Book Nook: New From Dover - Sealife Coloring, Rock Painting, Celtic Knotwork

I love reviewing art books - especially if they're about something my kids or I haven't tried yet. I recently was sent a set of three books from Dover Publishing that all touched on very different genres.

Fanciful Sealife Coloring Book
This book has 31 imaginative designs with a variety of ocean creatures and very detailed, decorative backgrounds. The pages are printed on one side and perforated, which makes it easy to remove and display. There are a fish, underwater castles and treasure, sea turtles, whales, and much more. They are designed for experienced colorists; the Creative Haven® series has a many different options that reflect a world of inspiration and escape from the every day. 

Stone Painting for Kids
This book is a follow-up to the bestselling Art of Stone Painting and offers a kid-friendly version. Stone artist F. Sehnaz Bac is an experienced archaeologist who markets her painted Sassi dell’Adriatico (Stones of the Adriatic) on Etsy. She expertly presents step-by-step instructions for kid-friendly projects, with full-color photographs to illustrate the techniques. She also explains how to find and choose suitable stones, child-appropriate materials and tools, work area set-up, simple techniques, and other tips. The book also has different difficulties - basic shapes and designs, numbers and letters, natural themes. There's even a section for making kid-friendly games from stones, holiday decorations, and using a series of stones for bigger pictures or stories.

Creating Celtic Knotwork: A Fresh Approach to Traditional DesignI loved all things Celtic when I was younger. I still find the knotwork absolutely beautiful. Although the projects are detailed, the descriptions and well-illustrated instructions are understandable by artists of all age levels (except for probably lower elementary). Not only does it teach how to do the knotwork, but it also talks about the meaning and history, and incorporates many different symbols commonly found in these designs. It also includes a section on practical aspects - tools, materials, and pattern transfer.