The strapline for this is “How to get started and stay inspired”, which suggests that it might be a manual for the beginner. While there is a short materials and techniques section at the beginning, it’s shorter than many and couldn’t, even at a stretch, be described as any kind of primer for someone starting out. However, although it’s what it implies to me, it’s also possible that what’s meant is that the book aims to provide a way of getting over creative block, that “getting started” is about the tyranny of the blank page. To be honest, I’m not sure.
To be fair (which we should be, if we’re also going to be honest), this is an original idea and the main meat of the book is the 52 Project Prompts that the front cover also promises. These are not, except for a small number of instances, worked exercises, merely ideas such as Wash & Drip, Masking Technique or Earth & Sky. Each has a short introductory paragraph and selection of illustrations that you can build on or riff off. No, it’s not earth-shattering, but it’s different (fewer words and more pictures) and it really does make you think.
Click the picture to view on Amazon
Artbookreview.net 