November 13, 2019

Books that spark creativity

We enjoy books that spark our creativity and inspire us to try different types of art. We checked out a few books that are good to have as reference or to give as gifts to creative friends and family. Some of the books we have been getting our inspiration from are... The Ultimate Fluid Pouring and Painting Project, LEGO Book of Bedtime Builds, The Art for Joy's Sake Journal, Patchwork Quilt Designs Colouring Book, and Draw Like an Artist series.

Fluid pouring and painting can result in beautiful abstract designs that can be captured on special papers, canvas and board substrates, used to make gorgeous lampshades, poured into moulds or dishes to create coasters, geodes, and agate slices, and can even be formed into vases, vessels, and bowls. I tried a couple of projects using the pouring medium and loved the experience.

The Ultimate Fluid Pouring and Painting Project Book by Jane Monteith teaches how to create fun, trendy but timeless fluid art regardless of skill level. There are detailed, comprehensive techniques for working with high flow inks, acrylic paints, resin, shaving cream, and more. The book guides us through a variety of different fluid projects, from fluid-painted collage to resin-poured paints on different substrates. The 10 projects can be customized to our liking. 

In this book, we will learn about the various tools and solutions to create beautiful colours and textures on paper, how to work with resin and avoid common mistakes to produce a flawless finish, gain an understanding of basic colour theory and which colour combinations go well to create elegant designs, what types of products to use to create various effects, and how to seal and protect our work. 
We like the Draw Like an Artist series of books - 100 Faces and Features by Chris Leaspi, 100 Flowers and Plants  and 100 Realistic Animals by Melissa Washburn. These visual reference books are useful for student artists, scientific illustrators, urban sketchers, and anyone seeking to improve their realistic drawing skills. 

There are over 600 sketches in the 100 Realistic Animals book that depicts a vast array of beautiful animal forms, detailed faces, and more. This contemporary, step-by-step guidebook demonstrates fundamental art concepts like proportion, anatomy, and spatial relationships as we learn to draw a full range of creatures, all shown from a variety of perspectives. Each set of illustrations starts from beginning sketch lines to a finished drawing.
If you are looking for an interesting colouring book for adults, you will enjoy the Creative Haven Patchwork Quilt Designs Colouring Book which has geometric configurations drawn from patchwork quilt motifs. There are thirty-one design that offer endless colouring possibilities that will be enjoyed by quilters, collectors, and those who enjoy colouring. The pages are perforated and printed on one side for easy removal and display. 
Young LEGO fans will enjoy this LEGO Book of Bedtime Builds as they read, follow the instructions to build and play with eight exclusive mini LEGO models with the included LEGO® bricks. 
The stories in this book are fun to read with children especially at bedtime as they unwind. These mini models and stories may even inspire exciting dreams. 
The Art for Joy's Sake Journal features Kristy's botanical artwork and Georgia O'Keeffe quotes. These beautiful pages invite us to be creative, pick up our paintbrush and enjoy the fun of watercolours. This journal has nine patterns, one painted by Kristy and two for us to paint. Each painting page is double sided and printed on hot press smooth watercolour paper, which allows us to paint on both sides using water based medium without worrying about it bleeding. This hardcover book is elegant with rose gold foil cover detailing, satin ribbon bookmark, and elastic journal band. Kristy reminds us to forget the rules and remember the joy of art with encouraging prompts, journaling ideas, and tips throughout the book.

Giveaway
If you like to win a copy of The Art for Joy's Sake Journal value of $25 enter this giveaway before December 17th. It is open to everyone in United States (except Alaska and Hawaii). Please leave comments and follow my social media networks to be eligible to win. 
Update: The winner is Crystal M

Disclosure: Please note that all opinions and thoughts expressed are my own. All rights reserved on the written content and some of the photographs Createwithmom © 2010 - 2019. Please Ask First

69 comments:

  1. I would like to win this for my mom. She really loves to paint and has always wanted to try watercolor paints. This would be the perfect book for that.

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  2. I would like to win the journal for my cousin. I like doing bead work.

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  3. These look like great books, the kids would love the lego book, they love building

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  4. I have never heard of Fluid Pouring and Painting but this book would would be a great gift for a creative friend of mine.

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  5. Great inspiration! Lots of great ways to express our creativity!

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  6. This journal looks beautiful.

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  7. Ohh I want to try paint pouring so bad

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  8. would like to win as I could use some creative inspiration

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  9. my daughter would love them, she loves to paint and is very creative.

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  10. I would love to have Draw Like an Artist series of books

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  11. the fluid pouring and painting looks like a great book, I would love to give this kind of painting a try

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  12. These are beautiful! My daughter would highly enjoy them all. I am slightly jealous that I'm.not able to enter this one as in Canada but had to say how much I love this!!! I'm gonna look for paint pouring!

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  13. The Patchwork Quilt coloring book looks like fun to do.

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  14. These look like they contain so many beautiful peers and techniques. My daughter loves to get creative so I can see her enjoying these books.

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  15. These books look great and fun

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  16. I would love to have Draw Like an Artist series of books

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  17. My grandson would love the LEGO Book of Bedtime Builds.

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  18. My daughter would love this journal as she loves to paint and is very creative.

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  19. The Lego book of bedtime builds looks really cool!

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  20. Wow what a variety of different things to make

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  21. Great book suggestions! Will have to check these out!

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  22. draw like an artist would be great, I would love to learn to draw better

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  23. The fluid pouring and painting looks like an aweome book

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  24. These books are great choices for those artistic friends.

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  25. Great way to express that artistic creativity!

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  26. These books would be great for a beginner artist to start exploring their creativity

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  27. I would love to learn to draw the 600 sketches in the 100 Realistic Animals

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  28. love trying new ways to express creativity

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  29. Some great creative ideas!

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  30. I would love to have these books The Art for Joy's Sake Journal looks amazing

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  31. Lego Book of Bedtime Builds looks great for children.

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  32. great books to get the creativity flowing

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  33. I would love to have the Draw Like an Artist series

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  34. This book is very pretty and I can how see how it would be inspirational!

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  35. The Art for Joy's Sake Journal would be nice to have

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  36. These books are a great way to both relax and express creativity

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  37. The fluid pouring and painting techniques would be very interesting to explore.

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  38. I would be really interested in the Draw Like an Artist series of books. Would be fun to attempt those.

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  39. Great way to spark creativity!

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  40. These look like they're full of fun creativeness to fill the cold winter days.

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  41. The Patchwork Quilt Designs Colouring Book would be relaxing for me.

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  42. I’d love to try the colouring book

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  43. I would love to have the 100 Realistic Animals book

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  44. I would love to have the the Draw Like an Artist series of books

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  45. These books would make such unique gift ideas.

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  46. The colouring books bring me back to my childhood

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  47. The Ultimate Fluid Pouring and Painting Project looks interesting

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  48. These are great I love to colour

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  49. I would love to have the Patchwork Quilt Designs Colouring Book!

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  50. I would love to have the book Draw Like an Artist series of books

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  51. The Lego book of bedtime builds takes story time to a whole new and fun level,

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  52. Great ways to spark creativity

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  53. I would love to have the Draw Like an Artist series of books

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  54. These look like so much fun

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  55. Realistic Animals book would be great to have

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  56. I don't know much about fluid pouring but I really like the look of it.

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  57. Why not Hawaii and Alaska? You can ship the same cost or use flat rate priority shipping. We're part of the US too. :( Please reconsider in the future!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for asking, this is the publishers' decision as they are posting the giveaway book, I am not sure if there are policies or restrictions for this. I would love to open all giveaways to all states. Most USA giveaways are usually open to every state in the US.

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Thank you for commenting :)