Fall Into Creativity: The Best Art Projects to Start This Season
Fall is a season of transition. The air turns crisp, the days grow shorter, and life slows down just enough to give us space to breathe. It is during this shift that many of us feel the urge to spend more time at home, whether curled up with a blanket, experimenting in the kitchen, or embarking on a new project. For those looking to add something meaningful to their routine this autumn, art offers the perfect invitation.
Having an art project in your daily or weekly rhythm is more than just a pastime. It is a way to bring calm into busy days, to ground yourself in the present moment, and to make something with your hands that feels both personal and lasting. Studies have shown that creative activities, such as drawing, painting, and crafting, can help reduce stress, improve focus, and even enhance memory. However, beyond the research, art serves as a reminder to simply enjoy the act of creating.
The Perfect Time To Start
The perfect time to start any project, any art project, is now, and this fall is the perfect time to try. With so many approachable art forms, such as crochet, painting, drawing, coloring, sewing, or even whittling, you can find one that matches your mood and lifestyle.
Crochet connects you to texture and warmth. Painting helps you see color in new ways. Drawing sharpens your eye and hand. Coloring relaxes the mind. Sewing brings beauty into everyday items. Whittling creates something lasting from a block of wood. No matter where you start, the rewards are real.
The right guide can make all the difference. Below are eight spiral-bound art books that stay open while you work, making them both practical and inspiring. Each one introduces you to a different art form and invites you to make this season more creative.
Crochet for Beginners by Claire Montgomerie
Few things say autumn quite like yarn. As the days grow cooler, the idea of making your own scarf, blanket, or hat becomes even more inviting. Claire Montgomerie’s Crochet for Beginners: A Stitch Dictionary with Step-by-Step Illustrations and 10 Easy Projects gives you everything you need to pick up a hook and finally begin.
Montgomerie has years of teaching experience, and it shows in the way she structures her instructions. The stitch dictionary provides clear, illustrated guidance for each motion, ensuring you don't feel lost or overwhelmed. Once you have the basics, the book guides you through ten practical and achievable projects.
Who it is for: Beginners who have admired handmade crochet pieces and are ready to try making their own.
Why you will enjoy it: Crocheting is rhythmic and relaxing. By the time you finish your first project, you will not only have a handmade accessory but also a new way to unwind. Imagine sipping hot cider, working on a scarf, and knowing that you created something both valuable and beautiful.
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Watercolour Lessons by Sasha Prood
There is something magical about watercolors in the fall. They capture the softness of changing leaves, the misty mornings, and the muted beauty of the season. Sasha Prood’s Watercolour Lessons: How to Paint and Unwind in 20 Tutorials is designed to help you experience this magic in a way that feels approachable and calming.
Prood emphasizes painting as a form of relaxation. Her tutorials cover essential techniques — such as washes, blending, and layering — but she balances each lesson with encouragement to enjoy the flow of color and water. The book is less about creating perfect paintings and more about appreciating the process of making them.
Who it is for: Anyone new to painting who wants a gentle introduction without pressure.
Why you will enjoy it: Each lesson is bite-sized, making it easy to fit into a busy schedule. Set aside 20 minutes in the evening, paint a simple scene, and feel refreshed. Over the course of autumn, you will build a collection of watercolor pieces that evoke the season, from golden leaves to cozy still lifes.
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30-Minute Drawing for Beginners by Jordan DeWilde
Drawing is one of the most rewarding art forms because it requires so little to start — just paper, a pencil, and some time. Jordan DeWilde’s 30-Minute Drawing for Beginners is the perfect book for those who want to learn without feeling overwhelmed.
The lessons are concise and focused, making them ideal for busy yet curious individuals. You will explore techniques for sketching still lifes, figures, and landscapes, and each exercise is designed to show results quickly.
Who it is for: Beginners with limited time who still want to learn a lasting skill.
Why you will enjoy it: The lessons are small victories. In just half an hour, you can complete a drawing that makes you feel accomplished. As fall unfolds, you might sketch a mug of coffee, a pile of pumpkins, or the view outside your window, capturing the season one drawing at a time.
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Zigzag Rope Sewing Projects by Katherine Lile
Sewing is a timeless skill, and Katherine Lile’s Zigzag Rope Sewing Projects: 16 Home Accessories to Make with a Simple Stitch puts a modern twist on it. Using just a sewing machine and simple rope, you can create bowls, baskets, coasters, and more.
The projects are stylish yet functional, blending creativity with everyday use. Lile walks you through each step with clarity, so even those newer to sewing can follow along.
Who it is for: Crafters who want to bring beauty into their homes with projects that are both simple and stylish.
Why you will enjoy it: These projects do not take weeks to complete, but the results look impressive. They make thoughtful gifts and add a cozy, handmade touch to your home just in time for the season. Picture a rope basket filled with autumn leaves or a set of handmade coasters under mugs of hot cocoa.
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Lost Ocean by Johanna Basford
Johanna Basford is a name familiar to many coloring enthusiasts. Her Lost Ocean: An Inky Adventure and Coloring Book for Adults invites you to dive into intricate undersea worlds filled with coral, shells, and sea creatures waiting for color.
Coloring has long been celebrated as a form of mindfulness, and this book delivers that experience beautifully. The detailed illustrations provide ample space to get lost in the patterns.
Who it is for: Adults who want a screen-free way to relax and recharge.
Why you will enjoy it: Coloring is soothing in a way that few other activities are. You can pick it up for five minutes or spend hours filling in the intricate designs. It is the perfect activity for a rainy fall afternoon, paired with a blanket and a warm drink.
You’re Awesome Coloring Book by Pam Grout
If you want your coloring time also to lift your spirits, Pam Grout’s You’re Awesome Coloring Book is an excellent choice. This book pairs bold, playful designs with affirmations that inspire positivity as you color.
Each page is both a piece of art and a message of encouragement. As you fill in the designs, you are also reminded of uplifting truths, making it a creative practice that feeds both mind and mood.
Who it is for: Anyone who wants to combine creativity with self-care.
Why you will enjoy it: This book is equal parts art and affirmation. By the time you finish a page, you have not only created something colorful, you have also given yourself a dose of encouragement. It is like journaling, only with patterns and color.
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Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter (Volume 2) by James Gurney
James Gurney, best known for his work on Dinotopia, is a master of painting in the realist style. His Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter is a treasure for artists who want to deepen their understanding of how light interacts with color in the real world.
This book is packed with insights that can transform the way you paint. It goes beyond technique to explain principles that apply whether you are painting a still life in your kitchen or capturing the glow of fall leaves outside.
Who it is for: Intermediate or advanced artists who want to elevate their painting.
Why you will enjoy it: This is a reference book you will return to again and again. Each chapter sparks ideas and encourages you to experiment with how you see light and color. Autumn is a perfect time to explore these concepts, with its shifting golden light and rich natural tones.
20-Minute Whittling Projects by Tom Hindes
Whittling is an art form rooted in simplicity. With just a knife and a block of wood, you can create something entirely your own. Tom Hindes’ 20-Minute Whittling Projects: Fun Things to Carve from Wood brings this old-fashioned hobby into the modern day.
The book offers quick, approachable projects that do not require hours of work. From small animals to spoons, each creation feels satisfying and useful.
Who it is for: Anyone who enjoys working with their hands and wants a hobby that connects them to tradition.
Why you will enjoy it: Whittling is a tactile, focused, and deeply rewarding activity. There is a quiet joy in carving something simple in under half an hour. It is the kind of hobby that pairs well with autumn evenings on the porch, surrounded by falling leaves.
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How to Use These Books Together
One of the best things about starting art this fall is that you do not need to pick just one medium. You can create a seasonal art plan that keeps your creativity fresh. Spend weekday evenings on quick drawing or watercolor lessons. Dedicate weekends to crochet or sewing projects that take more time. When you want a break, turn to coloring books like Lost Ocean or You’re Awesome for a reset. And if you are in the mood to stretch yourself, try whittling or dive deeper into theory with James Gurney’s Color and Light.
Because each book is spiral-bound, they stay open beside you while you work. No more juggling heavy pages while your hands are busy with yarn, brushes, or tools. The design makes creativity more realistic, allowing you to focus on the project rather than the book.
By the end of the season, you will not only have practiced new skills but also created scarves, sketches, paintings, rope baskets, or carved keepsakes that carry the memory of fall with them.
Art does not have to be about masterpieces. It can simply be about the joy of making. This fall, let these books guide you into a season of creativity, relaxation, and discovery.
