Books to Nourish Your Creativity...April 2019

 BOOKS TO NOURISH YOUR CREATIVITY​

One of my favorite things to do is to search for inspiration. From Pinterest boards to books, freebies to new art resources, and more – I love to share anything that might move us along our creative journey, that will inspire learning, and spark our curiosity! Being a creative soul we naturally crave these things so here are some of this month’s picks from me to you.

​The Artisan Soul by Erwin Raphael McManus— author, thought leader, has created a manifesto for human creativity. We are called to reclaim our creative essence and develop our lives into a work of art. There are no shortcuts to the process. We all carry within us the essence of an artist.
We all need to create—to be a part of a process that brings to the world something beautiful, good, and true.

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First published twenty-five years ago, The Artist's Way is the
seminal book on the subject of creativity. Perhaps even more
vital in today's cultural climate than when it was first published,
The Artist's Way is a powerfully provocative and inspiring
work. In it, Julia takes readers on an amazing twelve-week journey
to discover the direct link between their spiritual and creative
selves. we are introduced to the two most vital tools;
The Morning Pages and The Artist Date
This is a revolutionary program for artistic renewal that will
​ change the way you think about creating art.

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    Abstract Painting: The Elements of Visual Language examines  
    and describes a vocabulary of visual elements from which you
    build images, abstract or otherwise.  You will  examine line,
   shape, pattern, texture, depth, and color in detail. You will become
   more aware of these elements that make up a painting, and be
   better able to observe your own work without judgment and
   self-criticism. The over 200 color images in this book will
                          open your eyes to a whole new way of seeing your paintings as they develop. 

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    This book introduces the concept of realistic abstract painting - a loosely impressionistic form of painting that leaves much to the imagination of the viewer. The subject, though recognisable, is executed with freedom and fluidity, resulting in a painting that is far from photographic. It has been described as the 'grey' area between figurative and abstract painting, yet there is nothing dull about this style, as the numerous colourful examples in this book show. 

Aimed at those with some experience of painting, all the examples in this book use various forms of water-based media, including gouache, acrylics and watercolours. Designed to inspire, this book will stimulate your imagination; encourage you to try out the various methods described; and help you develop your own way of painting in this exciting style.

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I hope you can find a comfortable spot to snuggle up with this mont's favorites....Sue