Book Nook: Playful Painting - Pets

We got another art book to review - this one had some elements of doodling, but also more about painting and illustrating. Playful Painting: Pets: More than 20 fun and clever painting projects for animal lovers is the first in a new series by Walter Foster. Although we don't have pets, my daughter loves animals, especially cats, so the projects were right up her alley.

My daughter learned a new word with this book - gouache, which is a specific kind of painting. The book included strategies for gouache, ink, and pencil. The steps clearly and concisely explained certain aspects, such as adding detail while wet, so it wasn't just a rule to follow but a technique that had purpose. The painting style used in the book was something my daughter could follow, and she was able to use many of the project ideas with regular water colors before we went and bought the gouache paints.

The book begins with a description of materials used and a variety of techniques, then moves on to project ideas. There's also a discussion of color theory and using paint and colored pencil together. There are even pages to practice on (although, of course, it's easier and more fun to practice on paper you can display). It's a good book for any artist who loves pets!