The Perfect Autumn Read for Young Artists & Nature Lovers!

I’m back after a much-needed break, and I have the perfect book to share! The Boy Who Drew Birds by Jacqueline Davies tells the story of John James Audubon, the father of bird illustration. This book beautifully connects art and science, making it a great classroom resource for teaching migration patterns and animal illustration.

A Fun & Silly Art History Book for Kids!

When Pigasso Met Mootisse by Nina Laden is a playful take on art history, introducing kids to two famous artists in a colorful, imaginative way. Is it historically accurate? Probably not! But with bright illustrations, a fun story, and an art-inspired rivalry between a cow and a pig, it keeps kids engaged while sparking their creativity. Plus, there’s a short historical summary at the end to set the record straight!

A Stunningly Illustrated Story – The Rainbow Goblins

One of my all-time favorite books for its gorgeous paintings and captivating story—The Rainbow Goblins by Ul de Rico! This tale follows mischievous goblins who steal color from the rainbow. While it may be a bit spooky for sensitive kids, its breathtaking artwork makes it a fantastic read for teens, adults, and art lovers alike.

Kickstart Your Summer Creativity with Max Makes A Million!

Happy first week of summer to all the kids (and teachers) who made it through the semester! To celebrate, here’s a favorite creative book—great for kids AND adults looking for inspiration and freedom in their drawings. No one does whimsical illustration better than Maira Kalman!

Why Copy Master Drawings? Da Vinci Book Review & 3 Reasons to Try It!

Want to improve your drawing skills and develop your artistic style? Copying master drawings—like those of Leonardo da Vinci—is a powerful way to train your eye and hand. In this video, I review a Da Vinci drawing book and share three key reasons why studying masterworks can help any artist (yes, even if you're into manga, anime, or graphic novels!).

The Dot by Peter Reynolds

Looking for a fun and inspiring book to help build confidence in young artists? The Dot by Peter Reynolds is a wonderful story following young Vashti on her journey to believing in herself as an artist

Back to School & At-Home Art Fun!

Looking for a fun, interactive book that teaches kids to reuse their artwork instead of tossing it after a small mistake? This book is a classroom favorite and a perfect at-home art project resource—especially during quarantine and remote learning!

Kid's Book Review: Ish

This is a great book for kids who might be hard on themselves when learning to make art or draw. It shows siblings Leon, Ramon and Marisol and how they can be supportive of each other while learning to make art. It's a good book for kids who need a little more confidence and a little less criticism of their efforts.

This is a great book for kids that addresses an embarrassing problem in fine art- Why is art full of so many naked people? The book by Susie Hodge is a fun book that guides you through modern and classical art questions anyone (even adults) may have as they move through an art museum. It invites readers to flip between pages in a non-linear order so it is fun for younger kids. Loads of pictures of artwork make it fun for the whole family.

This book, by James Gurney (creator of Dinotopia) is the book I recommend to any of my students who are thinking about tackling color - especially if they are moving on to acrylic or oil painting. It has some sections that are helpful even if you're working in graphite or another black/white medium. This is a pretty thorough book, that will help you get into the mindset of an artist, and I recommend it even if you are attending art school- because it goes into specifics on issues that often are covered in more commercial artistry than academic art settings. You can pick up a copy here, or many other online retailers: https://amzn.to/2Jdexsw

Here is a book review for those of you searching for perspective help. Honestly, I think the perspective videos I offer teach you more basics of perspective than this book taught me. But there are some helpful steps in this book, although much of the instruction is condensed.

This is one of the best books I've found on drawing figures. Take a look inside with this video. I think it has so many practical tips, loads of information about anatomy, and so many drawings in it that you can practice from that it makes it a worthwhile investment. I think it is a more instructional book than the cult favorite, Drawing the Head and Hands by Andrew Loomis.

Colored Pencil Painting Bible: Techniques for Achieving Luminous Color and Ultrarealistic Effects by Alyona Nickelsen This book is a great resource for color pencil enthusiasts and I highly recommend it if you're purchasing Prismacolors, Caran D'Ache or Derwent colored pencils. It will give you advice on layering pencil and blending it so you can create custom colors. Put this on your gift list, it's worth the expense!

Here is a helpful pen and ink book, if you're looking for non-video resources for learning different mediums for drawing. Claudia Nice breaks pen and ink techniques down into manageable steps, helping you to develop a method of mark making so that you can communicate different textures and materials. Books like this are also great resources for learning when you're traveling and don't have an internet connection, as well as having paper images you can lay out in front of you while you're working. I like to have some on hand to loan to students. With the holidays around the corner, you might put this on your wish list.