The Colors of Nature || Lindsay Hopkins

It’s my policy to review as much as possible of what I’m sent, and always to do so if it’s something I’ve requested. This isn’t something I’d normally cover, being a book to colour in, but I asked for it, not quire realising what it was, and I’m not going to make an exception to my own rules.

There isn’t a lot you can say critically about this kind of thing. It is what it is, which is to say: outlines, with a few words, that you can colour in. The text consists of quotations and some basic lore: “Did you know that dahlias represent elegance and dignity?” There are also some very basic drawing hints, which do actually break each of the subjects down to four simple steps if you want to attempt outlines of your own. Colouring hints are also promised although, as this is predominantly an adult colouring book, I think the idea is that you should allow free rein to your imagination.

To be honest, there isn’t a lot for the serious artist here, even though the drawing hints are actually quite good. However, if you think they’d be helpful, you may also like having pre-drawing outlines to practice your colour work on.

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Happy Abstracts || Etta Vee/Jessi Raulet

This, to be honest, isn’t something I’d normally review. However, I asked for a copy and it’s my policy to review anything I’ve asked for. The title sounded intriguing and, now that it’s here, the idea does too.

I’m going to be as complimentary as I can because I think the book fulfils the brief it sets itself tolerably well. “Fearless painting for true beginners”, it proclaims, and there’s a chapter headed “Host a paint party”. My immediate reaction is that this is mainly aimed at the sort of person who likes the idea of drinking too much pinot grigio a lot more than they like the intellectual exercise of a book club.

That, though, is grossly unfair because, as I implied, this is aimed at a market that just isn’t the one I normally write for. My bad, but it would be wrong to criticise it for that. I’m honestly not sure of the authorship either, but I think Etta Vee may be an art system of which I’m ignorant. Think Bob Ross, but for millennials.

So, no, I can’t recommend it if you come here for my more advanced pearls of wisdom. However, it has a certain attraction and it’s just possible it would press enough of your creative buttons for you to think it was worthwhile. Jim Morrison reminded us that people are strange and, in a strange way, I’m coming round to rather liking it.

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