Kawaii Doggies: Learn to Draw over 100 Adorable Pups in All their Glory, by Olive Yong

 

 Publication April 4, 2023

This one is just plain ol' fun. Puppies and doggies to draw in all sorts of positions, not to mention costumes. True, maybe because my dog is a "dress me up and you will die" kinda dog, I wasn't fond of those but, hey, to each their own. I liked that the author showed how to do different positions, activities, and even things like from the front and rear. Toss in some printed drawings to color and, well, it was just plain ol' fun. 

Although I didn't try every suggestion or breed type, the directions were clear and step-by-step. That should be helpful to the more artistically challenged out there. As you gain confidence, you can certainly improvise, too, which is how I created a cute rendering of my own floppy-eared corgi mix.The section on facial expressions was especially helpful, I thought, as all too often such books don't delve into that or different moods. Although, quite frankly, many of the supposed different breeds looked very similar to me, color and markings helped with the differentiation. 

By the way, the former teacher in me came out and I simply had to look up the meaning of kawaii. While it's usually interpreted to mean "cute", it has a broader meaning to those who speak the language. In this case, it focuses on the Japanese art style that emphasizes cuteness and uses bright colors and a rather simple, even childlike look. It can also mean something that is lovable, hence it can describe many things. Okay, enough teacher talk from me. If you like to draw cute critters or even if you want to draw but struggle, this book should be of benefit. 

Thanks #NetGalley and #QuartoPublishingGroup - #RockPoint for giving me an excuse to flex some of my artsy skills again, using my own too kawaii doggie as model.

A Brush with Murder: A Watercolor Mystery. by Gail Langer Karwoski

 

I felt rather like I was losing my new best friends as the book ended. I wanted to get in the car and go home with Jane and her friends. I miss them already, even the rowdy, energetic mischief maker dog Tillie. In other words, author Karwoski was successful in world building with, oh, so likable, relatable characters we'd all like to know even if, as one observed, this vacation week was a bit like living in a crime novel. The setting, the Gardens and Horses Resort, sounded enchanting and even though it's been years since I picked up a paint brush, I found myself jotting down some of the watercolor hints shared within. 

Unfortunately, the friends' retreat begins with them stumbling cross a horse dead in a reflecting pool. To be honest, as a horse nut from way back, I almost passed up this book when this was mentioned in the blurb but am glad I didn't. Although saddening, with much more of the dark side of horse racing revealed as the book progressed, this scene was quickly lost in the rest of the action. A groom is found nearly drowned in a horse water trough, then one of the workshop attendees is found dead. Are the three scenes connected? Jane, who prides herself a bit on her orderliness, had already started a journal to help her sort out who was who among the workshop participants and slips into the mode of registering everything she observes or senses, too, sharing her notes with the police. I admired her ability to keep her head when the others were otherwise distracted, whether by flirtations or Donna's disturbing habit of fainting when stressed. There are multiple suspects, side stories, and red herrings, not to mention that the three events may or may not be related. In the process, however, the friends attend the painting sessions and it was fascinating to hear their virtual work being dissected with hints of how to create certain watercolor techniques or improve on others. They're being taught to see, really see, what is in front of them. If you're an artist, you'll find these sections fascinating, I'm sure. 

As the friends observe, however, it's much easier to solve a mystery in a book than it is in real life. All have input and helpful observations, observations Jane carefully records and shares. Jane's growing fascination with solving the mystery, even to the point where she jots down the ABC's of detectives, ie assume nothing, believe no one, and check everything, seems to grow. Her friendship with Officer Goode was interesting and although they live in different areas, I'm hoping he'll pop up again in future books. It's always nice to see the police and amateur sleuth acting with mutual respect rather than the more usual conflict that so often pops up in mysteries. 

Bottom line, if you haven't already guessed, I loved this book and was delighted to see a preview for the next in the series at the end. Phew, that relieves my fear this might be a one shot mystery from the author. I also appreciated the suggestions for Book Club discussions included. I think my favorite asked how their painting styles reflected personalities, which made me rethink the book a bit more. Lovely writing, lyrical at times, awash in painting references, and an intricate mystery all packaged with lovely watercolor paintings now awash in my mind's eye.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #BlackRoseWriting for inviting me to attend this lovely workshop with Jane, Donna, Grace, Pam, and Tillie. I'm looking forward to the next adventure. This one is a winner.

Only in America Activity Book, by Alan Berry Rhys (Illustrations)

As a former teacher, I looked at this for not just how well it might serve children of the target age, 6-10, but what other ideas it might spark in the adults about them. I'd say it should be relatively easy to not just come up with other ideas but adapt the activities given to other age brackets. That is a real plus. Since I didn't have any 6-10 year olds handy this snowy day in Alaska, I made a point of looking closely at the activities. The author and illustrator made that easy with bright colorful, even whimsical drawings. I will also note that as one who grew up with maps showing my now home state of Alaska plopped down near Mexico or even in the Gulf of Mexico, it was nice to see a map rendered showing both Alaska and Hawaii in a more more accurate location.

What sort of activities will you find in this book? As the blurb says, you'll find "crosswords, word searches, mazes, quizzes, coloring, and so much more." I liked how most involved thinking things through, too, so to speak. For instance, the Fruity Sudoku and "Yard Sale" activities involved not just seeing relationships but how they worked together. I've seen countless more complicated similar activities aimed at adults, so these were good introductions to using one's mind to order things and see relationships. Since these activities are aimed at relatively young children, they rely as much on the drawings as numbers, I noted. Crosswords also utilized that tactic, using illustrations as well as scrambled words for word searches and such. In other words, some problem solving involving the brain. The imagination is also engaged with some activities asking users to draw a picture of their own or write their own thoughts. In other words, there is a bit of everything and just enough variety to keep children, at least those not accustomed to the blinking lights of video or cell phones, engaged.  

Thank you #NetGalley and #QuartoPublishingGroup for helping entertain me on a snowy afternoon in Alaska. And, as noted, thanks to the author and illustrator to showing my home state in a far more accurate location.

Everything Cute & Cuddly, by Emily Fellah

As with the other books by Emily Fellah on drawing, this one provided not just simple, easy to follow instructions and illustrations, but all the drawing can be completed with nothing more than a pencil, eraser, paper, and some colors. There are even a mermaid and unicorn, not to mention a robot. Since there are some llamas up the road from me, however, that was the one I tackled first. Children should have fun being creative with the colors, in particular, and perhaps even adding onto the drawings as they gain in confidence. So much the better if an adult is willing to draw along with them, too. Let's just say that I have personal experience of how much entertainment these can provide during an extended power outage. Children can use their imagination and create their own worlds using not just these simple instructions but perhaps drawing from other books in the series. Seriously, you don't need the book set but you want it. Insert smile emoji. Perhaps a zoo with a robot watchman, or maybe that mermaid has populated her undersea world with some interesting cute and cuddly critters. Bottom line, this book, like the others in the series, can provide hours of joyful entertainment with minimal supplies, This one should definitely be on your shelf.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #QuartoPublishing for the ARC and fun diversion during a lengthy power outage.

Favorite Pets, Emily Fellah

 I think I need to thank Emily Fellah for giving me a great deal of pleasure as I've tried out the various drawings, sorry, no kids handy right now, tweaking them as needed to match pets known to me. The instructions and illustrations easy to follow, and all you really need is a pencil, eraser, paper, and preferably some colors. Fellah takes you through the process of creating, well, favorite pets, and more in a direct, simple process. The result is a great deal of fun and spurs creativity as you get better at it. Yes, there is much to try and learn for even those of us who would classify as grown-up kids. For me, I've been thinking I'm going to take this another step and try using the designs in this and some of the other books offered for some rock painting. For true children, they will be delighted to discover their ability to draw their own pets, whether the usual cat and dog or something a bit more exotic like a parrot or ferret, among others. Fellah will take them through each drawing step by step, each illustrated, and show final results that can be expected. Take it from this grown-up kid, it's a great deal of fun for all ages. 

Thanks to #NetGalley and #QuartoPublishingGroup, with #WalterFoster for the ARC and the fun. 

Wild Animals: Learn to draw using basic shapes--step by step!,y Emily Fellah

 

Let me begin by saying that in addition to showing us how to draw different wild animals, I have personal experience in adding that they're great diversions in an extended power outage, too. Emily Fellah has done a wonderful job bringing art down to the basics for not just children but anyone who is interested in drawing "Wild Animals". Since I live in Alaska where will animals tend to roam at will almost everywhere, including out front yards, I was naturally drawn to this book. I was disappointed not to find instructions for a moose but, hmm, with just a little tweaking of the antlers shown in the illustration creative hands created a passable moose. We'll work on that. In other words, while these instructions are basic, they can also provide the inspiration to tweak and add and create not just slightly different versions of the selected animals but others as well. The tools needed are basic, pencil, paper, eraser, and preferably some colors. Bottom line, this one is a great inspiration for all, even us big kids. Loved it, even if I hope the author will add a moose next time. It should be a hit with all ages and I'm thinking I might even try doing some rock painting with the designs.

Thanks to #NetGalley, #EmilyFellah, and #QuartoPublishingGroup – #WalterFoster for providing such a fun diversion during Alaska's recent wild windstorm with extended power outages. 

Dogs Puppies: Learn to draw using basic shapes--step by step!, by Emily Fellah

Shh, don't tell anyone but I spent a good chunk of my day trying out the directions and had a blast. I even ventured into creating my own dog, whose breed wasn't illustrated. I was able to pull various characteristics from the dogs pictured, however, to make a very representative drawing of my own Daisy dog. So, whether you're a kid or grown-up-kid, I think you'll enjoy this book.

The directions are simple and easy to follow and the use of different colors for different steps makes them that much easier to follow. All you really need to draw is paper and pencil, though an eraser and colors add to the fun. In the process, if your child is unfamiliar with the names of figures like triangles, this can aid in their learning of those basic terms. Bottom line, this book should be a fun diversion for any child who loves to draw and/or dogs. I know it was a blast for this grown-up-kid.

Thank  you #NetGalley and #QuartoPublishingGroup - #WalterFoster and author/artist #EmilyFellah for allowing me to enjoy being a kid again!