level. 

This is a short book but it offers instruction and inspiration for all levels of watercolor painters. If you worked through all the projects in this book, you would have an excellent creative experience. I didn't realize texture could make this much difference until I read this book!

MY RATING: 5 STARS OUT OF 5

Thank you to NetGalley for an excellent reading experience.

You Will Be Able To Collage By The End Of This Book

 

Title: You Will Be Able To Collage By The End Of This Book

Author: Stephanie Hartman

Publisher: Ilex Press

Publication Date: May 25, 2023

Length: 160 Pages

About the Author
Stephanie Hartman is a collage artist and the founder of Collage Club Ldn. She leads popular workshops celebrating the art of cutting and sticking and has worked with brands and organizations such as ASOS, Adidas, Toast, and the Royal Academy.

Collage Ideas and Inspiration
This book is divided into the following four sections;

1. Getting started
2. Paper-cut collage
3. Found imagery
4. Beyond the flat page

The author provides instructions and color photos for a variety of collage projects. There are "Artist Spotlights" that feature important members of the collage art community.

My Thoughts
This year is going to be a year of COLLAGE for me. I plan to read books about collages, watch online tutorials, and practice making paper collages. I have joined an online group where we will make and exchange collage projects in the mail.

I read through this book in one day and got a wonderful overview of collage supplies, paper collage techniques, and projects with found images. I plan on going back and actually trying out many of the techniques that were introduced in this book. There are step-by-step instructions for many of the collages.

The author stated in the title of this book that you will be able to collage by the end of this book. I agree that this book is an excellent introduction to get you started on the journey of creating collage art. The important thing is that you TAKE ACTION and use the skills that are presented by Ms. Hartman. Play and have fun!

MY RATING: 5 Stars Out Of 5

Share Your Joy; Mixed Media Shareable Art Book Review

 Title: Share Your Joy; Mixed Media Shareable Art

Author: Sarah J. Gardner

Publisher: Quarto Publishing Group - Walter Foster

Publication Date: September 5, 2023

Length: 128 Pages

About the Author
Sarah J. Gardner is a mother, practicing lawyer, and self-taught artist in Southern California. She works with mixed media and seeks to help others who want to explore their creativity and play with art supplies. 

Shareable Art
Sarah Gardner provides inspiration and instructions for eight art paper projects and nine shareable projects in this colorful mixed-media art book.
The sharable projects include;

• Sewn Collage Postcards
• Printed Layers Postcards
• Watercolor Rainbow Greeting Card
• Abstract Collage Note Card
• Embellished Envelopes

My Thoughts
This is an inspiring and instructional book for mixed-media artists. The focus of the book is creating art that can be shared with others. This is a perfect selection for artists who create handmade greeting cards and mail art.

The step-by-step directions are excellent for both beginners and experienced mixed-media artists. The color photos add great value to the text. The original designs and techniques will motivate the reader to take their creativity to the next level.

The book includes interviews with two artists who have been swapping and sharing art for many years. 

Ms. Gardner (juicy.s.art) shares samples of her work on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.

I read a digital copy of this book and hope to order a print copy in the future.  I really love everything about this book.

Highly recommended!!!

MY RATING: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 

Thank you to NetGalley for a wonderful reading opportunity.

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Learn to Draw in 5 Weeks - Book Review

 

Title: Learn to Draw in 5 Weeks: A Beginners Workbook for All Ages

Author: KRITZELPIXEL

Publisher: Zeitgeist

Publication Date: July 18, 2023

Length: 96 Pages

About the Author
KritzelPixel inspires tens of thousands of followers with their YouTube drawing tutorials. When they're not shooting videos, they work as a photographer, illustrator, graphic designer, cartoonist, presenters, and writers.

Drawing Fundamentals
"Drawing is supposed to be fun! You don't need to be talented; anyone can learn to draw, and we each progress at our own pace."

This book contains the following five weeks of drawing lessons;

• Week 1 - Fine Motor Skills
• Week 2 - Dimension
• Week 3 - Shapes
• Week 4 - Shadows
• Week 5 - Craft

My Thoughts
This book does a good job of explaining and illustrating the basic skills needed for drawing. The book provides a list of drawing materials in chapter one. Chapter one is my favorite part of this book because it consists of warm-up exercises that anyone can enjoy.

Chapters Two through Five include more advanced techniques that will be a challenge to beginners. I think a person with limited drawing experience would need to be extremely motivated and determined to finish all the lessons in five weeks.

I agree with the author that anyone can learn to draw. I think a person who is committed to learning the skills in this book will be successful if they are willing to practice, practice and practice some more. 

The author provides links to access video tutorials. These videos should be very valuable in mastering the skills. 

MY RATING: 4 Stars Out Of 5

Thank you to NetGalley for an excellent reading experience.

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Creating Art With Alcohol Ink - Book Review

Title: Creating Art With Alcohol Ink; Complete Guide to 12 Easy Techniques, 17 Spectacular Projects

Authors: Laurie Williams and Sheryl Williams

Publisher: Design Originals

Publication Date: January 17, 2023

Length: 144 Pages

About the Authors
Laurie “Trumpet” Williams is a mixed media and alcohol ink artist, instructor, and influencer. 
An award-winning artist in watercolor, alcohol ink, oil, and charcoal, Sheryl Williams loves to teach. She teaches her skills online through the CreateSmArt Academy, offering an online Alcohol Ink Master Course that starts at the very beginning and works all the way up to advanced representational art.

Great Resource for Artists Are you interested in alcohol ink art?

This resource provides a list of tools and supplies, safety considerations, twelve alcohol ink techniques, and an inspiration gallery that features completed projects.

The book is appropriate for beginners as well as experienced alcohol ink artists and crafters. The detailed instructions and color photos lend themselves to an excellent learning experience.

My Thoughts I chose this book because I have dabbled in alcohol ink art and I am interested in learning more methods and techniques. I was not disappointed...this book provided some techniques that I was familiar with and many new methods to try.

I was pleased with the way a detailed list of the supplies was listed at the beginning of each new project. The color photos are helpful in understanding the techniques. I am very impressed with the clarity of the instructions.

Alcohol ink is best if used on non-porous surfaces. It can be used on treated canvas, Yupo paper, glossy photo paper, jewelry, candles, switch plates, tabletops, ornaments, glass bottles, and even musical instruments.

There is an informative section on how to seal your alcohol ink projects so they won't scratch or fade.

I highly recommend this book for inspiration and instruction. You can never have too many art books! I have included one of my alcohol ink paintings below ( 5" by 7" on Yupo paper).

My Rating: 5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley.

Alcohol ink art by Janette Fuller

 

Diary Comics Can Tell Your Personal Story

 

Title: My Day In Small Drawings: Write. Draw. Reflect.

Author/Illustrator: Matilda Tristram

Publisher: Leaping Hare Press

Publication Date: September 21, 2021

Length: 240 Pages

About the Author
Matilda Tristram is an animator, illustrator, and scriptwriter for Peppa Pig. She taught at Kingston University for ten years and at the Royal College of Art. She lives in London, U.K.

Write. Draw. Reflect.
This book offers a unique insight into recording your daily life and embracing the ordinary through comic art.

My Thoughts
The author started writing diary comics and posting them online after a cancer diagnosis during her first pregnancy. She used comics to journal about the people, places, and situations that she was facing in her everyday life.

Ms. Tristram believes diary comics can be used as a therapeutic outlet or just for the fun of creating. She provides 52 sections of prompts in this book and blank pages after each prompt for practice (in the print edition).

The drawings are simple doodles that anyone could have fun drawing. I like the way the author encourages the reader to reflect on the different aspects of the day and record impressions in a journal using both words and drawings.

This is a type of art journaling that can be done with nothing more than a notebook and pencil. You don't need any expensive equipment or supplies.

Many of us have kept written diaries or journals. This book demonstrates how we can take it to the next level with comic illustrations. 

MY RATING: 5 STARS OUT OF 5

FYI ~ I received a free digital review copy of this book from NetGalley.

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Gelli Arts Printing Guide by Suzanne McNeill Updated and Revised

TITLE: Gelli Arts Printing Guide; Printing Without a Press on Paper and Fabric Using the Gelli Arts Plate

Author: Suzanne McNeill

Publisher: Design Originals

Publication Date: May 31, 2021 (Updated and revised edition).

Length: 88 Pages

Color Illustrations

About the Author
Suzanne McNeill is the woman behind Design Originals, a publishing company dedicated to all things fun and creative. She is a designer, artist, columnist, TV personality, publisher, art instructor, author, and lover of everything hands-on. 

Discover the Wonderful World of Gelli Printing!
This is a revised and updated version of a book the author published in 2014.
Printing with a Gelli plate is a process that results in beautiful, one-of-a-kind papers with amazing colors, layers, and textures.

This book presents basic information on supplies, the best techniques, and projects. There is also a Gallery of beautiful art made by Gelli plate artists from around the world.

My Thoughts
I have a Gelli plate and have made some prints with acrylic paint and distress oxide inks. I am definitely a beginner and still have much to learn about the Gelli printing process. I found this book very informative and inspiring.

The color illustrations are outstanding. The directions for different techniques are brief but adequate. I really enjoyed the section on using found objects for different textures. 

The author includes a collection of projects that could be made with Gelli prints on paper and fabric. Some of these projects are; Abstract collage art, quilts, greeting cards, totes and bags, gift wraps, and journals. 

This is a short reference book that should be included in your art book library. 

MY RATING: 5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

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