If you’ve been following my blog, you know I’m a big fan of art journaling. In fact, I’m so enthusiastic about art journaling that I volunteer-teach it to at-risk public school children. I believe art journaling – the unique combination of writing and visual art – can benefit everyone: women, men, children, and adults. It was a pleasure, then, to receive a copy of the Doodle Sketchbook, by Dawn DeVries Sokol, to review. Not only will I share a bit about this wonderful book with you, I’ll be hosting a giveaway with my review copy!
Let me start off by saying that while this book somewhat slanted towards boys, isn’t just for boys. (Dawn agrees, and actually addressed the book’s name in this blog post) If I wasn’t sharing the wealth and hosting a giveaway with the copy I received, I’d happily work in this book’s pages. The Doodle Sketchbook: Art Journaling for Boys is perfect for anyone who wants to start journaling – particularly those who might not know where to begin, and those a wee bit intimidated by a blank white page.
Intended for a younger audience (ages 8 and up), some pages might not apply to an adult that uses the book – like Favorite Class Subject or Ode to High Tops. However, an adult can either indulge his/her inner child, or use a particular spread of pages for some other type of art journaling – like collage.
Creative Contents
160 pages long and filled with both color and substance, the doodle sketchbook includes several journaling prompts designed to get you busy art journaling. Dawn begins with how to art journal, covers tools and attachment methods, and then moves on to prompts. Prompts include things like My Colors (your personal color palette), I Like to Eat… (journaling your favorite foods), and Globe Trotting (where in the world you’d like to travel).
Small, portable, and sturdy, this book is easy to carry around and makes a great gift. Give the Doodle Sketchbook to someone on your gift list along with a glue stick, some pens, and a small pair of scissors, and you’ve got a sure-fire winner – a gift that will introduce (or re-introduce) the recipient to a fun form of self-expression.
Who Will Win?
One lucky person will win a copy of the Doodle Sketchbook, and it’s been signed by the fabulous Dawn DeVries Sokol! Simply leave a comment on this post to enter – one entry per person, please. I’m also throwing in a 5 pack of Painters Opaque Paint Markers to add to the fun!
I will draw the winner a week from today, on October 25, 2011, and will announce the winner’s name in the comment section of this post – so please check back. Not sure what to say in your comment? Perhaps you can thank Dawn for sending me a copy of the Doodle Sketchbook!
I hope you’ve enjoyed this book review, dear readers. Good luck and Happy Art Journaling!
Warm regards,
Melody
*Full Disclosure: I received one copy of The Doodle Sketchbook: Art Journaling for Boys for review purposes.
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36 Comments
Melody,
Your work is inspirational. Looking forward to checking out this book. I so love that you take your work to Kids. This makes me so happy!!! They are getting a chance to use their creative energy in a postive way and learn how Creative they are!! Good for you!!
I love doodling! Dawn’s book looks amazing~
Thank you for the chance to win!
Oh this looks like so much fun. I have never had an art journal but it really seems like it would be something I would love to do. Thank you so much for the giveaway and I really enjoyed your review.
Cool Book! Thanks Melody and Dawn
Alyssa LOVES art and is taking an art class in HS this year. She just started an art journal. I love it when she brings it home excited to show me her work!!!
How cool is this journal for boys?! Yaaaay! Great idea. Loved the cover…
Oh my, what a wonderful prize! Thank you Dawn and Melody for giving such nice stuff away!
This is a cool prize. I think my son would enjoy an art journal like this – it’s true, the blank page can sometimes be a hurdle. This provides all kinds of inspiration.
What a great idea, and a wonderful way to encourage a boy to pay attention to his creative side and have fun with pen and paper.
What a unique journal. I have lapsed in my journaling but this is an inspiration. Thanks Melody and Dawn.
I agree, art journaling is a wonderful form of expression! I love Dawn’s books! I think it’s brilliant to title it “for boys” because so many gift givers assume that boys don’t draw but they do! most definitely!
Thanks for sharing this Melody!
Thanks to Dawn and Melody for the chance to win this great journal!
This looks like a great book. Thanks for the review and sharing it with one lucky winner.
Very cool…makes you want to start doodling!
Oh what a great giveaway! I love Dawn’s work and would love to be able to give this book to a certain young man in my house with a birthday coming up . . .
Love Dawn’s work, and would love to win a copy of this book!!
Thank you, Melody, for offering your copy, and thank you, Dawn, for sending it. From what you’ve shown of the book, I like the pages that are already awash with color, just waiting for words and collaged elements.
looks like it would be fun to use this book. i tend to have blank page syndrome, so it would really help.
Super cool and I’m excited to find a new blogger who loves art journaling.
I just discovered your blog, and your art speaks to my heart.
What a cool giveaway! Thanks, Dawn & Melody…I know a young man who would love to receive this fabulous prize…as a surprise from Santa & his Elves.
xo
Debbie
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what a wonderful give away….so kind and generous. please add me for a chance to win.
That is wonderful to do a giveaway. And thank you for the chance to win a copy to give to my son.
I’m slowly gathering all the Keri Smith books. it would e wonderful to win one.
Thanks for the chance.
I’ve just recently found your blog and I’ve enjoyed reading it. Thanks for a chance to win this awesome book!
This looks like a fun book to journal in. Thanks for the chance to win!
This looks like such a fun book. Great way to start doodling
I work at a domestic violence shelter and want to incorporate journaling as a healing tool for the women I work with. This would be a great gift for a woman who wants to journal!
Thanks for the opportunity to win this. It looks like a lot of fun!
I was reading Seth’s “The Alterted Page” Blog, visited Dawn Devries Sokol’s Blog and finally made my way to your blog!
Thank you for sharing the some of the pages from Dawn’s journal, it is much more than just a blank page journal for doodling … she brings enthusiasm and inspiration to each page! This is a wonderful and fun book!
I would love to be included in the give away!
Praise to you and the work you are doing with “kids”. As a “peds” nurse, I often used art (touch drawing and doodles) in the clinical setting. It was amazing to see kids take naturally to the doodles. What a generous offering of the book.
Doodle sketchbook sounds great! thanks for the opportunity to win one
I’ve just found your blog, and really like what I have seen, so far (I am now a follower!). Thanks for the opportunity to win this great book. It looks like it could be quite inspirational, and I know just the child who could benefit fro having it!
Would love to win this sketchbook (and the markers) as I gave the “girls’ version” to my niece and would love to give this “boys’ version” to her older brother! So much fun. Thanks for the opportunity to win this great giveaway.
Dawn sent me your way to be a part of this awesome journal book giveaway! I love her doodling and am looking forward to her upcoming class NaNoJouMo! She has an awesome style of doodling and love she is getting youngsters involved ! I was thinking of giving this journal (if i won it) to my nephew till I read she was going to sign it, now I will be the one doodling in it…!!!
GIVEAWAY WINNER!
Thank you for entering my giveaway, folks! The winner of the signed copy of The Doodle Sketchbook: Art Journaling for Boys – and the paint markers – is Lizard!
Congratulation, Lizard! I’ll contact you shortly via email to get your mailing address.
Please stay tuned for my next giveaway, y’all, which is just around the corner in November. And thanks again to Dawn DeVries Sokol for sharing her book, The Doodle Sketchbook.
Warm regards,
Melody