Art Starts in the Heart, A Fun Book for Budding Artists

Sometimes getting started with an art project is the hardest part, at least for me. I find myself looking at a blank surface, wondering “Where do I even begin?” Luckily, there’s a brand-new book with the answer, Art Starts in the Heart: Creative Projects and Inspirational Ideas for Learning to Make Expressive, Mindful Art, written and illustrated by Erin McManness (Walter Foster Publishing/Quarto Group, October 2019).

* Complimentary book received for review. This post contains affiliate links.

The author herself gives the best explanation in the book’s introduction. She writes, “Art Starts in the Heart is for those who want to develop their drawing skills and style, while having fun, reflecting on meaningful moments and goals, and manifesting them through their art. Think of this as a personal art journal: not only does it contain a starter section to help you refine your drawing capabilities, it also contains prompts and projects that you can complete either inside the book or in your own sketchbook….Make a mess, try new things, and be free and honest in your art making.”

I love this approach! Of course, she’s not saying there are no rules, but I find that her “have fun” slant is designed to help keep a beginner from getting bogged down or blocked at the very start. To that end, the book has some very helpful information about different techniques for drawing and lettering and working with color and using digital formats to enable you to put your vision on paper while developing your skills.

Art Starts in the Heart includes five step-by-step art projects that not only help you to create a beautiful artwork but show you how to employ and combine different techniques. Beyond that, a large part of the book is actually a workbook designed to spark your imagination and unlock your creativity. There are pages and pages of inviting spaces with prompts and ideas to encourage you to open your mind to myriad ways to express yourself through imagery.

If you like Erin McManness’s illustrations in Art Starts in the Heart, you’ll enjoy the website for her stationery and illustration company, Paper Raven Co.. There you’ll find a nice selection of her designs on cards, notebooks, prints, gift wrap, and more. In addition, you may be interested in McManness’s first book, Art Starts with a Line: A Creative and Interactive Guide to the Art of Line Drawing, also published by Walter Foster Publishing.

Walter Foster Publishing (an imprint of the Quarto Group), specializes in books on art instruction and has a diverse catalog of books about drawing, sketching, painting, lettering, illustration, and so on. Visit Quarto on Facebook for up-to-date information on book releases, authors, and more.

* This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we may or may not receive a small commission which helps to support this site. Thank you!

Giveaway: One lucky winner is going to win a copy of Art Starts in the Heart, thanks to Walter Foster Publishing!

Giveaway Details: This giveaway is open to residents of the US ONLY age 18 and over. Please read our Terms of Service & Disclaimer Policy before entering. This giveaway will close on September 26th, 2019 at 11:59 pm EST time. No purchase necessary to enter or win.

Disclaimer: A. Bailey received a complimentary product for review purposes & feature on The Classy Chics blog. No monetary compensation was received. A. Bailey’s thoughts, opinions and words are 100% her own. Your thoughts may differ. Please read the blog’s terms of service policy before entering any giveaways. The Classy Chics are NOT responsible for prize fulfillment or shipping of any items won from this blog. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through an affiliate link, we may or may not make a small commission which helps to support this website. Thank you!!!