Publisher: Walter Foster Publishing
Author: Erin McManness
Released: July 3^rd 2018
Received: NetGalley
Rating: 

I received a copy of Art Starts with a Line through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Art Starts with a Line is a fun art book that, as the title indicates, teaches us the basics of line drawing. This book is perfect for both the experienced and novices alike, as it covers all levels, providing plenty of guidance and projects for all.

I love how detailed this book was. It really does mean it when it says that it focuses on line drawing – that’s the only focus. But it’s easy to forget that there’s quite a lot you can do with ‘just a simple line.’

The biggest part of any art book, and also the most overlooked, are the suggested tools by the artist. I know many would not agree with me here, but its how I feel about it. Know how much or little I can get away with using really removes any lingering anxiety about the issue. By using a pen similar to what the artist in the book suggests, it makes it easier to tell your progress (as opposed to wondering if the difference could be attributed to the tool itself). Once a style is better undersood it is then easier for the new artist to experiment and find the tools they like best. Art Starts with a Line did a wonderful job of listing out the preferred tools and materials, from the most basic to the colors. They also covered digital work, which I very much appreciated (this isn’t a given in art books, so it’s always nice to see when it happens).

Included in this book are instructions for borders, banners, letters, botanicals, architecture, animals and insects, and everyday life. Obviously it’s all much more than that, and there’s countless small line drawings filling the pages of this book.

I personally loved the artist’s preference for bright little lines in their works. It resulted with an almost happy tone, and I found myself very fond of the style in general being used.