Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

You cannot teach anatomy in 96 Pages
"Anatomy and Perspective: Fundamentals of Figure Drawing"byCharles Oliver:a DOVER book

Some people might be induced to buy an anatomy book that devotes a mere 96 pages to the subjectof human anatomy for the artist.Moreover,if anyone could accomplish this,perhaps we could expect DOVER PUBLISHING to be able to do it.However, this is not ONLY a book about Anatomy, but also presumes to instruct in Perspective, and the "fundamentals of figure drawing" also. So it's 96 pages divided 3 ways.

Mostbeginneranatomy/drawing books will run to about 120 pages on the average.Books with fewer pages than that are just not going to be ableto adequately teach the subject. What's the point of buying LESS,when you can get MORE for the same price?

The text fails to accomplish its task, giving only a brief and superficial, woefully inadequate instruction and cannot really replace some of the current IN-PRINT texts still on the market.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again,in drawing instruction,LESS is not MORE.A book buyer need not pay MORE money to get a good book; BUT...the buyer does need to have a book that covers the subject thoroughly. It doesn't make much sense to buy a brief but cheaper book if you have to go back out and spend double that price to get a book that covers the subject well. ... Read more

Product Description
Colored pencils are convenient, neat, portable, economical, forgiving. Now they're even more ideal for beginning artists because they're available in amazing new water—soluble versions. Start with a drawing in colored pencil, then add water to create a painting. It's amazing—and amazingly easy. Drawing and Painting with Colored Pencil covers traditional colored pencil techniques as well as tips on mastering the new water—soluble colored pencils. From basic color layering, burnishing, and lifting, to using water—soluble pencils to create beautiful florals, still lifes, and landscapes, this book is full of great ideas and step—by—step inspiration. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Drawing and Painting in Colored Pencil Book.
I recently borrowed this lovely book from the library,so that was a great preview,and I decided to buy it.It contains some great demonstrations in pencil and watercolor pencil.

Students Need a Better Basic Foundation
My copy of this book arrived badly water damaged and this prevented me from viewing the pages clearly. Not Amazon's fault though, nor the author's, but this did not impact my opinion of the book. I work in watercolor, and watercolor pencil and I draw realistically. My watercolor work is impressionistic so I balance this with realism. I expected better use of the mediums based on the book's title. This book gives simple lessons in just about every technique you might want BUT they are not complete. I feel it leaves out very important issues in several areas that I was able to read. This will trip up a student. The watercolor work was weak at best and the drawing not detailed. No matter what your style, contrast in values, variety of subject matter, subtley of transition and color saturation are important. Monochromatic paintings are beautiful due to their variety and placement of values. Often the paintings in this book contained numerous colors but still failed in subtlety and depth. When inspiring a newcomer it is important to present an attainable goal. But to underestimate their ability doesn't inspire the confidence to reach such a goal. Many of the demo's were boring. I felt that more realism was needed here. Perhaps it was the printing but everything seemed flat, although you can tell that the artist used strong color in many of her works. I would suggest that all students of pencil work get copy of "Colored Pencil Painting Bible" by Alyona Nickelsen, even if you want only to work in graphite or watercolor pencil. This book will help you to see realistically. Once you command drawing and color skills as she teaches them, you will have the ability to make choices as to your own style. It takes good training and skill before independent style can develop. Alyona gives both in depth.

Beautiful Book
Kristy is one of the best colored pencil artists around. She has the true soul of an artist and is a great instructor.This book has beautiful art and is a worthwhile addition to any colored pencil artist's library. I have enjoyed her workshops and DVDs too!

The Best Book Ever!
This is the best book that I have ever purchased on the subject of color pencils, and I now own 31 books on the subject, and this one I rank #1.Mainly because the author goes in extensive detail, on every aspect of color pencils (see the back cover for a list).And if you didn't understand some of the more complicated information, she rewords it and relates it in another way, along with pictures and demonstrations to make sure you get it.The author gives step by step instructions to demonstrate each technique that she explains, along with informing you of all colors and paper used for each demonstration.And she gives this same information for all the artwork throughout the book.So if you want to try and attempt to create any of the art on your own, you can. Another thing I like is the fact that she only uses one brand of each type of pencil.Some authors use more than one brand in there demonstrations, like you have an extensive amount of money to invest attempting to do there lessons.She uses Prismacolor for colored pencils, and Faber Castell watercolor pencils.
Then she gives you this same quality information on watercolor pencils, along with the techniques for them.One review stated it the book was more about watercolor pencils, this is not true.There were just more techniques for them, and this author gives you practice and the full step-by-step demonstrations for each technique, which I appreciated.This format is very effective in helping you to have success understanding and learning how to do the techniques.
Then she moves on to teach you techniques where you combine colored and watercolor pencils, and follows the same format as stated above.I was pleasantly surprised to see both types of pencils in one book, with so much information on both.This makes this book worth a lot more than the price Amazon is asking for.And this is a book that you will go to time and time again.

Great for beginners
This is a good book and it does show you a lot of information for beginners and includes water-soluble colored pencils (watercolor pencils). It's one of the "old-school" CP books and it's quite useful. The only think I don't like is that you can see the paper on some of the demos, I personally prefer lay down several layers very light and with a sharp point in order to make sure my transparent layering is good coverage but that's a personal thing. If you aren't a stickler for that, you'll love the book. ... Read more

Product Description
Mark McDonnell's The Art and Feel of Making it Real: Gesture Drawing for the Animation and Entertainment Industry is the one-source book animation and entertainment enthusiasts have been waiting for! This self-published hardback contains 208-pages of full color illustrations and instruction offering artists the key to opening the door to the long guarded secrets of studio only techniques, theories and practices.This book will help explain how to design and capture the essence of life through the knowledge of gesture drawing, increase observation skills and use basic design principles that will help to fuel the power of your imagination . . . all of which are important and necessary skills to have in the animation and entertainment industry! This book applies to animators, storyboard artists, visual development artists, concept designers and any person interested in working in the animation and entertainment industry. From hobbyists to industry professionals, this is the book that will help you create successful images with a strong focus on storytelling skills! Mark McDonnell has blended his own sensibilities of instruction as well as continued teaching Walt Stanchfield's theories and practices at the Walt Disney Company to its employees and artists. This book is in addition to Stanchfield's previous thoughts and practices and is more focused on tailoring teachings and words of wisdom to the industry and how it functions in today's times. It comes with a foreword by the legendary Eric Goldberg (Director/Supervising Animator at the Walt Disney Animation Studios), and contributing words by Andreas Deja (Supervising Animator/Visual Development Artist at the Walt Disney Animation Studios), Marcelo Vignali (Art Director/ Visual Development Artist at Sony Pictures Animation), and industry instructor Karl Gnass (Master Draftsman & Figure Drawing Instructor). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Very Disappointing
There are illustrations here that are not very interesting and the description is not helpful.i threw out my copy.

Spend your money elsewhere
First off let me say that I have no doubt that Mark McDonnell is excellent at the actual practice of gesture drawing.

That being said, this book probably won't give you that impression.The first thing you will notice is how horribly laid out the book is, and I for one would have expected more from someone who uses images to tell stories as a career. Next on the list would be the font size, which would be extremely appropriate for a large print publication and geriatric audience, or if by some odd quirk of fate you had broken both arms and were forced to read this book taped to the ends of your cast.If you don't have enough text to fill a book, DON'T WRITE A BOOK!At least with the amount of space gained by the lack of mispelled points to elaborate on, (he in fact says the same thing using almost the exact same words a few paragraphs apart at various points within the book) he could have included more images.The ones that did make it into the book are nice, I just wish that for the money shelled out (which I hope is used to hire a new editor), there had been more of them and greater variety.

I would recommend spending your money elsewhere if possible, and get this one from the library.

CAPTURE THE STORY IN YOUR FIGURE DRAWINGS!
The Art and Feel of Making it Real is unique book that deals with drawing for animation and the entertainment art industry. This is not simply a book on drawing the figure, but a book on how to draw story- telling poses through the art of gesture drawing. The Author has organized the information in this book into a complete drawing course with plentiful examples and words of wisdom to go with it. If any one is having trouble with getting the "flow" in their drawings, this book is a must read. Of particular importance are the stunning color examples of drawing the costumed figure. To get life into your drawings requires knowing what your subject is doing and also how to push the pose, and this book deals with this on an intimate level. And to top it off, the drawings are all executed with a variety of mediums including wash, marker, ink, charcoal and more. The Art and Feel of Making it Real is a great addition to any artist's library.

"The Art & Feel of Making it Real" by Mark McDonnell
What a jam-packed, informative how-to art book!McDonnell has "given away the entire store" in just one hefty volume.He covers all aspects of his craft in depth, with accompanying illustrations.Well worth his low price of $44.50 -it should be more in the $65- $90. range!Cannot wait to see what he'll do next...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0982231776/ref=s9_simx_gw_s0_p14_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=11H8XJSKPWVAD8WM91PJ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

The industry has needed this for a long time!
The Art and Feel of Making it Real is more then just a quality product that is filled with well executed sketches and superb draftsmanship; Its a book of purpose. It addresses all of the concepts, both advanced and simple for those of the proficient and those of the amateur, that are necessary for a successful career in the entertainment industry. Specifically any media that requires the need to describe life in pictures. Not just the recording of a setting,scene, or artifact, but the manifestation of emotions, spirit, attitude and life within the human form. To emote through the body, the stance, the pose is one thing....but to capture it in lines,edges,and shapes and to do it well is an even more difficult task. The Art and Feel of Making it Real not only ascends that top staircase but it also will guide you through the process of attaining that status within your own work. I highly recommend adding this book to your collection especially if you want to display the energy and emotion in your work that this artist, Mark Mcdonnell, knows and does so well. Capture life...and use this book to garner that skill. ... Read more

Product Description
This book will have beginning artists of all ages drawing faces that are strikingly realistic and detailed.Artist Carrie Stuart Parks honed her fast and effective drawing skills as a professional forensic artist. Here she makes drawing fun and easy, showing beginners how to render vivid self portraits and portraits of others, all in a matter of hours.

Artists will successfully learn how to master proportions and map facial features accurately. They will then study shapes within a composition and learn to draw them realistically. Lastly, artists will study the subject's values and use them to bring life and accuracy to each portrait.A final "checking" step helps artists capture heightened realism and accuracy.

This book features clear step-by-step instructions, before-and-after examples from students, and proven drawing exercises used to train artists throughout the country. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (42)

Drawing made easy
I've just starting taking art classes and this book made it so much easier. The tips are very useful.

GREAT!
Just a good reference and teaching method for learning to draw the human face.I enjoyed every minute of it and learned a few tricks even though I am not a beginner.

Overrated
I found the book to be overrated.The book does a good job of dissecting the parts of the face that can make or break the realism of a drawing.

If all of the unrelated text were removed, the book would be half its size. For example: "subtract out the doohickey" p. 79 referring to a part of the eye that should be ignored when using the eye as a measuring unit.Not to mention pages and pages of the author talking about her experience.

The author also uses obscure terms to replace normal terms in art vocabulary.Example, "optical indexing" p. 39.In all the books I've read, this is called proportion.

Finally, there is no information about foreshortening and different viewing angles.Her technique may be good for mug shots but what about the infinite other angles of viewing that can be found in life drawing?

If the book stuck to what is important and germane to drawing faces, I'd have rated this book a three.If the book then had used accepted art terminology - rating would be a four.And finally if the book had added in important proportioning information like the eye as a unit of measure as well as geometry as a proportioning tool, the book would be a five;like that found in Jack Hamm's, Drawing the Head and Figure.

Secrets to Drawing Realistic Faces

Secrets to Drawing Realistic FacesHaving no experience drawing people or faces, I needed to learn for a college class. I learned so clearly and quickly from reading and doing the exercises in this book thatwhen sharing it with 3 sisters, we all began drawing faces. The author is an amazing teacher who gives allthe information needed to help the student draw a face. Her first priority is for the student to succeed.The book'sclarity, visual examples, and steps, give the learner the tools to draw successfully.This book is first of my drawing books, to keep and to share.I highly recommend this book.

Excellent Hands on Instruction
I find that this book gives excellent instruction for anyone interested in drawing realistic faces. There are numerous examples and photos to guide the student in drawing faces. This instruction book is superior to others I have seen in that the instruction is more advanced. It has much more practical techniques to use while drawing. I do know that the current website for the author is [...] and not the one listed in the book if you want to see more about the author. I highly recommend this book if you are learning to draw realistic faces. ... Read more

Product Description
*Artists of all skill levels will find tips and techniques to help them develop their craft

*17 step-by-step demonstrations make complex techniques easy to understand

*Provides fundamental skills that translate into other mediums

Absolute beginners and those looking for a refresher course will find this book to be a wonderful tool. The authors, Mark and Mary Willenbrink, have created a series of exercises which take the reader from the basic fundamentals of drawing to the complexities of creating landscapes, still lifes, people and much more. With encouraging words and an emphasis on having fun, each exercise is designed to build confidence. Complicated concepts are explained in a clear, understandable manner so that even the novice artist will feel inspired to try. Before long, readers will find themselves drawing with a confidence they never imagined. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Quite Helpful But Not For The "Absolute Beginner"
I like this book quite a lot.I got it as a review of basic drawing principles I learned in college, and for this it is really useful.It reviews much of what I learned in the first four art classes I had, explaining tools, going over basic skills like how to hold a pencil for different effects, creating value cards, and starting out with the basic shapes of an item and working towards the details.I'd forgotten many pointers my profs had shared that are repeated here, like how to use a sighting stick and what the basic proportions are for the human face and body.The demos/how-to's also cover a good range, including human and animal portraits, buildings, cars, a fruit still life, and a couple landscapes.

While I have never been a "natural" in terms of drawing, I have had 7 college drawing courses and three adult-ed classes at an art center in the last few years.This is to say, while this book is actually perfect for me, providing meaningful instruction and review at my present (still beginner) level, I think I would have been very upset and overwhelmed with it had I gotten it a few years ago, before taking any of the aforementioned classes.Likewise, you will notice that many of the other reviewers who got the most out of the book actually have some drawing background. The discussion of perspective is a great review, for example, but had this been my first introdution to perspective, I would have been competely lost, as the disussion is more an overview of the concept than the step-by-step tutorial that a real "absolute beginner" needs to follow.A good 20+ pages of the 128 page book deals with perspective either as its main focus or as a needed skill to follow the demo, including the demos on drawing planes, trains, and automobiles, as well as plotting shadows and drawing ellipses.Thus while I heartily recommend this book, I would reserve it for the person who has a little more background than an "absolute beginner" lest one become discouraged by attempting to follow instructions that are not sufficiently detailed for one with no previous knowledge of perspective.

Drawing for the Absolute Beginner: A Clear & Easy Guide to Successful Drawing

I teach continuing education classes and this book is now part of a collection of books that travel with me when I teach. The book is well written and easy to understand. The techniques are well defined and clearly demonstrated. This is a book I will be recommending to my students. Any one who is eager to learn to draw should consider owning this book.

Quite Helpful
I have been taking drawing classes for about a year now.Wanted to know more, so selected "Drawing for the Absolute Beginner" and have been pleased with the advice and instructions given.

DRAWING FOR BEGINNERS
PURCHASED THESE FOR MY 11 YR OLD GRAND-DAUGHTER.SHE LOVED THEM.SHE HAS LEARN TO DRAW WITH PERFECTION.WONDERFUL LEARNING TOOL FOR EVERYONE, YOUNG OR OLD. A MUST HAVE ITEM FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS A DESIRE TO BECOME AN ARTIST!

Best for the beginner
As a beginner to drawing I have checked out many drawing books from the local library.My classes are very informative but I can't remember everything that is taught and this book covers all the beginning techniques with lots of examples.I think it is the best of the many that I have read. ... Read more

Product Description
Art students with special interest in comic strips, graphic novels, and computer games graphics will find a wealth of instruction and inspiration in this new volume. A widely recognized artist in these media shows how to draw and paint fantastic beasts from literature and legend, double-headed sea monsters and serpents, satyrs, centaurs, dragons, and demons. The first step in illustrating such beasts comes with understanding basic anatomical forms of animals in nature, and then learning how to distort these shapes. Author Kev Walker also instructs on rendering reptilian skin, scales, and fur. Equally important, he offers grounding in the principles of perspective and scale, enabling students to create believable beasts that are as huge as skyscrapers or small enough to hide under a bed. Students will also find detailed information and advice on drawing techniques, watercolor and acrylic coloring techniques, and composing illustrations on their computers. This book features an extensive glossary and more than 200 color illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Drawing and Painting Fantasy Beast
This is an very good book if you need reference material to draw upon. I would not recommend it for a beginner. Someone who has some drawing experience it is an excellent addition for his or her fantasy reference Libary.

I found it interesting reading and gave very good tips on how to increase creativity but not the best how to draw book for the novice. The more advance artist will find it more helpful.

Not bad
This is a good book for basic ideas.Great for the beginning artist, but not recommended for someone a bit more advanced.

Good book for beginers to intermediate
Unlike other books I bought this one is not only showing you finish artwork, but it shows you how to do it with clear instructions. There's a lot of creatures also to get inspiration. The techniques demonstrated goes from traditional to digital.

very good less comic strip style book
I really enjoy this book for its more professional, polished, artwork. (For some reason there is a stigma among booksellers and teachers that all dragon and fairy how to books have to be for children and young adults. This is definitely not the case.) Not all the creatures are perfect and not all the creatures are favorites of mine but overall this is a nice book for the more advanced artist, or even a nice coffe table book for those just intrested in the subject.

Little Bill
Really Kool!I loved the art work.It was a little beyond my immature status for drawing pics but if I continue to practice I'll get better.
Whoever created these drawings has a gift for fantasy. ... Read more

Product Description
"One of the most important things to remember as artists is that we must be poets, not reporters." --Clem Robins

While it's often said that students must learn to draw what they see, learning to see with understanding is just as crucial to create truly accurate drawings. In The Art of Figure Drawing--a concise guide to rendering the male and female form in the classic style--Clem Robins teaches readers everything they need to know to master this valuable, challenging skill.

This practical guide combines direct observation of the human form with an analytical study of anatomy, perspective, light, shade and composition. Each chapter includes a finished drawing to illustrate its theme, along with explanatory text and annotated drawings or step-by-step demonstrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Very Recommended
In my attempts to improve my drawing skills, I've purchased a number of books on how to do so. Books being sold on news stands, because I didn't know any better back then. In reading all of those books, I felt like there were several steps missing. It was like the authors believed that all you needed to teach an aspiring draughtsman was how to draw a pile of geometric figures, which were then magically turned into a human being. But how exactly is that human being the author drew so well-shaded? Why is the line thinner on one side and thicker on the other? How does the hair look so shiny while retaining the appearance of hair? How did he convince me that the figure's forearm looks shorter than usual because it's pointing in my direction? In fact, how do you draw a limb that is in a difficult angle?

Clem Robins' THE ART OF FIGURE DRAWING, a book devoted to teaching how to portray the nude human figure, covers these questions brilliantly, thanks to Robins being both a gifted draughtsman and able writer who is capable of describing something as visual as drawing in a manner that is mostly (but, understandably, not always) clear. It's filled with several beautiful drawings made with a variety of tools, and Robins doesn't miss a single step on how he achieved these portraits, detailing the process concisely.

There is personality to his writing; reading the book is not only educational but also fun. Robins has a subtle sense of humor and a clear opinion on things, and neither ever feel out of place, always organically built into whatever subject he's discussing. He starts by explaining lines, and right off the bat I saw I was doing a lot wrong in this regard (not just in comparison to Robins' personal style -- my lines downright sucked and need a lot of work). He proceeds to explain every element of figure drawing (in fact the name of the first part of the book is "The Elements Of Figure Drawing") in detail. He's not always successful in being clear, although he mostly is. His explanations regarding shading and some kinds of lines require reading the same paragraph twice or more due to the many jargons, although that could easily be blamed on my problematic attention span.

What can't be blamed on that is the book's design, which despite being overall beautiful, has ups and downs. Sometimes, a careful explanation of a certain aspect of drawing is interrupted mid-sentence by two entire pages of visual examples and written descriptions, only to resume in the next page what was being said two pages ago. This happens to a smaller degree throughout the book, as nearly every page has two kinds of text: the core text of the book, and the text written next to the visual examples, which is connected to the main text's overall subject but concentrates heavily on the visual example itself. When the main text of the book is interrupted, requiring you to flip to the next page, you still have the visual example text to read on the page you're on. After you do so and flip to the next page, you're back to reading the main text -- except it's not a new paragraph, the page starts mid-sentence, and you have to go back to the previous page to make sense of what you're reading. This isn't the case always, as several pages end with full stops, with the next one starting on a new paragraph, but the mid-sentence problem still happens fairly often. In summary, it is far more comfortable when there is a paragraph break between pages instead of a line break, which just interrupts the thought being developed. Formatting the main text with this in mind would have ensured a better reading experience, although it is by no means a serious flaw, let alone a dealbreaker. Just a minor nuisance that could have been avoided.

It is still visually beautiful design, though. Robins' drawings are placed on every page with care and are always amazing to look at and especially good at exemplifying whatever subject he's talking about. The text attached to the visual examples always points out the areas of the drawing we should pay attention to, and often offer invaluable hints, such as using negative spaces to help you verify the accuracy of the portrait. When Robins refers to a visual example in the main text, a small arrow next to his words promptly points to the example he's referring to, which is far less intrusive and much more efficient than numbering the examples, like "look at figure 2B".

On the second part of the book, Robins explains his technique step by step and showing the same drawings at several stages. On the third and final part, he focuses on problem-solving, showing us the trickiest parts of human anatomy (such as the nightmare known as a foot) and simplifying them to make them seem less scary and help us see an overall mass rather than an incomprehensible pile of bones.

It's a book about the nude, but the techniques it teaches are useful for much, much more. It's a beautiful-looking, well-written and fun guide that helped me understand my own shortcomings as an artist and how to improve.

A good book on figure drawing
Robins text covers just about everything needed for beginners to intermediate-level figure artists.The illustrations run from rough sketches to carefully shaded realistic depictions, providing examples of what can be attained quickly or with continued effort.A good book overall.

Sometimes it's not just about the illustrations but how it is written
If one read the introduction to Clem Robin's book you'd notice who he studied under, and why his concepts are "borrowed" However, explanations can't exactly be plagiarized, so the same concepts would be repeated in not only his book but many other books. There are rules to figure drawing that has been repeated over and over.

So saying this, I enjoyed the book because Robin's explanations were UNDERSTANDABLE. If you're simply looking at the illustrations like Hogarth, you can learn, but sometimes it takes a better understanding when the author tells you the ideas behind the concepts. Many of the books I have such as Bridgman's and Hogarths, are great concepts in their illustrative approach, but rather hard to read. Some of the language is dated and in such a cold mechanical approach, it's harder to grasp what is being said.

His notes on lighting and showing how to work with shading was EXTREMELY helpful. I also like the fact he had some illustrations on overweight people as well.

There won't be that one anatomy book that solves all, but I really do enjoy life drawing books so it is interesting to see each author's take and how well they can explain the concepts. I'm sure there are people that will look for more beautiful illustrations, which is fine, but sometimes ti's great to read what it takes to make said art instead of simply copying it. That helps develop your own style.

One of the best
As an amateur who loves to draw, I've read quite a few books on the subject, and spent numerous hours in life drawing (i.e. from a live model) sessions.Clem Robins' book is by far one of the best out there.

First of all, Mr. Robins' example drawings are some of the best I've seen in this kind of book, each of them expressing the model's unique gesture and personality with a surprising economy of means.That kind of skill level is not easy to come by.I find myself going back to the examples just to remind myself of how compelling an image of the human figure can be crafted with just a few simple drawing tools.

The explanatory text is easy to follow and full of gems of information, and gives clear examples of how to approach a live drawing in several different mediums.The nuts and bolts, as wells as the subtleties, of producing a convincing figure drawing are difficult to convey in any format, and I feel that Clem Robins book meets the challenge admirably.

One good book that should be read along with others.
Figure drawing is an art that is, in my humble view, almost as complex and multifaceted as the subject which it expresses -- the human form. I use to read books on the subject looking for a definitive guide that teaches THE way to render a figure faithfully from life. Much like any subject, the more one learns, the less, he realizes, he actually knows.The Bible teaches that we become wise when we make ourselves fools.Likewise, the oracle, claimed Socrates, declared him the wisest man alive because he acknowledged he did not know anything. One would be wise not expecting to know everything after reading any one book; even after 1,000 books. There is more than a lifetime of learning if one desires to truly master figure drawing--both technically and expressively.One would do well to read as much as he can on drawing, so long as the knowledge is practically applied.

If you are a beginner, this book will give you a great education on the basics.It is not intimidating and it gives you a big chunk to chew on as you get started and, indeed, continue with figure drawing. It's elegantly designed and it's printed on high quality paper. Also, buy "Keys to Drawing." It would make a good companion to this book.

There are many books that give advise on the basics of figure drawing--perhaps few great ones.If you have read many of these books, and are looking for commentary on the finer points of art and drawing, then this book might not be for you.(I would reccomend reading some older writers like Da Vinci, Rex Vicat Cole, Bridgeman, Howard Pyle and especially Harold Speed.) However, Robins' book is still a profitable read for the seasoned student, as any author will offer a slightly unique perspective.I, personally, found several gems that were well worth the read.Mr. Robins is sincere and his writing has depth behind it.This book is a fine addition to any student's book shelf.It's even nice just to go through the book, periodically, to enjoy Robins' work. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

a lot missing
This may be ok for refreshing your memory, or as a text to teach from, but it is not a good book to learn on your own from. A lot of important information is missing. To take two examples. Firstly, in the description of cycloids, epicycloids, and hypocycloids, the book never tells you that the distance between the radial or vertical guide lines must be derived from the circumference of the rolling circle. For all it says, you could assume that the distance is arbitrary. But doing this makes the drawings meaningless. Secondly, in the description of the three-radii ellipse, the book never tells you what the purpose of the method is, having already introduced two other methods for drawing an ellipse. In fact, it is an approximate method in which you sketch an ellipse following the curves of three intersecting circles. You have to know this to make sense of the statement that "all arcs radiate from their respective centres." I only figured out how much was missing after reading Simmons et al 'Manual of Engineering Drawing'. Maybe that's not the best book for beginners, but it is a thorough and reliable text.

Twobig problems with this book.
There are twobig problems with this book.

1. The written English used is difficult to understand. In the Foreword section, the author said this was the slightly updated edition of the original published in 1912. However, he still used the 100-year-old writing style for the 2009 edition!

2. There is only one drawing for each example. That makes it very difficult to understand the explanation. For example, on page 21, exercise 2, the problem is "Erect a perpendicular to a given line". The only drawing for this exercise can'texplain clearly how to solve it to a beginner. This and the problem of antique written English make this book very frustrating.

"Fundamentals of Modern Drafting" by Paul Ross Wallach contains step-by-step drawings. That makes it very easy to understand and to solve a problem.

Very cool book!
This book is a series of challenges for the reader to solve using drafting tools.They are interesting and sometimes beautiful.Not for young kids but I can see a high school kid really getting into this (or me, for that matter!)Only drawback is sometimes the answers are a little brief and may not give quite enough information for everyone.

Popular Mechanics The Art of Mechanical Drawing
This is an excellent book for anyone interested in developing and refining techinal drawing skills. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

drawing collection of a uniformly high standard
Drawing enthusiasts can purchase this catalogue with confidence. The 72 drawings, executed by artists born or based in Italy, are excellently reproduced on good paper. There are works by artists familiar and obscure. Pleasingly their qualities are of a uniformly high standard.

Julie and Davie Tobey obviously have a discerning eye for quality.To my eyes the common linking feature of most of the drawingsis that they have a satisfying delicacy and elegance. In the brief introductory essay about the collectors it is interesting to note that David's father was a New Yorker cartoonist! The annotations are consistent with the usual high standard of the Metropolitan Museum's publications. Strongly recommended. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Secret World of Drawing, by Furth
This was a great book for beginners in art therapy.It explained the basics and was easy to read.One has a good explanation of what to look at and how to identify what the artist is saying through his/her art.This book gets a big "OK" from me.

A book that really heped me understand my child
This book opened up my child's world to me in a way that I hadn't expected.Even if you are uncertain of the efficacy of picture interpretaion, this book offers wonderful insight into family dynamics.

One of the best books I have ever read!

a woman who runs with the wolves
An excellent, well written, concise, comprehensive and clear introduction for professionals and lay people as well, curious about and interested in understanding drawings. Actually, the best book I have read in the field. I especially appreciate, that it offers GUIDELINES in interpretating pictures, without presuming to have/posess a set of rigid assumptions about the exact meaning of any of the components (size, color, figure, motion etc.). It is a book, which, however, must be readseveral times, most of all because of the amount of information it containes. It is an absolute MUST, for everbody, fascinated about and deligthed in deciphering the (mostly) hidden world of our uncounscius Psyche!!!! ... Read more

Product Description
Achieving a likeness in portrait requires close coordination of the hand and eye; Douglas Graves, a professional portraitist, has developed this basic premise into a functional technique. He describes portraiture as an evolving process: observing the basic surface shapes, discovering how these features deviate from the symmetrical ideal, envisioning the underlying human anatomy, interpreting the sitter’s personality, then conveying all this with a direct medium in a tonal drawing.

Mr. Graves begins with a list and discussion of the necessary materials—compressed and vine charcoal, chalk, Conte, graphite pencils, papers, erasers, and fixative. He next focuses on the single most important element of the portrait—the sitter’s head. He examines the overall bone structure of the head, it’s proportions and planes, and the structure of the individual features—the eye, nose, neck, ear, and mouth. Of course, portraiture often includes the hands, and so Mr. Graves devotes another chapter to the bone structure, muscle, and proportions of the hands. In subsequent chapters, he considers common portraiture problems: lighting the sitter, reflections and shadows, composing the portrait with one or more figures, the most effective views of the head, and positioning the head and the hands in relation to each other and to the body.

After these preliminary instructions, Mr. Graves proceeds to analyze and illustrate how to actually draw the individual elements of the portrait. Eight projects offer step-by-step demonstrations of front, side, and three-quarter views of the eye, nose, mouth, ear, and hand. Also included are demonstrations of drawing a plaster cast of the head, the torso and arm with drapery, and various hair textures and colors.

In the succeeding ten projects, Mr. Graves develops complete portraits, demonstrating his technique step by step. He covers a wide range of subjects and media: a woman, child, and man in charcoal; a woman, teenager, and older man in pencil; a woman and man in chalk; a mother and child, and a full family group in Conte. Mr. Graves also supplements his technical instructions with some advice about drawing from photographs, using unusual or offbeat poses, and the question of flattery.

Drawing Portraits is simply yet engagingly written, with over 260 black and white illustrations. Artists, beginning and advanced students, and teachers will find Mr. Graves’ technique of portraiture clearly and logically presented and a solid basis for developing a personal style. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Good resource book
This book shows how to draw features really well. It is a drawing book and he describes pencil or charcoal drawing techniques. Since I am a painter I would like to have had some of the features shown with brush strokes.

Portaits are great
This book was very good for me in learning to draw portraits.

A Great Refresher
This book was an excellent refresher for me, relearning how to draw after a thirty-five year hiatus. An instructor of a portraiture course I recently completed led me to the book, and it was a very strong guide in my return to portrait sketching.
- Marty

Excellent in many ways
Graves uses the traditional method of breaking the face down into its components. He provides illustrations of how to draw each feature from frontal, half profile, and profile views. He is particularly good on the mouth and lips (seven pages are devoted to the subject), with the lips under the influence of varying emotions. His discussion of the hands (17 pages) is detailed and will teach more than I have so far had the time to absorb. His fewer pages on the ear and eyes are also good. The brief sections on composition are good, although I wish they were longer. Not so good on hair. All in all, I would recommend it to the serious student. I don't think any single book could teach all you may want to know, but this book will certainly add to your knowledge. ... Read more

Product Description
The leading textbook for college figure-drawing classes, DRAWING FROM LIFE provides a clear, comprehensive, and thought-provoking guide to drawing the human form for anyone interested in exploring this time-honored artistic tradition. For centuries, drawing the human figure has given artists the tools and vocabulary for creating paintings, sculpture, drawings, or prints—from Renaissance classical to contemporary expression. In addition to working from the model, the figure-drawing student needs instruction in anatomy, history, and conceptual approaches to drawing the human form; such instruction is often missing from life drawing classes due to time constraints. DRAWING FROM LIFE offers these elements, along with a tremendous selection of drawings that represent the broad range of approaches, techniques, and media for drawing from life. The chapters follow the natural development of a student's growth, from fundamental sketching and gesture drawing to creative expression and exploration. An entire chapter on drawing the figure in perspective offers information that is not available in comparable textbooks. Students begin with quick sketches and gesture drawings, giving them a non-threatening introduction on a level they can readily understand and master. The cohesive presentation of anatomy, including a chapter on the human head, helps students understand the human structure and its impact on visible form. The final section brings the concepts, vocabulary, and history presented in the earlier chapters to bear on contemporary use of the figure in art. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Thank You
Business was exceptional, even though i didnt need the book, seller followed through with the return. Thank You.

An Art Book For Artists
Very well written, the text includes many well-chosen quotes from various aartists. Overall, the reading is interesting and useful for understanding and apprecaiting figure drawing. Much better than most drawing books. The included illistrations are also very well chosen.

Very good book!
This is a very good book to learn about the methods of life drawing. There are several examples in every chapter, each from very different artists. The book is laid out well and easy to follow. It has been a good addition to my life drawing class.

Drawing
I bought this book for a class I was taking and I ended up keeping it for myself once I finished the class. It is filled with information and instruction. I love this book and I very rarely keep book I buy for classes and this is one of the few I kept because I know I will use it many more times in the future. It works well for references and how to stuff.

Review on "Drawing from Life"
Excellent book for anyone interested in drawing the human figure.Deals well and extensively with proportion, anatomy and nuances of figure drawing.Required by my art teacher and worth the money as an on-going reference source. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Great pictures, but.....
This book has great pictures and good information, but I didn't know it was all English trees.I wanted American trees. Will keep it though. ... Read more

Product Description
Superb reproductions of 44 of Holbein’s finest portrait drawings: Sir Thomas Moore, Jane Seymour, the Prince of Wales, Anne Boleyn, dozens more personalities from the court of Henry VIII. 44 black-and-white illustrations. Publisher’s Note. Captions.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Very poor picture quality
I am very disappointed with the book. Holbein's drawings should be extremely delicate, but all that is lost in this book--lines aregrainy and the shading simply is mostly inaccurate, since these are all black-and-white reproductions of colored drawings. They are probably reproductions of reproductions, really. Even the pictures posted on the web look better. Not worth buying, no matter how cheap it is.

Recommend: "Holbein in England". Borrowed it from a library. Well written, great pictures, just expensive.

Holbein and The Tudors
If you like Holbein, buy it.
If you are interested in the Tudor Court, buy it.
Either/or - you won't be disappointed.

Good study material
Nice series of books, these Old Master Portrait Drawings from Dover Art Library. Good material if you want to study portrait drawing. Good reproductions of the drawings. No text, only a short introduction from the publisher and titles with the drawings. The drawings say it all.

Great views of Tudor hats and hoods!
I found this small book to be just the item I needed to help me make the most accurate Tudor period gable hoods for SCA events.The details of the portraits are quite impressive.All are done in B/W, but this actually goes a long way to show contrasting elements of various garb.This particular book is my most valuable resource (and I have quite an extensive collection!).The book is very well suited to those who would be interested in portraiture, historically based costume creation, and plain old artistic curiosity.

Great book of drawings
All of the Dover books have very good reproductions of drawings. These books are just the best deal for the money, and I use them all the time in the college where I teach to show students examples of great drawing and fantastic line. All the background an artist needs is there: size, media, year -- very little personal background; it's just a catalog of drawings (words would only slow you down anyway).There may be people who can draw as well as Holbein, but there's nobody better. His work, except for the give-away clothing, looks so modern that you could swear you've seen these people. His line and his observation are perfection. I have expensive books on him, but this book is my favorite. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
LEVEL: All levels. A proven methodology for drawing instruction is detailed with student and fine art examples. A balanced approach emphasises drawing as a means to understanding art. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Best book on learning to draw and teaching drawing
Okay, maybe I'm a little out of the loop teaching art in an isolated, rural part of the Southwest, but I can't believe no one has pointed me to this book. I stumbled upon it. After buying it I opened several othernew books on the topic first because this title does little to excite one's interest. Perhaps "Paradigm-shifting insights" should be the subtitle.

The authors put their years of research (many scholarly articles and books of their own and references to leading works in the subject) and their experience teaching and drawing into a most satisfyingly wide-angle perspective on teaching and learning to draw.Step back and look at drawing across cultures, across developmental stages, across the curriculum. What other text attempts to analyze why we draw, why we stop drawing at a young age, what use drawing is in the public schools, and what teachers (not just art teachers) can do to progress. And I find their answers to these questions broad-minded and meshing very well with my own while expanding my perspective on the subject.

If you like a good analysis of ephemeral subject matter here are some categories presented in this book that will suit you: Reasons drawing should be taught in schools; Two kinds of art; five factors that determine drawing development; the intrinsic biases of simplicity and non-differentiation that learners bring to drawing (my favorite!); the components of the drawing program; and questions most asked about the teaching of drawing.

... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

So So
Not real happy with the way this is presented.I think there are better books out there.

Beginner sketching
I bought the book to learn to sketch.Have not looked through it yet. Want to bring back an old talent ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description