Drawing Class: Animals Review & GIVEAWAY

Coming soon! Drawing Class: Animals: Learn to Draw with Simple Shapes and Online Tutorials by Heegyum Kim. Join this award-winning illustrator in 60 beginner-level lessons. She takes you from the first steps to the final details, step by step. Her stylized animals are delightful - they inspire and motivate. Begin by drawing a combination of large and small rectangles, triangles and circles. These simple shapes will form the basis of your drawing. Add marks and details, gradually developing your animal's personality. Once you've finished drawing - bring your sketch to life with color and pattern. The author suggests using colored pencils. Follow the examples given. Work through the coloring process until your illustration is complete. Take your drawing a step further with some sketch studies. They involve changes to the animal's position, close-ups, etc. For each animal, there are several options. The sketch studies will help you get familiar with the animal's physical characteristics. The variety of animals is fabulous. There is a diverse selection from all over the world. They make the exercises fun. Get plenty of practice and build up your confidence. Add a pencil, eraser, colored pencils and paper. Want a look behind the scenes? An added feature of this book is the unique QR code with each drawing. Scan the square-shaped black-and-white symbol with a smartphone. It will lead you to a video of the author drawing that animal. See excerpts and the table of contents below. This 128-page paperback will be released on March 14, 2023, by Quarry Books. It is available now for pre-order. Get your copy below!

C O N T E N T S

Introduction

HOME & FARM

Cat

Dog

Horse

Guinea Pig

Goose

Pig

Sheep

WOODLANDS, PLAINS & GRASSLANDS

Elephant

Lion

Zebra

Rhino

Fennec Fox

Hedgehog

Wild Boar

Badger

Brown Bear

Panda

Squirrel

Koala

Moose

Bison

Wolf

Elephant Shrew

Yak

CRAWLERS & FLIERS

Cricket

Ladybug

Moth

Dragonfly

Beetle

Woodpecker

Quail

Crow

Red Lory

Hummingbird

Eagle

Zenops

Albatross

Bat

RAIN FOREST

Iguana

Tiger

Monkey

Capybara

Jaguar

Sloth

Orangutan

SEA, SHORE & WETLANDS

Alligator

Beaver

Frog

Walrus

Jellyfish

Lobster

Shark

Sea Turtle

Fish

Seahorse

Squid

X-Ray Fish

LEGENDARY CREATURES

Dinosaur

Dodo

Unicorn

About the Author

Contents

Quail

Capybara

Shark

Unicorn

Back cover of my copy.

Drawing Class: Animals ISBN-13 : 978-0760379332 is available worldwide at Quarry Books, an imprint of the Quarto Publishing Group USA. Quarto has generously offered to giveaway a copy! One winner will be selected at random. Open until March 20, 2023. Canadian and US addresses only. Good luck!

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15-Minute Drawing: Getting Started Review & GIVEAWAY

Short on time? This is 15-Minute Drawing: Getting Started: From sketch to finished drawing in just 15 minutes! by Erin McManness. She is the founder of Paper Raven Co. a stationery and illustration brand based in Atlanta. Her book features more than 30 step-by-step beginner drawing exercises. She shows you how to break objects down into simple shapes and then add detail. The projects are grouped by subject. Sketch everything from leaves and flowers, animals and insects, city buildings, and everyday life. Think of this workbook as a personal art journal. There is space to practice the prompts, tutorials, and exercises found throughout. Add a sketchbook if you like. You will need a graphite pencil. Discover some tools and materials you might like to experiment with - Erin shares her favorites. She shows you how to warm up by test-swatching your supplies. This is followed by some basic drawing techniques. Check out ways to add color, borders, corner accents, banners, and hand lettering to your journal. Examine common layouts (central, wide, border, and lettering) and how to achieve them. By experimenting with drawing supplies, techniques, and subject matter you'll develop your skills and style. Use this fun book to help you establish a regular art practice in 15 minutes. It's just the right size 16.64 x 23.5 cm (6.55 x 9.25 inches), large enough to comfortably draw in yet small enough to keep with you for easy access. Plus you'll have a record of and be able to track your progress. It's a great book for beginning artists. See excerpts and the complete table of contents below. Walter Foster Publishing released this 112-page paperback on May 3, 2022. Get your copy below!

Table of Contents

Getting Started

Drawing Techniques

Lettering Techniques

Creating a Beautiful Layout

Leaves & Flowers

City Buildings

Animals & Insects

Everyday Life

About the Artist

Drawing should be fun!

Drawing Techniques

Leaves & Flowers

We’ll break down different types of flowers, plants, and leaves to their basic shapes; then we’ll discuss how to visually organize them to create stunning floral compositions and illustrative accents. For practice, I highly suggest looking up reference photos to study different petal and leaf shapes—better yet, go out into your neighborhood or park for some life observation!

City Buildings

We’ll explore different types of architecture, iconic landmarks, signage, and scenes from city life. For these types of drawings, I recommend gathering good reference photos, as well as a ruler, pencil, and pen. Many of these drawings start with a penciled geometric base, to which we’ll add details. As you practice these examples, remember that the keys to drawing architecture are symmetry, space, and simplification.

Everyday Life

We’ll take a look at many everyday objects that you can find around your own home. We’ll learn how to break down complex objects into simple shapes and add convincing details. I recommend gathering a few objects that you own to practice with!

Complex Florals.

Prickly Pear.

The Quarto Group has generously offered to giveaway a copy! One winner will be selected at random. Open until September 7, 2022. Canadian and USA addresses only. Good luck!

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Use This if You Want to Be Great at Drawing Review & GIVEAWAY

Practice your pencil work! This is Use This if You Want to Be Great at Drawing: An Inspirational Sketchbook by Henry Carroll and Selwyn Leamy. It's a sketchbook with 73 contemporary drawing prompts. Complete each drawing exercise in the space provided. In most cases it's an entire page. Pages measure 18.1 x 24.13 cm (7.13  x 9.5 inches). All prompts are in the form of a drawing title, for example - A drawing with no lines, Connected dots and A cow drawn in the style of... At the back of this sketchbook is a section called Tips and Index. It lists the 73 drawing exercises and offers a sentence or two of direction for each. For inspirational purposes, examples of artwork by 13 of today's modern day masters are arranged throughout. This artwork is from the late 20th through early 21st centuries. It's an eclectic mix that shows how diverse the practice of drawing can be. Each artwork has a brief commentary. Push the boundaries of your own drawing with this very modern sketchbook. It comes in a cardboard sleeve that simply slides off. Just add your favorite drawing pencils. It's the perfect companion to "Read This if You Want to Be Great at Drawing". Both books have been translated into over 20 languages. See excerpts below. Laurence King Publishing released this 128 page paperback on March 26, 2019. Get your copy below!

For inspiration, a doodle by Jon Burgerman. Beside it a page for you to create a piece inspired by him.

For inspiration, character studies of people in public by Gregory Muenzen. Beside it a page for you to create something inspired by him. From the French language edition.

Contributing Artists

David Hockney

Grayson Perry

Jon Burgerman

Maryclare Foá

Nigel Howlett

Serse

Jason Silva

Mr Bingo

Kate Atkin

Los Carpinteros

Gregory Muenzen

Jody Barton

Marcel van Eeden

Other pages of sketchbook. The left and right page prompts are - Drawn shopping list of ingredients for tonight's dinner and Supermarket scene made while shopping for ingredients. Note the sketchbook's lay flat design. The paper feels nice too.

Raincoast Books Canada has generously offered to giveaway a copy of Use This if You Want to Be Great at Drawing! One winner will be selected at random. Open until July 7, 2022. Good luck!  CANADA  ONLY. 

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Doodling for Cat People Review & GIVEAWAY

Cat person? This is Doodling for Cat People: 50 inspiring doodle prompts and creative exercises for cat lovers by Gemma Correll. Oh what fun! Her book is designed to inspire creativity and entertain. It's a book you draw in. Follow the prompts and step-by-step exercises. There's plenty of space to doodle in. The activities vary. They are simple enough for anyone to do and enjoy. You'll definitely learn how to draw a better cat. No special tools or materials are required. Use what you like, pencil, pen, or other favorite drawing tools. The book's portable size (6 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches) and weight (12 ounces) makes it easy to doodle anywhere. There is lighthearted cat humor throughout. And fun cat facts. I find the UK illustrator's witty style very appealing - it strikes a cord. It's purrfect for creative cat-lovers! See excerpts and the complete table of contents below. Walter Foster Publishing released the 128 page paperback ‏on April 3, 2015. Get your copy below!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

How to Use This Book

20 Signs You're a Cat Person

Doodled Cats

Doodled Cat Faces

Expressions

Anthropomorphic Cats

Fashionable Furballs

Draw a Kitty

Draw a Cozy Curled-up Kitty

Draw a Kitty Sitting Pretty

Make a Doodled Cat Mug

What's in a name?

Cats Doing Tricks

A Day in the Life

Kitty Kingdoms

Cats & Dogs

Draw a Perky, Fluffy Persian

Draw a Str-e-e-e-tching Kitty

Draw a Super Sphinx

Cattitude

Draw an Anthropomorphic Cat

Cats-in-Hats

Cat-Toids

Funky Fur

Food!

Playtime!

Cats in Motion

Kitties on Vacation

Doodle Diary

About the Illustrator

Cats in Hats.

A photo I took of pages 40-41 of my copy - Draw a cozy curled-up kitty.

Get your copy of Doodling for Cat People at Amazon Canada and Amazon USA. The Quarto Group has generously offered to giveaway a copy! One winner will be selected at random. Open until May 4, 2022. Canadian and USA addresses only. Good luck!

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Birds and Botanicals Review & GIVEAWAY

Mindful drawing practice! This is the Mindful Artist: Birds and Botanicals: A meditative guide to using brush pens and ink to create birds, flowers, and more by Monika Cilmi. It's a book about practicing mindfulness while using a Japanese brush pen. A Japanese brush pen writes like a brush. Its bristles are made to copy the strokes of an authentic Japanese calligraphy brush. You'll find 16 step-by-step projects to practice meditative drawing. Subjects are a mix of birds and flowers, examples include a humming bird, crane and fuchsia. All projects are named after a mindful teaching like Joy, Letting Go, Kindness etc. The goal of each drawing is to focus on the creative process without worrying about the results. There is suggested breath work before you begin each drawing. Close your eyes and take 3 deep breaths with your empty paper in front of you. Next follow the guided thinking exercise. You are asked to meditate on a given theme and draw. Large illustrations demonstrate the elegant brush strokes and drawing techniques. They are mostly in black ink, though there is some use of color. Text is kept to a minimum. All tools and materials are listed at the beginning of each project. It's a short list of pen and paper, mostly Japanese brush pens and high-quality heavy paper. Exact brands are shared, for example, she favors Canson heavyweight cartridge paper. See excerpts and the complete table of contents below. Walter Foster released the 128 page paperback ‏on February 8, 2022. Get your copy below!

Table of Contents

Introduction

Tools & Materials

Tips & Methods

Painting Subjects

Capturing the Moment

Connecting with Nature

Letting Go

Freedom

Spread Your Wings

Inner Journey

Inner Beauty

The Peace of Here & Now

Growing in Harmony

Ready to Fly

Kindness

The Harmony of Nature

The Essence of a Rose

Natural Confidence

Joy

Delicate Movement

About the Author

Letting Go page 32.

Letting Go continued.

Freedom start.

From copyright page of book.

From page 13.

Learn about brush pens on page 7.

Mindful Artist: Birds and Botanicals ISBN-13: ‎978-1600589263 is available worldwide at Amazon. Quarto Publishing has generously offered to giveaway a copy! One winner will be selected at random. Open until April 7, 2022. Canadian and USA addresses only. Good luck!

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Ten-Step Drawing: Dogs Review & GIVEAWAY

Learn to draw dogs and puppies! This is Ten-Step Drawing: Dogs: Learn to draw more than 50 dogs in ten easy steps! by Justine Lecouffe. Her easy-to-follow guide features drawing tutorials of domestic dog breeds. Follow the step-by-step instructions (both illustrated & text). Start with dog faces and features before moving on to the whole body at rest and in motion. All drawing tutorials begin with simple shapes (rectangle, oval, circle). Each step builds upon the last - slowly add more and more detail. In 10 steps your drawing is done. Add finishing touches with colored pencil. Continue in this fashion until you have completed all of the exercises. This book is ideal for learning, practicing and improving your dog drawing skills. There are some good practical tips on drawing. See excerpts and the complete table of contents below. Walter Foster released the 128 page paperback ‏on December 14, 2021. Get your copy below!

C O N T E N TS 

INTRODUCTION

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

FACES & FEATURES

Front View Head

Side View Head

Eyes

Nose

Ears

Labrador Retriever

Siberian Husky

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Boston Terrier

English Springer Spaniel

Border Collie

Labradoodle

Italian Greyhound

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Chow Chow

DOGS AT REST

Front View Body

Side View Body

German Sheppard

Bull Dog

French Bull Dog

Yorkshire Terrier

Cockapoo

Rottweiler

Dachshund

Miniature Schnauzer

Pomeranian

Chihuahua

Bernese Mountain Dog

Pug

Saint Bernard

Australian Shepherd

German Shorthaired Pointer

Chinese Shar-Pei

DOGS IN MOTION

Doberman Pinscher

Boxer

Shih Tzu

Weimaraner

Whippet

Poodle

Basset Hound

West Highland White Terrier

Jack Russell Terrier

Scottish Terrier

Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Dalmation

Irish Wolfhound

Bull Terrier

Akita

Afghan Hound

DOGS AND PUPPIES

Beagle

Golden Retriever

Great Dane

Corgi

Collie

Pit Bull

Irish Setter

Cocker Spaniel

About the Artist

Acknowledgements

Border Collie.

French Bulldog.

Page 11 of my copy.

Ten-Step Drawing: Dogs ISBN-13 :  978-1600589478 is available worldwide at Walter Foster. Walter Foster is a division of the Quarto Publishing Group USA. Walter Foster is one of the most recognized names in art instruction. Check out their unique catalog at Walter Foster. Quarto has generously offered to giveaway a copy! One winner will be selected at random. Open until January 21, 2022. Canadian and USA addresses only. Good luck!

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Ten-Step Drawing: Cats Review & GIVEAWAY

Learn to draw cats and kittens! This is Ten-Step Drawing: Cats: Learn to draw more than 50 cats in ten easy steps! by Justine Lecouffe. Her easy-to-follow guide features drawing tutorials of domestic cat breeds. Follow the step-by-step instructions (both illustrated & text). Start with cat faces and features before moving on to the whole body at rest and in motion. All drawing tutorials begin with simple shapes (rectangle, oval, circle). Each step builds upon the last - slowly add more and more detail. In 10 steps your drawing is done. Add finishing touches with colored pencil. Continue in this fashion until you have completed all of the exercises. This book is ideal for learning, practicing and improving your cat drawing skills. There are some good practical tips on drawing. See excerpts and the complete table of contents below. Walter Foster released the 128 page paperback ‏on December 14, 2021. Get your copy below!

Contents

Introduction

How to use this book

Faces & Features

Front View Face

Side View Face

Eyes

Nose

Ears

Birman

Chartreux

Oriental Shorthair

Main Coon

Singapura

RagaMuffin

Sphinx

Snowshoe

Cats at Rest

Sitting, Front View

Sitting, Back View

Lying Down

Sleeping

Curled Up

Nebelung

Persian

Egyptian Mau

Devon Rex

British Shorthair

Turkish Van

Siberian

Bengal

Ragdoll

Balinese

Russian Blue

Burmese

Colorpoint Shorthaired

Savannah

Cats in Motion

Standing

Grooming

Playing

Reaching

Stretching

Walking

Running

Jumping

Bombay

Siamese

Norwegian Forest

Burmilla

Chausie

Cats & Kittens

Licking Paw

Balancing

Playing with Wool

Arching

Mother & Kitten

Abyssinian

Exotic Shorthair

LaPerm

American Shorthair

Scottish Fold

Tonkinese

Ocicat

About the Artist

Acknowledgements

Face.

Siberian.

Ten-Step Drawing: Cats ISBN-13 : 978-1600589485 is available worldwide at Walter Foster. Walter Foster is an imprint of the Quarto Publishing Group USA. Walter Foster is one of the most recognized names in art instruction. Check out their unique catalog at Walter Foster. Quarto has generously offered to giveaway a copy! One  will be selected at random. Open until January 16, 2022. Canadian and USA addresses only. Good luck!

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