The Artless Artist's Guide to Artistic Achievment

While perusing the $1 book carts outside of Strand a week ago, I came across this little treasure

What initially seemed like an overly ironic tongue-in-cheek Urban Outfitters style gag gift is actually a really endearing little guide for those less classically talented in the realm of visual art. The introduction reads:

"This book was written for people who feel the creative urge, but think they lack the talent needed to bring about a work of art."

I know, I know, give me a break it was written in the 70s.

"No book can provide the reader with artistic talent or make a Michelangelo out of anyone. However, there are a great many people who fail to recognize the talents they do have... Never be afraid to attack any project; there are no real mistakes in art."

The book is comprised of six chapters with names like "Drawing that almost Draw Themselves" and "Paintings Produced the Painless Way" and feature simple projects almost anyone can do such as silhouette portraiture, rorschach art, and tracing photographs. I have scanned and uploaded the entire book to Flickr for your browsing pleasure.