Draw like an Artist: A Self-Portrait Sketchbook by Patricia Geis (Abrams Books)

This book's arrival couldn't be more timely, with our current obsession for drawing portraits...
Every Thursday, both of us join in with the awesome #PortraitChallenge Twitter art prompts, curated by superpowered artist extraordinaire Sarah McIntyre. Sarah chooses a classic painting and Twitter art fans join in with their own interpretations of the work.

The results are always stunning, and it's fantastic to see everyone's unique take on each work.

So imagine how delighted we both were to find a whole BOOK devoted to drawing, painting and producing collage works of self-portraits by some of the most widely recognised artists of the last two centuries.

In Patricia Geis' "Draw Like an Artist: A Self Portrait Sketchbook" you'll find works by the likes of Frida Kahlo, Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso and many others - each rendered in a different technique with the encouragement for you to have a go at producing your own self portrait in that style.

So here's our friend Vincent...

An awesome hat, but can you fill in the fella underneath?

Once again we can't stress enough that actually painting or drawing on a book, even one that wants you to, is quite difficult for us but there's nothing to stop you having a go on a separate piece of paper, mimicking the styles of the old masters and their modern contemporaries.

Most of our favourite artists pop up in the book, including Frida Kahlo...

Frida and her wonderful monkeys. Challenging stuff!

The book is thoughtfully fairly loose-leafed so you can separate the pages from the spine (THE HORROR, THE HORROR) if you really want to destroy it in order to make the most of the book's purpose. Best to buy two copies we think, that way you've got a "working version" and a "keeper"!

Albrecht Durer could easily have played lead guitar for Metallica with those lovely locks!

Charlotte's favourite bit: Her own interpretation of herself as Frida Kahlo. That girl's got skills!

Daddy's favourite bit: As we've come to expect from Abrams, a fascinating mix of art activity and art history book, fused together into something that will completely and thoroughly absorb you for absolutely ages as you work through it. What a fantastic idea!

(Kindly supplied for review by Abrams Books)

"Draw Like an Artist: A Self-Portrait Sketchbook"

Written and Illustrated by Patricia Geis

Published by Abrams Books

Publication Date: 20th September 2016