Whimsical Girls (Happy Hour Art Journal)

I am a real fan of Jane Davenport. I own her two “how-to” books (“Fabulous Figures” and “Beautiful Faces”.) I like her design style and have enjoyed learning how to draw with her. When I saw that she had a coloring book (though it’s really much more than that), I pre-ordered it and, when it came in, was even more happy with it than I thought I would be. The book contains high quality paper in a number of finishes: coloring, marker, watercolor, and kraft paper. They each have a different look and feel. By including the various paper, it allows the colorist to experiment with different medium and to branch into other areas of the art form. I generally test the medium for a coloring book with a wide variety of items but in this case, I will not be doing that. The whole purpose of the book is to try different things on different paper and that is exactly what I intend to do. If something works, great! If it doesn’t, it is a learning experience. My one caveat is that I will certainly use a blotter page below my working page. Thing may and probably will leak through. I want to be sure that I keep the pages below in good condition so I can have the enjoyment of coloring them all. This is what I found in this coloring book: The designs in the book are printed on one side of the page. The reverse of the page is printed with full color artwork and lovely thoughts and/or quotes. The book is glue-bound; however, each page is perforated for ease of removal. Also, each page designates the type of paper that is used. In addition to the coloring pages, there is included a page of full-color and quote stickers and also a variety of collage papers to provide fun for a mixed-media style of coloring. All in all, one of my favorite coloring books in a while. I’ll have fun with this one!

It’s fantastic for newbie and seasoned artists who love creating feminine designs with watercolors, pencils, gel pens, acrylic, gouache, or markers. The pages are made with different types of papers with suggestion for what medium to use for each. Any pages is thick enough for watercolor, if you tear it out, and tape it down first, so it doesn’t warp. The book has collage paper in the back, and a full page of gorgeous stickers! It’s more than a coloring book. It’s as if Jane Davenport started an art journal, left all the right pages unfinished, and gave you the journal for you to finish. Jane also included ideas on the left pages, so you have inspiration in case you’re not sure how to finish the right pages. There’s some gorgeous, colorful completed watercolors on the left pages that are ready to frame. And the book is cheaper than the price of one print! The pages are perforated, so when you’re done completing your artworks, you can tear them out, frame them, and hang them around your home.

I love this book! It’s that simple. Jane has really outdone herself when she designed this book. It’s more than just a fancy coloring book. It’s as if I’ve been given one of her art journals. The amount of care and love that she put into it really shows in the finished product. On the left side of the open book the pages are partially worked on. You can use these as jumping off points and inspiration for your own art. On the right hand side are black and white drawings that you can color in. The beauty of this design is that there are four types of paper in this book. It starts out with coloring sheets, then moves on to craft paper, marker paper, and watercolor paper. There are sheets of tissue paper in the back that you can use as a collage element as well as a sheet of some really lovely stickers. If you are considering this book just please go ahead and click that button to buy it. You will not regret it! In fact, I just ordered a second copy because this book is so beautiful and nicely done that I wanted another one to work in so that it can keep the other copy pristine. Congratulations on another amazing book, Jane!!!

I currently have all of Jane Davenport's book and art supplies and this new book is fantastic!!! I have a lot of coloring books and I was always disappointed because I felt non-creative because I didn't draw or create any of the imagery that I was coloring. As an artist I feel like I cheated somehow. Weird, I know. I love so much about this book. Love the creative idea starters and how the opposite page gives you starting points and let you fly with completing the page. Brilliant! I love the different paper selections and the identification of the type of marker near the perforation of the page (another ingenious plus!). And of course Jane Davenport's Art is so very inspiring and her fun wit is engaging. Thanks for offering this book to be sold here. :)

Updating my review as I've had time to try out various media in the Whimsical Girls book. There are different sections in this book designed with paper for specific uses. 'Coloring.', 'Markers', 'Watercolor' etc. The 'marker' paper will bleed through to the other side and into the next 2 pages and ruins your coloring pages. The water color paper should only be used with very light moisture control or you risk easily warping and damaging it. Best to use one of those brush pens you can fill with water. The book is really best for colored pencils in my opinion. There are several pages of 'kraft' paper with images already colored ..I found to be of little use but that is just me. The stickers are very cute. While there are a lot of colorful predone images for inspiration throughout the book I wish there had been more to actually color. Gorgeous. Inspiring. Unique. Buying another copy. Giving this to my teenage goddaughter. Buying myself one. So pleased with this and impressed with the work of the author.

Great book Thank you

Farbenfroh, unheimlich inspirierend und wunderbare anleitend. Ich liebe alle Bücher dieser Autorin! Kann sie nur jedem ans Herz legen

perso je m'en sers pour mon art journal, je prends des bouts de ci de là, je le junk !!! :) depuis que j'ai vu l'auteur nous dire d'en user et abuser j'hésite pas même si au départ ca fait mal ! c'est fait pour ca :)

It’s super nice and fun ,and I will bye the other books from the same author

I’d never heard of Jane Davenport before, but I loved the look of this book and the reviews were good, so I decided to buy it. I’m so glad I did. If, like me, you’re in a bit of a creative rut at the moment or you want to try something different and whimsical - then get this book! Jane has lots of examples of her work and plenty of space for you to colour in her drawings, add quotes, accessories (or anything you like) and make them your own. It’s not all just shiny paper either - her book is filled with kraft paper, watercolour paper, colouring paper, marker paper and collage paper too. This is so you can try out a variety of art supplies on it and she tells you which ones work best for each type of paper. There are even cute stickers at the back. I think the thing I love best about this book is how fun it is. Her drawings aren’t complicated and it’s easy to make them your own even if you’re not so good at drawing the human form! Unlike a lot of art books out there, Jane’s books are about letting go of this preconceived notion that art has to be perfect and I fully support that. It’s about letting go and finding your childlike imagination again! I’d also highly recommend buying her book - Fabulous Figures - if you’re looking for more advice on how to draw figures, heads, legs and arms, as well as clothes. She tells you how to change your drawings to adapt to the many different female body types, which is great. I’m so glad I found her books and have since unpacked all of my art supplies and spent the last two days having the best time with my watercolours! P.S. I’m just really happy with her books - I wasn’t paid to write this review!