The Art Shelf

Painting Calm
Inga Buividavice
Leaping Hare Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
100 Cummings Center, Suite 265D, Beverly, MA 01915
www.quartoknows.com
9780711281844, $20.00, PB, 160pp

https://www.amazon.com/Painting-Calm-Connect-through-watercolour/dp/0711281= 84X

Synopsis: The act of painting is widely acknowledged to bring positive ment=
al health benefits as an Art Therapy. Painting can helps us center ourselve=
s, focus our intentions and engage creatively with the world around us. Wit=
h the publication of "Painting Calm: Connect to Nature Through the Art of W= atercolour", Inga Buividavice has created a beautiful guided watercolor boo=
k that reveals aspects of painting with the healing powers of nature, takin=
g you on a journey toward peace and tranquility.

Even if you have no experience with watercolours or painting, the accessibl=
e and easy-to-follow prompts found in "Painting Calm" will allow you to exp= ress yourself and create with ease and joy. Gather inspiration from artist = Inga Buivadavice's beautiful illustrations, designed to capture an emotiona=
l connection with the natural world through texture and color.

"Painting Calm" includes: An overview of watercolour painting supplies and = how to use them; Basic watercolor techniques and color theory; Exercises fo=
r finding inspiration in nature; Seasonal projects that include painting tr= ees, leaves, flowers, natural light and patterns found in nature; Tips for = building a creative practice.

Discover your inner artist (and forge a new and powerful relationship to na= ture) with "Paining Calm", as you watercolor your way to mindful wellbeing.

Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout in full color, "= Painting Calm: Connect to Nature Through the Art of Watercolour" will have =
a special appeal and value for anyone with an interest in art therapy, stre=
ss relief, and relaxation through painting flowers, landscapes, and images =
of light, structure and symmetry with watercolors. Motivational and inspiri=
ng as it lays out a course of DIY activities to calm the soul and ease the = mind, "Painting Calm" is an extraordinary and recommended addition to perso= nal, professional, community, and academic library collections. It should b=
e noted that "Painting Calm" is also readily available in a digital book fo= rmat (Kindle, $9.99) as well.

Editorial Note: Inga Buividavice (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Dunzx2FO= oi3M) is a graphic artist and author based in Liverpool but originally from=
Lithuania. She graduated from Vilnius Academy of Arts with an MA in graphi=
c design, and started hand drawing and painting in 2018. Her work centres o=
n the natural world and its relation to the act of creating, and is inspire=
d by plant and animal life around her.

The Art of Drawing Manga Furries
Talia Horsburgh
Walter Foster
walterfoster.com
c/o Quarto
quarto.com
9780760381861 $22.99 pbk / $11.99 Kindle

https://www.amazon.com/Art-Drawing-Manga-Furries-anthropomorphic/dp/0760381= 860

Synopsis: The Art of Drawing Manga Furries is packed with hundreds of tips,=
tricks, and step-by-step how-tos for creating a variety of manga furry cha= racters, including kemono, kemonomimi, scalies, and fursonas.

With its in-depth instruction, this book is suitable for all manga artists = and furry enthusiasts, regardless of skill level or age. From learning the = basics of drawing characters and giving them personalities to designing you=
r own fursona and creating reference sheets for them, this book is the ulti= mate guide to creating all things furry. Follow the simple steps to learn h=
ow to draw a variety of furries, including neko (cat girls), kitsune (fox g= irls), and dragon-like characters.

By the end of this book, you'll be able to create:

Kemonomimi characters, which are humans who possess animal-like features su=
ch as ears or tails
Kemono characters, which are largely animalistic
Scalies, which are furries of the reptile and amphibian variety
Personalized fursona designs and reference sheets for them
Characters in different poses using templates

Along the way, you'll learn the basics of drawing, how to combine humans an=
d animals into unique creatures, and use templates to create your own chara= cters. All instruction is easy to follow, so you can quickly learn to draw = different faces and expressions, hairstyles, clothing and accessories, vari= ous animal-like qualities, and so much more.

Step-by-step instructions make the drawing process approachable for beginni=
ng and aspiring artists. Projects range from simple and easy furries to mor=
e complex ones. Also included are tips for developing your own characters, = while looking to common styles for inspiration. Templates at the end of the=
book allow for easy practice of character faces and poses.

Critique: The Art of Drawing Manga Furries lives up to its title as a guide=
to drawing anthropomorphic characters in the style of Japanese manga, with=
both black-and-white and color illustrations to demonstrate each step of t=
he process. Both "kemonomimi" characters (which appear like humans with ani= mal features like ears or tails) and "kemono" characters (which appear much=
more animalistic) are covered, as are tips and tricks for drawing scaly ch= aracters and personalized fursona designs. A handful of sample templates ro= und out this excellent, easy-to-follow guide and supplementary resource for=
budding manga artists! It should be noted for personal art guide collectio=
ns that The Art of Drawing Manga Furries is also available in a Kindle edit= ion ($11.99). Another highly recommended title is author Talia Horsburgh's = previous how-to guide, The Art of Drawing Manga (9780760375440, $22.99).

EDITOR'S NOTE:

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James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugal= muse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publish= er, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number=
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James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review

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