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Ladies Drawing Night: Make Art, Get Inspired, Join the Party
Speaking directly to today's explosion of creativity, Ladies Drawing Night is for women looking to deepen their creative connections and expressions. Join rock star illustrators Julia Rothman, Leah Goren, and Rachael Cole for ten evenings of fun and art-making. The nights are led by two talented guest artists and themed around a particular topic, from large-scale ink painting to making art with kids. Samantha Hahn, Mary Kate McDevitt, Joana Avillez, and many more share their expertise. Each chapter includes loads of exciting artwork, insights about drawing, and instructions for that night's project. A rare peek into the minds and sketchbooks of some of the best female illustrators working today, this inspiring volume is an irresistible invitation to host your own Ladies Drawing Night!
160 pages, Paperback
Published August 16, 2016
46 people are currently reading
562 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 24, 2018
Julia Rothman knows how to make pretty books, without question. And give Chronicle Books a little credit, too, of course for the loveliness. This is my third book from Rothman and I have liked looking at all of them. This one is very very inviting to look at, great fun layouts, lots of pastels, lots of women artists doing art together. I skimmed reviews and a couple people see it and Rothman as "very New York City" and I (I lived there, too) can see that, I can see why it might strike one as a little exclusive and privileged in a certain way, a little twee, but I'll just say the girl in my house dug it, and wrote down six or seven ideas for holding her own art party, so it's all good. Even I--who took his last art class in seventh grade and was kicked out of it for deliberately pouring water on a friend's clay sculpture, yes, I was that kind of adhd seventh grader, and have no real visual artistic abilities to speak of--yes, even I wanted to attend one of Rothman's art parties, because all the art in it and the ideas for art and socializing are so inviting. But it's ladies only! Can guys make their own drawing night? Why not?
April 9, 2019
In a social media world filled to the brim with FOMO, this book might be guilty of piling on even more. Who doesn't want to gather a group of crazy talented artistic girlfriends and have a creative night with snacks and wine? Sign me up!
The book itself has lovely photos to flip through, rather like flipping through an Instagram feed. I did appreciate the showcasing of some women artists, and the creative ideas are good, but this was rather light on content. I'm a big fan of the author's other works, but was disappointed with this one.
The book itself has lovely photos to flip through, rather like flipping through an Instagram feed. I did appreciate the showcasing of some women artists, and the creative ideas are good, but this was rather light on content. I'm a big fan of the author's other works, but was disappointed with this one.
February 5, 2017
I picked up this book because the idea of friends gathering to experiment and create together was very appealing.
Well, really I picked it up because it was on the oh so tempting New Books shelf at the library. I swear the New Books shelf is the literary equivalent to the candy display next to the check out line at the grocery store. Which I guess makes me the equivalent of a greedy grasping toddler straining to take it all home with me. This analogy is more apt if you picture me struggling under the weight of my over filled tote bag full of books on my last trip to the library. Walking through the rain to my car. With a concussion.
About that concussion...I didn't know I had one. And, sadly, I don't think I can blame my checking books out by the pound on a blow to my head. I have a long history of being attracted to literary shiney objects and trying to decorate my home in Mid Century Modern Piles Of Books.
But once I had the attractive book in my hand I thought "Cool! Art party with friends."
Now that I've read it...well, it isn't what I hoped it would be. It is about getting your friends over to encourage creativity and trying new things. And it does make it clear that snacks are important. And that snacks can include a full dinner. And wine. And it has ideas for themes that your drawing nights can use.
But...maybe this is my inner critic, my harsh editor...this doesn't seem like the book for a group of friends with no art experience... This beautiful book is filled with photogenic women with art training, professional experience, and fabulous style. I mean art style, not fashion, though they appeared to shine there as well. My friends tend to fall into "I can't draw! I suck!" and "I'm getting ready for a sale! I have commission pieces to finish! I don't have time for random drawing for free!" camps. So now I'm just a bit wistful, being stymied in my new found hope for and art&socializing group.
I'm still glad I read (and viewed -there is some lovely art photographed inside Ladies Drawing Night!) this for two reasons. One - I'm now on the look out for a less talented but uninhibited way to get group art activities into my social life. And, two, some of the drawings and painting triggered rapid and loose writing last night. I haven't felt a story appear in my brain and demanding to come out in a very long time. Apparently seeing other people being fabulous and creative triggered something in me.
So even thought Ladies Drawing Night wasn't what I was hoping for, I'm glad that addictive New Books shelf had it for me to stumble upon.
Well, really I picked it up because it was on the oh so tempting New Books shelf at the library. I swear the New Books shelf is the literary equivalent to the candy display next to the check out line at the grocery store. Which I guess makes me the equivalent of a greedy grasping toddler straining to take it all home with me. This analogy is more apt if you picture me struggling under the weight of my over filled tote bag full of books on my last trip to the library. Walking through the rain to my car. With a concussion.
About that concussion...I didn't know I had one. And, sadly, I don't think I can blame my checking books out by the pound on a blow to my head. I have a long history of being attracted to literary shiney objects and trying to decorate my home in Mid Century Modern Piles Of Books.
But once I had the attractive book in my hand I thought "Cool! Art party with friends."
Now that I've read it...well, it isn't what I hoped it would be. It is about getting your friends over to encourage creativity and trying new things. And it does make it clear that snacks are important. And that snacks can include a full dinner. And wine. And it has ideas for themes that your drawing nights can use.
But...maybe this is my inner critic, my harsh editor...this doesn't seem like the book for a group of friends with no art experience... This beautiful book is filled with photogenic women with art training, professional experience, and fabulous style. I mean art style, not fashion, though they appeared to shine there as well. My friends tend to fall into "I can't draw! I suck!" and "I'm getting ready for a sale! I have commission pieces to finish! I don't have time for random drawing for free!" camps. So now I'm just a bit wistful, being stymied in my new found hope for and art&socializing group.
I'm still glad I read (and viewed -there is some lovely art photographed inside Ladies Drawing Night!) this for two reasons. One - I'm now on the look out for a less talented but uninhibited way to get group art activities into my social life. And, two, some of the drawings and painting triggered rapid and loose writing last night. I haven't felt a story appear in my brain and demanding to come out in a very long time. Apparently seeing other people being fabulous and creative triggered something in me.
So even thought Ladies Drawing Night wasn't what I was hoping for, I'm glad that addictive New Books shelf had it for me to stumble upon.
June 23, 2018
I love the idea of women getting together to be creative, but this book doesn't really capture the "party planning" or "art projects to share" aspects of hosting that event. It's more of a published scrapbook dedicated to author and her very, VERY talent artist friends. This book actually makes the idea of hosting a "Ladies Drawing Night" more intimating to me because the author and her friends are doing designer figure drawings for fun. Um... I just wanted to drink wine and play with crayons.
October 1, 2019
So inspiring! Bonus perk: I turned to the back and realized I knew the photographer!
December 4, 2016
Loved seeing the art and reading the tips on how to host a drawing night. The book itself is so very very NYC.
January 18, 2017
I was hoping for something that was more approachable to non-creatives, but this is more geared towards working artists.
May 23, 2017
Ladies Drawing Night is so visually appealing that I kept looking at the photographs and art work for a long while before actually reading the book. Kate Edwards, a photographer from Brooklyn, took photographs of the women who created the art and their various art projects, completed and in progress.
The three women author/artists who wrote the book (as well as friends and guest artists who contributed) followed themes at their gatherings. The photos show the results of fashion illustrations, collages, repeated patterns, cardboard constructions, hand lettering, figure drawing and collaborations with children. All of the content was put together very attractively by designer Jenny Volvovski.
Julia Rothman, Leah Goren and Rachael Cole "design, illustrate, and draw to pay the rent." Drawing nights are free time when they can make what they want. They have fun, experiment with different media, discuss work as well as their personal lives when they get together.
The book describes ten "ladies drawing nights." Talented guest artists were invited to each. Instructions are included in each session so readers can create their own drawing nights. Supply lists for the particular project themes are also outlined.
"Drawing on Style" was held in Joana Avillez's loft in Tribeca, Manhattan. She works on fashion-related illustrations and was the guest artist/instructor for the evening along with Lauren Tamaki who is an illustrator, trained in traditional sewing and pattern drawing.
Drawing clothing turned out to be fun for the participants and "the more weird the clothing, the more fun it is to draw," Rothman says. The photograph of the table shows snacks, wine bottles and glasses along with books for inspiration, paints and brushes.
It's fun to see the works in progress and then the .takeaway," when the final results are revealed. The finished art work is often whimsical,such as the collages created at the "Cut and Paste" night at Cole's apartment in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. The "Cardboard City" created in an artist's studio in Greenpoint, Brooklyn was a challenge that involved cutting cardboard with X-Acto blades.but worth it. The results are imaginative and colourful in the form of buildings, vehicles, and trees.
"Kidding Around," the final chapter, was a collaboration with children. The theme was a fantasy zoo and the children were encouraged rather than directed in their painting and drawing.
This is such a good idea: getting together with friends, inviting artists for some instruction, and collaborating for the fun of it. Most of us wish we could create a unique piece of art but are afraid to try. With others nearby, it's not so daunting. Guidelines are included for holding your own "ladies drawing nights." This book can become one of the main tools of inspiration.
by Mary Ann Moore
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women
The three women author/artists who wrote the book (as well as friends and guest artists who contributed) followed themes at their gatherings. The photos show the results of fashion illustrations, collages, repeated patterns, cardboard constructions, hand lettering, figure drawing and collaborations with children. All of the content was put together very attractively by designer Jenny Volvovski.
Julia Rothman, Leah Goren and Rachael Cole "design, illustrate, and draw to pay the rent." Drawing nights are free time when they can make what they want. They have fun, experiment with different media, discuss work as well as their personal lives when they get together.
The book describes ten "ladies drawing nights." Talented guest artists were invited to each. Instructions are included in each session so readers can create their own drawing nights. Supply lists for the particular project themes are also outlined.
"Drawing on Style" was held in Joana Avillez's loft in Tribeca, Manhattan. She works on fashion-related illustrations and was the guest artist/instructor for the evening along with Lauren Tamaki who is an illustrator, trained in traditional sewing and pattern drawing.
Drawing clothing turned out to be fun for the participants and "the more weird the clothing, the more fun it is to draw," Rothman says. The photograph of the table shows snacks, wine bottles and glasses along with books for inspiration, paints and brushes.
It's fun to see the works in progress and then the .takeaway," when the final results are revealed. The finished art work is often whimsical,such as the collages created at the "Cut and Paste" night at Cole's apartment in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. The "Cardboard City" created in an artist's studio in Greenpoint, Brooklyn was a challenge that involved cutting cardboard with X-Acto blades.but worth it. The results are imaginative and colourful in the form of buildings, vehicles, and trees.
"Kidding Around," the final chapter, was a collaboration with children. The theme was a fantasy zoo and the children were encouraged rather than directed in their painting and drawing.
This is such a good idea: getting together with friends, inviting artists for some instruction, and collaborating for the fun of it. Most of us wish we could create a unique piece of art but are afraid to try. With others nearby, it's not so daunting. Guidelines are included for holding your own "ladies drawing nights." This book can become one of the main tools of inspiration.
by Mary Ann Moore
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women
December 14, 2019
I read this book the first week after my second child was born. I read it exclusively in the middle of the night when baby girl was struggling with Day - Night confusion. I loved that it was simple enough for my sleep deprived brain, but it also had beautiful photos of the art, a lovely theme of friendship and companionship when I was so so so incredibly alone. (When you oldest is a busy 15 month old, Dad doesn't join the night shift with the newborn). Anyways this was the perfect book in a moment where I needed exactly this book.
June 21, 2017
Amazing book. Felt inspired to paint and draw right away after this. I might even set up a club in school just to enjoy the activities listed here. Borrowed it from the library but I would love to have my own copy one day.
February 3, 2021
Very fun and inspiring! It's a light fast read, but I now want to now to organize a similar art night with people I know, and I'll definitely be playing with some of the techniques and styles mentioned in the book.
April 19, 2021
Light on technique content but heavy on inspiration. It feels like a print copy of a social media feed. Watching this group of women gather and create was inspiring and they are not short on talent either.
June 24, 2017
Beautiful book with fun, accessible ideas!
July 29, 2017
Cute book with great ideas and inspiration. Lots of beautiful creating/making photography.
December 4, 2017
Makes me want to start my own group
April 19, 2022
I like the idea of a creative ladies' night!
July 2, 2023
Fun art and artists get together ideas.
September 16, 2016
All participants are professional artists. Concept of weekly night to gather and draw is great, but the illustrations shared in this book set the bar high.
November 1, 2016
This book is fantastic and inspiring. The illustrations are beautiful and a great catalyst for my creativity. One of the best books I've read in a while; it always uplifted my mood.
July 26, 2017
This is a fabulous book. So enjoyable to spend time with these ladies and their friends and see their art. I am a quilter, and there is a lot of cross over between their art and mine.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews