My Year in Small Drawings: Notice, Draw, Appreciate

Description

My Year in Small Drawings is a charmingly original visual diary which encourages you to create and collect the details all around you every day. Exploring the extraordinary in the ordinary, this meaningful artifact builds up dozens of dinky drawings for a uniquely personal record. Author Matilda Tristram invites doodlers and designers alike to experience the irresistible immediacy of drawing small. Tangles of cables, window frames, tree buds, all just some of the objects she suggests we can learn to see in a new way, exploring their simple (and sometimes surprising beauty) by drawing them. Expert insights on how to simplify what we see; which pens and pencils to use; colour; and using perspective are mixed with astute observations to form a creative guide to cherish.

Matilda Tristram is an animator and illustrator. She teaches at Kingston University in London, and leads workshops on drawing as therapy at the School of Life. Matilda has co-written childrens' television shows including the Bafta-winning animation Dipdap, and is the author of autobiographical diary comic Probably Nothing: A Diary of Not-Your-Average Nine Months (Penguin, 2014). She studied at the Royal College of Art, graduating in 2008, and now lives with her family in London. Matilda really likes drawing telegraph poles.

"This charming journal will encourage you to pay more attention to your surroundings and help record moments, objects or scenes you want to remember." * The Simple Things * ""This gorgeous little book can accompany you everywhere and really does help you appreciate the little things that you might otherwise miss. The illustrations are perfect for inspiring your own creativity - even if you're someone who doesn't usually draw." * Oh Comely * "This is a beguiling small journal that provides an easy framework for anyone who might not know quite where to start with their mark making." * Slow Muse * "It's both a visual diary presenting some sweet, energetic sketches and a guide to drawing itself: each page offers her valuable insights on abstract things, like how to see the world anew by drawing it, as well as more technical aspects of drawing like which pens and pencils to use for different tasks and how best to use colour. It's like one of those ubiquitous colouring books, but better." * Creative Boom * "Matilda shows you how to easily copy the objects all around you. You'll find it's very calming." * Daphne's Diary * "This book encourages you to draw, draw lots, and make the most of each day, as she evidently does. Who could argue with that?" * Urban Sketchers London * "Inspiring and fun, the book examines how to draw with purpose and look outwards to find the stories of the places and things around you. The more you draw, the more it may feel natural and flow like writing. The book provides guidance, tips and inspiration throughout." * Psychologies * "Cleverly designed to be carried around, My Year In Small Drawings invites you to notice and draw the simplest details in life, from your daily commute to curious travels around the world. Plus, Matilda Tristram offers her expert advice on colour and tools so you can observe, sketch and enjoy!" * Papercrafter * "This charming paperback inspires everyone to sketch daily life; the underlying purpose is drawing as mindfulness, but it could be just for fun!" * Daily Mail * "By actively encouraging us to slow down and look at the world around us, books like these enable us to take time out of our busy lives and just enjoy the present moment." * The Book Bag * "Like draw-it-yourself Instagram. The book is a route to mindfulness and a way to get more creative, which has been shown to benefit health." * Clearly Magazine * "If you've ever struggled with the enormous pressure that a blank page or canvas demands of you, then Matilda's 'My Year in Small Drawings' is just the ticket to ease you back into the joys of drawing or help you have a go for the very first time! "Whether you're on the train to work, in the park on your lunch break or people watching at your local coffee shop, Matilda's book will help you see the world through fresh eyes!" * The Big Draw * "Perfectly sized for travelling or a daily commute, this small journal is for drawing the things that surround you." * Art Sharp *