This Book Thinks You're an Artist

Filled with creative, playful activities, This Book Thinks You’re an Artist asks budding artists to imagine their eccentric- artist alter ego before working through seven key topics: observation, drawing, color pattern, design, sculpture, and, crucially, how to steal ideas (Be inspired! Offend the viewer!). Each spread offers a different project—everything you need to make your own work of art inspired by a famous artist or movement in a lighthearted and playful tone. Activities include making a Bruegel circus, playing a Surrealist game, selling a scribble for a million dollars, and painting your face like a Russian Futurist. A section of paper-based crafts at the end of the book even includes a kit to build a viewfinder and make a mini-manifesto book.

Being an artist is as simple as creating art, [author] Amson-Bradshaw suggests in this hands-on creativity book. Chapters introduce concepts and techniques in approachable ways, with activities devoted to observing objects, creating images chat demonstrate perspective and depth, and filling in shades on a color wheel… [Illustrator] Russell integrates original illustrations with samples of classic art objects, presenting a visually engrossing template for readers' own work.

— This Book Thinks You're an Artist

This book's playful, creative activities help you work through key topics in art.

— Learning

Harriet Russell

Illustrated By

Harriet Russell studied at Glasgow School of Art followed by Central Saint Martins. She has worked for many commercial clients, including the New York Times and Channel 4.

Caroline Osborne

Contributions By

Caroline Osborne has taught art history for more than thirty years.

Laura Worsley

Contributions By

Laura Worsley is an art historian and teacher.