Treasure Found: An Art Journey

Cinthia James 144p, trade paper, $25, ISBN 978-3000-74429-7

This encouraging, marvelously illustrated guide to making one’s own art invites readers to embrace their creative impulse, to find confidence in the act of personal creation, to dig deeply into one’s personal inspirations and interests, and to apply some conceptual and technical rigor to what one makes. It’s all part, James writes, of a “treasure hunt,” one where artists unbury what they value most—and develop the discipline, through practice and planning, to do their visions justice. Writing with the engaging voice of a coach and practitioner, someone who has lessons to impart but still learns from them, too, James offers quick, clear-eyed chapters about finding inspiration, writing a creative “brief” at the start of a project, the process of sketching out ideas, and why it’s important to re-imagine your own work.

Treasure Found blends practical, hands-on advice—like why thinking in grids proves crucial for image- and pattern-makers— with sound guidance for facing anxieties like imposter syndrome or the fear of failure. “Allowing yourself to see that being creative is a lifelong journey might allow you to remove some of the pressure to be perfect,” James writes. That principle is demonstrated throughout the book as James shares the creation of a personal project, inspired by the K-pop band ATEEZ, from arriving at a concept to sketches to finished work. This transparency about process demystifies the creation of art, while James’s application of artistic discipline to celebrate a pop-culture favorite reminds readers that inspiration is inspiration, and that what you love should influence what you create.

James’s own patterns, paintings, and illustrations appear throughout the book, sometimes as polished final projects and sometimes as sketches or works-in-progress. Bold and arresting, they exemplify Treasure Found’s suggestions about composition, negative space, and creating in a series. In their diverse approaches and thematic unity, they offer what James’s text urges artists to find: inspiration.

An inspiring guidebook to the joys of creating art, with welcome tips on building confidence and skill.

Great for fans of Lisa Congdon’s Find Your Artistic Voice, Nita Leland’s The New Creative Artist.