Amazing Art: Books from Quarto

I recently had a chance to see copies of three very different books from Quarto Publishing.

The first, Mixed Media Color Studio, is great for anyone who really wants to work with color. There are a variety of color and design ideas, and lessons with color explorations to help artists find their own sense of style. The book is based on Kellee Wynne Conrad’s popular former online True Colors Art Program, and includes acrylic paint, pastels, graphite, ink, and other media. My daughter loved the emphasis on color, as she's recently gotten interested in color theory, and devoured this book almost immediately after we got it!

The second book has a little bit of a counterintuitive approach to sketching on location. Instead of adrawing first that is colored later, try the color first and detail later. The Urban Sketching Handbook: Color First, Ink Later shows how this results in sketches that are more vibrant and dynamic. Designer and urban sketcher Mike Daikubara takes readers through the process and highlights how it can create amazing surprises in artist's work. I like how it draws attention to detail that I might not see otherwise - by thinking about color first, it really emphasizes the tone and feel of the scene, rather than the form.

The final book, Doodling for Cat People by Gemma Correll, was perfect for my daughter. She loves cats (even though we can't have any) and loves to doodle. She loved the prompts and little quotes and pictures in this book that combines prompts and exercises with fun facts. Her favorite - you're not a crazy cat person, you're a feline enthusiast. If you have a feline enthusiast in your life, this is a book that can help them get creative juices flowing and enjoy the act of doodling!