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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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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The Hunger Games Accessories GIVEAWAY (Freebie Alert!)

Are there any Hunger Games fans in the house?

In August, Cindy Phelps Thomas wrote a book review of "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins on this blog.
If you have not read this awesome review, please click HERE.

I am giving away the following "Hunger Games" accessories to ONE lucky blog reader. The picture shows exactly what you will be receiving.

• A package of six Hunger Games pencils.
• A vinyl Hunger Games pencil case.
• A Hunger Games journal.

All you have to do to enter this contest is:
(1.) FOLLOW this blog with Google Friend Connect or Networked Blogs. I {{{heart}}} my blog followers.
(2.) Leave a brief comment on THIS post.

I will use Random.Org to choose ONE winner at 12:00 Noon (Central Time) on Tuesday, February 5. The winner will be chosen from you comments at the bottom of this post. That is just ONE WEEK from today.

Please include an email address in your comment. I will send the winner an email on February 5 and they will have 48 hours to respond with their shipping address. If I do not receive a reply, I will pick another name. I will announce the winner on this blog after I have received an email confirmation.

I will ship these items via USPS Priority Mail (Flat-Rate Envelope) at my expense. I am willing to ship this package ANYWHERE in the world.

I want to encourage my readers from Canada, Russia, Europe, the Middle East, China, Japan....ANYWHERE in the world to enter this contest. I truly appreciate my international readers!

Good Luck!

Book Review: Doodles Unleashed; Mixed-Media Techniques for Doodling, Mark-Making & Lettering

Doodles Unleashed: Mixed-Media Techniques for Doodling, Mark-Making & Lettering
By Traci Bautista

North Light Books, 2012 

About The Author 

Traci Bautista is creative director and owner of treiC Designs—a business endeavor that's entering its tenth year. She is the author of Collage Unleashed, and her artwork has been featured in over 15 mixed-media books and 40 craft magazines.

The Joy of Doodling

"Doodle" is defined in the Webster Dictionary as "an aimless scribble, design or sketch". Doodling is an art form that many of us have practiced since we were young, either intentionally or subconsciously. The purpose of this book is to provide inspiration and instruction in the art of doodling.

The author begins the book by listing many inexpensive and common items that she uses as art supplies. She instructs the reader on the types of paper, pencils, markers, paint, paintbrushes and adhesives that she uses.

Ms. Baustista begins the drawing section of the book with very basic "doodle prompts." These prompts are illustrated with color pictures that show you exactly how to design your own doodles. The author always encourages the reader to be creative in finding their own unique doodling style.

The author shares more advanced doodling and mixed media instruction as you progress through the book. This book is appropriate for artists of all skill levels and backgrounds. There are many online videos, articles and downloads that support the information in this book. 

My Thoughts

I have been scrapbooking and card making for several years, but I have very little confidence in my ability to sit down and draw a picture from scratch. I thought that doodling might build my confidence and get me started in the right direction.

I found this book to be very inspiring. The prompts are great and I love how the author starts with very simple projects and then progresses to more difficult techniques.  I experimented with some of the projects at the beginning of this book and was very pleased with the outcome.

I read the Kindle version of this book on the Kindle for PC Application. I enjoyed seeing large color photos on my laptop screen.

This book provides enough inspiration and information to keep a "doodling artist" busy for a very long time. I was amazed at all the ideas and projects that were presented here. Highly recommended for those who are ready to take their "doodling" skills to the next level.

My Rating:  5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I checked-out the digital copy of this book from my public library.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.