All The Colors of Life
by Lisa Aisato, Olivia Lasky (Translator)
I liked some of the art in this book, but some of it has nudity, which I did not enjoy. Most of the art is exquisitely beautiful, but some of it is sort of crass or disfigured.
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Shuna’s Journey
by Hayao Miyazaki, Alex Dudok de Wit (Translator)
Shuna is the young prince of a poor valley land with few crops and starving citizens. An old man travels into the valley and tells Shuna about a land with bountiful wheat. Shuna leaves on a journey to bring back seeds from this land. He rides through many dangers and encounters a land full of slave traders. He rescues two sisters from the slavers, and they travel together to the edge of the land of the gods where Shuna is hoping he will find the wheat.
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A young boy goes out in his rowboat to paint the sea while everything is still and quiet in the early morning light. He is always thinking about painting and sketching. Even when he rides bikes with his friends, when he goes to his piano lesson, when he walks the dog along the beach, or when he goes sailing. He is always thinking how he would paint the waves, the sand dunes, or the dog. Each day is a new opportunity to paint the world.
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The Reverse Coloring Book™: Through the Seasons: The Book Has the Colors, You Make the Lines
by Kendra Norton
This is such a creative idea! With all the swirling colors on the page, it will really spark your imagination in a new way when you have to put in the lines and bring clarity to the page. I am so impressed with this beautiful book! The book is divided into sections for each season of the year, with bright green colors for spring, and warm reds and yellows for autumn, and cool blues and grays for winter.
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Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative
by Austin Kleon (Goodreads Author)
5 out of 5 stars
“There is nothing new under the sun.”
The truth is that originality does not exist. Everything has been done before, and when we see something that is “new”, it’s actually just a remix of whatever came before.
This book explores how to use what came before to inspire and guide your creativity. The author gives advice on how to steal ideas from the masters of the past, and make it your own thing.
I was really inspired by this book! It doesn’t just apply to art, but also to music, writing, or any creative endeavor. I loved the advice about how to hone your ideas, and keep yourself motivated. And it’s not just about the spiritual, mental, and emotional inspiration. There are entire chapters with practical advice about how to actually get the work done and create something worthwhile.
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Atlas of Amazing Architecture: The Most Incredible Buildings You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of
by Peter Allen
4 out of 5 stars
This book explores beautiful architecture around the world. These are some lesser well-known buildings and structures that aren’t as popular as the Eiffel Tower or Big Ben, but have been influential nonetheless.
I loved this cool book! It was so interesting to learn about these buildings, the architects who designed them, and the places where they were built. I like that the book doesn’t just tell you about the building, but also about the history behind it and the culture of the country that influenced it.
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What Adults Don’t Know About Art: Inspiring young minds to love and enjoy art
by The School of Life, Alain de Botton (Goodreads Author) (Editor)
5 out of 5 stars
This book is geared towards children, introducing them to the world of art, and teaching them why art is so important. I love the approach here, and the simple way that the book leads the reader into a better understanding of beautiful art. It begins with a simple question, “What is art, and why is it important to each person?”
I love the philosophy in this book about how art can shape our experiences and our culture, connecting us to our past and reflecting our personal emotions. Art teaches us to focus on the things that are truly important in life; a baby’s smile, that particular shade of blue in the sky, the powerful weight of a mountain, or a delicious fruit. The little things in life are the most important and enduring.
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How to Spot an Artist
by Danielle Krysa
4 out of 5 stars
This book encourages children (and adults) to keep creating, keep making things, and be on the lookout for other artists. You have to watch out for art bullies, whether it’s someone else or your own inner critic who wants to squash your creativity and freedom. Don’t let any criticism stop you from being an artist!
I loved the silly art style in this book. The blob creatures are made from yarn, paint, dots, squares, rainbows, string, glitter, and something that looks like shiny gold foil. They all have stick arms and little dot eyes and big smiles. So cute!
There are so many positive messages in this book! It’s a fresh look at the “Believe in Yourself!” message, and it got me really inspired.
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I love that there are so many practice pages in this book! They really break down each lettering style into simple components and then give you a chance to practice each pen stroke separately before putting it all together. The book teaches both blocked and calligraphy styles, and then you can get creative with making the style into your own unique handwriting. Continue reading
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