Five Art Book Gift Ideas for Sketchers and Watercolor Artists

This is a post from Belinda Del Pesco’s Art Blog Belinda Del Pesco.

Five Art Book Gift Ideas for Sketchers and Watercolor Artists

It’s almost gift-giving season, and you might have not-so-artsy family members struggling with choosing art-related goodies for you or the other artists in your family.

My non-art friends and family want to be supportive of my studio endeavors, but they don’t know what flavor of gift an artist might enjoy. My brother is a musician, and I’m not, so it would be like me picking out a new microphone or guitar strings for him – I’d be lost.

With that in mind, I’m posting a few gifts for artists; some very specific, and others pretty broad, so you’ll have inspiration for your own wish list, or you can use this as a hopping off point in your artist-friend gift-search.

Color Mixing Bible

I adore Ian Sidaway’s drawings and watercolors, and I have at least 4 of his books in my studio.

This one teaches mixing color in all media, so whether your artist is using watercolor, oils, acrylics, colored pencil, gouache, or pastels, Ian Sidaway has you covered. A good color mixing book is an excellent addition to any artist’s studio.

No Excuses Watercolor

If you know an artist who’s frustrated with watercolor, and their former attempts at the medium resulted in brushes and paints gathering dust, this might be just the book for them. 

Gina Rossi Armfield covers watercolor sketching and journaling materials, process and attitude with humor and a Can-Do message through out each exercise in this wonderful, light-hearted book.

The art work is unfussy, and whimsical, so there’s no pressure to make anything “photo-perfect”. The focus is on playing with and getting acquainted with materials, and having fun.

Art Lab for Kids

If you have miniature budding artists in your family, Susan Schwake’s Art Lab for Kids is a great assembly of 52 simple art projects that are easy to follow, and broad enough to pick and choose through a variety of media and subjects.

Art Before Breakfast

Danny Gregory has written numerous books that have launched the practice of sketching, drawing and painting to people who have never touched an art supply.

I’m a big fan, and this little book is perfect for the newbie or the seasoned artist who loves watercolor, sketching and pen and ink, but feels there’s just not enough time for either.

Watercolor Success in Four Steps

Marina Bakasova has distilled the basics of watercolor painting into four steps with visual and written instructions in this little book. Examples are unfussy, and plentiful. She includes still life, animals, common household objects and flowers.

When I cook, I really appreciate visuals as part of the recipe instructions (hello, Pioneer Woman) and this watercolor instruction book follows that approach. I especially like that she keeps the finished paintings simple to avoid white-knuckled death grab painting of every-little-detail.

An Art Library

Flipping through art instruction books, or a profile/biography of a seasoned artist when creative motivation alludes you is a quick shot of inspiration mojo. Don’t be afraid to add a book to your collection, or hint that you’d like a new art book as a gift.

Sitting in front of your art books on a shelf with a cup of tea might be just the nudge you need to plan a new painting, or climb out of a creative slump.

I read a great article in Forbes about the science and mental health benefits of gratitude, and I’m sharing it here in case you missed it. I’m grateful for YOU – for taking the time to read this, for leaving feedback on my posts & videos, and for being a fellow appreciator of art and all things creative.

♥Thank you♥, and I’ll see you in the next post,

Belinda

Art Quote

Art is a great expression of emotion which covers your attitude towards people & things. It can have no formulas, as it is a registration of reactions. Modern Art theory says art musn’t look like anything at all & nothing is creative unless it comes from the inner conscious & technique is nothing. That’s misleading to people. They ought to know how to draw, at least. I don’t like to see a face with a nose three times too long & a neck out of joint just because the artists’ mind happened to conjure it that way.
~Colin Campbell Cooper 1925

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