Archives: Walter Foster Books

Go from beginner to mangaka (“comic artist” in Japanese) with this comprehensive yet fun and accessible guide to drawing manga.

In Draw Like a Mangaka, the creative force behind the wildly popular Draw like a Sir YouTube channel, Marcel Kühn, compiles the secrets he has honed over a decade of manga drawing, demystifying manga illustration for artists of all skill levels. Learn about the essential tools and materials, foundational drawing techniques, and the secrets of crafting expressive faces, well-proportioned bodies, and intricate hairstyles.

With every page, “Sir,” the author’s manga avatar, injects humor and warmth into the learning process, offering insightful tips and encouragement that resonate with both beginners and seasoned artists. Whether you’re sketching with pencil and paper or exploring digital drawing platforms, the guide provides step-by-step instructions that cater to various preferences. The book’s approachable and engaging narrative transforms these complex concepts into achievable milestones.

In this fun, easy-to-follow guide, you’ll find:
 

• Guidance for both traditional and digital drawing, catering to your artistic preferences.
• In-depth tutorials on crafting captivating faces, features, and expressions that convey emotion and depth.
• Detailed insights into understanding bodies, proportions, and anatomy, enhancing the realism of your characters.
• Step-by-step instructions for rendering hair and clothing, adding texture and personality to your creations.
• Guidance on dynamic poses and perspective, infusing your manga illustrations with movement and energy.

 
From essential tools to dynamic poses, this book equips you with the skills you need to bring your characters to life. Draw Like a Mangaka is the perfect resource for anyone who loves manga and aspires to draw like a manga artist.

Embark on an artistic journey of self-expression and discovery with Inky Meditations, a step-by-step guide to the transformative art of ink painting.
 
Learn the unique ink-on-water technique that allows you to make beautiful paintings with just sumi ink, a paintbrush, watercolor paper, and water. From plants and flowers to birds and beasts, you’ll be successfully painting frame-worthy art in no time.
 
In 26 paintings, you’ll explore the art of brushstrokes as you watch the ink gracefully dance across the water’s surface. With every movement, intricate patterns emerge, each stroke capturing a moment of artistic expression. Inky Meditations encourages you to go beyond technique and delve into a state of mindfulness with grounding exercises and breathwork that allow you to focus on your surroundings, be in the moment, and reduce stress.
 
Witness the ink spread, blossom, and transform and embrace the notion that there’s no right or wrong in this art; there’s only the journey of playful practice and mindful exploration. The captivating forms that emerge are a testament to the beauty of embracing artistic intuition and going with the flow.
 
This technique is perfect for all levels, from beginner to advanced and requires no previous painting experience.

In this book you’ll find:
 

• 26 step-by-step paintings, from leaves, flowers, and insects to birds, sea creatures, and more, including drawing templates.
• A grounding exercise and note on breathwork while painting to start each project.
• Detailed insights into brushstrokes, tips, and techniques, guiding you through the art of ink painting.
• QR codes to videos explaining the painting techniques and walking you through a number of paintings.
• Encouragement to embrace the practice of mindful intention and creative flow, creating organic and captivating compositions.
• Ideas for how to package and gift your finished paintings.

Unleash your creativity with this elegant and surprisingly easy technique. Reduce stress and create enchanting, mindful paintings with Inky Meditations.

Anyone can learn to paint! Join popular artist and instructor Sari Shryack for approachable lessons that make painting still lifes with acrylic fun, fresh, and feasible.

Sari Shryack runs the popular social media channels @not_sorry_art. She teaches painting classes online and in person, offers painting retreats domestically and internationally, hosts a podcast, and writes a blog. Modern Still Life: From Fruit Bowls to Disco Balls is her first book and the ideal opportunity for Sari to do what she does best: make painting accessible to all, something that Sari is especially passionate about. You will learn:
 

• Why to paint still lifes
• How to use acrylic paints, as well as tools like brushes and canvases
• To be open, curious, and forgiving of your own mistakes as an artist
• About drawing for painting
• How to compose objects for a still life
• Color mixing and how to use color palettes to create different moods and styles
• How to use other painting media besides acrylic, including oil paints
• And much more!

Then take your new skills and paint your own still lifes. In addition to the foundational information listed above, this book features complete step-by-step painting projects for creating disco balls, unexpected everyday objects, and more in Sari’s signature dynamic style. You can also personalize the pieces using your own items and colors.

There’s no need to go out and buy expensive art tools and props for painting. Modern Still Life: From Fruit Bowls to Disco Balls shows you how easy and fun it is to paint what you have on hand.

Start painting fresh, bold still lifes with this friendly and accessible guide.

Learn the hottest new painting technique in 22 step-by-step projects! Use an art squeegee and acrylic paint to scrape and swipe your way to gorgeous abstract art.

Clara Cristina de Souza Rego (@aclaracris) first went viral for a squeegee painting video that she posted on social media. Her hundreds of thousands of followers frequently ask for her for tips and techniques. In Squeegee Art Revolution, Clara offers them in abundance so you can learn to make abstract art in her signature style.

Complete instructions for making 22 finished pieces are included in the book, as well as tips throughout, suggestions for creating a balanced artwork, ideas for what to do with leftover paint to reduce waste and cost, how to know when you’re done painting, and much more. Each project can be done in minutes using affordable, accessible materials and makes perfect gifts and home decor.

Clara’s pieces are beautifully photographed and styled in this highly visual book that includes projects for painting:
 

• Dynamic shapes
• Pop art
• A sunrise over a mountain
• Rays of color
• Miniatures
• A black hole
• Words of encouragement
• And much more

Clara has learned from her own mistakes when starting to paint with a squeegee and has perfected the technique so that you don’t need to make the same mistakes she did. Squeegee Art Revolution features easy-to-follow instruction, beautiful photographs, and vibrant artwork from a pioneer in the fun, abstract squeegee-painting technique.

Join the squeegee art revolution!

Learn artist Remington Robinson’s ingenious approach to plein air painting—using a mint tin as palette and easel to create mini masterpieces on the go.

The talented artist behind the popular Instagram and TikTok accounts @remingtonrobinsonart has gained a devoted following by showcasing his unique and portable painting setup. In Mini Plein Air Painting with Remington Robinson, he reveals his secrets and teaches you how to set up your own miniature plein air studio using mint tins. You’ll be amazed at how easily you can carry your art supplies, including a small canvas, brushes, and a mini bottle of mineral spirits, all in your pocket or bag. Whether you’re at home, on a plane, or exploring new destinations, you’ll have everything you need to immerse yourself in the art of plein air painting.

Painting en plein air allows you to capture the true essence of a location, infusing your work with the unique atmosphere, light, and weather of each place. In this comprehensive book, Remington shares his expertise and passion for painting en plein air, allowing you to create beautiful artwork wherever you go. With step-by-step lessons, insightful tips, and practical techniques, you’ll learn to harness the power of miniature art to capture the essence of your surroundings.
 
In Mini Plein Air Painting with Remington Robinson, learn how to:
 

• Set up your miniature workspace complete with mint-tin palette and easel
• Select captivating scenes
• Understand color and light
• Effectively translate your observations onto canvas

Through engaging instruction, you’ll develop the skills to create mini works of art that reflect the beauty of nature and evoke a sense of place. Remington Robinson’s clear and concise teaching style, showcased in his popular process videos, makes this book accessible to artists of all levels. Whether you’re new to painting or have years of experience, Remington’s guidance will enhance your skills and help you unlock your creative potential.

Learn to draw perfect portraits with this primer from Fernanda Soares de Carvalho, the artist behind @creativenanda.

Fernanda is a self-taught artist with a passion for creating semi-realistic portraits that are almost cartoonlike in nature and inspired by manga, anime, and fantasy art. In Dynamic Character Design, she shows you how to work with digital or traditional drawing tools to create faces, facial features, poses, facial expressions, characters, and more in her signature animated style. This easy-to-follow book includes:
 

• A review of drawing tools, whether you work with digital apps like Procreate or prefer to use pencil, pen, marker, or colored pencil
• Portrait-drawing tutorials, including how to simplify facial features, hair, anatomy, and poses
• Sketching tips and techniques, including how to use reference photos, ideas for what to sketch, and more
• Instructions and tips for the digital drawing process, including creating layers, base shapes, background colors, and shadows
• Tips on finding your drawing style and how to design your own cute characters

QR codes that link to Fernanda’s online instructional videos created exclusively for this book provide additional guidance as you learn and are featured in the book.

Perfect your portrait-drawing techniques with Dynamic Character Design.

Learn the satisfying, on-trend craft of macrame with this accessible reference featuring guides to fibers, supplies, and knots, as well as 12 step-by-step projects.

Whether you’re a beginner to soft crafts, looking to try a new craft, hoping to improve upon your existing macrame techniques, a DIYer, or just in search of a beautiful coffee table book, Sweet Home Macrame: A Beginner's Guide to Macrame offers the instruction and inspiration you need to succeed, as well as gorgeous eye candy!

Top Etsy seller Casey Alberti is the founder of Sweet Home Alberti, a small business selling macrame items and knotting lessons. In this complete guide to working with macrame, Alberti shares her techniques and showcases her fresh, vibrant macrame art.

Learn about:
 

• The supplies you’ll need for macrame, including cord and rope
• How to make the most common knots, such as lark’s head, square, and gathering
• Selecting a color palette
• Personalizing your macrame pieces
• And so much more

The 12 step-by-step projects show you how to make gorgeous items such as:
 

• Plant hangers
• Coasters
• Wall hangings
• A fruit basket
• A disco ball hanger
• Earrings
• And more

All are done in eye-catching color schemes, such as rainbow, rose gold, black and gold, and crystal, but each item can be personalized to your own favorite colors using Alberti’s expert advice.

In addition to the projects and techniques, find helpful tips for forming an artist’s community and starting your own business.

Use the online videos from the author, available on her social media, to boost your understanding.

Macrame is one of the trendiest crafts of the year, and macrame items make beautiful gifts, home decor, and more. Learn how to make your own artwork with Sweet Home Macrame: A Beginner's Guide to Macrame.

Embark on a coloring journey through the iconic skylines and landmarks of the USA led by the enchanting folk art of Eric Dowdle.

Folk artist Eric Dowdle is well-known for his brightly colored paintings of famous cities and landmarks from around the world. These coloring pages created from his intricately detailed artwork lend themselves perfectly to armchair travelers, coloring enthusiasts, and fans of the artist (or all three!).

Original full-color illustrations alongside the coloring pages offer inspiration for color choices, and the abundance of detail filling every inch of the page provides hours of relaxing entertainment, with complex outlines to challenge and inspire.
 
From New York to Chicago and St. Louis to Las Vegas, America the Beautiful Coloring Book allows you to explore these famous cities through the eyes of an artist.
 

• Contains 40 coloring pages, with original full-color illustrations for guidance.
• Includes detailed scenes of famous US cities and their landmarks.
• Features quality paper with one-sided artwork for easy display.

 
With more than 30 million puzzles showcasing his artwork sold worldwide, folk artist Eric Dowdle offers a new way to experience his art with this coloring book series from Walter Foster Publishing. Each coloring book features his most iconic and popular paintings of famous cities and international landmarks, from Buckingham Palace to the National Parks.

Also available in the Dowdle Coloring Book series: Around the World Coloring Book, National Parks Coloring Book, and Beautiful Beaches Coloring Book.

Embark on a coloring journey through some of the most iconic cities around the world led by the enchanting folk art of Eric Dowdle.

Folk artist Eric Dowdle is well-known for his brightly colored paintings of famous cities and landmarks from around the world. These coloring pages created from his intricately detailed artwork lend themselves perfectly to armchair travelers, coloring enthusiasts, and fans of the artist (or all three!).

Original full-color illustrations alongside the coloring pages offer inspiration for color choices, and the abundance of detail filling every inch of the page provides hours of relaxing entertainment, with complex outlines to challenge and inspire.

From the Eiffel Tower to Venice and the Taj Majal to St. Petersburg, Around the World Coloring Book allows you to explore these famous cities and landmarks through the eyes of an artist.
 

• Contains 40 coloring pages, with original full-color illustrations for guidance.
• Includes detailed scenes of famous cities and landmarks from around the world.
• Features quality paper with one-sided artwork for easy display.

 
With more than 30 million puzzles showcasing his artwork sold worldwide, folk artist Eric Dowdle offers a new way to experience his art with this coloring book series from Walter Foster Publishing. Each coloring book features his most iconic and popular paintings of famous cities and international landmarks, from Buckingham Palace to the National Parks.

Also available in the Dowdle Coloring Book series: America the Beautiful Coloring Book, National Parks Coloring Book, and Beautiful Beaches Coloring Book.