(Review)Inkblot

1. 
   Title: Inkblot
   Author: Margaret Peot
   Pub Date: March 2011
   Publisher: Boyds Mills Press
   Pages: 56

   Source: I received a copy of Inkblot from publicist Diane Saarinen and Boyds Mills Press for review purposes.

2. Summary:
   Inkblots aren’t just for psychology… Just as Leonardo was inspired by the haphazard swirls in marble, and Victor Hugo dribbled coffee and wine on paper to create new imagery, noted artist, printmaker, and Broadway costume designer Margaret Peot takes inkblots to new creative heights with this stunning, hands-on celebration of their beauty and potential. She presents the many insights and techniques she has gained throughout her career – from basic tips and information on paper and ink to advanced techniques for transforming inkblots into works of art. *from publishers site

When I say inkblots what do you think? What do you think inkblots are used for?

Inkblots are not just for psychoanalysis but its also a great way to get your creative juices flowing if you feel as though you are creatively blocked.

Did you know that Leonardo de Vinci saw landscapes and battles in the swirls on a marble wall? Did you know that Victor Hugo found castles and monsters in his splatters?

This is something I can relate to because I have commented several times to people that I can see images of faces in the patterns of blinds, or bodies in pictures. I have to admit that I always felt a little foolish because no one else seemed to see them but I have found that if I having a hard time creatively I have looked at inkblots and for some reason its always worked.

The last time I did inkblots (it was actually paint blots) was when I was in school. I had so much fun doing them but for some reason over the years I have stopped doing them. Since receiving this book I have decided that this is something I need to get back into.

Margaret does an excellent job explaining the whole process in this book. She begins with listing a master supply list (don’t worry if you don’t have everything you can improvise like we did) and then in each chapter she lets you know what you should be using.

The book is divided into five sections and called:
-Making Inkblots (techniques to ink blotting)
-Drawing into Inkblots (tips for drawing into your inkblots to make it look like something)
-How to look, how to see (a top ten list for looking at inkblots)
-The Inkblot Sketchbook (tips for picking out the perfect sketchbook, how to fill it and some exercises you can do)
-The Final Fold (includes inkblots done by people)

I was going to include some of the inkblots we did but right now for some reason my computer doesn’t’ want to read my sd card from my camera so you will have to come back on the weekend to see our creations. We had alot of fun doing them and seeing what we could see in them.

I really enjoyed this book because everything was explained and nothing was complicated. I know the next time I have hit my creative road blog I will remember to grab a sheet of paper, my ink and create a inkblot.

Check back tomorrow for my interview with Margaret Peot and on Saturday for the inkblots that Michael and I did.