Start with a Scribble : Quentin Blake's how-to-draw book for kids and adults

Start with a Scribble
Author(s): Quentin Blake, John Cassidy

Just start with a scribble!

Start with a Scribble will banish your inner critic and kick-start your inner genius, as you learn to draw with a little how-to and a lot of just-do. An artist-quality pen and watercolor pencils (red and black) are included. Inside, you’ll find: 

• Prompts to inspire you (e.g., “emotional rabbits”) 
• Doodles to finish (“Mrs. Thudkins takes her floppaterasis for a walk”) 
• Techniques to try (only when the mood strikes you), from shading to perspective 
• And plenty of wide-open space to play around in. 

We’re much less interested in the appearance of something than in the something itself. So, when you’ve settled on your subject (a monster? a cockatoo?), first figure out what its essence should be (ferocious? bashful?) . . . and then, just toss that ball up (artistically speaking) and give it a good swat across the net. Voilà! You’re an artist. 

Throughout, beloved illustrator Sir Quentin Blake shares sage advice, from “it’s best to name your animal after you draw it” to “don’t worry too much yet about ankles.” The most important lesson? Let go and give in to your own creative spirit! 

Publisher's note: Start with a Scribble is an updated North American edition of Drawing for the Artistically Undiscovered (Klutz, 1999).

Review(s):

Parents’ Choice Gold Award Winner (1999)
National Parenting Publications Gold Award Winner (1999)

“Children’s imaginations will soar with this sketchbook of inspirational artwork, gentle suggestions, practical advice, and lots of white space for the aspiring artist’s use.”—Parents’ Choice

“What a marvelous book—funny, accessible and inspirational. . . . The ‘artistically undiscovered’ will thrill to hear the author’s advocation of the Gung-Ho approach, his urge to express your ‘you-ness’ and capture the spirit of things on paper. From drawing spectacles and emotional rabbits to creating a 3-Headed Red-Spotted Gorff (whatever that is) and dealing with human anatomy, Blake’s quirky guide will have you scribbling away in glee.”—Kirkus UK

“There are lots of tricks artists know, and they’re not hard to learn. You just need the right instructor . . . [Paint This Book! and Start with a Scribble] fit the bill perfectly . . . both are filled with fun, light illustrations . . . and although these books leave plenty of room for artistic imagination, for me their real value is the way they introduce the ideas of perspective, line quality, and other helpful tools for beginning artists.”—Kathy Ceceri, WIRED.com

ISBN:  9781615194001