Searching for the Artist Within (Paperback)

~ Karlyn Holman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Taking books like The Artist's Way a step further, this guide provides a paint-and-paper approach to the quest for enhanced creativity and personal satisfaction.

Why do we need to create? Searching for the Artist Within challenges artists to answer this question through stimulating prompts and hands-on, artistic exercises. Designed to build confidence, develop artistic skills, and break through creative boundaries, this guide blends warm encouragement with inspiring visual examples and insights from dozens of accomplished artists. With this liberating, no-fear approach to painting, artists will discover new things about themselves, their art, and their will to create.

About the Author

Karlyn Holman paints, teaches and inspires. She is the author of Watercolor Fun and Free, and she also teaches instructional/inspirational workshops in the U.S., Canada, South America, Europe and Asia. She lives in Washburn, Wisconsin.

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Bayfield Street Publishing; illustrated edition edition (June 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967068371
• ISBN-13: 978-0967068374
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,175,286 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Love This Book, July 18, 2002

By	Pat Curry (Bay City, Michigan) - See all my reviews

I've been trying to improve my drawing for quite a while...searching for a way to best express my view of the world. In Karlyn's first book, "Watercolor Fun and Free" I was particularly attracted to the on-location drawings. And now, in the second book, there is even more inspiration.

I tried Sara Muender's (one of the artists featured in the book) approach---blind contour drawing with a little "peeking" thrown in---and I feel as if a door has been opened to me. I've done more drawings in the past few days just for the fun of it...getting free of the "shoulds" and all the other baggage I've been carrying around regarding drawing.

Karlyn Holman's books and videos (I have 2 of each) have been so inspiring. More than once they have gotten me back on track to the fun and joy of watercolor painting.

This book contains tons (a very generous number of pages) of helpful and inspirational material, and Karlyn's energy and spirit simply flow out of her books and videos.

I recommend it wholeheartedly.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Searching for the Artist Within, August 11, 2002

By	Marti (Tucson, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

This colorful beautifully illustrated book is full of inspiration, not only from Karlyn Holman, but from many other well-know artists, mostly from the Midwest. Each has a story to tell about his or her own experience as an artist and the path to finding their creative center. Along the way there are many wonderful insights into the creative process as well as how-tos for using new and intersting approaches to making art. Karlyn is predominantly a representational watercolorist, but the book moves into the areas of abstract composition, collage and other media as well. I found this book a jump start toward some new approaches in my own work and a feast for the eyes in its lovely illustrations.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Especially recommended for watercolor painters, August 6, 2002

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Searching For The Artist Within: An Inspirational And Visual Guide For Your Journey Through Watercolor by artist and teacher Karlyn Holman is a beautifully presented, full-color exhibition of a wide variety of remarkable watercolor paintings and painting styles. The reader is offered a wealth of "tips, tricks, and techniques" along with many snippets of advice from the original artists. Searching For The Artist Within is an engaging, inspirational volume especially recommended for watercolor painters of all skill experience levels.