If You Can Doodle, You Can Paint: Transforming Simple Drawings into Works of Art
$17.38
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The advice and exercises in If You Can Doodle, You Can Paint helps you dig into your creative life to find a style that is authentically yours.
If You Can Doodle, You Can Paint was named one of Library Journal’s Best Crafts & DIY Books of 2017!
If You Can Doodle, Your Can Paint looks at the small, impromtu doodles we make on a daily basis as resources; treasures from which we can create full-sized paintings. Even if you don’t consider yourself a doodler, the exercises and techniques in this book will give you a fun way to tap into your personal style.
The invitation starts with a pencil as you work through doodle assignments. Eventually, you will learn how to size up and combine these doodles into larger compositions. Then, you will begin mixing it up with watercolor paints and, finally, with acrylic paints.
In If You Can Doodle, You Can Paint we will:
- Dig for treasure/doodle
- Observe, arrange, and study
- Make folded books for doodle-ready surfaces
- Copy your images with hand/eye coordination
- Scan and enlarge your doodles
- Add color combinations with colored pencil and acrylic paint
- Create compositional grid paintings, and
- Create a large complete painting!
So what are you waiting for? Grab some pens and paints and get creative!
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235 reviews for If You Can Doodle, You Can Paint: Transforming Simple Drawings into Works of Art
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$17.38
Charlynn P. Throckmorton –
I have art books where I look at the pictures and they go right onto the bookcase shelf, and I have art books that I keep by my bed and pour over and learn from and keep reading. Diane’s book belongs in the latter category. I figure that if I pick up one thing from an accomplished artist whether from a book or a class, the money has been well spent, and from Diane I learned about line quality. I learned that strong lines tell a different story than do soft lines and that lines created with the sweep of my arm are vastly different than those made with a slight wrist movement. I learned that mark-making of any kind is valuable and can be made and incorporated into art with a little imagination and a lot of trust. It’s a lovely book, one from which I’m sure I’ll keep learning. Thank you, Diane!
BT –
Ich weiss nicht, wieviele Bücher ich mittlerweile besitze, die sich mit Malen, Zeichnen, Watercolor, Urban Sketching oder Doodeln beschäftigen. Aber ich weiß, dass dieses Buch eines der Besten ist, dass ich zum Thema “Kreativ sein durch Malen/Doodeln” bisher gelesen habe. Endlich mal keine kindlichen Tierchen, Blümchen o.Ähnliche. Keine symmetrisch angeordnete Linien oder Kurven. Keine Perfektion. Man darf kritzeln, wie es einem gerade in den Sinn kommt. Das bringt jede Menge Spaß. Und das Ergebnis der Kritzeleien ist kein braves und ordentliches Bildchen sondern ein spannendes und interessantes Gesamtkunstwerk, dass die Fantasie beflügelt. Genau so etwas hatte ich gesucht. Ich kann es nur jedem empfehlen, der kreativ experimentieren möchte, ohne irgendwelche Regeln oder stumpfsinnige Gleichheit befolgen zu müssen. Eine Reise in das eigene ICH.
T. Wilson –
I had the pleasure of meeting Diane at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show in Seattle and immediately fell in love with her joyful colorful paintings. I was with a group of friends or I would have otherwise spent a great deal of time in her booth. Of all the wonderful things I saw that day I couldn’t get Diane’s paintings out of my mind. So when I got home I found her website and explored it and was able to see some of her other pieces. I also noticed she had a new book to be released so I pre-ordered it. I received it and I’m making my way through the beginning phase of the book and examining my own doodles. I don’t plan to rush through her book but instead simply absorb and learn as I go. It’s set up in stages/chapters/practices so you can work (or should I say play) your way through the book. I’m very happy I purchased this book and looking forward to the painting phase where I can turn my doodles in to elevated artwork. Thanks for writing this book Diane!!
cathy –
Different, engaging, beautiful. I’m thrilled to own this book and wish to thank it’s creator for giving so much pleasure along with providing inspiration and encouragement to take doodling to another level.
Amazon Customer –
Great concept, I think this book would be good for a confident beginner, it does not have step by step projects which I think is good, art is about using YOUR imagination not copying someone else’s artwork. The artist does show how she develops her projects in a helpful manner. I bought the book because I wanted to look at the picture since I like the way she draws. I really enjoyed seeing the very big wall project that she was working on after having seen tiny pieces. I liked what she wrote as well, I rarely read all the art books I buy, I just like looking at the pictures.
J. M. Beuford Willis –
pour “désacraliser” le dessin, pour ceux qui disent “moi, je ne sais pas dessiner” …. il y a plein de façon de dessiner dont celle que l’on applique lorsque machinalement on gribouille sur un bout de papier au téléphone, ou lors d’une réunion ennuyeuse et ça aussi c’est dessiner c’est du doodle .. un livre très sympa qui ouvre tout un monde ….
Certes il est en anglais, mais pour qui a quelques notions, il est accessible ….
Shelz –
I’m using this book for processing years of doodles from my journals. I’ve only had it a week and have been inspired by some of the exercise suggestions in the first three chapters. It has good, easy instruction to learn to use color. If you are good at self teaching with books, this is a good one. I like it so much that I bought both the paperback & the kindle edition. My goal is to incorporate painted doodles into an art journal without having to spend a lot of money on classes or supplies.
Lauregon –
I can’t explain why I love this book so much, but I do. I carry it downstairs to my workroom with me, and back upstairs, and downstairs, and back up again. It’s stirred dormant yearnings in me and has resulted in a harvest of drawings that genuinely please me. Culhane’s discussion, instruction, and illustrations about the nature and quality of lines affected me like, I dunno, like super vitamins? They ignited something in me, and that something is burning brightly indeed. And, also, apparently, in my capable six-year-old granddaughter who came to me one evening and proudly handed me several drawings unlike any I’d ever seen her do previously, that looked to me as though she too had been strongly (and secretly) inspired by the cover of Culhane’s book which I had been keeping handy on the dining table for several days.
In conclusion, just thinking about Culhane’s book makes me feel energized and inspired. However, I haven’t started any paintings yet. I’m still being thrilled with the instruction about drawings and Culhane’s creative method of assembling them into larger works of art. Maybe tomorrow.
Philippa –
What a fun book this is. I just love it! I was a major drawing geek when I was 5 and 6 years old and some of her doodles remind me of that! LOL! But seriously, this book is a fabulous investment for those who want to turn doodling into art. I never looked at doodling as art but Diane breathes new life into the doodling by giving so many ideas as to how we can rock it. Must buy if you want to create original art from your hours of doodling.
Arpita Bhawal –
What a lovely book to inspire something as simple as doodling. Lovely illustrations.
OK it might not be highbrow drawing advice, but I’m a very experienced artist and I loved flipping through it.
I’m inspired to drop my paints for a while and fiddle about with my markers.
mrs P –
I’ve always been a doodler,ever since I’ve been able to hold a pencil in my hand. Up until now I’ve always thought of the silly little lines as just that “silly little lines”. After reading and playing with this book, I’m almost giggling. Those lines are fun and ever so relaxing. THANKS to this book I can now connect the silly little lines and make my own original work of art while quieting the “chatty brain”. I like many inspirational ideas ,especially the idea that even though I’ll never be a great artist,I can create my own version of art.
Shelz –
I was directly inspired in my art by this book. It gave me the confidence to doodle on all sorts of bits and pieces, scraps of paper, receipts, etc while I’m out and about in the world and then bring them home to stick dow in my art journal and create a spread. It also helped with loosening up and embracing a more abstract aesthetic – trying to be expressive and impressionistic than literal and tight in my artwork. Although the title suggests that this is a book for beginners or those who have not drawn in a long time, as a moderately experienced artist I have found it very inspiring in taking the next steps in my art journey. I have included a couple of images of the art journal pages I have made inspired by this book….
Raine Castle –
Great for a beginner. It has a lot of great ideas on creating works of art in collage fashion from smaller pieces of your own doodles.