Customer Reviews

Drawing Lab for Mixed-Media Artists: 52 Creative Exercises to Make Drawing Fun (Lab Series)

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4 star:		(3)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've never considered myself an "artist", because I've never been able to "draw". That belief has colored my artistic expression for decades. Lately, the pull towards art has led me to some wonderful books, but THIS BOOK speaks to me. When I look through the activities, I know I can do them, and I know they are non-fail projects. There is so much fun and whimsy built in, that creating will be a joy. I stumbled on this book by accident, and what a happy accident it has turned out to be. If blank pages intimidate you, Carla has solutions to inspire.

I love this book! It just arrived today so I haven't had time to try any of the exercises yet, but I've read it through and I'm looking forward to experimenting with the techniques and creative ideas provided by the author. For many artists, drawing can seem intimidating. I myself have less than fond memories of the drawing courses I took in college and later in art school. But this book is very different from the traditional studio approach to drawing--thankfully!
The exercises and prompts in this text are perfect for kids of all ages as well as for playful adults looking for ways to add an original element to their artwork. One of my favorites is the "Imaginary Creatures" assignment, which begins with random paint splashes and encourages creative thinking as you look for "creatures" in the paint, which you then draw with an ink pen in a sketchy manner. It's pretty cool, and definitely original!
If people and portraits are your thing, the author provides several exercises that will spark creative approaches to portraiture and life drawing. Out of the seven units in the book, my favorite is called Inspired by Famous Artists. Various assignments in this section encourage you to really learn from the masters by not only copying their work but adding a special twist of your own. One example is to try creating your own abstract drawings of dogs reminiscent of Picasso's cubism style; another is trying your hand at a Joan Miro abstract drawing. The author breaks down this assignment by starting you with simple hand-drawn symbols that anyone can invent (or use the author's provided symbols). Fill your page with them, and when satisfied with the design go over the penciled lines with a dark marker. Then add washes of paint, preferably in the primary colors that Miro often used in his art. And wa-la, you have your own "Miro" drawing/painting to enjoy and admire.
Speaking of painting, I really hope that the artist will follow up "Drawing Lab" with a book called "Painting Lab!" She's great with paint, and I'd love to see a fun project book on this subject from her. Someday I hope to take a workshop with Carla Sonheim (she has a stellar reputation as a workshop art instructor), but until then, this book will do very nicely. Thank you, Carla, for sharing your creative ideas and talents with us! And do please consider writing a book someday on your creative painting techniques.
Sharilyn Miller, author of Bead on a Wire

I buy a lot of art and craft books and consider it worth the money if I get an idea or two from a book. This book is absolutely inspiring from start to finish! I love each and every of the 52 drawing exercises and can't wait to try them out. I appreciate the creative twists to the old standby drawing exercises and found lots of new ways to approach drawing. This wonderful little book is exceptionally well done and perfect for young artists and artists young at heart.

I took a class taught by Carla Sonheim in 2007. I LOVED the class as she gives great instruction, pushes you to just try techniques, keeps things moving and yet does so in a relaxed, calm manner. I think I finished 50 drawings in less than 3 hours. I bought this book after looking at it because it included some of the same exercises we had done in class (my favorite ones!) and many more labs that are easy to follow. Whether you have 5 minutes or 5 hours on any given day, there's an exercise in this book that will encourage you to discover your inner drawing talent!

I have countless drawing books, all of which have remained unused after the first chapter....but not this one. I love it. The exercises are fun and are tailored that you do them as you want to do them. It is all about you. It gives a list of materials that the author uses, but this is not a must have list...it is reinforced over and over that you do what you want, with what you like. The book is about providing inspiration for when you face that blank white page and freak out, or worse, remain as blank as the page. This is the book you want when that happens.

Don't be fooled that you won't learn technique however...the book is not only full of inspiration, but technique as well. Drawing instruction meeting you where you are now. Making this process easy and fun and giving you confidence to keep drawing. There are exercises that I am going to do with my children as well, so it really caters for all levels. I can't recommend it highly enough. The pictures re delightful, and there are artist profiles which offer great advise and tips as well as background about their work. I feel less scared just looking through the book, and I am off to do the first exercise now...

I have only one regret, that I did not know I could purchase it from Carla herself, as people that do get a special bonus, and I love that elephant drawing!

This book is brimming with brand new ways to approach the page, and whatever you want to learn to do on it. Carla is great teacher, she is very popular and now everyone can see why! Thank goodness for this quirky vision she has, it brings life and fun to the table for every level of experience in drawing. The added pluses are the approach of her various featured artists from all over the world, and the number of mediums she shows you how to use. Not just drawing, but how to add layers and textures in ways that are unique to her. It is hard to imagine the wanna be or already is artist not enjoying this one.

It's easy to do one lab a day, and see the improvement. It's fun, and it's thorough. Out of all the drawing books I'd recommend for mixed media artists, this one would come first.

I was kind of expecting a book that I could draw directly in, kind of like a sketchbook but with the little lessons and ideas to spark creativity (Idea Journal is more like that sketchbook kind of format). The Drawing Lab is more like a lesson-by-lesson format though, with lists of materials you'll need (could always improvise but you will need some sort of art supply stash to do the activities). I've glanced through the different lessons in it and have done the first one already, and it was pretty fun. It was a nice exercise to stretch myself beyond what I would normally do, and I got a ridiculously cute sketch of a cat out of it. Where she says limitations "relieve the pressure of what to draw" is exactly what this book is. It gives your creativity a direction and you end up creating things that otherwise you probably wouldn't have. Fun stuff.

Carla Sonheim has written a book that makes drawing fun again. I don't have to just sketch the shadows on oranges or cones or cubes (boring...!). Instead I can have fun doing 100 different faces or finding animals in the cracks of sidewalks or doing any number of fun exercises she suggests. Reading the book is like taking one of Carla's wonderful classes - you feel encouraged, inspired and ready to spread your creative wings. Thanks Carla for such a wonderful book for all ages.

This is a totally awesome drawing book. It is suitable for experienced and beginning mixed media artists. I really like Carla's drawing style and will apply her techniques to my own art. I recommended this book to several friends and they each bought one. I also ordered the other LAB books and enjoyed them as well.
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