Draw & Be Happy

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Do you like to draw?  I know that I like to doodle and doodling often makes me feel happy inside, but not always.  Do you ever wonder why that is?  Well Draw & Be Happy has given me some answers. Sometimes, my doodling doesn’t have an imagination behind it.  Draw & be happy will help you to rediscover your imagination.

From the Back Cover:

Draw & Be Happy, if it sounds easy, that’s because it is.   Yes, drawing really make you happy!

Inspired by art therapy practice, the drawing exercises in this book are thought provoking, meditative, and always fun.  Each new page offers a simple strategy to help you find contentment and fulfillment through creativity.  With activities that are perfect for any skill level (no previous art experience reequired!).  Draw & Be Happy will help boost your confidence, reduce stress, and teach you to express yourself in meaningful and joyful new ways.

What do you Get:

160 pages that are bright and vibrant, with all kinds of helps to make you a joyful and dare I say it… a happy drawer!  🙂  How you ask?  Well let me walk you through this easy to read, and fascinating book.

Have you ever considered changing your perspective when you draw?  Bringing the background to the fore and vice versa.  How about making a flip book of your years growing up?  Or drawing a map from your place to your favourite grocer’s or coffee shop. 

Eight chapters run you through warming up to finding your confidence.

• Warming up
• Find Calm
• Get Happy
• Build Self-Awareness
• Energizing
• For Positivity
• To Relax
• Find Confidence

Every two page spread gives you a new vision, a new way to approach your drawing.  Perhaps you want to take a moment to draw your future, or sketch out some fun placemats for your favourite dining room, or let a dance flow across the page.  Who knows where your muse might take you if you just have a touch of inspiration to guide you.

My Thoughts:

This is a neat little book. 160 pages of creative fun. Ideas I hadn’t thought of!  It reminds me in a way of those 642 drawing books that I’ve reviewed in the past.  Giving you all sorts of ideas that might spur on your interest, but giving you some depth to go with those thoughts.  So as you consider making a linear drawing of your day, think about what made you happy or sad, causing you into dig deeper into your short term memory.  Remembering the good, considering the not so good, and before you know it, you’ll be looking into your days more creatively.  In the end, make drawing your therapy, and find yourself happy!

Draw & Be Happy: Art Exercises to Bring You Joy.
Tim A. Shaw
Illustrator: Cachetejack
Chronicle Books
160 pages, trade paperback
Art, Drawing, creativity

Reviewed for: Raincoast Books.

Where to find. Amazon.