Expressive Sketchbooks

As sketchbooks and multimedia journals begin being embraced as a common tool for artist of every level who needs a creative outlet, so are the books with hints and tips on how to get the most out of them. I enjoyed this book as it gave some creative practices to expand techniques and skills. Unfortunately, there wasn’t anything particularly spectacular or standout ish about it either.

The author of this lavishly illustrated title encourages readers to make sketchbooks that are uniquely theirs; she emphasizes that perfection is not the goal.  Rather the book is designed as a guided journey and exploration as readers create their own books.  The author points out that a sketchbook is a safe place, kind of like a journal it seems to me. 
In our current time when it feels that there is so much to stress about, this book will be welcomed by those who need a venue to express and show feelings, thoughts, artwork and more.  Throughout the author is encouraging and non-judgmental; she is a welcome companion on the journey. 
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

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Expressive Sketchbooks by Helen Wells is a visual treat as well as a manual for bringing your creativity out. The artist caters well to both the I cant draw section of people as well as those artists who do not like what they have done. My little one has this issue too where I think she has done amazingly but probbaly she has high standards. There are many different exercises in the book that you can customise with your mood and color of the day. I like it that some of he remnants from others day work can be used as a collage another day. There's also a vase experiment that goes into different sketching styles. Mark making is fun too. If you read enough sketching books, you will have come across the experiemnts like drawing in a continuous line, drawing timed. Unleash your creativity in your safeplace - your sketchbook.

Helen Wells has created a guide to creating a meaningful personal art journey. The book starts with addressing the obstacles that can prevent people from pursuing art, the internal dialogue, the black and white thinking of right and wrong that cannot exist when an artist starts. Wells focuses on exploration throughout, introducing the possibilities and keeping things vague enough to allow people to see themselves on the journey.

With an interest of the role of mindfulness in creation, in art and crafting, this would be a great addition to public library collections if you need more on the subject. There are introductions to art concepts and a variety of styles presented.

Artist Helen Wells encourages messy and joyful experiments and using sketchbooks as a place for practice and growth. She advises on materials, focusing on the pleasurable aspects of using different types of tools and mediums. Her suggestions for experiments offer many opportunities to jumpstart or refresh creative activities. The book is written in a friendly tone and the luscious illustrations will motivate readers to pull out a sketchbook and reach for art supplies.

This book is a great resource for those that want to get started with a regular art practice. She includes basics, such as color theory, and has many prompts to get you started down your creative path. She is very encouraging, and the book includes many examples of the author’s own artwork. Highly recommended,

This book, about sketchbooks, emphasizes process over outcome, as it should be. I see so many sketchbook guides that are beautiful and perfect,, but they are meant to please and impress, which is not really the purpose of a sketchbook. In "Expressive Sketchbooks," Helen Wells has captured the true purpose of sketching: to explore, experiment, play around, plant the seeds of your own creativity. The results are no less pleasing, but they are more honest and will be more useful to artists who want to discover how to unleash their own creativity rather than emulate a set path.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really needed to read this book at this point in time.
Sketchbook fear and perfectionism is real!

The author captured my exact feelings and fears as an artist and this little joyful book will help me finally finishing my sketchbook and it will help me along my art journey.
It talks about discovery, creativity, being kind to yourself but also how to evaluate your art going forward with great writing prompts.
Thank you so much Quarto publishing and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC. This book was so helpful! 😊

An absolutely wonderful and informative guide, surrounded by beautiful and inspiring images of the author's own sketchbook artwork. The book covers practical advice: types of sketchbooks, art mediums and colour theory, but has a strong focus on the emotional difficulties of getting started and the personal struggles that so many people have with allowing themselves to express their creativity. Expressive Sketchbooks is a sincere and encouraging source of support for anyone looking to begin or resume their creative journeys.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for a free ARC of this ebook. What a lovely surprise this ebook is. Having recently started drawing and painting again, I was keen to have a visual guide for inspiration. This ebook is perfect. It is beautifully laid out, the text is clear and very well expressed. The illustrations are lovely. It is absolutely inspirational. I will be going back to it again and again. I highly recommend it.

If you're a beginner Sketchbooker or are interested in beginning, I think you will really enjoy this delightful book. It has a great collection of the author's sketchbooks and some really simple ideas to help get you started. And it also has elegant, beautiful, and more sophisticated ideas too. There's a great mix of ideas with pencil, watercolor, and collage.

This book also talks about the emotional experience of creating, of doubting yourself, of getting stuck and learning to make peace with your art and looking at it as practice and learning. I really enjoyed the author's kind voice and soft guidance throughout. She was both relatable and knowledgeable.

A great encouragement and idea-filled book for sketchers.

with gratitude to netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

I started going through the book looking at the art and wasn't sure how much I'd like it. She shows images from her sketch books and lists types of sketch books, types of mediums you can try, pretty standard. Then I began reading. What touched me deeply was the quote on page 22: "There were many years of my life when I stopped drawing . . . I was critical of everything I produced. The sad thing is my mental chatter and self-criticism about not being able to draw well got in the way of me doing something I loved." This is me, this is so many people who love to draw, but they don't necessarily consider themselves artists. This book is for those of us who need a guiding hand sometimes to keep on the creative path. To remember why we create and maybe a little push to expand our boundaries. I recommend this book for everyone, but especially for those people who have doubted yourself in the past. #netgalley #expressivesketchbooks

This book is a colorful inspiration to create anything one can put into a sketchbook, whether drawing, painting, collage or other 2-dimensional media. Helen Wells covers the many reasons one might want to start a sketchbook, various supplies and how to choose them, creative exercises and more.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

This book is a fantastic book on how to start an expressive sketch book or art journal. There are some great ideas and lots of tips and information on how to start, things you could use, materials you could use/need, overcoming obstacles such as when your uninspired and also shows some beautiful art journal sketchbooks the author has made herself.
I've found some great ideas and information in this book to get me started!

I absolutely loved this sketchbook guide. The colors, artwork and illustrations are truly inspirational and was enthralled by the level of creativity within it’s pages.

This was a fantastic find and I feel it is very expressive and opens your thought processes to really challenge your own creativity. I highly recommend it I just loved it. I received this book from NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for an honest review.

This is a beautiful book bursting with bright, bold, and colourful ideas. I liked reading the authors ideas and suggestion but mostly I loved looking at her work. Colour and creative ideas exploded everywhere on every page, so it is a feast for the eyes. Even if it is not your style you can't help but be inspired by the authors' work and passion. Highly recommended as food for the eyes and creative spirit.

This is a lovely inspirational book for those who'd like to start making creative sketchbooks (or art journals) or those who'd like to delve deeper. While Wells refers to the books as sketchbooks, she relies heavily on watercolor, collage and a wide variety of media far past mere sketches. Sections include materials, getting started, basic art theories, finding inspiration and dealing with roadblocks, plus much more. She provides step-by-step illustrations of many kinds of art that she's done in her own sketchbooks, with lots of colorful inspiration for creative art projects and lots of encouragement.

I have kept journals for years that combine rambling thoughts, to-do lists, bullet journal type habit trackers and such with art, and I also enjoy making altered books for all kinds of purposes (cookbooks, educational books with my kids, etc.). I can see this book inspiring new directions in both of these for me. It's a fun read that I enjoyed.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.

I misunderstood what this book was. I thought it was an actual sketchbook with different prompts, exercises and examples throughout. An interactive walk through that you actually created art within the pages, like a guided journal, but it's not. This is a 'how-to' book on starting a sketchbook, that you would go out yourself and buy separately. It lists reasons why you should start one and it does have absolutely gorgeous illustrations and examples. The colour palette used is very appealing to look at, but it's not what I was wanting. I'm personally not motivated enough to use a book like this, I need something all inclusive.

Unapologetically creative. Full of tips and techniques on multimedia journaling. The photos are boldly colorful and encourage fearless creativity in interpreting the world while enjoying the journey and not focusing on the outcome. The book also walks you through different types of supplies. A thought provoking read.

Wonderfully inspirational, Expressive Sketchbooks by Helen Wells, outlines basic supplies and cool techniques to motivate budding artists. While she doesn't necessarily provide step by step instructions she gives the reader lots of details to start an art project. Wells strongly suggests that research is key to success, something I have not read in other art books, but is helpful for the uninitiated. Perhaps the best part of Expressive Sketchbooks is that she touches on the psyche of the artist and the importance of self-evaluation and kindness to self. Great read!

This is a splendid book for anyone wanting to delve deeper into the world of art and sketchbooks. It is informative, full of ideas, easy to follow, and visually gorgeous. 👍👍

Creative ideas for the artist
"Expressive Sketchbooks. Developing Creative Skills, Courage, and Confidence" is presented by Helen Wells and was published by Quarto Publishing Group - Quarry. The book is divided into an introduction and five chapters that cover 1) Magic and Motivation, 2) Getting Going, 3) Techniques for Exploring and Experimenting, 4) Growing Ideas, and 5) Practice and Progress.
Wells states that "an expressive sketchbook is a playground for your imagination - a place to nurture your creativity and develop your own artistic style" (p. 6). She also underlines for the readers to "know that your sketchbook will not be filled with flawless drawings or perfect outcomes" (p. 6). The beginner and the advanced artist need to take note of this. Throughout the book readers can find valuable information, but Wells also encourages them to get practical and show how objects, plants, and photos can be used for inspiration.
I highly appreciated that Wells uses a broad range of media and presents plenty examples. The book is presented with excellent photographs, pictures, and design, the only thing missing is an index. I highly recommend this book for beginning and advanced artists, it can also be used as a great present for them.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#ExpressiveSketchbooks #NetGalley

I think this book is perfect for beginners because it covers things like color theory and types of sketchbooks, etc. I liked it because of that, having recently started drawing again since I was a child, I was really happy to create.

Expressive Sketchbooks is a book for the person who is struggling to use a sketchbook. I found it very inspiring in many ways and have tried out several of her suggestions already. At the same time, I found the book felt both too wordy and too much white space, and not enough inspiring pictures or ideas. Additionally the pages with a quote, a short paragraph and picture seemed meant to inspire but fell short for me, leaving me feeling like they were there just to fill out pages. I find myself extremely conflicted on how to rate this book because the parts that were good were excellent, but felt like they were few and far between in an otherwise average book. I would suggest getting this book out of the library if possible first.

Great book at add to art collection. Good ideas for those wanting to increase their sketching and creative game.

A great guide to getting the most out of your sketchbook. At a time of focus on mindfulness, more and more of us are turning to journaling, arts and creative pursuits. This book helps encourage you to explore different media, express your ideas on to the paper and most of all experiment.
It can be a jumping off point for ideas and will help you to get your creative juices well and truly flowing.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed scanning through this book. Helen Wells included some beautiful artworks as well as some awesome ideas and tips for journaling in an expressive and visual way. I took some time to do some of the exercises in the book and it's definitely a calm and freeing work out for the creative mind.
Thanks to Quarry Books and Netgalley for the chance to review this great book!

Expressive Sketchbooks is a tutorial and technique guide for developing artistic skills and confidence by Helen Wells. Released 14th April 2020 by Quarto on their Quarry imprint, it's 144 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats.

I enjoy writing and journaling. I like putting into words what I've been experiencing and processing in my day-to-day existence. I am a huge list-maker and find that for me, prioritizing different goals and dividing large projects into smaller tasks increases my productivity greatly. On the other hand, probably half of the gorgeous notebooks, sketchbooks, journals, and other paper books I bought with the best intentions sit still wrapped in plastic, unused, in my bookshelves. I am intimidated and sad/frustrated by my 'lack' of artistic talent. That's where this book helps.

The author has an accessible and encouraging style of instruction. It's a restful book to read and quite appealing graphically. Through guided instruction, she provides help with motivation, getting over starting difficulties, actual artistic techniques, finding inspiration, choosing subjects, and more practical lessons for getting over the intimidation of the blank page staring at you. (This was the most valuable takeaway for me personally).

This is a good book for bullet journals, sketchbooks, art diaries, building up a sketchbook library, art practice, mindfulness, etc.

I really loved the author/artist's wise words and advice about self kindness and avoiding being cruel with ourselves with regard to assessment.

Four stars. Lots of useful advice and accessible information.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Expressive Sketchbooks by Helen Wells
Developing Creative Skills, Courage and Confidence

A sketchbook is a place to put down ideas, try new patterns, record ideas, keep track of your art journey and so much more. It is a safe private place to express yourself that will have personal value now and in the future. With information about what tools you might want to buy or to make, hints and ideas about sketchbook needs for various mediums, papers you might want to work with when when creating collages and also creative ideas for sketching inside or outside. I enjoyed the mention of the rule of thirds, color use, light & dark, curves vs straight lines, use of background and space and the white areas when creating. This book was filled with many ideas but no specific guided activities. I think one of the greatest takeaways was that there is nothing wrong and that we all can draw though getting started is often the hardest part of the journey.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Quarry for the ARC ~ This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

This book is full of great ideas about how to begin expressive sketching. Finding myself at home and looking for things to do this is a great one.