If you have ever had an inkling that you might like to draw but you feel that you just aren’t good enough or that you don’t know where to begin, then start with this book:

 

 

 

It”s by Carla Sonheim, who is not only a talented artist but also an extremely talented teacher. She sneaks her lessons in with fun exercises that are actually giving you the fundamentals of art. Before you know it, you are looking at the world differently and your drawings are starting to look more like what you wanted, or even better because you’re tapping into a side of your self that can’t plan and control the outcome and squash all the potential spark and spontaneity. She shows you how to blend colors and use shadows in unexpected ways. This book is the latest in a suite of creative learning opportunities Carla offers on line and in print

Although this is a blog about writing, I’m highlighting a drawing book because to me delving into the visual arts has opened a whole new way for me to tap into my creative inklings, adding depth to the way I approach all of my projects. Drawing is something I’ve only come into recently.  Back in high school, I used to draw a lot, but I didn’t get very good and then I got busy and some where in the mix I just figured that the reason I never got very good was because I didn’t have the artist gene. Then I came across one of Carla’s other books, the Drawing Lab for Mixed Media Artists. As I worked through the book, I realized that the reason I never got that good was that I stopped trying too soon. With the approaches Carla outlined, I’m finally able to draw a picture of my dog that actually looks like my dog, or one that looks like one that has been lurking in my imagination waiting. She takes the stress out of drawing and makes it fun.

I have found this influences writing as well. You learn to loosen up and take new approaches. You discover that you can relax and tap into thoughts and ideas that only reveal themselves as you are moving a long without a specific plan. I also believe that with writing and drawing, it’s not a matter of having the “gene” it’s a matter of figuring out how to do it and as you figure out how to do it, you will find more confidence and joy in the activity.

So take a look at this book, and have fun drawing and writing.