Watch It Shine: Drawings, Watercolors, and Lyrics is a unique book by accomplished and talented songwriter, artist, and author Owen Temple that features song lyrics and visual art. The lyrics mirror the author’s life and inner world – human connections, travel, love, sadness, memories, and more. The lyrics complement Owen’s stunning watercolor paintings and crayon drawings of breathtaking scenery, such as lakes, waterfalls, forests, cities, and even northern lights. The visual arts also include cityscapes, animals, and scenes that feature human connections – a self-portrait, a cowboy, a piano professor, and many others. Some artworks interplay with the lyrics, and others stand alone. This one-of-a-kind, remarkable book offers a lot to explore and think about. What will you discover from this amazing collection of lyrics and visual arts?

I want to thank Owen Temple for the happy hours I enjoyed reading Watch It Shine. His drawings and watercolors opened up these fascinating mediums to me, which I used to ignore. The minimalist beauty and realism of his art were astonishing. The lyrics were another marvelous universe I enjoyed exploring. I liked them so much that after finishing the book, I listened to the complete songs on Owen’s website. I enjoyed all the songs, but if I had to choose a couple that resonated most, they were More Problems and Old Homeplaces. If you like lyrics and visual artworks that come from the creator’s heart and reach yours, portraying life in its happy, sad, pensive, and other forms, you will love this unique book as much as I did.

Owen Temple puts his wide range of talents on display in this book. Watch It Shine features mesmerizing drawings and watercolors alongside song lyrics that Temple has written over the years. His pieces capture a moment and place in time. He is particularly fond of the subtle movements of light on water, which can be a river, a lake, or even an ocean. The paintings cover the vast landscape of America. From the Towers of the Virgin in Zion National Park, Utah, to Guero's Oak Garden in Austin, Texas, these works showcase America's natural beauty in its full glory. But that's not all; Temple also highlights America's cultural heritage with drawings like John Wayne as a cowboy or the Kennedy Outdoor Theater at the Kerrville Folk Festival.

Watch It Shine is a collection that I believe any art aficionado would devour with relish. While personally, I'm not a professional artist, even a novice like me can see and appreciate great works of art like this. Owen Temple also complements his drawings with song lyrics that provide context and meaning behind some of this art. One of my favorite pieces in this book was the depiction of the Wanna Wanna Bar in South Padre Island in Texas. I was also amazed by the sheer scope of the places drawn and how distinct most of them were from each other. The lyrics are simply awesome. There are no other words in my mind to describe them right now. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will gladly recommend it to art enthusiasts.