Book Review: 200 Projects to Strengthen Your Art Skills

I've had this book on my shelf for a few years now, and like clockwork I turn to it every several months or so. It was originally recommended to me by my favorite teacher of all time, my art education professor. 

The book is divided into sections, all equally inspiring. The first module focuses on mark making, the second on color and tone, the third on texture and pattern and the forth on form and space. The last few pages focus on working with specific media. Although there are a few segments which visually demonstrate specific techniques, the large majority of the book provides inspiring images and project ideas rather than step-by-step examples  Being a creative type myself, this is my preference. Typically I'd rather experiment to bring about skills and techniques than be told how to create a piece of art.

I'd recommend this book to teachers and students alike. With a little imagination, many of the ideas can easily be turned into rather creative assignments for a wide range of art levels. A student equipped with a sketchbook could benefit from the examples and ideas in this book. Although it seems to be geared toward high school students, I believe it would be a successful resource for middle school and well as the upper primary grades (with some adaptations). 

I highly recommend at the very least that you request it from your library. However, at $15 on Amazon, it is well worth the investment.

Purchase from amazon: 200-Projects-Strengthen-Your-Skills

PINspirations: Inspired by Sketchbooks!

As you will see in the following weeks, I am an avid pinner! If you have not yet been introduced to the amazing world of Pinterest, I very much so encourage you to check it out. Your may even want to start by viewing some of my boards and following me by clicking the link here: Jeskalynn. Or perhaps you are more interested in a few of the images I stumbled across this week. (As well as the ideas that they inspired.) Below I added a few of my favorites. Wherever possible I have included a link back to the original source. (Please do remember that the artwork pictured below is not my own and I by no means want credit.)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/featherbed/2467448643/in/faves-29702963@N00/

1. I love this sketchbook page and I think it could lead to some very interesting lessons. Perhaps a larger scale drawing that incorporates not only the personality and wardrobe style of the artist, but also the technical skill required to capture the various highlights and shadows of draped fabric. 

http://aztecmichelle.wordpress.com/2008/11/25/gpp-crusade-no-25-gesso/

2. What an awesome idea! Who says you need to go out and buy a sketchbook. Just take and old magazine and add a bit of gesso. Certainly, this would be a time consuming project if you were to pre-paint all the pages. However, I very much like the textural element of the text and images showing through. One might even benefit from choosing a magazine with a similar topic to the theme of their drawings.

3. Ink-blot anyone? Personally, I've never been a huge fan of symmetry, but I do like how it is used in the sketchbook pictured here. Although the colors form symmetrical designs, the artist did not allow this to limit him or herself to pictures of butterflies. Instead they looked a little deeper at the abstract shapes and pulled out three very interesting and far less predictable images. This could also be a great way to get over the fear of a blank sheet of paper.