Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Review: Cute Fantasy Art Class

Title: Cute Fantasy Art Class: Mystical Anime Besties - Learn to Draw over 50 Charming Characters Series: Standalone Author: Naomi Lord Illustrator: Naomi Lord Publish Date: February 11, 2025 Publisher: Rock Point Genre: Arts & Photography Age: 12+ Started Reading: January 20, 2025 Finished Reading: January 21, 2025
NetGalley?: Yes

Book Summary from Goodreads:

Learn how to draw your favorite and adorable fantasy characters with Naomi Lord!

An amazing and prolific artist, Naomi Lord is beloved by fans for her enchanting illustrations that range in style from anime/kawaii to characters from Dungeons and Dragons to figures in Greek mythology. Coming after her first drawing book, Cute Creature Art Class, Naomi is ready to expand your anime fantasy world with even more cute characters, all with some adventurous and inspiring personalities. In Cute Fantasy Art Class, learn how to draw 50 fantasy characters, including Pirate, Princess, Air Elemental, Orc, Anthropomorphic animals, and even their familiar companion, such as dragon, horse, and snake.

It's time to learn how to put complex characters—with some complex lifestyles—on the page. With long tutorials of 15-30 steps, this thorough class takes its line-by-line and detail-by-detail. Find simple and digestible instructions, including tips and tricks, so that you never get stuck. The drawings are also customizable to the artist! Add accessories, change their clothing and hairstyles, and  have the freedom to color your characters however you want. Whether you are an avid fan of Naomi’s artwork or are an anime fan interested in fantasy drawing, this is a must-have for your collection.


This art class  

 

An overview of the tools and materials you can use for traditional and digital methods Anime basics, including thorough demonstrations for drawing facial expressions, clothing, hair, and accessories Mini coloring tutorials for adding highlights and shadows Naomi’s personal tips and tricks for perfecting your drawings A character key with short, playful descriptions of the tutorials in the book And much more!


With Naomi’s artistic knowledge, you can bring your creative ideas to life and gain the confidence to keep drawing your own anime fantasy characters. This book will become your go-to reference; whenever you feel stuck with a particular design or character look, Naomi will be there will helpful advice to get your creative juices flowing.


So put aside some time to draw and enter this adorable fantasyland with Naomi’s Cute Fantasy Art Class.

My Two Cents:

Goodreads Rating:  4 Stars

An utterly adorable book to assist with making chibi, anime style fantasy characters. I would suggest that this book is better for inspiration for high beginner or intermediate artists rather than a beginner's book on how to draw. While each character has a step by step instruction on how to draw them, it is in the one pose with one outfit. The introduction does touch on altering how a character stands, and changing facial expression, outfit, and accessories, it is very high level and doesn't go into deep explanation. The book is very encouraging, and has quite a variety of characters to choose from. The character key at the beginning makes finding the character you wish to practice drawing quick and easy. I would say this book is good to use if you are looking to try a new style or have a step by step instruction for specific characters, but may be frustrating for those new to drawing. I read this digital ebook through NetGalley.


To Sum Up: Adorable inspiration and instruction for drawing your own chibi characters.

Thursday, March 6, 2025

Review: Sketchbook Joy

Title: Sketchbook Joy: How to Embrace Your Creativity and Fill Your Sketchbooks with Colour
Series: Stand Alone
Author: Katie Moody
Illustrator: Katie Moody
Publish Date: Mar 4, 2025
Publisher: Quarto Publishing Group – Leaping Hare
Genre: Arts & Photography
Age: 16+
Started Reading: February 21, 2025
Finished Reading: February 24, 2025
NetGalley?: Yes

Book Summary from Goodreads:

Creativity exists in everyone!

Find joy in this inspiring, beautiful and uplifting art instruction book from sketchbook lover, tutor and artist Katie Moody.

Art can be accessible, so much fun and positive for your mental health, mindfulness, and memory. Kickstart your creative journey with this exciting guide to developing your art skills every day through your sketchbook.

Even if you are sparkling brand new to art, Sketchbook Joy’s aspirational prompts will encourage you to unlock your creativity and fill your very own gorgeous sketchbook to cherish.

Learn how to paint through the accessible medium of fun gouache and explore the expressive joy of mixed media by drawing in pastels & pencils.

Be excited by unique examples and ideas from artist Katie Moody’s stunning illustrations, and explore:

• Essential sketchbook supplies and how to use them
• Basic painting and drawing techniques
• Colour theory
• Sketching things around you
• Projects that include botanicals, birds, rural landscapes, urban scenes, and painting from your window (or phone)
• Ideas and way of filling your sketchbook
• Tips for building a creative practice and making time for it – and you

Discover your inner creative, enjoy the process, and sketchbook your way to joyful wellbeing.

My Two Cents:

Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars

This book is a great one for those who are starting out their art journey. As a beginner I find I often fall to the same pitfalls talked about in this book, wanting perfection, things not going as well as I want or imagine. Katie helps you give yourself permission to just have fun with your art. Going through mediums, inspirations, beginning colour theory, she gives you everything you need to get you started with just making art. The projects at the end help give a starting point, walk you through a new technique, or just a group of ideas to look through if you find yourself stuck for what to sketch. A wonderful resource to help you fill up your sketchbooks. I read this e-book through NetGalley.

To Sum Up: A lovely resource for those starting out on their art journey.