Birds & Botanicals (Mindful Artist)

With Birds & Botanicals (Mindful Artist) artists of all skill levels can learn to use ink and zen brushwork to create elegant paintings of birds, flowers, plants, and more.

Birds & Botanicals (Mindful Artist) features tips, techniques, and step-by-step projects for working mindfully with Japanese ink and brush pens to create elegant artwork featuring birds, flowers, plants, and more.

While harnessing the power of meditation, you will learn to create personalized pieces in black ink as well as color. Theres no need to follow the instructions exactly; just make what inspires you. Begin with an introduction to mindfulness and the connections between art and meditation. Then dive into detailed sections on the tools and materials needed to create the art in the book, as well as inking and coloring techniques, including brushstrokes. The step-by-step projects that follow take you through the process of creating your own ink-and-brush art, with large images that illustrate the techniques and detailed, easy-to-follow instructions for brushwork, adding color, and more. The layout design is airy and contemporary to match the art style.

The Mindful Artist series from Walter Foster Publishing encourages artists to enjoy working in their favorite media to create relaxing, reflective art. With this series, artists of all skill levels can learn to focus on enjoying the creative process, rather than worrying about the end result. Throughout the books are tips for practicing mindfulness and meditation through art.

Birds & Botanicals (Mindful Artist) encourages you to remain zen as you create beautiful, calming artwork. Explore even more mindful creativity with Mindful Artist: Sumi-e Painting.

About the Author

Monika Cilmi has a post-graduate certificate in Korean and Japanese art and an MA in fine art. She has exhibited her work internationally, and she works as both an artist and a tutor. She is passionate about both Korean and Japanese art, and she is guided by the relationship between nature and gesture.