Theo, a newcomer to the town of Golden, becomes involved with a local coffeehouse that displays pencil portraits of community members created by a local artist. Over time, he begins acquiring the portraits and returning them to the individuals depicted. Each interaction leads to the sharing of personal histories and the development of new relationships, affecting both Theo and the residents he meets. The novel focuses on community connections, creativity,...

"When we try to draw a person, we are quickly confronted with various challenges. The proportions need to be correct, the attitude must be clear and vivid, the face should show resemblance and also be expressive. Such a task takes courage. Yet a little practice and training quickly lead to the ability to draw figures in a wide variety of styles. A figure in a particular posture can be assembled with a few key characteristic strokes. At the center...

John Muir Laws's guide to drawing birds is itself winged, soaring between a devotion not only to art but also to the lives, forms, and postures of the birds themselves. Here, artistic technique and the exquisite details of natural history intertwine, and drawing becomes the vehicle for seeing. As Laws writes, "To draw feathers, you must understand how feathers grow, overlap, and insert into the body. To create the body, you must have an understanding...