Online since 2002. Patricia and James Cummings, Quilter's Muse Publications, Concord, NH.
A Book by Nita Leland
A Book Review by Patricia Cummings
Table of Contents
The New Creative Artist: a Guide to Developing your Creative Spirit by Nita Leland (Cincinnati, Ohio: North Light Books, 2006) offers an overview of how to become an artist, or if you are already an artist, how to become a better one. Through practical suggestions, tips, and exercises, the author encourages the reader to see potential subjects to draw. To her, drawing is the true basis for any other art work, in whatever media is chosen. She offers the opinion that everyone can draw, and proceeds to help the reader get started.
The book is brimming with color photos and has lots of illustrations for the topics discussed. The chapters are brief enough to be easily digestible. This is a book that the reader will want to turn to, time and again, while on a path to a more creative life. There is inspiration tucked into every chapter.
Among the examples of art work found throughout the book, the author includes a wonderful art quilt by artist, Alan Kelchner. A long time art teacher, Leland goes far beyond the standard fare, and offers interesting points of departure, even for the novice.
Whether you like to sketch, draw cartoons, do watercolor studies, do Plein Air painting, or work with fiber art, Leland's new book is a must-have investment for everyone, whether one is just beginning on a creative journey, or one is a serious artist who just needs a review of the basics.
We happened to have already, Nita Leland's book that preceded this one. That one is entitled, Creative Artist: A Fine Artist's Guide to Expanding Your Creativity (same publisher, 1990). The two books are similar, yet different, and both are worthwhile. One of the main differences is that the newest version has a hard cover and is bound with a Wire-O type binding, which is becoming so popular. The interior coils make the book much easier to handle as the pages will lie flat.
Congratulation, to both Nita Leland and the publisher, North Light Books, for creating a colorful and inspirational book!
©Copyright 2006. Patricia Cummings, Quilter's Muse Publications, Concord, NH. pat@quiltersmuse.com
2009: Nita has a new video about color that will be published soon!