Drawing On The Artist Within

A guide to innovation, invention, imagination, and creativity.

"Betty Edwards offers her readers an even more stimulating reward. She believes that we are all capable of genuine creativity and that there are simple, basic techniques we can use to stimulate artistic self-expression and release our true creative potential in all areas of our life. Whether the end result is a work of art, an original idea, or an innovative solution to a business problem, the benefits are enormous."--Jacket.

"With its gentle affirmations, inspirational quotes, fill-in-the-blank lists and tasks — write yourself a thank-you letter, describe yourself at 80, for example — The Artist’s Way proposes an egalitarian view of creativity: Everyone’s got it."—The New York Times "Morning Pages have become a household name, a shorthand for unlocking your creative potential"—Vogue Over four million copies sold! Since its first publication, The Artist's Way phenomena has inspired the genius of Elizabeth Gilbert and millions of readers to embark on a creative journey and find a deeper connection to process and purpose. Julia Cameron's novel approach guides readers in uncovering problems areas and pressure points that may be restricting their creative flow and offers techniques to free up any areas where they might be stuck, opening up opportunities for self-growth and self-discovery. The program begins with Cameron’s most vital tools for creative recovery – The Morning Pages, a daily writing ritual of three pages of stream-of-conscious, and The Artist Date, a dedicated block of time to nurture your inner artist. From there, she shares hundreds of exercises, activities, and prompts to help readers thoroughly explore each chapter. She also offers guidance on starting a “Creative Cluster” of fellow artists who will support you in your creative endeavors. A revolutionary program for personal renewal, The Artist's Way will help get you back on track, rediscover your passions, and take the steps you need to change your life.

From achieving those first professional strokes to mastering composition, lighting, and color to finishing beautiful still lifes, portraits, and landscapes, here is a course that covers every basic skill as well as more challenging lessons for the developing artist.

The Complete Book of Drawing Techniques is intended for artists who are looking to expand their knowledge and understanding of materials and the wide range of available media. It will teach them about the characteristics of these media and materials and how to use them to get the required effect. With a unique combination of instruction and practice the book provides examples of the type of mark-making each medium produces. A range of projects then demonstrates effective ways of working with them. By the end of the book every budding artist will have enough knowledge and confidence to utilize the techniques they have learnt in a broad range of compositions of their own choosing.

A fascinating follow-up to the beloved bestseller Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain--with new insights about creativity and our unique way of seeing the world around us Millions of readers have embraced art teacher Betty Edwards's Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, from art students and teachers to established artists, corporate trainers, and more--all discovering a bold new way of drawing and problem-solving based on what we see, not what we think we see. In this highly anticipated follow-up, Edwards illuminates another piece of the creativity puzzle, revealing the role our dominant eye plays in how we perceive, create, and are seen by those around us. Research shows that much like being right-handed or left-handed, each of us has a dominant eye, corresponding to the dominant side of our brain--either verbal or perceptual. Once you learn the difference and try your hand at the simple drawing exercises, you'll gain fresh insights into how you perceive, think, and create. You'll learn how to not just look but truly see. Generously illustrated with visual examples, this remarkable guided tour through art history, psychology, and the creative process is a must-read for anyone looking for a richer understanding of our art, our minds, and ourselves.

How can we connect with our own imagination? How can you unleash the artist within? Armed with only his trusty pencil Nick Meglin, a teacher at New York's School of Visual Arts, opens up the joy of drawing as self-expression to everyone. Using honesty and humour Nick Meglin and his daughter, Diane, an experienced counsellor, show how to stop being self-critical about your drawing, just enjoy the process and begin expressing your own creative potential.