Art Escapes: Daily Exercises and Inspirations for Discovering Greater Creativity and Artistic Confidence

by Dory Kanter

Inspire your creative spirit—everyday! Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, Art Escapes provides the ideas and encouragement you need to discover greater creativity and artistic confidence, even when you're short on time. Professional artist and instructor Dory Kanter shows you how You'll also find 13 drawing, watercolor, mixed media, and assemblage projects, plus several "page-a-day" ideas. With Art Escapes , you'll learn how to build an art "habit," one that brings joy with every stroke of your brush.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Reference

128 pages, Spiral-bound

First published August 2, 2003

Reviews

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good book. While it's not a book that teaches you very much about the techniques of drawing, it encourages you to draw for the sheer fun of it. It has numerous easy exercises to get you going, and it's all about fun and enjoyment. Since there are plenty of books that teach you how to draw technically, I find this one refreshingly different. I had a copy from the library, but I'll probably buy one myself some time.

[Lise Audet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful inspirations. Easy to use. I have used this book in classrooms. Students loved the projects. They were successful which is a big part in teaching art.

[Gina Lento · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a lot of great ideas...I've used it so much that the binding is worn out.

[Marjorie Elwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

A visually beautiful book that extols daily art journaling and gives you a lot of tangible ideas, such as how to format your art journal and how to make travel kits for your art supplies so they’re easy to grab and go. There are lovely paintings throughout and it’s very creative – as an example, the author drew each dish in a fancy meal she had for her journal entry.

I will refer to this one again and again.

[Deborah Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are a few really cool little drawing ideas and I love the brush etc folio to make but mixed media and art journaling has come a long way since 2003. I was recommended this book through a Podcast interview of Tracy Verdugo and I really feel there is a big hole in the mixed media market for a very good book to go beyond all the YouTube sessions or the various courses. It is a style thing I guess and everyone has slightly different styles of course. It is great to do Mixed Media art courses but it would also be fabulous to have a very good book with the newer techniques. Jane Davenport and Tamara LaPorte have written great books but not in a grungey style which neither of them enjoy. Freya's book is more spiritual without much explanation. The diary which Kasia Avery suggested (forget the author's name) as a good read is fun if you are going to journal with mostly writing. I am still waiting for Jeanne Oliver's book since covid has made huge delays in shipments.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few fun ideas that anyone can do and achieve attractive results.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one's focused mostly on using watercolors in an art journal, with a little bit about collage. I found some of the watercolor information to be extremely helpful - the author provides detailed information on specific watercolor brands and shades for primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. And although the book was published 13 years ago, the paints are still available.

[Reuel · Rating 3 out of 5]

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[TeriC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of lots of fun ideas and techniques.

[Beaglenose · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the ideas in this book. Have I made it through to the end yet? No. I keep trying though...

[Andria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of things that I wanted to try in this book.