Rating: 
Summary: Not your typical creativity exercises - much more complex.
Review:
In a nutshell, this book offers many very bold, complex styles of artistic expression very well suited to the artist interested in exploring abstract or expressionistic painting styles. It was not, however, the "free your creativity" warm-up or free-flowing, brain-starting style of book that I thought it was (from other reviews I had read), and may not be useful for every style of artist.
I discovered that much of "Painting from the inside out" was not well suited to my artistic style or personal needs, after I bought the book. While I found Chapter 5 - "Transparent beginnings, opaque endings," and Chapter 6 - "Say it with flowers," offered material to suit my tastes, the level of the techniques offered in these particular chapters was nothing new to me.
The rest of the book seemed much more geared toward abstract art that did not suit my tastes. Moreover, these sections were too methodical or complicated to be free-flowing and spontaneous enough for creative warm-up exercises, either. But, this book definitely has its audience. It is well written, lively and the author's tone is friendly and inviting. I have given it four stars for this reason. Hey, just because a book doesn't suit my styles or needs doesn't mean it isn't well suited to someone else's.
So, to help you determine if this is the right type of book to suit *your* needs, goals, and artistic vision, here is a little more info on its contents:
1) It covers a variety of different media, including watercolor, acrylic and gouache, stamping, collage, scraping, intense pouring and splattering methods, and other very bold techniques best suited to multi-media use, and is definitely not for the faint of heart.
2) Quite a few of the techniques are very involved and time consuming. If you want to explore new, BOLD styles of visual expression, this book may be for you. If you are looking for warm-ups or quick-flowing techniques to give your creativity a kick-start, the exercises covered in this book are not terribly useful. In fact, these exercises are mostly full painting projects, some which take quite some time, and a good deal of involvement to accomplish.
3) While the author does cover some basic techniques and theories that apply to every medium and style, the bulk of this bulk is really geared toward a few specific exploratory styles. Whether this information will be of use to you will depend very heavily upon what your goals and needs are, how "bold" you want your painting to be, and how much time you have to invest.
I would highly recommend taking a look through this book before buying it, to make sure it meets your needs. If that is not possible, you might want to look up the artist's work online. Keep in mind, however, that while her floral paintings (which you mostly see online) are lovely, they only comprise a small portion of this book. Most of the exercises in this book are representative of her more abstract works. If the latter, more abstract style really interests you, then by all means, give this book a go. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
If you're looking for more free-flowing, unplanned, Zen-style creativity boosting techniques and warm-ups using water-based media, I highly recommend "Watercolor: painting outside the lines - a positive approach to negative space," by Linda Kemp.
Rating: 
Summary: Engagingly personal
Review: A wonderful book, written with the freshness and exuberance that characterize the author's paintings, many of which appear here in all their splendor. The illustrations are themselves worth the price of the book, but they are perfectly complemented by an eminently readable text that is concise and to the point, yet engagingly personal in tone. The author's remarks are keyed to the paintings and provide practical directions and inspiring observations on everything from materials to techniques to subtleties of composition, form and color. Very highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Engagingly personal
Review: A wonderful book, written with the freshness and exuberance that characterize the author's paintings, many of which appear here in all their splendor. The illustrations are themselves worth the price of the book, but they are perfectly complemented by an eminently readable text that is concise and to the point, yet engagingly personal in tone. The author's remarks are keyed to the paintings and provide practical directions and inspiring observations on everything from materials to techniques to subtleties of composition, form and color. Very highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Best Art Book I've Ever Read and Really Used
Review: If you want an exciting and adventurous read, get this book. It turns you on aesthetically as well as giving you a strong dose of artistic guidance, incorporating wisdom in a special spiritual way.
It has tremendous humor with well written and direct instructions in the "how-tos," and yet, at the same time, it encourages you to be an adventurer and to create your own way of expressing yourself in paint. Although there are basic rules, it transcends mere technique and allows you the freedom to follow your own path. I love this book!
Rating:
Summary: Best Art Book I've Ever Read and Really Used
Review: If you want an exciting and adventurous read, get this book. It turns you on aesthetically as well as giving you a strong dose of artistic guidance, incorporating wisdom in a special spiritual way.
It has tremendous humor with well written and direct instructions in the "how-tos," and yet, at the same time, it encourages you to be an adventurer and to create your own way of expressing yourself in paint. Although there are basic rules, it transcends mere technique and allows you the freedom to follow your own path. I love this book!
Rating:
Summary: "Inside/Out" Creates Broad Strokes and Bright Colors
Review: Painting from the Inside Out Creates Broad Strokes and Brilliant Colors. Betsy Dillard Stroud is one of modern watercolor's great masters. Her new pictorial, Painting from the Inside Out is a masterpiece of visual experience. Not only does the reader get to take a journey into the boldstroke murals of Betsy Dillard Stroud's multimedia brush, they also get to experience the facile wit and prodigious command of language of this brilliant creative hyphenate. A feast for the bicameral mind, Painting from the Inside Out takes us all on a journey that is a delight for the senses. May it be the first of many.
- Robert Joseph Ahola
Author of Delusion is Good.
Rating:
Summary: Grab Your Brushes!
Review: Painting From The Inside Out: 19 Projects and Exercises to Free Your Creative Spirit. by Betsy Dillard Stroud. Run! Grab your paint brushes and get ready for an adventure in creating. Stroud takes you up and down, in and out on an eye-boggling excursion into a realm of discovery. From zen and ignota to swashbuckling freestyle with Picasso she guides the willing participant through various channels to your inner being. While there she nutures and instructs you through her knowledge of art history and years of practice in art to find a painterly mode of expression for your thoughts and feelings. This book teaches, illustrates and inspires you to let go and enjoy the wonder and esthetics of the painting experience. It employs techniques in layering, stamping, pouring, resists, lifting etc. to free you for your creative endeavors. Stroud has found herself in her love of dramatic color, energetic design and daring freedom of imagination.
: Mary Todd Beam AWS. DF.
Rating:
Summary: Grab Your Brushes!
Review: Painting From The Inside Out: 19 Projects and Exercises to Free Your Creative Spirit. by Betsy Dillard Stroud. Run! Grab your paint brushes and get ready for an adventure in creating. Stroud takes you up and down, in and out on an eye-boggling excursion into a realm of discovery. From zen and ignota to swashbuckling freestyle with Picasso she guides the willing participant through various channels to your inner being. While there she nutures and instructs you through her knowledge of art history and years of practice in art to find a painterly mode of expression for your thoughts and feelings. This book teaches, illustrates and inspires you to let go and enjoy the wonder and esthetics of the painting experience. It employs techniques in layering, stamping, pouring, resists, lifting etc. to free you for your creative endeavors. Stroud has found herself in her love of dramatic color, energetic design and daring freedom of imagination.
: Mary Todd Beam AWS. DF.
Rating:
Summary: I sleep with this book.
Review: This is a great book for the fearful artist wanting to break out of old habits or one who wants a workshop in a book. Stroud's plain language demonstrations are fun and refreshing for me to try, freeing my brush and mind to find new techniques. She works with acrylics and watercolors, so if this is your medium, it's worth reading. The oil painter may be able to employ some theory, but won't be able to apply most of the techniques.
I found her tips on art supplies and usage to be really helpful, for anyone in a small town (with crappy art stores)who wants specifics on weights of papers etc, this may be for you too. Stroud is not afraid to make muddy puddles on her working surface and I needed this to lighten up with my painting process. I highly recommend the book, especially to younger artists who are interested in the creative process and having fun. I have been walking around the house and garden cradling it for days now.
Rating:
Summary: I sleep with this book.
Review: This is a great book for the fearful artist wanting to break out of old habits or one who wants a workshop in a book. Stroud's plain language demonstrations are fun and refreshing for me to try, freeing my brush and mind to find new techniques. She works with acrylics and watercolors, so if this is your medium, it's worth reading. The oil painter may be able to employ some theory, but won't be able to apply most of the techniques.
I found her tips on art supplies and usage to be really helpful, for anyone in a small town (with crappy art stores)who wants specifics on weights of papers etc, this may be for you too. Stroud is not afraid to make muddy puddles on her working surface and I needed this to lighten up with my painting process. I highly recommend the book, especially to younger artists who are interested in the creative process and having fun. I have been walking around the house and garden cradling it for days now.
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