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jennyfer's review
5.0
Mindful Sketching is a guide book to both exploring how to sketch, and the art of mindfulness (without being full of the 'wellness' buzzwords)
While the book is text heavy, it is not dense with it, and there are some solid art principles laid out in the pages. There are tutorials for how to view a scene with the eye of a sketcher, pespective, scale, framing and balance, alongside photographic examples and places to practice for yourself. Architecture, nature, still life and people are all treated to the same exploration.
The underlying theme of this book is to embrace imperfection in the art - want to draw with pen? do it! Wobbly lines? They're fine! It's all about the emotion and the headspace to draw. There are drawing prompts, challenges (three minute timers!), a guide to knowing when to stop and overall trusting the process for mindful sketching.
I'm all about art therapy, and this is a great resource even if one is not an artist
~Many thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review~
While the book is text heavy, it is not dense with it, and there are some solid art principles laid out in the pages. There are tutorials for how to view a scene with the eye of a sketcher, pespective, scale, framing and balance, alongside photographic examples and places to practice for yourself. Architecture, nature, still life and people are all treated to the same exploration.
The underlying theme of this book is to embrace imperfection in the art - want to draw with pen? do it! Wobbly lines? They're fine! It's all about the emotion and the headspace to draw. There are drawing prompts, challenges (three minute timers!), a guide to knowing when to stop and overall trusting the process for mindful sketching.
I'm all about art therapy, and this is a great resource even if one is not an artist
~Many thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review~
ssfoster95's review
5.0
I have every single book by Peggy. I love them all. This one is just what I needed. I have always wanted to draw buildings and other perspective type drawing but really struggle with the whole concept. Peggy lays it all out there in such an easy to understand way. She even included a few florals which are my absolute favorite to draw. Thank you Peggy for unleashing my inner illustrator. You are an amazing person and teacher.
labyrinth_witch's review
5.0
I now own all but one of Peggy Dean’s books, and I love each one in turn. This one in particular covers the basics of sketching with an emphasis on urban sketching and landscapes that was a lovely back to the basics for me as I both reignited my sketching practice and delved into urban sketching for the first time.
She giver useful basics such as perspective, horizon line, vanishing point, framing a scene, and identifying the shapes to get started. For those of us who often feel overwhelmed when looking at a cityscape or urban scene, she breaks it down step by step so it feels manageable.
I also love that she didn’t spent a lot of time on mark-making, as you can read that in most how-to-draw primers.
Finally, I really enjoyed her discussed of representing and communicating energy in a sketch or urban sketch. I feel like it’s brought more awareness to how I use line in my own sketches. I realized I’m very definitive in my line making and tend to strive for accuracy. I’m not sure that’s the look I was going for, so now I know what I want to change to better communicate my interpretation of a scene or still-life.
She also includes several prompts to get you started. My favorite one so far was the comfort zone prompt.
Enjoy!
She giver useful basics such as perspective, horizon line, vanishing point, framing a scene, and identifying the shapes to get started. For those of us who often feel overwhelmed when looking at a cityscape or urban scene, she breaks it down step by step so it feels manageable.
I also love that she didn’t spent a lot of time on mark-making, as you can read that in most how-to-draw primers.
Finally, I really enjoyed her discussed of representing and communicating energy in a sketch or urban sketch. I feel like it’s brought more awareness to how I use line in my own sketches. I realized I’m very definitive in my line making and tend to strive for accuracy. I’m not sure that’s the look I was going for, so now I know what I want to change to better communicate my interpretation of a scene or still-life.
She also includes several prompts to get you started. My favorite one so far was the comfort zone prompt.
Enjoy!
annieb123's review
4.0
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Mindful Sketching is a technique and philosophy guide with prompts for developing and maintaining a drawing habit written by Peggy Dean. Due out 22nd May 2022 from Penguin Random House on their Spruce Books imprint, it's 176 pages and will be available in paperback format.
This is an encouraging and gently written book which will hopefully help readers develop confidence and support a drawing habit. The emphasis is very much on embracing imperfection and serendipity in the process and concentrating on the journey and not necessarily only the product.
The author has an inviting and calm style of writing. She explains some of her own background and reasons for starting with mindfulness in her drawing, and she invites the reader to find the methods and inspirations which work for them. This is much more of a philosophical treatment of the subject rather than straight drawing tutorials. It includes a lot more examining feelings and thoughts than advice on shading and rendering different subjects. The book is full of self-examination and prompts for drawing, but light on actual technique instruction.
The author has also included a number of small gallery illustrations from artists with varied styles for inspiration and reference. This is a very pretty book with a lot of useful information and tips for self examination and some drawing
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Mindful Sketching is a technique and philosophy guide with prompts for developing and maintaining a drawing habit written by Peggy Dean. Due out 22nd May 2022 from Penguin Random House on their Spruce Books imprint, it's 176 pages and will be available in paperback format.
This is an encouraging and gently written book which will hopefully help readers develop confidence and support a drawing habit. The emphasis is very much on embracing imperfection and serendipity in the process and concentrating on the journey and not necessarily only the product.
The author has an inviting and calm style of writing. She explains some of her own background and reasons for starting with mindfulness in her drawing, and she invites the reader to find the methods and inspirations which work for them. This is much more of a philosophical treatment of the subject rather than straight drawing tutorials. It includes a lot more examining feelings and thoughts than advice on shading and rendering different subjects. The book is full of self-examination and prompts for drawing, but light on actual technique instruction.
The author has also included a number of small gallery illustrations from artists with varied styles for inspiration and reference. This is a very pretty book with a lot of useful information and tips for self examination and some drawing
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
the_sassy_bookworm's review
4.0
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I am a huge proponent of using the arts to help people with mental health issues, so I was excited to get my hands on Mindful Sketching. Part workbook, part "self help" book, the author takes you through many "how-to" sketching and mindful exercises. The book is well laid out. With plenty of visually pleasing and colorful sketches, to spark your creative imagination. There are also sections that include practical advice, like "materials" and "techniques" that will help beginners get ready for their own mindful sketching journey. Two thumbs up from yours truly!
**ARC Vua NetGalley**
I am a huge proponent of using the arts to help people with mental health issues, so I was excited to get my hands on Mindful Sketching. Part workbook, part "self help" book, the author takes you through many "how-to" sketching and mindful exercises. The book is well laid out. With plenty of visually pleasing and colorful sketches, to spark your creative imagination. There are also sections that include practical advice, like "materials" and "techniques" that will help beginners get ready for their own mindful sketching journey. Two thumbs up from yours truly!
**ARC Vua NetGalley**
mbooksbycandlelight's review
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
3.0
This was a lovely little book. I think I was expecting something slightly different when I picked it up. Something with more actual sketching, coloring, drawing prompts and examples, than all the mindfulness focused text we got, but I still enjoyed it.
alexa_ayana's review
4.0
I love to seeing sketches and painting, but I am always think it need talent to do it. This book show me different way, drawing and sketching is for everyone. It is gentle way to embrace imperfection through lines and shapes.
With so much stresses built up during our daily life, calm and mindfully hobby is necessary to keep our brain relax. This book not only offer technics but also story about mental health as well. So far, I found this book useful and I might trying some of the lesson.
Thank you Netgalley for provide me with this book. I am glad I could learn something new for free today.
With so much stresses built up during our daily life, calm and mindfully hobby is necessary to keep our brain relax. This book not only offer technics but also story about mental health as well. So far, I found this book useful and I might trying some of the lesson.
Thank you Netgalley for provide me with this book. I am glad I could learn something new for free today.
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