Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

The Art of Silliness: A Creativity Book for Everyone

Rate this book
Ready to play?

Whether you think of yourself as an artist, a doodler, a dreamer, or none of the above, this book will jump-start your creativity. Popular art instructor Carla Sonheim offers fun, engaging ideas on every page, from drawing upside down to imagining new worlds (down to their silly hats and strange animal species). All you need is a pencil or pen and your imagination.

192 pages, Paperback

First published November 6, 2012

2 people are currently reading
130 people want to read

About the author

Carla Sonheim

18 books21 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
43 (50%)
4 stars
27 (31%)
3 stars
12 (14%)
2 stars
3 (3%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for Montzalee Wittmann.
5,239 reviews2,343 followers
July 17, 2021
The Art of Silliness: Draw, Doodle, and Play for 10 Minutes a Day
by Carla Sonheim
This is an excellent exercise book to open up and let silliness come forth and creativity spring out! I like my drawings (I say this like I can really DRAW anything!) look realistic. But this let's the reader really let loose and just go with the flow and make up stuff and be happy! It is so fun and freeing! I felt less stress after just a few exercises. Not just stress of drawing but of everything! I giggled and had a great time just being open and free to let the strict restrictions go and just be!
There are several lessons, so easy that kids can join in! Lots of fun for the whole family! No, I won't show you my work because this is my therapy, lol! Some of them came out funny enough I don't mind showing family.
Looking for something for the whole family to do then look no further! Giggle as you go!
Profile Image for Phyllis.
527 reviews25 followers
September 5, 2024
This book is soooo much fun!

During the summer, the step kids and I liked to do art together at least once a week. Midway through this hot summer (and approaching non-Summer Camp days around July 4th), I found this book at the library. A treasure!

A we had a blast doing about 25% of different exercises (draw a specific thing with your non-dominant hand, then eyes closed with dominant hand, and so forth). We were truly cracking up while ding these exercises and there weee nearly daily requests for “the nonsense book.”
Profile Image for Mark Friend.
135 reviews2 followers
May 11, 2022
This was a useful teaching resource that provoke students into quick and silly experiments with low steaks but enough of the structure to lure them into their own creativity. After I selected a dozen or so focus exercises, I managed to bounce a sequence of activities and writing projects off each of these prompts.
1,272 reviews8 followers
January 5, 2013
So I can't exactly mark this as finished yet-- but I do have this book, I've looked through some of the exercises and plan to complete this book! I have not had her web workshop of the same name, so I can't tell you guys how much is original, or if it is a part of Silliness 1, 2, or 3. All I know is that this is awesome, just like the Drawing Lab. I wan't really expecting anything less, however.

Some of these prompts can easily be recognized by art students or those familiar with drawing, but that doesn't matter. It has plenty of originality and the silliness it promises. So if you are a good artist in a slump, or a beginning artist or a wannabe but haven't taken the first step yet artist, this may be for you.
Profile Image for Kate.
169 reviews5 followers
August 13, 2016
Carla Sonheim has delivered another fun and silly book designed to inspire creativity. While I preferred her book Drawing Lab, this book also contained some fun exercises and a unique take on inspiring creativity. If I had to choose just one book, I would choose the Drawing Lab, yet this is a great addition for any fan of Carla Sonheim!
Profile Image for Blaine.
135 reviews2 followers
February 21, 2015
I doodle all the time. If I am stuck on a problem or confused, the doodles come out of me with little thought as to where I am going. However, I forgot about doodling for fun. Getting back to the child that resides within me...well, within all of us. This book set me on that path. The exercises are fun and it assists in getting those creative juices flowing.
Profile Image for Ruby.
103 reviews
March 24, 2013
Some fun ideas, but the book is very thin on content. Her own art is much more fun than the prompts she writes. I think I would have gotten more by looking at a full book of the author's art. After all, it was her whimsical art that drew me to her books in the first place.
Profile Image for Elizabeth A.
2,155 reviews119 followers
August 2, 2013
As the subtitle states, this is a book that encourages you to draw, doodle, and play for 10 minutes a day. Some fun ideas, and the workbook format lets you play right in the book, but I found it light on content.
Profile Image for Natashya KitchenPuppies.
438 reviews25 followers
June 17, 2014
Small but fun and great for down time and when you are feeling less than creative. Picks you up and gets you putting pen to paper.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.