Currently Browsing: Books 128 articles
Book List: Books on Drawing
Recently a reader wrote in and asked if I had a list of my favorite “good, basic, drawing instruction books or websites.” I thought I did have a list up of my favorite drawing books, but it seems I have a lot of single reviews. I decided to make a quick list here with my […]
In Context: Downsizing My Book Collection
If you click on today’s image you’ll be able to read the text, but depending on your screen size it may be difficult so I’ve transcribed it here, a little “in context leisure reading” for today. (Brush pen warm ups in a Hahnemühle Travel Journal.) My musing ended as you see it, with no conclusions. […]
What Has Happened to Hercule Poirot?
Actor John Malkovich takes on Hercule Poirot in “The ABC Murders” available on Amazon Prime. I recommend watching this version of Agatha Christie’s book by the same name not just to keep abreast of how the interpretation of Christie’s work continues to morph with each new “generation,” but also because it is simply fun to […]
Protected: Studying Other Artists, Or Dealing with a Plateau in Artistic Development
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
The Essence of Watercolour: A Book by Hazel Soan
Near the end of this past summer I received a note from Batsford asking if I would like to review a the Hazel Soan book: “The Essence of Watercolor.” (I provided the above link to Amazon so you can read more about the book and see a flip through one reader has put up. I’m not […]
Protected: Experimenting with Line Quality And Working Method
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Wil Freeborn’s New Watercolor Painting Book
I just purchased a copy of artist Wil Freeborn’s new book Learning to Paint in Watercolor with 50 Paintings: Pick Up the Skils, Put on the Paint, Hang Up Your Art. (Quarry, ISBN 978-1-63159-277-5) (The link is to Amazon for convenience, but I’m not affiliated, but it where you can.) I read half of the […]
Artist’s Sketchbook—A New Book on Sketching from Cathy Johnson
Left: Cover of the Artist's Sketchbook. Click on the image to view an enlargement. The publication of a new painting or sketching book from Cathy Johnson is always an happy and exciting event for me. Johnson is one of my art heroes. Like many other artists I was first aware of her work through her how-to-articles […]
Paris, Je t’aime—A New Sketchbook Facsimile from Lapin
If you’ve viewed the art on UrbanSketchers.org chances are you will have seen the lovely sketches of Lapin. He works in ledger books so column lines in red and blue printed ink show through the delicate colors of his ink and watercolor sketches. Periodically he has compiled these into journal facsimiles so that the reader […]
Landscape Inspirations
Above: A page spread from my Shinola Sketchbook in which I use gouache to play with new colors and the inspiration of John Harris' work. I’ve been experimenting with different colors selections based on inspiration from the work on John Harris, a science fiction illustrator who makes stunning land- and cityscapes. (I took a […]