This was a lovely little book. I think I was expecting something slightly different when I picked it up. Something with more actual sketching, coloring, drawing prompts and examples, than all the mindfulness focused text we got, but I still enjoyed it.

Keeping an art journal and sketching can be great psychotherapy, and Peggy Dean invites us to do so using mindfulness or, as she defines it, a sense of awareness. She presents some useful techniques and tips and tricks with some emphasis on perspective, framing, mark making, architecture and others. Readers are given exercises and prompts and encouraged to jump in without expecting any perfections.

I feel that this book would have been more complete with some coloring instructions. After all, many people feel good just looking at their color palettes, me included.

I love to seeing sketches and painting, but I am always think it need talent to do it. This book show me different way, drawing and sketching is for everyone. It is gentle way to embrace imperfection through lines and shapes.

With so much stresses built up during our daily life, calm and mindfully hobby is necessary to keep our brain relax. This book not only offer technics but also story about mental health as well. So far, I found this book useful and I might trying some of the lesson.

Thank you Netgalley for provide me with this book. I am glad I could learn something new for free today.

This book is for people who would like to learn on-site sketching, sketching in a more relaxed, emotive style, or sketching on a regular basis--in PEN.

If that's frightening, this may be the perfect stretch for you. The focus is "embracing imperfection" while improving mindfulness (present self-awareness with surroundings).

The author, from experience, shares "In order to show up authentically, you also have to be vulnerable; ...to be vulnerable is to be brave."

Learn to recognize what you feel, and what affects you differently (a fluffy blanket, a pile of junk, a plate of donuts, a woodland path), and ways you can learn to sketch those emotions into your "purposely imperfect" art.

With these illustrations and exercises, you can create a sketchbook for you alone, (unless you decide to share it). The effectiveness of the art therapy is up to you, with the guidance throughout this book.

Starting a daily practice can begin with a timer and 3 minutes.

My forays into free-sketching have been few and brief, so my past was my motivation to read this book. The sketching refresher alone was worth it (with some great tips I'd never seen anywhere). I'm fine with imperfection--it's the audacious use of paper that gives me pause! [Lessons learned so deeply and young, are difficult to reprogram.]

As I journeyed through this book, I have built up my confidence and self-permission to use the blank sketch books in my closet. And I feel so much more free and relaxed. Even I can do 3 minutes!

5/5 Stars

Many thanks to the author, Sasquatch Books, Spruce Books, and NetGalley for the free preview of this ebook; the review is voluntary.

#MindfulSketching #NetGalley
#SasquatchBooks #SpruceBooks
#ArtsPhotography #SelfHelp #SketchInPen
#Sketching #OnSiteDrawing #Mindfulness
#ArtTherapy #3Minutes #MentalHealth
#EmbraceImperfection

Peggy Dean is well known for her books helping beginning artists create illustrations of flowers, botanicals and animals. This short volume is intended for the same audience but this time she provides a pathway toward using sketching as a tool for self-expression and self-discovery by practicing awareness and embracing imperfection. Dean deliberately shies away from the usual esoteric language of mindfulness practice, and speaks with a practical, down to earth voice that makes developing a sketching practice seem accessible. Although Dean claims that readers don’t really need to know how to draw to do the exercises in the book, her own personal sketch practice concentrates on architecture and buildings, which can seem intimidating to the beginning sketch artist. She jumps right into learning 1 point and 2 point perspective in order to draw buildings, which is a little like saying (from my point of view as a textile artist), “you don’t need to know how to crochet to do this project. Step one: chain 6 stitches.” If an artist wants to truly embrace imperfection as the title says, it would be helpful to do later exercises in line drawing, mark making and shadow first, and let go of the need to make anything that looks realistic. I really loved her exercises that asked the artist to concentrate on the colors, smells, textures and emotions instead of the subject itself. All in all, this is a helpful little book that can be digested easily and carried with you as you sketch. **I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.**

Combine Mindfulness and Sketching
Freelance artists, author, and online instructor Peggy Dean presents her book "Mindful Sketching. How to Develop a Drawing Practice and Embrace the Art of Imperfection", published by Sasquatch Books (Spruce Books). Dean thinks about "creativity as a process that is both mindless and mindful—focusing our thoughts and efforts on a creative project allows us to release the day’s stress, busyness, and worries, while we check in to something we can feel proud of. Something that we create with our own bodies. It’s a beautiful thing.
Your self-expression is important and I’m going to take you through one of my favorite creative methods that embraces imperfections along the way. Get ready to connect with yourself!" (P. xii). She also tells her readers "As you connect with your creative side, know that you do not need to know how to draw. Sketching your surroundings is even better when your efforts have an organic energy without perfect lines, proportions, or symmetry. Being free in this way will allow you to cultivate a deeper connection with all that surrounds you" (p. 6).
The book contains eleven chapter that treat topics such as "The Flip Side of Mindfulness," "Techniques," "Capturing Moods in Sketches," and "Techniques for Sketching People." Dean touches the topic of mental health and is honest about her own background. She provides step-by-step exercises and clear instructions. Furthermore, she presents artwork by various artists which I highly appreciate and uses photos as a basis for her sketches. The book comes in a great design and includes resources for sketching and mental health as well as an index. I recommend this book for beginners who want to combine mindfulness and sketching.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#MindfulSketching #Netgalley

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for honest feedback. I think that this book would be good for an absolute beginner to creating art, sketching, and drawing. One of the direct benefits of this book is the element of mental health & mindfulness. Sketching and drawing can be relaxing when you're taking it easy, not trying to be super complicated right off the bat. Not pressured to be perfect at the start, etc. The author comes across as someone who can teach the craft to anyone. The instructions are straight-forward. Good for beginners and a range of ages.

Mindful Sketching deserves to be read three times. The first time is for the reader to learn what is ahead and be prepared for the sketching exercises. The second time is to complete the sketching exercises. And the third time is to absorb Peggy Dean's personal story of how art has grounded her. Mindful Sketching is a beautiful book to be kept near the drawing desk for inspiration in art and life. Recommended for Peggy Dean followers and for those who are looking for a creative outlet with paper, pen, and drawing.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Netgalley & Spruce Books!

Mindful Sketching introduces the concept and benefits of sketching for mental health well being. The author offers tips and techniques that are helpful for beginners and intermediate artists. This how-to guide thoughtfully includes some additional resources not only for sketching but for mental health.

I think this book would be best suited to someone who is already interested in drawing or learning how to draw. While it is not comprehensive it is a great starting point for someone who may be interested in trying a new hobby or expanding their skills.

Great tips, calligraphy, and photographs. Beautiful artwork! A great book for anyone looking to perfect their craft.

Mindful Sketching is a technique and philosophy guide with prompts for developing and maintaining a drawing habit written by Peggy Dean. Due out 17th May 2022 from Penguin Random House on their Spruce Books imprint, it's 176 pages and will be available in paperback format.

This is an encouraging and gently written book which will hopefully help readers develop confidence and support a drawing habit. The emphasis is very much on embracing imperfection and serendipity in the process and concentrating on the journey and not necessarily only the product.

The author has an inviting and calm style of writing. She explains some of her own background and reasons for starting with mindfulness in her drawing, and she invites the reader to find the methods and inspirations which work for them. This is much more of a philosophical treatment of the subject rather than straight drawing tutorials. It includes a lot more examining feelings and thoughts than advice on shading and rendering different subjects. The book is full of self-examination and prompts for drawing, but light on actual technique instruction.

The author has also included a number of small gallery illustrations from artists with varied styles for inspiration and reference. This is a very pretty book with a lot of useful information and tips for self examination and some drawing

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

I am a fan of Peggy Dean and I love her work, so I was thrilled to see this book on Mindful Sketching. It is a very accessible book which manages to cover so many topics to do with sketching in a clear and entertaining way. Peggy makes the reader/artist feel like we can sketch anything and if we need help along the way this book has all the tips and tricks.
I am inspired to grab my sketchbook and go outside and get drawing!

This a good book for people who want to sketch but don't quite know where to start. It offers examples of how to frame a subject for sketching and zero in on the elements that pop out to you. It also offers some examples on perspective and getting started with a basic sketch that can become the basis for a more detailed work. It shows you different sketching techniques and how to finish your work by adding watercolor.

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While my internet was down this morning, I took a mindful moment to sit in the sun and read Mindful Sketching by Peggy Dean. It talks about the basics of sketching like vanishing point and perspective. However, it also dissusses how the mindful part is about being observant and being aware of what is around you. She discusses how sketching is more about the feeling than perfection. Sketching in pen is her preferred method because it embraces mistakes. She also give some prompts for mindfulness exercises that utilize sketching such as tools such as Blind Contour where you sketch an object without looking at your paper. Many of these, I had already heard of, but for someone new to the concept, it would be a perfect introduction. She also gives other mindfulness and mental health resources to refer to for more information on the practice. #NetGalley #May2022