Drawing for Joy: 15-Minute Daily Meditations to Cultivate Drawing Skill and Unwind with Color--365 Prompts for Aspiring Artists

by Stephanie Peterson Jones

Give yourself the gift of creativity—take the first steps toward learning to draw. In Drawing for Joy, author and illustrator Stephanie Peterson Jones offers beginning artists a relaxing, rewarding way to build a successful daily drawing practice in just 15 minutes a day.   You’ll go on an enlightening and enriching drawing adventure by following the seven fun, engaging prompts in each of the 52 weekly exercises.

Start by giving yourself permission to become an artist, and learn how meditation will help you let go of negative thoughts and bring you into the present so you can enjoy making one mark at a time. Draw simple shapes, lines, and textures as you learn about the elements and principles of art making. Follow the art starts—light gray outlines that guide your drawings—as you build and strengthen your skills. As your art practice continues, the exercises gradually progress in complexity so that you determine how to combine shapes and use your imagination to add creative touches. With Drawing for Joy, you’ll learn to draw with confidence, embrace your inner artist with self-acceptance and delight, and make the experience of claiming your creativity deeper and richer. The hardest part will be limiting your artmaking to just 15 minutes a day—all that joy can be addicting!

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Drawing

144 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2017

Reviews

[Lisa Noneman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Prompts!

I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. It builds your skills from simple to more complex designs and it's just a fun book to start creating art with. I'd recommend this book for anyone who likes to draw or make illustrations, young and old. Sometimes I get stuck in my art journey and found this to be a good book to just let go and enjoy art just for me!

[Hannah Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephanie Peterson's Drawing for Joy leads the reader on a magical tour through the practice of drawing. Her warm, delightful drawings, accompanied by friendly prose, make me feel like I'm taking the trip with a seasoned tour guide. Carefully detailed exercises allow emerging artists of all ages to take up a pencil and gain confidence and expertise as they draw to their heart's content.

[Nancy Archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met Stephanie while working together as illustrators on a very fun school year coloring planner for teens & tweens and I was so excited when I finally received my copy! Many of us illustrators have been involved with coloring book projects that are loved by our fans and followers, but it leaves some wishing for more. What I love about Stephanie's new book is the very simple and fun way it shows everyone how to be creative and draw, and make their own art, even if you are not experienced. Like the next step after the coloring book craze. Congratulations Stephanie, as a long time art teacher, illustrator, designer, art director and creative director myself I must say I love every page, and honestly have pangs of envy. But you deserve every good thing said about this. Beautiful job, so happy to have my copy. Nancy Archer--www.nancyarcher.com

[Terri Tibbatts · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Drawing for Joy" is so much more than an instruction manual or coloring book. Its goal is to make drawing and self expression part of one's everyday life and along with that, part of one's daily spiritual life. Most of us check our email daily. We could also be checking in with color, line, pattern and design on the same daily basis. Using your arms, hands, fingers, and spirit, move away from the keyboard or phone, grab a cool pen or pencil and breathe into this thoughtful book!

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rarely does an artist succed in conveying ways in which "regular" people can confidently experience making art. And approaching art as a "practice" elevates the book from a how-to to a useful and revealing tool in pursuing a fully realized life. Highly recommended.

[Robert K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephanie Peterson Jones has created the perfect art book for everyone, whether we hope to learn how to draw, teach art, or expand our artistic vision. Part of the book's usefulness is nothing but pure whimsy—it is the gift of a true artist sharing her world. Her goofy bear, her lovely, stately elephant, her “Hello Moment” on page 11—all of the artist's personal touches enrich the actual, and wonderfully useful, instruction in color, technique, form, shape, etc... The book is also flexible—while the concept is a daily 15 minute meditation on art, it can also be cherry-picked for all sorts of ideas and inspiration. I recommend it to anyone who just needs to draw, create, and relax—and that's pretty much all of us!

[Ashtonhaley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is wonderful! I love the simple instruction and beautiful artwork. I picked up this book because I was interested in starting a daily art practice to nurture my creativity, which has felt on the back burner for quite some time now. I think the book is well written and I like the way the author presents each idea. The subjects she picked to draw are so wonderful as well: fun patterns, animals, mandalas, people (even hair styles!), and fun cityscapes! There is so much included in this book, but none of it feels intimidating or complicated. So happy to have found this book! I recommend for all ages.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written and illustrated book that is the perfect combination of instruction and inspiration. Beginning with the most basic directions, Stephanie guides the reader through the fundamentals of drawing by using concise prompts and clear illustrations, encouraging daily practice. As the artist progresses, the instruction becomes more complex while still encouraging playful creativity. Throughout the book there are quotes to inspire and tips to make the process easier so that daily drawing can become a ritual. The "art starts" are a clever way to structure drawing for both the budding artist and the accomplished. Perfect for all ages and all levels of artistic ability.

[Cherie Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like a kid again!

I enjoyed this book so much! I got a large binder and filled it with good multimedia paper. I enjoyed every exercise!

I lost my Art Studio in the flood of 2011. All my equipment, all my crafts, all my projects from Art School. I was broken hearted. I couldn't even pick up a paint brush. I was unhappy for 8 years. Two things got me out of my funk.... Drawing for Joy and Zendoodle. I took it at my own pace... But I can't thank you enough for bringing happiness back into my life! I'm a new me!!!!

Drawing for Joy reminded me of why I started creating in the first place.... because I love It!

Thank you so much!

Cheryl S.

[Ro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, so the book is read... now to use it. For once I have found a drawing book that doesn't make me feel inadequate. The focus of the book is practice. Making marks on paper. Remembering that a line is a dot that went for a walk... not original, but made me smile and made me believe.

I do not fancy myself to be an artist. I like to try to draw and see what happens. I have learned over time to dissect what I see or want to capture as a series of shapes. Sometimes it comes together, sometimes it falls apart. But I have fun and I want to have more fun. So I must practice.

[Lisa Larsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous book! This book is beautifully illustrated and contains useful prompts to help you practice drawing each day without a big time investment. The progression of drawing topics is really fun and definitely expands the way you think about drawing and the use of color. Great for people at all skill levels. The paper quality is great, thick enough to paint with watercolors! I also love the artist's colorful examples throughout the book.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

The point here is to get you to draw every day, in a stress-free way. In principle, I love this. In practice, after a week or so, I found myself bored with the exercises. It was like being in grade 1, and drawing circles or lines rather than learning letters. (Which is what they did to me when I was six, and I still hold a grudge.) I am happy to spend fifteen minutes a day doodling, but I'd rather do it without the prompts.

[Stephanie Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the author/illustrator of Drawing for Joy, it is my wish that this book of daily instruction/prompts for a joy filled art year is a great joy for you. I hope that you incorporate a meditation practice and really let go of your inhibitions and the negative messages in your mind about yourself as artist. It's all about the process, which is so lovely. Draw on!!!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drawing For Joy is just that! I am a professional artist and this book is perfect for people young and old who are afraid to make the jump into exploring their own creativity. Easy to read and understand, beautifully illustrated, gentle and inspiring messages on every page. Drawing For Joy would make the perfect gift or even a great book to start hosting your own drawing club!

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for the artist in everyone! The daily meditations mixed with the learning art pages make this book enjoyable and relaxing. The Drawing for Joy book is FULL of art tips and tricks, the pages are easy to follow and well designed, and the Art by Stephanie Peterson Jones is well done and fun!

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a fun book. I did not go through it 15 minutes per day for a year...I would have gotten bored because it was kind of repetitive. Instead went through it in a couple of days choosing the activities that gave me the most joy.

[Johannah Gage · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really helpful prompt book for building a daily creative habit.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essentially a doodling guide, but really fun and meditative. Decided to purchase the book after borrowing it from the library. :)

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute ideas, a tiny bit repetitive

[Yilaine]

Huh. Takes you through the fundamentals of art much more robustly than I was expecting. Is very user-friendly despite that, though.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seems like a fun workbook, but not feasible to enjoy exercises digitally.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great intro to drawing

This is a really fun and low stress way to practice drawing. I like the layout of the exercises. A lot of good and helpful content.