Craftside

Great Inspirational Quote from the New Book, Pinterest Perfect

I don't know about you, but I have a significant number of "craft-fails." Probably because I certainly have the philosophy of the sentiment, "Make Something Today -Even if it Sucks-". I make something every day, or OK I'll admit it, I start to make something every day. I may not finish, but I do start the ball rolling. This creation by Amanda Wright featured in the new book Pinterest Perfect! Creative prompts & pin-worthy projects inspired by the artistic community of Pinterest. I think everyone should adopt this philosophy!

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Pinterest Perfect! Creative prompts & pin-worthy projects inspired by the artistic community of Pinterest

From the Walter Foster Creative Team

Featuring the art and designs of:

(Flora) Chia Jung Chang

Gemma Correll

Marisa Edghill

Khristian Howell

Molly Jacques

Ronda Palazzari

Amanda Wright

Jamielyn Nye

-Beautifully designed to emulate the clean, elegant aesthetics of Pinterest that users recognize and love, Pinterest Perfect! features the artwork, projects, and inspirational designs of talented artists and crafters, each of whom enjoys a sizeable fan base in the digital space and elsewhere.

-Filled with step-by-step projects, tutorials, art tips, and crafting techniques on everything from drawing, painting, and illustration to mixed media, typography, and papercrafts, each featured artist shares her unique art style with readers in an interactive and engaging format.

-Each section features a brief introduction to the artist, followed by four to six easy-to-follow, step-by-step projects and/or art techniques.

-Open practice pages at the end of each section invite readers to brainstorm, sketch, and collect inspiration for their own artistic projects.

-In addition, useful sidebars throughout the book share tips for using Pinterest efficiently and effectively, as a hobbyist and professional artist.

-Sidebar topics include creating a virtual artist morgue, collaborating with others on community boards, using boards to promote a business or share a portfolio, and much more.

-One part inspiration, one part how-to, and filled to the brim with color, inspiration, and beautiful artwork, Pinterest Perfect! is the picture-perfect visual resource for any artist, crafter, or creative Pinterest enthusiast.

How to Draw Monster Trucks from The Monster Jam Drawing & Activity Book

Are you looking for gift ideas for little ones? Why not get them a drawing book like Monster Jam & Activity Book: A monster assortment of exciting games, activities, trivia, drawing projects, and more that features tutorials like these first basic steps on how to draw the monster truck Grinder.

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Monster Jam & Activity Book: A monster assortment of exciting games, activities, trivia, drawing projects, and more

by Walter Foster Creative Team

The Monster Jam Drawing & Activity Book is almost as fun and exciting as a live Monster Jam®  event! Young fans of the Grave Digger®, Monster Mutt®, Maximum Destruction®, El Toro Loco®, and other popular Monster Jam monster trucks will burn rubber through this thrilling book fully loaded with drawing lessons, a paper pad, games, activities, paper cut-outs, stickers, and much more. Readers are also invited to design their very own Monster Jam monster trucks, and a variety of trivia questions and answers give fans all the Monster Jam knowledge they'll need to pass a "test" and earn their very own Monster Jam "driver's license."

How to draw eyes from the book How to Draw & Paint Fashion & Costume Design

The "eyes" have it today! When you take a few minutes out of your day to sketch, doodle or draw, why not "focus" on eyes? Use this page from How to Draw & Paint Fashion & Costume Design as your guide to drawing all sorts of pretty eyes.

 

Click on this page from How to Draw & Paint Fashion & Costume Design: Artistic Inspiration and Instruction from the vintage Walter Foster archives to enlarge and read the full step-by-step tutorial on how to draw eyes.

 

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How to Draw & Paint Fashion & Costume Design: Artistic Inspiration and Instruction from the vintage Walter Foster archives

How to Draw & Paint Fashion & Costume Design, the third book in the Walter Foster Collectibles series, contains yet another extraordinary collection of vintage Walter Foster titles from the 1940s through the 1960s, including Female Fashion, How to Draw and Paint Today's Fashions, How to Draw and Paint Fashions, and the Art of Costume Design. In addition to providing an overview of basic drawing and painting techniques, artists will learn how to capture figures in various poses, as well as the dynamics of facial features and expressions, and other elements of drawing. Additionally, this colorful 128-page book features easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions for rendering a range of early 20th-century fashions and theatrical costumes. From casual wear and formal gowns to textures, hats, and shoes, artists who are fond of vintage fashion and eras gone by will appreciate the book for both its instructional qualities and aesthetic and collectible values.

Turn your painting upside down when painting a reflection tip from the book The Art of Painting Landscapes, Seascapes, and Skyscapes in Oil & Acrylic

Today, I have a fun tip for those of you who like to include reflections in your art. It really is so simple. This tip for turning your painting upside down when painting a reflexion is from the book The Art of Painting Landscapes, Seascapes, and Skyscapes in Oil & Acrylic.

I bet this would work with all kinds of art and in different mediums.

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The Art of Painting Landscapes, Seascapes, and Skyscapes in Oil & Acrylic: Disover simple step-by-step techniques for painting an array of outdoor scenes

by Martin Clarke, Anita Hampton, Michael Obermeyer, Kevin Short, Alan Sonneman, and Tom Swimm

This inspiring book combines projects from some of our most popular How to Draw and Paint titles into one comprehensive guide to creating an array of outdoor scenes in a variety of painting styles. This beautiful, full-color reference book delves into essential information about acrylic and oil painting tools and techniques, and it contains a wide variety of step-by-step painting lessons, featuring a range of landscapes, seascapes, and skyscapes.

Martin Clarke (Mandurah, Western Austraila) spends most of his time surfing, swimming, and soaking up his muse: the ocean.

Anita Hampton's (Arizona) work is featured in exhibitions across the U.S. and Europe. She teaches workshops at the Scottsdale Art School in Arizona.

Michael Obermeyer's (Laguna Beach, CA) paintings are on display at the Smithsonian Institute, U.S. Air Force Historical Art Collection, and the Pentagon.

Kevin Short (Capistrano Beach, CA) studied painting at the University of New Mexico and Pepperdine University at Malibu.

Alan Sonneman's (Palo Alto, CA) murals are featured at the Riverside Hall of Justice in Riverside, California, and the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, California.

Tom Swimm's (San Clemente, CA) work has been displayed in several California galleries, at ArtExpo New York, and at the APPAF Exhibition in Paris, France.

Art Prompt: Draw letters in their shape from the book Creative Illustration and Beyond

Kick off your Monday with a fun art prompt from the book Creative Illustration & Beyond: Inspiring tips, techniques, and ideas for transforming doodled designs into whimsical artistic illustrations and mixed media projects. Try drawing the letters of the word in the shape of what the word is such as "guitar" in the shape of a guitar.

 

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Creative Illustration & Beyond: Inspiring tips, techniques, and ideas for transforming doodled designs into whimsical artistic illustrations and mixed media projects

by Stephanie Corfee

You learned the fine art of doodling with Walter Foster’s bestselling Creative Doodling & Beyond. Now take your doodled designs to the next level with the entertaining, engaging, and creative ideas and activities in Creative Illustration & Beyond. From illustrating characters from basic shapes and stylizing everyday objects to creating dynamic illustrative layouts and intricately rendered word art, professional artist Stephanie Corfee captivates and charms doodle enthusiasts and aspiring illustrators from the very first page of this colorful and interactive illustration journal. After a brief introduction to illustration tools and materials, Stephanie dives right in with imaginative warm-up exercises, followed by motivating prompts to get the creative juices flowing. Next, an assortment of step-by-step projects guides readers through the creative process for transforming doodles and designs into inviting and colorful illustrations that can be used for a variety of purpose, including postcards, stationery, scrapbook pages, wall art, room décor, jewelry, and much more! Throughout the book, artists are invited to practice their techniques, sketch concepts, make notes, and brainstorm creative illustration ideas right inside the beautifully designated spaces. The perfect follow-up to Creative Doodling & Beyond, Creative Illustration & Beyond is as approachable to the beginner as it is appealing to lifelong doodlers and illustrators of all skill levels. Packed with inspiration, tips, and stunning illustrations designed to encourage and educate, this engaging and colorful book is sure to delight the doodler at heart.

Stephanie Corfee is a full-time freelance artist and designer living in Malvern, PA. She has worked in advertising and marketing and previously owned her own wedding gown design studio. Today, Stephanie enjoys the creative freedom that comes from owning her own business while doing what she love. She has a colorful, bohemian personal aesthetic and loves creating fun, whimsical art for children. Visit www.stephaniecorfee.com.